Patent ID: 8189507

Claim:
A method for expanding the functionality of a telecommunications system using input/output devices, comprising: providing a plurality of input/output devices that are not physically connected to the telecommunications system, wherein at least one of said input/output devices is an electromechanical device selected from the group consisting of: a door lock; a solenoids; an electro magnet; a light; a visual indicator; an audible indicator; a bell; a buzzer; a chime; tone generator; proximity sensor; and a motor; assigning each input/output device an associated position consistent with the desired implementation which is reflected in a database of the telecommunications system; providing a database table reflecting the status of each input/output device; accessing the database upon detecting a change in state of at least one of the input/output devices; and altering the operation of one of said input/output devices by changing the state of the input/output device in the database, said change being initiated by an operation performed in the use of the telecommunications system.