Abstract: A system (10) and method (40) for providing audible caller information to telephone service subscribers is presented. The system (10) includes a pre-processor (28) that converts textual caller information from a first data format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis (TTS). The pre-processor (28) can be incorporated in a service node/intelligent peripheral (SN/IP) (24) in an advanced intelligent network (AIN). In this configuration, the pre-processor (28) can be used to convert caller-ID with name database entries into a predetermined TTS format. The TTS formatted information can be provided to a TTS synthesized (30) included in the SN/IP (24). In conjunction with a switching service point (SSP) (20), the pre-processor (28) can provide a talking call-waiting feature to subscribers with significantly improved intelligibility.

Abstract: A method for determining the name of a calling party where the calling party's name and corresponding telephone number are found in a remote database. The method first identifies whether the calling party's telephone number is contained within the local database. When it is determined that the telephone number is not within the local database, the method attempts to locate the telephone number in a remote database. A query is formed according to a basic signal transmission protocol to ensure that a database which receives the query will be able to respond to it. The query requesting the name associated with the telephone number is sent across a network. The method receives a response to the inquiry and checks to ensure that a name was returned to the local database before delivering the name to the called party.

Abstract: A monitoring tool for use with one or more automatic call distributors (ACD) which automatically and continuously polls or queries the ACDs to monitor not only alarm conditions but other conditions, such as agent staffing levels, call answering time, call routing and traffic conditions. Such continuous and automatic monitoring and querying of the ACD in accordance with the present invention is thus able to improve the overall efficiency of such ACDs by improving the service response time of such ACDs. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the status records of the ACDs may be directed to a website, for example, on an enterprise Intranet website to enable any of the company representatives with access rights to access the performance of the ACD network from any location. Other data, such as the trunk inventory record keeping system (TIRKS) may also be displayed on the website to facilitate troubleshooting of alarm conditions.

Abstract: A method is provided for synchronizing disparate customized address books which each include contact information including an email address for a customer. The method includes storing identification information for each communications partner. Each communications partner is associated with a different disparate customized address book. The identification information is used to update the disparate customized address books when the contact information of the customer is changed to changed contact information. The method also includes determining when the contact information of the customer changes to changed contact information. The method further includes updating each of the disparate customized address books to include the changed contact information when the contact information of the customer is changed to the changed contact information.

Abstract: A personal Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system includes a plurality of IVR servers communicating personal IVR service node information in a network and a plurality of personal IVR service node clients coupled to the plurality of IVR servers communicating the personal IVR service node information. The plurality of personal IVR service node clients have a client-server relationship with the plurality of IVR servers. The personal IVR system further includes facilities for managing transmission of the personal IVR service node information using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

Abstract: A multi-modal address book for a customer associated with at least one account in an electronic communications environment is provided. The multi-modal address book is associated with a customized profile of the customer and has multiple entries. Each entry of the multi-modal address book is associated with a communications partner and includes at least one address. Information of a centrally stored copy of the address book is automatically synchronized with a copy of the address book provided at a remote communications device when information of an entry is altered at either the centrally stored address book or the copy of the address book. An indicator can be stored in association with at least one of the entries of the address book. The indicator indicates that an address book of a communications partner corresponding to an entry is to be automatically updated when the profile of the customer is altered. The updating occurs without regard to the modality used to communicate with the stored address.

Abstract: An efficient and effective method and system for providing to a customer an audible call notification of a current call and a subsequently received call waiting call. The present embodiments notify the customer that a current call is waiting in an effective manner that reduces confusion. Confusion is reduced by the combination of audible call waiting indicators and audible caller identification information associated with the calling telephone station. Additionally, both the indicator and the representation of the information can be provided automatically without significant delay. The indication is provided even when standard caller identification information is not available by prompting the caller to provide spoken caller identification information. The spoken caller identification information is provided to the called party along with call disposition options, such as options to accept or reject the call, route the call to voice mail or send a sales refusal message.

Abstract: A call forwarding service is accessible through a common service management system using a graphical user interface (GUI) via the Internet and an interactive voice response system via the public switched telephone network. Using the GUI, the subscriber builds and edits service data, including a screening list and weekly schedule. The GUI displays a forward-to number field and multiple activation fields. The call forwarding service is activated in response to an ON indication of a first activation field, implementing call forwarding functionality to forward calls to the forward-to number; the screening list is activated in response to an ON indication of a second activation field, forwarding only calls from the listed telephone numbers to the forward-to number; and the weekly schedule is activated in response to an ON indication of a third activation field, enabling the call forwarding functionality only during the listed time periods.

Abstract: A call schedule is received that includes a plurality of sample calls to be made by an automated calling station. The plurality of sample calls are automatically placed on the network using the automated calling station. At least one final billing record corresponding to the at least one completed sample call is received. The call data is processed to determine billed cost data. The billed cost data is compared to the previous cost data and a change in the rate plan is detected based on the comparison of the billed cost data to the previous cost data.

Abstract: A system and method for extending a user's communications services to an airplane seat telephone terminal proximate the user while the user is aboard an airplane is provided. The system includes a Subscriber Interface (SI) for providing a Subscriber Identity Record (SIR) including the user's flight data and a Universal Communications Address (UCA), and a Subscriber Location Register (SLR) adapted to receive the subscriber identity record from the subscriber interface and communicate with a home location register associated with the user to provide a subscriber location in response to a telephone call placed to the user's Universal Communications Address. The Universal Communications Address can be a Mobile Station ISDN number associated with a wireless user terminal or an ISDN/PSTN number associated with a wireline telephone of said user.

Abstract: A method of providing 911 service to a private branch exchange, includes grouping a plurality of private telephone numbers into a set. An outgoing telephone line for a 911 call is assigned to the set. A location information for the outgoing telephone line is input into a location database.

Abstract: An improved videoconferencing system and method are provided for connecting a host to a plurality of participants. Unlike other videoconferencing methods and systems, the videoconferencing system and method of these preferred embodiments allow each of the parties of a videoconference to benefit from the interaction between the host and the selected participant without limiting the number of participants that can join the videoconference. The host and participants can interact with the videoconferencing system by issuing voice commands or DTMF signals to a voice response unit or by using a computer to access the videoconferencing system directly or indirectly though a network such as the World Wide Web.

Abstract: Abstract of the Disclosure A structured document browser includes a constant user interface for displaying and viewing sections of a document that is organized according to a pre-defined structure. The structured document browser displays documents that have been marked with embedded codes that specify the structure of the document. The tags are mapped to correspond to a set of icons. When the icon is selected while browsing a document, the browser will display the section of the structure corresponding to the icon selected, while preserving the constant user interface.

Abstract: A subscriber implements and accesses telecommunications services, using a graphical user interface (GUI) via the Internet, and an interactive voice response (IVR) system via the public switched telecommunications network (PSTN). The subscriber can create preferences for calls placed to operator assistance.

Abstract: A method for measuring network performance parity includes the steps of computing a call completion ratio for at least one network provider, and determining whether the call completion ratio passes a first test. These steps may further include computing a first call completion ratio for a first network provider, a second call completion ratio for a second network provider, a difference between the first call completion ratio and the second call completion ratio, and a variance for the difference. The method also includes the step of assessing whether a second test is determinate if the call completion ratio does not pass the first test, by determining whether the variance is greater than a variance cutoff. In addition, the method includes the step of assessing whether a call completion ratio passes the second test, if the second test is determinate, by determining whether the difference is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A call forwarding service forwards calls placed to a subscriber's number to a forward-to number. Enabling an interface with the call forwarding service includes transmitting display data from a call forwarding service server through a packet switched data network to the subscriber's graphical user interface. At least a portion of the display data is displayed on a first screen of the graphical user interface, which includes a forward-to number field and at least one of multiple activation fields. The activation fields include a first activation indicator corresponding to the call forwarding service, a second activation indicator corresponding to the screening list and a third activation indicator corresponding to the schedule. Selection data is entered by the subscriber in response to the first screen, the selection data indicating one of an ON condition and an OFF condition corresponding to the at least one of the activation fields.

Abstract: A telephone apparatus comprises a first audio input device, a second audio input device, a first audio output device, and a second audio output device. The telephone apparatus is operative to couple the first audio input device and the first audio output device to a first telephone line. In response to a first signal, the coupling between the first audio input device and the first telephone line is modified, and the second audio input device and the second audio output device are coupled to a second telephone line.

Abstract: A method and system enable the automatic generation of a call processing control record. A user creates a schedule entry comprising a plurality of data entries on an electronic scheduler. The data entries are transmitted from the electronic scheduler to a call processing control record generator. The data entries are compared with stored data. In response to the data entries, the call processing control record generator generates a call processing control record which can be stored in a call processing control record database. The call processing control record can be used to forward calls or transmit an announcement to the calling party.

Abstract: A subscriber implements and accesses telecommunications services, using a graphical user interface (GUI) via the Internet, and an interactive voice response (IVR) system via the public switched telecommunications network (PSTN). The subscriber can create preferences for calls placed to operator assistance.

Abstract: An outage reporting method and system are disclosed for a telecommunications system. The outage reporting system includes a processor to record a data element value. The data element value indicates a type of outage that occurred in the telecommunications system, such as an administrative or network outage. The data element value can be sent to a network management system for use by the telecommunications provider, for example, to determine whether or not the telecommunications user should receive a refund.