Abstract: Speech synthesizing devices and methods are disclosed for mimicking the voices of public figures. A text-to-speech deep neural network (DNN) can be used to do so, with the DNN being trained using publicly available audio recordings of a given public figure speaking as well as text corresponding to the words that are spoken by the public figure in the audio recordings. The DNN may then be used to produce various audio outputs in the voice of the public figure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for effecting a voice communication between user terminals connected via a communication network include displaying a menu of country options to a user and receiving a number in local form. Formatting rules are recalled for a destination country selected by the user from the country options. A country prefix for the destination country is prepended to the number in accordance with the formatting rules to generate a formatted number. The formatted number is supplied to a client installed at the user terminal for effecting the voice communication using the formatted number.

Abstract: Various approaches for providing textual information to an application, system, or service are disclosed. In particular, various embodiments enable a user to capture an image with a camera of a portable computing device. The computing device is capable of taking the image and processing it to recognize, identify, and/or isolate the text in order to forward the text to an application or function. The application or function can then utilize the text to perform an action in substantially real-time. The text may include an email, phone number, URL, an address, and the like and the application or function may be dialing the phone number, navigating to the URL, opening an address book to save contact information, displaying a map to show the address, and so on.

Abstract: A method of performing a user related operation includes, with an optical reader, reading an encoded on-line address being displayed on a display of a pocket-sized card to be carried by a user; decoding the encoded on-line address; requesting access to remotely stored data using the on-line address, the remotely stored data being related to the user; and, upon the requested access being granted, loading the remotely stored data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for effecting a voice communication between user terminals connected via a communication network include displaying a menu of country options to a user and receiving a number in local form. Formatting rules are recalled for a destination country selected by the user from the country options. A country prefix for the destination country is prepended to the number in accordance with the formatting rules to generate a formatted number. The formatted number is supplied to a client installed at the user terminal for effecting the voice communication using the formatted number.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for effecting a voice communication between user terminals connected via a communication network include displaying a menu of country options to a user and receiving a number in local form. Formatting rules are recalled for a destination country selected by the user from the country options. A country prefix for the destination country is prepended to the number in accordance with the formatting rules to generate a formatted number. The formatted number is supplied to a client installed at the user terminal for effecting the voice communication using the formatted number.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to retrieve a targeted party telephone number, retrieve a telephone number assigned to the communication device, submit to a system at least a portion of the targeted party telephone number and at least a portion of the telephone number assigned to the communication device, receive from the system information indicating a dialing format for the targeted party telephone number, and initiate communications according to the information supplied by the system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for Diameter prefix authorization. The method includes sending a request for a prefix by a Prefix Authorization (PA) client or Diameter client to a Prefix Authorization (PA) server or Diameter server. The method also includes replying with an answer message by the PA server to the PA client to provide a first prefix with a first lifetime. The invention further includes a method for initiating IPv6 address renumbering by sending a message for renumbering from the PA server. The method also includes receiving the message by the PA client and sending a message to the PA server to acquire a second prefix. The method further includes receiving the second prefix from the PA server with an answer message with a second lifetime, where the second prefix is different from the first prefix.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a correct international telephone number for a contact, based on the location of the user, the optional location of the contact and a set of rules representing the formats used in the two locations. The location information may be entered by the user or identified using the number and the set of rules. Once the location information is identified, the interface may determine the correct number to dial using the set of rules to produce a correct international telephone number. The correct telephone number may then be associated with the contact so that the correct telephone number is dialed upon receiving a user input to call the contact.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for effecting a voice communication between user terminals connected via a communication network include displaying a menu of country options to a user and receiving a number in local form. Formatting rules are recalled for a destination country selected by the user from the country options. A country prefix for the destination country is prepended to the number in accordance with the formatting rules to generate a formatted number. The formatted number is supplied to a client installed at the user terminal for effecting the voice communication using the formatted number.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a device that converts a telephone number based on the location of a telephone is described. The device receives the telephone number, where telephone number is to be used to place a telephone call on the device. The device further determines if the telephone number is suitable to place the telephone call based on a content of the telephone number and a location of the device. If the telephone number is not suitable to place the telephone call, the device converts the telephone number to a telephone number suitable to be used to place the telephone call.

Abstract: A computerized method and related system and software for simplifying telephonic calling, comprising: designating a default destination area code; the user specifying a destination telephone number; and as a default, causing the call to be signaled using the designated default destination area code in combination with the specified destination telephone number, without the user entering the designated default destination area code when specifying the destination telephone number.

Abstract: A computerized system and related method for assisting a user with placing a telephonic call, comprising a user interface, computerized processing, and computerized storage for: a user specifying an originally-specified telephone number to place an intended telephonic call, which telephone number, as originally-specified, for at least one particular reason, cannot be used to successfully complete the intended telephonic call; the user, after specifying the originally-specified telephone number, later specifying later-specified telephone number elements, including the possible deleting or ignoring of part of the originally-specified telephone number; and causing the telephonic call to be successfully signaled using the originally-specified telephone number in combination with the later-specified telephone number elements, without the user having to re-specify the originally-specified telephone number.

Abstract: A method and system for a dial plan parser includes a state machine configured upon a dial plan to which is applied call signaling data, and a call routing module/switch to transfer a call to a next point.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to retrieve a telephone number having an area code, an exchange code, and an extension code, generate from the telephone number at least one additional dialing format, present a plurality of dialing formats comprising the telephone number in its original dialing format and the at least one additional dialing format, detect a selection from the plurality of dialing formats, and initiate communications according to the selected dialing format. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: At a telephony service location remote from a caller and a call recipient, a request for establishing a connection to the call recipient is received. The request is initiated by the caller specifying a number associated with the call recipient. A call recipient originated command signal is received during a call connected phase, the call recipient originated command signal being a single command that is interpreted by the telephony service without the necessity of any additional command being sent. In response to receiving the call recipient originated command signal, a service or transaction is initiated between the caller and the call recipient other than a standard call connection transaction. The call recipient originated command signal is received from a communication device of the call recipient.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes communicating initial digits associated with an original request for a call and receiving a message indicating an incomplete address for the original request. The method also includes responding to the message by appending additional digits to the original request to generate a new request. The additional digits are buffered before receiving the message indicating the incomplete address associated with the original request. In other embodiments, the original request is a session initiation protocol (SIP) INVITE message that includes a uniform resource identifier (URI), which reflects an address for reaching a destination user. The initial digits can be partially matched against a dial plan in order to trigger the message associated with the original request. The additional digits are configured to satisfy the message and to connect the call. The message associated with the original request can be a session initiation protocol (SIP) 484 message.

Abstract: A telecommunication method and system are described. A request in a telephony network is received for a communication connection between a caller and a call recipient. A call connect command is received from the caller. In response to the call connect command and before conventional routing to connect the communication, the caller is notified of at least one offering. The communication connection is routed between the caller and the call recipient after the caller is notified of the at least one offering.

Abstract: A computerized method and related system and software for simplifying telephonic calling, comprising: designating a default destination area code; the user specifying a destination telephone number; and as a default, causing the call to be signaled using the designated default destination area code in combination with the specified destination telephone number, without the user entering the designated default destination area code when specifying the destination telephone number.

Abstract: Method and system for an Intelligent Prefix Dialer eliminates the necessity for manually dialing an area code as a prefix to a call in telephone systems in which such action is a requirement. The Intelligent Prefix Dialer can be resident in a service provider's Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) and is capable of analyzing the dialing sequence from the caller's Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) to determine when the caller wishes to dial seven digits. In the event that the caller has dialed seven digits or less, the present invention can append the abbreviated digits the caller has dialed to a caller defined default prefix, in order to form a complete telephone number to be used by the telephone network to establish the connection to a called party.

Abstract: A technology for converting a source or destination telephone number according to usage purposes of a telephone apparatus user. A number converter (115) is provided to convert the source telephone number based on the destination telephone number to which a call is made from an IP voice terminal (130) or a voice terminal (140), using information stored in a called number conversion database (112). The number converter (115) also converts the destination telephone number based on the source telephone number from which a call is made from the IP voice terminal (130) or the voice terminal (140), using information stored in a calling number conversion database (113).

Abstract: A method of operating a telephony service on a telephony network is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of establishing and/or requesting a telephonic connection and/or a call between a caller and a call recipient, receiving a command signal initiated by the caller and/or the call recipient and/or the telephony network during any phase in the call process, the command signal comprising a data signal and/or tone, and initiating a service to the caller and/or the call recipient, or initiating a transaction between the caller and the call recipient in response to receiving the command signal other than a standard call connect and/or disconnect command. Preferably, the data signal and/or tone relates to one of the “*”, “0” or “#” keys of the telephone equipment of the caller, wherein each of the “*”, “0” or “#” keys is associated with a different category of service or transaction.

Abstract: A method and related system and computerized instruction for assisting a user with placing a telephonic call, comprising: a user specifying an originally-specified telephone number to place an intended telephonic call, which telephone number, as originally-specified, for at least one particular reason, cannot be used to successfully complete the intended telephonic call; the user, after specifying the originally-specified telephone number, later specifying later-specified telephone number elements; and causing the telephonic call to be successfully signaled using the originally-specified telephone number in combination with the later-specified telephone number elements, without the user having to re-specify the originally-specified telephone number.

Abstract: A method for adjusting caller ID information includes receiving at a call device a caller ID message that includes a calling number. An address book associated with the call device is searched. An address book telephone number having the matching area code or local exchange number is analyzed to determine if the first digits of both address book phone number and calling number constitute a “1.” If the first digit in both numbers is the same, the calling number is stored unadjusted, while if the first digits differ, the calling number is adjusted. A method for adjusting caller ID information includes comparing the format of a received calling phone number to a set of predetermined criteria that are used to enable a “truncate” function in a context-sensitive “delete” button only when a predetermined criterion is met.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for effecting a voice communication between user terminals connected via a communication network include displaying a menu of country options to a user and receiving a number in local form. Formatting rules are recalled for a destination country selected by the user from the country options. A country prefix for the destination country is prepended to the number in accordance with the formatting rules to generate a formatted number. The formatted number is supplied to a client installed at the user terminal for effecting the voice communication using the formatted number.

Abstract: A mobile device include processes that allow the mobile device to make international calls using network-based plus code dialing even when the current network does not inherently support network-based plus code dialing. The mobile device obtains, via a set-up process, state information describing whether the network supports network-based plus code dialing. The mobile device transmits, in response to a request from a user and when the state information indicates the network supports network-based plus code dialing, a message to the network to initiate the international call based on a network-based plus code dialing scheme. The mobile device transmits, in response to the request from the user and when the state information indicates the network does not support network-based plus code dialing, a message to the network to initiate the international call using a handset-based plus code dialing scheme.

Abstract: A system and method for providing easy access to messaging services in a telecommunications network having office switches that are used by different providers of telephone and messaging services. The system uses a supplementary services database to maintain customer records including whether the customer uses messaging services and whether the customer subscribes to a short dialing sequence service for access to the messaging services. The customer is connected to the central office switch, which analyzes the dialing sequences generated by the customer. When the customer attempts access to the messaging services, the customer dials a short dialing or message sequence, such as *XX. The central office switch triggers a query to the supplementary services database for a call forwarding number to the messaging service used by the customer when the selected short dialing sequence is recognized by the switch.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for effecting a voice communication between user terminals connected via a communication network include displaying a menu of country options to a user and receiving a number in local form. Formatting rules are recalled for a destination country selected by the user from the country options. A country prefix for the destination country is prepended to the number in accordance with the formatting rules to generate a formatted number. The formatted number is supplied to a client installed at the user terminal for effecting the voice communication using the formatted number.

Abstract: A computerized method and related system and software for simplifying telephonic calling, comprising: designating a destination area code; the user specifying a destination telephone number; and causing the call to be signaled using the designated destination area code in combination with the specified destination telephone number, without the user entering the designated destination area code when specifying the destination telephone number.

Abstract: A mobile wireless communication device like a cellular handset includes multiple communication addresses stored in its memory. Each address is associated with one or more inputs of an input key. For example a first telephone number is associated with a single input of a particular key, and a second telephone number may be associated with two sequential inputs of the same key. The communication address is transmitted from the wireless communication device upon entering the one or more key inputs associated therewith and upon maintaining a last of the sequential key inputs for a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for unified overlay dialing enables simplified telephone dialing to occur within a standard overlay area and eliminates disruption dealing with area code saturation. Each three-digit area code within an overlay area is associated with a single-digit suffix, with the parent area code obtaining the suffix “0”. Intra-overlay area dialing then proceeds on the basis of a seven digit number plus a one-digit suffix, rather than a full 10 or 1+10-digit number. For dialing to the parent area code from within the overlay area, the suffix may be omitted entirely, and the expiration of a suitable timing delay causes the seven digit number provided to be dialed into the original (parent) area code. This method can be implemented in connection with a telephone company central office switch, a modified custom calling service or be made accessible to individual telephone subscribers using computerized customer premises equipment. It can also be used to simplify dialing in non-overlaid situations.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for implementing an intelligent redial system. A method for storing redial data for a connection between a user phone system and a remote phone system may include establishing a connection with the remote phone system by the user phone system. A timer is started in response to the established connection. At least one digit is dialed by a user and corresponding time data of the timer with the dialed digit is monitored. The monitored digit and corresponding time data is stored. The stored monitored digit and corresponding time data are suitable for performing a redial.

Abstract: A telecommunications system utilizes a central database to determine characteristics for international calls, to facilitate call routing for international calls, or both. The central database includes termination information for telephone numbers in multiple nations outside the North American Numbering Plan. In one aspect, an interexchange switch receives a termination number for an international call from a local exchange carrier and uses information from the central database to help complete the call. In another aspect, the central database receives a telephone number from a remote user such as interexchange carrier (IXC) and, in response, transmits termination information to the remote user to identify whether the telephone number uses wireless termination. The remote user may then charge a customer for wireless termination, if appropriate, possibly even before the remote user receives an invoice that reflects wireless termination charges from a foreign wireless carrier.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that normalizes a telephone number from a number of input sources into standardized E.164 “+” format so that the telephone number can be represented in a consistent format relative to the user's own mobile number MSISDN and used uniformly across different functional components in a communications system. The disclosure also describes a method for denormalizing a telephone number in the E.164 “+” format into a dial digit phone number sequence that can be used to successfully establish calls from a user terminal device and to route calls via optimal routes through a voice termination network.

Abstract: A method and system for a dial plan parser includes a state machine configured upon a dial plan to which is applied call signaling data, and a call routing module/switch to transfer a call to a next point.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forwarding Caller ID data on demand when retrieving messages from an answering device using an endpoint telecommunications device and an associated call control system (such as the central office of the calling phone, a PBX, ToL Gatekeeper, wireless carrier switch, etc.), to fully or partially automate the dialing process for remotely calling back a message sender. The invention permits the caller retrieving messages to quickly and easily return calls with little or no manual intervention, without having to create a trombone connection. The invention operates with calling endpoint telecommunication devices that are “intelligent” enough to receive, store and/or utilize Caller ID data forwarded from an answering device; as well as with not so intelligent telecommunications devices (such as many pay phones) that may lack the ability to receive, store and/or utilize forwarded Caller ID data.

Abstract: A method for displaying a call record list in a wireless telecommunication terminal is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: reading a stored call record in response to a call record list searching request; collecting call records having identical caller information in form of a list in sequence of time; and displaying caller information together with more than one icon of the call records.

Abstract: Long distance country codes that are used by a group of users are updated by automatically sending an electronic message to the group of users that includes at least one new or changed long distance country code, in response to automatically obtaining a listing of long distance country codes from an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) website. More specifically, a listing of long distance country codes is automatically obtained from the ITU website. The listing of long distance country codes that is obtained from the ITU website is automatically compared to preexisting long distance country codes that are used by the group of users, to identify at least one new or changed long distance country code. An electronic message, such as an email message, is automatically sent to the group of users that includes the at least one new or changed long distance country code that was identified.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for an Intelligent Prefix Dialer, eliminating the necessity for manually dialing a local area code as a prefix to a call within the same area code in telephone systems in which such action is a requirement. An Intelligent Prefix Dialer is quiescent and monitors the dialing sequence from the caller's Customer Premise Equipment, CPE, when off-hook condition has been sensed. When the caller wishes to dial seven digits or less of a telephone number, my invention parses a caller defined default prefix, with the abbreviated digits the caller has dialed to form a complete telephone number. The Intelligent Prefix Dialer changes state from quiescent to active and interrupts the call progress to clear the subscriber's telephone line. The Intelligent Prefix Dialer then dials the complete telephone number to successfully complete the call. The Intelligent Prefix Dialer is also user programable to dial Caller ID Blocking or Caller ID Sending * codes, (i.e.

Abstract: The invention is a method for automatically determining the dialing sequence that is required for local, local long distance, ten digit local and long distance, long distance, and international dialing from an initial dialing database that contains no information about local telephone company dialing requirements and requires no or minimal human interaction. The method contains a database for logging call attempts, failures, and successes and an analysis algorithm to determine which dialing sequences are potentially failures and which are potentially successes and which are certain successes. Data from previous dialing attempts and analysis are used to determine dialing sequences for future calls to each area code and exchange. Each area code and exchange pair is quickly optimized without the need for purchasing or maintaining a third party dialing database and without manual definition of dialing sequences.

Abstract: An international telephone number is displayed by automatically inserting at least one space after the country code portion of the telephone number. In particular, when a telephone number having an International Direct Dialing (IDD) prefix, such as “00”, “011” and “+”, is received, the telephone number is then displayed by inserting at least one space between a country code portion contained in the telephone number and subsequent numbers of the telephone number. The country code portion of the telephone number is determined by accessing a look-up table for identifying the country code portion of the telephone number. Alternatively, the country code portion could be determined by comparing numbers appearing subsequent to the IDD prefix with predetermined country codes.

Abstract: A repertory dialer for managing commonly used phone numbers. The system manages memorized phone numbers automatically without direct user intervention. It is particularly useful when the phone company changes area codes. The system can make area code changes transparent to phone users.

Abstract: A system having at least two communication systems which manage resources in each case, in which in each case an identification code is assigned to the resources for identification, and in which the resources managed by a single communication system can be differentiated on the basis of their identification codes, and having at least one application for controlling and/or monitoring the resources by transmitting messages comprising the identification code of the respective resource between the at least one application and the communication systems, characterized in that an extension of all identification codes is provided for differentiating the resources, which extension is performed at least by every communication system when sending messages and comprises an unambiguous identifier of the sending communication systems, at least whenever a plurality of resources have the same non-extended identification code in each case.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing abbreviated dialing functionality to a user's subscriber terminal or telephone by automatically adding a designated string of digits to any abbreviated extension dialed by the user. The subscriber terminal may include a processor, a memory (e.g., ROM, flash memory, non-volatile memory, hard disk, etc.), a “Send” button or the like, one or more sequences of digits stored in the memory, and a translation routine executable by the processor. The translation routine is executed when the processor determines that the digits entered by the user represent an abbreviated extension, for example, when a user dials fewer than seven digits and presses the “Send” button on a subscriber terminal. When executed, the translation routine automatically prepends or adds one of the stored sequences of digits to the abbreviated extension entered by the user, and then the subscriber terminal dials the resulting composite telephone number.

Abstract: A telephone dialer includes tables in memory for determining a dialing sequence such as a long distance carrier code to be appended to a dialed telephone number. A variable length prefix portion of the dialed telephone number accesses a prefix table entry that defines an action descriptor for indicating how the telephone number should be processed in a table lookup to determine the dialing sequence. The action descriptor includes a specification of the number of digits to be dialed to trigger a dialing action and may include an indication of an elapsed time to trigger dialing. The action descriptor also includes an indication of the number of digits after the prefix used to determine an action and may specify one of plural ways in which those digits are used to determine the action. The action descriptor also identifies a pointer table to be indexed by the specified digits of the telephone number.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus and method for processing telephone numbers that assists telephone subscribers in reaching the desired destination when the area code is unknown or has changed. The invention can be integrated into a telephone unit, implemented as a stand-alone device connected to the subscriber's telephone line (including wireless, cable-TV lines, and other modes of telecommunication), implemented as a utility on a personal computer that may or may not be connected to the Internet or to a telephone line, or implemented as part of the telephone switching system. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus for processing telephone numbers includes an area code processor and a caller interface. The area code processor has means, which are responsive to information about the called party, for producing a list of telephone numbers.

Abstract: A telephonic apparatus that minimizes the number of keystrokes required to make a local phone call in an area code overlay region is provided. If a user enters a local phone number into the telephonic apparatus, the telephonic apparatus, in turn, automatically recalls a stored area code and dials it prior to dialing the local phone number. The recalled area code may be either the base area code or the overlaying area code within the area code overlay region. Thus, a user need only enter a local phone number when attempting to make a local phone call within the area code overlay region, which would otherwise require the user to enter a long distance phone number. If a user, on the other hand, enters a long distance phone number into the telephonic apparatus, the telephonic apparatus, in turn, dials the long distance phone number in a standard manner.

Abstract: A automated method of transferring calls can include, within an established call with a calling party, receiving from the calling party a request specifying a name. The name can be compared with a listing of names and associated directory numbers to determine if there is a match. A directory number associated with the matched name can be processed according to translation attributes to determine a dialable number. The dialable number can be sent to a telephony switch to transfer the call.

Abstract: A programmable telephone system includes a guestroom telephone, where each guestroom telephone includes at least one speed-dial key, a memory corresponding to the at least one speed key for storing data corresponding to speed-dial telephone numbers, a controller and a call recognition circuit. The system further includes a computer remotely located from the guestroom telephone where the computer is configured to automatically place a call to the guestroom telephone and establish communication therewith. The communication is established when the call recognition circuit determines that the call has not been answered based on a predetermined criteria. The computer is configured to transmit the speed-dial data to the guestroom telephone during the communication such that the controller programs the guestroom telephone with the data corresponding to the received speed-dial data.

Abstract: Methods and computer readable media are provided for creating a dialing string. The dialing strings are used in a dial-up session to establish a communications link for transferring data between computing configurations from an origination location to a destination location. In a preferred embodiment, queries are made regarding geographic information of the origination and a destination locations. In response thereto, a database is searched for phone dialing codes, such as foreign country codes and regional city codes, that correspond to the geographic information. The codes are then fashioned into the dialing string. Preferably, a dial-up manager serves to provide the functions of querying about the geographic locations, searching the database and fashioning the dialing string. It is a feature of this invention that the dial-up manager also monitor the actual dialing of the dialing string to determine whether a communications link between the origination and destination locations is ever established.