Abstract: The present invention provides an effective means of screening calls by sharing contact data between individual users of communication devices. The contact information is augmented to include shareability data and relations data. The additional data can be used to configure the shared data in a way that private contacts, for example, can be restricted from sharing, while public contacts are shared.

Abstract: Embodiments may provide improved techniques to protect telephone users from unwanted calls, as well as unwanted SMS or other text messages. Embodiments may utilize white, gray and black lists and may create and process such lists. For example, a method may comprise receiving, at a call processing system, a call or message from an originator to a recipient user of the call processing system, determining, at the call processing system, whether the originator of the call or message is present in at least one of a plurality of lists of identifiers of originators of calls or messages, and handling, at the call processing system, the call or message differently based on which list of identifiers in which the originator is present.

Abstract: Embodiments may provide techniques to screen for, detect, and prevent connection of robocalls. For example, in an embodiment, a method, implemented in a computer system comprising a processor, memory accessible by the processor, and computer program instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor, may comprise receiving, at a telecommunications switch, a request to initiate a call from an originating party, selecting, at the telecommunications switch, from a list of terminating carrier networks, a media server, routing, at the telecommunications switch, the request to initiate the call to the media server, forwarding, from the media server, a media prompt requesting the originating party to enter a response to the media prompt, and when the originating party does not enter a correct response to the media prompt, forwarding, from the media server, an indication that the call is forbidden.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present systems and methods may provide PBX functionality with mobile calling devices, such as cell phones. Embodiments may provide, for example, PBX functionality without the need to use land line (VoIP or PSTN, or any other) phones. For example, in an embodiment, a method of call completion may comprise receiving an indication of a called party phone to be dialed at a mobile device, determining, at the mobile device, whether the indication refers to an extension number of a private branch exchange or to a phone number in the public switched telephone network, and when the indication refers to an extension number of a private branch exchange dialing, at the mobile device, at least a phone number in the public switched telephone network in order to complete a call to the indicated called party phone.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing call loop detection and prevention for VoIP SIP based wholesale traffic termination when multiple carriers are involved in handling the same phone call is provided. A method of detecting a call loop includes receiving an originated call, determining whether an origination number of the originated call is a valid phone number, when the origination phone number is invalid, determining a number of calls in a Provisional State with an invalid origination number and the same destination number that were started during a time interval, when the origination phone number is valid, determining a number of calls with the same origination number and the same destination number that were started, but not answered, during the time interval, and when the number of calls per time interval exceeds a threshold for the number of calls, determining that a call loop has been detected.

Abstract: A method and system for authenticating a subscriber of a user using a graphical user interface or telephone using the same user name and password is provided. As a result, subscribers need to memorize only one user name and/or password, saving precious time and energy to the subscriber because of the low risk of forgetting the user name and/or password. In addition, with the advent of cross-category products such as web phones (Web user interface integrated in a telephone) and soft phone (software on a personal computer reproducing the function of a telephone), it can become confusing for subscribers to remember which passwords and user name to use for which device. Having one password and one user name to remember makes the situation simpler.

Abstract: A Family Branch Exchange (FBX) overcomes limitations of conventional residential telephone technology to inexpensively provide more useful and advanced residential telephone services. For example, a method of providing automatic call forwarding comprises receiving, at a service provider system connected to a telephone network and optionally to a data network, a call including dialing information indicating a person to whom the call is to be placed, retrieving, at the service provider system, destination information for the indicated person, and forwarding, from the service provider system, the call to at least one destination indicated by the destination information.

Abstract: A system and computer program product for providing a software-based operator switchboard for a phone system provide improved functionality, with greater simplicity, than conventional techniques. A telecommunications system may comprise an operator switchboard computer system displaying and receiving input with a graphical user interface indicating an operation to be performed by an end-user device, generating a first message in a first message format based on the received input, and transmitting the message to a server computer system, and a server computer system receiving the first message from the first computer system, translating the first message from the first message format to form at least one second message in a second message format, and transmitting the second message to perform the operation to be performed by at least one end-user device. Messages may also be transmitted from end-user devices to the server computer system, translated, and transmitted to the operator switchboard computer system.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for detecting the type of NAT firewall using messages provides the capability to determine the type of NAT in use without requiring special purpose hardware or software. A method for determining a type of a NAT firewall may comprise receiving a message from a device inside the NAT firewall, the message addressed to a first IP address and port of a device outside the NAT firewall, transmitting a plurality of messages to the device inside the NAT firewall, at least one of the plurality of messages addressed from the first IP address and port and at least one of the messages addressed from a second IP address and port, receiving responses to at least some of the plurality of messages transmitted to the device inside the NAT firewall and determining the type of the NAT firewall based on the received responses.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing Intelligent Outbound Calling provides enhanced calling services even when the called party is not a customer to such a service. A method for providing calling services may comprise storing contact information for a customer, the contact information comprising information relating to a plurality of contacts associated with the customer and for each contact, a plurality of contact telephone numbers, receiving an indication of a contact selected from among the plurality of contacts, and dialing a plurality of calls to the plurality of contact telephone numbers for the selected contact.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the total bandwidth and number of packets utilized to transmit a voice transmission over a satellite connection is provided. RTP allows packets to store different sizes of an audio signal, including 40 and 60 millisecond. By increasing the amount of an audio signal that is stored in packets from 20 ms to 60 ms, the actual network bandwidth utilized by a compression algorithm, such as G.729, is decreased from over 25 Kbits to fewer than 17 Kbits and the amount of packets utilized to transmit the audio signal is reduced.

Abstract: A Family Branch Exchange (FBX) overcomes limitations of conventional residential telephone technology to inexpensively provide more useful and advanced residential telephone services. For example, a method of providing automatic call forwarding comprises receiving, at a service provider system connected to a telephone network and optionally to a data network, a call including dialing information indicating a person to whom the call is to be placed, retrieving, at the service provider system, destination information for the indicated person, and forwarding, from the service provider system, the call to at least one destination indicated by the destination information.

Abstract: A Family Branch Exchange (FBX) overcomes limitations of conventional residential telephone technology to inexpensively provide more useful and advanced residential telephone services. For example, a method of providing distinctive ringing comprises receiving, at a service provider system connected to a telephone network and optionally to a data network, a call from a calling party to a user of the service provider system, playing, from the service provider system to the calling party, a message indicating a plurality of choices from which to select, receiving, at the service provider system, the calling party's selection, and transmitting, from the service provider system, a message indicating a ring tone or ring type to be used based on the calling party's selection.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing Intelligent Outbound Calling provides enhanced calling services even when the called party is not a customer to such a service. A method for providing calling services may comprise storing contact information for a customer, the contact information comprising information relating to a plurality of contacts associated with the customer and for each contact, a plurality of contact telephone numbers, receiving an indication of a contact selected from among the plurality of contacts, and dialing a plurality of calls to the plurality of contact telephone numbers for the selected contact.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the total bandwidth and number of packets utilized to transmit a voice transmission over a satellite connection is provided. RTP allows packets to store different sizes of an audio signal, including 40 and 60 millisecond. By increasing the amount of an audio signal that is stored in packets from 20 ms to 60 ms, the actual network bandwidth utilized by a compression algorithm, such as G.729, is decreased from over 25 Kbits to fewer than 17 Kbits and the amount of packets utilized to transmit the audio signal is reduced.

Abstract: A system and computer program product for providing a software-based operator switchboard for a phone system provide improved functionality, with greater simplicity, than conventional techniques. A telecommunications system may comprise an operator switchboard computer system displaying and receiving input with a graphical user interface indicating an operation to be performed by an end-user device, generating a first message in a first message format based on the received input, and transmitting the message to a server computer system, and a server computer system receiving the first message from the first computer system, translating the first message from the first message format to form at least one second message in a second message format, and transmitting the second message to perform the operation to be performed by at least one end-user device. Messages may also be transmitted from end-user devices to the server computer system, translated, and transmitted to the operator switchboard computer system.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for detecting the type of NAT firewall using messages provides the capability to determine the type of NAT in use without requiring special purpose hardware or software. A method for determining a type of a NAT firewall may comprise receiving a message from a device inside the NAT firewall, the message addressed to a first IP address and port of a device outside the NAT firewall, transmitting a plurality of messages to the device inside the NAT firewall, at least one of the plurality of messages addressed from the first IP address and port and at least one of the messages addressed from a second IP address and port, receiving responses to at least some of the plurality of messages transmitted to the device inside the NAT firewall and determining the type of the NAT firewall based on the received responses.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for receipt, storage, playback of video voicemail and a menu for controlling playback of voicemail and other video content provides enhanced features. A method for delivering messages may comprise storing a message including both audio and video, determining an audio and video capability of a device requesting delivery of the message, and transmitting either the audio and video or the audio only to the requesting device based on the determined audio and video capability of the requesting device.

Abstract: A method and system for SIP access to media and conferences using a Media Server provides multiple connections to a resource while at the same time releasing the connection from the Media Server, therefore minimizing resources required on the Media Server and providing an increased number of connections. A method for providing media services may comprise receiving a request for media services from an initiating client device at a Media Server, determining, at the Media Server, a type of media resource needed to service the request and selecting a Resource Server based on the determined type of media resource, and establishing, by the Media Server, a media service connection between at least the initiating client device and the selected Resource Server to provide the requested media service, wherein the established media service connection does not include the Media Server.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for emergency broadcasting to telephones or audio and/or video-enabled devices from a server system provide more timely emergency notification and more effective coverage for such emergency notifications than existing systems. A method for broadcasting at least one message to end user devices may comprise determining at least one group including a plurality of end user devices to which to broadcast the at least one message, based on programmable criteria related to each end user device and independently of a private branch exchange, central office, or other physical connection of each end user device, and transmitting the at least one message to each end user device of the group of end user devices.