Abstract: A system and method is presented for providing a ringback tone at the initiating end of a call while substantially reducing bandwidth usage. The initiating end initiates a call through a network. The receiving end of the call responds by transmitting an alerting message containing information on the characterization of a ringback tone to the initiating end of the call. At the initiating end of the call, the proper ringback tone is determined based on this information, and a ringback tone is generated. When the call is picked up at the receiving end, a transmission to the initiating end alerts the initiating end to cease the ringback tone. Silence suppression may be used at the receiving end to prevent the transmission of an audio stream before the terminal (e.g., a phone) is picked at the receiving end.

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: 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: 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: A digital arrangement for selecting a channel coefficient and DC estimate comprises a demultiplexer receiving a digital input signal splitting the digital input signal into a first and second signal, a first joint detection unit receiving the first signal generating a first channel coefficient and DC estimate, a second joint detection unit receiving the second signal generating a second channel coefficient and DC estimate, a first and second error determination unit receiving the first and second channel coefficients and DC estimates, respectively for generating a first and second error signal, a decision unit receiving the first and second error signal generating a control signal, and a selection unit controlled by the control signal for selecting the first or second channel coefficient and DC estimate.

Abstract: A digital signal detector arrangement comprises at least two selectable baseband filters for receiving a digital signal, a signal estimator receiving the output signal of the selected baseband filter, a modulator unit receiving the estimated signal from the signal estimator, a subtractor for subtracting the modulated signal from the received digital signal, and a determination unit receiving the signal from the subtractor for selecting the baseband filter.

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 having both VolP and IM sub-clients. The system clients can log on to their respective servers in parallel. The IM server (106) and the VoIP server (110) 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 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: 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 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: 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 radio frequency shield enclosure (100) is mounted on a printed circuit board and is adapted to allow optical checking of the components enclosed by the shield enclosure (100). A cover (402) is removably attached to a frame (102) on the printed circuit board for access to the printed circuit board components therein. Material and spring forces are selected to minimize the forces on the printed circuit board when attaching or removing the shield enclosure cover (402). Any openings or gaps in the radio frequency shield enclosure cover (402) are small enough to prevent radio frequency energy at the highest anticipated frequency from being radiated outside of the radio frequency shield enclosure (100).

Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for improving voice quality of cordless communications. The system comprises at least one mobile unit having circuitry for maintaining an individual communication link with a base station. The system also has logic residing in the base station for selecting a frequency to maintain the communication link, monitoring parameters relating to the quality of the frequency, and performing data correction on the frequency in response to the monitored quality of the frequency.

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.