Abstract: Direct access to a voice mail box hosted by a voice mail system (VMS) permits a requesting party to go directly to the voice mail box without first placing a call to the service subscriber who owns the voice mail box. Direct access can be enabled from call termination equipment, such as a dial-up directory service, or from a data network interface, such as a web page on a worldwide web server or a button embedded in an electronic mail message.

Abstract: A noise suppression circuit for a communications channel (10) comprises a hybrid device (11) coupled to the channel for providing a differential output signal corresponding to a received signal. A delay unit (12) delays the differential signal by a suitable amount to allow for the generation and subtraction of a noise estimate. A summing device (13) extracts a digital common mode signal from the channel, and a noise estimation unit (16) provides a common mode noise estimate signal in dependence upon a history of the common mode signal over a predetermined period of time and over a plurality of frequency bands. The common mode noise estimate signal is combined subtractively (19) with the delayed differential signal to cancel common mode noise elements of the delayed differential signal.

Abstract: An enhanced application switched telephone network and a method of completing calls using the network are described. In the enhanced application switched telephone network, every switching office is connected to at least one enhanced ISUP voice-grade trunk. A link set and a route set associated with the enhanced trunk route common channel signaling messages associated with calls directed to the enhanced trunk(s) to a call control node. The call control node is thereby enabled to exercise control over those calls. The advantages include point of origin call control, enhanced application service development, rapid service, deployment and significantly more efficient use of PSTN facilities.

Abstract: A high speed analog-to-digital converter, for converting an analog input signal (u(t)) with a maximum frequency (Fmax) to a digital output signal (x(n)) with an output sampling rate (Fs) at least double the maximum frequency (Fmax), comprises a plurality of analog narrowband filters (F0-FM−1) for filtering the analog input signal (u(t)) to produce a corresponding plurality of narrowband signals (X0-XM−1), which is supplied to a corresponding plurality of analog-to-digital converter units (AD0-ADM−1). The converter also comprises sampling and summing circuitry for sampling the outputs of the analog-to-digital converter units sequentially at the predetermined sampling rate (Fs) and summing the resulting sampled signals to produce the digital output signal (x(n)).

Abstract: An apparatus and methods enforcing network-centric control over access to a selected destination point in a switched telephone network are presented in which, a user seeking access to the selected destination point is authenticated in the network on a separate telephone connection prior to authorizing the user to access the selected destination point. An on-the-fly generated authorized calling line identification is associated with an origination point from which the user initiates the call completion request to enforce access control. The call completion is monitored end-to-end and the resulting telephone session is audited at the signaling and payload levels providing management support personnel with information substantiating the release of the call in case of misuse or intrusion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an input signal for transmission and/or storage, uses an analysis filter bank (21;51) to decompose the signal into sub-band signals which are used to modulate a plurality of carriers. The carriers are combined into a single encoded signal for transmission/storage. The encoder/decoder is especially applicable to telecommunications systems and recording systems. The analysis filter bank may comprise a multiresolution filter, such as an octave band filter bank (40A/B/C/D . . . 43A/B/C/D) implementing Discrete Wavelet Transform. The modulation may comprise double-sideband, single sideband, quadrature amplitude modulation, and so on. Where the input signal is analog, the carriers may be modulated directly by the sub-band signals. Where the input signal is digital, however, the sub-band signals are interpolated, all to the same rate, and then used to modulate the carriers.

Abstract: A collaboration services suite is adapted to support a plurality of integrated telecommunications services accessed by geographically dispersed team members using a virtual team environment (VTE) client that generates a graphical user interface (GUI) for each of the respective team members. Communications sessions are automatically set up by the collaboration services suite in response to request messages generated by the VTE client when a team member initiates a communications session request using the GUI. Team members require no knowledge of another team member's communications device address in order to initiate a communications session. The collaboration services suite includes a VTE server that communicates with the VTE clients, a presence engine that collects and maintains a status of communications devices specified in a current profile of the team member; and, a call server for handling setup and control of a voice component of each communications session completed.

Abstract: A collaboration services suite is adapted to support a plurality of integrated telecommunications services accessed by geographically dispersed team members using a virtual team environment (VTE) client that generates a graphical user interface (GUI) for each of the respective team members. Communications sessions are automatically set up by the collaboration services suite in response to request messages generated by the VTE client when a team member initiates a communications session request using the GUI. Team members require no knowledge of another team member's communications device address in order to initiate a communications session. The collaboration services suite includes a VTE server that communicates with the VTE clients, a presence engine that collects and maintains a status of communications devices specified in a current profile of the team member; and, a call server for handling setup and control of a voice component of each communications session completed.

Abstract: A collaboration services suite is adapted to support a plurality of integrated telecommunications services accessed by geographically dispersed team members using a virtual team environment (VTE) client that generates a graphical user interface (GUI) for each of the respective team members. Communications sessions are automatically set up by the collaboration services suite in response to request messages generated by the VTE client when a team member initiates a communications session request using the GUI. Team members require no knowledge of another team member's communications device address in order to initiate a communications session. The collaboration services suite includes a VTE server that communicates with the VTE clients, a presence engine that collects and maintains a status of communications devices specified in a current profile of the team member; and, a call server for handling setup and control of a voice component of each communications session completed.

Abstract: A method and system for using TCAP signaling for improved call setup from a virtual switching point are disclosed. In accordance with the method, TCAP signaling is used to enhance call setup from virtual switching points which receive call request messages from calling parties using a facility on a data network such as the Internet. TCAP signaling is used when necessary to determine the availability of the called party telephone. The system includes a Virtual Switching Point (VSP) in a switched telephone network having a connection to a data network such as the Internet. Call requests are received by the VSP from the data network and processed by the VSP to establish a voice connection between the calling party which initiates the call request and a called party number indicated in the call request message. The use of TCAP signaling from the VSP to Switching Points (SPs) which serve the calling party and/or the called party improves efficiency and minimizes common channel signaling.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for dynamically routing selected calls through an intelligent switched telephone network are described. The method leverages the resident switching power in the Public Switched Telephone Network by departing from the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) call model while adhering to the basic principles of ISUP common channel signaling to introduce new flexibility in call routing. Using the method, calls can be efficiently routed and rerouted through the network. Control of a call can be effected by either the called party or the calling party. The method can be practised using either a virtual switching point (VSP) or an ISTP. The VSP is a physical mode in the signaling plane of the network and a virtual node in the switching plane. Calls are routed to the VSP using dedicated trunk groups which may be loop-back ISUP trunks or inter-switch ISUP trunks. Calls are routed to the dedicated trunk groups using standard routing translation tables and methods.

Abstract: A method and system for providing answer supervision in a switched telephone network are described. The method involves monitoring signaling links in a common channel signaling system to track call progress. If a called number is determined to be suspect with respect to providing call answer indications, the system may route calls to monitored facilities which measure the commencement of payload traffic. When payload traffic is detected, a call answer message can be sent through the signaling network to initiate billing, or call release messages may be sent in each direction to cancel the call. Both inter-network and intra-network calls can be monitored to provide answer supervision and ensure that toll calls are properly billed in accordance with actual toll facility usage.

Abstract: A method and a system for completing a voice connection between a first and second voice terminal in a switched telephone network (STN) are disclosed. The system includes a Virtual Switching Point (VSP) in a switched telephone network having a connection to a data network such as the Internet. Call requests are received by the VSP from the data network and processed by the VSP to establish a voice connection between a calling party which initiates the call requests and a called party number indicated in each call request message. The call request message may include a plurality of called party numbers and the VSP completes calls to each number in sequence without terminating the voice connection with the calling party, until an attempt to connect with each of the called numbers has been made or a call control option is exercised by the calling party. The call connections are established and controlled by the VSP using common channel signaling (CCS) messages.

Abstract: A telephone network comprises at least one switching unit having a plurality of subscriber access lines each having an associated calling number and, a storage device storing a plurality of listings of destination numbers. Each listing is associated with a respective one of the calling numbers and defines defining a personalized local calling area for that particular calling number. The switching unit detects a destination number dialed by a caller setting up a call, accesses the personalized local calling area listing for that calling number, and compares the detected destination number with the selected listing to determine whether the call is local or long distance. Each of the listings may comprise numbers having between three and ten digits. Provision may be made for the subscriber to create the personalized calling area by adding entries to, or deleting entries from, a standard local calling area common to a group of subscribers.

Abstract: A method of controlling call traffic in a telecommunication system by dynamically altering the rate at which offered calls are accepted includes the steps of successively determining the offered call rate, and accepting calls from the offered calls, at a lower rate, as the offered call rate increases. For accepting the offered calls, at least two call-gapping intervals are used. The method includes selecting the shorter gapping interval whenever the offered call rate is below a threshold value and the longer gapping interval whenever it is above that value.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for the transparent monitoring of selected telecommunications sessions in an intelligent switched telephone network is described. The method involves conditioning the network to enable the monitoring of all telecommunications sessions originating from or terminating to any selected subscriber address. The network is conditioned by the installation of monitored trunks with translation tables, linksets and routesets which route all calls to be monitored through the monitored trunk groups. After the network has been conditioned, call monitoring can be accomplished with minimal datafill changes to the translation tables of the telephone switching system that serves the subscriber address. The monitored trunk groups are preferably loop-back trunk groups, but they may be dedicated inter-office trunk groups as well. It is also possible to designate a central switching point to monitor calls for a plurality of satellite switching points.

Abstract: A method of volume screening signalling messages in a communications signalling system, in which control orders from a centralized control are distributed so as to provide equitable volume screening of selected signalling messages being sent over each available communications link of a plurality of links within link sets that interconnect signal transfer points (STPs) of the system. This is achieved by dynamically apportioning the acceptance rate of the selected signalling messages from each available link, in the same proportion as that of the total signalling messages being sent over that available link.

Abstract: A process is provided herein for extracting organic toxic contaminants including pentachlorophenol, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, from wood, e.g., utility poles, fence posts, or railway ties. The process comprises extracting the wood with a supercritical fluid in conjunction with an entrainer having wood swelling properties and an agent to break the hydrogen bond between the organic toxic contaminants and the wood, at conventional supercritical fluid extraction temperatures and pressures. The process is further improved by exposing, either in a slurry of the wood phase, or in a liquid phase resulting from such extraction, the contaminants to UV, e.g., sunlight, in the presence of a photosensitizer. The present invention also provides for the photodegradation of a solution of organic toxic chemicals including pentachlorophenol, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, by exposing such solution to UV, e.g.

Abstract: The call set-up technique of this invention is characterized by the use of channel information from both base station and subscriber terminal in determining the radio traffic channel upon which to set-up a new call. Communication between the base station and subscriber terminal is carried out on a signalling channel until the traffic channel is chosen. Calls are set-up so that they proceed on the radio channel which, of a set of channels under consideration by the subscriber terminal, contains the least amount of interference as measured at the subscriber terminal. The set of channels under consideration by the subscriber terminal is a subset of the entire set of channels allocated to the service. This subset is comprised of those channels having little interference, as measured by the base station, and which, additionally, are not reserved exclusively for stationary, fixed-allocation services in the geographic location of the base station.