Abstract: A system and a method for securing telecommunications resources include a resource requirements module which determines network resource requirements specified in call requests of telecommunications calls. In one embodiment, a resource availability monitor determines if the resource requirements exceed the available levels for at least two network resources. In another embodiment, the resource availability monitor determines if Digital Signal Processor (DSP) requirements in the call request exceed DSP availability. If the resource requirements exceed the resource availability at the time when the call request is received, a resource reservation mechanism places the call request into network resource queues for those network resources which are in short supply.

Abstract: Apparatus and systems for recording Call ID data and transmitting the Caller ID data to remote telecommunications devices on demand, to fully or partially automate the dialing process for remotely calling back a message sender.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forwarding Caller ID data on demand when retrieving messages from an answering device using an endpoint telecommunications device and an associated call control system (such as the central office of the calling phone, a PBX, ToL Gatekeeper, wireless carrier switch, etc.), to fully or partially automate the dialing process for remotely calling back a message sender. The invention permits the caller retrieving messages to quickly and easily return calls with little or no manual intervention, without having to create a trombone connection. The invention operates with calling endpoint telecommunication devices that are “intelligent” enough to receive, store and/or utilize Caller ID data forwarded from an answering device; as well as with not so intelligent telecommunications devices (such as many pay phones) that may lack the ability to receive, store and/or utilize forwarded Caller ID data.

Abstract: An improved video e-mail system includes a video input device with a video e-mail controller, and a Web Access Device processor implementing video capture, e-mail and compression selection programs. In operation, a user activates the video e-mail controller, for example, by pushing or clicking a button. The video input device sends a video stream to the Web Access Device processor which is stored until the user clicks or pushes the button again. The Web Access Device processor then activates the e-mail program, opens a “compose” window, and attaches the stored video file.

Abstract: Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) data service and Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) are provided over a subscriber loop by an ADSL transceiver and a control processor located in a local communication center, and a subscriber ADSL modem at the subscriber location. The control processor is responsive to a detection of an origination of a POTS call for generating a first control signal that causes the ADSL transceiver to load ADSL data into tone bins which are only in a frequency band above a predetermined frequency band used for a POTS call for data transmissions over the subscriber loop. The control processor is also responsive to a detection of a termination of a POTS call for generating a second control signal that causes the ADSL transceiver to load ADSL data into tone bins which are in both the predetermined frequency band used for a POTS call and the frequency band thereabove for ADSL data transmissions over the subscriber loop.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing and managing subconference calls within a main conference call includes a subconference call subsystem which responds to a subconference call request from a first terminal during the main conference call by transmitting the subconference call request to a second terminal. The subconference call subsystem monitors a connection to the second terminal to detect a signal indicating acceptance of the request. Upon detecting an acceptance, the subconference call subsystem establishes a first subconference call and a data mixer mixes first voice data from the main conference call with simultaneously transmitted second voice data generated from the first and second terminals. A data router transmits the mixed first and second voice data to the first and second terminals without transmitting the second voice data to any of the other terminals participating in the main conference call.

Abstract: In an optical regenerator for use in an optical transmission system, an optical input signal to the regenerator comprising N wavelength division multiplexed channel signals is received in a signal synchronizing arrangement which synchronizes the phase of all of the N channels, where N·2. An optical output signal from the signal synchronizing arrangement has N phase-synchronized wavelength division multiplexed channels and is provided as an optical input signal to a nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) arrangement. The NOLM has a high nonlinearity fiber loop that propagates equal parts of the optical input signal from the signal synchronizing arrangement in both a clockwise (CW) and a counterclockwise (CCW) direction. An optical clock signal from a laser having a phase that matches the phase of the CW and CCW propagating signals is multiplexed with the CW signal to provide a 180 degree phase shift between the CW and CCW propagating signals while propagating in the optical fiber loop.

Abstract: A telecommunication system includes a private branch exchange (170) that uses an automatic route selection algorithm to select a trunk on which a call is to be routed. A number of trunk groups are queried for an available trunk and once an available trunk is located, the call is placed. The automatic route selection algorithm monitors the call to determine if an error message or error tone is received. If an error message or error tone is received, a set of remaining trunk groups not previously queried are queried for an available trunk to route the call.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a call forwarding system for forwarding telephone calls to a target telephone not having a direct dial number. The call forwarding system includes an intelligent forwarding unit for storing a forwarding direct dial number and the extension number for accessing the target telephone and for connecting the received forwarded call to the target telephone, a voice response unit including a DTMF decoder for receiving the forwarded telephone call and for decoding the extension number of the target telephone. A call connecting unit directly connects the in-coming telephone call to the target telephone.

Abstract: A method of transmitting DTMF signals over a compressed computer network comprises sending a packet containing a compressed DTMF signal followed by a confirmation packet. The confirmation packet preferably comprises an uncompressed DTMF signal. To detect the DTMF signal transmitted, a telephony Internet server decompresses packets as they are received. If a packet appears to contain a compressed DTMF signal, the telephony Internet server looks for the presence of the confirmation packet before processing the previously received packet as a DTMF signal. In another embodiment, an output of a speech compressor and a DTMF signal detector are transmitted on separate virtual channels of a real time protocol data stream.

Abstract: An error reporting system in a communication system of the type that includes a PBX (10) and a monitoring system (20) that forwards internally detected errors from the PBX to a customer service center (28). A trouble ticket server (30) is coupled via a switch contact (40) to the monitoring system and is programmed to close the switch contact in an event a user reported error message is received. Upon detecting the contact closure, the monitoring system forwards an external alarm message to the customer service center. Alternatively, the trouble ticket server may be connected to the monitoring system via a serial communication link (52) that forwards a description of the user reported error to the monitoring system. The monitoring system may direct the PBX to run one or more diagnostic tests and forward the results of the tests to the customer service center along with the description of the user reported error.

Abstract: A web browser (54) downloads a JAVA applet (84) from a web server (52) that maintains an IP connection between a customer's browser program and a push server. A sales or service representative interacts with a terminal (58) to view web pages on the web server. When the representative desires the customer to receive a desired web page, the representative selects a “follow me” control on the terminal. The follow me control directs the push server to transmit an address of a web page to the applet. The applet in turn forwards the address to the web browser program to download a new web page. The present invention is used to transmit information to a web browser program that may be connected to other web sites.

Abstract: A cellular telephone (116) and a pager (118) having a common battery (256) are integrated into a single unit. The unit is maintained in a low-power receive page mode when not in use. An incoming call is processed first as a conventional pager message. The device receives the page and wakes from the low-power page mode. When the device has gone to full-power active mode, a cellular phone call is connected. A smart battery controller (254) for the unit is provided. The smart battery controller (254) monitors the power level left in the battery (256) and stops allowing telephone operations when power reaches a minimum level. For example, the level may be configurable by the user as the number of hours of paging that may be accommodated after cell phone operations are no longer permitted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting delay-sensitive data over a packet-based network involve converting the delay-sensitive data into two versions for transfer through the network with one version of the data being used to supplement the other version of the data in the event that packets are delayed or lost. In a preferred embodiment, real time voice conversation data is compressed using two different compression algorithms, where one version is more highly compressed and of a lower quality than the other. The highly compressed data is sent before corresponding packets from the less compressed data and the highly compressed packets are buffered at the receiving device to be utilized to regenerate any data segments from the less compressed packets that are lost or delayed during transmission. Sending dual versions of the same data allows the lower quality voice segment to be used as a backup in places where the high quality voice segments are lost.

Abstract: A communication system for transmitting address changes. A communication system includes a source communication system and one or more destination communication systems, each of which is identified by a unique number or address. A memory in the source communication system maintains a record of each destination communication system that communicates with it. If the number or address of the source communication is changed, the source communication system generates a new number or address message which is transmitted to each of the destination communication systems. The destination communication systems receive the new number or address message and update a memory to reflect the new number or address of the source communication system. Those destination systems that are able to read the new number or address message and update a record of the number or address for the source communication system generate an acknowledge signal which is transmitted to the source communication system.

Abstract: Endpoints, such as clients and gateways, maintain local codec priority lists (500), receive remote codes priority lists (504), and maintain common communication attribute priority lists (502). When opening a transmittal channel, a local endpoint determines the highest priority codec on its local priority list (500) that is also on the remote priority list (504). The local endpoint also determines the highest priority codec on the remote priority list (504) that is also on the local priority list (500). If the codes types match, then the transmitting channel is opened with that codec. If there is no match, then the common communication attribute priority list (502) is used, and the local or remote codec that has a corresponding highest or lowest desired attribute is used for the communication.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive packet-length IP telephony includes a first IP telephony communication device located on a data network and enabled to establish an IP telephony connection to a second IP telephony communication device. Optionally, the first communication device is enabled to access network topology information from a server regarding a network segment connecting the first and second communication devices. If the network topology reflects the presence of a low efficiency router on the network segment, the first communication device enters a fixed packet-length operational mode. If the network topology indicates an absence of a low efficiency network router on the segment, the first communication device enters an adaptive packet-length operational mode.

Abstract: An improved prompting system for accessing specified functions. According to one embodiment, a particular user may identify himself to the system and thereafter preprogram one or more paths that lead directly to a desired function within the hierarchical menu prompting system. The next time the user needs to access the system the user can navigate directly to the desired function by pressing a predetermined key or sequence of keys on his or her Touch-Tone dial. Alternatively, the prompting system may present as an option a direct path to the desired function.

Abstract: A method and system for automated silent call monitoring in an automatic call distributor (ACD) environment includes configuring a set of call performance profiles which include voice data patterns which are descriptive of voice data transmissions during an ACD call and which are associated with substandard agent performance. Each voice data pattern has a corresponding threshold which represents the maximum number of detections tolerated in an ACD call prior to execution of a notification routine. A digital signal processor (DSP) monitors a first call between an agent terminal and a customer terminal for the voice data patterns and stores detection data in memory upon detecting of one of the voice data patterns. A central processor unit (CPU) compares the number of detections of the voice patterns within predetermined time intervals to the threshold numbers of detections represented in the thresholds to determine if any threshold has been exceeded.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for enabling supplementary service functions, such as directed call pickup, to be implemented in a communications network having more than one server. The multi-server call pickup system is adapted to enable a user to pick up another user's call from a selected destination anywhere within the network, including outside the local server in a multi-server network. The directed call pickup system includes a pickup request unit that is used for initiating the call pickup feature from a specified location in the network. A remote determination unit and a local determination unit to determine whether to establish local or remote connections to a call pickup user may also be provided. A call establishing unit with a negotiation process for connection establishment is provided to establish a connection between the call and the call pickup user. A notification unit may be provided to notify the system of the completed connection.