Abstract: An interactive voice response and call process application and system for delivering promotional messages allows a user to select a desired number of promotional messages which are played before a connection is established. The user may also request additional promotional messages at any time during the connection in order to extend a free or subsidized connection period provided by the system. The system monitors the connection and provides a warning tone to the user prior to the end of the free or subsidized calling period. The user may then request an additional promotional message, to extend the time period, or terminate the connection in an orderly fashion.

Abstract: A method and system for providing integrated wireline/wireless voice messaging for a subscriber having a wireline telephone and a wireless handset utilizes a wireline switch supporting the wireline telephone and a wireless switch, in communication with the wireline switch, supporting the wireless handset. A voice message unit is coupled to the wireline switch and the wireless switch for receiving a voice message from a calling party for one of the wireline telephone and the wireless handset associated with the subscriber. The voice message unit then forwards the voice message to an integrated mailbox for storage therein and transmits a notification message upon receipt of the voice message to provide indication to the subscriber at both the wireline telephone and wireless handset of the stored voice message.

Abstract: A method and system for processing user-level messages, such as voicemail messages, among messaging systems within a network includes enabling inter-system transmissions of identifications of the physical locations in memory space for the mailboxes in which the contents of the user-level messages are directed. Each mailbox in a particular system is uniquely associated with a user and with a physical location in memory space at the system. The physical locations of the mailboxes are identified to remote systems within the network, so that the user-level messages may be accompanied by system-level messages that identify the appropriate physical locations. Thus, a receiving system may determine the physical location of an intended mailbox without performing a database search. In the preferred embodiment, each system-level message also includes the mailbox number, so that the receiving station may verify the physical location by matching the identified mailbox number with the actual mailbox number.

Abstract: In the connection of a number of telephone sets to a private branch exchange, control information is communicated between the telephone sets and the exchange set in such a way that a bidirected conversion unit is required. In order to provide a high degree of service at a reasonable cost the telephone sets are collected in groups which share a generally smaller number of conversion units. By way of suitable control devices and switch units in the forwarding of control information, a suitable non-occupied conversion unit can be selected.

Abstract: A system and method for coordinating multi-media messages across multiple systems. A networked messaging system 10 having a plurality of mailboxes 50 according to the present invention comprises a first mailbox configured to receive a first plurality of messages and a second mailbox operably coupled to the first mailbox and configured to receive a second plurality of messages. A control system 37 is coupled to control the first mailbox and the second mailbox. The control system 37 is configured to generate first tokens corresponding to the first plurality of messages. The control system 37 is further configured to transfer the tokens from the first mailbox to the second mailbox and is configured to use the first tokens to access the first plurality of messages from the first mailbox responsive to the second mailbox itself being accessed.

Abstract: A system that provides users with the capability to access messages contained in a remote universal multimedia mailbox interfaces with an underlying universal messaging server which provides a repository for voice, fax, e-mail, etc. . . . This interface is accomplished through a standard e-mail protocol used to add voice reply messages from a message generator to the universal mailbox through the universal messaging server as well as through a message management library contained within a mailbox access manager that provides access to message components contained in the universal mailbox. The operation of the present invention is guided by a telephony attendant which interfaces with a telephone. The telephony attendant also controls a media converter which converts media to fax or media to audio and an audio/fax player which interfaces with the telephone or a fax machine.

Abstract: A remotely programmable message delivery system comprises a number of client computers which communicate with a server to send control signals to one or more remote message playback devices. The message playback devices are each provided with a library of messages, and comprise at least one music on-hold-compatible telephone system, a public address system or other audio and/or visual advertising device. Message playlists from the client computers can be sent via the server to the message playback devices by a communication link such as a radiopaging system. The client computer is programmed to generate screens for guiding an operator to select messages from the library of messages and the order and times at which they are to be played by selected message playback devices. Message playback devices can be organized into one or more regions to allow a message playlist to be sent to more than one message playback device using a single radiopaging signal.

Abstract: A method for automatically providing voice paging information of a caller in a switching system having an automatic attendant function. The method includes the steps of controlling an automatic answering machine equipped in the switching system upon receiving an incoming call, thereby outputting an announcement message containing a voice paging announcement message, and waiting for input data from the caller. When voice paging request data is received during the waiting for the input data, the automatic answering machine is controlled to output a voice paging announcement message, thereby establishing a voice paging channel. The switching system also broadcasts a voice paging signal received from the caller, waits for a response of an extension subscriber, and establishes a channel for the incoming call when the extension subscriber responds, thereby executing a call service associated with the incoming call.

Abstract: A communication apparatus including (A) a data obtaining device which obtains a plurality of sets of own-call-number data each set of which identifies a corresponding one of a plurality of different own call numbers allotted to the communication apparatus according to a common numbering rule, each of the different own call numbers identifying the communication apparatus from other communication apparatuses to which other call numbers different from the own call numbers are allotted according to the common numbering rule; and (B) one or both of (b1) an information receiver which can receive information from the other communication apparatuses and (b2) an information transmitter which can transmit information to the other communication apparatuses, the information receiver and/or the information transmitter being operable in a plurality of different manners corresponding to the different own call numbers, respectively, such that the information receiver and/or transmitter operate in one of the different manners

Abstract: A telephone having key/light control logic which enables independent and dual usage of physical key/light pairs. Firmware within the telephone's key and light control logic is provided access to special tables which have definitions for each key. When a key is depressed, a feature activation code is sent uplink to notify the PBX of the user's action. In response to receipt of the feature activation code, the PBX returns a feature indication. When the telephone receives the feature indication, it scans the tables and turns on all lights for which the feature indication matches the key definition. Within the tables, an extra definition is maintained for the standalone light. This definition is downloaded by the switch at phone initialization time along with the key definitions. If the switch defines a key definition as "local" then the user programs the definition of that key either via the phone keypad or through an application.

Abstract: Call-center (FIG. 1) performance is improved by assigning different service-time objectives (222) to different types of calls or to call queues (21) for different types of calls, and then selecting (212), for an agent (25) who has just become available (200) to handle a call, a waiting call that is farthest along in exceeding its assigned service-time objective. The objectives represent limits on the amount of time that calls should spend waiting for agents before being handled. For example, a video call may need to be serviced within tens of seconds of its arrival, and a voice-only call may need to be serviced within minutes, while e-mail may need a response within hours of its arrival. Relative distance of calls from their assigned service-time objectives is preferably determined by determining (206) the calls' present or anticipated wait times and computing (210) weighted percentages of the assigned service-time objectives that are represented by the present or anticipated wait times.

Abstract: By using an external portable recording medium (for instance, IC card) that stores a personal ID, a communications apparatus automatically transmits the personal ID and its own terminal identification information to a center apparatus. The center apparatus manages the personal ID and the terminal identification information so that they are correlated with each other. For example, the terminal identification information includes a called-party address, a communication mode, and a position ID. Further, the center apparatus manages a present/absent mode for each personal ID. During the present mode, the center apparatus forwards a call using a personal telecommunication number, such as a UPT (universal personal telecommunication) number, which corresponds to a certain personal ID to a communications apparatus that corresponds to the personal ID. During the absent mode, the center apparatus automatically records a message.

Abstract: A method of recording a voice signal in a facsimile system having a telephone handset linked to a personal computer, including the steps of: receiving the voice signal from telephone lines connected to a public switched telephone network during a voice communication mode; converting the voice signal into voice data and transmitting the voice data to the personal computer linked to the facsimile system; and filing and storing the voice data in an auxiliary memory of the personal computer.

Abstract: A measure of a degree of convergence in an adaptive filter arrangement is derived from the comparison of an amount of adaptation occurring in the adaptive filter arrangement, over a predetermined period of time, with a normalizing value accumulated for the same period. Supplemental signal processing may be invoked, modified or withdrawn based upon the degree of convergence indicated.

Abstract: A computer-controlled telephone system capable of answering a call to a user telephone associated with the system, notifying a user of the call, and telephoning a previous caller upon command by the user. The system has a sensor capable of determining whether the user telephone is in use, and an outgoing message delivery component activateable by the sensor when the user telephone is in use or is unanswered. The outgoing message requests identity information from a caller, and a recorder component is capable of storing this identity information. The system further includes a notification component in communication with the recorder component and capable of automatically audibly notifying the user of the occurrence of the call and capable of providing the identity information, and a dialer component capable upon command of causing dialing of a telephone number included in the identity information from the caller.

Abstract: A communication network includes a database for storing information specific to called parties, an announcement system for announcing the information to calling parties prior to the call completion and a switch for completing the call connections between calling parties and called parties. The calling parties hear the announcements that identify the called parties and are able to avoid misdialing.

Abstract: In a multi-service wireless, or wired, integrated services digital network, the type-of-call information in a call setup message may indicate the call is a voice call, a fax call or a data call. This information is used to generate a distinctive ring at the called subscriber unit, provided the called subscriber unit is not busy with another call. If the called subscriber unit is busy with a voice call, then a distinctive call waiting tone signal is generated based on the type-of-call information.

Abstract: An apparatus and method allow a telephone user to be automatically connected, in sequence, to multiple telephone numbers in response to a single directory assistance query. The user can elect to put all numbers retrieved by his request into a queue, or can queue a subset. The user can further elect to be connected to all numbers in the queue, or can dial some and skip some. An analogous apparatus and method allow a user connected to the internet to navigate by voice interaction through queued site-visit options.

Abstract: A voice response service apparatus interacting with users through voice responses. An attribute storage stores an age of each user. A voice volume controller sets a volume level of a voice response for a user to a level corresponding to the user's age, as stored in the attribute storage. A voice synthesizer synthesizes voices for the voice responses at the volume level set by the voice volume controller. A sex of the user can also be stored and used by a tone controller to select a tone of the voice responses for the user from among a male voice and a female voice based on the user's sex. The voice synthesizer then synthesizes voices with the tone selected by the tone controller.

Abstract: User-customizable method and system for enabling a user easily and conveniently to navigate one or more IVR systems regularly accessed by the user are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a script-based DTMF information retrieval system of the present invention enables a user to build scripts that may be used to access information in an IVR system so that the need for remembering menu picks, account numbers and passwords is eliminated. Using the system of the present invention, a user may enter information about a service, such as the telephone number and name thereof. The user may then enter information about one or more accounts within each service, including account numbers and any passwords associated therewith. At that point, the user may construct scripts that can be used automatically to access information from or execute orders in connection with the service. Each script includes script records of various types depending on the type of action to be performed.