Abstract: A communications system and interface (109, 210) for interfacing a proprietary digital telephone (108, 114) to a local area network (LAN) (104). The interface may be embodied in a computer expansion card or a stand-alone unit. The interface converts signals from the proprietary digital telephone's communication protocol to the LAN's communication protocol. In a specific embodiment, the LAN communication protocol is the H.323 protocol.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for protecting call privacy across telecommunication networks allow a calling party of a first telecommunication network to control the privacy of a telephone call to a called party of a second telecommunication network. This is achieved by selecting among a group of privacy options that represent varying degrees of privacy, assigning each of the selected privacy options to the call, and enforcing the selected privacy options within the second telecommunication network, thereby eliminating the need for external enforcement. The privacy options selected for the call limit the ability of a called party to manipulate the call. For example, the privacy options may prevent the called party from forwarding the call, transferring the call, conferencing the call, and/or listening to the call via a hands-free speaker phone.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for implementing an intelligent redial system. A method for storing redial data for a connection between a user phone system and a remote phone system may include establishing a connection with the remote phone system by the user phone system. A timer is started in response to the established connection. At least one digit is dialed by a user and corresponding time data of the timer with the dialed digit is monitored. The monitored digit and corresponding time data is stored. The stored monitored digit and corresponding time data are suitable for performing a redial.

Abstract: A telecommunications device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a handset having a keypad, speaker, and microphone on a face. A memory stores an address book of phone numbers. A controller is adapted to transmit one or more of the phone numbers responsive to a voice command to a connected party. In one embodiment of the telecommunications device, the controller activates the voice command functionality responsive to a function key.

Abstract: In an enhanced 911 (E911) response system, a callback monitor including a microphone and a speaker is connected to a telephone. When a caller dials 911 from the telephone, upon the telephone going on-hook, the callback monitor is activated to allow a 911 operator who calls back to detect sounds from the location of the caller's telephone without that phone ringing or being taken off hook. The callback monitor includes a timer; when the timer expires, the monitoring ends. In alternative embodiments, the timer can be extended.

Abstract: An H.323 client terminal (102) according to an embodiment of the invention employs primary and secondary H.323 control units or state machines (110a, 110b). The primary control unit (110a) sends signaling messages to a primary gatekeeper (108a) and triggers the secondary control unit (110b) to send a message with an appropriate correlation identifier to a secondary gatekeeper (108b). The primary control unit (110a) establishes a call per standard H.323 protocols. The secondary control unit (110b) also establishes a call via a secondary gatekeeper (108b). However, no media channels are established for this back up call. As the secondary control unit (110b) receives signaling from the secondary gatekeeper (108b), it checks the status of the call with the primary control unit (110a). If the call signaling on the primary control unit (110a) is proceeding normally, no further action is taken. If the call signaling with the primary gatekeeper (108a) fails, the secondary control unit (110b) takes over communication.

Abstract: A system and method for call screening in a wireless telephone system. When a call is received on an answering machine (17) associated with a base part (11), the user at a portable part (12) may select a call screen button (19). The resulting signal is received at the base part (11), which then enters a broadcast mode. The incoming answering machine message is broadcast to all handsets (12, 14, 16). In a TDMA system, an audio message is broadcast from a base part (11) during a single time slot of a time division. The user at a particular portable part may then select a pick up button to pick up the call.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interfacing a service component written in any one of a variety of programming languages to a native operating system application program interface (API) are described. For example, in one embodiment, a generic interface between the Win32 API (application program interface) and Windows NT service components written in C, C++, and JAVA is provided. In one aspect, an interface module is configured to load a service component written in a non-native programming language. In another aspect, an interface module is configured to retrieve service component information from a configuration database.

Abstract: A broad band digital radio receiver for multicarrier signals employs a quadrature demodulator to directly shift the radiofrequency signal in a base band. A local oscillator has frequency f0 placed at the center of the radiofrequency BW band, so channel pairs, symmetric versus f0, are superimposed in the lower base half-band. Base band equivocation is then solved by numeric-type second orthogonal demodulators, which supply pairs of twice-demodulated signals that can be grouped in four equation systems in four unknown values consisting of in-phase and quadrature components of the two channels of each pair. Subsequent reconstruction networks solve the relevant systems and give the two components of each single channel for each pair. One network in the receiver measures amplitude and phase dissymmetries in the two branches of the analog demodulator and supplies four corresponding digital coefficients to the reconstruction network, which can then counterbalance at output the effects of dissymmetry.

Abstract: An elastomeric connector assembly for electrically coupling electronic components comprises a first contact member extending from a surface of a first electronic component in a generally vertical plane for providing electrical connection to the first electronic component and a second contact member extending from a surface of a second electronic component in a generally vertical plane for providing electrical connection to the second electronic component. An elastomeric connector is disposed between the first contact member and the second contact member in a generally horizontal plane. The elastomeric connector couples the first contact member and the second contact member for providing an electrical connection between the first and second electronic components.

Abstract: A web-based call center and a method for its operation include multiple agent and customer terminals connected to a web server. The agent terminals and the customer terminals include a web browser for accessing web documents from the web server and annotation plug-in software for recording and replaying static and dynamic annotations on web documents. An HTML document registration tool formats web documents prior to storage on the web server, so that the web documents are formatted for annotation. An annotation server includes a database for storing annotated documents received from agent and customer terminals. Indexing software associated with the annotation server extracts key information from annotations received from customer terminals as part of callback requests. The extracted key information is indicative of a skills set which is required by an agent in order to handle the callback request. An ACD server utilizes the key information to route callback requests to qualified call center agents.

Abstract: A multipoint control unit coordinator (MCUC). The MCUC tracks all conferences in a telecommunications system and determines how they can be best configured and modified over time. The MCUC instructs multipoint control units (MCUs) to break down and reconfigure calls, if necessary. A MCUC according to an embodiment of the invention maintains a database of all the MCUs in the system, a measure of processing coding resources, and a geographical location. When two parties seek to add a third in a conference call, the MCUC determines coding resources, geographical locations, and determines the most appropriate media stream mixing location based on preferences, such as network cost or endpoint coding resources or quality. The MCUC then instructs the MCUs to handle the conference accordingly.

Abstract: A TAPI method according to an implementation of the present invention includes installing a TAPI service provider and associating a first PID with the TAPI service provider; re-installing the TAPI service provider and associating a second PID with the TAPI service provider; and automatically associating TAPI devices that had been associated with the first PID with the second PID.

Abstract: The present method for selective web caching comprises the steps of generating a table, the table comprising a URL, a time of last access and a time stamp of a web page, the table further comprising a URL, time of last access and time stamp of elements found on the web page; when a request for a web page is made, checking the requested web page's URL and time stamp and URL and time stamp of the requested web page's corresponding elements with the URL and time stamp listed in the table to determine whether any modification has been made; and selectively downloading in a cache only those elements which are deemed to have been modified.

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 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 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.