Abstract: A system for providing voicemail services includes a network device that receives voicemail messages intended for subscribers. The subscribers may be associated with a number of different local telephone service providers. The network device also stores the voicemail messages for later retrieval by the subscribers.

Abstract: A double firewalled system is disclosed for protecting remote enterprise servers that provide communication services to telecommunication network customers from unauthorized third parties. A first router directs all connection requests to one or more secure web servers, which may utilize a load balancer to efficiently distribute the session connection load among a high number of authorized client users. On the network side of the web servers, a second router directs all connection requests to a dispatcher server, which routes application server calls to a proxy server for the application requested. A plurality of data security protocols are also employed. The protocols provide for an identification of the user, and an authentication of the user to ensure the user is who he/she claims to be and a determination of entitlements that the user may avail themselves of within the enterprise system.

Abstract: A caller may establish preferences regarding special call handling of a call to a called. The caller may be notified when a special call handling option is about to be performed. The called may have the option of skipping the call handling option or aborting the call. In another alternative, the preferences of the caller are obtained and stored prior to the placement of the call. These preferences are then used to guide special call handling during the course of the call. In this fashion, the caller need not be a passive party relative to special call handling but may provide input so as to help guide special call handling.

Abstract: An approach for providing multi-user access to a packet switched network via a shared Ethernet-based local area network (LAN) is disclosed. Multiple end user stations are connected to the LAN, in which each of end user stations executes a communication software. The communication software is based upon a communication protocol (e.g., Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)) that establishes a point-to-point communication session. The end user stations generate packets based upon the communication protocol. In addition, each of the end user stations selectively encapsulates the communication protocol packets using the Ethernet-based LAN protocol. Further, attached to the LAN is a customer premise equipment (CPE), which transmits the encapsulated packets to a line terminating equipment, which according to one embodiment is a digital subscriber line (DSL) access multiplexer that is located in a central office.

Abstract: A method for providing communication services for communications between a hearing-impaired party and a hearing party includes establishing a voice link with the hearing party. The method also includes receiving a voice message from the hearing party via the voice link and generating a text message corresponding to the voice message using voice recognition. The method may also include transmitting the text message to the hearing-impaired party. Optionally, a high speed text input device may also be used with, or instead of, the voice recognition to generate the text message.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an integrated system for performing dispersion compensation on wavelength channels in WDM or DWDM transmissions. The system includes a tunable integrated dispersion compensation module that performs chromatic dispersion compensation and polarization mode dispersion compensation on each of the wavelength channels in the transmission. Feedback is used to adjust the tunable integrated dispersion compensation module until receiver performance is optimized.

Abstract: A method and associated system are provided for processing data to complete a collect telephone call to a called-party that has prepaid an account to pay for the collect call. Data is received regarding a collect call from a caller to the called-party. Next it is determining whether the called party is associated with a prepaid account and the rate to be applied to the collect call. The rate to be applied to the call is increased by a tax rate and the data is sent regarding the call rate to be applied to the collect call so that the call can be completed between the called party and caller.

Abstract: A call processing network performance verification and validation system and test methodology. The call processing network implements Internet Protocol (IP) subnet topology, ATM WAN configuration, equipment placement, and device configuration to provide partitioning of a call processing application across multiple sites. The partitioning reduces latency for mission critical messages, while providing for necessary provisioning traffic needs. Further, the overall topology provides the redundancy and resiliency necessary for mission critical call processing application, utilizing the IP subnets, ATM permanent virtual circuits, network device configuration, and server segregation to achieve Quality of Service (QoS). The validation testing method and system proves out the various segregated routes, verifies subnet integrity and measures total latency and data path traversal in a verifiable manner.

Abstract: A platform provides access to multiple telecommunications services via a single telephone number. These services may include, for example, voicemail services, facsimile messaging services, paging services, and outbound calling services. A guest caller may call the single phone number to speak to a subscriber, leave a voicemail message for a subscriber, leave a facsimile message for a subscriber, or place a page to a subscriber. A subscriber may call the phone number to place outbound calls. In addition, a subscriber may call the single phone number to retrieve or send facsimile messages and/or voicemail messages. A subscriber may also call the phone number to configure service options. For instance, a subscriber may select routing options and choose what services are available to guest callers.

Abstract: A method including providing a PDA having a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a GPS receiver coupled to the processor and a RF transponder capable of communicating using Internet Protocol; storing user identification information in the memory; storing medical history information in the memory; determining location using the GPS receiver; transmitting the determined location to a service using the RF transponder; and in response to a request of emergency service by a user of the PDA, contacting the service and transmitting an emergency request to the service using the RF transponder.

Abstract: In recent times, communications service providers have been able to offer large business enterprises the ability to share call center operation among multiple geographically dispersed call centers. In particular, network-resident call handling technologies have been developed for performing some of the handling and queuing of each inbound call within the communications network, that is, before the call is forwarded to an ACD at a particular call center. However, by outsourcing a portion of the call center operations to a network-based call routing system, the call centers are no longer able to maintain direct control over, and are generally unable to directly access information, such as statistics, about the calls in the network or other call centers. Accordingly, an interface is provided that allows an entity to obtain information about calls within the network or other call center(s).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and management service platform for implementing a global ecosystem of interrelated services. The service platform is comprised of three distinct layers: a physical machine layer; a virtual machine layer and a layer of interrelated services. The physical machine layer may be deployed on large numbers of small generic servers in many geographic locations distributed for enterprise use. Associated with one or more servers are particular resources managed by that particular server. Any server in any geographic location can process any service needed by any client in any other geographic area. The operating system of each physical server is not used directly in the operating environment, but instead, each server runs a platform-independent programming language virtual machine on top of the operating system—this is the virtual machine layer.

Abstract: A method, and a switched network adapted to carry out the method, and computer-readable media carrying instructions for controlling the network, to increase the utilization of the North American Numbering Plan. Numbers that otherwise would be stranded in a low growth rate area are ported to a network switch serving another rate area When a switch receives a called number it determines if the number is portable and, if so, accesses a database to determine if the number has been ported. If the number has been ported the switch processes the call in accordance with information linked to the number in the database so that stranded numbers can be assigned to stations without regard to the rate area in which the stations are located.

Abstract: A transformer for substantially matching the impedance of a generator and a load, which is coupled to the generator via a transmission line. The transformer comprises an outer conductor having an inner surface and an inner conductor having an outer surface that is positioned within the outer conductor. The transformer further includes a plurality of transformation sections, where each section provides a particular separation distance between the inner surface of the outer conductor and the outer surface of the inner conductor to yield a particular characteristic impedance for each of the plurality of transformation sections, thereby substantially matching the impedance of the generator to the load.

Abstract: A low cost cordless telephone system including a base unit, connected to a telephone network, which can transmit and receive RF signals to and from sub-communicating devices. The sub-communicating devices include a cordless microphone for converting acoustical signals to electrical signals and providing same to a transmitter which transmits corresponding simplex RF signals on a cordless telephone frequency to a base unit attached to a telephone network; and a cordless speaker which receives simplex RF signals from a base unit and broadcasts a corresponding telephone conversation. The base unit may connect directly to a telephone network or, in an alternate embodiment, to the handset jack of an existing telephone, thereby interfacing to existing phones including those connected to digital telephone systems. The base unit may also include a speaker used to broadcast the telephone conversation.

Abstract: A system for transporting public switched network (PSTN) terminated signaling across an Internet protocol (IP) network includes a gateway between the PSTN and the IP network. The gateway receives a telephony signaling message from the PSTN and determines if the telephony signaling message maps to an IP signaling message. If the telephony signaling message does not map to an IP signaling message, the gateway packages the telephony signaling message in a special IP signaling message for transport over the IP network. If the gateway receives a special IP signaling special message, the gateway unpackages the telephony signaling message from the special message for transport over the PSTN. If the gateway receives DTMF signals from the PSTN, the gateway translates the DTMF signals to digits and packages the digits in a special IP signaling message for transport over the IP network. The gateway also packages the DTMF signals in an IP media transport protocol message for transport over the IP network.

Abstract: A facility stores attachments for electronic mail messages so that the messages may be transmitted to the intended recipients without the attachments. The recipients may then review and/or download the attachments by contacting the facility. This facility is especially useful in instances wherein the attachments are large. The facility eliminates the need to store multiple copies of the attachment throughout a system; thus consuming a great deal of memory space. In addition, the facility prevents the recipient from extensive delays that are often associated with downloading email messages that contain large attachments via a dial-up connection with a low transmission rate. The facility may be realized as a server and may be a web server so as to provide access to the attachments via an IP network.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting forecasting performance metrics from among a plurality of performance metrics includes a data mining kernel that receives performance metrics from a collection agent. The data mining kernel performs a factor analysis on the performance metrics to identify one or more factors and associates each performance metric with a corresponding one of the one or more factors. For each of the one or more factors, the data mining kernel selects the performance metrics having a weight greater than a predetermined value thus pairing the selected performance metrics down to the forecasting performance metrics. The forecasting performance metrics are then stored in a database for access by a capacity planning system.

Abstract: A system, and methods for billing clients of services providers are presented. Calls to the services providers are received at a prepaid calling center where the clients are prompted to provide an identification number. The identification number is then used to retrieve a record from a database which includes the client's debit account information as well as a menu of services available from a services provider, and the services provider's telephone number. After retrieving the foregoing information, the prepaid calling center completes a telephone call between the client and the services provider. The prepaid calling centers then debits the prepaid account at a prescribed billing rate until the telephone call is terminated.

Abstract: An approach for processing voice calls over a packet switched network as to efficiently utilize the functionalities of a Voice Response Unit (VRU). According to one embodiment, a call originator, acting as a User Agent Client in accordance with the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), issues messages to establish a first call-leg with the VRU. The VRU performs digit collection to obtain information to authenticate the call originator and to authorize the voice call. Based upon the issued messages from the call originator, the VRU establishes a second call-leg with the call terminator. The VRU is released from the voice call after binding the call-legs to connect the call originator to the call terminator.