Abstract: A message interceptor is interposed in a link of a communications signalling network such as an SS7 network. The interceptor separately maintains the link level protocols on the two portions of the link with which it interfaces. Message data is transferred across between the link portions by a transfer circuit of the interceptor. In the course of this transfer, the nature of the data is checked by a selective action control circuit against selection criteria held in a store. If a selection criteria is met, the control circuit acts to suppress or modify the data.

Abstract: A device that links a telecommunication device (for example a data terminal, a telephone instrument, a message terminal or a video terminal) directly to a telephone line for cancellation of a call waiting tone. When an incoming call is received by the linked telecommunication device, the device according to the invention places the interface terminal on hold while maintaining it on line, while a special call waiting cancellation DTMF code such as "*70" is generated and transmitted. Following this action, telecommunication device is returned to the line and the original transmission is allowed to resume.

Abstract: A method for providing switch translations upon a failure in the conventional recent change message handling system. The failure results in triggering a common channel signaling inquiry, to a signaling control point which responds with instructions for setting up a common channel signaling link between the Recent Change Memory Administration Center (RCMAC) to an alternate Remote Memory Administration System (RMAS). The RCMAC then delivers the recent change message to the alternate RMAS and the RMAS delivers the recent change signal to the addressed switch. In an alternate embodiment the Signal Control Point is provided with RMAS capability. This RMAS capability is then used in place of the alternate RMAS and the SCP sets up a path from the SCP associated RMAS to the RCMAC and to the addressed switch. The communication from the RCMAC which initiated the inquiry to the SCP and RMAS associated therewith is in common channel signaling protocol.

Abstract: An automatic call distributor (20) having a multiport switch (22) controlled by a central control unit (24) for interconnecting telephonic calls received from external telephonic units (28) of an external telephonic public switching network (30) with multiline internal telephonic units (32A-N) and for interconnecting telephonic calls from other internal telephonic units (32A-N) coupled with the call distributor (20), with a telephonic call holding system (25) for removing a hold placed on one of a plurality of lines representative of line keys (44A, 44B, 44C) of a multiline internal telephonic unit (32A) and for causing the central control unit (24) to automatically place another hold on another line of the internal telephonic unit (32A) in response to receipt of a signal from a basic rate line circuit (36) upon actuation of a key at the internal telephonic unit (32A) to remove the hold placed on the one of the plurality of lines representative of line keys (44A, 44B, 44C) of the internal telephonic unit (32A

Abstract: A telecommunication system (10) having an automatic call distributor (12) with a multiport switch (14) controlled by a central control processing unit (16) in conjunction with a main memory (18) and in which the automatic call distributor (12) is coupled with an external telephonic network (26) having external telephonic units (22) for automatically distributing outdialed calls answered at the external units (22) to an agent telephonic unit (20) and for automatically distributing inbound calls received at the multiport switch (14) for the external units (22) to the agent telephonic unit (20), the automatic call distributor (12) is coupled with a tandem computer (34) which determines the pacing of outdialed calls by coordinating the number of outdial calls made with the number of inbound calls received to reduce the average incoming call waiting time due to excessive distribution of outdialed calls to the agent telephonic unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling incoming calls to a service provider facility having a number of agent terminals. The method includes the steps of routing an initial call to an original agent at one of the agent terminals; storing for a predetermined time a caller identifier for the initial call and a corresponding agent identifier; identifying a subsequent call placed within the predetermined time by a caller having the stored caller identifier; and routing the subsequent call to one of the agent terminals in accordance with the stored agent identifier. If the original agent corresponding to the stored agent identifier is busy, the caller may be prompted to elect between waiting in a queue for the original agent, or connection to any available agent. The caller identifier may be, for example, a Calling Line Identity (CLI), an Automatic Number Identification (ANI), a telephone number of a caller terminal, or a portion of a calling card number.

Abstract: A facility is disposed in a telecommunications network to provide an alternative to retrying the placing of a call to a telephone station when a busy signal is encountered. More particularly, if a subscriber places a telephone call to a called station set that is busy with another telephone call, then the facility notes that fact and terminates the subscriber's telephone call. Thereafter, the facility places a telephone call to the called station and, when the call is answered, announces at least the calling subscriber's telephone number and allows the called party to optionally extend the call back to the original calling subscriber. If the call is not answered, then the call back is terminated, and the placement of another call to the called station is rescheduled for a subsequent time.

Abstract: A method and system for routing phone calls from a caller to a selected destination based on voiceband (voice) and digital services (data) transport capabilities is disclosed. The selected destination is one of a plurality of destinations identified by a common telephone number such as an 800 number. A plurality of discriminators common to both voice and data calls are associated with the phone call. An additional data rate discriminator is also associated for a data call corresponding to a requested data rate from the calling party. A database, such as a direct services dialing database, is accessed in response to receiving the common telephone number from the calling party for obtaining a destination number for a voice call based on the common discriminators, and a separate destination number for a data call. The separate destination number for the data call is based on the common discriminators and the desired data rate. The call is completed by directing the call to the selected destination number.

Abstract: A telephone line sharing apparatus is disclosed for enabling a plurality of telecommunications devices of any type to share a plurality of single subscriber telephone lines. Incoming telephone calls on each of the telephone lines are automatically connected, without answering the telephone calls, to one or more of the telecommunications devices. These connections are made in accordance with a predetermined mapping scheme. An off-hook condition detected on any of the telecommunications devices results in a connection to a telephone line, if available, for making an outgoing telephone call.

Abstract: An automatic call distributor (20) having a multiport switch (22) controlled by a central processing unit (26) in conjunction with a main memory (24) for connecting calls made from customers at customer telephonic units (16) through an external telephonic switching network (18) with agents stationed at a plurality of agent telephonic sets (12) coupled with the call distributor (20), an automated port conversation announcement system having a hard disk (25) for storing a postconversation voice messages in the voice of a particular agent stationed at an agent telephonic set (12), and a digital audio source card circuit (30) for playing a postconversation voice message in the voice of the particular agent to the customer at the customer telephonic unit (16) connected with the agent telephonic unit (12) in response to a disconnection from the agent telephonic set (12) at which the particular agent is stationed of a two way voice path established between the multiport switch (22) and the agent telephonic set (12).

Abstract: A telephone system which offers a voice message service and which enables visual indication of waiting messages at subscriber locations using suppressed ringing connections through the switching network of the system and in which acknowledgement signals are provided to the system by the subscriber locations.

Abstract: Method for multiplexing inbound and outbound calls from a call center to improve the efficiency of call center agents since an idle agent can sometimes place an outbound call rather than wait for another inbound call. A parameter k is used to have an ACD agent place an outbound call instead of waiting to receive an inbound call. Specifically, if more than k agents in an inbound/outbound ACD call group are idle, and no calls are in the inbound call queue, then, in accordance with the present invention, callback or outbound calls are assigned to idle ACD agents until k agents are idle. For example, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, callback calls will be assigned to an ACD agent before outbound calls. Note that, in accordance with the present invention, at any instant, at most k agents will be idle, because as soon as k+1 agents are idle, an agent will be assigned to a callback or to an outbound call.

Abstract: A method for allocating resources, such as agents, to multiple tasks such as call campaigns in a telephony system includes establishing at least first and second tasks, each task including a pacing ratio, a task attribute, and at least one group of processes to be executed. The first and second task attributes are assigned to at least one resource which is provided for servicing the first and second group of processes. After the tasks are initiated, the resource having the first and second task attributes is allocated to servicing at least one process from each of the first and second groups of processes. The method also includes computing the balanced condition of each task and if the task is out of balance, reallocating system resources to each task for which the resource maintains a task servicing attribute.

Abstract: A circuit and method for isolating a subscriber line interface circuit ("SLIC") from the ringer generator in a telephone system. The circuit uses a gain blocking device to provide a signal gain when the ringer generator is not being utilized and to provide a high impedance when a ringer signal is present. The high impedance may be provided through an amplifier circuit which is tri-stated when the amplifier is not energized.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and system for redirecting a telephone call incoming to a first line to a selected one or more second lines. In operation, ringing signals initially applied to the first line by the central switching network are inhibited and instead a three-way calling connection is established to the second telephone. Ringing signals applied to the second telephone from the second network connection are detected and cause ringing signals to be applied to the first telephone substantially concurrently with the application of ringing signals to the second telephone. The system is controlled by a processor located in physical proximity to the first telephone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that allows different likelihoods of call completion during very heavy call loading conditions to be supplied to different customers. Customers are assigned to different levels of service and these levels of service are used to manage call completion in throughout the telecommunication network during very heavy call loading periods. Thus, a securities broker may have a higher likelihood of completing a call near the close of a trading session than the average telephone customer. However, each caller may be offered an opportunity to immediately increase his or her level of service and thus likelihood of completing a call to the highest available level if a call is not completed at the caller's lower level of service.

Abstract: A method for maintaining disconnected call record events in a pending condition is provided until an available agent is acquired to service the disconnected call record event. The method includes the steps of reprioritizing the disconnected call record event to a lower priority level value and comparing the priority level value of the disconnected call record event with the priority levels of the additional pending call record events. Upon the disconnected call record event having a priority level value equal to or higher than the additional call record events, an available agent is requested and a second outbound call is placed for the previously disconnected call record event. The requested available agent is connected to the second outbound call upon an outside party answering the second outbound call.

Abstract: In combination with the Network Application Platform (NAP), a Speech Interface to NAP (SPIN) creates or modifies a SPIN application for each language in which the prompts of a Network Application deployed on NAP are to be spoken. A prompt is mapped into a sequence of static and dynamic elements. Each SPIN application owns the prompt mappings, elements and element voice for the prompts to be played. The Network Application issues a PEP command to a Prompt Expansion Processor (PEP) to play an identified prompt in a language identified by a SPIN application ID. The command supplies the dynamic data to be played at the positions of the dynamic elements in the prompt definition PEP expands the command into a sequence of NAP Message IDs to play the sequence of NAP voice messages corresponding to the static and dynamic elements of the prompt mapping. The dynamic data is categorized into dynamic element types.

Abstract: A selective call-waiting system for telephony use samples transmission on a busy line if the line subscribes to the selective call-waiting service, and avoids interrupting the transmission with a call-waiting signal if the transmission is data-type. If the transmission on the busy line subscribing to the selective call-waiting service is voice-type, the system sends a call-waiting signal. Signal analyzers are disclosed, as well as methods for practicing the invention.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for establishing a virtual private line with automatic ring down is provided. The virtual private line uses the SS7 switching network of present telephone systems coupled between the customer premises equipment of two virtual private line customers.