Abstract: An assembly, and an associated method, by which to place a telephonic station in virtual residency in a telephonic network. The virtually-resident telephonic station is coupled to a packet data network, such as the Internet backbone. The virtually-resident telephonic station has packet network address determined by the location of its connection to the packet data network. An index, formed by an indexer, is maintained at a proxy server embodied at the packet data network. When a call is placed by a calling station for connection with the virtually-resident telephonic station, the call is routed to the packet data network, and the index is accessed to ascertain the address of the virtually-resident telephonic station. When the address is ascertained, the call is routed to the virtually-resident telephonic station, and the call connection is completed.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for redirecting telephonic calls. Calls are directed to a user based upon the user's presence on a packet network. An indexer indexes together a forwarded call location together with dialing digits associated with a called location. When a calling party subsequently places a call to the called location, selected redirection of the call is effectuated pursuant to redirection procedures. A telephonic switch, through which the call placed by the calling party is routed, accesses the index formed by the indexer, located, for example, at a service control point. Responsive to the values contained in the index, the call is routed, to be delivered to the called party. In a work-from-home scenario, a TDM call placed to a worker's work location is redirected to a secondary location with the only effort required by the worker being his log on to the worker's corporate network.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for providing a Web-based directory with automatic dialing capabilities that may be used by the user of a standard wireline or cellular telephone to establish contact with entities having SIP phones or other IP-based communication devises. The Web-based directory includes not only the names of various entities, but information on how to establish voice contact with them as well such as IP addresses or other contact numbers. A Web-based directory user establishes an Internet connection and retrieves one or more Web pages of the Web-based directory, selecting from them one or more entities from among those listed.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method of implementing a notification and hold service in a telephone network is disclosed. A calling telecommunications device is placed on hold by the called telecommunications device, and signals an auxiliary computer system through a network switch that the calling telecommunications device is to be disconnected from the called telecommunications device. The calling telecommunications device is notified at a later time that the called telecommunications device is no longer on hold. In another embodiment of the invention, the calling telecommunications device is connected to customer premise equipment which notifies that calling telecommunications device that the called telecommunications device is no longer on hold.