Abstract: A method for managing messages in a private branch exchange system uses a personal computer as an operator console. The method includes storing a message to be transmitted to a subscriber who is absent through the personal computer; if there is a call from the subscriber, transmitting a call message from the subscriber indicating whether the call is for confirming the message or is a general call to the personal computer; if the call message is for confirming the message, automatically displaying the message to be transmitted to the subscriber on a monitor of the personal computer; and informing the subscriber of the displayed message.

Abstract: A service node is used in an intelligent communications network for providing services for customers.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions and an execution unit is presented. The execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, executes the plurality of programming instructions to implement a hierarchy of collaboration services enabling collaboration between a client computer and a collaboration partner, including a service to determine the system attributes of the client computer and to select an appropriate collaboration service from the hierarchy of collaboration services commensurate with the determined system attributes of the client computer and enabling a collaboration session between the client computer and the collaboration partner.

Abstract: An apparatus is comprised of a storage medium having stored therein a plurality of programming instructions for implementing a set of communication services for establishing and supporting a direct quality voice call to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) extension, and an execution unit, coupled to the storage medium, for executing the plurality of programming instructions. In particular, the set of communication services include services for establishing and facilitating the voice call to the PSTN extension on behalf of the client computer, and services for causing a direct connection to be established between the client computer and the apparatus.

Abstract: In a communication device (20) comprising a message function (SMS, Short Message Service) a certain short message (7) or other reply message is sent in response to an incoming call in a situation where the user can't answer the call him/herself. The reply message can be sent immediately (9) or after a short delay (10, 11), whereby during the delay, the user can choose, whether he/she answers him/herself. The calling party (5) is identified from the CLI information (Caller Line Identity), whereby the reply message can be chosen according to the calling party. Time information can be included in the reply message in order to express at which time by the clock or after a how long time the receiving party is reachable. After that time the automatic reply function based on the reply message is automatically disconnected.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for establishing communication between an originating station and a destination station over a computer network such as the Internet, for example. In accordance with the invention, at least one service attribute requested by the originating station is received over a signaling path. A communication path is then established between the originating and destination stations in conformance with the requested service attribute. The signaling path is an out-of-band signaling path with respect to the communication path.

Abstract: A voice messaging system and method includes a receiver to receive information relating to an incoming telephone call and memory to store the information relating to the incoming call. A processor initiates an outgoing announcing message in response to the incoming call. A voice recorder records in the memory a voice message corresponding to the incoming call. A detector, is operatively associated with the processor, to detect a remote log-in such that the processor is remotely controlled to access a recorded voice message. An indicator visibly or audibly indicates an occurrence of the remote log-in. The processor permits a status of the voice message to be affected in memory while information relating to the voice message and/or information relating to the remote log-in which had affected the voice message is maintained.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are illustrated which provide for personal telecommunication incoming call screening and alerting. In the various embodiments, the incoming call screening and alerting utilizes a personalized affinity database, based upon individual calling behaviors and patterns. In the preferred embodiment, the affinity database includes telephone numbers and names for outgoing calls (dialed numbers), and for those incoming calls that have a predetermined minimum duration following answering (minimum off hook time period). As a consequence, erroneous or unwanted incoming calls are not included within the affinity database. The preferred system includes a line unit couplable to customer premise equipment (such as a telephone), a network signaling interface, a network trunk interface, a memory, and a processor.

Abstract: A system and method of affecting transfer of a message such as a voice message from one centralized messaging system in a first switched telephone network to a centralized messaging system in a remote second switched telephone network wherein each of said telephone networks includes central offices connected to subscriber terminals. The message is inputted in analog form into one of the terminals connected to the first telephone network and stored in digital form in the centralized messaging system in that network. The message is then transferred from that centralized messaging system to the centralized messaging system in the second telephone network where it is stored. The message is then delivered by retrieval or an outgoing call to an addressee terminal in the second telephone network. The transfer between telephone networks and their respective centralized messaging services occurs via an internetwork to which each of the centralized messaging systems are connected.

Abstract: A first Internet telephone system 620 attempts to call with a second Internet telephone system 630 via the Internet 600. However, the second Internet telephone system 630 is not logged onto the Internet at the time of the call. In response to the failed attempt to call, the first Internet telephone system prompts the user to send voice mail to the user of the second Internet telephone system. This results in a phone call over the Internet between a voice mail system 610 and the first Internet telephone system, allowing a greeting to be heard, and a message to be stored. This message may be subsequently retrieved, either using an Internet telephone system over the Internet, or using a standard phone over the conventional telephone network.

Abstract: A voice processing system comprising a digital trunk processor 135 and a system unit 145 incorporates a local voice recognition resource 185 provided on a digital signal processing board 180, and can access a remote voice recognition resource 320 in a server 300 via a local area network 250. The system provides a barge-in facility for the recognition resource on the remote server, whereby a prompt is played out to the user, and the incoming telephony signal is fed into a voice activity detector on the digital trunk processor. Responsive to a detection of incoming voice activity, the outgoing prompt is terminated, and the incoming data is transferred over the local area network to the remote server for recognition.

Abstract: A telephone annunciator is disclosed which includes a voice ROM with a prerecorded message which is played back in response to a call received from an unwanted caller. A line current modulator is coupled with the voice ROM and the telephone line. A DTMF tone decoder circuit is coupled with the telephone line for decoding at least one DTMF code signal for producing a trigger signal. An on/off control circuit is responsive to the trigger signal for turning on the voice ROM whereby the telephone line current is modulated by the modulator in accordance with the audio signal from the voice ROM. A start-up power supply includes a storage capacitor and stores a charge in response to a ring signal on the telephone line. A main power supply is connected with the telephone line to receive power therefrom when an off-hook signal is detected.

Abstract: A telephone announcement system 10 has a URL computer 30 that accesses announcements stored on Internet sites 41-44. Subscribers may enter the sites 41-44 to create or change announcements.

Abstract: In a switching system data inheritance method of controlling hardware on the basis of a first database storing various management data such as subscriber information to inherit switching system data for various types of call connection processing, change information indicating a change in structure from the first database to a second database which inherits data from the first database is created. Data constituting the first database is converted into new data having a new structure and constituting the second database on the basis of the created change information to store the converted data in the second database. A switching system data inheritance system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A call overflow system 10 and method for overflowing telephone calls from an originating telephonic switch 12A and a destination telephonic switch 12B is provided. An information element data packet 34 containing information relating to the telephone calls is transmitted between the originating telephonic switch 12A and the destination telephonic switch 12B. The data packet 34 comprises information provided by a caller in byte (20b) 80, designated switch status data. The information is thereafter utilized by the destination telephonic switch 12B to route the telephone calls to internal telephonic units 20B for service.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of a voice dialing system and, particularly, a call forwarding feature associated with the system whereby system users may forward a telephone number respectively associated therewith to a remote location in order to receive phone calls at the remote location, comprises: a database for pre-storing telephone numbers of system users and for pre-storing acoustic models respectively representative of speech associated with each system user, the acoustic models respectively corresponding to the telephone numbers; and a speaker identification module operatively coupled to the database for obtaining and decoding a speech sample from a potential system user during the potential users' attempt to make a telephone call, the speaker identification module comparing the decoded speech sample obtained with the pre-stored acoustic model associated with the telephone number dialed by the potential user; whereby if the decoded speech sample substantially matches the pre-stored ac

Abstract: Calling party identification announcement service (CPIAS) provides an announcement of the caller's name to a called party, so that the called party may accept of reject a call. This invention relates to arrangements for providing CPIAS using centralized announcement synthesis apparatus, under the control of a data base (in accordance with the principles of intelligent networks), within the basic call processing arrangements of the public switched telephone network, without requiring users of the services to have two telephone numbers. Billing entries for the use of the announcement service are made under the control of the terminating switch so that these entries can be readily combined with other billing entries for the called party in order to generate a bill for that party.

Abstract: An automatic door answering system comprises a door intercom system, a recording machine, a telecommunication system, first, second and third interfaces, and a microprocessor-based switching device. The switching device is coupled to the door intercom system, the recording machine, and the telecommunication system by way of the first, second, and third interfaces, respectively. The switching device switches back and forth between coupling the door intercom system to a telecommunication system, coupling the door intercom system to a recording machine, and coupling the telecommunication system to the recording machine. If the recipient of a visitor is not available, the automatic door answering system establishes a communication link between the visitor and the recipient using the door intercom system and the telecommunication system. If the recipient of the visitor is not available, the automatic door answering system allows the visitor to record a message for the recipient.

Abstract: A voice enhanced phone card which allows a caller to place a call by voice activated dialing only when the caller desires it is presented. A caller places a call using a standard calling card switch number and enters a predetermined service code. The voice enhanced phone card system recognizes the service code, and using known telephone switching capabilities, switches the call to a voice activated dialing system at a main feature point in the voice activated dialing system call flow. The call is then connected to a destination using the voice activated dialing routine.

Abstract: A relay is described to facilitate communication through the telephone system between deaf people and hearing people. To overcome the speed limitations inherent in typing, the call assistant at the relay does not type most words but, instead, re-voices the words spoken by the hearing person into a computer operating a voice recognition software package trained to the voice of that call assistant. The conversation-type flow of communications achieved by this type of relay enables the design of a new class of interpreters for the deaf.