System and method for ensuring call privacy in a shared telephone environment

A private branch exchange (PBX) system for an enterprise comprising:

• a first interface to receive an incoming voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) call from a caller to a called party of the enterprise, the incoming VoIP call being received from an Internet protocol (IP) network, the first interface being further operable to receive an identifier from the caller identifying the called party;
• a second interface to connect with a telephone device that is shared among multiple users in the enterprise based on the received identifier, wherein each of the multiple users is associated with a unique identifier and the shared telephone device is associated with each of the identifiers of the multiple users, the multiple users including the called party;
• one or more processors that control a connection between the incoming VoIP call and the telephone device;
• a memory coupled to the one or more processors that stores authentication information associated with the called party;
• code executable on the one or more processors, execution of the code being activated by a programmable setting, execution of the code causing the one or more processors to obtain information from a person answering the incoming VoIP call at the telephone device, the connection for the incoming VoIP call being established only when the information provided by the person matches the authentication information associated with the called party, wherein the programmable setting is enabled by a voice signature.

A processor-implemented method of handling an incoming voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) call from a caller to a certain worker at an enterprise comprising:

• receiving an incoming voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) call from a caller to a certain worker;
• receiving an identifier from the caller identifying the certain worker;
• obtaining information from a worker answering the incoming VoIP call at a telephone device;
• the telephone device being shared among a plurality of workers at the enterprise, wherein each of the plurality of workers is associated with a unique identifier and the shared telephone device is associated with each of the identifiers of the plurality of workers;
• comparing the information obtained against authorization information stored in a database, the authorization information comprises a list of one or more of the workers authorized to receive the incoming call, the one or more of the workers including the certain worker, and, if the comparison produces a match,
• establishing a media path between the caller and the worker answering the incoming call at the telephone device.