Abstract: Method and apparatus for handling timeouts in a packet-switched communication network is described. In one example, at least one timeout condition of a network element is identifies in the packet-switched communication network. Packet delay is determined in a transport network of the packet-switched communication network in response to the at least one timeout condition. The packet delay is compared to a threshold packet delay. A timeout parameter of the network element is automatically adjusted if the packet delay satisfies the threshold packet delay.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and a communication device for establishing a communication transmission (ALTV), wherein upon detecting an original signaling (SIGRA) directed from a first terminal (EG2) to a second terminal (EG2) within the scope of an establishment of a connection, the second terminal (EG2) being addressed via a target address associated with the second terminal (EG2), it is recorded in what quantity further signalings (SIGRA) having the same sender address specifying the first terminal (EG1) and the same target address are detected within the scope of further attempts to establish a connection. An evaluation of time information is carried out with regard to the times of the detection of the detected original signaling (SIGRA) and the detected further signalings (SIGRA) in relation to at least one predetermined time period.

Abstract: An advanced voice service known as “Press-to-Connect” for wireless communications systems. A real-time exchange interfaces to the wireless network to provide a Press-to-Connect (PTC) call between an initiator and one or more recipients, wherein the PTC call comprises a time-limited Press-to-Talk (P2T) call. The real-time exchange uses a Talk Timer to limit how long the user may press a button and talk (i.e., the Talk Timer limits the length of each continuous “Talk” session of the call), before a “Talk” session of the call in the wireless network is ended, and the real-time exchange uses a Call Timer to limit how long the call can last (i.e., the Call Timer limits the overall length of the call), before the call in the wireless network is ended.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that addresses a problem that can occur when a calling party of a video call withdraws from the call, but does not actually hang up. For example, after the calling party begins working through an interactive voice and video response (IVVR) session, the party might put his phone down, step away, drop the phone inadvertently, or otherwise disengage from the call without hanging up. In this event, the terminal itself is still connected to the call, so the call resource is tied up serving the terminal, even though the calling party has temporarily disengaged from the call. The system of the illustrative embodiment detects the disengagement of the party from the call and, as a result, suspends the use of the call resource that has been allocated for the call until the party re-engages with the call.

Abstract: A system and method for registration of network units is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an optical network unit (ONU) in a passive optical network (PON) that can have a controller element to receive a registration code, send the registration code and a serial number of the ONU to an optical line terminal (OLT) that configures the ONU for temporary connectivity with the PON, and upon an expiration of the registration code or a termination of the temporary connectivity, re-send the serial number to the OLT to re-configure the connectivity with the PON. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods to identify inter-carrier telephone calls in a telephone system that are being mis-routed in such a way as to violate existing regulatory tariffs and/or established inter-carrier contracts. The common name for this manipulation is “arbitrage”, and the intent of the perpetrators is to take advantage of lower rates associated with the delivery of telephone traffic via other routes. Through the processes of collecting call detail records and their correlation in representative embodiments, various call “legs” associated with the same call can be identified, and a more accurate “compound” call record can be made that incorporates call routing information obtained from the individual call legs. A statistical analysis can then be performed to more clearly illuminate any arbitrage.

Abstract: A quota can be provided to a user that is registered with a communications system. The quota can authorize the user to place a call through the communications system when accessed from a remote area that is not serviced by the communications system until the quota is exhausted.

Abstract: A process, apparatus and system are disclosed for verifying the authenticity of a user before providing the user with a desired service. The process involves first receiving a request from the user. Next, a question set is fetched corresponding to the user. The question set concerns information of a private nature that someone with rightful access to the desired services should know. The question set has at least one question and a possible answer or list of possible answers corresponding to the question. The question is then transmitted to the user along with the possible answer(s). After receiving a response from the user, a record is made whether the response correctly identified the possible answer as being correct or not. Finally, after the number of questions transmitted to the user reaches a predetermined number, a determination is made whether the number of incorrect responses exceeds a certain limit.

Abstract: A telephone ringer control device selectively activates or deactivates a telephone ringer to silence a telephone during specified periods. The silent periods may be specified by a timer. In one embodiment, the ringer control device includes a remotely accessible activation circuit that allows the ringer control device to be programmed or overridden via a telephone line. In another embodiment, the ringer control device includes a caller identification to allow the user to block out all calls except for those originating from specified callers. The ringer control device may be mounted within the telephone housing, may be a stand-alone item, or may be incorporated in a telephone answering machine.

Abstract: A method for controlling long distance calling in an analog key telephone system having a multi-frequency receiver includes the steps of: connecting the multi-frequency receiver to a telephone connected within the system; determining whether numerical digit inputs corresponding to a complete telephone number are provided from the telephone; determining whether the telephone is provided with a class of service that restricts long distance calling, when numerical digit inputs corresponding to a complete telephone number are provided; determining whether the complete telephone number represents a long distance telephone number, when the telephone is provided with the class of service that restricts long distance calling; releasing a call initiated from the telephone, when the complete telephone number represents a long distance telephone number; connecting the call initiated from the telephone, when the telephone is not provided with the class of service that restricts long distance calling, or when the complete

Abstract: A cordless telephone system comprises a base unit and a portable handset having a rechargeable battery. To conserve battery power in the handset, the ringer is normally in an inactive state but may be switched active for a predetermined period of time. Thus, if the handset is within the range of other telephones within a household, the ringer on the handset will normally not be activate and the ringer on the handset will not indicate the receipt of an incoming call. To activate the ringer for the predetermined period of time, which would be desired when the handset is out of range of the other telephones, the user presses a timer switch for activating a timer. A CPU in the handset then enables the ringer while the timer is counting down the predetermined period of time. In another embodiment, the user can enter a desired period of time during which the ringer is active.

Abstract: An apparatus that after a time period settable by the user automatically returns an off-hook telephone to an on-hook condition. This apparatus thus electrically hangs up a telephone handset that is inadvertently left off-hook and allows normal handling of outgoing and incoming calls at other telephone extensions and in some embodiments, even allows calls to ring-in to the telephone having the inadvertently off-hook handset. The apparatus also senses when the inadvertently off-hook handset is returned on-hook and rapidly restores the automatic-return-to-an-on-hook condition switch to normal operation.

Abstract: A communication control unit connecting a terminal and a network temporarily disconnects a circuit of the network without ending a session, when no data is received from the network or when no data is transmitted to the network. In response to an occurrence of the transmitted data in the terminal or in response to an occurrence of a request for the connection of the circuit, the temporarily disconnected circuit is re-connected so that the session is resumed.

Abstract: A call saving system for an ISDN telephone switching system includes a subscriber switching unit and terminal units connected to the subscriber switching unit via subscriber lines. A control device controls an overall call saving process executed between the subscriber switching unit and each terminal unit when a restart process is started after a call process is temporarily stopped. When a restart process is started, a restart message is transmitted to each terminal units on the basis of the presence/absence of a call to be saved. Each terminal unit includes a call state setting circuit for a state display message when information indicating a confirmation of a call saving is set in the restart message.

Abstract: In a call disconnection method and a system for executing the same in an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network, a plurality of timers are provided corresponding to each call in an exchange of an ATM network. A connected call is detected, and a data cell is not transmitted for longer than a predetermined time, by using the corresponding timer, and disconnecting the detected call from the ATM network.

Abstract: A call detection control apparatus includes individual call detecting circuits, a common call detecting circuit, switching circuits, and a power supply circuit. The individual call detecting circuits individually detect call signals, which originate from telephone subscriber lines. The common call detecting circuit commonly detects call signals, which originate from the respective telephone subscriber lines. The switching circuits switch the respective telephone subscriber lines from the common call detecting circuit to the respective individual call detecting circuit when the common call detecting circuit detects an call signal from one of the respective telephone subscriber lines. The power supply circuit supplies operating power to each of the individual call detecting circuits upon interlocking with an operation of a corresponding one of the switching circuits.

Abstract: A telephone system with a clock includes a circuit which produces a first tone indicating a connection of a transmission line is on hold or that a preset time has arrived, and a different time announcing tone for announcing the arrival of the preset time while the connection of the transmission line is on hold. When a calling tone is to be produced upon reception of the call while the time announcing tone is emitted, the telephone system with the clock produces the calling tone in a manner different from the time announcing tone. Thus, it is possible to be alerted to both the time announcing tone and the holding tone and both the time announcing tone and the calling tone when either combination is initiated at the same time.

Abstract: A timer for automatically controlling the cumulative service time of a telephone consisting of a box mounted over and plugged into a standard wall telephone outlet. The box contains an exterior receptacle for connection with the telephone cord. The interior of the box is secured by a locked cover that prevents access to the controls as well as to the mounting screws that fasten the unit to the outlet box. The desired total amount of time of phone use permitted during each 24 hour period is selected by setting appropriate control switches and it remains unchanged until a new selection is made. At the expiration of the selected cumulative service time, the timer alerts the user of the impending disconnection by a tone signal and automatically disconnects the phone soon thereafter. The device is powered by a battery backed utility 110 VAC source and it resets itself automatically every 24 hours, so that no periodic adjustments or calibrations are required.

Abstract: This invention relates to a telephone apparatus and a method of controlling the telephone apparatus, wherein, where a calling operation conflicts with a call-receiving operation, calling processing and call-receiving processing are performed so that an intention of an operator at a calling side may be respected. A timer is caused to start to operate in response to an incoming signal detected by an incoming signal detecting unit. Where an off-hook operation is detected by an off-hook detecting unit before the expiration of a timer time set at the timer, a line control unit treats the off-hook operation as an off-hook operation for a calling operation. Where an off-hook operation is detected by the off-hook detecting unit after the expiration of the timer time, the line control unit treats the off-hook operation as an off-hook operation for a call-receiving operation.

Abstract: A telephone control system is provided for use between central office telephone equipment and a telephone line pair connected to a predefined telephone station. The telephone control system includes monitoring circuitry for monitoring the telephone line pair to identify predetermined signals. Control circuitry is responsive to the monitoring circuitry for selectively preventing or enabling a telephone call. Circuitry is provided for generating voice messages for transmission on the telephone line, such as to advise the user of time remaining for an established telephone call. Circuitry is provided for storing call information including a user identification number. Control circuitry is provided for detecting a first predetermined event, such as a predetermined time of day, and disconnecting the telephone line pair from the central office telephone equipment responsive to the detected first predetermined event.

Abstract: An automatic on-hook arrangement which includes a voice detecting circuit for detecting input voice from a micro-phone, a timer for measuring time in which the input voice from the micro-phone is not detected, a warning section which emits warning upon measurement of a predetermined time by the timer, a warning releasing switch for releasing the warning, a telephone line control circuit for cutting off a telephone line, and a control section connected to each of the above components. The warning section emits the warning when the input voice is not detected for the predetermined time by the voice detecting circuit, and the telephone line control circuit cuts off the telephone line when the warning is not released, and further, the input voice is not detected for another predetermined time.

Abstract: A telephone timing device comprising a synchronous motor driven timer energized by a circuit having at least one switch activated by removing the handset from its cradle to start a time cycle. The telephone owner preselects the talking time by setting the timer which disconnects the telephone at a the predetermined time following an audible few seconds warning time to the telephone users. Once started the circuit completes each time period to reset the telephone for a subsequent talking time period. A locked housing containing the timer surrounds the telephone modular wall outlet jack.