Network group pickup

Abstract

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.