Abstract: A localized wireless gateway system provides wireless telephone communication, and for at least interexchange communication, provides voice telephone access to a public packet data network, such as the Internet. The wireless gateway system includes base station transceivers and a packet service gateway coupling the transceivers to the public packet data network. The packet service gateway also provides for signaling through the network to establish two-way voice communication sessions. In the preferred implementation, the localized wireless gateway system includes at least one radio port control unit coupled to the base station transceivers for controlling calls through the transceivers. The localized wireless gateway system also includes a telephone switch, such as a digital PBX, selectively providing telephone communication channels between the radio port control unit(s) and the packet service gateway.

Abstract: A switched telephone network is arranged in a manner to enable packet voice communication between telephone terminals via multiple redundant packet switched networks. The packet switched networks may utilize different protocols, be operated by different entities, and have primary functions other than voice communication. One example of such a network may be internetworked networks, such as the Internet. One example of an alternate packet switched network may be a network whose primary function is control of a circuit switched telephone network. The common channel interoffice switching system (CCIS) of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) is one such example.

Abstract: A communications network, for example forming a local exchange carrier telephone network, utilizes three layers of fiber optic rings. The point of demarcation between customer premises media and network media comprises an intelligent soft network interface device or “soft NID”. First layer rings carry telephone and data communications between the soft NIDs and remote terminals. Several remote terminals in an area communicate via one of the next higher level rings to a host digital terminal. The host digital terminals communicate with each other via a backbone optical fiber ring, and a media gateway controller on this ring provides high level service logic. The remote terminals and preferably the host digital terminals are service switching points (SSPs), for intelligent services provided by the network. Local legacy switches connect to remote terminals, whereas a router on the backbone provides communications to other networks, including legacy long distance networks.

Abstract: For communications interface across the line of demarcation between the customer premises media and a link of a public digital broadband communication network, a network interface device is “soft” in that it is adaptable to different service applications and readily programmable from both the network-side and the customer-side. A network-side interface provides a communications connection to a broadband network link at an edge of the digital broadband network. A customer-side interface provides communications connection to one or more media in the customer premises, for example, to telephone and LAN wiring within the premises. The soft network interface device also includes a data processing system, for controlling at least some of the communications through the interfaces. The data processing system is capable of being programmed with network service provisioning data from the public network as well as with user programming received from the customer premises.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling on a worldwide basis two or more telecommunications networks which are themselves capable of exercising a form of common channel signaling network control. The system uses an architecture in which a destination telecommunications network having common channel signaling control is connected to an originating telecommunications network having common signaling control through a call set up and control methodology which provides ad hoc connection between the two spaced telecommunication networks and common channel signaling networks via an unrelated world wide data network which preferably constitutes the Internet.

Abstract: The advanced intelligent network (AIN) to determine routing of voice calls alternatively between the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a data packet network, such as the Internet, in accordance with the quality of service existing in the data packet network at the times of call origination. The user's acceptable level of service may be predefined with a threshold quality level stored in the user's Call Processing Record (CPR) in the AIN Integrated Services Control Point (ISCP). On a per call basis, the caller linked to a first public switched network may indicate a preference to route through the Internet. This indication is recognized by the AIN system, in response to which the quality of service currently present on the Internet for completion of the call is measured. If the result exceeds the stored threshold, the call is setup and routed through the Internet to the switched network link to the destination party.

Abstract: An intelligent telephone network provides personalized communication services based on a voice identification of the subscriber. Specifically, when a person requests a service, the network executes a speech processing operation, to identify the person or a party that the person is calling as a known subscriber. One or more switching offices of the network utilize profile data associated with the identified subscriber to control services. The personalized service applies both to incoming and outgoing calls. The network can provide the personalized services to several subscribers sharing a common line. For incoming calls to such a line, the network executes an interactive procedure to determine from the caller which subscriber she is calling. If the line is free, the switch applies distinctive ringing. If the line is in use, the switch uses the profile of the identified subscriber to provide a distinctive call waiting tone or a voice message over the line.

Abstract: A system and method for providing telephone type services over the internetwork commonly known as the Internet. Public switched telephone networks utilizing program controlled switching systems are arranged in an architecture with the Internet to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. Provision is made to permit a caller to set-up and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station without access to computer equipment, without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service, and without the requiring Internet literacy or knowledge. Calls may be made on an inter or intra LATA, region or state, nationwide or worldwide basis. Billing may be implemented on a per call, timed, time and distance or other basis. Usage may be made of common channel interoffice signaling to set up the call and establish the necessary Internet connections and addressing.

Abstract: A localized wireless gateway system provides wireless telephone communication and provides access to a public packet data network, such as the Internet, for at least voice telephone type communications. The wireless gateway system includes a number of base stations, essentially built around computers with digital transceiver circuitry, which provide an air interface to a number of digital terminal devices. The terminal devices communicate audio information in a standard digitized and compressed data format. The base stations provide two-way communications of the audio data over a public packet switched data network, either directly or via a local area network and a server coupled to the public data network. A server and local area network provide local voice and data communications as well as voice and data communication access to the public packet data network.

Abstract: A system and method for providing telephone type services over the internetwork commonly known as the Internet. Public switched telephone networks utilizing program controlled switching systems are arranged in an architecture with the Internet to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. Provision is made to permit a caller to set-up and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station without access to computer equipment, without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service, and without the requiring Internet literacy or knowledge. Calls may be made on an inter or intra LATA, region or state, nationwide or worldwide basis. Billing may be implemented on a per call, timed, time and distance or other basis. Usage may be made of common channel interoffice signaling to set up the call and establish the necessary Internet connections and addressing.

Abstract: An intelligent telephone network provides personalized communication services based on a voice identification of the subscriber. The network executes a speech processing operation to identify the person or a party that the person is calling as a known subscriber. The network can provide personalized services to several subscribers sharing a common line. For incoming calls to such a line, the network executes an interactive procedure to determine from the caller which subscriber is being called. If the line is free, the switch applies distinctive ringing. If the line is in use, the switching office uses the profile of the identified subscriber to provide a distinctive call waiting tone or a voice message over the line. The tone or voice message indicates to the party using the line that there is a call waiting and specifically identifies the called subscriber.

Abstract: In a public switched telephone network, interoffice call attempts to or from a line under surveillance generate a variety of query, response and release messages between the offices, as part of the normal procedures for setting up and tearing down the calls to and from the line. To insure that all calls under surveillance generate signaling messages, terminating, dialing and release triggers are set with respect to the target's line. As a result, the end office serving that line sends queries to a database on the signing network, receives response messages, and sends release report messages. A site processor compiles data from the signaling messages and forms a call detail record (CDR) for each call attempt relating to the target under surveillance. A central file server further processes the CDRs and supplies composite data regarding the target's calls through a data network connection to one or more law enforcement agencies.

Abstract: The quality of service existing in a data packet network during the course of communication of a voice call through a data network, such as the Internet, is monitored. A minimum acceptable level of service may be predefined with a threshold quality level stored in the user's Call Processing Record (CPR) in the AIN Integrated Services Control Point (ISCP). If the monitored quality is maintained in excess of the stored threshold, communication of the call continues through the established course of transmission. If the measured quality of service on the data network is not satisfactory, the routing of the call is changed to communication solely through a voice telephone network connection, which may include an Interexchange Carrier link, without terminating the call. The packet data network is thereby bypassed to obtain voice grade quality while maintaining the call.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling on a worldwide basis two or more telecommunications networks which are themselves capable of exercising a form of common channel signaling network control. The system uses an architecture in which a destination telecommunications network having common channel signaling control is connected to an originating telecommunications network having common signaling control through a call set up and control methodology which provides ad hoc connection between the two spaced telecommunication networks and common channel signaling networks via an unrelated world wide data network which preferably constitutes the Internet.

Abstract: A localized wireless gateway system provides wireless telephone communication, and for at least interexchange communication, provides voice telephone access to a public packet data network, such as the Internet. The wireless gateway system includes base station transceivers and a packet service gateway coupling the transceivers to the public packet data network. The packet service gateway also provides for signaling through the network to establish two-way voice communication sessions. In the preferred implementation, the localized wireless gateway system includes at least one radio port control unit coupled to the base station transceivers for controlling calls through the transceivers. The localized wireless gateway system also includes a telephone switch, such as a digital PBX, selectively providing telephone communication channels between the radio port control unit(s) and the packet service gateway.

Abstract: The telephone network is adapted to supply name and number information to a voice mail system with a forwarded call. The voice mail system stores the name and number type caller ID information in association with the subscriber's mailbox. The system may store this information even if the caller does not actually deposit a voice mail message. Later, while the subscriber reviews the mailbox contents, the system offers a verbal announcement of the name and number. A central office switching system may query a line identification database to obtain the name for a caller ID service to the customer premises, in which case, that switching system forwards the name and number to the voice mail system with the forwarded call. In an alternative embodiment, the voice mail system launches the query and receives the name in a response, through the interoffice signaling network.

Abstract: The quality of service existing in a data packet network during the course of communication of a voice call through a data network, such as the Internet, is monitored. A minimum acceptable level of service may be predefined with a threshold quality level stored in the user's Call Processing Record (CPR) in the AIN Integrated Services Control Point (ISCP). If the monitored quality is maintained in excess of the stored threshold, communication of the call continues through the established course of transmission. If the measured quality of service on the data network is not satisfactory, the routing of the call is changed to communication solely through a voice telephone network connection, which may include an Interexchange Carrier link, without terminating the call. The packet data network is thereby bypassed to obtain voice grade quality while maintaining the call.

Abstract: A public switched telephone network utilizing program controlled switching systems controlled by common channel interoffice signaling (CCIS) and preferably an advanced intelligent network (AIN) CCIS network is arranged in an architecture to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. The system permits a caller to set-up and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station without access to computer equipment and without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service. Billing may be accomplished on a per call basis. It is a particular feature of the invention that directory assistance is offered to callers, with or without call completion at the option of the caller. Such assistance is rendered through the use of procedures presently familiar to the caller from usage of the public switched telephone network.

Abstract: A localized wireless gateway system provides wireless telephone communication, and for at least interexchange communication, provides voice telephone access to a public packet data network, such as the Internet. The wireless gateway system includes base station transceivers and a packet service gateway coupling the transceivers to the public packet data network. The packet service gateway compresses and decompresses voice frequency communication signals, and it sends and receives the compressed signals in packet form via the network. The packet service gateway also provides for signaling through the network to establish two-way voice communication sessions. In the preferred implementation, the localized wireless gateway system includes at least one radio port control unit coupled to the base station transceivers for controlling calls through the transceivers.

Abstract: A lawfully authorized electronic surveillance operation requires reporting of detailed call data for a variety of calls associated with the subject of the surveillance. For at least some specified calls to or from the subject, the invention provides profile data in a switching office serving the subject that causes the office to generate accounting messages for each call, essentially in the same manner as for billing, regardless of whether the calls are billable. Accounting records formed from the messages are uploaded to a server system, for processing and formatting as necessary for delivery to the law enforcement agency. The surveillance could entirely rely on these accounting records for the data reporting. In the preferred embodiments, however, the surveillance also involves monitoring of common channel signaling messages to accumulate call detail records for surveillance purposes, with respect to many calls associated with the subject.