Extended multi-line hunt group communication

1. A communication system comprising:

an IP-enabled communication network;

at least one remote site connected to the communication network, the remote site comprising:

(a) a plurality of subscribers,

(b) a switch interconnecting the plurality of subscribers,

(c) at least one multi-line hunt group connected to the switch, each multi-line hunt group comprising a plurality of voice communication lines and at least one signaling line carrying signaling data, and

(d) a gateway receiving the plurality of voice communication lines and the at least one signaling line for each multi-line hunt group, the gateway interfacing each multi-line hunt group and the communication network; and

at least one service site connected to the communication network, the service site comprising:

(e) a service platform providing voice services;

(f) a switch connected to the service platform;

(g) at least one multi-line hunt group connected to the switch, and

(h) a gateway interfacing each multi-line hunt group and the communication network.

2. A communication system as in claim 1 wherein the service platform comprises a voicemail platform.

3. A communication system as in claim 1 wherein the service platform comprises a unified messaging platform.

4. A communication system as in claim 1 wherein the communication network carries voice over IP (VoIP).

5. A communication system as in claim 1 wherein the communication network carries voice over frame relay (VoFR).

6. A communication system as in claim 1 wherein the communication network carries voice over ATM (VoATM).

7. A communication system as in claim 1 wherein each gateway converts voice received over communication lines and the signaling data received over each signaling line into a data format acceptable by the communication network.

8. A communication system as in claim 1 wherein each gateway converts line signaling protocols into a format acceptable by the communication network and passes the converted line signaling protocols to at least one service site.

9. A communication system as in claim 1 wherein each gateway implements a tunneling scheme with at least one gateway at a different site to exchange the signaling data.

10. A communication system as in claim 1 wherein each gateway compresses and decompresses voice information for reduced communication network bandwidth.

11. A communication system as in claim 1 wherein each gateway performs DS-O mapping to map individual hunt group members across the communication network.

12. A communication system for transmitting audible messages over an IP-enabled communication network comprising:

a locality of subscriber units;

a switch interconnecting the subscriber units, the switch routing traffic outside of the locality of subscriber units over at least one multi-line hunt group, each multi-line hunt group including a plurality of voice communication lines and at least one signaling line carrying signaling data associated with calls through the plurality of voice communication lines; and

a gateway in communication with each multi-line hunt group and the communication network, the gateway converting voice information received over each communication line and signaling data received over each signaling line into a data format acceptable by the communication network.

13. A communication system as in claim 12 wherein the gateway formats data for voice over IP (VoIP).

14. A communication system as in claim 12 wherein the gateway formats data for voice over frame relay network (VoFR).

15. A communication system as in claim 12 wherein the gateway formats data for voice over ATM (VoATM).

16. A communication system as in claim 12 wherein the gateway implements a tunneling scheme with at least one gateway at a different site to exchange signaling data.

17. A communication system as in claim 12 wherein the gateway compresses and decompresses voice information for reduced communication network bandwidth.

18. A communication system as in claim 12 wherein the gateway performs DS-O mapping to map individual hunt group members across the communication network.

19. A method of communicating over an IP-enabled communication network comprising:

receiving information from at least one of a plurality of subscribers;

determining at least one of a plurality of voice communication lines and at least one signaling line in a multi-line hunt group to carry the received information and associated signaling;

formatting information on each of the voice communication lines and signaling lines into a format compatible with the communication network; and

sending the formatted information over the communication network.

20. A method of communicating over an IP-enabled communication network as in claim 19 further comprising:

receiving the formatted information over the communication network;

reformatting the converted information back into the original format for transmission over at least one of a plurality of voice communication lines and at least one signaling line in a multi-line hunt group; and

sending the reformatted information over a multi-line hunt group.

21. A method of communicating over an IP-enabled communication network as in claim 19 wherein the reformatted information is sent to a service platform comprising a voicemail platform.

22. A method of communicating over an IP-enabled communication network as in claim 19 wherein the reformatted information is sent to a service platform comprising a unified messaging platform.

23. A method of communicating over an IP-enabled communication network as in claim 19 wherein the communication network carries voice over IP (VoIP).

24. A method of communicating over an IP-enabled communication network as in claim 19 wherein the communication network carries voice over frame relay (VoFR).

25. A method of communicating over an IP-enabled communication network as in claim 19 wherein the communication network carries voice over ATM (VoATM).

26. A communication system comprising:

an IP-enabled communication network;

at least one remote site connected to the communication network, the remote site comprising:

(a) a plurality of subscribers,

(b) a switch interconnecting the plurality of subscribers,

(c) at least one multi-line hunt group connected to the switch, each multi-line hunt group comprising a plurality of voice communication lines and at least one signaling line carrying signaling data, and

(d) at least one wide area network access device interfacing each multi-line hunt group and the communication network; and

at least one service site connected to the communication network, the service site comprising:

(e) a service platform providing voice services;

(f) a switch connected to the service platform;

(g) at least one multi-line hunt group connected to the switch, and

(h) at least one wide area network access device interfacing each multi-line hunt group and the communication network.

27. A communication system for transmitting audible messages over an IP-enabled communication network comprising:

a locality of subscriber units;

a switch interconnecting the subscriber units, the switch routing traffic outside of the locality of subscriber units over at least one multi-line hunt group, each multi-line hunt group including a plurality of voice communication lines and at least one signaling line carrying signaling data; and

at least one wide area network access device in communication with each multi-line hunt group and the communication network, the wide area network access device converting voice information received over each communication line and signaling data received over each signaling line into a data format acceptable by the communication network.