Private branch exchange that manages interactions between associated telecommunications terminals
View Patent ↗An apparatus and methods are disclosed that provide a plurality of telecommunications management features to a telecommunications terminal that is associated with a corresponding terminal through a private branch exchange. In particular, the illustrative embodiment enables a user to manage the simultaneous use of and interaction between associated telecommunications terminals. This capability can be particularly advantageous when on-premises telecommunications terminals are associated with off-premises telecommunications terminals.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a telephone number R from one of (i) a first telecommunications terminal and (ii) a second telecommunications terminal;
uniquely associating the telephone number R to a corresponding telecommunications feature by use of a telephone number R to telecommunications feature mapping, wherein the corresponding telecommunications feature is one of a plurality of telecommunications features;
setting a flag for the telecommunications feature for the other one of (i) the first telecommunications terminal and (ii) the second telecommunications terminal;
wherein the first telecommunications terminal's telephone number T1 exists within the address space of the Public Switched Telephone Network; and
wherein the second telecommunications terminal's telephone number T2 exists within the address space of a private branch exchange telephone system; and
wherein the first telecommunications terminal's telephone number T1 is coupled with the second telecommunications terminal's telephone number T2; and
wherein the telephone number R is different from the first telecommunications terminal's telephone number T1 and the second telecommunications terminal's telephone number T2.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the flag indicates whether the second telecommunications terminal is permitted to join a call made to the second telecommunications terminal's telephone number T2, wherein the call has been answered by the first telecommunications terminal.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the flag indicates whether the second telecommunications terminal is permitted to remain on a call made to the second telecommunications terminal's telephone number T2, wherein the call has been answered by the first telecommunications terminal.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the flag indicates whether the first telecommunications terminal is permitted to activate a telecommunications feature of the private branch exchange telephone system.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the flag indicates whether the first telecommunications terminal is permitted to deactivate a telecommunications feature of the private branch exchange telephone system.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising dropping the second telecommunications terminal from a call made to the second telecommunications terminal's telephone number T2.
7. A method comprising:
receiving a telephone number R from one of (i) a first telecommunications terminal and (ii) a second telecommunications terminal;
uniquely associating the telephone number R to a corresponding telecommunications feature by use of a telephone number R to telecommunications feature mapping, wherein the corresponding telecommunications feature is one of a plurality of telecommunications features;
setting a flag for the telecommunications feature for the other one of (i) the first telecommunications terminal and (ii) the second telecommunications terminal;
wherein the first telecommunications terminal's telephone number Ti exists within the address space of a first telecommunications network; and
wherein the second telecommunications terminal's telephone number T2 exists within the address space of a second telecommunications network; and
wherein the first telecommunications terminal's telephone number T1 is coupled with the second telecommunications terminal's telephone number T2; and
wherein the telephone number R is different from the first telecommunications terminal's telephone number T1 and the second telecommunications terminal's telephone number T2.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first telecommunications network is the Public Switched Telephone Network.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the second telecommunications network is a private branch exchange telephone system.
10. The method of claim 7 wherein the flag indicates whether the second telecommunications terminal is permitted to join a call made to the second telecommunications terminal's telephone number T2, wherein the call has been answered by the first telecommunications terminal.
11. The method of claim 7 wherein the flag indicates whether the second telecommunications terminal is permitted to remain on a call made to the second telecommunications terminal's telephone number T2, wherein the call has been answered by the first telecommunications terminal.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein the flag indicates whether the first telecommunications terminal is permitted to activate a telecommunications feature of the second telecommunications network.
13. The method of claim 7 wherein the flag indicates whether the first telecommunications terminal is permitted to deactivate a telecommunications feature of the second telecommunications network.
14. The method of claim 7 further comprising dropping the second telecommunications terminal from a call made to the second telecommunications terminal's telephone number T2.