Patent ID: 7912203

Claim:
A method for providing call coverage, comprising: detecting at a first branch system a first call to a first extension, wherein in a normal operating mode said first branch system is interconnected to a second branch system by a first network and by a second network; determining that said first call cannot be completed; in response to determining that a connection between said first branch system and one of said first extension and a coverage point over said first network is inoperable, wherein said first branch system is in survivable mode, retrieving a first call coverage path script for use while said first branch system is in said survivable mode; executing said first call coverage path script containing at least a first special character, wherein said method further comprises one of: 1) in response to determining that said first extension is included in a second branch system and in response to said first special character, dialing a direct inward dialing number for said first extension, wherein said first call is routed to said second branch system over said second network; 2) in response to determining that said first extension is included in said first branch system, dialing a direct inward dialing number for said coverage point and providing an identification of said first extension to said coverage point over said second network in response to said first special character.