Abstract: Called party information is provided during survivable processor mode operation of a branch included in a distributed private branch exchange communication system for support of features that require information identifying the called party. More particularly, a coverage path for use during survivable processor operation is enabled that establishes contact with an extension or coverage point over the public switched telephony network such that operation of system appears normal to a caller. Furthermore, for a given coverage point, the same coverage path can be used for a number of extensions, reducing administrative burden.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing network performance are provided. In data provided by an application on a first host for transport or communication to an application associated with a second host according to a first data transport protocol is intercepted at the first host and wrapped or encapsulated in a test data packet formatted according to a second data transport protocol. The test data packet formatted according to the second data transport protocol includes, in addition to data comprising all or a portion of the original data packet, instrumentation information. The test data packet is then delivered to the second host, which unpacks the original data packet and the instrumentation information. A response packet containing instrumentation information may be sent from the second host to the first host to provide roundtrip performance metrics.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a communication device includes a key strength controlling agent 308 operable to (i) receive a request for a cryptographic key; (ii) determine, from a restriction identifier, whether the cryptographic key strength is restricted; (iii) when the cryptographic key is restricted, cause the use of a second cryptographic key having a second key strength; and (iv) when the cryptographic key is not restricted, cause the use of a first cryptographic key having a first key strength. The first and second key strengths are different.

Abstract: A system for classifying outbound telephone calls is provided. According to the invention, voice messages received as a result of placing outbound telephone calls can be classified. In particular, autovoice messages, including network intercept messages, can be detected even in the absence of a special information tone. Furthermore, the present invention allows for the initial classification of voice messages to be performed by human operators, with subsequent recognition of classified messages by automated systems. Appropriate responses to recognized voice messages can be performed in substantially real time with dialer operations, or during subsequent dialer operations.

Abstract: A more efficient message notification system utilizing technology found in Instant Messaging Services. The more efficient system is achieved by first registering a Message Notification Application with an Instant Messaging Service. A user logs onto the Instant Messaging Service and indicates to the Message Notification Application that the user would like to be notified when new messages arrive. The Message Notification Application then adds the user to its own buddy list. The user is notified by the Message Notification Application through the Instant Messaging Service when a message is received. The user can then retrieve messages through an internet appliance with sound capabilities, or by utilizing the voice-to-text conversion capabilities of the application from the voice messaging or unified messaging server, or by more traditional methods such as a telephone.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a presence aware network 100 that includes a plurality of communication devices 124a–n and 128a–n, associated with a plurality of subscribers. Each communication device may be configured automatically according to a first set of preferences associated with a first subscriber when the first subscriber performs a telephony function on the communication device and according to a second set of preferences when a different second subscriber performs the telephony function on the communication device. The first and second sets of preferences are different from one another.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for handling multiple display modes, such as column-first and row-first display modes. In particular, a telecommunications terminal receives a computer file (e.g., an HTML-encoded file, etc.) from a content server. The computer file comprises a data-ordering tag, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, along with one or more displayable data items. Based on the data-ordering tag, the terminal with its browser first maps the data items into an N-row by M-column array of display cells in accordance with the illustrative embodiment, wherein N and M are positive integers. The terminal then displays the mapped data items in the array of display cells. The telecommunications terminal further comprises a two-dimensional array of buttons. Each cell in the array of display cells is associated with one or more buttons in the array of buttons.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method to improve the reliability and performance of existing enterprise IP networks which have dual-homed (or multi-homed) network architectures. In one aspect of the invention packets related to a selected category of transmission (e.g., VoIP) are duplicated at an edge router and sent over both (multiple) service providers. After traversing the service provider networks, only the first-to-arrive packets are kept and the later-arriving copies are discarded. In so doing, the result is better protection against node failures, link failures, and packet errors, and also better QoS performance under normal (fault-free) operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable a user who is on a call using a call appearance at a first terminal to continue the call on a call appearance at a second terminal, wherein the second terminal has been excluded from the call. In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a private branch exchange that handles both telecommunications terminals receives a first signal that indicates that the first terminal has disconnected from the call. The private branch exchange then receives a second signal that indicates that the second terminal has gone off-hook or otherwise indicates a request to be added to the call. If the private branch exchange has received the second signal within a predetermined time interval after having received the first signal, then it adds the second terminal to the call.

Abstract: Tonal transformation of speech is provided. A tone applicable to a syllable of received speech is determined. A tonal contour applicable to said tone for a dialect of a listener is determined, and the syllable of received speech is altered to have said determined tonal contour. The altered speech may then be delivered to the listener.

Abstract: A telecommunications terminal is disclosed that is capable of displaying information about calls that are on hold or queued for delivery at a data-processing system, wherein the calls are to be delivered the terminal itself. The terminal displays characteristics of each call, such as: (i) the caller's name, (ii) the calling number, (iii) the subject of the call, (iv) the urgency of the call, (v) the holding time of the call, and (vi) a telecommunications address of a messaging resource (such as email) associated with the call. The user (e.g., an off-premises representative, etc.) of the telecommunications terminal in the illustrative embodiment, in contrast with some terminals in the prior art, has the ability to remotely reorder or otherwise dispose the calls based on one or more of the call characteristics.

Abstract: Monitoring conditions within a switching network interconnecting two host systems engaged in a media call and adjusting the media parameters used by the host systems to improve call conditions.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed that manage the held calls for an off-premises terminal at the system that extends calls to the terminal, such as a private branch exchange or other type of data-processing system, instead of at the system that is receiving the extended calls, such as a mobile switching center at which a cell phone is registered. The disclosed technique is based on the observation that the extending system knows of an incoming call to an off-premises terminal before the receiving system. As a result, the extending system can advantageously select the calls that it holds versus the calls that it sends to the receiving system. The extending system can control the routing costs and provide a consistent look-and-feel of call control to the off-premises terminal user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed that enable an interactive voice response (IVR) system to select, tailor, and deliver a “filler” content stream to a calling telecommunications terminal during a delay in a call (e.g., when performing automated speech recognition, retrieving other content, etc.). The delivery of the filler content can reduce the chance that the caller terminates the call prematurely, and can also be used to provide information to the caller, advertise new products, etc. The filler content can be based on one or more of the following: the date and time, the identity of the caller, a prior call to the IVR system, the type of the calling telecommunications terminal, and a content stream that the IVR system is in the process of retrieving.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for congestion management in a multi-branch Internet Protocol-based private branch exchange switch. The multi-branch Internet Protocol-based private branch exchange switch is interconnected through (i) a packet network referred to as the primary network, such as a wide area network, and (ii) an alternate network, such as the public switched telephone network. Packet phone adapters associated with each packet telephone unit monitor packet telephone calls and report delay information to communication servers. The communication server can reroute the packet telephony calls through the secondary network upon detection of congestion in the underlying primary network, thereby preserving voice quality. The packet phone adapter will discard records collected from calls whose duration is below a minimum value, to ensure reliable congestion information. Each communication server records reported voice quality of service information in a congestion control database.

Abstract: A system and method that provides a dialog with the called party when a call is received, a process is initiated to communicate with the calling party and a process is initiated to communicate with the called party. The processes communicate with each other to provide limited communication between the called and calling parties without an actual connection being made between them. The called party process determines disposition of the call based on the caller ID of the calling party and the state of the called party telephone. Advantageously, the called party process prompts the called party as to how to handle the call. The called party can request further information regarding the person calling, the purpose of the call, etc., without a connection being made to the calling party.

Abstract: Providing a systematic and comprehensive mechanism for applying echo cancellation within a telecommunication switching system by a local switching system such as a PBX. Echo cancellation circuits are deployed throughout the telecommunication switching system using different types of echo cancellation circuits with each type having different capabilities with respect to a time offset of an echo return signal relative to when an voice signal was generated by a talker. The echo cancellation circuits deployed within the local telecommunication switch are an integral part of trunk circuits and provide the largest time offset. Further, the echo cancellation circuits deployed within in the local telecommunication switch are capable of controlling echoes in either direction with respect to the integral trunk circuit and may be used as service circuits if not needed by the integral trunk circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for enabling an interactive voice response (IVR) system to deliver a video stream to a telecommunications terminal and handle events related to the video stream. In particular, the illustrative embodiment overcomes two disadvantages of the prior art. First, the illustrative embodiment enables events to be generated and caught by a script of an IVR system at any time during a call. Second, the illustrative embodiment enables events to be handled in parallel with the execution of a script of the IVR system, thereby enabling the performing of actions response to a stream-related event without halting or interfering with other tasks of the IVR script.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a telecommunication device, usable with standard telecommunication equipment, that automatically resets one or more acoustic parameters to predetermined levels prior to the initiation of the next communication session.

Abstract: The system for load balancing based on class of service for wireless communication networks dynamically balances the traffic load among a plurality of cell sites by using multiple criteria to determine which cell site is selected to provide service to a mobile subscriber station. The load balancing process is executed in response to the wireless communication network assigning a cell site to provide service to a mobile subscriber station based upon a first criteria. It is then determined whether this cell site assignment results in secondary criteria being exceeded. If secondary criteria are exceeded by the assignment, the load balancing process is activated to reallocate mobile subscriber stations among the cell sites as a function of both the traffic load that exists in the cell sites as well as the class of service of the mobile subscriber stations served by the cell sites.