Abstract: A machine-readable medium and a network device are provided for speech-to-text translation. Speech packets are received at a broadband telephony interface and stored in a buffer. The speech packets are processed and textual representations thereof are displayed as words on a display device. Speech processing is activated and deactivated in response to a command from a subscriber.

Abstract: A machine-readable medium and a network device are provided for speech-to-text translation. Speech packets are received at a broadband telephony interface and stored in a buffer. The speech packets are processed and textual representations thereof are displayed as words on a display device. Speech processing is activated and deactivated in response to a command from a subscriber.

Abstract: A service provider system enables a subscriber to purchase services over a network from a service provider for the benefit of third parties located in different locations. The service provider system provides service flexibility by allowing parameters to be set, such as place and time of service delivery. Further, conditions allowing third-party recipients to change service parameters include delivery time and place, exchange of purchased service for another service, return of the purchased service, etc. Reporting options to both the subscriber and the third party can additionally be provided. Reporting messages or notifications may be sent to the purchasing subscriber to indicate which of the third parties had taken advantage of the purchased service, when and where the service was consumed, and/or what the actual cost of delivering the service was. The service provider system can also provide incentives for third parties to take advantage of the purchased service.

Abstract: A machine-readable medium and a network device are provided for speech-to-text translation. Speech packets are received at a broadband telephony interface and stored in a buffer. The speech packets are processed and textual representations thereof are displayed as words on a display device. Speech processing is activated and deactivated in response to a command from a subscriber.

Abstract: A machine-readable medium and a network device are provided for speech-to-text translation. Speech packets are received at a broadband telephony interface and stored in a buffer. The speech packets are processed and textual representations thereof are displayed as words on a display device. Speech processing is activated and deactivated in response to a command from a subscriber.

Abstract: A machine-readable medium and a network device are provided for speech-to-text translation. Speech packets are received at a broadband telephony interface and stored in a buffer. The speech packets are processed and textual representations thereof are displayed as words on a display device. Speech processing is activated and deactivated in response to a command from a subscriber.

Abstract: A service provider system enables a subscriber to purchase services over a network from a service provider for the benefit of third parties located in different locations. The service provider system provides service flexibility by allowing parameters to be set, such as place and time of service delivery. Further, conditions allowing third-party recipients to change service parameters include delivery time and place, exchange of purchased service for another service, return of the purchased service, etc. Reporting options to both the subscriber and the third party can additionally be provided. Reporting messages or notifications may be sent to the purchasing subscriber to indicate which of the third parties had taken advantage of the purchased service, when and where the service was consumed, and/or what the actual cost of delivering the service was. The service provider system can also provide incentives for third parties to take advantage of the purchased service.

Abstract: A machine-readable medium and a network device are provided for speech-to-text translation. Speech packets are received at a broadband telephony interface and stored in a buffer. The speech packets are processed and textual representations thereof are displayed as words on a display device. Speech processing is activated and deactivated in response to a command from a subscriber.

Abstract: The invention provides a service provider system that enables a subscriber to purchase services over a network from a service provider for the benefit of one or more third parties located in different locations. The service provider system can provide service flexibility by allowing parameters to be set, such as place and time of service delivery. Further, conditions allowing third-party recipients to change service parameters—delivery time and place, exchange of purchased service for another service, return of the purchased service, etc.—can be included. The service provider system additionally can provide reporting options to both the subscriber and the third party. Reporting messages or notifications may be sent to the purchasing subscriber to indicate which of the third parties had taken advantage of the purchased service, when and where the service was consumed, and/or what the actual cost of delivering the service was.

Abstract: A call processing method is disclosed. A first station initiates a call to a second station. Call information associated with the initiated call is evaluated by comparing the call information with information in a fraud database. Completion of the call is prevented if the evaluation results in a finding of fraud. If the evaluation results in no finding of fraud, the call is completed to the second station via a routing path obtained from a routing database. If the call being completed is deemed to be a call of interest, the routing path obtained from the routing database for completing the call is stored.

Abstract: A machine-readable medium and a network device are provided for speech-to-text translation. Speech packets are received at a broadband telephony interface and stored in a buffer. The speech packets are processed and textual representations thereof are displayed as words on a display device. Speech processing is activated and deactivated in response to a command from a subscriber.

Abstract: A subscriber terminal is provided for speech-to-text translation. Speech packets are received at a broadband telephony interface and stored in a buffer. The speech packets are processed and textual representations thereof are displayed as words on a display device. Speech processing is activated and deactivated in response to a command from a subscriber.

Abstract: A call processing method is disclosed. A first station initiates a call to a second station. Call information associated with the initiated call is evaluated by comparing the call information with information in a fraud database. Completion of the call is prevented if the evaluation results in a finding of fraud. If the evaluation results in no finding of fraud, the call is completed to the second station via a routing path obtained from a routing database. If the call being completed is deemed to be a call of interest, the routing path obtained from the routing database for completing the call is stored.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing automated speech-to-text encoding and decoding for hearing-impaired persons. A broadband subscriber terminal interfaces to: (a) a network to convey speech packets thereover, (b) a telephone to convey speech information, and (c) a display device to display textual information of spoken words. A speech buffer in the subscriber terminal receives speech data and a processor decodes and displays textual representations of speech on the display device. A database stores voice and/or speech patterns that are used by a speech analyzer to recognize an incoming caller and to associate a name or characteristic (e.g., male or female) with the incoming call. A tonal and inflection analyzer analyzes speech to add punctuation to the displayed text. A detector, such as a DTMF detector, responds to subscriber inputs to activate/deactivate speech recognition or other functions.

Abstract: A local communication space (e.g., a local calling area) is defined based at least on a non-geographic factor, such as subscriber preference, a frequency of communication with a given destination, a destination type, and/or the like. The local communication space may be defined by compiling a list of communication spaces and allowing a subscriber to select one or more of the communication spaces as his or her local communication space, and/or by allowing a subscriber to individually input one or more communication destinations. A limit may be placed on the number of communication spaces that may be selected and/or on the number of individual communications destinations that may be input. Subscribers may be billed according to how many communication spaces and/or how many individual communication destinations they select.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the number of speakers participating in a call having a speaker counting device that is connected with a network for monitoring calls placed over the network. The speaker counting device samples a call to determine the number of speakers participating in the call. Therefore, the speaker counting device allows the network service provider to automatically determine how many different speakers have participated in a particular call over a period of time.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing automated speech-to-text encoding and decoding for hearing-impaired persons. A broadband subscriber terminal interfaces to: (a) a network to convey speech packets thereover, (b) a telephone to convey speech information, and (c) a display device to display textual information of spoken words. A speech buffer in the subscriber terminal receives speech data and a processor decodes and displays textual representations of speech on the display device. A database stores voice and/or speech patterns that are used by a speech analyzer to recognize an incoming caller and to associate a name or characteristic (e.g., male or female) with the incoming call. A tonal and inflection analyzer analyzes speech to add punctuation to the displayed text. A detector, such as a DTMF detector, responds to subscriber inputs to activate/deactivate speech recognition or other functions.

Abstract: The losses sustained by telecommunications service providers attributable to unpaid, long-duration calls are reduced if such calls are carefully monitored. Upon the determination that a call might be fraudulent, the circuits carrying the call through a network or switching system comprising the network are automatically identified. The determination that a call might be fraudulent is forwarded to an administrator and, using information on the circuits carrying the call, the administrator can take affirmative steps to either tear down the call or further investigate whether the call is fraudulent.

Abstract: A user identifier is preassigned to a user, the user identifier being generated by retrieving an implicit checksum and calculating the user identifier (by, for example, using a hidden Markov model) using a checksum operation such as a modulo algorithm so that the user identifier conforms to the implicit checksum, the implicit checksum being based on a checksum parameter, such as the current date or month or a user's phone number. The preassigned user identifier is then received from the user, at and least one recognized identifier is received that is based on the received preassigned user identifier. A checksum is calculated for one recognized identifier using a checksum operation, and the implicit checksum is retrieved. The calculated checksum is compared with the implicit checksum, and the one recognized identifier is selected as the received preassigned user identifier if the calculated checksum equals the retrieved implicit checksum.