Abstract: A system and method for providing personal communications services are disclosed. A bridging and signaling unit implements a bridge for connecting telephone calls between a caller, a called party, and an alternate destination. A caller who calls the personal telephone number associated with a called party is held at the bridging and signaling unit while waiting for a return telephone call from the called party. The called party is alerted to the existence of the call through a paging system. If the time period during which the caller is on hold exceeds a timeout period, the caller will be connected to an alternate destination, such as a secretary, an answering service, or a voice messaging system.

Abstract: a telecommunications carrier other than the carrier of last contact is arranged to a) recognize that the telephone to which a particular call is placed is a disconnected telephone and b) provide different call treatment for the call, e.g., different call handling or different call features or services, as compared to the treatment the telecommunications carrier provides for the same call to the same telephone when it is recognized that the telephone is not disconnected. Advantageously, no effort is wasted in an attempt to complete the telephone call to a disconnected telephone. Such different treatments include 1) simply making no attempt to route the call to the disconnected telephone via the network of last contact, 2) routing the call to a secondary, alternate telephone, and 3) initiating transmission of a page to a pager that is associated with the owner of the disconnected telephone.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the location of a subscriber of a two-way paging service includes a telephone network with a switched network and a paging service operatively connected thereto. The paging service includes a paging receiver for receiving a location parameter from a two-way pager of a subscriber of a paging network. The switched network includes a unit for generating a location message to a caller when the caller queries the network for the subscriber location.

Abstract: In a personal reach telephone service in which a calling party's telephone call to a personal reach telephone number of a called party/subscriber is bridged to a return call placed by the called party/subscriber in response to a page which indicates to the called party/subscriber the presence of a waiting call, a connection is established between a bridging and signaling unit associated with the interexchange network to which the calling party is directed, and the home PBX associated with the called party/subscriber. After establishing the connection between the bridging and signaling unit and the home PBX, a determination is made, using two-way paging technology, whether the pager associated with the called party/subscriber is registered within the local area covered by the home PBX. If the pager is registered in the local area, then the calling party's call is connected directly to the PBX and a local page is broadcast to the called party/subscriber.

Abstract: A method and system for transmission of control information over a separate channel to devices connected to a telecommunications network. An outdial node couples a destination system to a user who is accessing the destination system using a first communications pathway through a telecommunications network. When the destination system requests control data be entered, the user causes a signal to be transmitted on a second communications pathway. The signal, which includes information identifying the user and the desired control function, is transmitted by the user from a two-way pager. The signal is received by a paging system and transmitted to the outdial node. The outdial node accesses a database using the user identifying information and selects an entry corresponding the user and to the control function. The control data contained in the selected entry is then output to the destination system.

Abstract: A system and method of using two-way paging to establish communications with a mobile party having a Personal Telephone Number. In one possible embodiment, the mobile party uses a two-way pager to transmit a terminating number, bandwidth, and protocol to a paging service. The paging service relays the terminating number, bandwidth, and protocol to a Customer Routing Point where the information is stored. Thereafter, when a caller initiates a call to the mobile party by dialing the mobile party's Personal Telephone Number, a Network Control Point is notified. The Network Control Point accesses the Customer Routing Point, cross-references the Personal Telephone Number with the stored terminating number, bandwidth, and protocol, and retrieves the cross-referenced information. The Network Control Point then uses the retrieved information to route the call to a terminating telephone station associated with that information.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a parent to control the use of an ancillary credit or debit transaction card which is issued to a child. A central computer communicates with an issuer computer having a data base containing account information and spending limits for the transaction card and the parent can set a spending limit for the ancillary card given to the child. When the child presents the ancillary transaction card to a merchant in payment of merchandise, the merchant swipes the card and contacts a central computer for card authorization. If the credit limit of the ancillary card holder has been exceeded according to the data base, a method of contacting the parent is transmitted to the central computer.

Abstract: The system of the present invention allows a customer to access a company computer system via a data network and to request contact with a customer service representative. The company computer system automatically selects a customer service center and a customer service representative in accordance with a set of selection criteria, including customer preferences. A monitor, also connected to the company computer system via the data network, may choose to accept or to change the selections made by the company computer system. Once a customer service representative has been selected, the company computer system causes a telecommunication control device to connect the customer, the selected customer service representative, and the monitor via a voice network. If a monitor is not available, the company computer system causes the telecommunication control device to connect the customer and the selected customer service representative, and then records the communication therebetween for future review by a monitor.

Abstract: A technique is provided for establishing data communications links and associated telephone calls between customers and customer service representatives. Customers access the Internet from clients. A merchant provides an on-line catalog using a Web server. When the customer requests that a customer service representative contact the customer, linking information is provided to the client. When one of the customer service representatives is available, the server sends a notification packet to the client to notify the customer and to provide the customer with an opportunity to decide whether or not to continue. If the customer decides to continue, an Internet communications link and telephone call are established between the customer and the customer service representative based on the linking information.

Abstract: A personal reach system includes a network, a personal reach unit, a cellular network, and a landline telephone station. The personal reach unit is coupled to the cellular network and the landline telephone through the network. When a first party pages a second party through the personal research unit, the first party is connected to the second party by either the personal reach unit through the landline telephone station or the cellular network through the cellular phone.

Abstract: E-Mail messages transmitted over an E-Mail network are routed to an E-Mail server servicing the recipient, where useful E-Mail messages can be identified, separated from the junk mail, and forwarded as directed by the recipient. The E-Mail server sends a summary of the E-Mail message to the recipient over a different network so that the recipient can select a forwarding destination for the message. The recipient sends a selection signal to the E-mail server which then forwards the E-Mail message to the selected destination. The E-Mail message can be forwarded by the server over another network, such as the public telephone network, to a computer or a FAX machine at the recipient's office, home or other destination.

Abstract: A subscriber to a two-way paging system can configure a call routing/forwarding "speed-dial" menu for display on the subscriber's two-way pager. The subscriber can then choose from among the options in this menu each time a call is placed to the subscriber's personal telephone number (PTN). The call forwarding menu is stored in a customer routing point (CRP) database record associated with the subscriber and/or the subscriber's PTN, and is either downloaded upon creation to the subscriber's two-way pager for long-term storage in the two-way pager's memory, or downloaded to the two-way pager each time a call is made to the subscriber's PTN. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the subscriber can configure multiple call routing menus, and designate for each menu the caller(s) to which the menu corresponds.

Abstract: With the advent of personal digital assistants (PDAs) having modems for information, e.g., facsimile and/or data, transmission over wireless connections, as well as the capability for voice communications, we have recognized that is possible to communicate with a person, wherever they are, in whatever form is desired. In order to do so in a manner that simulates the way a person at a fixed location having a separate telephone, fax machine and data modem would communicate, incorporate into a PDA is a) a receiver for a wireless actuation signal that indicates that a communication of some type is waiting for a called party; b) an outgoing connection origination unit that establishes a connection from the PDA to the waiting communication; c) a discriminator, which makes a determination as to the type of communication that is waiting; and d) a selection unit that routes the information signals received over the connection established by the PDA to an appropriate communication unit within the PDA, e.g.

Abstract: It is possible to redirect a package in mid-transit, so as to deliver it to the addressee who will not be at the location to which the package was originally addressed when the package would otherwise be delivered. To do so, a package carrier, prior to delivering a package to an address specified by the sender, determines if the addressee desires the package to be rerouted to a different address. This determination is prompted by detection of the fact that the addressee is not in the vicinity of the address specified by the sender. The location of the addressee is determined from the location of a two-way pager associated with the addressee as detected by a paging antenna, e.g., tower, of a conventional two-way paging. A comparison is made between the location of the addressee and the address specified by the sender. If there is a disparity and the addressee subscribes to the package special delivery redirection service, the package is then processed according to the instructions of the addressee.

Abstract: A system and method for processing telephone calls to a personal telephone number, such calls being of the type in which a call to a called party's personal telephone number results in a page to a pager of a called party and the caller's call is held in the network to be bridged to a return telephone call of the called party, employs type-ahead for faster perceived system response while not permitting free paging. In particular, although type-ahead is permitted, the page is not immediately initiated upon receipt of the last character of a valid command string prior to the end of the announcement that is played to the caller upon his call reaching a bridging and signaling unit. Instead, the bridging and signaling unit is arranged to respond so that it appears to have accepted and executed the command, and moves into the next phase of operation, e.g., music on hold.

Abstract: We have recognized that in the prior art, to insure that there is at least some communication between the calling and called parties, when the called party is unavailable to take a call, the calling party may be connected to an alternate destination, e.g., a voice messaging system, and the caller's telephone call is considered completed. If the called party thereafter becomes available, the called party is not connected to the caller's telephone call. However, in accordance with the principles of the invention, this problem is overcome by, in response to receipt of an indication that the called party is available for a caller's telephone call after the caller's telephone call has already been connected to an alternate destination, a) disconnecting the caller's telephone call from the alternate destination and, instead, b) connecting it the called party, thus interrupting the connection between the caller and the alternate destination.

Abstract: A call placed by a calling party from within the local office or campus area served by an intelligent PBX of a called party who is a subscriber to a personal reach service is held at that PBX for determination of whether the called party/subscriber is within or outside the local area served by the PBX. This determination is made using two-way paging technology through which a pager-carrying called party/subscriber is determined to be within the local area if the two-way pager carried by the called party/subscriber is registered within the area. If the called party/subscriber is determined to be within the local area, then a local page is broadcast to the called party/subscriber and a return call to the PBX by the called party/subscriber is bridged with the call being held from the calling party at the PBX.

Abstract: An estimation of traffic conditions on roads located in the radio coverage areas of a wireless communications network is provided based on an analysis of real-time and past wireless traffic data carried on the wireless communications network. Data analyzed may include, for example, actual (current) and expected (past average) number of a) active-busy wireless end-user devices in one or more cells at a particular period of time, b) active-idle wireless end-user devices registered in a location area of the wireless communications network, c) amount of time spent by mobile end-user devices in one or more cells at a particular period of time.

Abstract: A conference call sound level balancing method and system for selectively muting a conferee whose sound environment is loud enough to dominate other conferees of a conference call. The method is operable on a system that includes a network-based conference bridge and a sound equalization platform that is coupled to each telephone of a conference call. If one telephone connected to the conference call has a higher noise level than the other branches of the call, thus making it so the other branches cannot obtain speaking privileges, a predetermined touchtone key is entered at the noisy telephone. The sound equalization platform responds by automatically measuring the ambient sound levels of the respective branches of the conference call and balancing the speaking privileges for the respective call branches of the conference call.

Abstract: It is known in the prior art to, when a telephone customer is unavailable to take a call, page the customer, thereby notifying the customer that a telephone call is waiting. The customer may then call in to a meet-me bridge to be connected to the incoming telephone call. However, if the customer does not respond to the page in time, prior art systems provide for the calling party's call to be routed to an alternate destination, e.g., a voice messaging system. The calling party's telephone call is thereby considered completed. If the customer thereafter becomes available, the customer is not connected to the caller's telephone call even if the caller is still connected to the alternate destination.