Abstract: A server in a network gathers textual information, such as news items, E-mail and the like. From that information, the server develops or identifies messages for use by individual subscribers. The same server that accumulates the text messages or another server in the network converts the textual information in each message to a sequence of speech synthesizer instructions. The converted messages, containing the sequences of speech synthesizer instructions, are transmitted to each identified subscriber's terminal device. A synthesizer in the terminal generates an audio waveform signal, representing the speech information, in response to the instructions. In the preferred embodiment, the terminals utilize concatenative type speech synthesizers, each of which has an associated vocabulary of stored fundamental sound samples. The instructions identify the sound samples, in order.

Abstract: A method of screening incoming telephone calls and programming screening options and apparatus that allows incoming calls to be screened according to various criteria programmed by a subscriber.

Abstract: During a telecommunication conference call, the name of the current speaker on the conference call is displayed on all telecommunication units that are utilized by the participants in the conference call.

Abstract: A system for handling messages may be adapted to handle both electronic mail and telephonic messages in substantially the same fashion. For example, telephonic messages may be converted to a textual format including both the identity of the source of the call and the substance of the call. The telephonic message may then be displayed using a graphical user interface that indicates whether the message is from a telephone source or an electronic mail source and provides information about the substance of the message in either case. Moreover, the system may handle calls differently based on the originator of the call.

Abstract: A method and system for sharing voice messaging support includes a voice messaging system coupled to a wireless network and wireline network. A given mailbox in the system can be shared between telephones on multiple ones of the networks in question. Once a message is received at the VMS, a message waiting indicator can be sent to the subscriber over both of the networks to which the subscriber subscribes.

Abstract: Authentication of voice message recipient network addresses employs generating (102) and storing (104) a “network file” that includes “voice clips” and associated network addresses that are extracted from voice messages received across a network (10) from voice message systems (16, 18). A voice clip is the first one to three seconds of voice extracted from each received voice message. Over time, the network file will grow to contain multiple voice clips and associated network voice message addresses. When a voice message originator subsequently enters a recipient's network address (106), the originating voice message system searches (114) the network file for the network address, retrieves the associated voice clip (116), and plays it for the voice message originator to authenticate the recipient's network address.

Abstract: A method of reporting a result of service option re-negotiation to a mobile switching center of a CDMA communication services is disclosed. An assignment completion message structure or a service option report message structure is used to report the changed service option. The method using the assignment completion message structure includes transmitting a message type, a channel number representing a communication path being used, encoded information, and contents of the changed service option. Also, the method using the service option report message structure includes transmitting a message type and the contents of the changed service option.

Abstract: The presence of persons is detected, for example, by detecting short-range communication devices carried by the detected persons. The interests of the detected persons are then determined by reference to specific interests transmitted by the user devices and/or by reference to customer profile data. The discovered interests of the current detected persons are then used to select content for display on an electronic display during a next display slot. The display is spaced from the zone in which the persons are detected, being located at a downstream location through which most of the detected persons will pass.

Abstract: Disclosed is a communication system which improves the system flexibility and serviceability by efficiently controlling presence information. A presence inquiring section makes an inquiry about a presence state of a communicating party. A presence information receiving section receives presence information. A presence information display section displays the received presence information. A presence determining section determines the presence state. A presence information generating section generates the presence information. A presence information sending section sends the presence information upon reception of the inquiry.

Abstract: A personal directory system 10 has a translation server 40 for verifying the identity of a subscriber and recognizing the name of one or more subscribers that are stored on a personal directory of another subscriber. A caller is connected by a public telephone switch to the server 40 that accesses a personal directory computer 60 located on the World Wide Web 50. The requested number and/or speed dial number are converted from text to speech and the public telephone switch automatically dials the requested number.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for simultaneously providing multiple telephone-type services to any/all POTS-type devices on a single wire pair at a user premises. The present invention provides for the ability to add separately addressable POTS devices on a single service loop. This can be accomplished in at least two ways: first by the use of a multipoint protocol or second by Frequency Division Multiplexing.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving information regarding a telephony platform and for retrieving the object of the services provided by the telephony platform corresponding to the information received. Customer premises equipment is connected to the general switched telephone network and to a supplemental service network via a central office switch. A telephony platform is connected to the general switched telephone network for providing accessory services such as voice mail, electronic mail and facsimile services. An event identifier is generated to identify a calling event. The event identifier may be attached to a message having caller identifier information. The event identifier is used if the caller is transferred to voice mail. If a voice mail message is left, an in formation indicator is attached to another caller identifier message that is maintained for display on the customer premises equipment to allow the user to determine which callers left messages.

Abstract: A receiver receives a signal that has been encoded, interleaved, burst mapping processed, and modulated via a wireless channel. The receiver judges a modulation scheme for a burst based on a part of a known sequence in the burst; calculates a soft decision value for the burst based on the judged modulation scheme; and changes the soft decision value, if the judged modulation scheme is determined to be incorrect.

Abstract: A system and method granting permission to transmit interactive voice broadcasts of a voice service over a voice network, including information derived from on-line analytical processing (OLAP) systems is disclosed. The system and method include a call server and a method for generating interactive voice pages related to product and service offerings, and for transmitting the voice pages to a user based on the user's permission. A permission module is provided for receiving user permission information from the user indicating the user's permission for telephone-based marketing.

Abstract: A device and process to allow remote receipt and placement of Internet Telephony connections (calls) using emulation of traditional POTS telephone service through a combination of software and a specialized cordless handset appliance. The system allows ringing and answering of inbound calls, dialing of outbound numbers, and signaling of handset status, as well as traditional telephony capabilities such as memory dialing, redial and radio channel controls. Voice control of dialing may also be implemented under software control. This system is easily adapted for operation with most PC based Internet Telephony software systems.

Abstract: A system and method of directing calls is disclosed for a telephone network having remote locations. The remote locations receive incoming calls and attempt to route the calls using a basic call director. If the remote location cannot route the call, then data, such as a recorded spoken utterance, is provided to a central system. The central system then attempts to automatically determine how to route the call using the data from the remote location. If the central system is unable to automatically determine the routing information, then the data is provided to an operator who attempts to determine how to route the call. Finally, a caller can be connected directly to the operator, if the operator is not able to determine routing information from the provided data alone.

Abstract: A method (20) and system (50) is provided that permits a telephone caller to leave a message for a called party that does not have a conventional answering service, such as voice mail, an answering machine, a third-party operator-assisted answering service, or the like. A configurable blocking mechanism is also provided, permitting parties to prevent the message delivery service from being offered to callers attempting to reach them. The method (20) and system (50) can be implemented using an advanced intelligent network (AIN). In an AIN environment, the blocking mechanism can include a switch control point (SCP) (58) configured to access a termination blocking list (60). The termination blocking list (60) can be an SCP database file containing entries representing called parties who have blocked the message delivery service.

Abstract: A database having information sought by a consumer, a database containing consumer attributes, and a database of advertising messages are made responsive to telephone calls placed to an interactive voice response (IVR) system. Alternatively, the databases can be linked to a web site responsive to consumer input. Either system can deliver the advertising messages to the consumer. The database of consumer attributes contains information already known about the consumer that can be used to decide on which advertising message to deliver. The consumer initiates activity by calling the interactive voice response system or accessing the web site. Software identifies the consumer via the consumer-inputted identification and delivers an advertising message likely appeal to the consumer. The advertising message can include an offer to purchase a product or service. The offer can be taken during the advertising period and recorded so as to be sent to a sponsor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system authenticates a caller before providing the caller with access to one or more secured resources. Identification and verification data is stored during system enrollment of known persons. A processing system, in a current call initiated by a caller and prior to identification of the caller, receives voice-based information for the caller including a digital representation of a telephone number spoken by the caller in the current call, the received information including voice-based identification information and voice-based verification information for the caller. The processing system automatically compares the received identification information and the received verification information for the caller with the stored identification and verification data for known persons, respectively, to uniquely identify and verify the identity of the caller as a particular known person. The processing system authenticates the caller for access to the one or more secured resources in response.

Abstract: A relay is described to facilitate communication through the telephone system between hearing users and users who need or desire assistance in understanding voice communications. 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 user into a computer operating a voice recognition software package trained to the voice of that call assistant. The text stream created by the computer and the voice of the hearing user are both sent to the assisted user so that the assisted user can be supplied with a visual text stream to supplement the voice communications. A time delay in the transmission of the voice of the hearing user through the relay is of assistance to the assisted user in comprehending the communications session.