Abstract: A computer system and method for analysis and translation of Web on-line menu architectures to Interactive Voice Response (IVR) menu architectures. The system analyzes Uniform Resource Location (URL) links in HyperText Markup Language (HTML) documents that comprise the Web menus and develops corresponding IVR menus. Once the system has developed a validated IVR menu architecture, the system supports both on-line Web users and IVR users with a common set of structured information databases. The system and method also supports analysis and translation of IVR menu architectures to support Web on-line users. The common information databases contain the IVR and Web menu architectures as well as product specifications and prices.

Abstract: Device and method of channel effect compensation for a telephone speech recognition system is disclosed. The telephone speech recognition system comprises a compensatory neutral network and a recognize. The compensatory neural network receives an input signal and compensates the input signal with a bias to generate an output signal. The compensatory neural network provides a plurality of first parameters to determine the bias. The recognizer is coupled to the compensatory neural network for classifying the output signal according to a plurality of second parameters in acoustic models to generate a recognition result and determine a recognition loss. The first parameters and second parameters are adjusted according to the recognition loss and an adjustment means during a training process.

Abstract: A call indicator, such as a ringer, is deactivated on a temporary or preset basis while normal call processing continues, so that the subscriber can attain an appropriate level of privacy for answering a phone call. In one embodiment, a handset (10) includes an antenna (12) for receiving an incoming call signal, a processor (16) for processing the call signal, a call indicator (48) for notifying the user of the incoming call, a keypad (38) for providing user inputs, and call indicator control subsystem (32). The control subsystem (32) receives a temporary deactivation input via keypad (38) or a menu and, in response to the temporary deactivation input, deactivates the call indicator (48) for a portion of a answer waiting time period between receipt of the incoming call signal and a call answer input. For example, if the handset (10) “rings” during a business meeting, the subscriber may provide a first input via the keypad (38), menu or other input method to deactivate the call indicator.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for selectively controlling the interconnectivity of two or more active telephone lines and/or one or more audio characteristics of each of the active telephone liens during a multi-line call. A bridge or a call connection control may be implemented to provide selective call connection for each active telephone call. The user may thereby control the interconnectivity of each party to the user and to the other parties to the conference or multi-line call. An audio controller may also be implemented within a multi-line telephone or at a telephony switch. The call connection control or the volume control may be implemented within the telephone network such as a switch or locally at the telephone unit. The user may provide the desired interconnectivity or volume parameters for the multi party call using a user interface.

Abstract: A voice mail messaging display system having a means for receiving telephone calls, and a data processor or computer coupled to the means for receiving telephone calls. The computer has a memory storing a voice mail program and a message board program. The voice mail program answers the telephone calls received by the means for receiving telephone calls and generates message records of the telephone calls. The message board program uses the message records and generates a display signal based on the message records. A signal conversion mechanism is coupled to the data processor and converts the display signal to a desired format. The converted display signal is delivered to at least one display device positioned in an area where a large number of people may see the display. Any person who is a subscriber of the system may review the display to determine if he or she has received any messages and, if so, may then dial into the computer to retrieve his or her messages.

Abstract: The network control system, servicing a long distance carrier switching office, is provided with a caller's automatic number identification (ANI) when a calling party calls a called party. Using a database, a processor of the network control system determines call type characteristics of the telephone call based on the received ANI for wireless and land-line telephone calls. The network control system then returns either an index or routing information to the long distance carrier switching office. After the ANI is screened by the network control system, subsequent call processing takes place in the long distance carrier switching office.

Abstract: The present method and system enable a called party to cancel an unwanted call and send a message to the calling party. The method and system are activated in response to a plurality of inputs provided by the called party. In response to the input provided by the called party, a custom or a standard message can be transmitted to the calling party. A confirmation message can also be transmitted to the called party. The method and system can be implemented in conjunction with other systems that are also activated in response to an input from the called party.

Abstract: A system and method for providing easy access to messaging services in a telecommunications network having office switches that are used by different providers of telephone and messaging services. The system uses a supplementary services database to maintain customer records including whether the customer uses messaging services and whether the customer subscribes to a short dialing sequence service for access to the messaging services. The customer is connected to the central office switch, which analyzes the dialing sequences generated by the customer. When the customer attempts access to the messaging services, the customer dials a short dialing or message sequence, such as *XX. The central office switch triggers a query to the supplementary services database for a call forwarding number to the messaging service used by the customer when the selected short dialing sequence is recognized by the switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packet generating method for multiplexing one program composed of digital image, digital sound or digital data, or multiplexing and transmitting plural programs, a data multiplexing method using the same, and an apparatus for coding and decoding such transmission data, and the invention further relates to a packet generating method for generating a packet row of digital data, containing a change identifier for identifying change of digital data in the packet row, and multiplexing so that the packet containing this change identifier may be disposed closest to the packet containing the changed digital data, among packets containing various change identifiers in the packet row, a data multiplexing method using the same, and an apparatus for coding and decoding such transmission data.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a communication system including a communications network, a multiplicity of communications terminals which are connectable to the communications network and which can be employed by users to communicate via the communications network, the user not necessarily being identified with a given communications terminal, apparatus for monitoring whether or not a user is connected to the communications network irrespective of which of the multiplicity of communications terminals that user is employing, and apparatus for annunciating to a seeking user, currently connected to the communications network via any of the multiplicity of communications terminals, network connection status information relating to other users who are in a set of sought users, which set is definable by the seeking user, and for providing the seeking user connection address information relating to those sought users who are currently connected to the communications network.

Abstract: Method for improving the calling procedures of telephones by creating customized messages for telephones coupled to a telephone exchange. The messages are registered on one or more sections of memory located in the telephone exchange and coupled to the telephone. The messages can be played over a boosted loudspeaker or the earphone of the telephone. When the telephone is switched on, but is not in communication with another telephone, the ring loudspeaker, if any, and the earphone loudspeaker are deactivated, and the boosted loudspeaker is activated. When a caller telephone receives a call from a caller telephone the activated boosted loudspeaker plays the chosen registered and optionally other messages. When the caller and the called telephone are hooked up, the boosted loudspeaker is deactivated, the earphone loudspeaker is activated and, thereby, placing the caller telephone in communication with said called telephone in the normal way.

Abstract: A telecommunication system supports local number portability. The system includes a local number portability switch and a local number portability database accessible by the local number portability switch. The local number portability database contains a table for translating geographic numbers to routing information. The local number portability switch queries the local number portability database using a dialed geographic number in response to initiation of a call. The local number portability database translates the dialed geographic number to corresponding routing information and returns the corresponding routing information to the local number portability switch. The local number portability switch uses the corresponding routing information to route the call.

Abstract: A subscriber, using a voice telephone set (12) may transmit a facsimile message to a recipient facsimile machine (14) by dialing a telephone number associated with a platform (22) in a telephone network (20) that provides outbound voice-to-facsimile service. Upon receipt of the call, the platform (22) prompts the caller for the message and the identity of the recipient facsimile machine (14). The platform (22) translates the message into a format appropriate for facsimile transmission and then launches a call to the recipient facsimile machine (14) to deliver the facsimile.

Abstract: A telecomputer network is described. The network comprises a satellite communication system, at least one mobile vehicle, and a wireless local area network (LAN). In one embodiment, the satellite communication system transfers information using ethernet packet switching. In one embodiment, the wireless LAN transfers information using the TCP/IP protocol. The mobile vehicle or portable field unit is configured to transfer information as a single nomadic transmission/reception point between the satellite communication system and the wireless LAN.

Abstract: A server provides media and telephony services in a telecommunications network. The server has a distributed, object-oriented software architecture, allowing client applications to access resources located anywhere in the network. The server provides interfaces to media and telephony resources so that client applications, which may access the server through an IP data network, can access the resources. The software architecture framework is provided by Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). The interfaces provided by the server are Interface Definition Language (IDL) application program interfaces (APIs) implemented using a distributed object model such as CORBA.

Abstract: A call processing apparatus incorporates a robust database supporting both autodialing and autoattendant functions. Incoming calls not directed to a specific telephone extension and any call to a dedicated autodialer function are answered and the caller prompted to speak the name of the desired person or department. A speech recognition platform analyzes the spoken name to provide one or more searchable text strings representing the various spellings associated with the spoken name. The database is searched to retrieve corresponding terminal address instructions such as the telephone number or extension of the named party and call routing to the address is initiated. Alternatively, in an autoattendant mode, a subscriber calls a telephone number associated with a specified service such as a hotline and is asked to identify himself by name. The speech recognition platform again provides a corresponding searchable text string used to retrieve subscriber-specific information for handling the call.

Abstract: A calling party may receive an audio logo or an audible announcement during a telecommunications call. Upon receipt of the call, a switch (30) within a network (10) accesses a service database (40) to determine if the call should receive an audio logo or audible announcements during call set-up. This determination is based on call attribute information such as the calling party number, the dialed number, the carrier identification code, trunk group characteristics, and/or “II” digits; and pre-provisioned data arrays, such as lists of originating numbers, destination numbers, carrier identification codes, trunk group characteristics, and/or II digits that should or should not receive an announcement or announcements. An announcement frame (50) in the switch (30) plays the announcement(s) to the calling party, while the switch simultaneously sets up the call to the called party (70).

Abstract: A system for presenting a recorded message on behalf of an agent receiving a call at an agent station in a call center, the agent station having a telephony interface for receiving calls and a personal computer with a video display unit (PC/VDU), has a telephony switching apparatus enhanced by a computer-telephony integration (CTI) processor, an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system executing a voice treatment option (VTO) software, coupled to the telephony switching apparatus and the CTI processor; and a data repository having recorded messages stored on behalf of the agent and accessible to the CTI processor. The CTI processor routes incoming calls to the telephony interface for the agent, uses data associated with the calls for selecting appropriate recorded messages, and causes, by controlling the IVR, a retrieved recorded message to be played to a caller upon the agent picking up the routed call.

Abstract: An interface to a voice mail system includes a message review area from where messages are played to a subscriber and a settings area. The message review area is immediately accessed when the subscriber enters the voice mail system. The settings area is accessed from the message review area when the subscriber enters a predetermined command. Settings features are sequentially accessed from the settings area. Functions directly available from the message review area are also provided.

Abstract: A message processing method is provided for transmitting a transmit message while adding a unique transmit ID to identify the transmission of a transmit message to the transmit message; registering the correspondence between the transmit message and the transmit ID into a storage when the transmit message is transmitted; and judging that a receive message is related with a previously-transmitted transmit message when the receive message to which ID identical with a transmit ID registered in the storage is added is received.