Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for sending a server-specified message from an application server to Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) without setting up a call path between the application server and the CPE. The application server is coupled with a switch, which is in turn coupled with the CPE. The application server sends a request to the switch. The switch sends, based upon the request, a predetermined server-specified message to the CPE without setting up a call path between the application server and the CPE. The CPE is not rung and the predetermined message is not affected by the features of the line associated with the CPE.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for serving telecommunications customers, using the transmission capabilities of a Packet Network. A customer having Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) that includes a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)/Gateway for communicating with a Packet Network, is connected to a port of the Packet Network. The customer is connected to the Gateway of a Home Switch via the Packet Network, and is also connected to Gateways of one or more Guest Switches. The customer has telephone numbers in the Home Switch and each of the Guest Switches. Callers can call the customer as if that customer were directly served by the Home Switch or any of the Guest Switches. Advantageously, the customer and callers to that customer are billed only for the short, usually local, call rate from the selected Home or Guest Switch. Advantageously, the customer can make outgoing calls dynamically via any of the Guest Switches.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for providing, to a service provider, telemetry access to customer equipment. The telemetry access is provided using wireless access means to avoid having to provide special residential wiring to connect to meters and control devices at customer premises. Each customer device is provided with a cellular station having its own mobile identity, either an international mobile switching identifier (IMSI) or a mobile identity number (MIN). Each IMSI or MIN need not be associated with a different telephone number. For example, a single telephone number can be assigned to a service provider to access all devices telemetered by that service provided. Advantageously, this arrangement provides for an inexpensive method and apparatus for accessing customer devices.

Abstract: An electromagnet assembly for supplying a region of concentrated electromagnetic flux is provided. The assembly includes a flat strip of an electrically conductive metal. The strip has a first and a second opposite planar surfaces at least one of which is covered by a dielectric material. The strip has first and second end portions. The strip is wound in a coil including at least one first loop and one second loop and disposing the second opposite planar surface in the first loop substantially adjacent the first opposite planar surface in the second loop. The coil is disposed about an axis of symmetry configured to concentrate electromagnetic flux at a midpoint on the axis of symmetry. First and second electrical terminals are connected at the first and second end portions, respectively.

Abstract: A hybrid network (100) includes a plurality of network elements (102, 106, 110, 114) that are coupled together by communication links (116, 118, 120, 122, 124). The network elements operate on different communications protocols. A loop back test message traverses a path (140) across network elements to test the integrity and quality of the path. Each network element that receives the loop back message modifies the message in a predetermined manner. The originator of the message verifies that the message was modified in an appropriate manner and in an appropriate time frame to determine integrity and quality.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling administration of Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) queues of an ACD or network of ACDs by a caller, and of communicating data to an ACD Agent. The caller receives information concerning the status of queues in one or a plurality of ACDs. If the caller wishes to communicate with a particular Agent, wait time for that Agent is provided to the caller. The caller can select a particular Agent, and will be connected when that Agent becomes available subject to other restrictions of the ACD queue. The caller can prepare information for transmission to an answering Agent while the caller waits. Advantageously, the caller can control which Agent or which sub-group of Agents should respond to his/her call, taking into account the different waiting times associated with a particular Agent or the first available Agent when the caller reaches the top of the queue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling administration of Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) queues of an ACD or network of ACDs by a caller, and of communicating data to an ACD Agent. The caller receives information concerning the status of queues in one or a plurality of ACDs. If the caller wishes to communicate with a particular Agent, wait time for that Agent is provided to the caller. The caller can select a particular Agent, and will be connected when that Agent becomes available subject to other restrictions of the ACD queue. The caller can prepare information for transmission to an answering Agent while the caller waits. Advantageously, the caller can control which Agent or which sub-group of Agents should respond to his/her call, taking into account the different waiting times associated with a particular Agent or the first available Agent when the caller reaches the top of the queue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling administration of Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) queues of an ACD or network of ACDs by a caller, and of communicating data to and from an ACD Agent. The caller receives information concerning the status of queues in one or a plurality of ACDs. If the caller wishes to communicate with a particular Agent, wait time for that Agent is provided to the caller. The caller can select a particular Agent, and will be connected when that Agent becomes available subject to other restrictions of the ACD queue. The caller can prepare information for transmission to an answering Agent while the caller waits. Advantageously, the caller can control which Agent or which sub-group of Agents should respond to his/her call, taking into account the different waiting times associated with a particular Agent or the first available Agent when the caller reaches the top of the queue. Advantageously, the caller can link to ACD Agents from multiple companies by accessing an ACD Network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling administration of Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) queues of an ACD or network of ACDs by a caller, and of communicating data to an ACD Agent. The caller receives information concerning the status of queues in one or a plurality of ACDs. If the caller wishes to communicate with a particular Agent, wait time for that Agent is provided to the caller. The caller can select a particular Agent, and will be connected when that Agent becomes available subject to other restrictions of the ACD queue. The caller can prepare information for transmission to an answering Agent while the caller waits. Advantageously, the caller can control which Agent or which sub-group of Agents should respond to his/her call, taking into account the different waiting times associated with a particular Agent or the first available Agent when the caller reaches the top of the queue.

Abstract: Data generated at a telecommunications network switching node is selectively delivered to one or more data receiving device (e.g., data “collection box”) connected to the network, and command and control signaling is transmitted from the data receiving device to the switching node. This bi-directional communication is carried out in a manner compatible with voice grade lines. In an exemplary application, call identifying information, referred to in the TIA/EIA Standard as CDC (Call Data Channel) Messages, is delivered from an Intercept Access Point (IAP) switch that provides telephone service to a subject of an authorized surveillance order, to a law enforcement data collection box, utilizing Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) signals. Control signals are sent from the data collection box to the IAP switch utilizing Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signaling.

Abstract: An electromagnet assembly for supplying a region of concentrated electromagnetic flux is provided. The assembly includes a flat strip of an electrically conductive metal. The strip has a first and a second opposite planar surfaces at least one of which is covered by a dielectric material. The strip has first and second end portions. The strip is wound in a coil including at least one first loop and one second loop and disposing the second opposite planar surface in the first loop substantially adjacent the first opposite planar surface in the second loop. The coil is disposed about an axis of symmetry configured to concentrate electromagnetic flux at a midpoint on the axis of symmetry. First and second electrical terminals are connected at the first and second end portions, respectively.

Abstract: Enhanced subscriber line monitoring is provided for telephone calls in a telecommunications network. A telecommunications switch (102) is coupled to adjunct processor (104). Subscriber lines (110) terminated by the telecommunications switch are selectively monitored. Call identifying information and call content received by the telecommunications switch is forwarded to the adjunct processor for storage and analysis. The analysis includes determining the class of call content, e.g., voice or data. Call content is used to determine quality associated with a call. The call analysis is used for network management, new service development, long term usage forecasting, service differentiation for billing and targeted marketing opportunities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conserving Communications Content Channels between a serving switching system and a Law Enforcement Agency premises. After a connection has been established between the serving switch and the Law Enforcement Agency premises using one of the Communications Content Channels, an Agent can transmit an indication that the communication is no-longer of interest; in response to receipt of that indication, the switch disconnects the call from the Communications Content Channel. Advantageously, this arrangement can reduce the number of Communications Content Channels required to monitor a particular target customer, and can overcome arrangements for flooding the Communications Content Channels with non-significant messages.

Abstract: A novel Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) Center allows an on-hold customer, upon learning of an unacceptable waiting time for service, to accept a date- and time-stamped “Priority Token,” and then end the current telephone call. If the customer calls the ACD Center back within a predefined Token Window (stored in the ACD system memory and announced to the customer as he/she is receiving the Priority Token), as indicated by the automatic presentation of the Priority Token, the customer is placed back into the queue position he/she had during the previous call, or if that queue position has already passed, the customer is placed at the top of the queue to be served by the next available agent. The Priority Token stored in the ACD system memory includes the Directory Number in the preferred embodiment for ease of detection of calls incoming to the ACD Center.

Abstract: A system and method for polling communication lines in a communication system having a plurality of communication lines and at least one telemetry device coupled to one of the plurality of communication lines. The method comprises the steps of creating a polling signal at the network switch, transmitting the polling signal from the network switch to one of the communication lines and determining whether the one communication line is associated with the telemetry device.

Abstract: In a system and method for the collection of alphanumeric data from Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) at the behest of an enhanced service provider (such as a utility company) requesting said data, a CPE transmits the data in the form of a synthesized voice signal, obviating the need for modems. The invention is useful for applications such as Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) and Home and Business Electronic Systems (HBES). The targeted CPE in such a system, after being connected to a remote applications server via a telephone call including “suppressed ringing,” converts data collected to a standard voice signal via a voice synthesizer and transmits the voice signal to the applications server. The applications server performs a speech-to-text conversion to place the data back into its alphanumeric form.

Abstract: A system and method enabling a remote customer station (server, CPE or end user) to control, or modify, selected functional capabilities of a telephone switch via control messages sent after cell setup and during the course of a data stream. The customer station receives back from the telephone switch indications of modifications in status of the switch occurring in response to the control messages. The functional capabilities which may be modified include both software and hardware configurations of the telephone switch.

Abstract: In a packet data communications system (100) that supports VoIP communications via cable modem, a fail over detector (200) identifies trouble (eq, no dial tone, delayed dial tone, low quality of service, no voltage, no current, network busy) on or within the communications path. In response, voice communications are switched to a secondary path, such as, for example, the PSTN, or some other reliable and/or predictable communications network, thereby insuring uninterrupted voice communications.

Abstract: A power supply for an electromagnetic force system comprising a slow current pulse system in parallel with a dumping circuit feeding a blocking inductor in parallel with a series of diodes; a fast current pulse system of opposing polarity and parallel to the slow current pulse system and blocking inductor, the fast pulse system including a triggered vacuum spark-gap for discharging the fast current pulse system through a working coil such that the current through the coil decreases rapidly and the magnetic field in the gap decreases substantially while the magnetic field in and behind the work piece decreases only slightly, resulting in a large field gradient across the work piece and the creation of a pulse of tension force on the work piece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a suppressed ringing connection between a server and customer premises equipment, wherein the server is connected to a first switch and the customer premises equipment is connected to a second switch, different from said first switch. The switch connected to the server has translation information identifying the trunk to the server as a server trunk. Signaling between the server, which is not connected to the Common Channel Signaling Network (CCS7), and the second switch is performed according to the protocols used for sending messages to a switch connected to the target customer premises equipment that is at the other end of the suppressed ringing connection. The first switch converts signals received from the server into a common channel signaling format for transmission to the second switch, serving the target CPE. The second switch then establishes a suppressed ringing connection to the target CPE.