Abstract: A multipurpose card serves as an effective marketing tool in today's competitive marketplace. The multipurpose card includes a main portion and a key ring portion. The key ring portion may be separated from the main portion.

Abstract: In recent times, communications service providers have been able to offer large business enterprises the ability to share call center operation among multiple geographically dispersed call centers. In particular, network-resident call handling technologies have been developed for performing some of the handling and queuing of each inbound call within the communications network, that is, before the call is forwarded to an ACD at a particular call center. However, by outsourcing a portion of the call center operations to a network-based call routing system, the call centers are no longer able to maintain direct control over, and are generally unable to directly access information, such as statistics, about the calls in the network or other call centers. Accordingly, an interface is provided that allows an entity to obtain information about calls within the network or other call center(s).

Abstract: An Intranet/Internet/Web-based data management tool that provides a common GUI enabling the requesting, customizing, scheduling and viewing of various types of unpriced call detail data reports pertaining to a customer's telecommunications network traffic. The Intranet/Internet/Web-based reporting system tool comprises a novel Web-based, client-server application that enables customers to access their own relevant data information timely, rapidly and accurately through a client GUI. A traffic view server is provided that enables periodic acquisition of data from the customer's telecommunications network at a user-specified frequency and configured to meet real-time traffic reporting requirements. The system infrastructure provided enables secure initiation, acquisition, and presentation of unpriced call detail and statistical data reports to customers.

Abstract: Empirically derived models are used to relate user perception to objectively measurable characteristics, under a criterion of nearly perfect co-variance between predicted MOS values and the variations in the values of the objectively measurable characteristics. In the example context of evaluating packet switched telephony service, the present invention eliminates the need to perform subjective tests to characterize each combination of codec type and transmission protocol.

Abstract: An Intranet/Internet/Web-based data management tool that provides a common GUI enabling the requesting, customizing, scheduling and viewing of various types of unpriced call detail data reports pertaining to a customer's telecommunications network traffic. The Intranet/Internet/Web-based reporting system tool comprises a novel Web-based, client-server application that enables customers to access their own relevant data information timely, rapidly and accurately through a client GUI. A traffic view server is provided that enables periodic acquisition of data from the customer's telecommunications network at a user-specified frequency and configured to meet real-time traffic reporting requirements. The system infrastructure provided enables secure initiation, acquisition, and presentation of unpriced call detail and statistical data reports to customers.

Abstract: A method for communicating from an integration platform to a server that executes object request broker (ORB) software includes receiving user-entered information at the integration platform. The integration platform generates an event based on the user-entered information and publishes the event on a channel subscribed to by a connector associated with the server. The connector receives the event information, transforms the event information to a format compatible with the server and establishes communications with the server. The connector downloads the information to the server and the server updates its database. The connector may also determine whether at least one other system received the event information before downloading the data to the server.

Abstract: An approach is provided for securely communicating in a wireless network. A cryptographic server generates a command to enable a secure mode of operation for a wireless device, wherein the wireless device can operate in a secure mode and an unsecure mode in support of two-way messaging. The cryptographic server sends the command to the wireless device to activate the secure mode of operation. The secure mode of operation provides transmission of an encrypted message by the wireless device over the wireless network.

Abstract: A distributed network access system in accordance with the present invention includes at least an external processor and a programmable access device. The programmable access device has a message interface coupled to the external processor and first and second network interfaces through which packets are communicated with a network. The programmable access device includes a packet header filter and a forwarding table that is utilized to route packets communicated between the first and second network interfaces. In response to receipt of a series of packets, the packet header filter in the programmable access device identifies messages in the series of messages upon which policy-based services are to be implemented and passes identified messages via the message interface to the external processor for processing. In response to receipt of a message, the external processor invokes service control on the message and may also invoke policy control on the message.

Abstract: A method for communicating from an integration platform to a directory server includes receiving user-entered information at the integration platform. The integration platform generates an event based on the user-entered information and publishes the event on a channel subscribed to by a connector associated with the directory server. The connector receives the event information, transforms the event information to a format compatible with the directory server and establishes communications with the directory server. The connector downloads the information to the directory server and the directory server updates its database. The connector may also determine whether at least one other system received the event information before downloading the information to the directory server.

Abstract: A system and method for providing alternate dedicated connections are described. A primary dedicated connection may be configured to connect a first network and a second network, and a second dedicated network-based connection, which may include a point-to-point protocol (PPP)/layer 2 tunneling protocol (L2TP) tunnel, may be configured to automatically connect the first network and the second network when the primary dedicated connection fails.

Abstract: A method for performing mode-agile communications during a communications session is disclosed. A communications terminal device supporting multiple modes of access is configured to determine when, during a session involving a first mode of access communications, a second mode of access is available and is to be used for subsequent communications for the session. The communications terminal device initiates or controls switchover from one mode of access to another.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deploying and activating services in a communications network. In the context of a communications network that deploys service functionality by distributing managed software objects to service processing nodes, the present invention relates to selectively dispensing managed objects from a central repository and coordinating the instantaneous activation or deactivation of services throughout the network. Furthermore, where a managed object service creation environment is coupled to such a network, the method and apparatus of the present invention provides security, back-up, and version control of managed objects and other network data stored in the repository.

Abstract: An approach is provided for supporting integrated voice and data services over a common Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) device. The device includes a network interface that receives a call from a calling party device to a called party device. Also, the device has signaling conversion logic configured to convert between Session Initation Protocol (SIP) signaling and circuit-switched telephony signaling to support the call, wherein addressing information of the calling party device is preserved in the conversion. The called party device includes one of a telephone station and a SIP client. The device further includes a voice port coupled to the signaling conversion logic and configured to communicate selectively with the telephone station; and a data port configured to communicate selectively with the SIP client.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining and reporting a location of an object are provided. The method may include receiving a message, the message including information identifying a locator device and information identifying a location of the locator device. The method may also include determining whether the locator device is within a monitored area based on the location information. The method may also include retrieving contact information based on the locator device identification when the locator device is determined to be within the monitored area. The method may also include retrieving information identifying an object associated with the locator device based on the locator device identification. In addition, the method may include generating a notification using the retrieved contact information, the notification including the object identification.

Abstract: To verify the integrity of optical paths through and among optical switches, optical signals are provided with co-propagating supplemental signals. The supplemental signals preferably have at least one characteristic which allows distinguishing one supplemental signal from another. Associated with a port of a switch, means are provided for detecting a supplemental signal and determining if the supplemental signal indicates that a desired optical signal is passing through the port as expected and desired. Means for imparting or changing the distinguishing characteristic of a supplemental signal may also be employed to facilitate verifying the passage of optical signals.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for providing prepaid telephony service via an Internet protocol (IP) network system. A first method provides controlling at least one media agent or call routing station/switch of an IP network system for allowing and/or blocking call media streams from traversing through the media agent. A second method provides directing all signaling messages transmitted by a signaling agent or station and all media packets transmitting voice and data communications through at least one common device within the IP network system. The methods further provide for continuously monitoring a subscriber's account balance and terminating the prepaid telephony service if the account balance is less than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A method for processing an incoming message in substantially real-time is provided. The method may include receiving the incoming message in response to a condition associated with a client device. The incoming message may be processed using a message handler and an approved rule. The approved rule may be operatively associated with an approved message structure that is compatible with a backend system. The processed message may be provided to the backend system in the approved message structure. The method may also include sending a reply message to a destination.

Abstract: System and methodology for providing real-time call processing services received at a switch in an intelligent network having one or more service nodes having originating switches for receiving a call event. The system includes a platform-independent communication system for enabling communication between object instances executing at service nodes in the intelligent network. An operating system agent object instance executing in an execution environment associated with an originating switch communicates call origination information corresponding to a call event received at the switch to one or more object instances executing in an execution environment provided at a service node in the network; the object instances including a line object instance for maintaining the state of a communications line associated with a call origination, and, a service object implementing methods for performing a service according to a customer request.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that uses an continuous analytical function representing mapping data relating object voice connection measurements to likely user perception of the quality of a voice connection. The device is compact and inexpensive. It can be implemented on a single integrated circuit, or on a single printed circuit board. CPU processing time is significantly reduced. The device obtains a real-time estimate of likely user perception of a given connection in terms of a user perception rating system. The device is reprogrammable, enabling it to be updated as more accurate mapping data is obtained.

Abstract: An IP telephony client initiates and manages multimedia sessions. The client includes a user interface, an application interface, and a protocol stack. The application interface provides an interface between the protocol stack and the user interface and helper applications. The protocol stack packages messages received from the application interface and parses messages received from other parties or prospective parties. The application interface converts incoming messages to appropriate application programming interfaces (APIs) and sends incoming payloads to the appropriate helper application.