Abstract: The present invention provides a way of using a remote telephone (208a, 208b, 208c . . . ) to control a plurality of functions of the exchange (240) of a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system (201). The PBX system (201) includes a server computer (210) capable of controlling the functionality of the exchange (240). The method includes establishing a communication link (206a, 206b, 206c, . . . and 207) between the remote telephone (208a, 208b, 208c . . . ) and the server computer (210). Communications received from the remote telephone (208a, 208b, 208c . . . ) are processed to identify control commands. Control commands are associated with corresponding functions of the exchange (240) of the PBX system (201). The server computer (210) controls the corresponding functions of the exchange (240) based on the control commands. The control commands may be in the form of DTMF signals or voice signals that form words.

Abstract: A system and computer-based method for allowing a user to control the switching between a PSTN voice communication link between a user computer and a remote telephone and a VoIP voice communication link is disclosed. A soft-phone application running on a user computer allows a user to suspend a phone call at the switch port of a server computer connected to an exchange and switch from a PSTN connection to a VoIP connection or vice versa.