Mobile branch exchange

Abstract

A mobile branch exchange (MBX) allows a user of a mobile telephone to exploit the functionality of a private branch exchange (PBX) as if the user were using a PBX-connected wire line telephone in an office setting. A server is placed on corporate premises and the server is configured to communicate with corresponding client software programmed into a programmable mobile telephone. The server directly interfaces with the PBX to control call placement and connectivity and operates as an intermediary proxy for the mobile telephone. In a preferred embodiment, the server establishes a data pathway to the mobile telephone that is, from a network point of view, independent of a parallel voice pathway established between the PBX and mobile telephone.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 000,492, filed Dec. 4, 2001, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 251,042 filed Dec. 5, 2000, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 255,897 filed Dec. 18, 2000, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 266,341 filed Feb. 5, 2001, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention is directed to mobile telephony and related features thereof. More specifically, the present invention is directed to extending the functionality of a private branch exchange (PBX) to a mobile telephone or other mobile communication device. The present invention is further directed to providing other advanced services with respect to a mobile telephone that would otherwise be available only via a hard-wired networked computer and / or telecommunications system. [0004] 2. Background of the Invention [0005] Voice communicati...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a series of improvements in mobile telephone service and technology and thereby provide improved and extended functionality to mobile telephone users.

Problems solved by technology

However, when a businessperson leaves the office environment, he typically leaves behind a significant telecommunications infrastructure that resides in the business' telephone private branch exchange (PBX).

However, this functionality is abandoned the instant the businessperson leaves the businesses premises and uses public mobile telephony services rather than the private fixed telephony system.

Thus, when a businessperson is on the road, it is, at the very least, inconvenient, if not impossible, to avail himself of the functionality offered by a PBX.

Similarly, although some businesses allow their employees to divert office telephone calls to their mobile telephone, the mobile user employee is not able to see the true calling line identity of a diverted call, as the identity of the PBX trunk line is presented by the mobile network instead, and it is very cumbersome for employees to transfer the call to another PBX user, and impossible to allow the PBX to automatically route the call to another PBX user or group if the diverted call is not answered.

Thus, as can be readily appreciated, basic PBX functionality is not available to a mobile telephone user.

In addition, while the use of mobile telephones has exploded in recent years, mobile telephones have also introduced inconveniences of their own.

This unnecessarily fills address books and quickly becomes unmanageable, especially as mobile telephone users change service providers as mobile service provider competitors offer better and / or less expensive service.

This mix of company and personal telephone numbers also poses a significant problem for the company when the employee is terminated or leaves, as important corporate clients will keep placing business calls to the terminated employee's personal mobile telephone number, bypassing any corporate call management mechanism in place to ensure that customers calls are answered and responded to in an appropriate manner, also creating a risk that hostile former employees get the opportunity to damage or steal the client relationship.

Also, while mobile telephones provide exceptional opportunities for staying in touch, generally speaking, international mobile telephone calls are much more expensive than calls made via a company's telephone service, especially if the company exploits the advantages of negotiating for bulk telecommunications services.

Thus along with the advantages and convenience of mobile telephony there are, however, also several disadvantages, inconveniences, and failings of this technology, especially with respect to the business environment.

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