Abstract: An announcement system 100 and method is provided which plays announcements recorded in the voice of an agent servicing a call routed by a telephonic switch 106 at substantially any time during the call. A call information circuit 136 detects information relating to the call, such as DNIS and ANI. This information is transmitted to a computer terminal 110 at which the agent is stationed and logged on. A CPU 120 may automatically select and play an announcement stored in a memory circuit 124 based on this information. Further, the agent may select and play an announcement at substantially anytime via an input device 112. The CPU 120 may select a particular announcement to play based on the time of day (morning, afternoon or evening) determined from a clock 130. An administrator system 128 permits an administrator to control the recording, storing and playing of announcements.

Abstract: Calling party identification announcement service (CPIAS) provides an announcement of the caller's name to a called party, so that the called party may accept of reject a call. This invention relates to arrangements for providing CPIAS using centralized announcement synthesis apparatus, under the control of a data base (in accordance with the principles of intelligent networks), within the basic call processing arrangements of the public switched telephone network, without requiring users of the services to have two telephone numbers. Billing entries for the use of the announcement service are made under the control of the terminating switch so that these entries can be readily combined with other billing entries for the called party in order to generate a bill for that party.

Abstract: A stand alone Personal Electronic Telephone Directory (PETD) apparatus is provided, that includes an internal telephone line segment, an off hook circuit, a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) receiver, a ring detection circuit, a micro-controller, a memory, a speech synthesizer, and a DTMF generator. The PETD apparatus is a stand alone device intended for connection to an individual user's home telephone line, and for access by using a common touch tone ("DTMF") telephone. The user can access the memory of the PETD apparatus of the present invention locally or remotely. Then the user can issue coded instructions by simply pressing the keys of the DTMF telephone. By giving specific instructions, the user is allowed to add, retrieve or delete data from the memory of the PETD apparatus. The PETD apparatus communicates with the user by voice, generated by the speech synthesizer.

Abstract: A subscriber to a chat service is provided with at least one announcement by the chat service provider about product and/or service offerings available to the subscriber from the chat service provider. The announcement typically takes the form of a menu of choices, thereby prompting the subscriber to respond. Following the announcement, the chat service provider listens for the subscriber's response. If the subscriber elects to accept the offer, then the chat service provider undertakes the necessary action to provide the offered product and/or service. The announcement may be made to the subscriber prior to bridging of the subscriber's call to facilitate entry of the subscriber into a chat session. Alternatively, or in addition, the announcement may be made after the subscriber has entered the chat session, but before (or after) the subscriber has requested an enhanced chat service feature, such as a private conversation or information access.

Abstract: An architecturally and cost efficient method and system are disclosed for accessing a voice messaging platform. An exemplary method for accessing the platform includes: (1) forwarding a telephone call to the platform over foreign exchange lines when the telephone call involves a caller who, upon call initiation to a called party subscriber, encountered a busy or ring-no-answer condition, so that the caller may leave a message for the called party in the called party's mailbox; and (2) routing a telephone call to the platform over a trunk group local to the platform when the telephone call involves a caller-subscriber initiating a telephone call directly to the platform to access his/her mailbox to retrieve messages, administer greetings, and/or send voice messages to other subscribers. For calls forwarded over foreign exchange lines, the platform is provided with a wide variety of call information transmitted via an SMDI link.

Abstract: A device and a method for directing incoming calls from a single input telephone line to either a facsimile machine, a data modem, or a telephone is provided. An incoming call is initially assumed to be a voice call, with ample time provided for allowing a person to answer the phone. The device and method provide for "isolating" both a facsimile machine and a data modem until after a predetermined delay period, thus preventing them to answer the call. The delay period may, for example be three to seven rings, thus allowing ample time for an operator or answering machine to answer the call and not cause any serious inconvenience to the caller. If a person or answering machine has not answered the call within the delay period, an off-hook condition is simulated to the input telephone line, thus "answering" the call. The signal on the input telephone line is then detected. If the signal includes a DTMF digit, various functions are performed including resetting internal variables.

Abstract: In a facsimile apparatus, image data and voice data are stored in a common memory, management information for discriminating whether data stored within the memory is image data or voice data is formed, and storage of the image data and the voice data into the memory and reading of this data from the memory, are controlled in accordance with the management information.

Abstract: The present invention describes an automatic voice messaging system for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectible to a first switch and a called station connectible to a second switch, with the first and second switches connected by a digital serial link. The voice messaging system preferably comprises an interface, a detection circuit, a speech circuit and a control circuit. The interface monitors signals on the digital serial link. The detection circuitry is connected to the interface for detecting busy or ring/no answer conditions at the called station upon call initiation to the called station from the calling station, and for detecting receipt of a predetermined code from the calling station indicating that the caller desires to leave a message for the called station. The speech circuit is also connected to the interface for issuing a predetermined prompt to a user of the calling station.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for interfacing a plurality of voice messaging systems with a communications network are disclosed. Voice messages from voice message computers 450 are processed by an interface 410 and transmitted over communications network 390 to its destination. The interface allows the voice messaging computers to establish connection to the communications network without dialing into it.

Abstract: A method for enabling a plurality of Local Service Providers within a common Numbering Plan Area (NPA) to serve Subscribers of the plurality of Local Service Providers. The method includes the step of assigning to each Subscriber of a Local Service Provider within the common NPA a unique three digit code, hereinafter referred to as a service provider area (SPA) code. The SPA code is used by the telephone system in the same manner presently used for routing calls made when a calling Subscriber dials the NPA code of the called party. Here, however, the SPA code is not dialed by the calling Subscriber. The dialed directory number, NXX-XXXX, of a called Subscriber subscribed to a different Local Service Provider, is sent to a database. The database maintains a record of the relationships between the directory numbers of Subscribers and the SPA codes of the Subscribers. The database retrieves the SPA code associated with the dialed directory number presently serving the called Subscriber.

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.

Abstract: A system D interfaces with a multiplicity of individual terminals T1-Tn of a telephone network facility C, at the terminals callers are prompted by voice-generated instructions to provide digital data that is identified for positive association with a caller and is stored for processing. The caller's identification data is confirmed using various techniques and callers may be ranked and accounted for on the basis of entitlement, sequence or demographics. Callers are assigned random designations that are stored along with statistical and identification data. A break-off control circuit may terminate the computer interface aborting to a terminal for direct communication with an operator. Real-time operation processing is an alternative to stored data. The accumulation of stored data (statistical, calling order sequence, etc.) is variously processed and correlated as with developed or established data to isolate a select group or subset of callers who can be readily identified and reliably confirmed.

Abstract: A protective cover for a telephone mouthpiece and earpiece having a protective cover member with slots therethrough and deflector bars recessed below and spaced from the protective cover member. Openings are formed at the internal edges of the slots and the deflector bars. A skirt depending from the protective cover member has locking tabs located on the inside of the skirt to permit the attachment of the protective cover over the telephone mouthpiece and earpiece, and a detachment flange extending normal from the skirt for removal of the protective cover from the telephone. A portion of the cover member is cutaway to ensure an accommodating fit over the telephone mouthpiece and earpiece.

Abstract: When an optional communications device connected to a public network is entered as an extension terminal accommodated by a private network, the communications device sends a predetermined special number. If the service control device provided in the public network receives the special number, then it prompts the communications device for the identification information of a user of the communications device. At the prompt, the user transmits the user identification information from the communications device to the service control device. If the identification information is preliminarily entered, then the communications device sends a user number in the number system of the public network assigned to the communications device to the service control device. The service control device enters the user number as being associated with a predetermined number in a number system in the private network.

Abstract: A message management system comprising apparatus for producing a multi-media message, including a visually sensible portion and an aurally sensible portion, control apparatus for transmitting the multi-media message to a selected subscriber and apparatus for providing notification to the selected subscriber of the arrival of a multi-media message.

Abstract: The detection of echo is enhanced using a coarse near-end speech detector at a Y-side of an echo canceler and using a more accurate near-end speech detector at the E-side of the echo canceler, such that the latter detector uses a representation of far-end speech and a threshold value to determine if the magnitude of the echo canceler output is larger than that of an echo signal only. If it is, and there is an absence of an indication of the presence of near-end speech from the coarse detector, then the more accurate speech detector adjusts the value of the threshold in a first direction, otherwise it adjusts the threshold in a second direction, to more "finely tone" such accuracy.

Abstract: Disclosed is an intercept system for integrating the personalized services of switchboard attendants associated with on-premises PBX switching systems, with the capabilities of the intercept system for allowing calling parties the opportunity to complete their own calls to the on-premises switching systems when the telephone extension numbers of the called parties are known to the calling parties. Depending on the mode of system operation selected, the intercept system either presents all incoming calls directly to the switchboard attendants, or intercepts all incoming calls and presents the caller the opportunity to complete the call, or a combination in which incoming calls are first offered to the switchboard attendants for assistance and then after a time wherein attendant assistance is not gained, the call is intercepted and the caller is given an opportunity to complete the call.

Abstract: A device and a method for directing incoming calls from a single input telephone line to either a facsimile machine, a data modem, or a telephone is provided. The device and method provide for "isolating" both a facsimile machine and a data modem until after a predetermined delay period, thus preventing them to answer the call. If a person or answering machine has not answered the call within the delay period, an off-hook condition is simulated to the input telephone line, thus "answering" the call. The signal on the input telephone line is then detected. If the signal includes a DTMF digit, various functions are performed including resetting internal variables. If a facsimile handshake signal is detected, the facsimile machine is rung with a ring simulator. The facsimile machine can then read the incoming handshake signal and proceed in a conventional fashion.

Abstract: Resistive circuits are provided at the tip and ring of the battery feed circuit as a method of alleviating the need for bulky DC transformers or complex integrated circuitry. The voltage is monitored through a set of comparators eliminating the expense of maintaining fused resistors. The voltages for voice or data transmission is amplified prior to being transmitted. Received signals are AC coupled, with proper biasing, onto the tip and ring lines. Any AC noise on the tip and ring line is shifted 180 degrees out of phase and re-inserted on the line to cancel the noise. As an enhancement to the battery feed circuit, another voltage comparator is added to check the line for DC current signifying an off hook condition.

Abstract: A synthesized message storage and retrieval .Iadd.system .Iaddend.generates response messages by concatentating a sequence of words that have been recorded in digital memory in the voice of the operator in accordance with prescribed inflection characteristics. By linking together phrases or words having selectively chosen inflections in the voice of the operator, the resulting vocalized message will more naturally simulate the manner of speech of the operator and thereby provide a more realistic verbalization of the message to the customer. In accordance with the communications functionality of the operator's voice message mechanism, the system performs a plurality of tasks for the operator, including automatically answering all incoming calls with a prerecorded phrase dependent on the type of call being serviced and, by means of an auxiliary audio interface with the call director, the output message can be delivered to the customer whether or not the operator is connected to the call.