Method, apparatus and system for call leg selection
A method, apparatus and system for call leg selection is provided. In an embodiment, a call manger is provided which is connected to telephones that have the same telephone number. When the call manager receives an incoming call identifying that telephone number, the call manager sends a query to each of the telephones inquiring as to which telephone should receive the call. Depending on the response, the call manager will route the call to the appropriate one of the telephones.
1. A server for selecting a call leg comprising:
an interface for connecting to a telephony network;
a processor connected to the interface via a bus; the processor configured to receive an incoming telephone call via the interface; the incoming call destined for a telephone number;
a memory connected to the processor via the bus; the memory configured to maintain an electronic list of a plurality of telephones each associated with the telephone number; each of the telephones connectable to the telephony network;
the processor further configured to:
send a query via the interface to each of the plurality of telephones for identifying which of the telephones is designated to receive the incoming call;
when more than one response to the query received from the plurality of telephones via the interface indicates a designation of the respective telephone to receive the incoming call, upon receipt of the incoming call: hold the incoming call; determine a first and a second of the designated telephones by prioritizing the designated telephones based on characteristics of respective links between the telephones and the processor; and route the incoming call to the first one of the designated telephones; and
when no answer is received at the first one of the designated telephones, route the incoming call to the second one of the designated telephones.
2. The server of claim 1 , the processor being configured to send the query periodically.
3. The server of claim 1 , the processor being configured to prioritize the designated telephones based on a quality of service of a link between the server and each of the designated telephones.
4. A method for selecting a call leg in a server comprising an interface; a processor and a memory, the method comprising:
maintaining an electronic list of a plurality of telephones each associated with the telephone number in the memory;
sending a query via the interface to each of the plurality of telephones for identifying which of the telephones is designated to receive the incoming call;
when more than one response to the query received from the plurality of telephones via the interface indicates a designation of the respective telephone to receive the incoming call, upon receipt of the incoming call: holding the incoming call; determining a first and a second of the designated telephones by prioritizing the designated telephones based on characteristics of respective links between the telephones and the processor; and routing the incoming call to the first one of the designated telephones; and
when no answer is received at the first one of the designated telephones, route the incoming call to the second one of the designated telephones.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising sending the query periodically.
6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising prioritizing the designated telephones based on a quality of service of a link between the server and each of the designated telephones.
7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program, wherein execution of the computer program is for selecting a call leg in a server comprising an interface, a processor and a memory, by:
maintaining an electronic list of a plurality of telephones each associated with the telephone number in the memory;
sending a query via the interface to each of the plurality of telephones for identifying which of the telephones is designated to receive the incoming call;
when more than one response to the query received from the plurality of telephones via the interface indicates a designation of the respective telephone to receive the incoming call, upon receipt of the incoming call: holding the incoming call; determining a first and a second of the designated telephones by prioritizing the designated telephones based on characteristics of respective links between the telephones and the processor; and routing the incoming call to the first one of the designated telephones; and
when no answer is received at the first one of the designated telephones, route the incoming call to the second one of the designated telephones.
8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein execution of the computer program is further for sending the query periodically.
9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein execution of the computer program is further for prioritizing the designated telephones based on a quality of service of a link between the server and each of the designated telephones.