Abstract: A system and method for providing IP transport and Internet services using a public switched telephone network and providing equal access. The system provides a wide area communications network serving a plurality of defined geographic areas (LATAs) served by a switched telephone network having a plurality of central office switching systems in the telephone network in each geographic area connected to a plurality of terminals in premises served by said switching systems in those geographic areas. A switched multimegabit data service (SMDS) network spans the geographic areas and a frame relay network spans the geographic areas. A plurality of Internet service providers (ISPs) are connected to the SMDS network. At least one data hub node is provided in each geographic area and each hub node is connected to the SMDS network and to the frame relay network.

Abstract: In recent years, the world-wide packet data network, commonly known as the Internet, has grown exponentially. The data network now reaches virtually all businesses, most schools and an increasing number of homes. To provide an alternative to all or portions of the carrier-based telephone network, a number of companies have developed equipment and software that enable voice telephone-like communications via the Internet. Severs are now coming on line, which enable calls over the Internet to go off-net to end user stations still coupled to the local telephone network. A number of situations arise where a telephone service subscriber wants to allow callers to call the subscriber's equipment and have part or all of the communication charges billed to and paid by the subscriber. The invention enables such billing to the called party, for calls routed partially or entirely via the Internet.

Abstract: A portable, automated telephone line test device includes a test module which applies test signals to a telephone line to be tested and detects electrical characteristics of the telephone line, and a user interface module. The user interface module includes a microprocessor, a display, a keyboard and a program memory in accordance with a standard microcomputer architecture. The processor of the user interface module is programmed to control the test module to perform a pre-programmed sequence of tests. The display provides indications of the tests being performed. The programmed sequence is varied by the device according to test results. Depending on the results obtained, the device also provides interpretative diagnostic messages and instructs the user to carry out additional test procedures.

Abstract: The quality of service existing in a data packet network during the course of communication of a voice call through a data network, such as the Internet, is monitored. A minimum acceptable level of service may be predefined with a threshold quality level stored in the user's Call Processing Record (CPR) in the AIN Integrated Services Control Point (ISCP). If the monitored quality is maintained in excess of the stored threshold, communication of the call continues through the established course of transmission. If the measured quality of service on the data network is not satisfactory, the routing of the call is changed to communication solely through a voice telephone network connection, which may include an Interexchange Carrier link, without terminating the call. The packet data network is thereby bypassed to obtain voice grade quality while maintaining the call.

Abstract: A system and method for providing telephone type services over the internetwork commonly known as the Internet. Wireless digital telephones in communication with wireless digital communications systems have speech coders that generate digital voice samples, and encoders that encode the digital voice samples to minimize bit errors during RF transmission. The wireless digital communications system demodulates the received modulated wireless signal transmitted by the digital telephone to recover the encoded, digital voice samples. The error correction codes within the encoded, digital voice samples are removed to recover the original digital voice samples generated by the vocoder in the digital telephone.

Abstract: A public switched telephone network utilizing program controlled switching systems controlled by common channel interoffice signaling (CCIS) and preferably an advanced intelligent network (AIN) CCIS network is arranged in an architecture to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. The system permits a caller to set-up and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station without access to computer equipment and without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service. Billing may be accomplished on a per call basis. It is a particular feature of the invention that directory assistance is offered to callers, with or without call completion at the option of the caller. Such assistance is rendered through the use of procedures presently familiar to the caller from usage of the public switched telephone network.

Abstract: A localized wireless gateway system provides wireless telephone communication, and for at least interexchange communication, provides voice telephone access to a public packet data network, such as the Internet. The wireless gateway system includes base station transceivers and a packet service gateway coupling the transceivers to the public packet data network. The packet service gateway compresses and decompresses voice frequency communication signals, and it sends and receives the compressed signals in packet form via the network. The packet service gateway also provides for signaling through the network to establish two-way voice communication sessions. In the preferred implementation, the localized wireless gateway system includes at least one radio port control unit coupled to the base station transceivers for controlling calls through the transceivers.

Abstract: Offering vertical services to subscribers and service providers is an avenue to immediately improve the competitiveness of digital subscriber line access service, for example of the type offered by a local exchange carrier. To deliver high-quality vertical services, however, the underlying ADSL Data Network (ADN) or the like needs to establish Quality of Service (QoS) as a core characteristic and offer an efficient mechanism for insertion of the vertical services. The inventive network architecture introduces QoS into the ADN, in a manner that enables the delivery of sophisticated and demanding IP-based services to subscribers, does not affect existing Internet tiers of service, and is cost-effective in terms of initial costs, build-out, and ongoing operations.

Abstract: A telephone directory search method and system intelligently utilizes secondary information contained in subscriber listings to disambiguate search results and provide telephone number and other data associated with a desired party. Upon identification of more than one listing for a particular requested named party, the system searches through secondary information for each of the parties to identify distinguishing information which is solicited from the calling party. Thus, where there are multiple listings for a particular name, the system attempts to identify distinguishing categories of information such as location, department, terminal type, etc., helpful in refocusing the search and eliminating listings from further consideration.

Abstract: A communication service loads subscriber profile information corresponding to an intended call recipient in a call processing register of a switch serving a link to a destination station and transmits a distinct predetermined call alert signal over the link to the destination station based on the loaded subscriber service profile information. The distinct call alert signal identifies the intended recipient subscriber.

Abstract: A number of proposals have been developed to provide data communications over two-wire copper circuits at rates equivalent to a number of combined ISDN B-channels. For example, for an ISDN rate digital subscriber line (IDSL), the circuit between the network termination at the customer premises and the channel bank carries data on two combined B-channels. An IDSL circuit cannot carry voice communications. Some such services carry the lower rate signaling D-channel only on the subscriber line circuit. Normal ISDN services carry voice services on one of the two B-channels, limiting data communications to the other B-channel. Normal ISDN services do carry the lower rate D-channel through the network, but this channel is used only for call set-up signaling, low speed data communications and the like. The invention uses two or more B-channels on the DSL circuit for data communications and transports voice telephone communications on the low speed signaling D-channel.

Abstract: A recognition device and method for recognizing a voice message in the form of pulse code modulation (PCM) digital signals indicative of samples of the voice message. The device and method are adapted such that a recognition result is not provided if the digital signal content satisfies certain requirements which are indicative of a likely erroneous recognition result. The recognition device and method are further adapted to reduce errors in recognizing voice messages of the same message content but different amplitude, as well as to permit simultaneous recognition and storing for recording of a voice message.

Abstract: Apparatus including a program formed from Layered Procedure Sets and providing control for the program such that the message event blocks established for a session of the program are uniquely identifiable to the session and such that a single control block is established for a Layered Procedure Set during a session, the control block being uniquely identifiable to the Layered Procedure Set based on the particular session and the identification of the Layered Procedure set.

Abstract: An optical integrated circuit comprises an optical substrate and an optical waveguide supported by the substrate. A transducer is incorporated into the optical integrated circuit and coupled to the optical substrate. The transducer comprises a region of piezo-electric material and a set of electrodes for applying a voltage to the piezo-electric material for selectively causing the deformation of the piezo-electric material so as to alter the optical path length of the waveguide.

Abstract: A system which utilizes a bar code having an instruction field whose data specifies an action to be performed and also having a reference field whose data relates to the data in the instruction field. The system reads the instruction and reference fields of the bar code and processess the read data. This processing may determine from the instruction field data that the action or actions to be taken are to be taken on data other than that in the reference field of the bar code. It also may determine from the data in the instruction field that an action to be taken on the data in the reference field is other than an action identified in the instruction field of the bar code. Based on these determinations, the system continues the processing using the appropriate action and data.A unique bar is also used in the system. This bar code, between its start and stop fields, has a separator field whose width is greater than that of any of the individual bar code characters.

Abstract: A system for voice distribution amongst a plurality of telephone subscriber locations operating on a broadband cable network wherein RF transmitting and RF receiving channels for carrying voice and signalling information are established at the subscriber locations and coupled with the broad band network and a central switch is also coupled with the broadband network and enables each RF transmitting channel to be selectively coupled to any of the RF receiving channels. The system is further providing with an adjusting means which is responsive to the traffic on the central switch and which enables the power level in each of the channels to be selectively adjusted.

Abstract: A fuse holder adapter for use with knife-blade fuse clips used with standard 600 ampere fuses in which the adapter comprises first and second metallic plates mounted in facing, spaced relationship on an insulator plate. The first and second metallic plates have respective first and third sections which are adapted to receive fuse clips to form fuse holders of different length and further have respective second and fourth sections formed as knife-blades and extending beyond the insulator plate so as to be able to be receivable in the knife-blade fuse clips used with the standard 600 ampere fuses.

Abstract: A station controller for use with a centrex exchange in which the controller provides lamping signal control for the lamps of telephone stations forming multi-station pick-up groups and wherein the controller further provides cable pair information for use in establishing and updating an equipment port/cable pair/telephone station correlation table in the centrex exchange.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus for use with a telephone network which supports standard DTMF tones and to which is connected telephone stations capable of generating standard DTMF tones wherein the gaming apparatus generates and transmits DTMF tones to a calling telephone station, receives response DTMF tones from a player at the calling station and compares the transmitted and received DTMF tones to determine if there is a match.