METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING AN INCOMING CALL TO A COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT IS ALREADY ENGAGED IN A COMMUNICATION SESSION

摘要

A server (112) is configured to connect an incoming call to a client computer (102), wherein the call is generated by a telephone handset (140) and destined for a local PSTN extension (106) that is already in use by the client computer (102) communicating with the server (112) for another purpose. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the server (112) is comprised of a storage medium and an execution unit. The storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions for implementing communication services for facilitating the connection of the incoming phone call on behalf of the client computer (102) and interleavingly delivering the incoming call signals to the client computer (102), and accepting interleaved outbound call signals from the client computer (102) and transmitting outbound call signals on behalf of the client computer (102) to the telephone handset (140). The execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, is responsible for executing the programming instructions.