Abstract: An application server that provides RBT treatment to a caller and simultaneously notifies the called party, as subscriber of the service facilitated by the present invention, of an incoming call, whereby the called party is able to select a treatment for the call to be presented to the caller based on input collected from the called party on a real-time basis.

Abstract: In the present invention, a caller is presented with the state of the call as detected by the network, along with a number of potential options, such as: request sequential or parallel call notification to one or more other stations; end the call but leave a voicemail for the caller even if the called party does not subscribe to voicemail; end the call but leave a text message for the caller if the station is capable of receiving the text message; send a text or voice message as e-mail to the called party, if the called party permits such a service; request the network to leave a missed call notification along with a number to dial back; request to notify the caller when the original called party is idle or willing to accept a call; or any number of other options the service provider is capable of supporting.

Abstract: In the present invention, a caller is presented with the state of the call as detected by the network, along with a number of potential options, such as: request sequential or parallel call notification to one or more other stations; end the call but leave a voicemail for the caller even if the called party does not subscribe to voicemail; end the call but leave a text message for the caller if the station is capable of receiving the text message; send a text or voice message as e-mail to the called party, if the called party permits such a service; request the network to leave a missed call notification along with a number to dial back; request to notify the caller when the original called party is idle or willing to accept a call; or any number of other options the service provider is capable of supporting.

Abstract: An application server that provides RBT treatment to a caller and simultaneously notifies the called party, as subscriber of the service facilitated by the present invention, of an incoming call, whereby the called party is able to select a treatment for the call to be presented to the caller based on input collected from the called party on a real-time basis.

Abstract: A method and system of providing personally endorsed advertising content to a calling party in lieu of a ring back tone (RBT). The method and system is further adapted to apply rules selected by a subscriber in connection with the provision of personally endorsed advertising content to a calling party.

Abstract: A method and system of providing ring back tone (RBT) content to a calling party, based on obtaining location based data related to a terminal, correlating the location based data to RBT content and providing the correlated RBT content to the calling party. The method and system is further adapted to apply rules selected by an RBT subscriber in connection with the provision of RBT content to a calling party. The RBT content is localized to the location of the called party. For example, the RBT content can be one selected from the group consisting of regional or local music, regional or local speech, regional or local news, regional or local events calendar, regional or local sports, regional or local weather, and regional or local time.

Abstract: A method and system for coupling, e.g., via the Internet or via other data channel, calendar and scheduling information or data from a calendar and scheduling software application to a functional node of a telecommunications system such as a service platform, an application server or service control point. Alternatively, the present invention is a node coupled to a telecommunication system, the node adapted to accept calendaring and scheduling information or data from a calendar and scheduling software application, and, based on such data, control the treatment of calls made to a subscriber. In this manner, the subscriber can specify the treatment of calls placed to the subscriber based on the subscriber's calendar or scheduling software application.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing a subscriber of equipment to control the content of a Ring Back Tone (RBT) (i) based on a restriction level or maturity rating, or (ii) dynamically, during the process of connecting a call. More specifically, during call setup, (a) provisioned or subscribed RBT control can be based on maturity level and (b) dynamic RBT control, includes the ability to: override subscribed/provisioned restriction level, block RBT content being played permanently or skip RBT content being played during current call set up time.

Abstract: Emergency call-routing apparatus, and an associated method, for use in a packet-based, telephonic network. An emergency call router is positioned selectably to provide local call handling functionality to a local network that is normally connected by way of an access gateway to the telephonic network whose operation is normally controlled by a softswitch. The apparatus is used when, e.g., a total communication link failure condition occurs between the access gateway and the softswitch. The emergency call router selectably routes calls within the local network to permit continued, local calling functionality in spite of the failure of the communication link. High-priority calls, such as calls placed to an emergency dispatch center, are routed within the local network to a designated, local-network station. And local calls are also selectably routed by the emergency call router. A call priority scheme is also used in the event that call capacity is exceeded.

Abstract: A communications system (8) includes a data network (10) and one or more telecommunication terminals (32) coupled to the network for communicating by sending and receiving packetized data over the network (10). A monitoring terminal (32b) can monitor user activity on one or more of the telecommunication terminals (32a). A graphical proxy server (34), in communication with the one or more telecommunication terminals (32) and with the monitoring terminal (32b), sends graphical commands to implement the graphical interfaces on the telecommunication terminals (32) and sends graphical commands to the monitoring terminal (32b) indicative of actions taken on one or more of the telecommunication terminals (32a).

Abstract: Emergency call-routing apparatus, and an associated method, for use in a packet-based, telephonic network. An emergency call router is positioned selectably to provide local call handling functionality to a local network that is normally connected by way of an access gateway to the telephonic network whose operation is normally controlled by a softswitch. The apparatus is used when, e.g., a total communication link failure condition occurs between the access gateway and the softswitch. The emergency call router selectably routes calls within the local network to permit continued, local calling functionality in spite of the failure of the communication link. High-priority calls, such as calls placed to an emergency dispatch center, are routed within the local network to a designated, local-network station. And local calls are also selectably routed by the emergency call router. A call priority scheme is also used in the event that call capacity is exceeded.

Abstract: Callers to a number subscribing to a screening application are prompted that a fee will be charged for the connection to be completed. The prompting can occur at the initiation of the call, prior to any connection to the called party, or after the called party has had a chance to screen the call. The calling party can choose whether to complete the connection or to terminate the call. If the connection is completed, the fee is charged; otherwise, the call is terminated. Accordingly, most unwanted calls are avoided and users are compensated for receiving unwanted calls that are completed.