Charles P Fitzgerald

US Patent:

20080025489, Jan 31, 2008

Filed:

Jun 11, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/811906

Inventors:

Steve Dye - Richardson TX, US
Xiaoying Liu - Plano TX, US
Xinwu Zhu - Carrollton TX, US
Charles Kalat - Richardson TX, US
Thomas Zegub - Richardson TX, US
Nancy Holley - Plano TX, US
Charles Fitzgerald - Plano TX, US
Lawrence Chambers - Garland TX, US

Assignee:

Aastra USA, Inc. - Frisco TX

International Classification:

H04M 3/42

US Classification:

379202010

Abstract:

Systems and methods for connecting a plurality (even a large plurality) of recipients or destinations to an originating caller across, for example, a phone network. In preferred embodiments, the phones are connected within a single private branch exchange (PBX), which can be distributed across individual nodes over large distances. The size of the groups included in the destinations can be indefinitely large and can be configured to parse recipients as desired. In preferred embodiments, an originator selects from among various pre-defined groups (or, alternatively, the originator defines new groups) and initiates a one-way or two-way call to recipients. The recipients' control over refusing the announcement are optional, but preferably include non-override options so that emergency announcements may not be ignored or blocked.