Abstract: In a personal communication service (PCS) environment, where a call to a personal telephone number may be routed to a sequence of telephone numbers until the call is answered or abandoned, and where it is possible that the destination telephones indicated in the sequence may be disconnected telephones such that they are unreachable from any network, a method for avoiding wasteful attempts to route the call by a) determining if any telephone numbers of the sequence correspond to disconnected telephones, and, if so, b) skipping over such telephone numbers, i.e., those of disconnected telephones, so that no attempt is made to complete a PCS call to a disconnected telephone.

Abstract: AN automatic calling service is provided wherein a subscriber predefines one or more destination telephone numbers, and calls to such number or numbers are billed to the subscriber's local telephone number. Calls are made to such destination numbers through a platform that may be reached via a toll free number. The calling party identifies him/herself as a subscriber, by entering a personal identification number, to authenticate him/herself as a person entitled to make such calls. Based upon the identification provided, a determination is then made as to whether the subscriber has stored one number, or more than one number. If one number is stored, the caller need not identify the destination number, and advantageously, that number is then dialed. If more than one number has been specified, the subscriber is prompted to provide an indication of the particular number desired. The call is then completed to the desired number.

Abstract: When a collect call is initiated by a calling party, and the call is routed to an operator services position, an automated attendant, or other system in the telephone network. In addition to playing an announcement to the called party to determine if he or she will accept the call, information is furnished to the called party, preferably by an announcement, indicating (a) the anticipated cost for the call, and, optionally, (b) the relative cost of the call, as compared to the cost that would be imposed if another carrier carried the call. This information may be obtained using the dialed number and information identifying the calling party location, and by querying a database containing (a) rate information, and optionally (b) comparative information setting forth the rates of different carriers offering collect call service in the same calling area.

Abstract: A system for completing air-to-ground telephone calls is arranged so that a call originating from an aircraft is received in a ground station and directed to a special purpose platform disposed in the land-based telecommunications network. The platform, which may be implemented as an interactive voice response system, includes the capability to interact with the caller by (a) collecting billing information, which may be a commercial credit card or a telephone calling card, or other billing mechanism which can be initiated by a request for connection to a telephone operator; (b) validating credit cards and telephone calling cards by initiating a query and receiving a response from elements in the telecommunications network or from an external database; (c) providing auxiliary features such as block calling, free calls, speed dialing, sequence calling, etc.; and (d) depending upon the type of call involved, completing the call as either a traditional 1+long distance call, or as a 0+(e.g.

Abstract: Calls made to a toll-free 800 service subscriber are routed to a subscriber's primary location via a telephone network switch operating in conjunction with a specially configured adjunct processor. The adjunct processor routes the call from the calling party to the primary location through a first call leg extending between the calling party, switch and adjunct processor. A second call leg is extended from the adjunct processor, through the switch to an alternate destination. The first and second call legs are bridged within the adjunct processor for completing the call from the calling party to the alternate location. After the called is bridged, the two call legs are released to and from the adjunct processor while merging the two legs within the switch so as to conserve adjunct processor resources for further incoming calls.

Abstract: A process for converting a point-to-point multimedia call into a bridged multimedia call for accommodating multi-party conferencing. The process utilizes the bearer channel configuration of the standard BRI format to disconnect, one at a time, each bearer channel from the point-m-point call and to reconnect each line to a multipoint control unit, whereupon the reconnected lines are individually reformatted in accordance with standard video phone protocol. The process facilitates the continuous and uninterrupted exchange of audio information and data between the point-to-point participants throughout the disconnection and reconfiguration stages of the conversion.

Abstract: A method of operating a telecommunication network to route a first phone call, from a caller to a channel of a free position of a plurality of positions at a selected destination of a network subscriber, based on voice and data transport capability, and for connecting a second phone call from the caller to a second channel of the same free position to create a multi-channel data call is disclosed. The selected destination is one of a plurality of destinations selected by the network subscriber identified by a common telephone number. Each of the plurality of positions is associated with a discrete telephone number. A plurality of discriminators common to both voice and data calls are established for the call. An additional data rate discriminator is established for a data call corresponding to a requested data rate for the calling party. A database is accessed in response to receiving the common telephone from the calling party for obtaining a destination number for data calls.

Abstract: A carrier of telecommunications traffic provides different call treatment when the carrier receives a code indicative of that carrier as opposed to when no code has been entered. For example, by entering the access code of the telecommunications carrier, a caller may invoke a special service. One such service is the "follow me anywhere" service whereby the carrier completes a call originally directed to a called party to another telephone number previously specified by the called party. Another service that may be invoked by entering the carrier access code is voice messaging whereby a call originally directed to the called party may be stored in a voice mail box when the called party is unable to answer the call.

Abstract: ISDN access to a telecommunications network is provided to customers at different locations by sharing a D-channel controllers (DCC's) positioned within the network in close proximity to the ISDN-capable toll switches serving those customers. The customers provide call set up parameters to a DCC via a user interface system (UIS) at the customers premises that communicates via a dial-up data connection with a respective user support system (USS) connected to the DCC. The DCC in turn formulates ISDN signaling messages that are sent to the switch via a PRI interface and set up an appropriate communications path through the network to a desired destination. Data originating in customer premises equipment is received in the switch via a T1 access line operating in the "non-facility associated signalling" mode.

Abstract: An image communication system and method includes an image capture device which utilizes CCD technology to "take a picture", i.e., to capture an image, and then to generate a digital representation of that image which may be applied to a fax modem and then transmitted to a remote facsimile machine via a telephone communication link. The digital image is processed, such as by dithering, to enhance its presentability, so that shades of gray present in a conventional black and white photograph are converted to a pattern of black and white dots which retains the character of the original image in spite of subsequent facsimile transmission. The image capture device may include a printer and a memory for storing multiple images as well as the destination numbers of facsimile machines which are intended to receive copies of the images.

Abstract: An intelligent terminal (which can be a telephone, a facsimile machine, or similar device) is arranged so that (a) it can store information indicating when (e.g., date and time) a particular subscriber last was present at the terminal, and (b) the stored information can be retrieved from the terminal remotely, preferably without completing a conventional call to the terminal. A central processor contains, for each subscriber, a list of the intelligent terminals that have been pre-designated for use by that subscriber, and has the ability to query terminals on the list. In response to a call placed to the subscriber by dialing the subscriber's unique personal number, specific intelligent terminals on that subscriber's list are queried by the central processor to determine when the subscriber was last present at each terminal. The central processor then generates a control signal such that the call is then completed to the particular terminal that was most recently visited by the subscriber.

Abstract: Access (or egress) charges payable by an IXC to a LEC, and payable by the subscriber to the LEC for originating or terminating calls and for associated vertical call control features, are reduced or eliminated by providing a virtual piped collection that "bypasses" and thus does not require the involvement of, a local service provider. The virtual piped connection exists between a call control platform (CCP) in the IXC network, and specialized customer premises equipment (CPE) located m the subscriber location. The specialized CPE is arranged to provide call control functions using normal out-of-band signaling in a conventional manner, and, after an initial call is conventionally set up to the CCP, to provide the same functions using specialized in-band signaling. A complementary signaling and control capability is provided in the CCP.

Abstract: Intelligent network telephone calls are processed by an intelligent terminal which cooperates with network elements such as a database that contains information with respect to such calls. When a call requiring intelligent network treatment is first made from an intelligent terminal, if the terminal does not have the requisite information to complete the call, the call is processed by network elements such as an originating switch and a network database which attempt to find routing information for the call. However, if the call contains an indication that (a) the calling party requests a down load, and the database record associated with the dialed number indicates that routing information stored in the database is marked for down loading, then the routing information is down loaded and stored in the intelligent terminal.

Abstract: A system for delivering originating country information for international calls to a subscriber includes three separate processes. In a first process, the country code is extracted from either billing/routing data forwarded by the caller's national telephone network to the communication switching system of the destination country of the call, or from channel information associated with the call. In the second process, the originating county code is then inserted in either the calling party number or the destination number depending on the subscriber's terminal device egress arrangement. In the third process, the originating country code is delivered to the subscriber before the call is completed. Once received by the subscriber, the originating country information can be used to tailor customized services for the foreign caller.

Abstract: A bridge connected to an FDDI network preprocesses messages each comprising source address (SA), destination address (DA) and data, using a data base of SA's maintained in a content addressable memory (CAM). A finite state machine working with the other elements of the FDDI bridge acts as an intelligent controller, to select which messages are to be passed to a buffer memory for further processing and ultimate transmission to a remote network. Messages are only passed to the buffer memory if the DA is different from the SA's stored in the CAM. Circuitry is advantageously provided not only to "teach" the CAM about SA's on the network, but also to monitor information relating to the the last activity in a station associated with a particular SA, so that "stale" SA's can be purged from the CAM.

Abstract: The present invention provides real time call control within a telecommunications network, using a call selection processor separate from the switches carrying the call, which responds to incoming calls and uses information carried in the associated signaling messages to determine what application processor, if any, should be involved on the call. One embodiment of the present invention includes a call selection processor called a signaling director", or "SD" for short, for recognizing certain signaling messages, typically SS7 initial address messages (IAM's), as the messages flow through the signaling network. Alternatively, particular signaling messages may be recognized in a signaling message processing element within the signaling network, such as the signal transfer point (STP) associated with the switch that receives the telephone calls, and a copy of those particular messages forwarded to the SD.

Abstract: An air conditioning control system monitors the temperature in the vicinity of electronic equipment using one or more sensors placed either in the equipment area or at the outlet of an air conditioning duct or vent. The temperature sensors supply signals to a microprocessor that is programmed to adjust the output of a system controller such that the amount of cooling provided by the air conditioning system is controlled. Illustratively, when the air conditioning system is restarted after a power failure, the power applied to one or more air conditioning fan motors is controlled, such as by throttling the motors down to an acceptable speed, to in turn control the cooling effect on the equipment. The amount of cool air produced by the air conditioning system is detected by the sensors, thereby forming a feedback control loop.

Abstract: An authenticator card includes a liquid crystal display arranged to exhibit a dynamically changeable bar code pattern that represents an account number and, optionally, a PIN and/or expiration date. The card includes circuitry for periodically changing the bar code in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. When the card is presented by a user to a merchant to authenticate the identity of the user in connection with a business transaction, the bar code is scanned by a conventional bar code reader. The code is convened to electronic form and transmitted to a verification processor to be authenticated. During authentication, a corresponding algorithm is used to validate information from the received signal, enabling a database query to determine validity of the card. Advantageously, the card can be mass produced at low cost, and a readily available bar code scanner provides a simple interface when the card is presented for authentication.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and a method for a) queuing a call when no attendants are available to service that call b) soliciting and collecting initial information from the caller while the call is in the holding queue c) querying a database using the collected initial information as search key(s) to retrieve additional information needed to service the call, and d) displaying the collected and/or retrieved information to the next available attendant, as the call is received by that attendant.

Abstract: A voice messaging system is designed to select an announcement for a caller based on source information associated with a call initiated by that caller. The voice messaging system a) compares at least a portion of the source information to a stored language code selection list that associates particular call origination locations with predominant language(s) spoken at those locations, and b) based on the results of the comparison, delivers the system's message to the caller in the language that is most likely understood by the caller.