Extension monitoring in a distributed telephony system
AssigneeShoreTel, Inc.
InventorsMichael S. W. Tovino, Richard A. Winslow
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A telephony system is presented that enables one user to monitor another user's extension and perform functions on calls destined for the other user's extension. The system includes a server with a telephony management software (TMS) unit, a telephony application programming interface (TAPI) unit, and an application unit. The application unit includes a control module, association module, presentation module, park module, monitoring device interface module, and storage interface module. A server sends information to a monitoring device regarding the status of a monitored extension and calls offering on that extension. A server also enables a user to navigate through multiple calls offering and park a selected call.
Claims30
A method comprising:
- associating, using one or more processors, a first Internet Protocol (IP) phone that is associated with a first extension with a second extension;
- signaling, using one or more processors, the first IP phone to display information about a call offering directed to the second extension;
- selecting, using one or more processors, the displayed call offering directed to the second extension using the first IP phone associated with the first extension;
- signaling, using one or more processors, the first IP phone to display a plurality of actions executable on the selected call offering;
- receiving a selection of one of the plurality of actions executable on the selected call offering;
- and
- executing the selected one of the plurality of actions on the selected call offering.
An apparatus comprising:
- one or more processors;
- a presentation module executable by the one or more processors to generate a signal that causes a first Internet Protocol (IP) phone to display information including a call offering directed to a second extension and a plurality of actions executable on the call offering directed to the second extension;
- a monitoring device interface module executable by the one or more processors to send data to and receive data from the first IP phone, wherein the data received from the first IP phone that is associated with the first extension includes a selection of the displayed call offering directed to the second extension;
- a control module communicatively coupled to the presentation module and the monitoring device interface module;
- and
- a park module configured to park a call at the second extension, wherein the parked call is answered by the second extension or the monitoring device, and wherein the control module is further communicatively coupled to the park module.
An apparatus comprising:
- one or more processors;
- a presentation module executable by the one or more processors to generate a signal that causes a first Internet Protocol (IP) phone to display information including a call offering directed to a second extension and a plurality of actions executable on the call offering directed to the second extension;
- a monitoring device interface module executable by the one or more processors to send data to and receive data from the first IP phone, wherein the data received from the first IP phone that is associated with the first extension includes a selection of the displayed call offering directed to the second extension, wherein the selected call offering is an unconnected call;
- a control module communicatively coupled to the presentation module and the monitoring device interface module;
- and
- an association module configured to determine whether the second extension is being monitored by the first IP phone, wherein the control module is further communicatively coupled to the association module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.