Method and apparatus for providing extension management in voice over internet protocol customer premises

Abstract

A method and apparatus for allowing all the extensions connected to an enhanced Terminal Adaptor (TA) associated with a single phone number to place and receive phone calls independently are disclosed. For example, in the case of a call waiting scenario, if an extension is already engaged in an ongoing phone call, then the enhanced TA provides call waiting handling to the engaged extension similar to traditional call waiting when a subsequent incoming call is received. However, the enhanced TA also rings the remaining extensions that are not currently engaged in phone calls when the subsequent incoming call is received.

1 . A method for providing extension management in a communication network, comprising:
 processing a first phone call using a Terminal Adaptor (TA) having only a single assigned telephone number, where said TA is connected to a plurality of extension telephones; and   processing a second phone call simultaneously using said TA, where said first phone call and said second phone call are connected to at least one of said plurality of extension telephones via said TA.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said communication network is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said processing said second phone call comprises:
 ringing all of said plurality of extension telephones that are on hook if said second phone call is an incoming call; and   sending a call waiting indication signal to all of said plurality of extension telephones that are off hook when said second phone call is received.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said processing said second phone call further comprises:
 connecting said second phone call to one of said plurality of extension telephones that are on hook; or   placing an active ongoing phone call engaged by an off hook extension telephone on hold and connecting said second phone call to said off hook extension telephone on hold.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said second phone call is connected to one of said plurality of extension telephones that is off hook if a flash hook signal is received by said TA. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 receiving a flash hook signal from one of said plurality of extension phones that is off hook and is actively engaged in said first phone call;   placing said first phone call on hold; and   connecting said one of said plurality of extension phones that is off hook to said second phone call that is actively engaged with another extension telephone from said plurality of extension phones.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first phone call or said second phone call comprises: an incoming call or an outgoing call. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said TA is connected to said plurality of extension telephones via a wired network or a wireless network. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of extension telephones is associated with a Media Access Control (MAC) address or an Internet Protocol (IP) address. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform steps of a method for providing extension management in a communication network, comprising:
 processing a first phone call using a Terminal Adaptor (TA) having only a single assigned telephone number, where said TA is connected to a plurality of extension telephones; and   processing a second phone call simultaneously using said TA, where said first phone call and said second phone call are connected to at least one of said plurality of extension telephones via said TA.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein said communication network is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein said processing said second phone call comprises:
 ringing all of said plurality of extension telephones that are on hook if said second phone call is an incoming call; and   sending a call waiting indication signal to all of said plurality of extension telephones that are off hook when said second phone call is received.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein said processing said second phone call further comprises:
 connecting said second phone call to one of said plurality of extension telephones that are on hook; or   placing an active ongoing phone call engaged by an off hook extension telephone on hold and connecting said second phone call to said off hook extension telephone on hold.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein said second phone call is connected to one of said plurality of extension telephones that is off hook if a flash hook signal is received by said TA. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , further comprises:
 receiving a flash hook signal from one of said plurality of extension phones that is off hook and is actively engaged in said first phone call;   placing said first phone call on hold; and   connecting said one of said plurality of extension phones that is off hook to said second phone call that is actively engaged with another extension telephone from said plurality of extension phones.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein said first phone call or said second phone call comprises: an incoming call or an outgoing call. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein said TA is connected to said plurality of extension telephones via a wired network or a wireless network. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein each of said plurality of extension telephones is associated with a Media Access Control (MAC) address or an Internet Protocol (IP) address. 
     
     
         19 . A Terminal Adaptor (TA) for providing extension management in a communication network, comprising:
 means for processing a first phone call; and   means for processing a second phone call simultaneously, where said TA has only a single assigned telephone number, where said TA is connected to a plurality of extension telephones, and where said first phone call and said second phone call are connected to at least one of said plurality of extension telephones via said TA.   
     
     
         20 . The TA of  claim 19 , wherein said means for processing said second phone call comprises:
 means for ringing all of said plurality of extension telephones that are on hook if said second phone call is an incoming call; and   means for sending a call waiting indication signal to all of said plurality of extension telephones that are off hook when said second phone call is received.