Telephony application platform

Abstract

A hosted private branch exchange (PBX) platform includes associated application programming interfaces (APIs) that provide a range of integration points with the PBX platform that, in turn, enables the development of a broad range of applications that can customize and/or enhance the basic functionality of the underlying PBX platform.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A platform, comprising one or more computing devices deployed in a network computing environment, the one or more computing devices being configured to provide services to a plurality of independent enterprises, each of the enterprises having account data stored in one or more data stores of the platform, the one or more computing devices implementing one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) that enable each of a plurality of applications to integrate with the platform, different subsets of the applications being developed by corresponding ones of a plurality of third party providers each of which is independent of the platform, the one or more APIs enabling each of the applications to access the account data for subscribing ones of the enterprises, and to control processes for the subscribing enterprises during execution of the processes by the platform, thereby extending the functionality of the platform for the subscribing enterprises. 
     
     
         2 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to provide an application developer environment with which developers design first applications of the plurality of applications. 
     
     
         3 . The platform of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to host the first applications. 
     
     
         4 . The platform of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to provide an application store in which at least some of the first applications are available for purchase by the enterprises. 
     
     
         5 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein first applications of the plurality of applications are developed and hosted on one or more other platforms independent of the platform. 
     
     
         6 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein the platform has a plurality of client devices for which the platform provides the services, and wherein the platform communicates with the client devices using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). 
     
     
         7 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein billing for use of one or more of the applications by one of the enterprises is integrated with billing for use of the platform by the enterprise. 
     
     
         8 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is a private branch exchange platform, and wherein the applications are telephony applications that relate to one or more of interactive voice response functionality, call center functionality, call statistics functionality, voice mail functionality, or call blocking functionality. 
     
     
         9 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is a private branch exchange platform, wherein the applications are telephony applications, and wherein the account data for each enterprise represent a plurality of users and extensions defined for that enterprise within the PBX platform. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented method for extending functionality of a platform for a plurality of independent enterprises, comprising:
 providing services to the enterprises via the platform deployed in a network computing environment, each of the enterprises having account data stored in one or more data stores of the platform;   providing one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) that enable each of a plurality of applications to integrate with the platform, different subsets of the applications being developed by corresponding ones of a plurality of third party providers each of which is independent of the platform;   enabling each of the applications to access the account data for subscribing ones of the enterprises; and   enabling each of the applications to control processes for the subscribing enterprises during execution of the processes by the platform.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing an application developer environment with which developers design first applications of the plurality of applications. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising hosting the first applications with the platform. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing an application store in which at least some of the first applications are available for purchase by the enterprises. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein first applications of the plurality of applications are developed and hosted on one or more other platforms independent of the platform. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the platform has a plurality of client devices for which the platform provides the services, and wherein the platform communicates with the client devices using the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising integrating billing for use of one or more of the applications by one of the enterprises with billing for use of the platform by the enterprise. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the platform is a private branch exchange platform, wherein the applications are telephony applications that relate to one or more of interactive voice response functionality, call center functionality, call statistics functionality, voice mail functionality, or call blocking functionality. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the platform is a private branch exchange platform, wherein the applications are telephony applications, and wherein the account data for each enterprise represent a plurality of users and extensions defined for that enterprise within the PBX platform. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product for extending functionality of a platform for a plurality of independent enterprises, the computer program product comprising one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) for use with the platform, the platform being deployed in a network computing environment and configured to provide services to the enterprises, each of the enterprises having account data stored in one or more data stores of the platform, the computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer program instructions stored therein, the computer program instructions being configured such that, when executed by one or more computing devices, the computer program instructions cause the one or more computing devices to:
 enable each of a plurality of applications to integrate with the platform, different subsets of the applications being developed by corresponding ones of a plurality of third party providers each of which is independent of the platform;   enable each of the applications to access the account data for subscribing ones of the enterprises; and   enable each of the applications to control processes for the subscribing enterprises during execution of the processes by the platform.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the computer program instructions are further configured to provide an application developer environment with which developers design first applications of the plurality of applications.