Abstract: A virtual electronic pet is capable of performing a plurality of activities and capable of displaying a plurality of behaviors, at least one of the plurality of behaviors dependent upon performance of at lest one of the plurality of activities. An actual name is retrieved from a name database. A name signal, indicating a guessed name, is generated in response to the actions of a user. The actual name guessed name are compared to determine if the guessed name matches the actual name. At least one of the plurality of behaviors is displayed if the guessed name matches the actual name. Further guessing of the name is prohibited unit a time period expires.

Abstract: A call schedule is received that includes a plurality of sample calls to be made by an automated calling station. The plurality of sample calls are automatically placed on the network using the automated calling station. At least one final billing record corresponding to the at least one completed sample call is received. The call data is processed to determine billed cost data. The billed cost data is compared to the previous cost data and a change in the rate plan is detected based on the comparison of the billed cost data to the previous cost data.

Abstract: A speech reference enrollment method involves the following steps: (a) requesting a user speak a vocabulary word; (b) detecting a first utterance (354); (c) requesting the user speak the vocabulary word; (d) detecting a second utterance (358); (e) determining a first similarity between the first utterance and the second utterance (362); (f) when the first similarity is less than a predetermined similarity, requesting the user speak the vocabulary word; (g) detecting a third utterance (366); (h) determining a second similarity between the first utterance and the third utterance (370); and (i) when the second similarity is greater than or equal to the predetermined similarity, creating a reference (364).

Abstract: A method for providing multiple calling service announcements on a single circuit card within a telephone network. The method reduces the number of stored speech files necessary to generate announcements regarding a calling service such as Automatic Call Back or Enhanced Repeat Dial. By reducing the amount of speech data stored on a circuit card, multiple calling service announcements can be provided on a single circuit card, thereby reducing equipment costs.

Abstract: A method of automatically sharing and transferring information between a Work at Work (WAW) ISDN telephone and a Work at Home (WAH) ISDN telephone. This information includes, calling line identifier delivery from the WAW telephone to the WAH telephone, facilitating subsequent transferring of the call to the WAH telephone if desired. Message waiting status is also shared, facilitating the coordination of message waiting lamps at both the WAW and WAH telephone. Information from one telephone to the other is carried transparently through the ISDN network as user-to-user information, calling party subaddress, D channel X.25 packet message, lower layer compatibility or a combination of these elements. The telephones automatically establish ISDN calls between themselves and swap information pertaining to the status of the companion telephones.

Abstract: An intelligent network for providing access to an information network (80) has a number of central office switches (64, 82). Each central office switch (64, 82) is capable of receiving a call to a centrex telephone number and transmitting a query. A service control point (70) is coupled to the central office switches (64, 82) by a SS7 signal link (66). The service control point receives the query and transmits a response to the central office switch (64, 82). A hub switch (75) is coupled to the central office switches (64, 82) and receives the call. The hub switch (75) contains a digital trunk service (76) that combines the call with a number of other calls to form a data stream. The data stream is then transmitted to an information network node (80).

Abstract: A telephone apparatus comprises a first audio input device, a second audio input device, a first audio output device, and a second audio output device. The telephone apparatus is operative to couple the first audio input device and the first audio output device to a first telephone line. In response to a first signal, the coupling between the first audio input device and the first telephone line is modified, and the second audio input device and the second audio output device are coupled to a second telephone line.

Abstract: A virus screening method includes steps of routing a call between a calling party and a called party of a telephone network, receiving computer data from a first party of the calling party and the called party, and detecting a virus in the computer data. In response to detecting the virus, a step of inhibiting communication of at least a portion the computer data to a second party of the calling party and the called party is performed. A virus screening system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of aggregating calls includes receiving a group of dialed digits at a service switching point (52). The service switching point (52) determines if an access code is present. When the access code is present, the service switching (52) transmits an information analyzed query (54) to a switching control point (56). The service switching point (52) then receives an analyze route message (60) from the switching control point (56). The service switching point (52) then routes a call to a hub service switching point (58).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for automatically retrieving and displaying supplemental information about a called party on the customer premise equipment (CPE) of a calling party. When a caller places a call, the number called is used to look up and return to the caller the Universal Resource Locator (URL) of the called party. Application software resident in the caller's CPE uses the URL to retrieve the home page of the called party from the Internet.

Abstract: A transaction record is received including transaction data corresponding to at least one telephone call placed by a subscriber. The transaction data is processed by a plurality of rate plans, each rate plan generating a toll amount corresponding to the telephone calls of the transaction record. The toll amounts from each of the plurality of rate plans are compared to determine a lowest toll amount. An amount x is deducted from the lowest toll amount to form a final toll amount. A billing record is generated for the subscriber based on the final toll amount.

Abstract: A method using an advanced intelligent network to seamlessly connect a plurality of virtual networks includes the steps of: (a) Receiving a number of dialed digits at a first service switching point in a first local access and transport area (10); (b) When the first service switching point is determined to be a hub service switching point (22), sending a query to a service control point (24); (d) Determining if the dialed digits require an access to a private networks interLATA call; and (e) When the dialed digits require access to the private networks interLATA call, routing the call over a tie line (40) to a second hub service switching point (34) in a second local access and transport area (26).

Abstract: A call schedule is received that includes a plurality of sample calls to be made by an automated calling station. The plurality of sample calls are automatically placed on the network using the automated calling station. At least one final billing record corresponding to the at least one completed sample call is received. The call data is processed to determine billed cost data. The billed cost data is compared to the previous cost data and a change in the rate plan is detected based on the comparison of the billed cost data to the previous cost data.

Abstract: A real-time video system which performs non-uniform interpolation between adjacent vertical scan lines is presented. The video system includes a converter, a memory, an enhanced-video circuit, and a sync generator. The video system decodes and digitizes an analog composite video signal, such as an NTSC, PAL, or SECAM signal, and generates a digital video signal having a greater number of horizontal scan lines than the analog video signal. The video system is programmable to allow a different number of scan lines in the output digital video signal.

Abstract: An electronic imaging system for capturing an image comprising a lens and an imaging sensor. The lens produces an optical image. The imaging sensor has a surface in optical communication with the lens, for converting the optical image into a corresponding output signal. The imaging sensor includes a plurality of imaging elements, the plurality of imaging elements having a distribution on the surface representable by a nonlinear function. The distribution of imaging elements has a relatively low density at a center point of the surface and a relatively high density at a point along a periphery of the surface.

Abstract: A method and system for storing a plurality of data blocks in a memory device is disclosed. The method stores two blocks of data elements by assign different accessing methods to the two data blocks. Three example methods of accessing the data blocks are provided by the method. The first method allows data elements of a data block to be accessed by columns in the address space, the second allows data elements to be accessed by rows in the address space, and the third allows data elements to be accessed along diagonals in the address space. The data elements may be digital words which represent exponents of a polynomial expansion.