Abstract: A communication system operative to retrieve communications from a plurality of calling parties by a called party at a plurality of selected secondary party locations, each having a corresponding Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device and a communication address. The system includes a switch which is provided in electrical communication with the calling party CPE devices and secondary party CPE devices. The system may be adapted for use in both Advanced Intelligent Networks (AINs) and non-AIN arrangements. The system may similarly be provided with Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) architecture or, in specified AIN arrangements, with advanced functionality controlled by a properly interfaced Service Control Point (SCP). The system is operative to place the incoming communication on queue while notifying the secondary party, i.e., the intended recipient, of the communication.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically routing telephone calls to a subscriber selected from a group of subscribers having a common calling number. The system and method are directed for use in a local exchange portion of an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN). A database in electrical communication with the system is operative to store a plurality of user calling numbers and corresponding location data as well as a unique destination number for each of the subscribers and corresponding unique location data. A service control point or adjunct processor in electrical communication with the database processes the call handling request signal to select one of the destination numbers to route the call to. The processing requires determining the user calling number from the call handling request signal, determining the user location data and comparing the user location data to the appropriate subscriber location data to select a corresponding destination number.

Abstract: An electronic document processing system is disclosed for a communications network, wherein the network protocol has the property of repeatingly breaking down each established communication connection between network nodes attempting to carry on a dialog session. Related document data is exchanged between a network server and a client node, wherein the network communication connection between the server and the client must be repeatedly re-established and the prior dialog session context must be reassociated with continued dialog session communications between the server and client. Accordingly, the server node embeds a dialog session identifier within each communication to the client so that a response from the client may return the identifier thereby allowing the server to associate new client input with previously stored input related to the dialog session.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a series of electronic forms that are related to completing a task. The apparatus includes a computer system in which one or more databases are stored. The computer system displays a list of tasks that can be selected by a customer service representative. Each task has associated with it a series of forms that must be completed. Each form includes a plurality of fields, each of which has an associated database. A code segment associated with each field processes data as it is entered into the field and stores the data in the field's associated database. The system also provides a task map indicating the forms that must be completed to finish a given task, as well as the forms that have already been completed.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for routing communications in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) having at least one central office switch. The disclosed system routes communications from a calling party having at least one Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device to a secondary party having a single calling number for a plurality of CPE devices, each having a corresponding communication address. In operation, communications are routed to a central office switch which is provided in electrical communication with at least one adjunct processor. Thereafter, the desired type of secondary CPE device sought to be accessed is identified in cooperation with storage means which is provided in electrical communication with the adjunct processor. As disclosed, the storage means is provided for storing a directory having a plurality of secondary party calling numbers and corresponding communication addresses.

Abstract: A user interface for use in a mobile telephone handset which includes static visual display means for presenting the status of the mobile telephone and other services accessible by the user. The interface further includes dynamic visual display means for presenting a plurality of context sensitive function labels. A plurality of fixed-labels signaling keys and soft-label signaling keys are also provided in electrical communication with the static and dynamic visual display means. The soft-label signaling keys are operative to access the displayed function labels relevant to the current context of the user interface. A method is further disclosed which includes the provision of a mobile telephone handset as described above, as well as the steps of viewing the static and visual displays to obtain instructions as to the status of the mobile telephone, the availability of telephone functions and whether fixed or soft-label signaling keys should be utilized.

Abstract: An interdiction device and method to jam or delete selected video and telephony signals. The interdiction device includes amplifiers and forward couplers to prevent the telephony signals from appearing at other undesired subscriber locations on the network.

Abstract: An improved user interface for use in interactive electronic devices. The user interface eliminates the complexity and ambiguity problems encountered in conventional interfaces through the incorporation of a physical overlay designed for use in cooperation with a contiguous touch screen or a plurality of individual touch screens. The physical overlay delineates the touch screen or screens into a plurality of context sensitive task and information display regions which may be accessed by direct user manipulation.

Abstract: A hybrid coaxial cable network employing interdiction to ensure privacy in telephony communications. The video and telephony signals are secured such that telephony and interactive video signals to and from a subscriber do not appear on the network at any other undesired subscriber location.

Abstract: User interfaces are distributed between a host computer 10 and an intelligent terminal 12 for communication over a telecommunications network 14 requiring minimum bandwidth. Host user interfaces 18 resident in the host computer 10 are distributed as terminal user interface objects 32 to the terminal 12. Terminal user interface objects 32 are directly manipulated on the terminal 12 and communicated on a filtered basis to the host computer 10 by a terminal port controller 34. Messages from the terminal 12 are directed by a host dispatcher 26 to host user interfaces which communicate with the host processor 16. Output messages from the host are routed through host and terminal port controllers 20 and 34, a terminal dispatcher 40 to terminal user interface objects 32.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for alleviating the harmful effects of convolutional and additive noise in speech, such as due to the environmental noise and linear spectral modification, based on the filtering of time trajectories of an auditory-like spectrum in a particular spectral domain.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for use in cooperation with a computer having memory in a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) for generating an optimized transition plan for the placement of Self-Healing Rings (SHR) and the routing of point-to-point demand in accordance with projected customer demand over a selected multi-period time interval. By determining the number of nodes within a SONET, the demand therebetween over selected time interval as well as the discounted add-drop cost for a plurality of selected Add-Drop Multiplexers (ADMs), a set of logical rings as well as a set of physical rings and detailed routing information may be obtained and graphically illustrated. Logical rings may be determined by optimizing discounted fixed and interconnection costs for the plurality of ADMs in accordance with a selected mixed integer program to generate a corresponding electrical signal for receipt by the computer memory.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for use in cooperation with a computer having a memory for generating an optimized transition plan for the placement and interconnection of carrier hubs in a local access network having a plurality of Central Offices (COs), Serving Wire Centers (SWCs) and Point-of-Presence (POP) exchange carriers such that calls may be routed at least cost. In operation, the total number and location of existing SWCs within the network must be determined along with the total switched and special access demand. Thereafter, known tariff rates for selected channel terminals, transport channels and multiplexers must be determined along with the total number of DS3 lines from each SWC to its corresponding POP. By expressing determined network demand as selected mixed-integer program decision variables and determining a corresponding set of logical constraints consistent with these decision variables, the optimized placement of hubs within the local access network may be determined.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for use in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) for automatically accessing and invoking existing switch-based services without going off-hook. To be operative, the Advanced Intelligent Network must be equipped with O-called-party-busy trigger and leg manipulation functionality such as in AIN release 1.0 architecture and have at least one service node or suitable switch in electrical communication with a plurality of central offices via a suitable signaling protocol such as Transaction Capability Application Part (TCAP) protocol. The switch or service node must be operative as the home switch or virtual Service Switching Point (SSP) for subscribers to existing switch-based services. In operation, the signaling protocol is monitored to detect predetermined triggers and line conditions associated with selected switch-based services.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the required number of active video circuits in an interactive video delivery network required to meet the specified blocking probability constraints. By determining peak loading hours as well as the number of system subscribers in a given video delivery network, the user may determine the blocking probability of the interactive video delivery system in accordance with the formula: ##EQU1## This information may thereafter be used to determine the number active video circuits to meet the determined blocking probability.

Abstract: A hybrid coaxial cable network employing interdiction to ensure privacy in telephony communications. The video and telephony signals are secured such that telephony and interactive video signals to and from a subscriber do not appear on the network at any other undesired subscriber location.

Abstract: A fiber optic/coaxial cable telephony network including power. Power is supplied through the coaxial cable portion of the video network to an cable network unit where the power is converted and supplied to the equipment including customer premises equipment.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for processing and displaying objects to permit a search of a database by a user of a telephone station. The telephone station includes a computer, a display device having a display screen adapted to cooperate with a pointing device. The method includes providing a database and a first index list. The method further includes displaying an array of objects on the display screen. The method also includes receiving a first set of signals relating to at least one object from the displayed array of objects; creating a first search string based on the first set of signals; displaying a plurality of entries of the first index list based on the value of the first search string; and receiving a signal relating to one of the displayed entries, the signal identifying an entry selected by the user. The method finally includes the step of displaying at least one object representing a phone number associated with the selected entry.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for alleviating the harmful effects of convolutional distortions of speech, such as the effect of a telecommunication channel, on the performance of an automatic speech recognizer (ASR). The technique is based on the filtering of time trajectories of an auditory-like spectrum derived from the Perceptual Linear Predictive (PLP) method of speech parameter estimation.

Abstract: An improved logistics planning method and system for recommending optimal order quantities and timing, choice of vendor locations and storage locations, and transportation modes, for individual items and for product families. The system is designed for use in cooperation with the computer having memory and incorporates item, customer, supplier, and routing information databases. In operation, the item, customer and supplier databases are accessed in order to provide customer and warehouse demand forecasts. The routing and customer databases are similarly accessed to provide transportation cost forecasts necessary to determine optimized routing modes for selected items, customers and suppliers. The demand and transportation costs are processed in accordance with a dynamic programming model to determine stock and non-stock order/shipment solutions for the selected items and customers, including optimized supplier and routing selection, order timing and quantity.