Avaya Inc.

Robert V Phillips, Iii

Donald E Gillespie

Christopher David Baldwin

Albert D Pessot

A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically translating the dialed string entered by a calling party to identify a called party into another dialed string. The string translation may be based, for example, on characteristics of the telephone number or telephone terminal of the calling party or characteristics of the call itself. Translation rules translate the dialed string entered by the calling party to another dialed string. Each translation rule contains one or more conditions and a corresponding action item that should be performed to translate the dialed string when the rule is satisfied. The improved abbreviated dialing feature allows a shorter sequence of digits dialed from any telephone connected to a compliant switch to be replaced by a longer dialed string.

Method for translating a dialed string entered by a calling party

In one configuration, the present invention is directed to an enterprise network that includes geographically dislocated first and second network regionsandcommunicating with one another through first and second networksandand respectively comprising first and second gatewaysandand first and second groupings of trunks. A common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of trunks. A media serveris positioned in the first network regionthat includes an inter-gateway routing agent. The first network region transmits, as part of the establishment of a real-time or near real-time communication between first and second subscribers respectively in the first and second network regions, the common address to the second gateway. After the outgoing communication is answered by the second gateway, the first network region transmits in band to the second gatewaya user identifier associated with the second subscriber and/or a phantom user. The user identifier is used to establish the communication with the second subscriber.

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Matawan, NJ, United States of America

Robert V Phillips, Iii