Abstract: A network-based voice messaging system is provided. A voice message is received at a network. The network converts the voice message into a text message by utilizing speech recognition software. The text message is transmitted to the intended recipient as an electronic mail (e-mail) message or facsimile document and is received by the intended recipient on conventional text receiving equipment.

Abstract: A network based platform uses face recognition, speech recognition, background change detection and key scene events to index multimedia communications. Before the multimedia communication begins, active participants register their speech and face models with a server. The process consists of creating a speech sample, capturing a sample image of the participant and storing the data in a database. The server provides an indexing function for the multimedia communication. During the multimedia communication, metadata including time stamping is retained along with the multimedia content. The time stamping information is used for synchronizing the multimedia elements. The multimedia communication is then processed through the server to identify the multimedia communication participants based on speaker and face recognition models. This allows the server to create an index table that becomes an index of the multimedia communication.

Abstract: A method for permitting multiple calls in a toll telecommunications network from a pay telephone comprising the steps of 1) receiving a first call in said toll telecommunications network from said pay telephone, 2) determining the identity of a single carrier of said telecommunications network associated with the first toll-free call, 3) completing the first call to a called party, 4) during processing of the first call and prior to a caller actuating the switchhook of the pay telephone, providing dial tone for a second call by the single carrier associated with the first call, 5) receiving a second telephone number in said telecommunications network from said caller at said pay telephone, 6) determining the identity of the single carrier associated with the second call, and 7) responsive to the identity of the single carrier being the same single toll carrier for the first and second calls, completing the second call without additional fee to a called party of the second call by the single carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method that allows the communication mode for communicating between two user devices to be selected based on the abilities of the user devices and/or the preferences of the users. Using the present invention, when an operator of a user device enters the destination address for another user device with which communication is sought, a Client Routing Assessment Profile Services (CRAPS) processor receives the signals from the source user device. The signals include information of the identity of the source user device and the destination user device. The CRAPS processor retrieves profile information from a database corresponding to the identity of the source user device and/or the destination user device. Based on the profile information retrieved, the CRAPS processor sends boot signals to the user devices involved in the communication instructing them to change to the appropriate communication mode.

Abstract: A method and a system for connecting a call to an agent that is connected to disparate telecommunications networks. A query is received from one of the disparate telecommunications networks regarding an availability of an agent for receiving a call. The availability of each of a plurality of agents is determined, and an agent is selected. Routing instructions are determined for routing the call from the telecommunications network from which the query was received to the selected agent. The query is then responded to by communicating the determined availability of the agent and the routing instructions to the telecommunications network from which the query was received using SS7 signaling.

Abstract: A method and a system for routing data calls in which an incoming data call having a destination number is received. The data call is routed to a first destination over a circuit-switched telecommunications network based on the destination number for the data call. Transaction information is then sent to the first destination. Alternatively, the incoming data call is received at an input port. The incoming data call is associated with an automatic number identification and the input port is associated with an input port identification. The automatic number identification is stored in a database in association with the input port identification. A transfer message for the data call is received from the first destination. The transfer message contains information relating to an address for a second destination. The information relating to the address for the second destination is stored in the database in association with the automatic number identification and input port identification for the data call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying an information page transmitted in a communications network, such as the Internet. A request to display an information page is received from a client computer. Information page data, such as hypertext markup language data, is obtained for the requested information page. Additional data, such as an advertisement, is selected and the information page data is modified to include the additional data based on attributes of the requested information page. The modified information page data is then sent to the client computer for display.

Abstract: A system and apparatus provides a voice message of a calling party to a called party. The method includes the steps of initiating a telephone call to the called party over a first network and receiving the telephone call at a network node within the first network. The method further includes the steps of determining whether the called party is on-line a second network and receiving the voice message from the calling party. The method further includes the steps of converting the voice message to a digital file and sending an electronic mail message that includes the digital file to the called party.

Abstract: An automated emergency notification system is disclosed. When practicing one embodiment of the present invention, a calling party places a phone call to an emergency service provider by dialing into a service provider network. The service provider network determines the identity of the calling party by accessing a subscriber database. The network determines a set of parties to be called by utilizing the identity of the calling party to access the set of parties to be called from an outcall database. The calling party pre-defines the set of parties to be called (i.e., before an emergency occurs) in the event of an emergency and stores this information in the outcall database. The service provider network then establishes the phone call between the calling party and the emergency service provider and also automatically places phone calls to each individual included in the set of parties to be called that was defined by the calling party.

Abstract: A method for permitting multiple calls in a toll telecommunications network from a pay telephone comprising the steps of 1) receiving a first call in said toll telecommunications network from said pay telephone, 2) determining, the identity of a single carrier of said telecommunications network associated with the first toll-free call, 3) completing the first call to a called party, 4) during processing of the first call and prior to a caller actuating the switchhook of the pay telephone, providing dial tone for a second call by the single carrier associated with the first call, 5) receiving a second telephone number in said telecommunications network from said caller at said pay telephone, 6) determining the identity of the single carrier associated with the second call, and 7) responsive to the identity of the single carrier being the same single toll carrier for the first and second calls, completing the second call without additional fee to a called party of the second call by the single carrier.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a communication path for a call between a video telephone/teleconference call and a packet network telephone terminal through a packet network. The call is routed through a multimedia gateway which performs a conversion process between a video telephone/teleconference domain and a packet network telephone domain.

Abstract: A server platform in the PSTN performs the service of calling the subscriber if the subscriber's customary commuting route is congested. The service makes an initial call when the fastest commute route is congested. It also makes additional calls each time it finds a better alternate route. The server can accommodate any subscriber commuting pattern. If a street on the subscriber's customary route is found to be congested, then the server sequentially tests additional streets having geographic coordinates nearby, dynamically searching for an alternate route that has an acceptable level of congestion. The server has a voice response unit (VRU) in the platform, to announce to the subscriber that the subscriber's customary commuting route is congested. Following an initial call to the subscriber, the server continues to search for better alternate routes having the least congestion and it calls the subscriber again if it finds a better alternate route.

Abstract: The invention provides a network paging system that includes a method and apparatus for sending messages to a subscriber. When one party attempts to contact another party, via a page message for example, the system may determine if the paged party is logged onto the network system. If the paged party is logged onto the network, the page message may be sent to the paged party's personal computer. If the paged party is not logged onto the network, the page message may be sent to the paged party's pager. Advantageously, the invention eliminates the need or expense of sending a message both via the Internet and a pager.

Abstract: The invention provides an on-hold switching device that permits a subscriber to be engaged in other activities through a telephone network while being placed on-hold by another party. When placed on-hold, the on-hold switching device disconnects the subscriber from the other party and connects the subscriber to the telephone network so that the subscriber may engage in other activities. The on-hold switching device monitors the signal bus connected to the other party to determine whether the on-hold condition is removed. When the on-hold condition is removed, the subscriber is reconnected to the other party. Thus, the on-hold switching device permits a subscriber to be engaged in other activities when placed on-hold by the other party.

Abstract: A collaborative application system initiates a communication session over a network. The collaborative application system receives an identity of a called party and an identity of a collaborative application from a calling party. The calling party participates in the communication session at a first endpoint and the called party participates in the communication session at a second endpoint. Further, the collaborative application system determines a first endpoint type and a second endpoint type and selects a first version of the collaborative application based on the first endpoint type and a second version of the collaborative application based on the second endpoint type. The collaborative application system then retrieves and makes available the first version of the application to the calling party and second version of the application to the called party.

Abstract: A communication system that provides information to customers holding in a queue. Upon arrival to the queue, the queue identifies the customer and further identifies information that is related to the customer's motivation for entering the queue from the customer's identity. The queue selects individual messages from the relevant information for presentation to the customer. Certain messages may be prioritized over others based on the queue experience with other customers or based on external events that raise the likelihood that the message is relevant. The communication system may operate in a telecommunication network or a computer network.

Abstract: A network information delivery system automatically determines end-user information output requirements based on predetermined data corresponding to each requesting end-user terminal. A user profile is maintained in a database either associated with a network information delivery system or with the end-user terminal and is accessed by the network information delivery device. If the network information delivery device has authority to access the end-user terminal, a program may be downloaded to the end-user terminal to determine the exact end-user terminal configuration. The program executing in the end-user terminal returns to the network information delivery device a user profile containing the end-user terminal capabilities so that the requested information may be formatted and delivered to the end-user in an optimal manner. The information to be delivered to end-users may be pre-stored in predetermined formats.

Abstract: An enduser at a POTS analog voice-only endpoint (136) and endusers at H.320 standard multimedia terminals (101, 102, 103, 104), which each communicate over separate voice, video and data streams, engage in a videoconference with each other in a pseudo multimedia manner through a central platform (135) that provides call conversion capabilities. A document to be shared by a user at the POTS endpoint with users at the multimedia endpoints is transmitted as a data signal from a facsimile machine (137) or PC terminal (138) associated with the POTS user to a server (146) in the platform. The received data signal is then inputted to a multimedia bridge (124) and transmitted on the data stream to each multimedia endpoint for display on a window on each multimedia terminal. Similarly, a document to be shared by a multimedia endpoint is transmitted on a data stream to the multimedia bridge, where it is bridged on the data stream transmitted to the other multimedia endpoints and to the server.

Abstract: A method and a system for accumulating charges for telecommunications services used during a calling card call, whether the calling card is periodically billed or prepaid. According to the invention, call information detail information, such as a user identification, a beginning time of the call, and setup parameters of the call, is received for a calling-card call. Services rate information is received for telecommunications services used during the calling-card call. A depletion rate of an available funds account associated with the calling-card call is then determined in real time, and the available funds account is depleted at the determined depletion rate during the calling-card call, also in real time.

Abstract: Real time delivery of multimedia information accessed either through the Internet, or otherwise, simultaneously, or sequentially time delayed to one more users, is enabled by delivering the multimedia information over a switched network via a multipoint control unit. A client establishes a connection with a server, or other remote location where desired multimedia information is resident, identifies the desired multimedia information and provides client information identifying the locations of the users. The client information may include the telephone numbers or other access numbers of each of the multiple users. The multimedia information is then delivered by a multimedia server to a bridging apparatus through a switched network guaranteeing high quality of service, secure connection and billing control. Connecting one or more users to a live agent is also made possible by providing the telephone numbers of the users and the live agent directly to the multipoint control unit.