Abstract: Methods for enabling a non-DID station of a PBX or MLTS to receive a PSAP call back include assigning a special DID number for use by non-DID stations behind the PBX/MLTS, detecting when a non-DID station dials an emergency number, storing the station number of the non-DID station which dialed the emergency number, setting an emergency flag and a countdown timer, forwarding the special DID to the PSAP, detecting a call to the DID, routing the call to the DID to the stored station number so long as the timer has not expired, and dropping the emergency flag when the timer expires. An apparatus according to the invention includes a PBX switch coupled to a number of local stations, at least some of which are non-DID stations. The PBX preferably includes a processor, software, and storage registers. The PBX software is modified to carry out the methods described above.

Abstract: Techniques for software configurable sidetone are provided. A user can select one or more characteristics of the sidetone and the sidetone signal will be generated according to an input signal and the user selected characteristic or characteristics. A bipartite calculation can be utilized to generate the sidetone such that the sidetone increases by a decreased percentage of the input signal above a threshold. Additionally, characteristics of multiple configurations can be stored in a configuration database for use with each configuration.

Abstract: A Carrier Identification Code (CIC) aware private communications network. International calls are placed with a CIC from a station at an originating server and routed over a private network to a connected public network gateway switch located in another country for a far-end hop-off. The public network gateway switch includes a CIC cross reference table with corresponding local CICs. The public network gateway switch replaces the original CIC with a corresponding local CIC from the cross reference table. Then, the call egresses from the public network gateway switch to a corresponding selected carrier network and connects to the called party on the public communications network.

Abstract: A gateway (106) to an H.323 network configured to monitor and intercept in-band signaling from external networks. The gateway (106) further provides to the H.323 terminal (102) out-of-band signaling indicative of the nature of the in-band signaling received from the external network. If the signaling changes, the gateway (106) provides this information to the H.323 terminal (102). The gateway (106) thus prevents the need to cut through audio channels for ringback tones or busy signals.

Abstract: A communications network with user presence availability and a capability of locating call forwarded users or other users. Network stations display selection of do-not-disturb (DND) at other stations, e.g., by fluttering corresponding line keys. Network stations also may selectively display call forward locations, numbers for call forwarded stations or other designated user locations that may not normally be related to call forwarding.

Abstract: A virtual private communications network (VPCN) and method of managing calls on the network. Stations on a private communications network are identified by an unique private network identification (ID) code or dial in direct (DID) number. Remote communications devices (e.g., cell phones, analog phones, etc.) are virtual client devices connected from a public communications network to the private communications network. One or more DID numbers are shared DID numbers, dedicated for the virtual client devices. Calls from the virtual client devices may be placed to network stations by dialing shorthand (e.g., 5 or fewer digits) numbers. Each call has a dedicated DID number temporarily assigned to it for placing the call as an in network call. Once the call reaches its final destination, the shared DID number is released for temporary assignment to other virtual client device calls.

Abstract: A communications network with callback completion to public network stations. An enterprise private network (EPN) includes a communications server, e.g., a private branch exchange (PBX) managing communications with communications devices located at EPN stations and is connected to a public communications network. A call completion (CC) server connected through a Parlay Gateway to the public communications network manages callback requests from connected communications devices to public communications network stations. Call completion to busy subscriber (CCBS) and call completion on no reply (CCNR) services are thus made available from the EPN to the public network or networks including a mixture of public and private telephones.

Abstract: Migration of a circuit-based-switch to a packet-based-soft-switch in a SS7 telecommunications network is accomplished with no disruption to subscriber service and retains and reuses the assigned signaling point code (SPC) of the existing circuit-based-switch. The system and method inserts a new soft-switch between an SS7 signaling transfer point (STP) and the existing circuit-based-switch in a way where traffic is split incrementally off the circuit-based-switch to the soft-switch so that no administrative changes are required at either the STP or the existing circuit-based-switch. The soft-switch is gradually cutover to act as a proxy STP and tandem switch for the existing circuit-based-switch and routes all calls to and from the network on behalf of the existing switch. The system makes use of multiple internal networks of the soft-switch to accomplish the controlled routing of bi-directional traffic.

Abstract: A telecommunications system provides “feature forwarding” between a fixed telephone unit (such as a desktop wired telephone) and a portable telephone unit (such as a cellular telephone) that are assigned to the same prime telephone number. Thus, only one of the two phones in the telephone pair is accessible (e.g., is forwarded ring signals) at any one time. In one embodiment, the system monitors changes in state regarding whether or not the wireless telephone is in a power recharging state. When the wireless telephone is connected to a power recharger, the wired telephone is designated as the current exclusive telephone to which service features are to be applied. On the other hand, when the wireless telephone is removed from the power recharging state, the common user information necessary for seamlessly implementing common features is reallocated to providing service to the wireless telephone.

Abstract: A method and system for supporting a real-time communication on an integrated packet-based network involve accumulating information about the communication, referred to as signature data, while the communication is being setup and/or is in progress and storing the signature data in a database that is openly accessible to any applications that are connected to the network. Once signature data regarding an active real-time communication is accumulated, portions of the signature data may be utilized to further process the active real-time communication. Providing an openly accessible communication profile that is accumulated while the communication is in progress allows applications to provide a higher level of service by tailoring actions to the profile of the specific communication.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for designing a communication system. According to embodiments of the present invention, the communication system may include a number of locations, each of which has a known or expected number of users but an unknown number of needed access points. Each access point in the communication system may be treated as an individual switch with a limited number of connections (e.g., line connections, gateway channels), even though the number of required access points per location is unknown and the number of users per access point is unknown. As part of the design or determination process, inventory information for one or more locations may be determined. The traffic to and from an access point at the location may depend on the inventory information, which can be used to determine the number of access points needed for the location.

Abstract: A multimedia telecommunications system including an integrated audio stream manager (102) in association with the digital personal video stream manager. Such an integrated audio stream manager employs a personal computer (110) to record and store audio such as compact disk tracks. The personal computer (10) can then contact one or more Internet web sites for CD indices to download a list of the tracks and provide a master list of all CDs stored. The digital personal video stream manager (102) can then be used to supervise playback of the audio files via the connected audio system.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically loading an application program associated with an e-mail application attachment file upon reception of the e-mail. Alternatively, the application program may be loaded as soon as the e-mail message itself is opened, without waiting for the user to click on the attachment icon. In either case, the application program is loaded in a minimized state such that as soon as the user clicks on the attachment icon, the attachment application file may be run without waiting for the relatively lengthy time required to load the application program. Prior to loading the application program, responsive to receiving the e-mail message, the computer (102, 114) may examine system resources to determine whether memory (208) usage is sufficient to allow for the opening of the application program.

Abstract: A telephone having a hands-free mode of operation. The telephone includes a pair of microphones spaced apart from each other. Each microphone receives sound in hands-free mode of operation and provides audio signals representative of received sounds. The audio signals from each microphone may be converted to digital audio signals. The digital audio signals are presented to a fixed delay path and a variable delay path. Audio signals from both paths are combined and filtered in an adjustable filter to remove noise based upon a prior determination of the noise source location and the voice spectrum derived from the digital audio signals.

Abstract: A system and method in an H.323 network for automatically reestablishing signaling that was interrupted due to gatekeeper failure. Primary and secondary gatekeepers (104a, 106a) establish a supervisory link (1b) with one another while the media connection is set up between client terminals (112a, 114a). The primary gatekeeper (104a) also establishes the H.225/H.245 signaling between the client terminals. If the primary gatekeeper (104a) fails, the H.225/H.245 connections go down, but the media connections will continue. The secondary gatekeeper (106a) than takes over the call and sends a message to its zone's clients that the H.225/H.245 connections need to be reestablished. Further, the secondary gatekeeper (106a) sends a message to the other zone's gatekeeper (if any) of what has occurred. The clients then reestablish the H.225/H.245 channel by using the original setup message with a new Reestablish parameter.

Abstract: A real-time communications device, a real-time communications system of networked distributed such devices and method and program product for operating such devices. The device includes a personal information manager (PIM), an instant messenger and a Messenger Assistant. The device may also include an e-mail client. The Messenger Assistant automatically provides appointment/status information from the PIM to the instant messenger, which passes status to identified buddies. The Messenger Assistant may also monitor local presence and e-mail and update status based on local presence changes and on incoming e-mail.

Abstract: A system for automated handling of call interactions includes an automated interrogation device, typically having interactive voice response (IVR) capability, with local memory for storing subset records. Each subset record corresponds to a master record that is remotely stored. The subset record contains sufficient information to allow a calling party to complete an identification process and to at least initiate an intended operation. For example, in a banking environment, the locally stored information may include customer names, account identifications, account balances, dates, and other information that is commonly requested by bank customers. In response to an incoming call, IVR queries are directed to the calling party and the appropriate subset record is accessed. Preferably, the subset record is retrieved to temporary storage, such as random access memory. Thus, there are temporarily three storages of record material specific to the calling party.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for determining a location of a device connected to a network. According to some embodiments of the present invention, a device, such as an IP enabled or compliant telephone, may receive, detect, or otherwise actively or passively determine a location identifier. The location identifier may be associated with a geographic location of the device. The device may then provide data indicative of the location identifier to another device, such as a network manager device, server, computer, etc. In some embodiments, the device may determine its geographic location after receiving a request for data indicative of its geographic location. In other embodiments, the device may provide data indicative of its geographic location each time it receives, detects or otherwise determines its geographic location.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and communication system for efficiently and economically supporting a multipoint videoconference call is described. The multimedia conference unit determines which communication unit is a dominant communication unit, with the other communication units being thus determined to be subordinate communication units. The multimedia conference unit then commands the subordinate communication units to suppress a video portion of their respective signals, such that the digital signal processing analysis by the multimedia conference unit required to support the multipoint conference is reduced and network bandwidth used is minimized.

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.