Abstract: A graphical development environment for developing the program flow of an application. The environment represents the program flow as an arrow between starting and end points. A developer can modify the program flow by adding an icon representing a subroutine to any point on the arrow. Loops and possible returns of a subroutine are graphically represented by the environment. If the developer modifies the API of a subroutine, the environment graphically represents the calling routines that are affected by the API change. The environment also allows functional components of subroutines to be overwritten by the caller. In such a case, the overwritten components are executing within the caller's environment space. Different overwritten instances of an overwritable subroutine may exist in the same program flow.

Abstract: A method for transferring multimedia information in a system including a primary site 101 and at least one satellite site 102 coupled to the primary site 101 by a transmission medium 103. Information defining each of a selected plurality of objects composing a multimedia presentation is compressed at primary site 101 using a compression/decompression protocol corresponding to a type of each of the objects. The compressed information is transferred to satellite site 102 from primary site 101 via medium 103. Scene information describing the multimedia presentation to be made from the objects is also transferred from primary site 101. The compressed information defining each of the objects is decompressed at satellite 102 using the corresponding compression/decompression protocol. The multimedia presentation composed of the selected objects is generated at satellite site 102 from the decompressed information as directed by the received scene information.

Abstract: A computer server that stores a HTML document, receives a request via a global network from a user for the document and sends the document to the user. The computer server uses a state machine to examine the request to determine a current state status of the request and compares it to the required state status for accessing the document stored in a state transition model. If the current status fulfills the required status, then access to the document is granted. If the required status is not fulfilled, then the server sends an error message to the user denying access to the document. Thus, the server imposes a structured, hierarchical format onto a freeform hypertext links of HTML documents by restricting movement between the links to legal transitions.

Abstract: A system and method for developing a VRU program accomplished in two parts is disclosed. A prototype of the customer's desired conversation is created which is a summary of the customer's VRU requirements. This summary is used to verify customer satisfaction with the verbal conversations as well as the sufficiency of information for host interaction prior to any actual VRU programming being commenced. Thereafter, a framework of the VRU program to be completed as a functioning program by the developer may be generated from this summary. Links are maintained between the summary and a VRU program created through use of the framework to aid in development and maintaining synchronization between the VRU program and the summary. The linked summary and program provide easier modification as changes by the customer with only reference to the summary may be easily incorporated into the linked program.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively adjusting the caller identification of a calling party based, in party, on parameters associated with adjusting the calling party. Security codes can be used in conjunction with a database to insure that the substituted ID is legitimate. The one embodiment or network based predictive dialer is used to place calls for agents geographically separated from both the network and other agents. The network system instigates a calling campaign where remote agents are connected through the network to called parties where the called party receives the caller ID information pertaining to the calling campaign and not the caller ID of the agent.

Abstract: A casual agent pool is provided to facilitate the management of a light load of inbound calls to a calling center where many employees (agents) may optionally answer those calls as part of their work duties. Agents may transact other business while logged onto the pool, and are alerted to the presence of an incoming call by, for example, the telephone ringing or a computer screen message. Casual agents may then choose whether or not to take an inbound call, depending on their circumstances. The system thus optimizes call agent resources in lightly-loaded applications having many potential agents available, allowing agents to transact other business while being potentially available to take calls, thereby obviating the need to manage a dedicated agent pool.

Abstract: A computer card mounted in a computer, which has at least one other card having a similar functionality to the card, with the cards being connected to a common bus. Both cards also have overlapping memory, I/O, and interrupt selections assigned by a plug-and-play device. The card comprises a unique handle that is latched to the card by the plug-and-play device. If a card comparator detects a match between the unique handle and the selection data, a selector enables the card. If the comparator does not detect a match between the unique handle and the selection data, the selector disables the card.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a data set including information with respect to a plurality of data elements utilized by an application program is disclosed. The data set is used to automatically initialize a database of said data elements for use with said application program. The data set is also utilized to automatically generate a set of database maintenance applications providing user interfacing to the database.

Abstract: A tool for scheduling the delivery of media objects within varying constraints of available bandwidth. In a preferred embodiment in which the invention is enabled by software executable on a general purpose multimedia grade computer, a system designer orchestrates the playback of a series of media objects on a playback "score" analogous to a musical score. The system designer can also see the results of his or her work by playing back the playback score in real time on a corresponding runtime view. The media objects are represented on the playback score as playback icons. Responsive to the designer's manipulation of playback icons on the playback score, the present invention further creates and displays a corresponding download score, also viewable by the system designer, in which download icons (corresponding to playback icons on the playback score) are automatically deployed and arranged to fill up a displayed "pipe" of available bandwidth.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling signal gain and minimizing distortion due to widely varying signal levels are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of calculating an initial gain factor from a source signal and gradually varying the initial gain factor to within a preselected band of allowable values when the source signal is above a preselected minimum level and the initial gain factor is above the preselected band. The circuit comprises means for calculating an initial gain factor from a source signal and means for gradually varying the initial gain factor to within a preselected band of allowable values when the source signal is above a preselected minimum level and the initial gain factor is above the preselected band. The method and circuit are particularly adept at processing audio signals carrying spoken words, the signals characterized by periods of silence between the words.

Abstract: A visual tool for scheduling the delivery of media objects within varying constraints of available bandwidth. In a preferred embodiment in which the invention is enabled by software executable on a general purpose multimedia grade computer, a system designer orchestrates the playback of a series of media objects represented as playback icons on a playback "score" analogous to a musical score. The present invention further creates and displays a corresponding download score, on which download icons (corresponding to playback icons on the playback score) are initially deployed as rectangles and arranged according to default rules. The topographical area of the download icons, as displayed, corresponds to the data size of the media objects. The designer then ordains a bandwidth constraint ("pipe") causing the download icons to be compressed into the pipe, likely overlapping.

Abstract: In a telecommunications system 10 in which remote terminals 20A through 20G are exchanging information with Interactive Information Response Unit (IIRU) 30 via communications in diverse formats and/or media, a system and method for identifying said formats and/or media so that responsive to said identification, appropriate resources 33 may be allocated to the communications to enable IIRU 30 and remote terminals 20A through 20G to exchange information intelligibly.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for monitoring the performance of a multi-line automated telephone system and detecting complete or intermittent faults on the incoming phone lines and in interactive applications accessed by the automated telephone device. The system gathers and analyzes statistical parameters associated with each incoming phone line and compares the parameters with those of other phone lines and with past statistical averages to detect out-of-tolerance lines. The system also gathers and analyzes statistical parameters associated with the execution of various applications and compares the parameters with past statistical averages to detect out-of-tolerance accesses to the applications.

Abstract: A fully digital voice response system is disclosed. The system comprises a digital processor and a circuit for coupling the digital processor to a digital computer and a digital telephone network, the coupling circuit being a fully digital communications path. The system receives digital data from an instrument coupled to the digital telephone network, translates the received data into a digital computer query and transmits the query to the digital computer via the digital telephone network. The processor also receives digital data from the digital computer, translates the digital data into digital data representing a voice, facsimile or data for a digital computer and transmits the data via digital telephone lines to the instrument. In this manner, the system receives a command from a person and responds to the command with data retrieved from the digital computer, the system presenting the data to the person in voice or facsimile form or in a form suitable for reception by another digital computer.

Abstract: A system and method having automatic selection of impedance values for matching against unknown line impedances. The method stores an expected set of desired return loss measurements at given frequencies and matches the calculated set against the actual measured return losses to arrive at a close approximation of the line impedance. The system is then adjusted based upon this determined close approximation. The starting point for the stored set are standard models established for each network. In situations where the actual varies greatly from the predicted, a different model is selected and the expected scores for that model are used.

Abstract: A system and method for predictive dialing from a centralized or network based apparatus available to calling agents geographically separated from both the apparatus and other agents. A user communicates call management information via a network connection to a predictive dialing apparatus to configure the apparatus for the user's particular needs. Thereafter the apparatus may instigate a calling campaign unattended, utilizing technology such as interactive voice response, or upon calling agents connecting to the apparatus. Agents connecting to the apparatus do so utilizing various network connections and network elements. The apparatus communicates call management information as well as call statistics to the user via a network connection.

Abstract: A system and method for voice controlled message retrieval. Each message stored in a voice mail system has an associated header and return address. The system generates and stores a speech recognition template from each unique header. When a subscriber wishes to retrieve a message, the subscriber speaks the header. The subscriber's speech is then compared with the speech recognition templates stored in the system. If a matching template is found, the system plays the message associated with the header from which the template was generated. Additionally, the subscriber can tag certain callers and cause the system to apply special treatment to messages from tagged callers. Moreover, the subscriber can reply to a caller calling from outside the system.

Abstract: A system and method for increasing the reliability of data matches between data stored in a database and newly provided data. The system relies on the prescreening of newly provided data patterns to insure that any newly provided data pattern is not ambiguous with existing data patterns. A threshold level is calculated for each newly provided data pattern and the invention determines which stored data pattern is closest to, or most likely to be confused with, the newly provided data pattern. The invention temporarily prohibits the new data pattern from being added to the database if it is likely to be confused with a stored data pattern. A user can then choose either to change the new data pattern to a different pattern or to allow the potentially confusing new data pattern to be added to the database. The calculated threshold levels can be set for both individual users and groups of users. The data patterns can consist of speech, images, graphs or other data.

Abstract: A Voice Response Unit (VRU) 10 provides ports 12 to which communications devices 13 may be coupled. Two-way conversations between ports 12 are enabled by inter-port connections made by system bus 16 as controlled by distributed switch 15. Summation resources 25, permanently inserted in signal paths to and from ports 12, provide digital summers 33A, 33B and 33C that then permit signal processing resource 22 to be conferenced in on said two-way conversations without having to route signals through conference bridge resources.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for monitoring the performance of a multi-line automated telephone system and detecting complete or intermittent faults on the incoming phone lines and in interactive applications accessed by the automated telephone device. The system gathers and analyzes statistical parameters associated with each incoming phone line and compares the parameters with those of other phone lines and with past statistical averages to detect out-of-tolerance lines. The system also gathers and analyzes statistical parameters associated with the execution of various applications and compares the parameters with past statistical averages to detect out-of-tolerance accesses to the applications.