Patent ID: 8817669

Claim:
A system for processing calls to called users, comprising: an inbound controller, coupled to an inbound gateway coupled to a public switched telephone network (PSTN), capable of authenticating inbound calls received in a session initiation protocol (SIP) format using authentication information to filter authorized callers from unauthorized callers such that authorized calls are directed directly to a called user of the called users, while unauthorized or unrecognized calls are directed elsewhere; an outbound controller, coupled to an outbound gateway coupled to the PSTN, capable of sending the authenticated SIP calls to an outbound gateway; a voicemail database, coupled to a central controller, capable of storing and retrieving communications and designating by the called users, a priority for each caller and their related voicemail so that a voicemail from high priority callers will be played before voicemail from lesser priority callers; the central controller, coupled to the inbound and outbound gateways, capable of sending and receiving the authenticated SIP calls and associated real time protocol (RTP) signals as inbound calls and routing the inbound calls to the called users based on each called user's telephone number, and further being capable of: (i) routing a current one of the inbound calls received from a caller to the called user simultaneously to multiple destination points, including points on the PSTN, configured by the called user; (ii) playing audible information to the caller on the current one of the inbound calls; (iii) establishing communication with the called user at an answered one of multiple destination points; (iv) after communication is established at the answered one of multiple destination points, allowing the called user to select from options for the current inbound call including (a) accepting the current inbound call, (b) sending the current inbound call to the voicemail database, (c) connecting the current inbound call to the voicemail database and listening to the inbound call, wherein the central controller is further configured to allow the called user to select an option to accept the current inbound call while the caller is connected to the voicemail database and further configured to allow the called user to select whether a voicemail recording ends when the current inbound call is accepted while the caller is connected to the voicemail database and whether the voicemail recording continues when the current inbound call is accepted while the caller is connected to the voicemail database, and (d) sending the current inbound call to another telephone.