Abstract: A telecommunications network (41) for providing telecommunication subscribers (12, 14, 16, 18, and 20) with special features independent of the subscriber's number plan includes a first switch (40.sub.1) that receives an incoming call for a dialed number subscriber. For each received call, the switch launches a first query to a first data base (Segmentation Directory 54) that identifies a particular one of a plurality of special features data bases (56.sub.1 -56.sub.x) containing call processing information for the special feature subscribed to by the subscriber. In response to the identity of the particular special features data base returned to the switch via the first query, the switch launches a second query to the identified special features data base to obtain the call processing information needed to process the call to provide the special feature. In this way, a POTS subscriber can obtain a special feature, such as time-of-day or geographic routing, for example.

Abstract: With the advent of personal digital assistants (PDAs) having modems for information, e.g., facsimile and/or data, transmission over wireless connections, as well as the capability for voice communications, we have recognized that is possible to communicate with a person, wherever they are, in whatever form is desired. In order to do so in a manner that simulates the way a person at a fixed location having a separate telephone, fax machine and data modem would communicate, incorporate into a PDA is a) a receiver for a wireless actuation signal that indicates that a communication of some type is waiting for a called party; b) an outgoing connection origination unit that establishes a connection from the PDA to the waiting communication; c) a discriminator, which makes a determination as to the type of communication that is waiting; and d) a selection unit that routes the information signals received over the connection established by the PDA to an appropriate communication unit within the PDA, e.g.

Abstract: Aggregated billing for calls originating from separate telephone stations (12-20) may be obtained by accessing a segmentation directory (54) upon the receipt of the call at an originating switch (40.sub.1) within a telecommunications network. The segmentation directory contains a table that associates each of a plurality of common account numbers with telephone stations having telephone numbers assigned to the same subscriber. The common account associated by the segmentation directory for an incoming call is used in creation of the billing record for charges associated with the call. The charges contained in the billing records for calls associated with the common account number can be combined to yield an aggregate bill.

Abstract: Encumbrances on making calls charged to a card can be reduced by a) storing information so that an association is created relating a card number and at least one calling telephone station, from which card calls charged to the associated card are to be made, b) using the association to retrieve the card number at the time a card call is made from the at least one associated telephone station and c) automatically supplying the retrieved card number to the telephone network at the appropriate part of call set-up, so that the card number need not be entered by the calling party. The association between the card number and the telephone station, which may be referred to as a "logical link", is 1) independent of any pre-existing relationship between the card number, or any subset thereof, and the telephone number of the telephone station and 2) continues to exist despite the going on hook of the calling telephone station.

Abstract: A telecommunications system is configured for restarting a telephone call within a telephone network as the call is processed from an originating station progressively through the telephone network. The system determines that the originally dialed number is not associated with optimum processing of the call to a desired final destination. A determination based on call identifier information stored at a telephone network switch or database involves analyzing the call identifier information for caller input or indications of equipment type. A determination can also be made based on messages or data received relating to operational conditions of the switching network; or, data relating to and describing a destination, such as equipment type or services and features available.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for employing a communication system to mediate a transaction involving one of a plurality of files and programs corresponding to a plurality of applications residing on a single smart card. The invention uses a smart card gateway which provides a transparency in the communication between a caller station and a subscriber station and subscriber host associated with one of the applications. The smart card gateway facilitates transactions involving smart cards, and permits completed transactions to be recorded on the smart card as well as stored in a database associated with the smart card gateway.

Abstract: Encumbrances on making calls charged to a card can be reduced by a) storing information so that an association is created relating a card number and at least one calling telephone station, from which card calls charged to the associated card are to be made, b) using the association to retrieve the card number at the time a card call is made from the at least one associated telephone station and c) automatically supplying the retrieved card number to the telephone network at the appropriate part of call set-up, so that the card number need not be entered by the calling party. The association between the card number and the telephone station, which may be referred to as a "logical link", is 1) independent of any pre-existing relationship between the card number, or any subset thereof, and the telephone number of the telephone station and 2) continues to exist despite the going on hook of the calling telephone station.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and a method for a) queuing a call when no attendants are available to service that call b) soliciting and collecting initial information from the caller while the call is in the holding queue c) querying a database using the collected initial information as search key(s) to retrieve additional information needed to service the call, and d) displaying the collected and/or retrieved information to the next available attendant, as the call is received by that attendant.

Abstract: A system for completing a series of calls from a calling party to a plurality of called parties served by a common terminating switch and located in the same general geographic area, is implemented by a) establishing a first communication path from the calling party to the terminating switch b) establishing a second communication path from the terminating switch to the the called party using routing information received from the calling party regarding the called party c) bridging those two communication paths to form a complete connection from the calling party to the called party d) preserving the first communication path and reusing it to complete all the calls in the series.

Abstract: A system for processing a database-queried call uses the call processing capabilities of a carrier's database and a subscriber's database as part of a total communication switching system. Generally, origination information such as as ANI, dialed number and caller entered information are forwarded by the originating switch to the carrier's database which sends them to the subscriber's database. The latter uses prestored programs and callers' related information to formulate a processing label for the call. The processing label is comprised of i) a routing label which provides input to the carrier's database to select a destination number for the call ii) an end point label which includes information to be passed to the subscriber's premise equipment and iii) a billing information label which can be used by the originating switch to create a customized billing record for the call.

Abstract: A telephone call initiated from a first network and directed to a second network at which network resources are temporarily unavailable to route and/or switch that call, is completed by a) estimating the anticipated time before these resources can become available, b) offering the caller the option of being called back, based on that estimation, c) calling back the caller when network resources are expected to become available, d) establishing a connection from the first network to the called party at the second network, and e) merging the two calls.

Abstract: In order to enable an "800" telephone number business subscriber to identify customers, whose incoming telephone calls were blocked, the Automatic Number Identification (ANI) of these calling customer is automatically recorded within the telecommunications network for later access by the business subscriber.

Abstract: A call billing method and apparatus specifies, on a call-by-call basis, the calling charges incurred by a caller during a call to a sponsor-provided value-added service. The method provides the sponsor real time access to rate tables to specify call billing parameters needed to rate calls made to a sponsor number. A billing number is determined and validated and used to identify the party to receive a billing record for the call. A separate billing record is created for each call to the sponsor's number which includes sponsor-specified charges determined using the call billing parameters. Another feature enables the caller or called party to provide call billing parameters for billing and identificaiton purposes.

Abstract: Disclosed are schemes for selecting an interexchange telephone call carrier, selecting a route to the selected carrier, and establishing a call path on the selected route to the selected carrier in a multicarrier environment. Call path establishment from an end office at which a call is originating to the carrier's office is accomplished via a multifrequency signaling scheme. If the call is an international call or the route is an indirect route to a carrier via an access tandem, following seizure of a trunk the end office outpulses thereon a first sequence of information that characterizes the subsequent route that the call should take, including identity of the interexchange or international carrier. After receiving a wink responsive to the first sequence, the end office outpulses a second sequence. If the call is a domestic call routed directly to a carrier, following seizure of the trunk the end office begins outpulsing with the second sequence.