Abstract: Methods and systems for automating communication and interaction with voice mail systems are described. The systems comprise a platform capable of handling multiple types of communications with multiple users and systems. The platform contains a browser, one or more servers for handling communications between the platform and user devices that are external to the platform, a speech engine for converting text to speech and vice versa, a chat server, an email server, a text server, a data warehouse, a scheduler, a workflow/rules engine, a reports server, and integration APIs that can be integrated with 3rd party systems and allow those systems to be integrated with the platform. The platform is linked to multiple users (and their devices or systems) through a communications network.

Abstract: A mobile telephone of an advertiser broadcasts an advertisement over a wireless short range piconet link to a mobile telephone of a consumer. The advertisement is broadcast with a predetermined set of classification tags. The consumer phone has a filter set to accept only certain advertisements. When an advertisement of interest is received by the consumer phone it requests further details automatically via the piconet link and the advertiser phone provides the further details automatically via the piconet link. The consumer phone replies to the advertisement by sending a reply message to a broker device that changes (i.e., modifies or augments the reply message text) and communicates the changed reply message to the advertiser.

Abstract: Communications rate control is described. The rate control includes receiving a message addressed to a client device of a user. A determination is made as to a category of the message. Data of the message is synchronized between a server and the mobile device in response to one or more of the category and one or more user actions at the client device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating on a non-text (voice or fax) message include for each of a number of voice messages, searching each voice message for signal samples having one of a plurality of sets of pre-defined characteristics (such as any seven or ten digit number which is then assumed to be a telephone number). For each signal sample found to have one of the sets of pre-defined characteristics, the found signal sample is associated with an equivalent text string and this text string is stored in an envelope for the message. Based on a user input, the messages may be searched for a given text string and on finding a message envelope containing the given text string, such message may be operated upon.

Abstract: The memory cartridge which has identification data corresponding to its appearance is inserted to the mail exchange apparatus. The mail exchange apparatus displays a content of mail read from the inserted memory cartridge and an animal image corresponding to its identification data on the television monitor.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a voice mail apparatus includes a first determining module which determines whether a dual tone multi frequency (DTMF) signal for identifying a processing request of the voice message is contained in a received signal by detecting and comparing a first parameter of a transmission signal from the mail box and the first parameter of the received signal to the mail box, a second determining module which determines whether the DTMF signal is contained in the received signal by detecting and comparing a second parameter of the transmission signal from the mail box and the second parameter of the received signal to the mail box, and a controller which controls execution/stop of processing of the voice message based on a determination result by the second determining module.

Abstract: A system and a method for screening dial tones that are transmitted by a customer's touch-tone communication device (CCD) to a destination's communication device (DCD). The system comprises a screening device (DCD). The system comprises a screening device that enables receiving and transmission of dial tones, detecting the pitch and the frequencies of each received genuine dial tone, generating of random dial tones and intersecting the random dial tones and intersecting the random dial tones through the sequence of the genuine dialed tones that are transmitted by the customer through the telephone line.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for monitoring calls that have been forwarded to a network-based voice mail system (VMS). The VMS receives the forwarded call and sends a start of greeting signal at the beginning and an end of greeting signal at the completion of the voice message greeting to the central office switch. The switch scads an activate call monitoring data message and a call monitoring alert signal to the customer premises equipment (CPE). If the CPE is adapted for call monitoring and includes a speaker assembly, then the speaker assembly is engaged in response to the activate call monitoring data message, thereby allowing hands-free call monitoring. If the CPE does not include a speaker assembly, then the called party may activate call monitoring by lifting the handset in response to detecting a call monitoring alert from the CPE. While monitoring the call, the called party may intercept the call to speak with the calling party.

Abstract: A method for operating a voice mail system connected to a telecommunication system, having a recorder with a message storage connected thereto, shall enable a particularly flexible use of a speech message stored in the voice mail system. For this purpose, according to the invention, a speech message collected by the recorder, storable as a speech information in the message storage is converted by means of a speech-to-text conversion module into a text message.

Abstract: Disclosed is a messaging system that provides additional information to a user device after determining the content of at least some of a message. The messaging system includes a speech to X conversion module which retrieves the additional information based on the content. An input-output module then transmits the message and the additional information to the user device.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for processing a communications session is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device can have a controller element to establish a voice communication session with a second communication device, and initiate an action to record the voice communication session for translation into a text memo that is analyzed to identify one or more actionable fields. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling a subscriber to reply to a voice mail message that has been made available for the subscriber at a voice mail system (VMS). In response to an indication, the VMS transmits a release message with respect to the subscriber's communication to the VMS, which communication then is terminated to an intelligent network element (INE). The INE originates a call to the party to whom the subscriber desires to reply. The subscriber's communication and the INE's call are bridged to form the reply call from the subscriber to the party. The VMS is not included in the call path. After the reply call is concluded, the bridge is dismantled, the IP is released, and the subscriber's communication is returned to interaction with the VMS without the subscriber having to make a separate call into the VMS.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method utilize voice recognition to process voice messages in an automated manner to detect spoken numbers contained therein. Detected spoken numbers can then be utilized to set a start position at which to begin playback of a voice message, e.g., to permit a user to locate and transcribe a telephone number spoken by a message sender. Automated number detection may also be utilized to automatically dial telephone numbers mentioned in a voice message, as well as in the display of textual representations of such numbers to a user.

Abstract: PBX-integrated unified messaging capabilities are provided via a switched backbone (such as the Internet) without having to install or deploy on-premise unified messaging equipment. A Corporate Communication Platform (“CCP”) typically located within a corporate subscriber's premises is integrated with the corporate subscriber's private branch exchange (“PBX”) system and coupled to a switched backbone, such as the network commonly referred to as the Internet. The CCP comprises a local mailbox database that temporarily stores voice messages and/or facsimile transmissions for and transmits messages to individual subscribers associated with the corporate subscriber. A CCP forms part of a wide-area unified messaging system, and connects to this wide-area unified messaging system via the switched backbone. The wide-area unified messaging system also comprises one or more System Communication Platforms (“SCP”).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for notifying a telephone speaker engaged in a call or conference that the audio quality being received by one or more listeners is not acceptable. The notice is provided before the call or conference has ended, so that effective action can be taken to continue the conference. Embodiments of the invention can include both automatic and manual methods for informing a participant in a telephone call that audio distortion is occurring. An automated method uses audio sampling and comparative logic, while a manual method is accomplished using phone programming and a key entry sequence. A further embodiment provides means for any participant on a call to verify the audio quality of his or her own telephone.

Abstract: There is provided a communication device including a first communication unit configured to communicate with a first device having a telephone function through a first network; a second communication unit configured to communicate with a second device having a function of reproducing sound, through a second network; a data storage unit configured to store an incoming message as sound data; a sound data transmission unit configured to transmit the sound data to the second device in response to a request from the second device; a reproduction recordation unit configured to register the sound data which has been transmitted to the second device, as reproduced sound data; a reproduction judgment unit configured to judge whether the sound data is registered as reproduced sound data; and a sound data information transmission unit configured to transmit sound data information concerning the sound data judged not to be registered as reproduced sound data.

Abstract: A telephone call may be received or made by the user of telephony-enabled apparatus in circumstances, such as during a meeting, where spoken responses by the user to what the other party to the call has said are unacceptable. A telephony method and arrangement are disclosed which permits a user to use silent input to the telephony-enabled apparatus in order to generate a response to the other party to the call. Response generation is facilitated by enabling the user to effect a selection from the content of the other party's input, or from options derived from that input, with this selection then being used in forming the response.

Abstract: A system and method for managing voicemails using metadata is presented. The metadata includes an audible introduction which a user records and associates the audible introduction to a voicemail. The user is also able to associate other types of metadata to a voicemail, such as a description data flag, a reminder flag, and a retention flag. Once the user associates the metadata with a voicemail, the user is able to retrieve the audible introduction and the voicemail in a sequential manner or through search criteria. The user is able to customize metadata based upon the user's requirements.

Abstract: A system and method for pre-allocating resources for use by registering consumers of applications and/or services available via a protocol that identifies a user through items including, but not limited to, a cookie and/or a persistent connection (e.g., the Internet) is provided. The system includes one or more components for pre-allocating resources for use by consumers registering to use applications and/or services available over the Internet. Since consumers can be served by more than one application and/or service server, and since resources can be managed by more than one resource manager, information concerning a consumer may be replicated to the more than one resource manager. The system thus includes one or more components for processing requests from consumers that require access to resources so that requests from newly registered consumers can be processed by a resource manager that has information concerning the newly registered consumers.

Abstract: A wireless communications device comprises a transceiver, memory, and a controller. The transceiver permits a user to communicate with a remote party via a wireless communications network. Whenever the user places an outgoing call, the controller stores characteristics of the outgoing call in memory. These include the phone number of the remote party, the time of day and/or day-of-week the outgoing call was made, the location of the wireless communications device when placing the outgoing call, and the identity of a short-range transceiver with which the wireless communications device established a communications link when placing the outgoing call. Periodically, the controller analyzes the stored characteristics, and determines a call pattern for the remote party based on the users call history. Based on the determined call pattern, the controller is able to predict when the user will likely place a subsequent outgoing call to the remote party.

Abstract: The invention is a system, a method of transmitting messages selectively as text or non-text from an entity (104) in a network (100 and 102), and an entity in a network. A system in accordance with the invention includes at least one terminal (16); a network containing the at least one terminal; an entity in the network which provides messages selectively as text or non-text to the network in a speech encoded form; and wherein the messages are transmitted in the speech encoded form by the network to the at least one terminal which reproduces the messages to a user thereof in either a text form or by a sound reproduction device of the at least one terminal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forwarding messages among peripherals of an automatic call distributor. The method includes the steps of forming a message table in a first peripheral of the automatic call distributor and forwarding a message from the first peripheral to a second peripheral of the automatic call distributor based upon a content of the message table.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for processing an information signal containing content presented in accordance with at least one modality. In one aspect of the present invention, a method of processing an information signal containing content presented in accordance with at least one modality, comprises the steps of: (i) obtaining the information signal; (ii) performing content detection on the information signal to detect whether the information signal includes particular content presented in accordance with the at least one modality; and (iii) generating a control signal, when the particular content is detected, for use in controlling a rendering property of the particular content and/or implementation of a specific action relating to the particular content.

Abstract: A server in a network gathers textual information, such as news items, E-mail and the like. From that information, the server develops or identifies messages for use by individual subscribers. The same server that accumulates the text messages or another server in the network converts the textual information in each message to a sequence of speech synthesizer instructions. The converted messages, containing the sequences of speech synthesizer instructions, are transmitted to each identified subscriber's terminal device. A synthesizer in the terminal generates an audio waveform signal, representing the speech information, in response to the instructions. In the preferred embodiment, the terminals utilize concatenative type speech synthesizers, each of which has an associated vocabulary of stored fundamental sound samples. The instructions identify the sound samples, in order.

Abstract: An apparatus for logging events that occur during a call to a call center includes an analysis unit and a memory unit. The analysis unit analyzes a recording of a complete call to the call center. The memory unit automatically records, in an event log, information about events that occurred during an interaction between the caller and an interactive voice response (IVR) program of an IVR system of the call center. The analysis unit is programmed with the IVR program's call flow, such that all possible paths the caller may take while interacting with the IVR program are known by the analysis unit. The event log logs events in sequential order and includes data on at least one of the following: a prompt made by the IVR system to the caller, a touch-tone entry made by the caller in response to the prompt, a verbal answer spoken by the caller in response to the prompt, a period of silence, termination of the call by the caller, and transfer of the call to a live agent.

Abstract: A method of monitoring real-time communication on a computer network between at least two client computers connected by the network comprising first providing a database of keywords, with each of the keywords linked to a predefined rating. The method then includes monitoring real-time communication on a computer network between at least two client computers connected by the network; detecting the keywords in the real-time communication; and determining for the real-time communication a rating level based upon the predefined rating of the keywords. The keyword may consist of text, audio, video and graphical communication, for example. Preferably, the rating level of the real-time communication is conveyed to at least one of the client computers. More preferably, at least one additional client computer receives the real-time communication, and the rating level of the real-time communication is conveyed to the at least one additional client computer.

Abstract: In a communications network, a method and apparatus are disclosed for using a graphical user interface for telephony call control. A method is also disclosed for sending a datagram from a called party to a calling party. Call control of a call is diverted to a voice-mail system. The IP address of the caller is determined. The IP address of the caller is determined by either a search on a look-up table or from a voice over Internet call set up message. Call control information, or a datagram is sent to the caller. In the case of call control information, the caller inputs call control commands which are received by the voice mail system. The invention provides an easier method and apparatus to navigate voice-mail menus and reduces the problem of “voice-mail jail”.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for automatically identifying enunciation of telephone numbers and email addresses in voice mail messages for presentation to a user via either voice or text, without the user being required to replay the message. Furthermore, according to the invention the extracted telephone number or email addresses may be forwarded to an application for further processing (e.g. to dial the extracted number, add the email address and/or telephone number to a contacts database, etc.) The user may specify text strings to be searched (other than telephone numbers and email addresses). Thus, a user can specify certain words such as “extension”, “email”, etc., in order to qualify the extracted number or email address information, or words such as “urgently” or “immediately” to identify important voice mail messages.

Abstract: A computer-based administration tool migrates user's names and greetings from a first voice mail system to a second voice mail system. Illustratively, the administration tool accesses the first voice mail system for recording, or storing, each of a plurality of users names and greetings. The administration tool then sends them to the second voice mail system for use therein.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for managing voice messages based on emotion characteristics of the voice messages. First, a plurality of voice messages that are transferred over a telecommunication network are received. Thereafter, such voice messages are stored on a storage medium. An emotion associated with voice signals of the voice messages is then determined. The voice messages are organized based on the determined emotion. Access to the organized voice messages is then permitted.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of controlling transmission of voice messages or information via telephonic voice message systems, which are sometimes referred to as Voice Mail Systems. Users of the system selectively specify voice message transmission instructions for controlling transmission of voice messages directed to them. Upon receipt of a user's voice message address, the voice message system determines whether the destination voice message address has a specified voice message transmission instruction previously selected by the recipient and processes the voice message in accordance with the instruction.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for simultaneously providing multiple telephone-type services to any/all POTS-type devices on a single wire pair at a user premises. The present invention provides for the ability to add separately addressable POTS devices on a single service loop. This can be accomplished in at least two ways: first by the use of a multipoint protocol or second by Frequency Division Multiplexing.

Abstract: A voice messaging system such as a telephone answering device which allows automatic identification and tagging of a voice clip portion of a full voice message which contains a spoken telephone number (e.g., a call back number). The voice clip may be tagged for later playback separate from playback of the full voice message. The full voice message may be deleted, leaving just the voice clip portion containing the spoken telephone number. The spoken telephone number may be processed through an appropriate voice recognition application program to generate textual information regarding the spoken telephone numbers, which may then be displayed. Call related information such as Caller ID information may be displayed together with the displayed textual voice clip information. The voice clip portions of the full voice message may be identified either in substantially real-time, or off-line during periods of non-use of the telephone answering device.

Abstract: A system visualizes and generates reports from stored data, concerning various measured parameters related to a network carrying call traffic. The network is displayed in an easily recognized arrangement, with various parameters being indicated by different shapes and colors for each device on the network. The parameters are changed to indicate the status of the network at different times. More detailed information about a parameter, a device or a path between devices may be obtained simply using a mouse or keystrokes. A variety of different types of detailed displays allows the operator to troubleshoot problems in the network.

Abstract: A telephone system is operatively coupled to a private automatic branch exchange (PABX) system and to a voice mail system, where the telephone system permits a user to retrieve recorded voice messages from the voice mail system. The telephone system includes one or more telephones, where each telephone further includes a handset, a message waiting indicator configured to inform the user that the voice message is pending with the voice mail system, a message retrieval key for retrieving the voice message from the voice mail system, and an audio speaker configured to provide the user with audio output corresponding to the voice message. A single action by the user of activating the message retrieval key causes the voice message to be retrieved and the audio speaker to be automatically activated such that the voice message is output on the audio speaker without the user lifting the handset.

Abstract: When an external terminal is signed on to a communications system, a voice link is set up between the external terminal and a teleworking subscriber line module of the communications system. Control information which is transferred in the form of DTMF signals from the external terminal via the voice link is converted at the teleworking subscriber line module into signaling information such as is usually available within the scope of a signaling protocol between internal terminals and the communications system.

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 method and apparatus for storing a voice message. The method includes the steps of storing a coded representation of the voice message in a block of memory associated with the voice message and sized to correspond to the size of the coded representation, retrieving the coded representation to play the voice message to a user, compressing the coded representation to produce a compressed representation of the voice message, the compressed representation having a lesser size than the coded representation, after the coded representation has been retrieved, and storing the compressed representation of the message in the block of memory in place of the coded representation.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes to allow a user of a voice messaging system such as a telephone answering device to delete only selected portions of a recorded voice message and/or to save only selected portions of a recorded voice message. A recorded voice message is marked and delineated into separate portions, e.g., at predetermined time intervals, at intermittent time intervals, at random time intervals, at content-silent or quiet points based on content of the underlying voice message, etc. The marked portions of the voice message can be selectively deleted or saved from the voice message leaving a reduced length and thus efficient voice message remaining in voice message memory. The portions of the recorded voice message may be deleted or saved either before, during, or after playback of the relevant portions of the recorded voice message.

Abstract: A system and method of testing voice signals in a telecommunication system, such as a voice messaging system (VMS), are provided. A test signal is generated to elicit a response from the telecommunication system, and a voice signal produced by the telecommunication system in response to the test signal is detected. To evaluate the detected voice signal, the system accesses stored reference phrases, where one or more designated reference phrases can be combined to form an expected voice signal. The detected voice signal is compared with at least one designated reference phrase to determine if the detected voice signal substantially corresponds to the expected voice signal. In a preferred embodiment, the voice signal and reference phrases are divided into component frames of substantially equal time durations, then compared frame by frame to determine if the detected voice signal and the expected voice signal substantially correspond.

Abstract: A call handling mechanism provides a resource manager for controlling the allocation of functional modules to process a received call. Each of the functional modules can be implemented as a software application, preferably implemented in the form of a bean, such as a Java bean. The resource manager allocates the functional modules in accordance with the priority order. Different types of applications are given priority numbers within different ranges so that, for example, a voice application such as a voicemail application will always precede a facsimile application, which in turn will precede a data application. In this manner, reliable call answering can be provided using third party supplied call handling applications which are pre-allocated priority numbers in an appropriate range for the type of application.

Abstract: The present invention allows telephony users and on-line users to communicate with one another using an instant messaging (IM) service. The on-line user will provide and receive textual messages, wherein the telephony user will provide and receive corresponding audible messages. These messages may convey emotion using associated emotional indicia, such as emoticons, or other emotional indicia, including the use of capitalization, emphasis, and the like. Emotional indicia provided in the text messages from the on-line user are audibly conveyed to the telephony user. Similarly, emotional indicia provided by the telephony user in the form of actual emotions or commands are provided in text to the on-line user.

Abstract: The lexical network of a large-vocabulary speech recognition system is structured to effectuate the rapid and efficient addition of words to the system's active vocabulary. The lexical network is structured to include Phonetic Constraint Nodes, which organize the inter-word phonetic information in the network, and Word Class Nodes which organize the syntactic semantic information in the network. Network fragments, corresponding to phoneme pronunciations and labeled to specify permitted interconnections to each other and to phonetic constraint nodes, are precompiled to facilitate the rapid generation of pronunciations for new words and thereby enhance the rapid addition of words to the vocabulary even during speech recognition. Functions defined in accordance with linguistic constraints may be utilized during recognition. Different language models and different vocabularies for different portions of a discourse may also be invoked depending, in part, on the discourse history.

Abstract: A server facilitates communication between a calling party and a called party. The server includes a communications interface for enabling communications with the calling party. The server also includes a processing device that receives a telephone call from the calling party and identifies the calling party. The processing device then determines whether the calling party is a predetermined party and transmits a notification to the called party when the calling party is the predetermined party.

Abstract: A telephony system is formed by a base station and subscriber devices. The telephony system has a callback system for producing callback signals by acting on a sound device, for example, by ringing a sound via the earphone for the users. The callback signals are associated with a message which may be a sound or visualized message.

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: A telephone system including improved voicemail wherein a digital signal processor scans data to be recorded in a voicemail message to find DTMF tones or DTMF mimics in the voice data and removes them from the recording. In one embodiment, the DSP scans for DTMF tones or mimics in the stream of data to be recorded and removes them before recording the data. In another embodiment, the DSP scans for DTMF tones and mimics in the stream of data to be recorded, and marks the starting point and ending point in the stream where DTMF tones or mimics are found, records all the data and then goes back to the recording after it is finished and looks for the markers and removes all data between the markers.

Abstract: Unique, electronic mailboxes may be configured to allow multiple users to use a single mailbox for storing messages and for screening messages using information related to the messages, such as the name and telephone number of the originator of a message. The unique mailboxes may be configured using systems and methods which make use of user-defined filters which may be applied to each mailbox. Each mailbox may be additionally protected by a password for changing the user defined filters and for retrieving messages.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for enabling a calling subscriber to invoke the forwarding of a call to a voice mail system for the called subscriber on a call-by-call basis in order to leave a message for the called subscriber without disturbing (ringing) the called subscriber. The associated disadvantage with this “Direct Voice Mail Access” (DVMA) feature is that the called party will lose control over his/her call forwarding to voice mail feature for that particular call. Therefore, in order to overcome this disadvantage, another feature, “Direct Voice Mail Access Blocking” (DVMAB) can be implemented to allow the called subscriber to inhibit direct access to their voice mail by the calling subscriber.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for implementing the method, which allow a transmitter (100) of a digital telecommunication system transmitting speech to transmit predetermined messages to a receiver (102) over a speech channel (108). Messages (114) are transmitted from the transmitter (100) to the receiver (102) on the speech channel (108) in such a way that they are encoded in some of the speech coding bits, whereby the speech coding bits selected for message transmission have been selected in such a way that they affect the quality of speech as little as possible. Most preferably, the speech coding bits used for transmitting messages are protected by channel coding (702, 704). Speech coding bits are “stolen” for message transmission only for very short periods at a time and only for exactly the time it takes to transmit the messages (114); at other times, the entire speech channel (108) is used normally for speech transmission.