US 6,587,555 B1 · Virtual PBX

Abstract

The invention provides a virtual private branch exchange (VPBX) that allows a plurality of individuals to be associated with a single telephone number. In one possible embodiment, when a call is received, the VPBX retrieves the customer's profile based on the called number. The profile includes a list of individuals associated with the called number, there are extension number, and any instructions concerning their personal communication requirements. A menu is then presented to the caller based on the called number's profile. The caller is given a plurality of choices, such as to choose to contact a particular individual, device, or service, such as an individual's extension, a common voice mail system, or an administrative person, such as a receptionist. If the caller chooses to be routed to a VPBX extension, the call is routed to the called party and the VPBX monitors whether the call is answered. If the party answers, the VBPX connects the call. If the called party does not answer, the VPBX checks the called party's profile for other instructions, such as whether the called party desires that the caller be routed to voice mail, that the system activate a Find-me system, etc.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method for establishing communications between a first party and a second party in a network, the second party being a member of a group that includes more than one member, and the members of the group being associated with a same first communications address, comprising:

receiving a signal from the first party to initiate communications with the second party at the first communications address;
retrieving a profile for the first communications address from a database, the profile containing communications information for each member of the group, wherein each member of the group is associated with one or more second communications addresses, each of the second communications addresses being associated with one or more communications options, wherein one of the communications options is designated as a preferred communications option;
prompting the first party to select one of the second communications addresses;
sensing the status of each member's preferred communications option;
when the preferred communications option is unavailable, selecting another communications option according the members profile and updating the members profile information according to changes in the status;
and
the first party to the second party based on the second party's communications options.

4 more elements

A virtual private branch exchange system that establishes communications between a first party and a second party in a network, the second party being a member of a group that includes more than one member, and the members of the group being associated with a same first communications address, comprising:

a memory;
a network interface coupled to the network;
and
a controller coupled to the memory and the network interface, that receives a signal from the first party to initiate communications with the second party at the first communications address, retrieving a profile for the first communications address from a database, the profile containing communications information for each member of the group, wherein each member of the group is associated with one or more second communications addresses, each of the second communications addresses being associated with one or more communications options, wherein one of the communications options is designated as a preferred communications option, prompts the first party to select one of the second communications addresses, senses the status of each member's preferred communications option, selects another communications option according the members profile and updates the members profile information according to changes in the status when the preferred communications option is unavailable, and connects the first party to the second party based on the second party's communications options, wherein the communications options include leaving a voice mail message directed to the second party's voice mailbox, a voice mail message directed to a voice mailbox for all of the members of the group, being connected to one of a receptionist, a recording, a directory, an operator, and an information provider, the controller recognizing whether communications is a facsimile transmission, wherein if the facsimile transmission is recognized, the controller processes the facsimile transmission according to the profile.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Virtual PBX

Life of this patent

Virtual PBX

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29