Concurrent media sessions for PBX telephones

Abstract

This invention integrates instant messaging, presence, and other collaborative capabilities with conventional PBX functionality through use of a PBX-Messaging Integration Client (PMIC). The invention in its several embodiments features a method and system for using the PMIC-based computer interface to perform off-hook/on-hook presence notification for a PBX phone, establish media sessions concurrent with PBX telephonic communication, execute custom call treatment in conjunction with a PBX phone, implement call transfer capability between a PBX phone and numerous other devices, and provide PBX call control. The PBX is generally enabled with computer telephony integration (CTI) and, depending on the embodiment, a Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The invention empowers enterprise workers with a diverse, unified and integrated set of both PBX functions and SIP-based collaboration tools.

1 . A media session method for a first computer interface operatively coupled to a system comprising a private branch exchange (PBX) and a second computer interface, wherein the first computer interface is associated with a first PBX phone and the second computer interface is associated with a second PBX phone, the concurrent media session method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a first message signifying that the second PBX phone is calling the first PBX phone;    transmitting a second message from the first computer interface to the second computer interface requesting a media session;    determining whether the media session request has been accepted; and    establishing a media session between the first computer interface and the second computer interface if the session request message has been accepted.    
     
     
         2 . The media session method of  claim 1 , wherein the first message comprises an extension number associated with a second PBX phone used by the first computer interface to generate the second message.  
     
     
         3 . The media session method of  claim 2 , wherein the second message comprises a universal resource identifier with an extension number of the second PBX phone.  
     
     
         4 . The media session method of  claim 1 , wherein the media session is a concurrent media session conducted in parallel with telephonic communication between the first PBX phone and the second PBX phone.  
     
     
         5 . The media session method of  claim 1 , wherein the media session is selected from the group consisting of: an instant message session, a text chat session, a multimedia session, a computer GUI interface sharing session, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The media session method of  claim 1 , wherein the media session is a SIP session.  
     
     
         7 . The media session method of  claim 1 , wherein the media session is a text chat session.  
     
     
         8 . The media session method of  claim 7 , wherein users at the first computer interface and second computer interface may manually escalate from the text chat session to a second media session.  
     
     
         9 . The media session method of  claim 1 , wherein the first message is a CTI event message.  
     
     
         10 . The media session method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether the media session request has been accepted comprises the step of receiving an SIP OK message.