Abstract: A method and system for providing integrated wireline/wireless voice messaging for a subscriber having a wireline telephone and a wireless handset utilizes a wireline switch supporting the wireline telephone and a wireless switch, in communication with the wireline switch, supporting the wireless handset. A voice message unit is coupled to the wireline switch and the wireless switch for receiving a voice message from a calling party for one of the wireline telephone and the wireless handset associated with the subscriber. The voice message unit then forwards the voice message to an integrated mailbox for storage therein and transmits a notification message upon receipt of the voice message to provide indication to the subscriber at both the wireline telephone and wireless handset of the stored voice message.

Abstract: The present invention provides a telephone network apparatus for performing speech recognition services in a telephone system in substantially real time. The apparatus uses a telephone channel signal to determine the echo delay of a telephone channel and then uses this delay to configure an echo cancellation filter for use in performing speech recognition. Use of echo delay in configuring the filter allows the echo cancellation function to be done using much less computational time than would be needed without its use, thereby granting a speech recognition unit greater access to a resident microprocessor to perform its function in substantially real time.

Abstract: A method and system for processing an incoming call during a call-in-progress utilizes a communication station for detecting the incoming call from a new caller to a subscriber telephony device. The communication station determines whether the subscriber telephony device is busy on a call with a first telephony device. An adjunct processor then determines interruption information about the first telephony device which identifies whether or not the call-in-progress with the first telephony device can be interrupted. The adjunct processor then generates a corresponding signal for receipt by the communication station based on whether or not the call-in-progress with the first telephony device can be interrupted by the new caller.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for transmitting audio and video data to a remote viewing station. The method includes the steps of receiving a signal at a control station representing a request for the audio and video data. The method further includes determining whether the requested data is stored at a mass storage facility or at an active line storage unit. If the requested data is stored at the mass storage facility, the method includes downloading and storing the data at the active line storage unit. Finally, the method includes the step of transmitting the stored data from the active line storage unit to the remote viewing station.

Abstract: A computer-based method and apparatus for classifying statement types using intonation analysis. The method and apparatus identify a user's potential query when the user responds to information during dialog with an automated dialog system. Pitch information is extracted, via a cepstrum, from the speech signal. In one embodiment, the pitch intonation is processed to form a smoothed pitch or intonation contour. Then the smoothed pitch contour is processed by a set of shape detectors and this output, together with statistical information, is sent to a rule-based algorithm which attempts to classify the statement type. In another embodiment, the smoothed pitch contour is processed by a pattern recognition system such as a neural network trained with a back-propagation learning algorithm.

Abstract: A method, system and product are provided for direct rendering of video images to a compressed video data stream. The method includes generating encoded video data directly from an electronic graphic system, the encoded video data representing a full frame image, and generating update encoded video data directly from the electronic graphic system, the update encoded video data representing changes in the full frame image. The method also includes generating movement vector encoded video data directly from the electronic graphic system, the movement vector encoded video data representing movement in the full frame image, and decoding the encoded video data, the update encoded video data, and the movement vector encoded video data for playback at a destination. The system includes control logic for performing the method. The product includes a storage medium having computer readable programmed instructions recorded thereon for performing the method.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for automatically generating Internet formatted data files from nonInternet formatted data files. The present invention includes processing one or more directories selected by a user to locate and tag any files of a type to be converted. A file list is created and output as a spreadsheet type text file containing the file information for each file to be processed. Each located file is then converted into an Internet ready file format, and transferred to a chosen destination. The present invention allows for automatic generation of an Internet yellow page directory using nonInternet formatted customer advertising data files with significantly reduced production costs and likelihood of processing error.

Abstract: An information retrieval system is disclosed, wherein the system includes a plurality of text search engines based on substantially different computational searching techniques. By activating each search engine with input from a user information request, the output from each of the search engines is combined into a single list of information items. A ranking process ranks the information items in the combined list by utilizing information item ordering data also received from each of the search engines as to the relevance of the information items output by the search engine to the user's request. Thus, by providing higher rankings to those information items determined to be most relevant to the user's request by each of (or a majority of) the search engines, these information items have been found to be highly consistent in satisfying the user's request for information.

Abstract: A device for supporting multiple line configurations in a Fixed Wireless Loop (FWL) application includes a hand-held transceiver supporting wireless communications. The device also includes a cradle disposed on or in the building for receiving the hand-held transceiver and terminating a primary telecommunications line having at least one primary telephone connected thereto. The cradle further terminates a secondary telecommunications line, different from the primary telecommunications line, having at least one secondary telephone connected thereto. Still further, the cradle includes a spring-loaded switch integrally formed therein, wherein when the hand-held transceiver is in the cradle, the switch is biased to break contact between the primary telecommunications line and the secondary telecommunications line.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a control system which interfaces a plurality of telephones, referred to as extensions, to a central office telephone line. The control system includes a ring detector, a ring generator, a controller and a telephone extension bus. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the control system is programmable to: (i) control the ringing function of a plurality of extensions when an incoming call is received; (ii) control the staging of the ringing function of a plurality of extensions when an incoming call is received; (iii) control the use of one or more of a plurality of extensions to initiate an outgoing call; (iv) control the use of one or more of a plurality of extensions when another extension is in-use, i.e. presently being used to engage in an ongoing telephone call; (v) control the use of one or more of a plurality of extensions when another extension is being used for a data call, i.e.

Abstract: A user interface for a fax mail system. The invention is a method and instructions for improving interaction with a fax mail system. The sequence of instructions is improved to allow easier interaction. The system allows the subscriber to print all new fax documents which have been received without reviewing them. In addition, the review menu is organized to allow the subscriber to easily print, erase or skip various fax mail messages.

Abstract: A method and system for supporting wireless and/or wireline features of telecommunications subscribers utilizing existing wireline interfaces includes a processor for provisioning the wireline interfaces to support predetermined wireless and/or wireline features. A service logic, such as a Service Control Point (SCP), assigns the wireline interfaces to the telecommunications subscribers on a call-by-call basis based on the features subscribed to by the subscriber. The processor is further operative to reprovision the wireline interfaces based on the number of subscribers assigned to the wireline interfaces.

Abstract: Blocks in frames of a video are matched to similar blocks across frames using qualitative characteristics of the pixels in the block. Pixels in a frame are categorized into two or more categories. In one embodiment, three pixel categories are: 1) quasi-constant (QC) pixels having intensity values that vary slowly (e.g., pictorial portions), 2) textured pixels characterized by many small edges and thin-line signals (e.g., texture portions), and 3) dominant-edge (DE) pixels characterized by few sharp and dominant edges (e.g., edge portions). Blocks in different frames are matched by minimizing a cost function that measures the mismatch between a block in a first frame and a plurality of candidate blocks in a second frame. In one embodiment, a cost function comprises a contrast component and a brightness component. The brightness component is determined as a function of the pixel categories. Block matching in sequential frames of a video enables a calculation of displacement or motion estimation in the video.

Abstract: A speech signal divided into frames, each frame having a sound type, and a class is determined for each frame depending on the sound type of the frame. One of multiple filters is selected for each frame depending on the class of the frame. Each frame is filtered according to the filter selected, and the filtered frames combined to provide a filtered speech signal. The system includes filters and software.

Abstract: An improved positioning system and method for use in a wireless communication system including a plurality of base stations each having a corresponding coverage area. Scaled contour shapes are generated having minimum and maximum boundaries based upon determined RF measurements of each of the base stations. The intersections of the contour shapes define a bounding polygon area that describes the position of a mobile unit in terms of minimum and maximum error estimate. Once the bounding polygon area has been defined, the latitude and longitude of the center of the polygon area is determined whereupon corresponding street addresses may be obtained through reference to one or more databases.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and preventing a fraudulent request for mobile telephone service to be provided to a mobile subscriber by one of a plurality of serving carrier mobile networks in one of a plurality of roaming markets subject to fraud includes a first database storing home/serving market identification codes and a second database storing authorized subscriber identification data. A monitoring device monitors communication data in response to a power-on signal transmitted by the mobile telephone unit. A central server then determines if the subscriber is authorized to receive service in the roaming market based on the communication data, the home/serving market identification codes stored in the first database, and the authorized subscriber identification data stored in the second database.

Abstract: A method of automatically routing a facsimile transmission from a calling party to a called party over the Internet. A facsimile transmission is detected from a calling party's CPE device. A destination number for the called party's CPE device and a corresponding remote Internet gateway are determined. The facsimile transmission is routed to a local Internet gateway wherein it is converted to a form compatible with the protocol used by the Internet. It is then routed over the Internet to the remote gateway wherein it is converted to a form compatible with the protocol used by the telephone network. The facsimile transmission is then routed to the called party's CPE device.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for processing and presenting graphic objects using a telephone station at which a user is capable of performing a number of functions. The telephone station includes a computer and a display device having a display screen adapted to cooperate with a pointing device. The method includes displaying graphic objects including foreground and background icons on the display screen. The method also includes selecting one of the foreground icons using the pointing device to identify a desired application, and displaying an application window containing graphic objects representing the functions of the desired application. The method further includes selecting one of the graphic objects using the pointing device to identify the function to be performed.

Abstract: A method and system for segmenting and acting upon segments of, for example, a previously generated voice message by inserting audible interrupts into the voice message for partitioning the voice message into segments. Upon initiating or encountering such an interrupt in a voice message, a subscriber may act upon a segment adjacent to the interrupt. Actions on the adjacent segment include replaying the segment, forwarding the segment to an addressee with comments, deleting the segment, or no action although retaining the option of future action on the adjacent segment. Furthermore, the inserted interrupts may be inserted by the originating party of the voice message for action by the originating party, or by the originating party for future action by another receiving party.