Abstract: A system relays a call from a calling party to a called party and, upon termination of the call by the calling party, a post-call announcement is played to the called party. Attributes of either the calling party, the called party, or both are passed to a database. The database performs a look-up query based on the call attribute information. An announcement indication is transmitted from the database to an announcement frame indicating which post-call announcement, if any, is to be played to the called party. The announcement frame plays the particular post-call announcement, if any, to the called party when the calling party has disconnected from the call.

Abstract: A method of providing a sound file to a voice gateway for coupling the voice gateway to a receiver via a voice based telephony connection. The method includes the steps of establishing a connection to the voice gateway, dividing the sound file into smaller files with a reduced size, altering the sound file header to reflect the smaller files size. The altered file header is attached at the beginning of the smaller files. The smaller files are converted into a format usable by the voice gateway. The converted smaller files are then coupled through to the voice gateway, for playback by a user.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for processing a service request received from a telephone communication device. The telephony system and method utilizes a call management server and a voice interpreter server. The call management server receives an incoming call from a user, and the voice interpreter server processes the service request contained in the incoming call. Data communication encapsulation is used to communicate data between the call management server and the voice interpreter platform in order to process the service request.

Abstract: An IP-based subscriber endpoint, for example a VoIP telephony device or an IP telephony user agent, is configured for retrieving recorded audio caller information in response to receiving an incoming call that includes a calling party identifier. The IP-based subscriber endpoint, in response to receiving the calling party identifier, generates an IP-based query via an IP network to an identifiable server for identification of a source of the recorded audio caller information corresponding to the calling party identifier. The IP-based subscriber endpoint outputs a request to the source of the recorded audio caller information, and plays the recorded audio caller information in response to reception via the IP-based network. Hence, the IP-based subscriber endpoint is able to retrieve existing recorded audio caller information from servers configured for storing recorded names, eliminating the necessity for text to speech resources.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer-readable media for minimizing the risk of fraudulent access to call center resources. The invention described herein provides a method of minimizing fraudulent access to call center resources, with the method including at least the following. One or more authenticated biometric samples are associated with at least one person. The person then submits at least one test biometric sample during a login process to obtain authorization to access to call center resources, for example, to process telephone calls or to receive training. This test biometric sample is captured and the differences between the test biometric sample and the one or more authenticated biometric samples is quantified. Depending on the degree of difference between the at least one authenticated biometric sample and the test biometric sample, the person's request for authorization to access call center resources is dispositioned.

Abstract: A remote caller identification system with data logging and retrieval features including a data logging unit which logs caller identifying information from incoming calls from a caller to a subscriber phone connected to a switched telephone network. A subscriber may subsequently retrieve the caller identifying information from the data logging unit via a remote phone or via the internet. The system has at least three possible implementations. In one implementation, the caller identifying information is stored in a Service Signaling Point database. In a second implementation, the caller identifying information is stored in a Service Control Point database. In the third implementation, the caller identifying information is stored in a database in a storage and retrieval device of a stand alone Customer Premises Equipment. A caller retrieving the caller identification information is prompted to input a password and with a menu to review or edit the caller identifying information.

Abstract: A message distribution system for distributing a message via a telecommunications network to a plurality of communications terminals comprises: a message unit for contacting each of the terminals and sending the message, memory for storing, for a plurality of said terminals, corresponding terminal address data, and storing also a plurality of geographical element data linking geographical features of a portion of the Earth with location data; input for accepting an input control signal to initiate message distribution; area designation unit to designate a geographical area within the portion of the Earth; terminal derivation unit for outputting the terminal address data of terminals for outputting the terminal address data of terminals recorded as being geographically within the area and supplying the addresses for use by the message unit.

Abstract: A portable device having telephone information stored thereon is provided according to one embodiment. The portable device has a memory for storing telephone information specific to a particular geographic region. The telephone information includes telephone numbers, each of which has a name associated with it. The portable device also includes a display for displaying the stored telephone information. A user interface allows a user to select an entry from the stored telephone information. A power source provides power to the portable device. A method and computer program product for transmitting regional telephone information to a portable device are also provided. Accordingly, a connection is initiated between a portable device and a host. The portable device has a memory for storing telephone information specific to a particular geographic region. The telephone information includes telephone numbers, each of which has a name associated with it.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for providing an addressee of a stored message with a graphical notification associated with a source of the stored message. In general terms, a communications device of the addressee is presented with the graphical notification in the form of an information signal which relates the stored message to at least one graphical image associated with the source of the stored message.

Abstract: A network linkage type private branch exchange system including a plurality of private branch exchanges, a plurality of telephone network interfaces for relaying data between a plurality of telephone networks and each private branch exchange, a plurality of terminal devices such as an extension for transmitting the data between the respective private branch exchanges and a plurality of operators, a plurality of computers each connected to each private branch exchange for conducting predetermined processing based on the data, and a data communication line to which each private branch exchange is connected, in which each private branch exchange transmits data to a computer connected to an arbitrary private branch exchange other than the private branch exchange in question through the data communication line.

Abstract: A system and a method for providing a service begins when a customer establishes a communication link, such as a telecommunications link, with a service provider, such as directory assistance. An exchange of information occurs, and a service, such as a telephone number or catalog order, is provided by the service provider at least in part via the communication link. Before the customer terminates the communication link, he or she is requested to provide feedback, which preferably relates to the quality of the service provided. In another embodiment, the exchange of information is monitored, and an action, such as notifying a supervisor, is taken if a predetermined condition is detected, such as usage of unacceptable language by a call handling agent.

Abstract: A messaging system to store and retrieve messages for playback in response to input user commands includes memory to store user messages. The messaging system also maintains preference records associated with users of the messaging system. Each preference record is associated with a communication device used by a user to access the messaging system and includes user preference data for message playback. A messaging application is responsive to incoming calls from users to playback messages for that user stored in the memory. The messaging application accesses preference records associated with a user calling the messaging system and plays back the messages in accordance with a selected one of the preference records. In one embodiment, the selected one of the preference records is selected based on caller line identification (CLI) data accompanying the call made to the messaging system.

Abstract: An on-demand caller ID service is disclosed. A customer dials an access code to retrieve calls made to his telephone number. An automated voicemail response system would repeat the telephone numbers and/or names associated with those telephone numbers that called over a predetermined time period, such as the last 24 hours. The customer is billed a per usage charge for each time he accesses the service. The customer may also subscribe to the service. Customers that are not subscribers of caller ID may utilize this service if they are seeking to track down an incoming call that may have been missed during the day. Also, customers who are away from their telephone line may remotely check who has called them by accessing the service.

Abstract: In order to allow various user setups associated with a communication using a plurality of communication channels, the number of communication channels used in a communication with a single partner is varied depending on whether or not the automatic answering mode is set. The number of communication channels used in the communication with the single partner can be independently set in correspondence with transmission and reception. The number of communication channels used in the communication with another communication partner can be independently set in correspondence with whether an incoming call or a call origination request is detected.

Abstract: This invention is a system and method that provides for the total integration and processing of all possible incoming message types into a single unit at one location. This invention also provides a system to automatically route messages based upon the preferences of the party who received the message. Responses to messages may be kept with the original message so that the status of the message may be maintained. This invention also presents an integrated approach for transmitting messages in all possible media from a single device at one location.

Abstract: A computer having automatic answering state displaying and processing functions includes an automatic answering setting unit for outputting an automatic answering guide message, preset by a user, for when a telephone call from the outside is received through a modem, portion for storing a predetermined received message from the outside according to the automatic answering guide message, portion for displaying that there is the received message in response to a display signal, a telephone button for generating an answering confirmation signal when the user notices the display portion and presses the telephone button, a microcomputer for generating the display signal to control the display portion, if there is the received message, and detecting the answering confirmation signal generated from the telephone button, and an automatic answering processing unit for informing the microcomputer that the received message is stored in the storage portion and informing the user of the received message from the storage p

Abstract: Disclosed is a caller identification system that provides unblocking or audible identification on telephone calls from calling parties having blocked or unknown numbers. Calling parties from blocked numbers are given the option of unblocking their name and telephone number for the current call, or to record their name for delivery to the caller ID subscriber. Calling parties from unknown numbers are given the option of recording their name for audible identification. The system provides an audibly distinct ring on a caller ID subscriber's telephone and visually displays a special message on a caller ID subscriber's visual display unit to alert the subscriber that the incoming telephone call will be audibly announced, since the telephone number and possibly the name of the calling party are not available to the caller identification system.

Abstract: The present invention is a system that uses a limited text input entry device to narrow the possibilities for the selection of a phonetically based name used in a voice dialer. The user enters a DTMF signature of a name using only one key for each letter of the name. The signature is used by a dictionary to generate likely possibilities for the word. The user is asked whether the name is the name entered via playing the name to the user. If the user confirms the choice, the phonetic representation is stored along with a corresponding telephone number. If the played word does not match, a word generator generates additional likely possibilities from the signature. A speech recognizer picks the best representation from the dictionary and generator words based on a spoken version of the name. A first name and last name procedure, in which the first and last name signatures produce separate candidate lists, is used to provide an entry to an address book for voice dialing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus logs outgoing phone symbols dialed from an extension. To log the phone numbers, a switching network is coupled to the phone lines and passes a Dual Tone Multiple Frequency signal from the extension to a CODEC. The CODEC converts the analog signal it receives into a series of digital values that are passed to a digital signal processor. The digital signal processor decodes the series of digital values into a set of dialed-symbol values indicative of symbols dialed by the extension. The dialed-symbol values are packaged by a processing unit interface and transmitted to the processing unit where they are stored in a log database.

Abstract: A system and method for performing independent third party verification utilizes an automated system for posing questions to a customer and for recording and analyzing the customer's responses to those questions. The system could include a voice synthesizer or an audio player for posing oral questions to a customer. The system could also include voice recognition capabilities to analyze a customer's oral responses to questions. The system could also be provided with the capability to analyze a series of customer responses and to create an automated score to confirm or deny the verification process. The system could further include a live operator interface to allow a live operator to quickly review only the customer's responses to a series of verification questions. The live operator's analysis of the customer responses could be compared to the automated analysis as a further check on the verification process.