Shoretel, Inc.

Shortel, Inc.

Scott Van Gundy

Dale C Tonogai

Allan J Naim

Robert R Burns

John Vuong

Mamata Kondapally

Sunita Vontel

An Internet Protocol (IP) phone transmits on a network, an IP packet comprising a dynamically-assigned IP address. A computer associated with the network uses the dynamically-assigned IP address in the packet to identify a specific site to which the IP phone belongs and/or a specific local area network (LAN) to which the IP phone is connected. Then, data to be used to provide telephony service to the phone is recorded in a memory. In some embodiments, the computer associates the IP phone with a dialing plan unique to the specific site, wherein the dialing plan includes an area code to be used by the IP phone.

Provisioning an internet protocol (IP) phone

This invention overcomes the problem of delay associated with establishing connections with individual phones by providing a method for sending a virtual real time voice message processed through a VOIP system to a group of phones concurrently. The method includes assembling a portion of the voice message. The voice message includes a voice portion and an address portion. The voice portion of the voice message is buffered in a digital buffer. The address portion is used to determine the address of each phone in the group. After the address of each phone in the group is determined, an attempt is made to establish a connection with each phone. The method further includes waiting for a period of time. The period of time is determined based at least in part on a time duration required to establish a connection with a phone. After waiting the period of time, the voice portion of the voice message is sent to at least one phone in the group of phones.

Group paging synchronization for VoIP system

A voice over internet protocol telephone system is described in which services for handling calls invoking account codes are distributed to voicemail servers in the system. If the voicemail server associated with a particular user does not have services for handling account code calls, then the request is forwarded to another voicemail server in accordance with a predefined procedure.

VoIP telephone system with distributed account codes

A distributed VoIP system includes a first switch coupled to a network and configured to provide voicemail features to a first group of one or more users. The system also includes a voicemail server coupled to the network. The voicemail server is configured to provide voicemail features to a second group of one or more users. The first switch is configured to store voicemail data associated with only the first group, and the voicemail server is configured to store voicemail data associated with both the first and second groups.

Systems and methods for providing voicemail features in a VoIP system

A phone is provisioned automatically when a user couples the phone to a network, with minimal (or preferably zero) involvement on part of an administrator to activate the phone. In several embodiments of the invention, when the user couples the phone to a network, a computer associated with the network automatically checks to see if the phone was previously provisioned. If not previously provisioned, the computer automatically records the existence of the phone in a memory of a telephone exchange that is to thereafter provide service to the phone. At this stage a phone number is not yet associated with the phone. In some embodiments, the just-described acts, namely checking and recording of existence are performed without any involvement on part of the administrator. The telephone exchange provides basic service to the new phone as soon as it detects existence of the phone (in its memory). Thereafter, in certain embodiments, the user uses that particular phone to identify himself/herself (and/or an extension number) and in response the computer stores the extension number in the telephone exchange's memory, thereby to enable the phone to receive calls at that extension number. Such automatic provisioning eliminates the need for an administrator to provision the phone.

Provisioning a phone without involving an administrator

A system for providing voice mail backup on a secondary server including two or more distributed voice mail servers. Each distributed voice mail server includes a telephony management software (TMS) unit, a telephony application programming interface (TAPI) unit, and an application unit. The application unit includes a voice mail control module, a call status module, a call transfer module, a voice mail migration module, a storage module, an audio encoding/decoding module, a configuration module, an extension library module, and a telephony application programming interface (TAPI) interface module. Each server is capable of storing a voice message for an extension serviced by a remote server if the remote server is unavailable.

Server with backup capability for distributed IP telephony systems

A simultaneous hunt group system and method are provided. A call status module notices an incoming call to a simultaneous hunt group and offers the call to a plurality of endpoints. One of the plurality of endpoints answers the call. After the call is answered, a resource allocation module allocates resources for a communications channel, and a call transfer module transfers the caller to the agent that answered the call.

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Los Gatos, CA, United States of America

Scott Van Gundy