Abstract: A system integrates a hearing aid with devices such as wireless telephones, advantageously avoiding radio frequency (RF) interference. In one embodiment, a processor transforms an electrical signal to compensate for a hearing impairment. The function used for signal transformation can be accessed via a processor memory enhancement such as a smart card. A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) converts the transformed signal to an analog signal, which then goes to an amplifier and speaker. In other embodiments, an analog amplifier transforms the electrical signal.

Abstract: A jitter buffer controller allows the depth of the jitter buffer to be adjusted dynamically according to the varying jitter of the current sequence. The contents of the jitter buffer are examined during a transmission. If the delay or average delay within the buffer drops to a predetermined threshold, then the size or depth of the jitter buffer is increased.

Abstract: A system and method for filtering a jittered clock is disclosed. The filter of the present invention may check if a reference clock is received at a point in time within a pre-defined window of time. If the clock is received at a point in time within the window, the reference clock may be utilized as a reference for a system application such as a reference for a phase-locked loop. If the reference clock is not received at a point in time within the window, an interpolated clock representing an ideal received clock may be utilized. This may minimize the disturbance of system applications by blocking extreme deviations of the reference clock.

Abstract: Systems for dialing an emergency telephone number from a teleworking client according to the invention include apparatus that implement the steps of detecting at a teleworking client when an emergency number is dialed, disconnecting the teleworking client from the PBX/MLTS, connecting the teleworking client to the PSTN, and dialing an associated stored number. Though the invention is described with reference to a teleworking client, it may also be applied to any other dialup network connection.

Abstract: An IP Telephony Emergency Connections (ITEC) system and method that determines the precise origin of an emergency call and routes the call to the proper Public Service Answering Point (PSAP). A source-based routing mechanism is provided in an IP telephony type network, such as a VoIP or IP over LAN/ATM. Emergency calls are routed to the correct PSAP jurisdiction. Each server/switch may include the mechanism such that the IP Telephony network can identify an E911 connection and egress to a public network at a point closest to the emergency call point of origin. Whenever an emergency number call is made, the call's origin is determined during call setup establishment. Every port or end user jack in the network is assigned a Source Group Index (SGI), which is a number or index representing each PSAP jurisdiction in the network. All ports/jacks within the same PSAP jurisdiction are assigned the same SGI. Users may be in different areas of multiple PSAP jurisdictions.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a network (101); a plurality of endpoints (102a, 102b) operably coupled to the network; a gatekeeper and a database engine, typically located in a gatekeeper server (108), for downloading database information such as a corporate directory, to the endpoints. The gatekeeper server and the endpoints further include load monitors (2002) for monitoring device performance. If the load is higher than a threshold, the gatekeeper will not provide a requested database information. The endpoint then requests the information from another endpoint.

Abstract: In an isochronous telecommunications system sending packets over two routes in a network, a server of the network compares overall transmission delay between the routes. If the new route is faster, a server buffers cells on the new route until the last cell on the old route is delivered. Then the first cell from the new route is delivered at the old delay and subsequent new route cells are delivered with the same delay. If the old route is faster, a server identifies the type of transmission; if it is voice, a signal is inserted to alert the receiver of delay, and if the transmission is video, the system resends the last frame from the old route until frames from the new route arrive.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a user to create a temporary e-mail address to which the user's mail can be addressed. The mail is then forwarded to the user's permanent e-mail address. The forwarding can be customized. In one embodiment, the temporary address expires after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed. In an alternative, after time-out, the forwarding expires.

Abstract: A telecommunications system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an instant messaging (IM) server (106) and a VoIP server (110); and a plurality of system clients (112, 118, 120, 122, 124) having both VoIP and IM sub-clients. The system clients can log on to their respective servers in parallel. The IM server and the VoIP server can communicate lists of common participants and allow for IM conferences among at least subsets of the system clients while an audio or video teleconference is ongoing.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for processing of an instant message. According to embodiments of the present invention, a sender or originator of an instant message may be sent a notification regarding one or more actions involving the instant message after the instant message is received by or at a device. One or more of the actions may take place after the instant message remains unread or unopened on the device for a given period of time. In addition, in some embodiments, the instant message may be saved, forwarded, returned to the sender, etc. after receipt of the instant message by or at the device according to one or more rules established by the sender and/or the receiver of the instant message.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for shifting focus between multiple devices. In some embodiments, a method in accordance with the present invention may include determining a rule regarding when focus shifts from a first device, or an application operating on the first device, to a second device, or an application operating on the second device, and changing focus from the first device to the second device or their respective applications in accordance with the rule. The rule may be based on position or movement of a cursor on a display associated with the first device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code that facilitate or allow use of instant messages as notifications. In some embodiments, a notification is created by an application to be sent or included in an instant message sent to a user. In other embodiments, middleware or other software may intercept or detect a notification (e.g., dialogue boxes, pop-up windows) generated or initiated by an application and create and send an instant message to a user based on the notification.

Abstract: A network node and a method of dynamically reconfiguring routes of established connections in a communications system operate to provide the optimal path for a new connection based on a priority status of the new connection. The optimal path is provided even when a communication link on the optimal path does not have a sufficient amount of available bandwidth to accommodate the new connection. The network node operates in conjunction with other network nodes in the system to reroute one or more established connections that have reserved bandwidth on a communication link on the optimal route and have a lower priority status than the new connection, thereby increasing the available bandwidth on the communication link to accommodate the new connection. The network node also performs conventional functions of a router. The network node and the method can be implemented in any communications system where information is transmitted in packets, blocks, frames or cells.

Abstract: A method and device are configured to generate alerts that are varied based upon whether an incoming communication is perceived to be mode (i.e., a non-urgency mode), with different tactile-based patterns being dependent upon the selection of the mode. That is, the patterns of the alerts for providing notification of urgent communications are distinguishable from the patterns of alerts for providing notification of non-urgent communications. In the preferred embodiment, the communications device allows a user to assign particular vibrational patterns to specific sources of incoming communications, so that the vibration pattern identifies the urgency pattern and the original source of the communication. In the pager application, the pager may be configured by a user to uniquely associate a particular callback number with a first alert that is used when the pager is in the urgency mode and a second alert that is used when the pager is in the normal mode.

Abstract: Given a parallel bus of data bits, a clock bit, a bid/busy bit, and an ack bit, and given a plurality of port devices coupled to the bus, a clock signal is used to synchronize messages on the bus and to divide the time domain into timeslots. 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. Ports bid for access to the bus by asserting their data line and the bid/busy line whenever the bid/busy line is not asserted by another. After seizing the bus, a source port keeps the bid/busy line asserted until it is done transmitting. When two or more ports bid for bus access at the same time, access is given to the port with the highest priority. Priority may be associated with the bit number.

Abstract: A system and method for accessing complex computer based systems initiates a trace and debug session via IP causing the resulting output to be stored in a designated remote server on the Internet which can accept large amounts of information. The trace and debug information subsequently can be accessed from any engineering workstation or personal computer from any other location via the Internet. The invention permits the trace sessions to run independent of any local access and permits several technical people in different locations to access the remote storage server simultaneously or independently.

Abstract: A system (10) and method for accessing software applications residing on a telecommunications switch (12) is provided. The system (10) includes a communication server (14) that acts as a gateway between the switch (12) and remote clients (22, 26, 32). The client-server architecture of the system (10) permits concurrent connectivity and off-loads much of the processing demand from the switch (12) to the server (14) and/or clients (22, 26, 32). In addition, the communication server (14) can include a HTTP server (52) that allows a remote client to access switch applications using a conventional web browser.

Abstract: A message processing system allows a user to create messages for delivery to a number of recipients. In addition, the user can create one or more comments or special instructions in the message that are to be delivered to fewer than all of the recipients of the common message. The comments are encrypted such that they cannot be accessed by all recipients of the message but only selected recipients of the message. The message processing system may decrypt the comments and include them along with the common portion of the message prior to delivery to those recipients that are to receive the comments. Alternatively, a recipient of a common portion of a message selects an icon or other prompt indicating that a comment is attached to the message. The recipient is asked to enter a password or other security code that causes the messaging system to determine whether the recipient is to receive a comment and if so, to decrypt the attached comment.

Abstract: Methods for accurate transmission of ELIN/callback number from an emergency caller calling from behind a PBX/MLTS include prioritizing the emergency call, assigning a port equipment number to each device/trunk of the PBX/MLTS and associating ports/devices with ELINs and callback numbers. The apparatus of the invention detects an emergency number, assigns the call priority, and uses the port/device number to determine the ELIN/callback number and properly transmit the ELIN/callback number.

Abstract: A distributed communication system that is capable of providing emergency call diversion during an event such as a power outage, network or sub-network failure, site closure, or the like, allows devices within the system affected by the event to rapidly inform one another that it is necessary to enter a call diversion state or mode during the duration of the outage. In this manner, calls may be diverted from different points within the network, or with different diversion behaviors as necessary.