Abstract: A communications networking system is disclosed for controlling and monitoring devices within a telephony central office. The networking system includes a high bandwidth local area network (LAN) within the central office for transferring substantially all communications between each central office network element and remote telephony operational support systems (OSSs) that control and monitor network element performance. The LAN simplifies communications within the central office: (a) by substantially eliminating direct connections, between central office network elements and remote OSSs, and (b) by utilizing at least one standardized communication protocol such as TCP/IP, UDP/IP, or OSI when transferring communications over the LAN. The networking system includes a mediation device(s) for translating between network element specific protocols and a standardized protocol used on the LAN.

Abstract: A multiple extension routing via AIN system and method is disclosed. The method and system concerns rerouting an incoming call from an incoming caller to a single telephone number to at least one of a plurality of destination telephone numbers corresponding to at least one of a plurality of persons capable of being reached via the single telephone number is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of playing at least a first message to the incoming caller to provide a plurality of routing options corresponding to a plurality of persons capable of being reached via the single telephone number, processing at least a first input from the incoming caller in response to the first message, the first input corresponding to a first of the plurality of persons, and rerouting the incoming call to the first of the plurality of persons via a first of the plurality of destination telephone numbers.

Abstract: A method for authenticating access by a user to non-natively secured applications intended for use in cooperation with an operating system having a native security system. A profile is assigned to the user which defines the user's access rights to the non-natively secured applications. At least one datastore is provided in communication with the operating system for storing the user's profile relating to each of the non-natively secured applications, including an access control list defining authorized users and a set of pooled accounts authenticated for access to the respective non-natively secured application. The user's profile is compared with the access control list for the selected non-natively secured application to determine if a user is valid for the request.

Abstract: A method for generating a plurality of mail pieces including error detection and reprinting capabilities. The method provides a mail handling process which tracks processing errors with the use of a first and second scan code which obtain information regarding each mail piece, diverts mail pieces in response to an error detection, transmits such errors to a processor, and automatically generates a reconfigured print file to initiate reprints for the diverted mail pieces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing the intelligibility of a telephonic speech signal within the available bandwidth and intensity limits of a telephone communication network. The method combines enhancement of both the formant ratio and the consonant/vowel energy ratio to realize a speech signal more intelligible to a hearing impaired user. The invention uses an auditory model of the human ear. A speech signal is put through a filter bank designed to simulate the cochlear filter shapes and filter spacing of a healthy cochlea. The energy output from each of a plurality of filters is computed and used to form an auditory spectrum. The peaks associated with strong first and second formants are identified, and the second formant is enhanced relative to the first formant by attenuating the first formant. Also, consonants in the speech signal are identified as having an energy level below a threshold associated with vowels, but above the threshold associated with silent regions. Consonant regions are amplified.

Abstract: A remote access call forwarding method and system adapted for an Advanced Intelligent Network to forward a call incoming to a subscriber's telephone number in response to a routing destination number if the routing destination number does not correspond to a blocked destination identifier retrieved from a database. Further, a search to a subscriber profile unique to each subscriber is provided, the subscriber profile containing valid routing destination numbers previously validated to which the calls incoming to the subscriber have previously been forwarded. Thus, calls are forwarded in response to the routing destination number when the routing destination number matches a valid destination number found in the subscriber profile.

Abstract: A non-intrusive test method for monitoring the performance of an optical communications system generates a parallel electrical signal corresponding to a transmitted or received optical signal without the use of a signal attenuating beam splitter or other device having optical loss by deriving the parallel electrical signal from a modulated electrical signal associated with the generation or detection of the optical signal, or from stray light generated by the optical light source. An ATM module containing a plurality of transmit and receive cables connects selected parallel electrical signals corresponding to selected optical cables to a limited number of test jacks employing a multiplexer which may be computer controlled. The non-intrusive test method allows maximal optical cable range.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a telephony subscriber with Internet information related to a caller attempting to call the subscriber is disclosed. The Internet information is provided to the customer premises equipment of the subscriber during the first and second ring of a call. Subsequently, if the call is not completed, then the caller's Internet information is accessible at a later time, along with any corresponding voice mail associated with the call and any caller-ID information such as the caller's name and/or telephone number. Additionally, the present invention allows the subscriber to request that caller information corresponding to an incomplete call to the subscriber be presented to the caller's customer premises equipment in one of the forms: all text, all vocalized in speech or a combination of text and vocalized speech.

Abstract: A fiber optic/coaxial cable telephony network including power. Power is supplied through the coaxial cable portion of the video network to a cable network unit where the power is converted and supplied to the equipment including customer premises equipment.

Abstract: An automated method and system for voice processing is used with a plurality of voice mail boxes each of which is assigned to a corresponding one of a plurality of subscribers and is operative to receive and store a plurality of voice messages. After playback of the stored message has begun, playback may be suspended and a response may be generated by a subscriber (the called party) to the previous message segment. The response is directed to a selected destination and may include attachment of the message segment. Playback may thereafter be resumed and suspended in the same manner so as to form multiple responses to the stored message. Multiple responses to the same destination are concatenated so as to form a single concatenated response.

Abstract: A position system and method utilizes a plurality of range transceivers located at known fixed locations and which are adapted to transmit approximately synchronized digital range signals for receipt by both a primary receiver and a supplemental receiver, the former disposed at a known location and the latter disposed at an unknown location. The range transceivers are adapted to transmit pulse sequences which include an error portion corresponding to the approximate synchronization error of each range signal. This error portion is constantly updated in accordance with the last determined synchronization errors of the corresponding range signals received by a secondary transceiver. In an alternative embodiment employing Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology, the range transceiver time stamp on transmitted range signals may be adjusted to account for the measured timing error for a given range transceiver.

Abstract: A cellular phone paging system that uses a frame oriented scheme to transmit and receive mobile unit pages with reduced delay is disclosed. Each mobile unit in the cellular phone network is assigned a paging slot within the frames on the forward control channel. If a plurality of pages are to be sent along the forward control channel and the pages are assigned to the same paging slot, the pages will be transmitted in successive paging slots beginning with the assigned slot rather than in the assigned slot in a series of sequential frames. In order to receive its pages, a mobile unit inspects its assigned paging slot and the next sequential paging slots if its assigned paging slot has been filled with a page request to another unit. The mobile unit continues to check sequential paging slots until it identifies a page to itself or identifies an empty slot.