Abstract: Fraud prevention in a telecommunications network using call initiation equipment including intelligence capable of authentication is described. In order to initiate a call via a telecommunications network, the call initiation equipment sends authentication data to an adjunct platform. The adjunct platform uses the authentication data to determine if the call initiation equipment is authorized to use the customer wireline that interconnects the call initiation equipment to the telecommunications network.

Abstract: In a unified messaging system, a background stream manager streams message data from a file server into a local storage resource upon a voice server. A foreground stream manager concurrently streams message data from the local storage resource to a telephone. The background stream manager determines whether the amount of contiguous message data within the local storage resource relative to a current message playback position exceeds a high threshold value. If so, the background stream manager interrupts message data streaming into the local storage resource. The foreground stream manager determines whether the amount of contiguous message data remaining to be streamed from the local storage resource relative to the current message playback position has dropped below a low threshold value. If so, the background stream manager resumes message data streaming into the local storage resource.

Abstract: System and method for providing a waiting indicator at a cell phone indicating that a voice mail message is available at a remote voice mail system. The system is placed at a voice mail system site and interacts with the voice mail system using industry standard signals, such as TAP and SMDI signals. After gathering the information provided by the voice mail system, the present invention forwards data over the internet to a cell server associated with cell phone sites. The cell phone server in turn provides for a message waiting indicator at the appropriate cell phone.

Abstract: A method of transmitting one or more audio file attachments in an electronic message from a telephone including the steps of dialing into a predetermined telephone number, sending one or more DTMF signals on the touch-tone telephone corresponding to a preselected email address wherein the one or more DTMF signals is associated with a predetermined alphanumeric character, assembling a string of alphanumeric characters by repeating the DTMF signal entry until the preselected email address has been completed, recording an audio voice message over the touch-tone telephone, converting the audio voice message into a digital audio file, attaching the digital audio file to an electronic message directed to the preselected email address, and transmitting the electronic message to the preselected email address.

Abstract: An automated message system sends a message of the calling party to the called party in response to a control signal. The automated message system includes a telephone network, a first telephone station, a second telephone station used by the called party and an automated message unit coupled to the first and second telephone stations through the network. A controller of the automated message unit that receives the control signal from the calling party selects a database from a memory device and retrieves a message from the database based on information included in the control signal. If an answering machine answers the calling party's call, the controller waits for the answering machine message to complete and sends the message retrieved from the database to the second telephone station of the called party.

Abstract: A method for permitting transparent handling of signal messages and voice information of a subscriber to a desired network operator through at least one local exchange of a network operator physically allocated to the subscriber.

Abstract: A system is disclosed in which a caller may provide certain information during a call to an interactive voice response unit, prior known information about the caller may be stored in a computerized database, and an agent terminal may access the information in the database and collected at the interactive voice response unit, during the call, such that information collected from the caller before arriving at the agent does not have to be recollected from the caller by the agent.

Abstract: An improved prompting system for accessing specified functions. According to one embodiment, a particular user may identify himself to the system and thereafter preprogram one or more paths that lead directly to a desired function within the hierarchical menu prompting system. The next time the user needs to access the system the user can navigate directly to the desired function by pressing a predetermined key or sequence of keys on his or her Touch-Tone dial. Alternatively, the prompting system may present as an option a direct path to the desired function.

Abstract: A voice activated dialing system includes a database maintaining a plurality of speech templates, associated telephone numbers, and recordings, wherein multiple speech templates can be linked to a single master recording. Processing circuitry compares an utterance from a user to one or more of the templates from the database to find a matching template. When a match is found, the processing circuitry retrieves the telephone number associated with the matching template and the corresponding recording. The recording is replayed to the user prior to initiating a connection to the associated telephone number. Master recordings can be used for multiple entries which are associated with a single telephone number to reduce storage requirements.

Abstract: A method for accessing and browsing the internet through the use of a telephone and the associated DTMF signals is disclosed. The preferred embodiment provides a system that converts the information content of a web page from text to speech (voice signals), signals the hyperlink selections of a web page in an audio manner, and allows selection of the hyperlinks through the use of DTMF signals generated from a telephone keypad. Upon receiving a DTMF signal corresponding to a hyperlink, the corresponding web page is fetched and again delivered to the user via one of the available delivery methods such as voice, fax-on-demand, electronic mail, or regular mail.

Abstract: The present invention provides a communications system and maintenance system for telephone contact. The present invention is designed to be a stand-alone system used in concert with computers and public telephone switches that are well known in the telephone contact industry. The present invention may, if desired, be integrated into an existing telephone contact system or host program, or, it can be made available as a stand alone product. The communication system enables the telephone service representative to transparently deliver a prerecorded voice file to a party that is consistent in voice tone, quality, energy and pitch. The communication system also provides the telephone service representative with a viewable transcript of the actual voice being transmitted to the party.

Abstract: A voice message processor is disclosed for producing remote voice recordings in a decentralized, non-networked environment. Connections are provided for a communication link capable of transmitting and receiving calls over a public communication network, for a telephone set, and for a recordable voice message recording/playback device. A switching device provides a first state in which the telephone set connection and communication link connection are connected together, a second state in which the voice message recording/playback device input is connected to the communication link connection, and a third state in which the voice message recording/playback device output is connected to the communication link connection. A controller enable the voice message recording/playback device to be selectively recorded and played back when the switching device is in its second state and enables the voice message recording/playback device to be selectively played back when the switching device is in its third state.

Abstract: An inbound/outbound call record processing system and method processes outbound call records for use with inbound telephone calls. The call record processing system includes a call record finder that finds outbound call records that match an inbound telephone call, for example, by searching a call record index table including a plurality of indexed call records corresponding to a plurality of outbound call records in one or more outbound call lists. One way of finding matching outbound call records is by receiving and automatically identifying a telephone number associated with the inbound telephone call and searching for an indexed call record having a searchable key field that matches the telephone number. If no records are found by searching for the telephone number, a search can be made based upon requested information provided by the calling party.

Abstract: A communications system is designed to present a number of options to a caller who is attempting to reach a call-waiting subscriber already busy on a first call. The options are presented to the caller via an announcement that offers the caller the alternative of either sending immediately a conventional call-waiting alert signal to the subscriber, or leaving a message that is automatically delivered to the subscriber immediately after the subscriber terminates the first call.

Abstract: A system and method for Enhanced Overflow Call Processing redirects calls which cannot be completed to alternate terminations. An originating switch queries a network database for an alternate termination for the call each time the originating switch detects that the call cannot be completed to the current termination. The network database determines the alternate termination for each query using a hierarchical set of multi-branch overflow statements which are configured by the user. A set of overflow statements is selected by the network database based on the original termination of the call. The set of overflow statements is searched hierarchically until an active overflow statement is found. This overflow statement then controls all queries relating to that call. The reason the call was not completed is used to select either an alternate termination to which the call is to be routed or a particular treatment, such as a busy signal or network message, which is to be applied to the call.

Abstract: A voice mail system today offers a user the option to forward a message that he or she has reviewed, alone or along with a message recorded by the user. However, to forward the message, the voice mail system needs to receive the telephone number of the party intended as the recipient of the forwarded message. To eliminate the need for manual output of the destination telephone number, the voice mail system is coupled for communication with a voice responsive directory service system. The directory service system or alternatively the voice mail system prompts the user to speak the name of the party intended as the recipient of the forwarded message. The directory service system analyzes the input speech information, identifies a desired destination and retrieves the number for that destination. The directory service system may announce the number to the user, for manual input to the voice mail system. Preferably, the directory service system supplies the number directly to the voice mail system.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling overload at a network processor in a communications system. Messages relating to a plurality of types of calls, functions or processes (collectively, “calls”) received at a processor seeking access to processor resources are granted normal access when the delay in processing such messages does not exceed threshold values. When such delay exceeds a threshold, messages are blocked in numbers relating to, among other things, the number of messages allowed in a reference interval, message delay, the total number of blocked calls, the number of blocked calls of each type, the number of calls allowed in one or more preceding intervals and preferences between types of calls.

Abstract: A first method comprises initiating a telecommunication network trigger based upon a service code dialed from an originating party. The service code includes an alphabetical abbreviation for a name of a telecommunication service. In dependence upon the trigger, a step of provisioning the telecommunication service for the originating party is performed. A second method comprises initiating a telecommunication network trigger based upon a code including “*M” or “#M”. In response to the trigger, a step of providing a menu of a plurality of telecommunication options in is performed. Systems and articles associated with the first and second methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A device dedicated to providing information to a customer regarding e-mail messages. The device, in its simplest configuration has an annunciator showing the receipt of one or more e-mail messages held for the customer by a remote ISP. In more advanced configurations, the e-mail is prioritized and the device shows the messages having certain priority. In even more advanced configuration, the device may also display and or announce e-mail sender's name and may also display the subject of the e-mail message if this item was provided by the e-mail sender, and may also display the actual e-mail message text. The device may be disposed in small housing dedicated for e-mail display and announcement or alternatively may be incorporated into another device such as a telephone or any other electronic consumer equipment.

Abstract: A system and method for determining transmission characteristics for a communications channel and for transmitting data on the communications channel. In one embodiment, the method starts by determining the channel's transfer function and determining interference characteristics for the channel. The interference characteristics preferably include transfer functions describing the channel's susceptibility to cross talk from neighboring channels. The channel transfer function and the interference characteristics are then examined and a transmit spectrum (or power spectral density function) is constructed for the channel. The transmit spectrum preferably uses orthogonal separation of upstream and downstream communications to increase channel capacity.