Abstract: A conferencing system provides automated conference moderation at appropriate times to suppress disorder in an on-going conference. According to particular embodiments, a conference bridge provides multi-mode speaker selection to provide automated conference moderation for a disorderly conference.

Abstract: Systems and method for providing conference communications. Various of the methods include receiving a communication request that includes an access identification. The access identification is used to identify two or more connections. Communication is initiated between communication devices associated with the two or more connections and the communication device that initiated the communication request. Various systems are also disclosed that implement the aforementioned method, as well as other methods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for expediting subject matter evolution of an information exchange during a contact through a communication system between a client and an agent of an organization that possesses an expertise in the subject matter of the contact. The method includes the steps of providing a state map of subject matter progression of the subject matter of the contact from a starting point to subject matter resolution along a plurality of parallel subject matter paths, fitting a subject matter progression of the contact within a progression of subject matter of a most likely one of the plurality of parallel subject matter paths of the state map and prompting the agent with prospective subject matter from the most likely one of the plurality of subject matter paths.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for controlling a communications system having a plurality of voice channels and a user terminal for receiving at least one of the voice channels comprising: a receiving element for receiving a plurality of the voice channels, a controller for identifying one of the voice channels to be monitored, an event detection element for detecting the presence of a predeterminable event in the identified voice channel, and an alert generator for generating an alert when the predetermined event is detected.

Abstract: A method and system for treating telephone calls at a services node prior to completing the telephone call. The services node may provide a variety of services to treat the telephone call such as a Personal Access Service or playing a pre-recorded message. After treatment at the services node, the system recognizes that the telephone call has already been treated at a services node and the call is completed.

Abstract: A method of providing telephone response unit (TRU)-based services includes receiving from a point-of-sale (POS) device a request at a host computer system to activate TRU-based services. The request includes an identifier that indicates the specific TRU-based services to be activated. The method also includes confirming the availability of the specific TRU-based services to be activated and storing at the host computer system information that indicates the services are activated. The method also includes returning a message to the POS that indicates that the TRU-based services have been activated.

Abstract: A mobile station comprises a reception unit configured to receive a signal transmitted from a base station; a selection unit configured to select a communication area to perform communication from a plurality of communication areas based on traffic load in the plurality of communication areas where the reception unit can receive the signal; and a notification unit configured to notify the base station of the communication area selected. Another mobile station comprises a reception unit configured to receive a signal transmitted from a base station; a calculation unit configured to calculate a ratio of an average reception quality value over a short period to an average reception quality value over a long period; and a selection unit configured to select a communication area to perform communication from a plurality of communication areas where the reception unit can receive the signal, based on the ratio.

Abstract: An example information delivering device includes a conversation relaying section for relaying conversation data between users of two or more information terminals. The conversation data corresponds to a conversation between the respective users of the information terminals. An additional information delivering section adds audio data such as advertisements and music to the conversation data so that the audio data and the conversation data can be reproduced simultaneously by one or more of the information terminals, while the conversation relaying section relays the conversation data between the information terminals. This allows the information delivering device to deliver additional information such as advertisements and music during a telephone conversation.

Abstract: The present invention, which meets the needs identified above, is an apparatus and method of controlling a conference call using an improvement on the conference calling center's computer software. The control program allows the host of a conference call to selectively control the dissemination of information between conference call participants. The control program allows the host to designate other hosts, create private meetings among conference call participants, mute any number of participants in relation to each other, or completely exclude participants. The participants may also send messages to other participants or the host using the present invention. A control screen is disclosed that allows the user to direct the flow of information among participants. A connection screen is also disclosed to further assist the host in determining the appropriate flow of information between participants.

Abstract: An apparatus (40) and method for switching a customer-premises telephone line (36) between a plurality of local telephone networks (35). The local telephone networks may have different electrical and operational characteristics. Using less than 100 micro-amperes of current from the telephone networks, the apparatus (40) requires no external power and performs its tasks without interfering with the normal operation of the telephone networks including test equipment, terminal equipment, data transmission on the telephone line and test equipment. The method involves monitoring electrical signals on both local telephone networks (35) and using this information to assign a weight to each network. The customer-premises telephone line (36) is switched to the telephone network having the highest weight.

Abstract: A method for managing calls of an automatic call distributor includes receiving a call from a user over a first connection with a first endpoint of the user. The call comprises a request for service. The method includes obtaining presence information of the user and associating the call with the presence information. The method includes placing the call in a queue until a suitable agent becomes available to provide the service to the user. A virtual contact is established to hold a place of the call in an order in the queue if the first connection is terminated. The method also includes establishing a second connection with the user and detecting the presence of the user associated with the second connection. The method includes associating the second connection with the virtual contact using the detected presence of the user.

Abstract: A Voice over IP network having multiple signaling message transfer nodes (e.g., call agents, signaling gateways), communicate with switched circuit network nodes using a single point code. A signaling gateway, upon receiving an SS7 signaling message specifying a destination point code corresponding to its provisioned point code and carrying a signaling application protocol message, selects a destination call agent based on the originating point code in the SS7 signaling message and independent of the destination point code. The signaling gateway selectively outputs to the selected destination call agent an IP-based message carrying the signaling application protocol message according to a prescribed IP-based signaling message transport protocol, based on a determined availability of the selected destination call agent. The signaling gateway uses the User Part Unavailable message to inform the originating PSTN switch that the selected destination call agent is unavailable.

Abstract: A method of routing interLATA network traffic includes the steps of receiving a number of dialed digits at a first service switching point (18) in a first virtual network (10). Then a query is sent to a service control point (24). When the dialed digits result in the call to a facility (32) in a second virtual network (26) connected to the first virtual network (10) by a tie line (38), the call is routed to a hub service switching point (34) in the second virtual network (26) over the tie line (38).

Abstract: An arrangement provides a work environment to a remote user who is logged-in as a member of an enterprise, which work environment includes both a telecommunication capability and a data processing capability, and both are concurrently associated with the logged-in user. The data processing capability is restricted to the user obtaining only views of files, rather than the files themselves, and all file processing that can potentially store data is restricted to applications that can store files only in a range of locations specified by the enterprise.

Abstract: A speed dial list associated with a telephone line is received via at least one of a computer network and a telephone network. The speed dial list is stored in a database and associated with an identifier of the telephone line. An event of connecting a telephone set to the telephone line is detected. Based on the event, the telephone line to which the telephone set has been connected is identified. The speed dial list associated with the identified telephone line is retrieved. A machine-readable form of the speed dial list is communicated to the telephone set via the telephone network.

Abstract: A method is provided for accounting of data transmission costs in a mobile radio network with respect to text and/or image data with and without sound, wherein data is assigned an identification signal for the transmission costs, and the identification signal is transmitted to a recipient of the data.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for enabling a telecommunications network-based healthcare information system (NBHIS). A data connection is established with a rule-based application dataserver of a telecommunications network facility to control access, sharing, notification, security, and/or management of electronic healthcare data exchanged between or among different legacy systems of NBHIS participants. Typically, the rule-based application dataserver is associated with a central office (“CO”), a mobile telephone switching center (“MTSO”), or a combination CO/MTSO.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for analysing the functions of a signal transfer point in a telecommunications network, said method comprising: Regularly collecting all IPR messages from said signal transfer point and store said messages as a raw data file in a memory, Storing the data present in said IPR messages in a context-linked database, and Creating a report based on data present in said IPR messages by querying said context-linked database.

Abstract: A telephony system (100) includes a user device (110, 130) configured to enable a user of the telephony system (100) to place and receive telephone calls, and a service node (180, 185) configured to communicate with the user device (110, 130) and to thereby provide the user with an automated voice interface to the telephony system (100) upon the user's initiating access to the telephony system (100) via the user device (110, 130). The automated voice interface permits the user to verbally specify a desired objective corresponding to any one of a number of predefined objectives, the predefined objectives including directory assisted call placement and at least one form of information retrieval. Upon receiving the desired objective from the user, the service node (180, 185) acts to implement the desired objective.

Abstract: In a method of power saving operation of communication terminals in a communication system, at least two operating modes are defined: active and sleep plus optionally standby. Announcements sent out from a master station over an announcement channel are monitored within fixed time windows and thereafter the operating modes of the terminals are controlled. Synchronization information/frame symbols from the master station are also analyzed in the sleep phases and in the standby phases.