Abstract: A phone call is selectively routed to a public switched telephone network or to a packet switched network based on a called number to which the phone call is directed. A phone call may be made as a Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol call through, for example, the Internet except when a user dials an emergency number, in which case the call is made to the public switched telephone network.

Abstract: A method for performing automated telemarketing is disclosed. The method includes receiving potential customer data including a telephone number, and initiating a telephone call to the telephone number using an auto-dialing technology. The method also includes receiving notification that the potential customer has answered the telephone call, sending a verbal greeting to the potential customer in response to receiving the notification, and conversing with the potential customer. The conversing includes accessing a plurality of questions and scripted answers from a telemarketing database. The conversing further includes reciting the questions and scripted answers selectively in response to a message received from the potential customer, where the message is interpreted by a speech recognition technology. The conversing may employ a text-to-speech technology and/or visual data.

Abstract: One preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for evaluating the performance of an inter-messaging network of voice mail systems. This preferred embodiment includes an evaluation test unit that connects to the inter-messaging network and requests a test data file to be retrieved from a particular voice mail system in the inter-messaging network. The requests for the test data file are generated according to a schedule of operation so that the requests are repeated within a defined time span. Accordingly, the performance of the inter-messaging network, as represented by the result of the request attempt, is evaluated according to a defined level of performance, such as a preferred time limit. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking telephone usage and notifying a user of his telephone usage includes a software program for tracking telephone usage based on the time and day that a phone call is made. The software program designates a timer for tracking phone usage. The timer has a time block and a time usage variable associated therewith. When a call is made, the time used by the call is recorded to the time usage variable if the call was made within the time block. The user may then be notified of how much time has been used. The software may be implemented in a number of environments, including a computer system accessible remotely or a processor located on the user's telephone.

Abstract: One or more voice mail messages, respectively, may be provided as one or reminder messages. After the playing of a voice mail message, an option may be provided to use the message as a reminder message. Delivery information for the reminder message is obtained. The delivery information may include the user's telephone number, another telephone number, multiple telephone numbers, or identifiers for other devices. The delivery information also may include a designated time for delivery or different times for each of the destinations. The delivery of the reminder message may be password protected. The reminder message is delivered based on the delivery information. If the reminder message is password protected, the reminder message is delivered in response to receipt of the password.

Abstract: A system for providing group accessibility is provided. A representative resource list management system includes a group management system operable to store a resource list for a user, and a service manager operable to detect a status of a contact associated with the resource list. The resource list includes at least one group, said at least one group including a plurality of contacts. The service manager is operable to update accessibility of the at least one group in response to at least one of the plurality of contacts being accessible on a network. Methods and other systems for resource list management are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for communicating with a technician at a customer service location in a telecommunications system. One method embodiment includes generating an electronic message in an administration system; transmitting the generated electronic message from the administration system through a technician server operatively associated with the administration system; and, displaying the generated electronic message on a screen display adapted for viewing with an access device of the technician at the customer service location. One system embodiment includes an administration system configured for generating at least one electronic message; a technician server operatively associated with the administration system; and, a screen display adapted for receiving and displaying the generated electronic message for viewing on an access device of the technician at the customer service location. Computer-readable media embodiments of the present methods are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for managing multiple call processing services by establishing a connection to a service control point; rendering a call management profile maintained by the service control point in substantially real time using a Web-enabled interface, the call management profile indicating two or more call processing services currently available to a customer; manipulating the call management profile by specifying at least one of a sequence for prioritizing the call processing services and schedule for providing the call processing services at different times.

Abstract: A method, system, and storage medium for collecting bandwidth data is provided. The method includes producing master and slave text files in response to simultaneous collection of data samples from a network device by servers. The method also includes generating a clean data file by sorting data in the master and slave text files by the network device port, sorting data samples for the port by collection time, and for each of the samples: adding a designated interval of time to a time on the network device resulting in a target network device time whereby the time on the network device corresponds to a time the data sample was collected, examining data samples in the master and slave text files corresponding to the time the respective data samples were collected, selecting from one of the master and slave text files the sample with a collection time most closely matching the target network device time, and storing the selected sample in the clean data file.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for connecting a tone generator to a plurality of conductors communication line. The apparatus includes an interconnect structure that includes multiple leads each including an electrically conductive portion having a first end and a second end. The multiple leads are commonly electrically attached at the first end and are configured to electrically attach to a tone generator. The multiple leads also include a plurality of electrical connection devices electrically attached to a plurality of corresponding leads at the second end. A plurality of first electrical connection devices are configured to engage a plurality of electrical conductors of a communication line to provide an electrical connection between the tone generator and a plurality of electrical conductors of the communication line. The system includes a tone generator coupled to the interconnect structure.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for provisioning a SONET network. One method acquires a SONET Capacity Activation report. The report contains information for telecommunications network equipment connected to the SONET network. A target identification number is generated for the telecommunications network equipment. The target identification number is then exported for provisioning of the SONET network.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include methods, systems, and storage mediums for expanding the functionality of a database application via a computer system. The method includes importing an application development system for expanding the functionality of a database application into a database created using the database application. The database includes records arranged in a predetermined manner. The method also includes presenting prompts to a user to facilitate selection of records from the database, modification, and arrangement of the records, and creating a customized form or report based upon responses to the prompts. The customized form or report includes records from the database that have been selected, modified, and arranged according to the responses.

Abstract: Methods and systems establish games with automation using verbal communication for exchanges between the automated game and the one or more game players. Game information data is converted into verbal information that is provided to the individual. The individual provides verbal instruction which is received and converted into the instruction data. The instruction data is applied to the current game to update the current game status. Information data for the current game status is converted to verbal information for the current game status which is provided to the individual. The game may be implemented on a local device of the individual or may be network-based and accessed remotely by the individual through verbal communication over a voice connection. The voice connection may be of various forms such as a conventional voiced call to a voice services node of a telephone network or a voice-over IP voiced call on a data network.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for notifying a called station of an incoming call. The called station has a busy status as a result of a connection to a data network via an access server. Because the called station is connected to the data network, and thus “busy,” the method receives an Internet Call-Waiting message from the access server. The Internet Call-Waiting message includes information representing the telephone number of a calling station. The method queries for additional information representing the calling station, and the method presents the telephone number and the additional information to a user at the called station. The telephone number and the additional information notify the called station of the incoming call.

Abstract: A system and method for interacting with a workflow system is disclosed. The system can provide a first party access to a virtual folder by placing the virtual folder into a first virtual workbasket and the system can provide access to a the virtual folder to a second party. The system can also provide access to the virtual folder to a third party, that has different rights to view and/or modify the virtual folder. In some cases, the third party can interact with the virtual folder regardless of where the virtual folder is located. The workflow system also includes provisions that permit the tracking, troubleshooting and management of virtual folders and/or related jobs.

Abstract: Data concerning post-consumption items is collected from RF tags. RF tags applied to goods and materials that have been consumed or used and/or discarded or stored for recycling are read by a reader. The reader collects data from the tag and stores the data and/or transmits the collected data to a computing device such as a building management or host computer. A computing device associated with the reader may also retrieve data associated with the RF tag from one or more datastores of information concerning the post-consumption item. Additional processing may be performed to determine the composition and other attributes of the item or material. Based upon the data retrieved from the RF tag, and optionally, data in the datastore(s), and/or processing occurring within the associated computing device, characteristics including the composition and nature of the post-consumption items, location of the items and other characteristics and associated information are determined.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a controller and a storage device. The storage device is in communication with the controller. The apparatus is configured for communication with external devices that adhere to different access protocols.

Abstract: Improvements to existing statistical record memory purge procedures and processes are shown and described. Certain procedures ensure that there is adequate temporary memory for storing new statistical records before purging older statistical records from permanent memory. Certain of the procedures wait a predetermined amount of time before reevaluating whether there is adequate temporary memory for storing new statistical records. After older statistical records have been purged, certain of the procedures update any indices or pointers utilized by permanent memory. The improvements may be implemented in a telecommunications system having a plurality of managed elements, each of the managed elements potentially generating statistical data that is communicated to one or more statistics servers.

Abstract: A method of effecting a handoff in a cellular network. The method includes monitoring a set of frequencies listed in a mobile assisted handoff (MAHO) list for their respective signal strengths, each of the frequencies being associated with neighbor cell site, logically ordering the frequencies based on their relative signal strengths, identifying in the logically ordered set of frequencies those frequencies having a signal strength higher than a predetermined threshold, determining a level of traffic at each frequency/cell site associated with the set of frequencies, and selecting a cell site for handoff based at least in part on signal strength and in part on the level of traffic at the neighbor cell site.

Abstract: A “parental control” (“PC”) telephone subscriber feature on a telephone system is disclosed. An authorized subscriber, such as a parent, may enter a feature code which initiates the PC feature. To deactivate the feature, the subscriber enters the code and is prompted for an authorization code, such as a personal identification number (“PIN”). If the authorization code entered matches the authorization code on file for the subscriber, the PC feature is deactivated. If no match is found in the subscriber database for the PIN, the feature is not deactivated.

Abstract: Triazole and imidazole compounds having the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen, alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, cycloalkylmethyl, alkenyl, heterocyclyl, aryl or aralkyl optionally substituted with halogen, nitro alkyl, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, alkoxy, phenyl, phenoxy, benzyl, benzylosy, halophenyl or haloalkoxy; R.sup.3 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl or acyl; R.sup.4 and R.sup.5, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl or optionally substituted aryl; R.sup.6 and R.sup.7, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl or optionally substituted aryl; X is oxygen or sulphur or is SO or SO.sub.2 ; and Az is 1,2,4- or 1,3,4-triazole or imidiazole ring; and isomers, acid addition salts and metal complexes thereof. The compounds are useful as plant fungicides.