MLPP telephone emulation

A system for emulating an MLPP telephone without a need for a physical MLPP telephone instrument by using a software function that provides screen display of a well-recognized MLPP keypad generated by a computer-based application adaptable for any authorized user so that a user need not enter a series of special code sequences from a standard telephone keypad to activate priority features of an associated system, the system comprising:

• a data entry portion including a visual representation, on a display device, of an MLPP telephone keypad, and a data input device, wherein the data entry portion accepts telephone call initiation information, including MLPP priority information, from a user;
• an information display portion responsive to an information request signal that causes information relating to an indicated key of the MLPP telephone keypad to be displayed on the display device;
• and
• an audio interface portion that emulates telephone system audio communication;
• wherein at least art of the system is connected to the PSTN utilizing Internet protocol (IP), wherein the audio interface is accomplished utilizing voice over Internet protocol (VOIP, wherein call initiation signaling with the PSTN is accomplished using out-of-band signaling through a SCP of the intelligent network, wherein call initiation signaling with the PSTN is accomplished using out-of-band signaling via a gateway provided between the PSTN and a private network utilizing SIP signaling (session initiation protocol), and wherein a SIP resource priority header is used to indicate that a request needs priority treatment.

A system for emulating an MLP telephone without a need for a physical MLPP telephone instrument by using a software function that provides screen display of a well-recognized MLPP keypad generated by a computer-based application adaptable for any authorized user so that a user need not enter a series of special code sequences from a standard telephone keypad to activate priority features of an associated system, the system comprising:

• a data entry portion including a visual representation, on a display device, of an MLPP telephone keypad, and a data input device, wherein the data entry portion accepts telephone call initiation information, including MLPP priority information, from a user,
• wherein the data input device interacts with the visual representation to indicate a user-selected key of the MLPP keypad and to provide an information request signal;
• an information display portion responsive to the information request signal that causes information relating to an indicated key of the MLPP telephone keypad to be displayed on the display device;
• and
• an audio interface portion that emulates telephone system audio communication;
• wherein at least part of the system is connected to the PSTN utilizing Internet protocol (IP), wherein the audio interface is accomplished utilizing voice over Internet protocol (VOIP, wherein call initiation signaling with the PSTN is accomplished using out-of-band signaling through a SCP of the intelligent network, wherein call initiation signaling with the PSTN is accomplished using out-of-band signaling via a gateway provided between the PSTN and a private network utilizing SIP signaling (session initiation protocol), and wherein a SIP resource priority header is used to indicate that a request needs priority treatment.