Abstract: A method for routing calls between a third party telecommunications device (“TD”) and a subscriber TD associated with a primary service and a second line service (“SLS”) involves associating the SLS number of the subscriber, the primary number of the subscriber and the primary number of a third party via a common relationship number. Calls directed from a third party to the SLS number of a subscriber are routed to an SLS platform and redirected to the subscriber TD. Calls directed from the subscriber TD to the third party use the relationship number to route the call to the SLS platform. The combination of the SLS number and the relationship number identifies the third party calling number for call completion. Calls can be directed to and from an SLS number of a subscriber TD without having to coordinate the provisioning of a call through the subscriber's primary service provider.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a second line service (“SLS”) feature to a subscriber using a telecommunications device (“TD”) which includes receiving at a switch on the network of the subscriber's primary service provider a communication made up of a trigger and a directory number. When the communication is received at the primary service provider's switch, the switch parses the communication and detects the trigger. Once the switch has received the communication, the switch additionally transmits a query message to a SLS platform that manages the SLS feature. As a result of the switch's query message transmission, the switch receives a reply to the query message from the SLS platform. Based at least in part on the reply to the query message, the switch can route the communication such that the switch connects one or multiple voice channel circuit between the subscriber's TD and the terminating TD.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a second line service (“SLS”) feature to a subscriber using a telecommunications device (“TD”) which includes receiving at a switch on the network of the subscriber's primary service provider a communication made up of a trigger and a directory number. When the communication is received at the primary service provider's switch, the switch parses the communication and detects the trigger. Once the switch has received the communication, the switch additionally transmits a query message to a SLS platform that manages the SLS feature. As a result of the switch's query message transmission, the switch receives a reply to the query message from the SLS platform. Based at least in part on the reply to the query message, the switch can route the communication such that the switch connects one or multiple voice channel circuit between the subscriber's TD and the terminating TD.

Abstract: A voice messaging system comprises a common message store, a local data store located remotely from the common message store, and a media server. The media server is operable to receive a call directed to a number serviced by the media server, prompt the user for a voice message, direct the voice message to the local data store for temporary storage, notify the common message store that the voice message is present in the local data store, respond to a request to transfer the voice message to the common message store, and direct the local data store to erase the message upon receipt of a communication from the common message store that the voice message was successfully saved.

Abstract: An integrated voice navigation system 40 is disclosed. The voice navigation system (40) includes a voice messaging system (44), a speech recognition system (46), a voice channel (50) and a control link (52). A caller is connected to the voice messaging system (44) via PSTN (42). The voice messaging system (44) is in turn connected to the speech recognition system (46). Specifically, the voice messaging system (44) and speech recognition system (46) are connected via both the voice channel (50) and the control link (52). The voice channel (50) provides an audio communications pathway between the caller and the speech recognition system (46), while the control link (52) provides an out-of-band communications pathway between the voice messaging system (44) and the speech recognition system (46).

Abstract: The playback of video content delivered over a wireless network can be controlled by the provision of various control functions that can be actuated by the user. The controlled playback can be implemented on a system level, in which the delivery of the video content is controlled in response to receiving control actuation signals from a receiver device or can be implemented at the receiver device level by storing the video content and controlling the rendering of the content based on user actuations. In either implementation, the playback control can include pausing, stopping, fast-forwarding, rewinding, reversing, fast-reversing and skipping of the video content.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enhanced Colorful Ring-Back Tone (eCRBT) services by mixing multiple digital content streams in real time are provided, including audio, video, data, text-based message, and hypermedia object streams. One or more properties of the content streams, such as volume or pitch of an audio stream, or brightness and layout of a video stream, are gradually altered such that a prominence of the an individual content stream is dynamically and seamlessly changed relative to other content streams with time. An eCRBT controller controls mixing and playing of digital content either based on an internal algorithm in an application server, or selections received from subscribers through provisioning interfaces. Personalized content streams can be mixed and played in real time based on interactive response received from a calling subscriber. Content may also be personalized based on caller by service provider.

Abstract: A telecommunications system that supports the provision of video messaging, yet maintains compatibility and operation with user equipment that is not capable of processing, receiving or rendering video content. Based on the type of user equipment, as well as user selected options, network configurations and status, and class-of-service characteristics, the telecommunications systems can revise the manner in which content is provided to the user equipment. Variations in the content provision include providing synchronized audio and video content, audio content only, video content only, video content with closed-captioning and closed-captioning only.

Abstract: A mailbox system that has a distributed architecture is disclosed. The system includes an application server, a media server, and message storage system having subscriber mailboxes. Application messages may be stored in a subscriber's mailbox. When the subscriber accesses an application message, the application server uses the application message to create an application, which is then provided to the media server. The media server then executes the application for the subscriber.

Abstract: An enhanced Voice eXtensible Markup Language (VXML) based voicemail system that has a distributed architecture and methods for implementing enhanced VXML based voicemail systems are disclosed. The voicemail system includes a media server, which is in communication with a telephone network. The media server is adapted to invoke a voicemail service of the distributed voicemail system and adapted to render at least a first portion of a Voice eXtensible Markup Language (VXML) page. An application server, which is in communication with the media server, is adapted to generate a VXML page and provide the VXML page to the media server. The XVML page has a tag embedded therein, and the media server processes the tag. A voicemail-account monitorer, which monitors at least a portion of the voicemail system, is invoked by the media server processing the tag.

Abstract: A voicemail system enabling various components of the voicemail system to be distributed geographically yet operate as a seamlessly integrated system is disclosed. A signal gateway interfaces with a telephone network. In addition, one or more media servers interface with the signal gateway as well as the telephone network. The signal gateway is configured to block calls to malfunctioning media servers. The signal gateway monitors the media servers, and responsive to determining that a media server has malfunctioned, the signal gateway initiates auto-blocking such that the telephone network does not route calls to the malfunctioning media server. In addition, the signal gateway is configured to auto-detect a media server responsive to the media server being initialized. The voicemail system can include a variety of other elements, such as one or more system management units and one or more central data and message store systems.

Abstract: A media rich SIP servlet is enabled using a media control layer and a conventional SIP Servlet container. The media rich SIP servlet provides a media control API that can be used by SIP-based application developers to incorporate media rich functions into SIP-based applications. The media rich SIP servlet includes an advanced call control API, which enhances the basic call control functions provided by a SIP servlet. The media rich SIP servlet provides call and media control primitives for use by SIP servlet based applications, thereby enabling media rich SIP servlet based applications.

Abstract: An integrated voice navigation system 40 is disclosed. The voice navigation system (40) includes a voice messaging system (44), a speech recognition system (46), a voice channel (50) and a control link (52). A caller is connected to the voice messaging system (44) via PSTN (42). The voice messaging system (44) is in turn connected to the speech recognition system (46). Specifically, the voice messaging system (44) and speech recognition system (46) are connected via both the voice channel (50) and the control link (52). The voice channel (50) provides an audio communications pathway between the caller and the speech recognition system (46), while the control link (52) provides an out-of-band communications pathway between the voice messaging system (44) and the speech recognition system (46).

Abstract: A voicemail system enabling various components of the voicemail system to be distributed geographically yet operate as a seamlessly integrated system is disclosed. A signal gateway interfaces with a telephone network. In addition, one or more media servers interface with the signal gateway as well as the telephone network. The signal gateway is configured to block calls to malfunctioning media servers. The signal gateway monitors the media servers, and responsive to determining that a media server has malfunctioned, the signal gateway initiates auto-blocking such that the telephone network does not route calls to the malfunctioning media server. In addition, the signal gateway is configured to auto-detect a media server responsive to the media server being initialized. The voicemail system can include a variety of other elements, such as one or more system management units and one or more central data and message store systems.