Abstract: A cable sealing device (10) includes a member (14) includes an elastomeric material and adapted to be fitted into a cable receiving aperture. The member includes a first wall (16) and a second wall (18) spaced apart from the first wall to partially define a cavity (20) between the walls. Each wall includes a cable receiving slot (e.g., 22, 24) formed in the wall. Each wall is deformable away from the respective slot to accommodate a respective cable portion (e.g., 26, 28) extended through the slot so that the wall is biased around the cable portion to minimize any opening around the cable portion passing through the slot. The slots in the respective walls cooperate to provide a redundant seal around a cable portion (30) passing through the member.

Abstract: Response time estimation is provided to forecast the response times of a telecommunications device, particularly, a media gateway (206a . . . n). A soft switch (216) switches communication data in a telecommunications network. A call feature server (202) performs call control functions. At least one media gateway (206a) for providing access to telecommunications transmission facilities. A packet manager (204) coupled to both the call feature server (216) and the media gateway (206a) implements message protocol conversion and call flow setup. The packet manager (204) includes a response time estimation module (208) for preventing traffic overload of the media gateway (206a) by the call feature server (202). Message retransmission times for the soft switch (216) are processed by the response time estimation module (208) based on empirical response times from the media gateway (206a) according to a exponential smoothing function.

Abstract: By selecting access points specific to the various components of call-content of a call, a monitoring agency is ensured of obtaining the call-content of each participant in telephone call irrespective of call transfers and network reconfiguration. Devices in the telecommunications system such as network devices can provide appropriate access. Examples of suitable network devices may include gateway, an access gateways, trunk gateways, portals, ATM switches, routers, and border elements.

Abstract: In a communication system, a buffer is provided at or between a transmitting device and a receiving device. When the transmitting device is unable to send a stream of media packets or the receiving device is unable to render the stream of media packets, the buffer stores the media packets, and the size of the buffer is reduced when the transmitting device is able to send the stream of media packets and/or the receiving device is able to render the stream of packets.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for automatically determining a call service request in a first communications device and for signalling the call service request determination to a second communications device. The second communications device can apply the service to the call based on the type of call service request. The methods and apparatus of the invention utilize predefined call criterion to make a determination of the call service request. The call criterion may, for example, be selected from called number, calling number, time of day, day of week, and date. An exemplary protocol and message encoding are disclosed.

Abstract: A data processing system comprises an audio processing means receiving data within said data processing system for converting the data into an analog signal with a first and a second analog channel components; an audio output means receiving the analog signal and providing a first and second output signal wherein the first output signal is provided for a loudspeaker and the output second signal is provided for a headset. The control of the audio processing means by a control signal providing an audio signal on the first or on the second channel or on both.

Abstract: A Network Auto-Discovery service is provided. In operation, an administrator inputs a set of IP (Internet Protocol) address ranges inside which the distributed system exists. The Auto-Discovery Unit (104) steps through the IP addresses in the ranges testing each one to determine if there is a machine at that IP address. If a machine is found at that address, an exploration process is begun. First, attempts are made to contact a Responder (112) on the machine. If one exists, the Responder (112) accepts the configuration information provided to it. Then the Responder (112) returns a set of objects that describe the hardware and software components of that machine. The returned information contains a list of management applications associated with system components. The Auto-Discovery Unit (104) then stores this information. The location and exploration process is repeated at scheduled intervals indefinitely.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for allowing an authorized party to join a conference are provided. In some embodiments, an application may create or generate a request for an MCU to handle an ad-hoc or meet-me type conference. The application may provide the request to an MCU resource controller or other device. The MCU resource controller may have knowledge of the capabilities of one or more MCUs and be able to assign an MCU to host or otherwise handle the conference. In addition, the MCU resource controller may create or generate a resource address that a participant in the conference may use to access the assigned MCU. The MCU resource controller can provide the resource address to the application, which may then distribute the resource address to one or more parties participating in the conference. The resource address may include or have associated data that the assigned MCU can use to validate or authorize a party to join the conference.

Abstract: Memory segment overwrites are detected by providing a redundant header at the end of a segment and comparing a redundant header to an initial header. In specific embodiments, overwrites may be detected both after segment writes and prior to buffer reads. In further embodiments, some header overwrite errors may be corrected to increase the mean time between failure of a logic system.

Abstract: Many portable computing devices include data based applications such as schedules, contact managers, and the like, which can be synchronized with another computing device, such as a desktop computer, whereby the data on both synchronized devices are conformed. The present invention discloses a method and apparatus that allows such data to be selectively synchronized, wherein the user can specify, on a record-by-record basis, which other databases receive or synchronize with each record. The present invention allows multiple users to synchronize portable computers with the same desktop (or other) computer without necessarily sharing all of their synchronizable data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus used in systems for communicating data (e.g., voice, video and alphanumeric data), including but not limited to telecommunications systems, computer systems, to efficiently utilize bandwidth by performing bit sensitive peer addressing. Apparatus (and related methods) for performing bit sensitive peer addressing include a parallel bus of data bits, a clock bit, a bid/busy bit, and an ack bit. The invention further includes a plurality of port devices coupled to the bus. Each port device includes bus interface circuitry, port control circuitry, and line interface circuitry. The clock signal is used to synchronize messages on the bus and to divide the time domain into timeslots (one timeslot being the reciprocal of the clock frequency). According to the invention, no frame reference is used and traffic on the bus is controlled using a protocol. Each port has an address which is one of the data bits of the bus.

Abstract: A simple means is provided to test the cross connect wiring of a communications system which uses a POTS splitter to separate broadband and narrow band signals. A suitable frequency test signal such as 1 KHz tone is fed at sufficient amplitude to the broadband port of the POTS splitter, so that even after attenuation by both the POTS splitter capacitance and inductance filters, it is detectable by suitably sensitive detectors connected to the narrow band port of the POTS splitter. The test signal may be applied intermittently to enable its detection even in low signal to noise situations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling call handling in a communications network. The methods and apparatus include special processing and network signalling (between network communications devices) which enable a caller to complete a critical transaction, without interruption. An exemplary protocol and message encoding are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the ability of an ACD server to pull back a call from an IVR server and for allowing an ACD caller to complete a critical transaction while connected to an IVR include special processing and network signaling which enable the ACD to set a pull back status flag and grant permission to the IVR to request a change in the pull back status flag. An exemplary protocol and message encoding are disclosed.

Abstract: A conference call arrangement, conferencing device, conference unit and a method of managing conference calls. The conferencing device may be a speakerphone with a speak up indicator. Whenever a conference call attendee does not speak loudly enough for remote participants, the conference unit sends a speak up indication to a corresponding conferencing device.

Abstract: A system and method for a gatekeeper (108) to multicast commands to all gateways (106) in the system. The gateways (106) listen for one of their peer gateways (106) to accept. If one accepts, then the other gateways ignore the pending call request. The gatekeeper (108) making the request can specify an order in which the gateways (106) are to respond to its request. The order may be based on a variety of factors, such as number of calls presently being handled by a particular gateway (106) or cost of calls. Further, the gateways (106) may be provided with timers to process a call request in the requested order if a gateway (106) earlier in the queue fails to respond.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a conferencing server (104, 106), a recording server (114) operably coupled to the conferencing server; and one or more telecommunications clients (110). The telecommunications clients (110) can use the conferencing server to supervise conversations between two or more of the parties. The recording server (114) is used to record conversations among the parties and store them as one or more digital files. The telecommunications clients (110) may further be provided with user interfaces (112) that allow control of the recording server (114) for real-time playback during a conversation. The user interface allows the user to control backup; normal speed forward; fast forward; back to beginning; and go to end (i.e., back to real-time output for the call).

Abstract: A wireless communications device, network and method of wireless communications. The wireless device (e.g., a cell phone) allows users to respond to calls silently by selecting prompts. Each prompt is replaced with a recorded vocal response. The caller hears the recorded response.

Abstract: A TAPI database system and method according to the present invention. According to one implementation, an object-oriented TAPI database (200) is provided which supports code re-use when using in other TAPI service providers. The database (200) models all the major objects in TAPI telephony—static line, static phone, static addresses, open lines, open phones, open addresses, calls and request Ids.