Abstract: A modem or other telephone device (102, 502) is configured to identify (or receive notification of) the companding law used by a destination modem or telephone device. The telephone device (102, 502) can then, using stored conversion tables, predict the inverse mapping from the converted encoding law. Having done so, the telephone device (102, 502) can identify distorted portions of the decoded signal and modify the original signal before it is sent to the encoding or encoding-converter unit.

Abstract: A system for enabling voice communications outside a LAN telephone network to be accomplished by way of a wireless interface formed from a standard wireless telephone, such as a cellular telephone, and an adapter. The adapter is configured to interface a standard wireless telephone to the communication network, such that the wireless telephone may be used as the wireless trunk. In particular, a network user may originate a call intended for someone outside the network and the call will be routed to its destination over the wireless telephone network, via the wireless telephone. The network and the adapter communicate with each other using standard network signaling protocols. Likewise, communication between the adapter and the wireless telephone is performed using known cellular signaling protocols. The adapter functions as a protocol converter to translate between the network signalling and wireless telephone signalling.

Abstract: In an automated call management method and system, automated processing is used to collect customer information that enables skills-based call routing and a camp-on approach to efficiently handling calls. The customer information is preferably acquired through use of a web-compatible form that is submitted by the customer. The form includes information that identifies agent attributes that are considered advantageous to handling a particular call, includes the callback telephone number, and may include the time at which the callback should be initiated. In another embodiment, the information is acquired using interactive voice recognition techniques. After an agent queue is selected on the basis of a correlation between identified agent attributes and the skills of a particular agent or agent group, a camp-on request is generated to initiate a connection when an appropriate agent is available.

Abstract: A conferencing server (22) and methods for use with a videoconferencing system (20) for multimedia collaborative conferencing. The conferencing server (22) includes at least two data ports (69) and at least two video graphics input ports (67), each pair of data and video graphics input ports for connecting to one of at least two computers (72) belonging to a participant located in a local videoconference room. The conferencing server (22) also includes a single video graphics output port (77) for connecting to a local input port (40) of the videoconferencing system (22). The conferencing server (22) includes a control unit (50) that is selectively programmed to couple a first of the at least two video graphics input ports (67) to the video graphics output port (77) for allowing the transfer of information from the computer connected to the first of the at least two video graphics input ports to the videoconferencing system (20).

Abstract: A system for enabling music to be provided to callers placed on hold in a LAN network used for voice communications. Bandwidth consumption is minimized by ensuring that music-on-hold is provided in a manner that enables most necessary tasks to be executed by a client instead of a server. In specific embodiment, the music-on-hold system is configured to transfer a small application program or applet, having a music file and a media player, from the server to the client if necessary. Concurrently, a real time protocol (RTP) stream carrying music is used to provide music to the client from the server during the applet transfer to ensure that the held caller receives music at all times. The RTP stream is initially used to provide music to held callers.

Abstract: A method of allocating resources for implementing certain call-related features, such as call forwarding, includes enabling a centrally accessed unit (e.g., a gatekeeper) to support the features and enabling telephony devices (e.g., personal computers running ToL client software) to independently implement the features. Thus, there is redundant capability with respect to the features. A task-allocation scheme is established for adaptively assigning execution of the tasks needed to perform the features. The scheme is at least partially based upon determining processing resource availability within either or both of the centrally accessed unit and the telephony devices. When a request for a feature is detected, the execution of the requested feature is assigned to either the centrally accessed unit or the particular telephony device with which the request is associated, depending upon the current processing resource availabilities.

Abstract: A method and system provide user management of electronic message transmissions between servers and client devices, particularly transmissions of files attached to electronic messages. The method and system operate to transfer selected attached files to and from a client device. When accessing electronic messages with attached files stored at a server by a user, the attached files that satisfy a prescribed requirement are automatically downloaded from the server to the client device utilized by the user. The prescribed requirement may include maximum file size and download time, and approved list of file formats and senders. Preferably, the prescribed requirement is entered into the client device by the user. The prescribed requirement can vary depending upon the personal preference of the user. When forwarding received electronic messages with attached files, only the attached files that have been modified are uploaded from the client device to the server.

Abstract: A data communication system and method that reduces conversion distortion on data calls between locations that encode telephone signals according to different conversion standards is disclosed. The data communication system (40) includes a first switch (44) and a processor (50). The first switch (44) receives a telephone call carrying a first analog modulated data signal, and converts the first analog modulated data signal to a first digitized data signal according to a first conversion standard. Next, the processor (50) converts the first digitized data signal back to the first analog modulated data signal and then demodulates the first analog modulated data signal to recover the original data signal.

Abstract: A notification method for providing camp-on capability includes utilizing device-to-device signal exchanges via a data network. As a result, the camp-on capability may be enabled at a called communication device by means of a signal sent from a calling communication device. In the preferred embodiment, the data network is the global communications network referred to as the Internet, but this is not critical. As a response to the determination that the called communication device, such as the telephone, is in an unavailable condition, a first notification signal is transmitted from a calling communication device to the unavailable called device. The first notification signal may be an application program that is automatically executed at the called device. Alternatively, the first notification signal may be a special protocol element that triggers execution of a camp-on program stored at the called device. The first notification signal includes the network address of the calling device.

Abstract: A text enhanced voice menu system includes data storage, a voice communication path, a text communication path and switch logic. The data storage stores audio information for producing a voice menu, and stores text information for producing a text version of the voice menu. The voice communication path generates a voice menu from the audio information. The text communication path generates a text menu from the text information. The switch logic selects one of the voice menu and the text menu to be transmitted over a connection line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for multimedia messaging system collaboration. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sender sends a message to multiple recipients. A recipient wishing to make a comment or insert changes to the message submits his comments to a moderator for approval. If the moderator approves of the changes, then the changes are automatically incorporated into the message. The original message is then automatically recalled from recipients who have not yet opened the message and a revised message is automatically sent to those whose messages were recalled. Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a message is automatically sent to those recipients who have already opened the original message to indicate the change to the original message and update those recipients.

Abstract: A telecommunications system (18) is provided that includes a first controller (20) and a second controller (22) coupled using a packet-switched network (32). The controllers provide a low cost means of coupling isochronous telecommunication devices. The first controller (20) receives one or more isochronous input channels from a common control shelf (24), such as a private branch exchange (PBX), over a circuit-switched network (27). The first controller (20) encapsulates an isochronous frames from the common control shelf (27) into a data frame that is transferrable over the packet-switched network (32). The second controller (22) is configured to receive the data frame and extract the isochronous frame, which is then transmitted to a peripheral shelf (26), such as a line trunk unit (LTU), using an isochronous circuit-switched network (38). The controllers contain identical functionality, permitting bi-directional transmission of data between the common control and peripheral shelves.

Abstract: A data traffic network 200 in which excess cells, or cells whose transfer is expected to cause the user to exceed the QoS traffic contract bandwidth limit, are transferred to a destination node 300b via an alternate or secondary network 212. More particularly, traffic received at a first ATM node 300a (for example, an end user node) is or has been classified according to traffic type, such as voice, data, or video (with their corresponding characteristics). Prior to packetizing the data streams into the ATM fixed length packets, the ATM node 300a, 600a determines whether the QoS traffic contract bandwidth limit has been exceeded or is likely to be exceeded. If so, then the corresponding traffic is transmitted to the destination node 300b via an appropriate alternate network 212. For example, voice traffic is transferred to a PBX and, ultimately, to the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

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 method of introducing a feature during a communication between subscribers of a telecommunications network. The first step of the method is executing, at each predefined trigger point during the communication, an operation to activate a particular requested feature. The method then requires accessing data stored in a network memory for use in the activation operation. The data is arranged in the memory in table and bit map format so as to enable the features to be customized. The method then requires executing the particular requested feature upon activation. The method may also include repeating the method steps for each feature available to be activated at a respective trigger point in an order determined by the stored data. The method is independent of the type of requested feature.

Abstract: An interface unit for a telephone receives data from an external source, such as an ISDN switch. Some of the data from the external source can be displayed on a display of the telephone. The interface unit also receives user inputs from various keys on the telephone, including a set of dialog keys. The interface unit includes a user interface that generates menu messages for displaying and operating a set of menus on the telephone display. A user of the telephone can use the dialog keys to navigate through the menus and perform a variety of actions, including executing telephone functions and changing the configuration of the telephone. A display data selector within the interface unit receives the data from the external source and from the interface unit and selects particular data items to be displayed on the telephone display. The selection of data to be displayed is based in part on the operational state of the telephone. The telephone has an active state, a configuration state and an idle state.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selectively compressing information to be transmitted over a communications network includes an analog line monitor connected to an analog telephone and an analog data communications device. The analog line monitor is configured for detection of carrier tone signals associated with data transmissions. An analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog (AD/DA) converter is connected to the analog line monitor to convert the information contained in transmissions from the analog telephone and the analog data communications device from an analog format to a digital format. Optionally, the AD/DA circuitry is configured for demodulating data prior to transmission over the network. Compression circuitry is responsive to detection of a carrier tone signal by the analog line monitor, such that detection of a carrier tone signal suppresses compression of data transmitted by the data communications device.

Abstract: A system for connecting a mobile computing device (10) to a remotely located data collection device (20). The system includes a synchronization device (38) that couples the mobile device to a digital telephone (40). The synchronization device operates to convert the data received from the mobile computing device into a format that can be transmitted by the digital telephone. In addition, the synchronization device transmits an identifier that specifies the data collection device to which the data shall be transmitted. The identifier is preferably read by a digital PBX and used to establish a communication path between the data collection device and the mobile computing device.