Abstract: A method and system for establishing a local call from a payphone by a customer through long distance carrier switches. The payphone customer dials a long distance provider primary intralata carrier (PIC) code followed by a number sequence. The local call is routed to a long distance provider switch using the long distance provider PIC code. The payphone call is then routed to a voice response unit (VRU) using the number sequence. The VRU prompts the payphone customer to select local calling from the VRU menu, enter a destination number, and to enter their long distance calling card information. The system then verifies that the customer's calling card account is active and connects the call.

Abstract: A caller makes (302) a telephone call to a second telecommunication system (108) from a telephone port (202) in a first telecommunication system (104). The first telecommunication system then ascertains (304) whether the second telecommunication system is a type for which receiving music on hold is appropriate. The first telecommunication system disables (308) music on hold for the telephone call, in response to ascertaining that the second telecommunication system is not the type for which receiving music on hold is appropriate.

Abstract: To prevent fraudsters from illicitly collecting the authorization number or authorization code, as well as personal identification number, of an unsuspecting authorized user of a public pay phone, the instant invention disables the keypad of the telephone so long as the pay phone is connected to an incoming call, unbeknownst to the authorized user who is attempting to dial out from that pay phone, and the user is detected to have lifted the handset of the pay phone to attempt to dial out. An alternative method of ensuring that the authorization code of an unsuspecting user is not misappropriated includes adding a circuit to the circuitry of the telephone to ensure that a true dial tone is provided when the user picks up the handset. If no true dial tone is detected, the keypad of the telephone remains disabled.

Abstract: Digital answering machine that can receive not only voice but also fax information via a telephone line. In order to receive and send faxes with a computer, it is inventively provided to expand a digital answering machine such that incoming faxes are intermediately stored in a memory and can be transmitted to the computer via an interface after the computer is switched on.

Abstract: Selective filtering of an incoming telephone call is provided wherein a caller ID information of a third party wishing to converse with a first party already engaged in conversation with a second party is retrieved. The priority level associated with the third party is then determined and compared to a priority level associated with the second party. In the event that the third party has a higher priority level than the second party, the first party is alerted to the occurrence of the incoming call. Alternatively, if the third party has a lower priority level than the second party, the incoming call to an alternate destination.

Abstract: A telephone switching system and computer implemented method to enhance the integration of an independent voice mail system and a telephone exchange switch. The system also includes telephone sets in communication with the switch and a voice mail system with the telephone sets which include a display device and a manual switch that provide an interactive relationship between the telephone set and the user. Predetermined messages are exchanged serially between the voice mail system and the telephone exchange switch to provide enhanced functionality of the telephone switching system.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which automatically distribute tasks associated with a telephone system and tasks associated with a computer system between a plurality of agents tracking ACD telephone status of the plurality of agents and tracking computer status of the plurality of agents. When a request for a computer task is received, an agent of the plurality of agents is assigned to the computer task corresponding to the received request based on the ACD telephone status and the computer status of the agent of the plurality of agents.

Abstract: A method and system enable the automatic generation of a call processing control record. A user creates a schedule entry comprising a plurality of data entries on an electronic scheduler. The data entries are transmitted from the electronic scheduler to a call processing control record generator. The data entries are compared with stored data. In response to the data entries, the call processing control record generator generates a call processing control record which can be stored in a call processing control record database. The call processing control record can be used to forward calls or transmit an announcement to the calling party.

Abstract: A network-based voice messaging system is provided. A voice message is received at a network. The network converts the voice message into a text message by utilizing speech recognition software. The text message is transmitted to the intended recipient as an electronic mail (e-mail) message or facsimile document and is received by the intended recipient on conventional text receiving equipment.

Abstract: A service execution environment for an advanced interactive voice response (IVR) service node. The service execution environment functions within a next generation service node (NGSN) IVR platform in a telecommunications network. The environment uses individual service-independent building blocks (SIBBs) that allow the creation of customer applications with simple references to the individual primitive SIBBs or composite SIBBs, with branching available. Functional calls to a sequence of SIBBs along with customer specific data stored in a database comprise a complete customer application. When a call is received by an IVR service node, the application is executed by calling the SIBBs to apply certain treatments to the call. The use of the SIBBs allows increased efficiency in the network because calls can be routed to any NGSN node. Each NGSN needs no customization to perform a particular customer application.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the number of speakers participating in a call having a speaker counting device that is connected with a network for monitoring calls placed over the network. The speaker counting device samples a call to determine the number of speakers participating in the call. Therefore, the speaker counting device allows the network service provider to automatically determine how many different speakers have participated in a particular call over a period of time.

Abstract: A computer readable program code comprising creating and managing a master database for maintaining a copy of information contained in at least one PBX and adjunct system databases; providing a single user interface for entering data into the master database and the at least one PBX and adjunct system databases; configuring and managing a plurality of data properties for each of said at least one PBX and adjunct system; processing communications between the master database and the at least one PBX and adjunct system managing function through the single user interface, including message handling that includes a table of application handles, a table of associations between message types and message handles hashed by message types, a table of associations between message types and message handles hashed by application handle, and message packets.

Abstract: A voicemail system includes a voicemail bookmarking procedure that permits users to bookmark voicemail messages during message playback. Upon receiving a bookmark request from a user, the procedure generates a bookmark pointer defining a starting point for subsequent playback of the message. The bookmark pointer can be based, in part, on a timing offset value entered by the user while making the bookmark request. The timing offset value defines a user-selected playback starting point that occurs before the message time at which the bookmark request was made. The value of the timing offset can be user selected.

Abstract: In a communication apparatus having a recording function and a reproducing answering function, a message can be always recorded and reproduced in an optimum setting with requiring no cumbersome operation by a user. When a telephone number coincident with a telephone number contained in information of a caller which arrives through a communication line and received by an information-receiving unit is judged as being stored in a storage unit, a main control unit of the communication apparatus sets a recording level of a recording and reproducing unit on the basis of a recording level which is stored in the storage unit in relation to the telephone number.

Abstract: A facsimile machine includes a main telephone and a plurality of cordless telephones. The facsimile machine transmits telephone selection information to a caller. Based on the telephone selection information, the caller then verbally selects one of the cordless telephones to be rung. A voice recognition unit analyses the caller's verbal input to determine the caller's selection. Based on the determination by the voice recognition unit, a ringing command signal is transmitted to the cordless telephone selected by the caller. With this configuration, only the cordless telephone designated by the caller is rung. Because the user can select a cordless telephone verbally, anyone can accurately let a particular cordless telephone be rung without the need to perform complicated operations.

Abstract: A method and system for accomplishing real-time drilling in conjunction with interactive, real-time, voice transmission of information to a user is disclosed. A voice-based communication between a user and a first system is established and a report is transmitted to the user. The report might comprise information and at least one request for user input based on said information. In response to the report, the user can request that additional information be drawn from the report via drilling. The requested information is extracted from the original report in real-time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to verify a dialed number is described. A request is received from a calling party to send a first call station a number sent from the first call station and associated with a second call station. The number is sent in accordance with the request.

Abstract: A solution to the music-on-hold problem associated with audio conference calls. The music on-hold-problem occurs when a conferee having music-on-hold puts the conference call on hold, resulting in a continuous stream of music being transmitted to the other conferees. Such a conferee is called an offending conferee. The solution presented herein is to prevent music-on-hold signals emanating from an offending conferee from being passed through an audio conference bridge to the other conferees. This is accomplished, in particular embodiments, by directing a merging/summing subsystem of the audio conference bridge to temporarily stop combining audio emanating from the offending conferee from being combined or merged onto audio channels through which the other conferees communicate on the audio conference.

Abstract: A card-type voice mail system, connected to a key telephone system, includes: a key telephone system interface connected to a universal slot of the key telephone system for interfacing with the key telephone system; a codec for digitizing analog data received through the key telephone system interface from the key telephone system, and for converting the digitized data into analog data to supply the analog data to the key telephone system through the key telephone system interface; a voice mail card for compressing data digitized from the codec, and for restoring the compressed data to supply the restored data to the codec; a storage device for storing data compressed from the voice mail card, and for supplying the stored data to the voice mail card; a memory for loading a universal operating system; and a controller for controlling the overall operation of the card-type voice mail system according to the universal operating system.

Abstract: A telephone system including a process for redirection of voice mail messages to another voice mail box after a predetermined time or after a predetermined number of attempts at notification by radio pager of the owner of voice mail box in which a new voice mail message has been left have failed to cause the voice mail message to be picked up.