Method and apparatus for communicating with one of plural devices associated with a single telephone number during a disaster and disaster recovery

A method of performing disaster recovery on a telecommunication system including first and second enterprise telecommunication networks respectively connected to first and second wireless connection units, said method comprising the steps of:

• replicating databases of the first and second wireless connection units, the databases comprising a plurality of telephone extensions each associated with at least a telephone connected to the respective enterprise telecommunication network and a wireless device not connected to the respective enterprise telecommunication network;
• detecting that one of the first or second enterprise telecommunication networks has become inoperable;
• routing a communication destined for an extension of the inoperable enterprise telecommunication network, said inoperable enterprise telecommunication network being a private exchange network, to the wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the operable enterprise telecommunication network;
• identifying at the wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the operable enterprise telecommunication network a dialed telephone extension from the routed communication, wherein said dialed telephone extension is a unique telephone number of said private exchange network;
• using the identified dialed telephone extension to retrieve respective first and second telephone numbers associated with the the associated telephone and the respective wireless device from the database of the wireless connection unit associated with the operable enterprise telecommunication network;
• and
• directing the routed communication to the associated telephone and the respective wireless device, wherein directing the routed communication comprises:
• holding the routed communication for a predetermined time until it is determined that a user has answered the associated telephone or respective wireless device;
• forming a first communication path between said wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the operable enterprise telecommunication network and said associated telephone by causing said respective first telephone number to be dialed,
• forming a second communication path between said wireless connection unit associated with and connected to the operable enterprise telecommunication network and said respective wireless device by causing said respective second telephone number to be dialed, and
• authenticating the answered device before forming a completed circuit connection between the wireless connection unit and the answered device.

A telecommunication system comprising:

• a first telecommunication unit connected to a first enterprise telecommunication network, wherein said first enterprise telecommunication network is a first private exchange network, said first telecommunication unit comprising:
• a first memory device comprising a first database, said first database comprising a first plurality of telephone extensions for the first telecommunication network, wherein each of said first plurality of telephone extensions is a unique telephone number of said first private exchange network and each extension being associated with at least two respective communication devices, and
• a first processor connected to said first memory device, said first processor for identifying a first telephone call to a first dialed extension of the first telecommunication network and for routing the first telephone call to at least two respective communication devices;
• and
• a second telecommunication unit connected to a second enterprise telecommunication network and being in communication with said first telecommunication unit, wherein said first enterprise telecommunication network is a second private exchange network, said second telecommunication unit comprising:
• a second memory device comprising a second database, said second database comprising a second plurality of telephone extensions for the second telecommunication network, wherein each of said second plurality of telephone extensions is a unique telephone number of said second private exchange network and each extension being associated with at least two other respective third and fourth communication devices, and
• a second processor connected to said second memory device, said second processor for identifying a second telephone call to a second dialed extension of the second telecommunication network and for routing the second telephone call to at least two other respective communication devices;
• wherein said first processor replicates and stores the second database in said first memory device and said second processor replicates and stores the first database in said second memory device, and when said first telecommunication unit is inoperable, said second processor has the capability to form a first communication path between said second processor and one of said at least two respective communication devices and substantially simultaneously form a second communication path between said second processor and the other of said at least two respective communication devices while the first telephone call is held for a predetermined time until it is determined that a user has answered one of said at least two respective communication devices, is authenticated before forming a completed circuit connection between the second processor and the authenticated device, and the first telephone call is routed to the authenticated device.