SWITCH-BASED CALL PROCESSING WITH DETECTION OF VOICE PATH CONNECTION BETWEEN MULTIPLE TRUNKS IN EXTERNAL NETWORK

摘要

A private branch exchange (PBX) or other communication system switch is configured to establish connections for at least first and second calls associated with an external endpoint, using respective first and second trunks. Upon detection of a voice path connection between the first and second calls in a network external to the switch, the switch conferences the first and second calls together within the switch and drops at least one of the trunk connections. The switch may detect the voice path connection using an active approach in which a designated signal is generated on one of the first and second trunks and a determination is made as to whether the designated signal is detected on the other trunk. As another example, the switch may detect the voice path connection using a passive approach which involves monitoring the first and second trunks to determine whether they are connected in the external network.