Abstract: A wireless communications system providing interactive voice response is disclosed. The system is menu driven, and can accept information as well as deliver information to the customer in the form of prompts or prompt information. The system includes provisions that permit customers to vary the prompt information. In prompt information can be varied in a number ways, including the method of delivery, the content, pre or post-call prompts, and the frequency in which the prompt information is delivered.

Abstract: A platform provides access to multiple telecommunications services via a single telephone number. These services may include, for example, voicemail services, facsimile messaging services, paging services, and outbound calling services. A guest caller may call the single phone number to speak to a subscriber, leave a voicemail message for a subscriber, leave a facsimile message for a subscriber, or place a page to a subscriber. A subscriber may call the phone number to place outbound calls. In addition, a subscriber may call the single phone number to retrieve or send facsimile messages and/or voicemail messages. A subscriber may also call the phone number to configure service options. For instance, a subscriber may select routing options and choose what services are available to guest callers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing communication services such as voice dialing services are described. In one Centrex based voice dialing embodiment, voice dialing service subscribers are given access to personal voice dialing records including calling entries via the Internet as well as via telephone connections. Each calling entry normally includes the name and, optionally nickname, of a party to be called. It also includes one or more telephone numbers associated with each name. Different telephone number identifies, e.g. locations, can be associated with different names. A user can create or update entries in a voice dialing directory using text conveyed over the Internet or speech supplied via a telephone connection. In order to facilitate updating and maintenance of voice dialing directories over the Internet speaker independent (SI) speech recognition models are used.

Abstract: A system for enabling communication between one of a plurality of riders of a vehicle and an operator of the vehicle, wherein each rider has associated therewith at least one of a plurality of predetermined conditions, which may be normal and handicapped conditions. A first memory stores a first message associated with a first one of the predetermined conditions, and a second memory stores a second message that is associated with a second one of the predetermined conditions. An announcement system issues an indication perceptible to the operator of the vehicle and to the plurality of riders of the vehicle. A coupling arrangement couples the first and second memories to the announcement system.

Abstract: A telephone message system identifies a caller with an incoming message, and sorts messages according to caller identifying information for presentation to the user. Preferably, messages are grouped according to the caller's telephone number, but may alternatively be grouped using voice recognition technology. When a user plays back a large number of messages, all messages from the same number or person will be grouped together, making it easier to follow a chain of messages. The user may optionally prioritize message groups, either explicitly of by letting the system assign a priority.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and communication system for sending a data response from a called phone to a calling phone in response to a call request from the calling phone. The calling phone sends a call request to the called phone. The call request is a request to establish a communication between the called phone and the calling phone on a call path. If the called phone decides not to answer the call request, the called phone can send a data message to the calling phone. If the calling phone is data-capable, the data message is sent directly to the calling phone. If the calling phone is not data-capable, the data message is sent to a server that converts the data message to a voice message and sends the voice message to the calling phone. The calling phone can send a message back to the called phone in response to the data message sent from the called phone.

Abstract: A system and method for providing calling name delivery to a voicemail service subscriber. The system and method use the features of an advanced intelligent network to provide an interface between a voicemail service and a telephone service provider's calling name databases. The present invention advantageously provides this interface using standard call processing techniques without the need to establish a direct data interface between the systems.

Abstract: A voice processing system 10 is connected to the telephone network 110, and runs one or more applications 220 for controlling interaction with calls to or from the telephone network. The system records audio segments by first and second speakers, and extracts the vocal characteristics of each speaker. Then, when an audio segment recorded by the first speaker is played back, the system can apply to it the vocal characteristics of the second speaker, thereby making it sound as if the second speaker had recorded the segment.

Abstract: A wireless communications system providing interactive voice response is disclosed. The system is menu-driven, and can accept information and requests from customers. In response to one type of request, the system can provide the customer with information regarding locations where pre-paid calling cards can be purchased. The system also includes provisions that provide customers with locations that are close to or within a ZIP code entered by the customer. Customers can also retrieve multiple locations.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a telephone switching environment. In a preferred embodiment the system and method identify telephone call segments that relate to one telephone call and construct a data representation of a lifetime of the telephone call, using data regarding telephony events associated with the telephone call segments of the telephone call. The system and method are also capable of using the data representation to display a graphical representation of a lifetime of a telephone call.

Abstract: Telephones, telephone answering devices (“TADs”) or larger systems are equipped to output audio announcements which identify the sources of incoming calls by comparing caller identity (“CID”) data and ring cadence signals in an incoming call with reference parameters. If a match occurs an audio announcement is output. Customized audio announcements may be recorded by a caller so they may be played back as a way of announcing incoming calls or as a greeting. The announcements are stored voices of callers who have originated incoming calls.

Abstract: An announcement broadcasting apparatus in a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), comprising a message storage unit for storing a plurality of external announcement messages therein, a message sending/receiving interface responsive to an announcement message sending request from a higher-order processor for reading parallel data from the message storage unit, converting the read parallel data into serial data and outputting the converted serial data, a unique message information storage unit for storing information about locations and sizes of the announcement messages stored in the message storage unit and outputting the stored information about the location and size of a corresponding one of the announcement messages in response to the announcement message sending request from the higher-order processor, and a controller responsive to the announcement message sending request from the higher-order processor for detecting information about a location and size of each phoneme of the corresponding a

Abstract: Apparatus and systems for recording Call ID data and transmitting the Caller ID data to remote telecommunications devices on demand, to fully or partially automate the dialing process for remotely calling back a message sender.

Abstract: The present invention is a telephone conversation quality enhancer using an emotional conversational analyzer for analyzing the conversation between a primary party and a secondary party. Its focus is on improving the nature of the conversation quality by first analyzing the nature and quality of the conversation, determining how the analysis fits into a set of conversation conditions, and then determining what conversational aids may be used to assist in the enhancement of the conversation. The apparatus includes a microprocessor which communicates with the first and second telephone units and a database which stores conversational conditions and conversational aids. A conversation analyzer in the microprocessor analyzes the conversation occurring between the first and second telephone units and provides an analysis of the conversation. The microprocessor then applies the conversational conditions to the conversation analysis to select conversational aids.

Abstract: A telecommunication interface provides a user or recipient with the capability of a reduced-stressed environment. In particular, the telecommunication interface is interfaced with a telephone system at a call recipient location. The telecommunication interface may be configured to detect an incoming telephone call. The telecommunication interface intercepts the incoming telephone call prior to the ringing and presents the caller with a menu of several options to contact the users at the call recipient location. The telecommunication interface may be configured to place the caller on hold and to send a message to a portable notifier carried by the specific user in response to a selection of the user by the caller. The portable notifier vibrates or visually cues the user of an incoming telephone call or message. The portable notifier may display answering options for the specific user.

Abstract: A system and method allows a customer company to create, modify and control interactive voice response (IVR) applications from a remote location. In one embodiment, a first IVR application is used to develop, modify and/or control a second IVR application. The first IVR application could be accessed by telephone or by computer using any type of data communications network. In alternate embodiments, a customer can use a computer at the customer's location to develop a new IVR application which is then downloaded to an IVR service provider's equipment. Alternatively, a customer could use a computer to access an IVR system, and a graphical or audio/graphical interface can be used to develop a new IVR application, or to modify and/or control pre-existing IVR applications.

Abstract: An audio alerting announcement signals a subscriber 80 during an ongoing call with a distinctive tone to indicate the identity of another party who is trying to call the subscriber. A telephony call-waiting subscriber customizes Call Waiting indicators in order to give immediate recognition of caller or caller classification via audio signaling. The caller or caller classification is based on the calling party's Line Number ID. This capability is not restricted to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) environment, but will function equally well in a voice-over-IP telephony network as well, on a network such as the World Wide Web, or will function in a hybrid system containing elements of both PSTN and voice-over-IP networks.

Abstract: A method and system for automated speech-enabled responses to caller requests for information prompts caller requests for information from a menu that lists options based upon the frequency of requests for information and for automated collection and updating of content based upon the feedback provided by customers. For instance, a task analyzer classifies information requested by caller opening statements with the classifications based on the task the caller intends to accomplish. For a menu that provides information on telephone services, classifications may include instructions on how to use a service, pre-purchase information, identification of the services that the caller subscribes to, the cost of services, post-purchase information and identification of the caller's long distance carrier.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for managing voice messages based on emotion characteristics of the voice messages. First, a plurality of voice messages that are transferred over a telecommunication network are received. Thereafter, such voice messages are stored on a storage medium. An emotion associated with voice signals of the voice messages is then determined. The voice messages are organized based on the determined emotion. Access to the organized voice messages is then permitted.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of controlling transmission of voice messages or information via telephonic voice message systems, which are sometimes referred to as Voice Mail Systems. Users of the system selectively specify voice message transmission instructions for controlling transmission of voice messages directed to them. Upon receipt of a user's voice message address, the voice message system determines whether the destination voice message address has a specified voice message transmission instruction previously selected by the recipient and processes the voice message in accordance with the instruction.