Abstract: A system and method for providing calling party identification information to a called party in an intelligent network. A long distance calling card company maintains a subscriber database that includes preferred calling number data and calling name data for each subscriber. When a subscriber places a calling card call, the service provider looks up the subscriber's database record, retrieves the preferred calling number data, and sends the calling number data to the terminating end office. A calling name query from the terminating end office is routed to a database that includes data from the service provider's subscriber database. The caller's name is retrieved and returned to the terminating end office and displayed on the called party's display device, along with the calling number data, date, and time.

Abstract: A system and method for permitting the switches of a telecommunications network to process a call and deliver Automatic Number Identification information elements of Charge Number, Calling Party Number, and Presentation Indicator across the network. Upon receipt of a call from an origination trunk group, the origination switch creates an appropriate message based upon the termination trunk group type, the Presentation Indicator set by the originating party for that particular call, and the delivery option selected by the receiving party on a subscription basis. Then the message containing the proper Automatic Number Identification information is transported to the destination switch for eventual Caller ID delivery to the receiving party.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method for either displaying the calling party name, if available, to the called subscriber at the time of call setup, or informing the called subscriber that a name query is being performed if the calling party name is not available at call setup. If the calling party name is not available at the time of setting up of the call, the call is setup with the display reading "Searching Name". This gives the option to the subscriber to either pick up the call without the name information, or to wait for the name information to arrive. If the name is found, it will be displayed as such; if not, the display will read "out-of-area" (or other similar message). Advantageously, embodiments of the present invention do not increase the call setup time, while at the same time, the called subscriber has the option to wait for the Calling Party Name query response.

Abstract: A telephone system and method that enables a telephone to handle more call appearances that it has call appearance keys. The telephone system contains a display and general purpose keys that are used to respond to prompts shown on the display. When the telephone system receives an incoming call that is not assigned to a dedicated call appearance key, then the system places a prompt on the display. The prompt identifies the line upon which the telephone call is received by placing an identifying name, number or telephone location on the display. The prompt is placed adjacent to one of the general purpose keys so that the prompt is clearly associated with only one of the general purpose keys. The system then assigns that general purpose key to the telephone line addressed by the prompt. As a result, the general purpose key becomes a call appearance key and a person using the telephone system can complete a connection between that telephone an incoming call by pressing that general purpose key.

Abstract: A system is described in which call processing considers unique information about the call to better serve the caller and/or to enable the called party to more efficiently handle the call. In one embodiment, the unique information considered by the call processor is information indicator digits, which may indicate to the called party whether to accept the call before the voice portion of the call is initiated.

Abstract: Determining by a telecommunication switching systems in response to the initialization of a new BRI interface if a communication terminal connected to the new BRI interface is presently active on another BRI interface within the telecommunication switching system. If the answer is yes, then the telecommunication switching systems automatically transfers all active calls to the new BRI interface from the other BRI interface preventing the loss of the active calls.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing customized, billing-controlled call bridging services through a bridging node which includes a node interface for connection through incoming and outgoing telephone trunks to a carrier switch of a public switched network, an audio peripheral for recording, playing, and analyzing audio signals, and a node controller for controlling operation of the node interface and the audio peripheral.

Abstract: For use with a public telephone network CO incorporating a vast number of terminals T1-Tn, a system CS limits and controls interface access to implement voice-digital communication for statistical processing. The system CS accommodates calls in different modes, e. g. "800", "900" or area code and incorporates qualifying apparatus to restrict against caller misuse. Alternative calling modes are used to reach an interface facility that also affords some control based on calling terminal identification, e. g. as by ANI equipment.

Abstract: A switch system for switching extension numbers, which can be changed by a subscriber having the extension number of the BBG (Basic Business Group) without the operation by a switch operator, is connected with a plurality of telephone sets (TEL) which belong to the BBG (Basic Business Group). An access code and an extension number are sent from one telephone set of the BBG to the switch. A former extension number of the one telephone set is deleted by the switch system and is registered in the switch to change the former extension number of the one telephone set to the extension number sent from the one telephone set. The switch system has a subscriber circuit section, a digital switch module and a central processing section including a central processor, a main memory and a file memory.

Abstract: A gateway device for controlling the admission of telephone calls from a telephone line to a telecommunication station which includes a telephone call identification device; a micro controller operatively connectable to the telephone line through the telephone call identification device and to a telecommunication station on the telephone line, the micro controller being programmable to accept in memory a list of telephone call identification data and also having in memory instructions to summarily act on a telephone call identified by the call identification device that is included in the telephone call identification data; a command station for the micro controller; a device for two-way, radio-link connecting the micro controller and the command station to transmit information in the call identification device not summarily acted on as stated to the command station for visual display and for transmitting control commands from the command station to the micro controller, the command station having a visual di

Abstract: A method for delivering enhanced caller identification (ID) service including geographic location information comprises initializing an originating switch with geographic identification data (GID). The GID is stored in each switch module memory, and is accessed by the originating switch each time a calling party initiates a call to a called party. If the called party subscribes to caller ID service, the calling's party directory number, and the GID associated with the switch is delivered to the called party as part of caller ID service so that the true geographic location of the caller can be ascertained.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are set forth which enable users of a network which supports the AMIS Analog Protocol to define numbering plans which shorten and simplify addressing an AMIS message to specific AMIS Sites. These user friendly numbering plans are referred to generally herein as "Enhanced Addressing" schemes. The methods and apparatus contemplated by the invention also support the construction and utilization of the "System Number", as defined in the AMIS Analog Protocol, particularly in conjunction with performing Enhanced Addressing.

Abstract: A telecommunications system (10) is provided that provides for telephone functions to be accessed through client computer system (14). A server computer system (16) provides telephony services, database services and access to E-mail, voice mail, video conferencing and facsimile systems. A graphical user interface 116 is presented to a user to allow the user to perform a large number of functions and to access databases of information associated with calling and called parties.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving multi-channel caller identification data in a switching system with a path forming portion for forming a path to receive the caller identification data in response to an incoming ring signal from a plurality of central office lines; a multiplexer for selecting one of a plurality of channel signals containing the call identification data and received from the path forming portion; a decoder for sampling an analog signal of a corresponding channel selected by the multiplexer at a predetermined sampling frequency, to thereby convert the analog signal containing the call identification data into a PCM signal; a time switch for switching and outputting the converted PCM signal converted in the decoder and containing the call identification data to a corresponding channel; a demodulator for receiving the PCM signal output through the time switch to thereby demodulate the caller identification data; and a controller establishing a path for the caller identification data in response to the

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a passive telephone monitor to control collaborative systems comprising one or more local computers connected to one or more remote computers, wherein an image displayed on the local computer is substantially simultaneously displayed on the remote computer.

Abstract: A high-speed information service system is provided which uses a unique identifier received during call setup to retrieve automatically a personalized profile for an information service subscriber. The identifier uniquely identifies the subscriber, thereby allowing the information retrieval process to begin immediately after the call is setup. The system utilizes Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN) signaling and temporary, "out-of-band" signaling to improve information retrieval capability. ISDN signaling permits electronic addressing of information requested by the subscriber, thereby eliminating the delays which accompany DTMF signal processing. Communications between an information service provider and an individual information source are conducted using out-of-band signaling. That is, call setup and information request are processed using a channel other than the channel which carries data between the information service provider, the information source and the subscriber.

Abstract: A system D interfaces with a multiplicity of individual terminals T1-Tn of a telephone network facility C, at the terminals callers are prompted by voice-generated instructions to provide digital data that is identified for positive association with a caller and is stored for processing. The caller's identification data is confirmed using various techniques and callers may be ranked and accounted for on the basis of entitlement, sequence or demographics. Callers are assigned random designations that are stored along with statistical and identification data. A break-off control circuit may terminate the computer interface aborting to a terminal for direct communication with an operator. Real-time operation processing is an alternative to stored data. The accumulation of stored data (statistical, calling order sequence, etc.) is variously processed and correlated as with developed or established data to isolate a select group or subset of callers who can be readily identified and reliably confirmed.

Abstract: When a subscriber to message retrieval service retrieves a message, rather than reporting a time of day associated with the message that may not have any meaning to the subscriber if the subscriber, the message originator and the message depository are in diverse worldwide locations, the disclosed message retrieval system reports a delta time indicating to the retrieving subscriber the time elapsed since the message originator delivered the message.

Abstract: A telephone subscriber of a privacy communications service is allowed to use a randomly selected non-assigned telephone number--instead of the subscriber's real telephone number--as a return phone number in a telephone message left for a called party. The non-assigned, randomly selected telephone number becomes inoperative after a threshold that may be pre-imposed by the subscriber is exceeded. According to a feature of the invention, the function of randomly selecting a non-assigned telephone number may also include replacing the calling party number with the randomly selected number. Hence, when a caller-id display unit receives the telephone number of an incoming call for which the privacy communications service is used, the randomly selected telephone number--as opposed to the real telephone number--is received and recorded by the caller-id display unit.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, provided is a system allowing a plurality of conforming customer premise equipment ("CCPEs") on a single telephone line to display a third party's caller information while users are communicating with a second party. One CCPE of the plurality of CCPEs is a primary CCPE, whereas the remaining CCPE(s) are secondary CCPE(s). While the users are communicating with the second party using any one or more of the CCPEs, each CCPE detects whether a CPE alerting signal ("CAS") tone has been transmitted by the central office, thereby detecting when the third party is calling. Each CCPE responds by disconnecting the CCPE's telephone from the telephone line. After all of the CCPEs are on-hook, the primary CCPE then goes off-hook and transmits a CAS acknowledgement ("CAS ACK") signal to the central office. All of the CCPEs then wait for the central office to transmit the CID information in response to the CAS ACK signal.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, provided is a system allowing a plurality of conforming customer premise equipment ("CCPEs") on a single telephone line to display a third party's caller information while users are communicating with a second party. One CCPE of the plurality of CCPEs is a primary CCPE, whereas the remaining CCPE(s) are secondary CCPE(s). While the users are communicating with the second party using any one or more of the CCPEs, each CCPE detects whether a CPE alerting signal ("CAS") tone has been transmitted by the central office, thereby detecting when the third party is calling. Each CCPE responds by disconnecting the CCPE's telephone from the telephone line. After all of the CCPEs are on-hook, the primary CCPE then goes off-hook and transmits a CAS acknowledgement ("CAS ACK") signal to the central office. All of the CCPEs then wait for the central office to transmit the CID information in response to the CAS ACK signal.

Abstract: A system D interfaces with a multiplicity of individual terminals T1-Tn of a telephone network facility C, at the terminals callers are prompted by voice-generated instructions to provide digital data that is identified for positive association with a caller and is stored for processing. The caller's identification data is confirmed using various techniques and callers may be ranked and accounted for on the basis of entitlement, sequence or demographics. Callers are assigned random designations that are stored along with statistical and identification data. A break-off control circuit may terminate the computer interface aborting to a terminal for direct communication with an operator. Real-time operation processing is an alternative to stored data. The accumulation of stored data (statistical, calling order sequence, etc.) is variously processed and correlated as with developed or established data to isolate a select group or subset of callers who can be readily identified and reliably confirmed.

Abstract: A facility is disposed in a telecommunications network to provide an alternative to retrying the placing of a call to a telephone station when a busy signal is encountered. More particularly, if a subscriber places a telephone call to a called station set that is busy with another telephone call, then the facility notes that fact and terminates the subscriber's telephone call. Thereafter, the facility places a telephone call to the called station and, when the call is answered, announces at least the calling subscriber's telephone number and allows the called party to optionally extend the call back to the original calling subscriber. If the call is not answered, then the call back is terminated, and the placement of another call to the called station is rescheduled for a subsequent time.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for alerting a person placing a telephone call when a dialed number subscribes to a Caller Identification Service. A long distance party is called direct using standard 1+ calling. The call is routed through a long distance carrier switching network which is coupled to a signaling network. The signaling network routes the caller's identification information together with the dialed number to the switches in the switching network. The switching network includes a subscription table for determining whether the dialed number subscribes to the aforesaid service. If the dialed number is a subscriber, the caller's identification information and the dialed number are routed from the switching network to a Customer Long Distance Adjunct. The adjunct transmits a message to the caller via the switching network informing the caller that the dialed number is a subscriber.

Abstract: At a station apparatus, a programmable button is programmed in response to a first button depression occurring during the display of an incoming caller identification number (CID), the CID number being stored in a memory location associated with the programmable button. This programmable button enables a called party, who may be busy on another call, to store the CID number being displayed at his/her station set under the programmable button. Thereafter, when the user completes the present call he/she may go off-hook and press the programmed button to repertory dial the CID number stored under the programmed button. At a station terminal having a speakerphone, an on-hook user may press the programmed button to go off-hook, at the speakerphone, and dial the CID number stored under the programmed button. Virtual buttons, which are activated by predetermined combinations of touch-tone pad operations (e.g., #1, #2 etc.

Abstract: A telephone system having a message recording function which records in a voice mail recorder a voice message received from a calling party during absence of a called party and vocally reproduces the recorded message in response to a request from called party. The telephone system, which is preferably connected with such a network that a calling party identification data is included in an incoming signal, comprises a voice conversion means for converting a telephone number of the calling party into a voice signal on the basis of the calling party identification data and a control means for vocally reproducing the calling party's telephone number converted into the voice signal together with the voice message from the calling party recorded in the voice mail recorder, whereby, even when the calling party himself does not leave his telephone number in the message, the called party can listen to and know the telephone number as part of the voice message from the calling party.

Abstract: A telephone set provided with a telephone ringer for producing a ringing sound, a telephone number storing device for storing a telephone number of a specific party in response to a registration operation performed by a user, a telephone number detecting device for detecting telephone number data input from a telephone line and a control device for controlling and causing the ringer to produce a ringing sound when a telephone number indicated by the telephone number detected by the telephone number detecting device matches the telephone number stored in the telephone number storing device. Thereby, when the specific party phones the user, the user can easily know this. For example, if the user is going to concentrate his mind upon his work, or if the user is immersed in his work at a distance from the telephone set, the user can readily know whether or not a caller is the specific party, the telephone number of which is registered in the telephone set.

Abstract: An adjunct unit provides Incoming Caller Line Identification (ICLID) capability for a communication system. The adjunct unit interposed between the control unit and station sets of a communication system obtains ICLID from ringing central office lines and monitors signalling between the control unit and station sets to determine which stations are to receive the ICLID information. Using prestored database information the ICLID information can be used to obtain the calling party name for output to the station sets. The adjunct unit also outputs ICLID information to an application processor which stores calling records for the system.

Abstract: A system and method using canonical telephone numbers which allows automatic calling with any location in the world independent of the caller's location. The caller canonical telephone number and a plurality of caller prefixes are stored within the system. A telephone directory stores a plurality of callee canonical telephone numbers for locations throughout the world. The caller manually enters a callee telephone number or selects a callee telephone number from the telephone directory. The system determines if the callee telephone number is a canonical telephone number. The system expands non-canonical telephone numbers to canonical form using known telephone numbering rules for various countries. The system uses the callee canonical telephone number and the caller canonical telephone number to determine which digits of the callee canonical telephone number must be placed on the telephone line to complete the call.

Abstract: The invention provides a distributed information processing system for verifying the identities of telephone callers, in which data is stored in a first processing station and signal processing is performed by one or more speaker verification units located at one or more respective second, remote processing stations. The first processing station is arranged for storing data corresponding to a signature and to caller identification information for respective users. The second processing station or stations each include a speaker verification unit and a processor. The speaker verification unit is adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a voice and/or touch-tone signal representing a signature of a possible user, and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature.

Abstract: A telephone apparatus including a decoder, a memory, a comparison circuit and an output device. The decoder serves to detect and decode telephone number information of a calling side transmitted with bell signals through a telephone line. The memory stores telephone number data of calling sides in correspondence with operation keys. When a call is received, the comparison circuit compares the output data of the decoder with the telephone number data stored in the memory. If a coincidence is detected between the output data of the decoder and the telephone number data of the memory based on the comparison result of the comparison circuit, the output device notifies a user that the call corresponds to one of the telephone number data stored in the memory. The output device includes indication units provided in correspondence with a plurality of operation keys, and a driving control circuit for selectively activating the indication unit of the operation key corresponding to the coincident telephone number data.

Abstract: A communication system offering specific services to specific persons bears a portable memory device with a record of personal information such as the bearer's identification number, class of service, personal data, etc. In making a call, the bearer of the memory device puts it on a communication terminal device and the terminal device reads out the personal information, which is transferred to a data processor such as a central processor in the exchange so that a service specific to the calling person is rendered.

Abstract: An automatic circuit for blocking the transmission of identifying information of a telephone calling party. The automatic circuit has an electronic circuit to detect a telephone off-hook condition. An automatic dialer is also provided and has an input which is connected to the output of the electronic circuit. The automatic dialer is set to dial a predetermined code when the electronic circuit senses the actuation of the detector which detects the off-hook condition. When the predetermined code is received by the computer of the telephone company, it will automatically block the transmission of information which identifies the calling party, and more specifically, the telephone number of the calling party. The off-hook condition detector may be an off-hook switch or a voltage comparator, and other arrangements are foreseeable to detect such off-hook condition.

Abstract: An automatic incoming telephone call identification and disposition system embodied in a telephone receiver console which includes a database directory of telephone numbers and disposition calendars which contain activity information relating to one of several caller response options for each incoming telephone caller depending on the time and date that the call is received. Call dispositions of the system include: telephone ring; ring suppress; and connection to an answering machine or fax. The system also includes circuitry for monitoring incoming calls, circuitry for automatic number identification detection of an incoming call, circuitry for after answer code detection, and user programmable system control means and software for coordinating the operation of the system components.

Abstract: A method of arranging outside plant facilities associated with a telephone office is disclosed, in which serving terminals that connect to respective telephone station sets are designated as the originating equipment rather than the telephone office, thereby greatly simplifying the inventory of such facilities. As a result of such simplification, the outside loop assignment of a drop wire is then determined dynamically at the serving terminal.

Abstract: An off-hook condition on the telephone line of the calling party is detected. When the off-hook condition is detected, an automatic dialer is initiated to dial a predetermined code which, when received by computers of the telephone company, will automatically block the transmission of information which identifies the calling party, and more specifically, the telephone number of the calling party.

Abstract: Telephone call identification service that safeguards the privacy of an originating station (calling party), while providing useful identifying information to a destination station (called party), is achieved by an encryption process. The encryption process includes combining the originating number with the telephone number of the destination station to form a message. Thereafter, the message is encrypted using the Data Encryption Standard (DES) or the Rivest, Shamir, Adleman (RSA) encryption algorithm to form ciphertext which is transmitted to the destination station. Using either encryption process, the ciphertext is reversible. A telephone switching office, preferably equipped with an electronic program-controlled switching system, executes the encryption algorithm and safeguards the keys used for encryption and decryption. When reversibility of the ciphertext is deemed to be undesirable, the telephone switching office uses modulo n processing of the ciphertext to render it non-reversible.

Abstract: A system (10) for verifying the identity of a caller in a telecommunications network uses a voice-responsive control device (28) to compare spoken utterances of callers with previously stored voice templates. In preferred forms, the caller speaks an utterance of an identification number which is decoded independently of the speaker thereof and then used to retrieve corresponding voice template identified thereby. In other preferred forms, the ANI of a calling station (18) is delivered to the control device which uses the ANI to retrieve the caller's voice template identified thereby.

Abstract: An originator of a communication (110) selects from among a set of candidate displayable source indicators, which displayable source indicators can include both a unit ID and alias IDs, and then attempts to initiate a communication with a recipient communication unit (111). The attempt to initiate communication includes transmission of information, including the selected displayable source indicator. This allows a transmitting communication unit to most appropriately identify itself to a receiving communication unit.

Abstract: A system D interfaces with a multiplicity of individual terminals T1-Tn of a telephone network facility C, at the terminals callers are prompted by voice-generated instructions to provide digital data that is identified for positive association with a caller and is stored for processing. The caller's identification data is confirmed using various techniques and callers may be ranked and accounted for on the basis of entitlement, sequence or demographics. Callers are assigned random designations that are stored along with statistical and identification data. A break-off control circuit may terminate the computer interface aborting to a terminal for direct communication with an operator. Real-time operation processing is an alternative to stored data. The accumulation of stored data (statistical, calling order sequence, etc.) is variously processed and correlated as with developed or established data to isolate a select group or subset of callers who can be readily identified and reliably confirmed.

Abstract: This invention relates to arrangements for controlling processing of telephone calls from feature processors. Feature processors are data bases, usually shared among a plurality of switching systems, and usually comprising data for customers served by these switching systems, for altering the processing of telephone calls from and to these customers in accordance with that data. In order to perform this modification, data messages are exchanged between the switching systems and the feature processor. In a departure from the prior art, these data messages include functional indicators, i.e., indicators of basic characteristics of a call, each of which may be associated with many features and which may influence the execution of other features, wherein the execution of at least some of the features of the two groups can be influenced by the feature processor. Advantageously, the use of functional indicators helps to reduce the amount of data to be transmitted between the switching systems and feature processor.

Abstract: A communication terminal apparatus connected to an integrated services digital network to transmit data from an outgoing call office to an incoming call office and a method of controlling the communication terminal apparatus, in which notification of a person to be called for an incoming signal and acceptance or rejection of the incoming signal are controlled on the basis of predetermined identification data contained in the incoming signal. When detecting the identification data contained in the incoming signal, the present apparatus compares the detected identification data with registration identification data previously registered so that, if the apparatus finds a coincidence therebetween, it informs the user of corresponding to the coincided identification data visually by character data or audibly by a sound.

Abstract: A communication terminal apparatus connected to an integrated services digital network to transmit data from an outgoing call office to an incoming call office and a method of controlling the communication terminal apparatus, in which notification of a person to be called for an incoming signal and acceptance or rejection of the incoming signal are controlled on the basis of predetermined identification data contained in the incoming signal. When detecting the identification data contained in the incoming signal, the present apparatus compares the detected identification data with registration identification data previously registered so that, if the apparatus finds a coincidence therebetween, it informs the user of data coresponding to the coincided identification data visually by character data or audibly by a sound.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for speaker recognition in a telephone switching system. For a speaker recognition in a system particularly fashioned as an ISDN communications system, speech specimens are input into a telephone terminal equipment (T1, T2) and are pre-processed there, being, in particular, sampled with a sampling rate that is greater in comparison to the standard sampling rate. The samples are intermediately stored in the telephone terminal equipment (T1, T2), are read-out with the standard sampling frequency and are transmitted to a switching system (VA) in which the actual speaker recognition (SPR) is carried out.

Abstract: ANI Blocking System (ABS) logically interfaces between a calling party and a called party in a telephone network which provides CallerID and CallerID blocking. The ABS automatically: (1) accepts a call from the calling party; (2) places a call to the called party; and (3) connects the called party with the calling party.

Abstract: A communication unit utilizes a caller management unit which monitors in-house lines and detects a caller side calling code included in a calling set up message applied at the time of reference. A control unit stores the detected calling code in one memory region of a memory and reads out the stored calling code from the memory region in response to an output request to produce information corresponding to the calling code. The management unit displays the information produced by the control unit. The memory has another memory region for storing a plurality of predetermined calling codes and caller specification information corresponding to each calling code. The control unit stores the detected calling code into the one memory region in response to a non-response detection to reference by the line monitor.

Abstract: A voice messaging system for use with a telephone system. The preferred embodiment comprises a voice messaging system which interfaces to a PBX through a feature phone interface, the voice messaging system emulating a feature phone. The PBX supplies information to the voice messaging system such as information on the origination and history of the call. The present invention discloses improved methods of handling calls directed to the voice messaging system based on the information supplied by the PBX.

Abstract: An incoming telephone call director is intended for use with a Ring-Master service which provides different ring signals on a single telephone line to selectively access one of several devices on the line. The call director ignores a first ring, counts the pulses in the next ring, and then directs the next subsequent ring to a selected telephone or device such as a computer modem, facsimile, telex, etc., on the single telephone line. A different sounding ring signal is used to identify and access each telephone or device on an individual basis. The call director senses an Off-Hook condition for the telephone or any one of the devices and connects that device to the single telephone line to provide a Dial Tone to permit a plurality of such devices to share a single telephone line without interfering with each other or telephone calls on the line.

Abstract: The present electronic messaging system allows a system subscribed to record a plurality of "customized" announcement messages. Each such message is associated with at least one calling party. Upon receiving an incoming communication for that subscriber, the system automatically utilizes the calling party identification for that communication to retrieve the associated customized announcement message. The calling party identification, which identifies the communication instrument utilized by the calling party, is automatically provided to the electronic messaging system by the communications network through which the incoming communication is routed.

Abstract: Administration of a communication system having a plurality of addressable communication ports is accomplished automatically, by the system itself. The system is initially provisioned only with unlinked terminal translations. Establishment of hardware translations and their linking to the terminal translations is accomplished by the system automatically, in response to initial calls from system users. Each one of these initial calls informs the system of the call-originating terminals's extension, and thereby specifies to the system the requisite information for linking the originating extension and terminal translation with the call's incoming port. Station moves are also accomplished automatically, through similar calls.