Abstract: A visual caller identification system and method are provided. A caller identification device of a called party's telephone includes a series of colored lights for visually alerting the called party to an incoming call. The called party may program the caller identification device so that a first colored light flashes any time the caller ID identifies information known to the called party. A second light flashes any time caller identification information is provided, but where the information is unknown to the called party. And, a third colored light flashes any time the caller identification is not provided (e.g., private, unlisted). The called party may look at the telephone for a quick screening without having to go to the telephone to read the caller ID when it rings. Alternatively, caller identification information to be displayed may be projected onto a projection surface, such as a wall in the called party's home.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for routing communications to an output of a communications device, such as a mobile telephone, based on the format of an incoming communication and an output mode of the communications device is disclosed. An incoming speech communication can be delivered to a speaker output or forwarded to a format converter to create a text communication that can be delivered to a display output. An incoming text communication can be delivered to a display output or forwarded to a format converter to create a speech communication for delivery to a speaker output. The output mode of the communication device can be set according to device settings, application settings, or location of the device, or a combination thereof. The invention provides new delivery options for communications which can be more appropriate for a location or current use of the communication device than those previously available.

Abstract: Techniques for storing voicemails in real-time in a caller's voicemail system when a voicemail is left in a callee's voicemail system are provided. A connection to the callee's voicemail system is detected during a call from the caller to the callee. When a voicemail is being left on the caller's voicemail system, a copy of the voicemail message is automatically forked to the caller's voicemail system. Thus, when a voicemail message is recorded on the callee's voicemail system, a copy of the voicemail message is also stored on the caller's voicemail system.

Abstract: An approach provides machine and a human user interaction in support of dialog flows. A first state file is generated and specifies a plurality of states of a dialog with the human user. The first state file includes logic for transitioning among the states. A second state file is also generated. The second state file specifies a plurality of states of the dialog and includes logic for transitioning among the states, wherein a common process is utilized to interpret the first state file and the second state file. The common process loads one of the state files and determines an appropriate one of a plurality of resources to populate with data associated with the dialog.

Abstract: Enabling handling of incoming phone calls includes receiving an indication from one or more call recipients reflecting a desire to block future calls from a call source. A number of received indications reflecting a desire to block future calls from the call source is determined and compared to a threshold. An identifier of the call source is added to a list of call sources from which future calls are specially handled when the number of indications meets the threshold. Handling an incoming call from an undesired call source includes receiving an indication of a call placed to a call recipient. A source of the call is identified. Whether the identified call source is included in the list of call sources from which future calls are specially handled is determined. Special handling is applied to the call when the identified call source is included in the list.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing and storing audio information from the forward or reverse link is disclosed. A communication device receives audio information via the forward or reverse link channel. The audio information is parsed and processed by voice recognition in order to translate the audio information into text information. Alternatively, the audio information may be recorded by the communication device and stored in memory for later processing. Once captured and translated, the text information can be edited and stored in various databases integral to the communication device. Additionally, when the text information comprises a telephone number, the communication device can place a call to that telephone number.

Abstract: A communication terminal and reception blocking method thereof are disclosed, by which a signal of a sender having poor credibility can be blocked in advance, by which a plurality of recipients are able to rate a credibility of a specific sender to block a signal of the specific sender and by which information for the rating can be shared. The present invention includes the steps of setting a level of a reception blocking for a signal transmitted from a specific sender identification number, receiving credibility rating information for the specific sender identification number, and if a credibility rating of the specific sender identification number based on the credibility rating information belongs to a range of the set level, deciding the reception blocking for the signal transmitted from the specific sender identification number.

Abstract: A VoIP call signaling method including a codec selection mechanism that measures the effective data transmission rate and other network characteristics. In some embodiments, a proxy performs a network test between itself and both end terminals to quantify the quality of the link before notifying both of the endpoints the optimal codec they should use for a peer-to-peer call. In alternative embodiments, the proxy informs the endpoints of the network characteristics and allows the endpoints to negotiate the codec selection. The network test preferably identifies delay, bandwidth, jitter and packet loss rates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed that enable an interactive voice response (IVR) system to select, tailor, and deliver a “filler” content stream to a calling telecommunications terminal during a delay in a call (e.g., when performing automated speech recognition, retrieving other content, etc.). The delivery of the filler content can reduce the chance that the caller terminates the call prematurely, and can also be used to provide information to the caller, advertise new products, etc. The filler content can be based on one or more of the following: the date and time, the identity of the caller, a prior call to the IVR system, the type of the calling telecommunications terminal, and a content stream that the IVR system is in the process of retrieving.

Abstract: Applying services to calls involving subscribers to a telephony services provider includes receiving an indication of a call placed to or from a first call participant. The indication is received by a telephony services provider over a first signaling path of the call that is established between the telephony services provider and a first telephony proxy server that is controlled by a telephony infrastructure provider. Control signals configured to affect a voice path of the call that is established between the first telephony proxy server and a second telephony proxy server also controlled by the telephony infrastructure provider but associated with a second call participant are identified. The identified control signals are sent to the first telephony proxy server over the first signaling path and to the second telephony proxy server over a second signaling path that is established between the telephony services provider and the second telephony proxy server.

Abstract: An IP telephone access system preventing the use of the 0AB-J number beyond the geographically identified area transfers an existing fixed telephone economically to an IP telephone without changing the telephone number. There is provided an address management table, in the ONU, coordinating the LLID and the address of the IP telephone terminal, an ID management table of the LLID of the ONUs included in the OLTs, and a subscriber's management table, in the IP network, coordinating the OLT-ID, the LLID, the IP address and the subscriber's number. The ONUs extract and store IP packets transmitted from the IP telephone to a server, and then, collate the IP packets with IP addresses transmitted and received, and in the case that these IP addresses are mismatched, transmit the abnormality notification to the server.

Abstract: A method and system for handling identical VPN numbers assigned to multiple companies using a nature of address/number identifier initiated as public. The method includes receiving a query from a switch module to determine routing information for a call initiated by a calling party, the query including dialed digits with a nature of address identifier, and a calling party identifier updating the nature of address identifier associated with dialed digits to a private type code if a VPN coding identifier is determined present, looking up routing information associated with the dialed digits in a look-up table corresponding to the calling party identifier if the nature of address identifier includes the private type code, and transmitting the routing information to the switch module.

Abstract: A system and method uses a digital phone order management (DPOM) system to manage the ordering and provisioning of digital telephone services in a cable system. A centralized datastore of customer, order, telephone number inventory and provisioning information is accessible to access devices used by a customer service representative (CSR) of a cable operator, a voice provisioning specialist (VPS) of a local exchange carrier (CLEC), and a cable operator installation technician to schedule and provision based on permissions granted by an administrator. The sharing of information allows a CSR to manage orders for digital telephone services and to coordinate installation and provisioning so as to reduce the time to complete an order and use installation resources efficiently.