Siemens Information & Communication Networks, Inc.

Siemens Communications, Inc.

David Alan Vander Meiden

Dennis L Kucmerowski

Peggy Marie Stumer

Nissim Ozery

Richard Frank

Joseph Budziak

David J Swartz

Charles Goodman

Leroy Edwin Gilbert

Harald Muller

A system and apparatus for enabling supplementary service functions, such as group pickup, to be implemented in a communication network having one or more local servers. The group pickup system is adapted to enable one group member to automatically receive or manually pick up another group member's call from anywhere within the network, including outside the local server in a multiserver network. The group pickup system includes an automatic mode unit for enabling the system to pro-actively seek a group member to take a call and a manual mode unit for enabling the system to search for an alerting group member. The system further includes a local connect unit and a remote connect unit to establish local or remote connections to a group member, respectively. A remote search unit enables the system to request a remote search. A queue/dequeue unit is provided for selecting a group member from a group list. A call establishing unit is provided for establishing a connection between the call and the group member and an answer unit is provided to complete the connection. A notification unit may be provided to notify the system of the completed connection. A release links unit may also be provided to release any temporary links used in establishing the connection. An exception handler may also be provided to deal with any error conditions which may occur.

Network group pickup

Methods for accurate transmission of ELIN/callback number from an emergency caller calling from behind a PBX/MLTS include prioritizing the emergency call, assigning a port equipment number to each device/trunk of the PBX/MLTS and associating ports/devices with ELINs and callback numbers. The apparatus of the invention detects an emergency number, assigns the call priority, and uses the port/device number to determine the ELIN/callback number and properly transmit the ELIN/callback number.

Priority based methods and apparatus for transmitting accurate emergency location identification numbers (ELINs) from behind a multi-line telephone system (MLTS)

Methods for accurate transmission of ELIN/callback number from an emergency caller calling from behind a PBX/MLTS include assigning a port equipment number to each device/trunk of the PBX/MLTS and associating ports/devices with ELINs and callback numbers. The apparatus of the invention detects an emergency number, assigns the call priority, and uses the port/device number to determine the ELIN/callback number and properly transmit the ELIN/callback number.

Methods and apparatus for transmitting accurate emergency location identification numbers (ELINs) from behind a multi-line telephone system (MLTS) utilizing port equipment numbers

A telecommunications server ( ) includes a timed recall request unit ( ) coupled to a timer ( ). The timed recall request unit ( ) interfaces to the call park service ( ) and/or the call hold service ( ). When a request for a call park or call hold is made, the user is given the option of electing timed recall or no recall. If a timed recall is desired, the timed recall request unit ( ) is accessed to permit the user to either accept a default length of time or to input a desired length of time. If the user manually retrieves the held or parked call prior to expiration of the timer, the timer ( ) is reset.

User specified hold recall treatment

Systems for dialing an emergency telephone number from a teleworking client according to the invention include apparatus that implement the steps of detecting at a teleworking client when an emergency number is dialed, disconnecting the teleworking client from the PBX/MLTS, connecting the teleworking client to the PSTN, and dialing an associated stored number. Though the invention is described with reference to a teleworking client, it may also be applied to any other dialup network connection.

Systems for dialing an emergency telephone number from a teleworking client remotely coupled to a PBX

Methods for dialing an emergency telephone number from a teleworking client according to the invention include detecting at the teleworking client when an emergency number is dialed, disconnecting the teleworking client from the PBX/MLTS, connecting the teleworking client to the PSTN, and dialing an associated stored number. The apparatus of the invention resides in software that is installed in off the shelf hardware. Though the invention is described with reference to a teleworking client, it may also be applied to any other dialup network connection.

Methods and apparatus for dialing an emergency telephone number from a teleworking client remotely coupled to a PBX

A telecommunications device able to automatically detect a pending change in an area code or numbering plan area (NPA) during the period when either the new area code or the existing area code may be used to dial a particular number. Such a telecommunications device is configured to read an ISDN connected party number or an H.323 connected party number during the permissive period and compare the connected party number with the called party number. If there is a mismatch of the area code and the numbers otherwise match, the telecommunications device knows that an area code update is pending and advises the user thereof accordingly. Alternatively, the telecommunications device may itself automatically update speed dialing lists, routing tables, and the like.

System and method for early detection of area code changes

A proximity detector ( ) is provided for causing automatic callback. The proximity detector ( ) causes the called party's telephone ( ) to send a signal to the telephone system indicating that the automatic callback may proceed. For example, the detector may cause an off-hook/on-hook event to be sent, or other specific signaling. The telephone system signals the calling party ( ), who may then answer the automatic callback and be connected to the called party.

Proximity detector for initiating automatic callback

A telecommunication system includes a private branch exchange ( ) that uses an automatic route selection algorithm to select a trunk on which a call is to be routed. A number of trunk groups are queried for an available trunk and once an available trunk is located, the call is placed. The automatic route selection algorithm monitors the call to determine if an error message or error tone is received. If an error message or error tone is received, a set of remaining trunk groups not previously queried are queried for an available trunk to route the call.

Method and apparatus for routing blocked telephone calls

A system and method for communication information between origination equipment and destination equipment, in which switching signal information is received from a calling party telephone network. Additionally, information is also received from origination equipment for use by destination equipment for displaying calling party numbers. A display for use with the destination equipment receives the information from the calling party telephone network. From the plurality of information received, a first code from the calling party telephone network identifies calling party number information, and a second code from the calling party telephone network identifies partitioning and delineation information of the first code relating to a convention of parsing of telephone numbers associated with the calling party telephone network. The parsing of the calling party numbers into fields introduces field separator characters between the fields including delimiters such as dashes, spaces, parenthetical, graphical characters and the like to separate destination codes from subscriber numbers. In addition, the delineation information can be displayed, for example, in a second display line.

Partitioning of display for calling party numbers

A system and method for communication information between origination equipment and destination equipment, in which switching signal information is received from a calling party telephone network. Additionally, information is also received from origination equipment for use by destination equipment for displaying calling party numbers. A display for use with the destination equipment receives the information from the calling party telephone network. From the plurality of information received, a first code from the calling party telephone network identifies calling party number information, and a second code from the calling party telephone network identifies partitioning information of the first code relating to a convention of parsing of telephone numbers associated with the calling party telephone network. The parsing of the calling party numbers into fields introduces field separator characters between the fields including delimiters such as dashes, spaces, parenthetical, graphical characters and the like to separate destination codes from subscriber numbers according to international, country, national or regional fields, such as the North American Numbering Plan.

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Boca Raton, FL, United States of America

David Alan Vander Meiden