Handoff (Personal Ring Groups)

Description

The Handoff feature for Personal Ring Groups (PRGs) allows calls to be "Pushed" or "Pulled" between group member devices. A Push passes the call to the group, where it can be answered by any other present group device. A Pull takes an in-progress call away from another member. To Push a call to, or to Pull a call from, another member, you configure a Handoff key or equivalent feature access code (see Programming, below). You can program any button, including Programmable Key Module (PKM) buttons, as a Handoff key.

The same key or feature access code (FAC) is used to Push a call and to Pull a call. If the Handoff feature is invoked while on a call, the call is Pushed. If the PRG member device is idle or listening to dial tone, and there is an in-progress call on another member in the PRG, the call is Pulled by invoking the Handoff feature.

The voice path to a non-member device remains connected to the member device that initiated the Handoff until that device releases the call or another PRG member answers. If the Pushing device stays connected until the new device answers, the caller hears a short break in audio when the call is Pushed to the new device. If the Pushing device releases the call before the new device answers it, the caller hears ringback until another member device answers the call.

When a call is Pulled, it connects to the Pulling member's set and disconnects from the Pulled-from member's set. The caller hears a short break in audio when the call is connected to the new device. The caller does not hear Music On Hold. The call is not disconnected from the originating party until it is successfully connected to the party that Pulled the call.

If a Push goes unanswered, when the line that initiated the Handoff becomes available, it rings simultaneously with all other available members. See Group Presence for information about Presence checking. If the call remains unanswered and the Pushing member does not release the call, the other PRG members stop ringing when the ring timer expires. If the Pushing member does release the call prior to the Call Forward No Answer timer expiration, it is redirected to the Call Forward No Answer destination for the PRG.

If more than one PRG member is in an in-progress call, the programmed order of the members in the group determines which call is Pulled. If an in-progress call is not Pullable, the next call is checked to determine if it can be Pulled. For example, if member two is on one call, and member three is on another call, the member-two call is Pulled first. However, if the member-two call cannot be Pulled (for example, if the call is on Hold), then the call on member three is Pulled.

Conditions and Feature Interactions

Push and Pull Conditions

Push Conditions

Pull Conditions

Feature Interactions

This section identifies the feature interactions between Handoff and other call control features. It does not include feature interactions that are the same as for the PRG feature.

If the call is Pushed,

If the call is Pulled,

Programming

  1. Multiline Set Keys form
    Program a Handoff key. Leave the Button Directory Number and Ring Type fields blank.

  2. Feature Access Codes form
    Assign a feature access code to the Handoff feature

Availability

See the Feature-Phone Matrix (PDF or Microsoft Excel version) for a list of phones that can use this feature.

Operation

Any multi-line display phone

To Push an in-progress call to the PRG:

To Pull an in-progress call from another member of the PRG:

  1. Lift the handset (optional if the device supports hands free operation).

  2. Press the Handoff key or dial the equivalent feature access code.