Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for setting up a communication channel over a packet switched network between/among participants to a private line connection which has been established over the packet switched network such that the communication channel is different from the private line connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for setting up persistent, secure communication channels between remote groups of individuals over an unreliable network such as a packet switched or frame relay network. A group, which could be an individual, searches for another group, which could be an individual, through a hierarchical search structure. When the search results in a group that the searching group wants to communicate with, the searching group sends an invitation to the identified group and when the invitation is accepted a persistent communication channel is configured between the two groups.

Abstract: VoIP telephone systems and methods are provided for use in a noisy listening environment. The systems and methods provide high quality voice broadcast into the noisy listening environment through independent voice channels which makes it easier for the human brain to discern broadcast words from the background noise.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamic configuration of a digital conference call among customer premise equipment (CPE) such that CPEs that are determined to be located on a same local network connect via a peer-to-peer connection and CPEs that are determined to not be located on the same local network connect via a client-server connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for encrypting data at a customer for storage at a hosted service provider. In addition to the data being encrypted by the client, the secret encryption key used to encrypt the data is also encrypted. Both the encrypted data and the encrypted secret encryption key are transmitted to the service provider who may further encrypt the data with another encryption key and who stores the further encrypted data, the encrypted secret encryption key and the another encryption key.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for encrypting data at a customer for storage at a hosted service provider. In addition to the data being encrypted by the client, the secret encryption key used to encrypt the data is also encrypted. Both the encrypted data and the encrypted secret encryption key are transmitted to the service provider who may further encrypt the data with another encryption key and who stores the further encrypted data, the encrypted secret encryption key and the another encryption key.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamic configuration of a digital conference call among customer premise equipment (CPE) such that CPEs that are determined to be located on a same local network connect via a peer-to-peer connection and CPEs that are determined to not be located on the same local network connect via a client-server connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for setting up a communication channel over a packet switched network between/among participants to a private line connection which has been established over the packet switched network such that the communication channel is different from the private line connection.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for limiting the number of persistent voice connections for a user and for configuring dynamic connections to appear from the user's perspective as if they were persistent connections. When the user initiates a call over a dynamic connection the user's voice is stored until the connection is established at which time the user's voice will continue to be stored and will also be transmitted over the connection until the voice being stored and the voice being transmitted become the same.

Abstract: VoIP telephone systems and methods are provided for use in a noisy listening environment. The systems and methods provide high quality voice broadcast into the noisy listening environment through independent voice channels which makes it easier for the human brain to discern broadcast words from the background noise.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for setting up persistent, secure communication channels between remote groups of individuals over an unreliable network such as a packet switched or frame relay network. A group, which could be an individual, searches for another group, which could be an individual, through a hierarchical search structure. When the search results in a group that the searching group wants to communicate with, the searching group sends an invitation to the identified group and when the invitation is accepted a persistent communication channel is configured between the two groups.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for attenuating a communications channel on one or more speakerphones which are located in close physical proximity to one another and which are being used on the same call.