Abstract: A application relates to call barring. Typically, PBX systems have the ability to bar calls originating from both an individual phone and group of phones. However, with nomadism/hot-desking in large organisations comprising typically many PBXs, often from different manufactures, a PBX base call barring solution is unworkable. Consequently, a computer telephony based solution has been chosen. The call barring is performed on the CTI server (1) which receives from the user via a computer terminal (10) a request to set up a call from a source telephone terminal (12) to a destination telephone terminal (8). The CTI server allows or blocks the call set-up request according to the call barring settings and forwards allowed call set-up requests to the PBX (4), whereby the CTI server overrides the PBX call barring settings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securely registering an association between a computer terminal and a selected one of a plurality of communications terminals in a computer telephony system. An association is established according to a known technique between the identity of the selected communications terminal and the identity of the computer terminal to allow for control of the communications terminal by a user via the computer terminal. An abstract representation of the identity of the communications terminal is; generated and provided to a third party system accessible by the user. The user can then implement control of the selected communications terminal via the third party system whilst not prejudicing the security of the system.

Abstract: A controller in a computer telephony system records a mapping linking a key and the identifier of a communications terminal previously associated with a user. The key selected by the controller is a parameter associated with the user in a second system external to the computer telephony system. The controller operates to receive a message from the second system comprising a command issued by the user and the key. The controller reads the received key and uses it to retrieve the identifier and then forwards the command together with the identifier to a communications controller for controlling operation of the communications terminal.

Abstract: The application relates to the registration of the identity of a telephone terminal in association with the identity of a computer terminal in a Computer Technology Integration environment CTI-enabled switching apparatus and a registration server interconnected by a CTI-link and a telephony link. A registration method whereby the registration is essentially achieved by using the telephony link to present PIN data inputted using the telephone terminal to the registration server and to identify the from the CTI-link the identity of the telephone terminal which presents the PIN data over the telephony link faces the problem of how to tie in the correct CLI to the correct call. This problem is solved by the application in that the port of telephony link used by the switching apparatus for the call by which the PIN data is transmitted is transmitted in combination with the CLI over the CTI-link.

Abstract: The system comprises a client and a set of servers for processing calls in a communications system; the servers providing call status messages to the client; in which each call status message comprises an identifier associated with the call to which the message relates. The client is arranged to handle duplicate copies of call status messages as follows. The client receives a copy of each call status message from each of the servers and identifies duplicate copies of each message received by reading the identifier in the received messages.

Abstract: A application relates to call barring. Typically, PBX systems have the ability to bar calls originating from both an individual phone and group of phones. However, with nomadism/hot-desking in large organisations comprising typically many PBXs, often from different manufactures, a PBX base call barring solution is unworkable. Consequently, a computer telephony based solution has been chosen. The call barring is performed on the CTI server (1) which receives from the user via a computer terminal (10) a request to set up a call from a source telephone terminal (12) to a destination telephone terminal (8). The CTI server allows or blocks the call set-up request according to the call barring settings and forwards allowed call set-up requests to the PBX (4), whereby the CTI server overrides the PBX call barring settings.

Abstract: A Computer Telephony Integration environment has reduced risk of inadvertent or fraudulent registration of the association of a user's computer terminal with the wrong telephone, i.e. one other than the telephone adjacent to the computer terminal or the user's mobile telephone, a host computer instructs the user via a screen display to call a particular extension of a CTI-enabled communications switching system.

Abstract: A CTI system includes a translation table of user names against consistent (i.e. simulated) calling line identity. When a user originates a call, the CTI server knows the name of the user currently associated with, i.e. logged on at, the originating work desk, and refers to the consistent CLI translation table to obtain the consistent CLI for that user, and to instruct the switch to make the call using that consistent CLI in the setup signalling message. In some CTI systems, the consistent CLI translation table is in the form of a user-associated dummy terminal translation table, and the CTI server instructs the PBX to make a call from the respective user-associated dummy terminal. In this case, the PBX stores the consistent CLI corresponding to that dummy terminal.

Abstract: A computer telephony system allows a user to control different communications terminals at different times via a second system, external to the computer telephony system. The computer telephony system comprises a plurality of communications terminals each of which has an identifier. The computer telephony system further comprises means for generating a key and for recording internally a mapping linking the key and the identifier of a first communications terminal and means for changing the mapping, on a request by the user, so as to link the key with a second communications terminal.

Abstract: A controller in a computer telephony system records a mapping linking a key and the identifier of a communications terminal previously associated with a user. The key selected by the controller is a parameter associated with the user in a second system external to the computer telephony system. The controller operates to receive a message from the second system comprising a command issued by the user and the key. The controller reads the received key and uses it to retrieve the identifier and then forwards the command together with the identifier to a communications controller for controlling operation of the communications terminal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securely registering an association between a computer terminal and a selected one of a plurality of communications terminals in a computer telephony system. An association is established according to a known technique between the identity of the selected communications terminal and the identity of the computer terminal to allow for control of the communications terminal by a user via the computer terminal. An abstract representation of the identity of the communications terminal is; generated and provided to a third party system accessible by the user. The user can then implement control of the selected communications terminal via the third party system whilst not prejudicing the security of the system.

Abstract: In a CTI system an incoming call is alerted to the called user's list of users who have expressed a primary level of interest in that called user's incoming calls, and the call is routed by the PBX to a Voicemail system if, for example the call is not answered within a predetermined time. The Voicemail system plays an announcement inviting the caller to key “one” to have the call re-presented, and if that digit is keyed by the caller, the Voicemail system makes a call to a predetermined extension of the PBX. The PBX recognizes, e.g. by using call ID or DNIS, that the call received on that extension is a re-presented call, and alerts the called user's list of users who have expressed a secondary level of interest, with or without alerting the “primary” list users. A tertiary list of users who have expressed a tertiary level of interest in that called user's incoming calls may be used in the event that the call is routed to the Voicemail system for a second time and the caller again keys “one”.

Abstract: A CTI system in which a user's profile comprises a workgroup containing the names of other users in whose telephony status he is interested, e.g. whether they are free or busy. The user's client displays a respective icon for each of his workgroup members, the icon has a text/coloured fill section to denote that member's telephony status. When an incoming call is received, the CTI controller sends details of the incoming call to the called user and every user whose workgroup includes the called user. Thus, at the user's client, when an icon indicates that a member of his workgroup has an incoming call, the user clicks on the icon to preview the details of the incoming call. The profiles also contain a value in seconds for “Divert To Mail After”, and, on receipt of the incoming call, this value is retrieved from the called user's profile and sent as part of the details of the incoming call to the called user, and to every user whose workgroup includes the called user.

Abstract: When a terminating call is forwarded by a CTI-enabled switch to an off-switch destination, the associated CTI controller is notified of the delivery of that call and in response the controller records that destination number as busy and invokes a call back when free request in respect of the destination number. When a notification is received at the CTI-enabled switch that the destination number has become free, the controller is notified, and in response records the destination number as free. The CTI-enabled switch may comprise a switch in combination with a telephony card.

Abstract: A CTI system in which a user profile contains a call-related feature table for holding the user's chosen timeout values for the facility “Divert To Mail After Timeout”. The call-related features are Name, Area Code, Time, and Route, and there is also provision for a Default value. The call-related features are ranked, and, for a incoming call to a called user, the CTI controller accesses that called user's profile, selects the highest ranking of the entries, e.g. Bob, and, using a CLI-to-name translation table, tries to find a match, i.e. is the incoming call from Bob. If there is a match, the associated timeout value is retrieved, and if there is no match, the Default timeout is retrieved. A countdown timer is started from the retrieved timeout value, and the current countdown value is displayed at the client of the called user to enable the called user to make a more informed decision about how and whether he will answer that call.

Abstract: A CTI system comprising a switch and a CTI controller therefor, a plurality of telephones connected to the switch, and a telephony card connected to the switch. When an incoming call is received for a user who has specified multiple telephone alerting, including a remote telephone, the CTI controller commands the switch to route the call to the card, generates a second call ID which is different from the first call ID already allocated by the switch for the incoming call, commands the card to make an outgoing call, associated with that second call ID, via the switch to the remote telephone, and to join the calls when the outgoing call is answered. The card will now be able to monitor the network signalling and report to the CTI controller when the remote telephone clears down.

Abstract: In a CTI system an incoming call is alerted to the called user's list of users who have expressed a primary level of interest in that called user's incoming calls, and the call is routed by the PBX to a Voicemail system if, for example the call is not answered within a predetermined time. The Voicemail system plays an announcement inviting the caller to key “one” to have the call re-presented, and if that digit is keyed by the caller, the Voicemail system makes a call to a predetermined extension of the PBX. The PBX recognises, e.g. by using call ID or DNIS, that the call received on that extension is a re-presented call, and alerts the called user's list of users who have expressed a secondary level of interest, with or without alerting the “primary” list users.

Abstract: When a terminating call is forwarded by a CTI-enabled switch to an off-switch destination, the associated CTI controller is notified of the delivery of that call and in response the controller records that destination number as busy and invokes a call back when free request in respect of the destination number. When a notification is received at the CTI-enabled switch that the destination number has become free, the controller is notified, and in response records the destination number as free. The CTI-enabled switch may comprise a switch in combination with a telephony card.

Abstract: The invention concerns an integrated computer and telephony system and a method of integrated computer telephony using at least one switch capable of receiving incoming telephone calls and of dialing outgoing calls; a computer terminal associated with the switch; memory means associated with said computer terminal and adapted to store a plurality of phone numbers said switch including a plurality of virtual telephones each corresponding in use to an individual one of said associated numbers;means for recognising that a telephone number connected to the switch as an incoming call is associated with at least some of said plurality of numbers; and means for causing said switch to call each of said associated numbers in parallel.

Abstract: A teleworking facility is provided with a Computer/Telephony Integration ontroller connected to a private automatic branch exchange (PABX) and arranged to select an available one of a set of terminals to receive the identity of a teleworking agent requesting work (or select the identity of a teleworking agent to be offered work), and to command an automatic call distribution (ACD) system to record the teleworking agent's identity in association with the identity of the selected terminal. When the controller detects that the ACD system has connected an incoming call to the selected terminal, it commands the PABX to make an outgoing external call to the teleworking agent at the recorded remote terminal and to join the two calls in conference mode.