Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed that enable information about devices connected behind a gateway, such as a home gateway, to be made available to and used by other entities, such as servers and routers, on a communications network.

Abstract: Methods and devices for protecting telephone privacy are provided. Privacy is provided by altering the pitch of a person's voice, recording the call, changing caller ID information, routing a call straight to voicemail, playing background sounds during the call, call forwarding, and messaging. The various privacy mechanisms can be performed alone, or in combination with certain triggers, such as receiving a call from a certain number, dialing a call to a certain number, transmitting caller ID information with a certain number, or contacting a certain dial-in number of a call handling system.

Abstract: Presented herein is a system to set up a secure connection between nodes on two enterprise networks across a public network. The system includes a network element associated with each enterprise network. The first network element transmits a map request to a mapping server. The map request includes a destination address on the second enterprise network and a peer introduction request. The first network element includes a first key generation material in the peer introduction request. The second network element is configured to receive the map request forwarded from the mapping server, generate a map reply corresponding to the map request, and transmit the map reply to the first network element. The map reply includes a peer introduction reply with a second key generation material. The first network generates a secure key by inserting the second key generation material into a first key derivation function.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention could be a method of disguising the caller ID of an incoming phone call comprising the following steps: providing a portable telecommunication smart device that interfaces with telecommunication system to receive an incoming phone call; selecting a phone number to be placed upon a fake list manager database and assigning a fake display caller ID to the selected user known phone number; storing the selected phone number and the assigned fake caller display ID upon the fake list manager database, receiving an incoming phone call; matching a phone number of the incoming phone call with selected phone number; displaying the fake caller ID upon portable telecommunication smart device.

Abstract: A method by at least one network node is disclosed for controlling setup of calls through a communication system. Information is received for a call request that comprises a network address of an origination device of the call request and a virtual identifier associated with a destination device to which the incoming call is directed. A user call profile is retrieved from among a plurality of user call profiles in a user call profile repository using the virtual identifier to identify the user call profile. The user call profile includes a plurality of rules defined by the user for controlling setup of calls to the destination device. Setup of a call path between the origination device and the destination device is controlled responsive to the user call profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods performed by an IP telephony system are designed to determine when two parties to a recently terminated telephony communication are simultaneously calling each other in an attempt to re-establish a telephony communication. When the IP telephony system determines that this situation is occurring, the IP telephony system acts to connect the two parties, rather than have both of them see their new call setup attempt fail because the other party's telephony device is indicated to be busy.

Abstract: Technologies relating to enhanced Caller ID information selection for a caller associated with a call and delivery of the selected enhanced Caller ID information to a callee associated with the call include one or more processors selecting, according to selection criteria, one or more enhanced Caller ID information items from a collection of available enhanced Caller ID information items pertaining to the caller that are stored across one or more databases of enhanced Caller ID information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to the creation and management of a secondary identification to avoid identify theft. Identity theft may occur over the internet, the purchase of goods and services by credit, and many other forms not yet known. The present invention creates a secondary identification for a person by creating one or more of the following secondary identifications which include a secondary email address, a secondary postal address, a secondary phone number, and any other identifying secondary information. The present invention describes methods and systems to create a secondary identification. Further, the present invention may be used to create a credit card containing the requestor's secondary identification.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method, and apparatus for managing the calling-party identification information offered to called parties. Accordingly, a caller can designate the Caller ID information to the called party based on the context of the call (e.g. the role of the caller) rather than the terminal used. Typically the calling party does this by selecting which of multiple values they wish to have sent with the call request. It is beneficial to implement such a mechanism in a secure manner—the ability to employ a different calling-number or calling-name ID should be restricted to properly-authorized and authenticated persons—in order to ensure the quality of this information. Accordingly, preferred embodiments include an authentication mechanism for verifying the calling party information is authentic.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media provide presenting a customized message to an incoming calling party and for allowing the calling party to save or forward the customized message. A called party submits a customized message to an intelligent network component of her telecommunications service provider along with identifiers for specified incoming callers who are to receive the customized message upon calling the called party. After the customized message is prepared, incoming callers who have been associated with the customized message are presented with the customized message before being connected to the called party. If the incoming call is not from a telephone directory number associated with the customized message, the incoming call is processed according to normal call processing methods.

Abstract: An intelligent dialing method and a terminal are provided by the present invention. The method includes: a terminal receiving a called number input by a user and inquiring home location information of the called number; obtaining home location information of a local host number and information of a telecommunication operator to which the local host number belongs; determining a call type of this call according to the home location information of the called number and the home location information of the local host number; extracting a dialing prefix corresponding to the telecommunication operator to which the local host number belongs and the call type according to corresponding relationship information among a stored dialing prefix with the telecommunication operator and the call type; and combining the extracted dialing prefix with the called number into a target number to make the call.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for providing telephone number sharing services to subscribers over public switched telephone network or data network. The disclosed system maintains a bank of reusable caller identifiers (IDs). The system receives call details of a call from a subscriber of the system. The call details include a caller identifier (ID) preference of the subscriber and a called number corresponding to the called party. The system stores the call details in a database. The system determines whether the call from the subscriber is a first call to the called number. In response to the call being the first call to the called number, the system assigns a call ID from the bank of reusable caller IDs that satisfies the reusable caller ID preference of the subscriber, and connects the call to the called number along with the caller ID.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products provide dynamic replacement communication identification (ID) service. A request is received from a user for dynamic replacement communication ID from a current location of the user. The user requesting dynamic replacement communication ID is authenticated. A user profile of the user requesting dynamic replacement communication ID is retrieved. A current profile of the current location is replaced with the user profile of the user.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for providing telephone number sharing services to subscribers over public switched telephone network or data network. The disclosed system maintains a bank of reusable caller identifiers (IDs). The system receives call details of a call from a subscriber of the system. The call details include a caller identifier (ID) preference of the subscriber and a called number corresponding to the called party. The system stores the call details in a database. The system determines whether the call from the subscriber is a first call to the called number. In response to the call being the first call to the called number, the system assigns a call ID from the bank of reusable caller IDs that satisfies the reusable caller ID preference of the subscriber, and connects the call to the called number along with the caller ID.

Abstract: A communication system for communication sessions, such as voice calls, conference calls, and instant messaging chat sessions, includes a plurality of communication devices and one or more servers configured to provide data communication among the plurality of communication devices. Data contexts having chronological user-generated content are established and maintained between different communication devices. An indication of current user-generated content of a data context is sent from a calling/initiating party to one or more receiving parties when a communication session is initiated. The indication of current user-generated content can then be used by the one or more receiving parties to determine whether the communication session is to be accepted and, if accepted, to quickly become familiar with the subject of the communication session.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a message in Caller-ID information are described. In one embodiment of the present invention, an applications server, such as service control point (SCP), substitutes a message for Caller-ID information when a switch serving the called party's line requests the Caller-ID information. An embodiment may also include an application that provides a user interface, for example, a web-enabled interface, to allow the subscriber to add or change the message.

Abstract: Methods, media, and network devices are provided for detecting errors in caller identifier records. A caller name provider is identified for a terminating endpoint that is a recipient of a communication from a transmitting device. The caller name provider receives queries for caller identifier information that will be transmitted to the terminating endpoint. The caller name provider returns records having the caller identifiers in response to the queries. When the records contain an error, the caller name providers receive update requests from a calling party of the transmitting device. The update requests include changes to the records that correct the errors.

Abstract: An exemplary process includes storing telephone numbers in a telephone number database, identifying which telephone numbers in the telephone number database have digits that occur in an alphabetic pattern as defined by a reference list, and designating the telephone numbers with digits occurring in the alphabetic pattern as patterned telephone numbers. An exemplary process of identifying alphabetic patterns includes assigning at least one letter in an alphabet to a first digit, assigning at least one other letter in an alphabet to a second digit, accessing a telephone number database storing telephone numbers having a plurality of digits, identifying a letter combination created by at least two digits of at least one of the telephone numbers in the telephone number database, and determining whether the letter combination forms an alphabetic pattern as defined by a reference list.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, one or more methods and/or systems described can transform an inbound call into one or more call streams and/or call states that can include at least one of a contextualized or personalized message, a promotion, a coupon, an offer, a voucher, an advertisement, and an opt-in program, among others. For example, the one or more methods and/or systems described can perform: receiving identification information associated with a telephony device; determining, based on the identification information, a message for the user; and sending the message to the telephony device. For instance, the message can include a coupon or discount for a good or service. In one example, the coupon or discount can be sent via a short message service text message. In another example, the coupon or discount can include a computer-readable image that can be sent via a multimedia messaging service message.

Abstract: Method, system, and computer readable medium for providing an identifier for a caller identifier (ID) function when processing a communication request between a calling party and a called party in a communication network is described. In some examples, an initial identifier for the caller ID function associated with the calling party is received. A determination is made if the calling party has a virtual identifier configured in the communication network. A determination is made if the called party has a predefined identifier associated with the calling party configured in the communication network. The initial identifier is replaced with a terminating identifier based on configuration of the virtual identifier and the predefined identifier in the communication network.

Abstract: An incoming-call management method of mobile telecommunication devices is provided. The method includes offering options for telephone holder and caller, and controls the procedure according to the telephone holder's setting and caller's decisions.

Abstract: A privacy stamp for preventing the automatic display of private data items stored in a memory of a mobile telecommunications apparatus. The telecommunications apparatus is provided with user operable means to selectively associate a privacy stamp with the stored data items such that a processor prevents the data items associated with the privacy stamp from being automatically displayed on a user interface.

Abstract: A method and system for presenting interactive information about a party in a telecommunication call are provided. The party may be a calling party or a called party. Providing interactive information may include identifying a party in a telecommunication call and receiving interactive information about the party. The received interactive information may be combined with user data to form combined interactive information. The combined interactive information may be displayed to a user. A user-action relating to the displayed combined interactive information may be received and an operation corresponding to the user-action may be performed. Providing interactive information may include determining if the user data is needed by analyzing the interactive information. The interactive information may include events, and the user data may include the user's schedule. The combining may correlate the events with the schedule and creates a set of user-actions based on the correlation.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products provide dynamic replacement communication identification (ID) service. A request is received from a user for dynamic replacement communication ID from a current location of the user. The user requesting dynamic replacement communication ID is authenticated. A user profile of the user requesting dynamic replacement communication ID is retrieved. A current profile of the current location is replaced with the user profile of the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method, and apparatus for managing the calling-party identification information offered to called parties. Accordingly, a caller can designate the Caller ID information to the called party based on the context of the call (e.g. the role of the caller) rather than the terminal used. Typically the calling party does this by selecting which of multiple values they wish to have sent with the call request. It is beneficial to implement such a mechanism in a secure manner—the ability to employ a different calling-number or calling-name ID should be restricted to properly-authorized and authenticated persons—in order to ensure the quality of this information. Accordingly, preferred embodiments include an authentication mechanism for verifying the calling party information is authentic.

Abstract: A system and method for providing enhanced information to a mobile communication device regarding a calling device is described. The system and method includes receiving an incoming call request at a mobile communication device including the identifier of the calling device. An information request is then formulated including the identifier of the calling device. The information request is transmitted from the mobile communication device to the query processing center via a data communication channel. A response is then obtained from the data processing center and transmitted to the mobile phone via the data communication channel. The response received from the data processing center includes the requested information related to the calling device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products provide dynamic replacement communication identification (ID) service. A request is received from a user for dynamic replacement communication ID from a current location of the user. The user requesting dynamic replacement communication ID is authenticated. A user profile of the user requesting dynamic replacement communication ID is retrieved. A current profile of the current location is replaced with the user profile of the user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products provide called party identification to a calling party. A communication is processed from a calling communications address to one of a plurality of communications addresses associated with a simultaneous ring. When an answer is detected at one of the plurality of communications addresses, an answering communications address is sent to the calling communications address.

Abstract: Methods and systems directed to a social caller ID application that performs a reverse look up on an incoming communication to determine a specific member of a social networking system associated with the incoming communication, and, based on the social relationship between the detected member and the recipient of the communication, display particular information to the recipient. In this manner, a user is provided a caller ID system that leverages information stored remotely on a social network.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for presenting differentiated calling party identifiers representative of a calling party to various called parties based on the identifier information for a particular called party. The differentiated calling party identifier that is conveyed to a called party may be selected from a list of calling party identifiers associated with the calling party. The system receives an indication of an attempt to initiate a call by a calling party which includes identifier information indicative of the called party, determines a calling party identifier to be conveyed to the called party based on the identifier information indicative of the called party and causes an appropriate calling party identifier to be conveyed in association with the initiated call.

Abstract: A method is implemented by one or more server devices associated with a network. The method includes receiving information relating to a customer service request, where the information includes data to identify a category of the customer service request. The method also includes receiving a request to speak with a customer service agent, and placing a service call request in a calling queue associated with the category of the customer service request. The method further includes monitoring availability of customer service agents associated with the calling queue, and sending a call initiation message to the access terminal when a customer service agent associated with the calling queue is available. Based on the call initiation message, the access terminal may automatically initiate a voice session with an available customer service agent.

Abstract: A method for assigning special number wireless call routing responsibilities among special number call answering positions, each respective special number call answering position having a respective designated special number service area, includes: (a) in no particular order: (1) establishing a plurality of cell sector areas for wireless call service; and (2) establishing respective special number service areas in the vicinities of the plurality of cell sector areas; (b) associating respective cell sector areas with the respective special number service areas to establish cell sector-special number areas; (c) establishing at least one population area in the vicinity of the cell sector-special number areas; (d) associating the cell sector-special number areas with the at least one population area to establish cell sector-special number-population areas; (e) determining portions of population attributed to each respective cell sector-special number-population area; and (f) assigning the responsibilities in prop

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for verifying a user alias. The method comprises: a calling terminal inserting a set alias and a calling user's own number into calling information when calling a called terminal; after the called terminal receives the calling information, when the calling terminal registers calling number display restriction or when the calling terminal cancels the calling number display restriction and the calling number of the calling is inconsistent with a calling user number stored locally in the called terminal, determining whether the calling user's own number matches successfully with the calling user number stored locally in the called terminal to display in different modes when the matching is successful and unsuccessful, respectively.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for providing telephone number sharing services to subscribers over public switched telephone network or data network. The disclosed system first receives call details of a call from a subscriber of the system. The call details include reusable call number preference of the subscriber as well as a phone number of a called party. The system stores the call details in a database. The system determines whether the received call from the subscriber is a first call to the called number. In response to the call being the first call to the called party, the system assigns a reusable call number that satisfies the reusable call number preference of the subscriber, and forwards the call to the called number with the reusable call number.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products provide dynamic replacement communication identification (ID) service. A request is received from a user for dynamic replacement communication ID from a current location of the user. The user requesting dynamic replacement communication ID is authenticated. A user profile of the user requesting dynamic replacement communication ID is retrieved. A current profile of the current location is replaced with the user profile of the user.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a method of managing calls to a toll-free telephone number is disclosed. The method includes modifying a calling party identification (ID) privacy indicator associated with a received telephone call directed to a toll-free number. The calling party ID privacy indicator is modified based at least in part on a day that the telephone call is received.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the embodiment provides a communication terminal for communicating in a network. The terminal receives from another communication terminal a request includes an obscured call information for obscuring an identification information. The communication terminal obscures the identification information after receiving the request.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media provide presenting a customized message to an incoming calling party and for allowing the calling party to save or forward the customized message. A called party desiring to leave a customized message for certain incoming calling parties submits a customized message to an intelligent network component of her telecommunications service provider along with identifiers for specified incoming callers who are to receive the customized message upon calling the called party. After the customized message is prepared, incoming callers who have been associated with the customized message are presented with the customized message before being connected to the called party. After an incoming caller receives the customized message, the calling party may store or send the customized message for later retrieval. If the incoming call is not from a telephone directory number associated with the customized message, the incoming call is processed according to normal call processing methods.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for providing an identifier for a caller identifier (ID) function when processing a communication request between a calling party and a called party in a communication network is described. In some examples, an initial identifier for the caller ID function associated with the calling party is received. A determination is made if the calling party has a virtual identifier configured in the communication network. A determination is made if the called party has a predefined identifier associated with the calling party configured in the communication network. The initial identifier is replaced with a terminating identifier based on configuration of the virtual identifier and the predefined identifier in the communication network.

Abstract: A method and a system for presenting customized caller options via a communication device (104) are disclosed. The method includes receiving (404) an incoming call from a calling party at the second communication device. The method further includes comparing (406) a caller Identification (ID) information associated with the incoming call to a pre-defined stored list of caller ID information. Further, the method includes presenting (408) the calling party with customized caller options. The customized caller options are presented as a function of the comparison between the incoming call caller ID information and the pre-defined stored list of caller ID information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method, and apparatus for managing the calling-party identification information offered to called parties. Accordingly, a caller can designate the Caller ID information to the called party based on the context of the call (e.g. the role of the caller) rather than the terminal used. Typically the calling party does this by selecting which of multiple values they wish to have sent with the call request. It is beneficial to implement such a mechanism in a secure manner—the ability to employ a different calling-number or calling-name ID should be restricted to properly-authorized and authenticated persons—in order to ensure the quality of this information. Accordingly, preferred embodiments include an authentication mechanism for verifying the calling party information is authentic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for masquerading the identity of a first communication device returning a missed call placed by a second communication device to a third communication device. The first communication device receives a missed call notification indicating the second communication device placed a first call to the third communication device. Thereafter, the first communication device initiates a second call to the second communication device and directs a network to deliver to the second communication device caller identification information that indicates the second call originates from the third communication device. Moreover, the first communication device may include a missed call log that includes missed call notifications for missed calls placed directly to the first communication device as well as missed call notifications for missed calls originally placed to another communication device. The first communication device can present to a user missed call notifications stored in the missed call log.

Abstract: A telecommunications device and/or service are provided that enable a user to identify a particular call announcement to be used when announcing an incoming call from the user on the call recipient's telecommunications device. The call from the user includes call data that identifies the particular call announcement. When received, the recipient's device processes the incoming call and announces it with the requested announcement.

Abstract: Number portability is a service where a subscriber can keep his old telephone number within a portability cluster and thus retain easy contactibility. Because of number portability, a called address, i.e. B-number, no longer refers to the subscription network/number range owner and the old rule “the number range of the called party reveals the tariff level” is no longer valid. To overcome this defect all intelligent network-like service invocation requests are routed (3-2) via a network node performing a number portability function to the network node controlling the service. The node performing the number portability function performs (3-3) a mapping of the B-number and relays (3-4) the service invocation requests indicating the subscription network/number range owner.

Abstract: A method of managing calls to a toll free telephone number is provided and includes receiving a telephone call directed to a toll free number and determining a day that the telephone call is received. Further, the method includes modifying a Calling Party ID privacy indicator associated with the call. The Calling Party ID privacy indicator can be modified based on the day that the telephone call is received. Also, the caller identification can be determined after the Calling Party ID privacy indicator is modified. Further, in a particular embodiment, the call is received and the Calling Party ID privacy indicator is modified on a weekday. The method further includes determining whether the call is received within a predetermined time range. Moreover, the Calling Party ID privacy indicator can be modified when the call is received within the predetermined time range.

Abstract: Embodiments of the system, and method provide for network support for providing caller flexibility on “name”, “number”, and “message” for a calling terminal that is displayed on a called terminal. One embodiment of the method may have the steps of: entering a command to use at least one of an alternate caller name, an alternate caller number and an alternate caller message for a calling terminal, instead of a preassigned caller name and caller number for the calling terminal; looking up the at least one of an alternate caller name, an alternate caller number and an alternate caller message; and using the at least one of an alternate caller name, an alternate caller number and an alternate caller message in place of the preassigned caller name and caller number for the calling terminal.

Abstract: An automated telephone assistant device and associated methods including a base unit in communication with a telephone network, wherein the base unit is operable for executing a first algorithm disposed within the base unit and selectively allowing a telephone call received from the telephone network to be transmitted to a telephone handset belonging to a user and selectively preventing the telephone call received from the telephone network from being transmitted to the telephone handset belonging to the user.

Abstract: An intelligent voice message status indication device for a single line of a telephone network includes a controller that responds to caller-ID signals to detect whether a mailbox contains a message, responds to a call-waiting signal to break communication with the voicemail system during message retrieval to capture an incoming call, and toggles multiple indicators associated with respective sub-mailboxes on a single line. The message waiting indicators may include respective unique audio, as well as respective unique, visual indication of message presence in one or more mailboxes. The voicemail servers of the network may be correspondingly partitioned to host multiple mailboxes and to provide unique outbound caller IDs to identify a mailbox having a message.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a message in Caller-ID information are described. In one embodiment of the present invention, an applications server, such as service control point (SCP), substitutes a message for Caller-ID information when a switch serving the called party's line requests the Caller-ID information. An embodiment may also include an application that provides a user interface, for example, a web-enabled interface, to allow the subscriber to add or change the message.

Abstract: This invention relates a system, wherein virtual numbers are provided to users through Telecom or computer networks, and one-way or two-way message transmission (texts, images, music or multimedia) are achieved under the situation that message senders do not know the true call numbers of receivers. Virtual numbers are used by receivers permanently for acceptance of messages. According to the setting of users, the message senders are required to input password, thus the service is only offered to specific senders. In addition, the time for message acceptance can be set. The system can integrate accounts and message management for users.