Abstract: A system and method is provided for providing call subject information to a destination device. A call subject platform provides a selection menu to an originating device to receive call subject information. If call subject information is received at the call subject platform from the originating device, then the call subject platform sends a summary of the call subject information to the destination device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented for changing the association of a mailbox from a first domain to a second domain in a messaging system that includes mailboxes organized into domains. Advantageously, the change is effected with only minor interruption to messaging services to the subscriber of the mailbox. With respect to a mailbox record including fields for mailbox name and for a list of other names, the new mailbox name is added to the list of other names and new corresponding names are added also to the list of other names. A change is made to the domain in the record for the mailbox in the table of incoming trunk configuration. After the change in the table, the new mailbox name and the new corresponding names are removed from the list of other names in the mailbox record. The old mailbox name is changed to the new mailbox name in the mailbox name field of the mailbox record. The old mailbox name is added to the list of other names.

Abstract: A call center having agent stations comprising telephones connected to computer stations by a Telephone Application Programming Interface (TAPI)-compliant bridge has data pertaining to callers stored in a database on a local area network (LAN) to which the computer stations are also connected. Origination data for incoming calls, both conventional calls to the telephones and computer-simulated calls to the computer platforms, is used as a key to extract data pertaining to calls from the database for display on video display units (VDUs) of the computer workstations where the calls are terminated. In some cases, data is only extracted and displayed for calls from previously listed origination points.

Abstract: A presence device operable in a first mode and a second mode is associated with a communication device. In the first mode, a user using the presence device is biometrically authenticated and a presence confirmation input is received from the communication device. In the second mode, a user-entered log-in input is received from the communication device. A central presence database is updated to indicate that the communication device is active for the user. A received message which is to be routed to the user is sent to the active device indicated by the central presence database.

Abstract: An automated transaction processing system designed to minimize human labor comprises various automated resources and at least one live operator. A transaction such as a telephone call is divided into a number of subtransactions The live operator processes only those subtransactions that cannot be processed by an automated resource or those subtransactions for which live operator processing is desirable. An automated resource is assigned to process the remaining subtransactions. One type of automated resource resource is an audiotext address generator, which automatically recognizes whether human speech over the public switched telephone network matches textual information such as a user's name and address. The system is also capable of processing transactions in media other than telephone, including internet transactions. A method for processing internet that includes synchronizing a live operator's display to an Internet user's display is also provided.

Abstract: The system comprises an off-premises voice or fax mail system and an on-premises CPE device that can periodically interrogate the telephone line to monitor for signals indicating that a voice or fax message has been received at the off-premises message system. The on-premises CPE device contains, or is connectable to, an incoming message storage means, an automatic dialing means, a message counter means, and a means for establishing an off-hook/on-hook condition with the telephone line. When a call comes in while the telephone line is busy, the call is directed to an off-premises message center where a message is stored. Then, the central office of the telephone network generates a special signal such as a stutter dial tone to be transmitted to the called party location upon the next off-hook condition after the previous call has been completed.

Abstract: A system and method provide the capability for a visitor to a home or business to leave an audio message for the occupants if they are not present. Outside the home or building, an interface may be provided which is proximate to a doorbell which a visitor may employ when notification by the doorbell has proved unsuccessful. Actuation of a switch on the interface may activate a messaging system which will retrieve a stored phone number and establish a telephonic connection over a telephone network. The telephonic connection may be with a voice messaging system which, in turn, will broadcast via a speaker incorporated into the user interface, a greeting recorded by the occupant. At the end of the greeting, a visitor may then speak into a microphone incorporated into the user interface, and record an audio message. The controller may further be programmed to establish a telephonic connection remotely located between the visitor interface and a telephone.

Abstract: Telephones are able to exchange arbitrary messages over a public-witch telephone network. Messages are created and sent to a switch. The switch transfers the message to a called party telephone. The switch sends data indicative of the end of the message to the called party telephone. Computers can send messages to telephones over the PSTN in this manner as well. Messages can be sent whether the called party is using the called party telephone or otherwise unable to immediately answer the called party telephone.

Abstract: A unified messaging system, comprising a plurality of nodes (100a-100f) and network means (103) for interconnecting said plurality of nodes for distributed operation, each node comprising means for receiving, storing and transmitting data, characterized in that an In-box having a predetermined logical location is reserved for each user, and data intended for a particular user is stored at the node at which it is received together with information indicating the logical location of the In-box of the user for which the data is intended, wherein the system is arranged such that said data can be retrieved at one or more other nodes in the system and such that all data bearing said predetermined logical location information is accessed when said user's In-box is accessed.

Abstract: A system (10) and method (40) for providing audible caller information to telephone service subscribers is presented. The system (10) includes a pre-processor (28) that converts textual caller information from a first data format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis (TTS). The pre-processor (28) can be incorporated in a service node/intelligent peripheral (SN/IP) (24) in an advanced intelligent network (AIN). In this configuration, the pre-processor (28) can be used to convert caller-ID with name database entries into a predetermined TTS format. The TTS formatted information can be provided to a TTS synthesized (30) included in the SN/IP (24). In conjunction with a switching service point (SSP) (20), the pre-processor (28) can provide a talking call-waiting feature to subscribers with significantly improved intelligibility.

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: 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: A system for screening telephone calls is provided. The system includes a ring detector that generates ring status data, such as a first data value when a ring signal is being received and a second data value when no ring signal has been received for a predetermined period of time. A message detector generates message status data, such as a first data value when an outgoing message end tone has been detected and a second data value when no outgoing message end tone has been detected for a predetermined period of time. A message screener is connected to the ring detector and the message detector and amplifies a message based on the ring status data and the message status data, such as when the ring status data and the message data indicate that an incoming message is being recorded.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved telephone system and method that determine the identity of the callee of an incoming telephone call. A distinctive ring is selected by one or more of the users of the telephone prior to activating the feature or at a later time. Information about the individual distinctive ring signals is stored in memory inside the telephone. When an incoming call is received from an external party, the telephone determines which one of the users is the callee of the telephone call. A distinctive ring signal is then generated corresponding to the identified callee of the incoming telephone call. The distinctive ring signal identifies the callee of the incoming telephone call to the telephone users. In order to identify the callee of the incoming telephone call, the telephone system, after answering the incoming telephone call, inquires the caller for the identity of the callee. In another embodiment, a callee is identified using voice recognition techniques.

Abstract: A system and method for providing telephone type services over the internetwork commonly known as the Internet. Public switched telephone networks utilizing program controlled switching systems are arranged in an architecture with the Internet to provide a methodology for facilitating telephone use of the Internet by customers on an impromptu basis. Provision is made to permit a caller to set-up and carry out a telephone call over the Internet from telephone station to telephone station without access to computer equipment, without the necessity of maintaining a subscription to any Internet service, and without the requiring Internet literacy or knowledge. Calls may be made on an inter or intra LATA, region or state, nationwide or worldwide basis. Billing may be implemented on a per call, timed, time and distance or other basis. Usage may be made of common channel interoffice signaling to set up the call and establish the necessary Internet connections and addressing.

Abstract: A calling party dials a called party, leaves a message on a voice messaging system after either receiving a busy status or a no-answer status, and the messaging system dials the called party at intervals until receiving an answer status and then plays the message. Prompts for delivery options and message options may be included.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards an automated system for extracting voice messages from a voice mail system and for providing unified access to voice mail and electronic mail or voice mail and the internet. For a given user, a voice mail remote access server connects to the user's voice mail system through a telephone or data network, and uses speech recognition and understanding to navigate through the prompts of the voice mail system and extract the user's voice mail. Depending upon the access mechanism preferred by the user, the voice messages are sent as e-mail messages with attachments (audio files) to the user or made accessible to the user's world wide web server or displayed to the user using a stand-alone voice mail player application.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved telephone system and method that reduce call interruptions to a telephone, i.e., reduce interruptions caused by a caller placing a call to the telephone. If the no-call feature is enabled and a call is received by the telephone, the telephone answers the incoming telephone call in response to receiving the telephone call. The telephone then plays a message to the caller indicating that no calls are being taken. The telephone plays the message after the telephone answers the incoming telephone call. The telephone does not generate an audible ring signal in response to the telephone call received from the caller. The telephone system further comprises an exemption logic unit for allowing calls placed by certain callers to come through even when the no-call feature is enabled. The user indicates the exception parties to the no-call feature prior to receiving a call from an external party or at a later time.

Abstract: Communications between an agent and a party using a communications device involve sending an interactive script using session initiation protocol (SIP) to the communications device. The interactive script gathers information from the communications device or a user of the communications device and the requested information is then forwarded to an agent terminal using SIP. The interactive script is written in a high-level language and securely stored, such that an authorized party can easily access and alter the script to suit a need for particular information.

Abstract: A method and system for connecting a wireline telephone to a wireline switch in a wireline telecommunications network having a plurality of remote terminals and wireline switches includes a processing platform having a database associated therewith. The processing platform is operative to receive identification of a subscriber in response to a call attempt and determine a preferred connection between the wireline telephone and one of the plurality of wireline switches based on predetermined data stored in the database and associated with the subscriber. The remote terminal connects the wireline telephone to one of the plurality of wireline switches based on the preferred connection as directed by the processing platform so as to complete the call attempt.