Abstract: Systems for providing a tune master caller identification (ID) device include a telecommunications network and a caller device configured to provide caller identification information for an incoming telephone call, and a tune master caller ID device that is coupled to a telephone device. The tune master caller ID device receives caller identification information, associates a tune with the caller identification information, and plays the tune associated with the caller identification. The telephone device coupled to the tune master caller ID device provides telephone call processing capabilities. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for operating home appliances using gesture recognition. A sequence of video images is received and compared to a stored sequence of gesture images. A recognized gesture is associated to a home appliance and to an operation of the home appliance. An appliance controller causes a response to the recognized gesture to perform the operation of the home appliance.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a caller-controlled demarcation service is described. An embodiment of the present invention is advantageously implemented as an advanced service in an intelligent telecommunications network. An embodiment of the present invention allows the user to specify an interval for a telephone communication. A telecommunication switch times the communication and when the interval expires, the switch either plays a tone to signal the expiration or disconnects the call. The switch may enforce the interval for calls originating or terminating at the subscriber's phone.

Abstract: Systems and methods for second call during ring suppression are disclosed. After a communications device receives a first incoming call, the ringer is activated to produce an initial audible alert and thereafter, the ringer of the communications device is suppressed for subsequent audible alerts according to a timed ring suppression profile. Thereafter, a secondary incoming call is routed to the communications device and the ringer is activated to provide notification of the secondary incoming call while the first call is suppressed.

Abstract: Caller Control of Internet Call Waiting (ICW) Services are provided to disconnect a data connection and to prevent establishment of a subsequent data connection. An incoming communication to a called number is received and includes an interrupt code to disconnect a data connection associated with the called number. If the interrupt code is valid, the data connection is disconnected, and a subsequent data connection is prevented until an authorization code is received that permits enablement of the subsequent data connection.

Abstract: Methods of providing messages for a user can include accepting entry of a message for the user, and accepting entry of a location criteria associated with the message. Physical location information for a wireless communications device associated with the user can be obtained, and the message for the user can be transmitted when the physical location information for the wireless communications device matches the location criteria associated with the message. Related systems are also discussed.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for monitoring calls that have been forwarded to a network-based voice mail system (VMS). The VMS receives the forwarded call and sends a start of greeting signal at the beginning and an end of greeting signal at the completion of the voice message greeting to the central office switch. The switch scads an activate call monitoring data message and a call monitoring alert signal to the customer premises equipment (CPE). If the CPE is adapted for call monitoring and includes a speaker assembly, then the speaker assembly is engaged in response to the activate call monitoring data message, thereby allowing hands-free call monitoring. If the CPE does not include a speaker assembly, then the called party may activate call monitoring by lifting the handset in response to detecting a call monitoring alert from the CPE. While monitoring the call, the called party may intercept the call to speak with the calling party.

Abstract: The present invention automatically establishes a connection to each participant of a teleconference. Conference call set up and connect information may be provisioned in a variety of ways, including via a menu-based Dual Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) mechanism and via a form or formatted file sent from a subscriber. Additionally, a conference participant is not tied to one telephone number or other such address. The present invention queries a profile database to determine a conference participant's current location before connecting the participant to the conference. Therefore a conference participant who happens to be working from home on a particular day need only update one database, and any conferences in which the telecommuting worker is expected to participate will automatically be connected to the worker's home telephone number, rather than the worker's office telephone number.

Abstract: Caller Control of Internet Call Waiting (ICW) Services are provided to disconnect an active ICW session and data connection and to prevent establishment of a subsequent data connection. In an exemplary embodiment, a calling party places an incoming call to a called telephone number having the active ICW session and data connection. The calling party may enter an authorized code that authorizes disabling of ICW and the data connection. The interrupt code entered by the calling party is received in a telecommunications network, such as, for example the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or a mobile switching network. The telecommunications network verifies that the interrupt code to enable caller control, and, thereafter, disables the ICW session and data connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for second call during ring suppression are disclosed. After a communications device receives a first incoming call, the ringer is activated to produce an initial audible alert and thereafter, the ringer of the communications device is suppressed for subsequent audible alerts according to a timed ring suppression profile. Thereafter, a secondary incoming call is routed to the communications device and the ringer is activated to provide notification of the secondary incoming call while the first call is suppressed.

Abstract: Apparatus for operating home appliances using gesture recognition are disclosed. An image receiver receives a continuous stream of images of a gesture made within the image receiver's field of view. An image processor is connected to the image receiver for sampling the received stream of gesture images to form a gesture image sequence, and for recognizing whether the gesture image sequence corresponds to one of a predefined set of gestures. If the input gesture is recognized as being one of the predefined gestures, an operations processor, which is connected to the image processor, identifies a home appliance operation associated with the recognized gesture. An appliance controller is connected to the operations processor for causing the predefined home appliance operation to be performed. Home appliances and methods for operating home appliances using gesture recognition are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for enabling one or both parties of a telephone call to view contents of a source computer via a computer network during the telephone call. The method includes the following steps: (1) associating a telephone number of a telephone line with a network address of the source computer; (2) retrieving the network address when a call is received by or placed on the telephone line; and (3) establishing a data session between the source computer and one or more display devices associated with the telephone line during which contents of the source computer are displayed on the display devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing selectable options to a calling party while the calling party is on hold. A call from the calling party is received and the calling party is placed on hold. While on hold, the calling party is provided with a plurality of selectable options. Each of the plurality of options corresponds to a predefined operation. A selected option request, corresponding to one of the plurality of options, is received from the calling party. The predefined operation corresponding to the selected option request is then performed. A system is also provided having instructions thereon for providing selectable options to a calling party while on hold.

Abstract: The present invention automatically establishes a connection to each participant of a teleconference. Conference call set up and connect information may be provisioned in a variety of ways, including via a menu-based Dual Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) mechanism and via a form or formatted file sent from a subscriber. Additionally, a conference participant is not tied to one telephone number or other such address. The present invention queries a profile database to determine a conference participant's current location before connecting the participant to the conference. Therefore a conference participant who happens to be working from home on a particular day need only update one database, and any conferences in which the telecommuting worker is expected to participate will automatically be connected to the worker's home telephone number, rather than the worker's office telephone number.

Abstract: A method and system for recording a digital video image is described. An embodiment of the present invention includes a video-capture device, connected to a wireless-communication device. The wireless-communication device transmits images captured by the real-time video-capture device to a receiving facility via a communications network. The receiving facility may comprise, for example, a security office. The receiving facility processes the images, monitoring, storing, forwarding and deleting the images as necessary.

Abstract: Systems for providing a tune master telephone includes a telecommunications network and a communications device that is operatively coupled to the telecommunications network. The telecommunications network is configured to provide caller identification information for an incoming telephone call. The communications device is configured to receive the caller identification information, to associate a tune with the caller identification information, and to play the tune associated with the caller identification information as notification of an incoming call. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and method for call waiting suppression are disclosed. When a communications device is engaged in an active communication and receives an incoming communication, a call waiting alert is activated to produce a single, initial audible alert, and thereafter the subsequent call waiting alert(s) are silenced according to a call waiting suppression profile. Alteratively, an audible indicator of the call waiting alert may be deactivated for the incoming communication, while other indicators remain active to alert the receiving party of the incoming communication.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for providing Internet Call Waiting (ICW) Messaging Services. In an embodiment, a calling party places an incoming call to a called telephone number having an active ICW session and data connection. A telecommunications system allows a calling party to communicate an ICW message to a computer system engaged in the ICW session and data connection. The telecommunications system may also allow a called party (e.g., the user of the computer system) to communicate a response to the ICW message and, thus, allow interactive ICW messaging.

Abstract: One or more voice mail messages, respectively, may be provided as one or more reminder messages. After the playing of a voice mail message, an option may be provided to use the message as a reminder message. Delivery information for the reminder message is obtained. The delivery information may include the user's telephone number, another telephone number, multiple telephone numbers, or identifiers for other devices. The delivery information also may include a designated time for delivery or different times for each of the destinations. The delivery of the reminder message may be password protected. The reminder message is delivered based on the delivery information. If the reminder message is password protected, the reminder message is delivered in response to receipt of the password.

Abstract: A method for delivering a priority call waiting alert service to a telephone subscriber. An embodiment of the present invention may be implemented on an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN). When a call intended the subscriber is received by a service switching point from a calling party while the telephone line is already engaged in a first communication between the subscriber and a third party, the calling party is solicited to supply a priority code. If the priority code is recognized by a service control point, a call waiting tone or a priority alert signal associated with the priority code is played to alert the subscriber that a priority call has been received.