Donald G Woo

US Patent:

48113816, Mar 7, 1989

Filed:

Nov 10, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/119395

Inventors:

Donald E. Woo - Oakland CA
Paul M. Barnett - Sunnyvale CA

Assignee:

Octel Communications Corporation - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

H04M 350
H04M 714

US Classification:

379 67

Abstract:

A direct inward dial integration device is connected to the trunk side of a PBX in a business telephone system. The present invention permits a voice message system (VMS) to answer forwarded calls with a personal greeting of a called party. When a direct inward dial call is made, the identity of the extension (i. e. , the extension number) being called is transmitted to the PBX by the telephone system. The integration device detects and stores the extension identity. If an incoming call is forwarded to the VMS, the VMS generates a query sigal, which causes the integration device to automatically transmit the stored extension number to the voice message system. Thus the voice message system can identify the called party. The VMS responds by answering the call with a personal greeting of the called party and inviting the outside caller to leave a recorded message.