Abstract: An apparatus for locating a talker, comprising a microphone array for receiving multiple audio signals, wherein the microphone array is characterized by a predetermined beampattern, a spectral conditioner for filtering the audio signals to optimize the beampattern for talker localization, a localization estimator for calculating a localization estimate based on the filtered audio signals, an activity detector for detecting periods of speech activity, and decision logic for verifying the localization estimate during the periods of speech activity.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating a talker, comprising a microphone array for receiving multiple audio signals, wherein the microphone array is characterized by a predetermined beampattern, a spectral conditioner for filtering the audio signals to optimize the beampattern for talker localization, a localization estimator for calculating a localization estimate based on the filtered audio signals, an activity detector for detecting periods of speech activity, and decision logic for verifying the localization estimate during the periods of speech activity.

Abstract: A simple supplementary service protocol (SSSP) is provided for implementing functionally based supplementary services using the H.323 standard. According to the preferred embodiment, a generic and expandable protocol is provided for passing supplementary services information between H.323 entities for the provision of over twenty classes of functionally based supplementary services. The protocol of the present invention is relatively lightweight (i.e. not code intensive) compared to H.450 since it does not rely on ASN.1 encoding. In addition, the mixture of functional and stimulus protocol concepts in the design of the inventive protocol results in robust functional characteristics and implementation capability using only lightweight Endpoints.

Abstract: A system for management and control of multimedia communications resources comprising a communications pathway, an originating multimedia computing device coupled to the communications pathway with desired quality of service requirements, one or more destination multimedia computing devices coupled to the communications pathway, one or more quality of service management components coupled to the communications pathway, wherein the quality of service management components determines communications pathway resource availability for multimedia communications with the desired quality of service requirements in response to a request from the originating multimedia computing device to establish communications with the destination multimedia computing devices.

Abstract: A system to thwart eavesdropping on microphonic audio signals generated by a powered telecommunications device connected to a communications line, comprising a noise generator for applying low level noise to the line, thereby masking microphonic audio signals, and a disconnect circuit for disconnecting the telecommunications device from the line in the absence of power to the telecommunications device.

Abstract: An ultrasonic proximity detector for a telephone device to detect the proximity of an object thereto includes an ultrasound signal generator generating ultrasound that is broadcast by a speaker of the telephone device. Processing circuitry is coupled to a microphone of the telephone device. The processing circuitry processes broadcast ultrasound that is picked up by the microphone to detect the proximity of an object to the telephone device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for registering IP phones with an IP phone switch using access codes or personal identification numbers for authentication and for associating directory numbers to MAC addresses of IP phones.

Abstract: A method of detecting feature interaction conflicts between agents in response to events in a multi-agent system comprises posting said events as tuples and event requests as anti-tuples from said agents in said multi-agent system, receiving said events and said event requests in a tuple space, generating responses to each of said agents for said events which match said event requests of said agents, wherein feature interaction conflict is detected when more than one of said agents are to exert control over an event.

Abstract: A call manager receives an incoming call and from this may generate a subsidiary call signal, which it directs to a first call reception component. For example, the call manager may direct the call to a messaging system. If the call manager receives an intercept signal from the caller, it may redirect the subsidiary call signal to another call reception component, for example to another recipient.

Abstract: In a communication system, the improvement comprising a plurality of user data files for respective users each user data file including at least one role identifier; a plurality of communication groups having respective group name identifiers for associating predetermined roles with the groups and respective group phone numbers; and a role list data file for automatically associating respective ones of the users with a predetermined one or more of the communication groups according to the at least one role identifier.

Abstract: A method of establishing a process agent comprising storing a library of first software programs representing system resources, storing a second software program representing a corresponding service agent which includes pointers to associated ones of the first software programs which are represented by the service agent, storing a software program for invoking a general process, including the steps of: requesting a usage right for functional services represented by the service agent required by the general process, sending pointers to system resources required for the general process from the service agent to the software program for operating the general process, and storing the pointers sent from the service agent in association with the software program for operating the general process, and executing the software program for operating the general process using the system resources identified by the stored pointers.

Abstract: A method for transfer of incoming calls received by an attendant comprising the steps of obtaining the caller identification of the incoming call, initiating a search on a database using the caller identification, retrieving a list of previous call transfer destinations from the database corresponding to the caller identification, displaying the list on an attendant console contemporaneous with the incoming call, and selecting a desired transfer destination from the list on the console thereby transferring the incoming call to the desired transfer destination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of assigning data from time slots on an input bus to time slots on an output bus comprised of determining the order of time slots of data in a frame, determining whether each time slot of data in an input frame is to be located in the same or later time slot in an output frame, or whether it is to be located in an earlier time slot in an output frame, in the event each time slot of data of the input frame is to be located in the same or later time slot in an output frame, applying each time slot of data of the input frame to the same or a later time slot in the output frame, the event a time slot of data of the input frame is to be located in an earlier time slot in an output frame, delaying for one time slot interval and then applying each time slot fo data of the input frame to the same or a later time slot in the output frame, whereby the order of time slots in a stream of output data is always from an earlier time slot to a later time slot.

Abstract: A click-muting circuit for a headset microphone connected to a telephone, comprising a user operated mute switch, a click eliminator circuit connected across the microphone for gradually creating a short circuit across the microphone in response to closure of the mute switch, and a hard muting circuit connected in series with the microphone for disconnecting the microphone after the short circuit has been established.

Abstract: A RIP-based caching mechanism for bids in a distributed automatic route selection system for a network of PBXs. The PBXs are interconnected for propagating bid requests and replies therebetween. A cache table is maintained in each one of the PBXs for storing cached bid values for unused ones of the neighboring PBXs from whom replies have not been received responsive to a bid request. A subscribers table is also maintained in each PBX for identifying additional ones of the PBXs to whom bid value updates must be sent for updating their cache tables.

Abstract: An event detector for detecting a plurality of different possible asynchronous events from any of a plurality of source addresses and nodes, debouncing the events and, once a valid event has been identified and confirmed, formatting and transmitting a message via a message transport system to a predetermined destination address for further appropriate action. According to the preferred embodiment, each event is time-stamped so that latency in the message transport system does not affect time-critical events. Thus, the transmitted message identifies the source address, source node, an event number for identifying the event, and a time-stamp associated with the event.

Abstract: A packet switched communication system providing DPNSS standard voice and signaling data over IP, comprising connection services software for mapping IP addresses and port numbers to thirty IP trunks, wherein each of the IP addresses is used by a network layer of the DPNSS standard to route packets to a predetermined terminating node and each of the port numbers is used by a link layer of the DPNSS standard to deliver signaling data to a predetermined port within the terminating node. A far end message interface thread is provided for placing the signaling data and a Link Access Protocol (LAP) number into a data portion of each IP packet to permit reassociation of the signaling data at the terminating node to an associated one of the IP trunks.

Abstract: A method is provided for avoiding data loss in a data packet switch which utilizes a circular data buffer. If the data is received at a faster rate than it is read out of the buffer the data read-out pointer is adjusted by incrementing it to skip, or drop, the next sample. If the data is received at a slower rate than it is read out of the buffer, then the read-out pointer is adjusted by decrementing it to repeat the previous sample. The method of controlling the buffer read-out pointer according to the present invention, is implemented in hardware thereby reducing system complexity and improving speed relative to prior art software solutions.

Abstract: A system for handling a call requiring non-standard processing to a call answer point and for providing location information concerning the call to the call answer point, comprising a call routing apparatus for identifying the call as requiring non-standard processing and in response providing a priority routing for the call, translation table apparatus for receiving the call via the priority routing and in response assigning a predetermined designation for indicating the location information, protocol harmonization apparatus for formatting the call for digital transmission to the call answer point, including inserting the predetermined designation in an information portion of the digital transmission, and digital interface apparatus for receiving the call properly formatted for the digital transmission and in response transmitting the call to the call answer point, whereupon the call answer point ascertains the location of origination of the call from the predetermined designation.

Abstract: A circuit for eliminating switching noise from a mute switch connected between a microphone capable of receiving and transmitting audio signals to a communication system, comprising, a switch state detector connected to the mute switch for generating an on signal in the event that the mute switch is open and generating an off signal in the event that the mute switch is closed, a codec circuit connected to the mute switch in parallel with the switch state detector for delaying the audio signals received by the microphone, and a CPU connected to the codec circuit for receiving the on signal and in response muting the audio signals and for receiving the off signal and in response transmitting the audio signals to the communication system.