Abstract: The system of the present invention allows a customer to access a company computer system via a data network and to request contact with a customer service representative. The company computer system automatically selects a customer service center and a customer service representative in accordance with a set of selection criteria, including customer preferences. A monitor, also connected to the company computer system via the data network, may choose to accept or to change the selections made by the company computer system. Once a customer service representative has been selected, the company computer system causes a telecommunication control device to connect the customer, the selected customer service representative, and the monitor via a voice network. If a monitor is not available, the company computer system causes the telecommunication control device to connect the customer and the selected customer service representative, and then records the communication therebetween for future review by a monitor.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing a parent to control the use of an ancillary credit or debit transaction card which is issued to a child. A central computer communicates with an issuer computer having a data base containing account information and spending limits for the transaction card and the parent can set a spending limit for the ancillary card given to the child. When the child presents the ancillary transaction card to a merchant in payment of merchandise, the merchant swipes the card and contacts a central computer for card authorization. If the credit limit of the ancillary card holder has been exceeded according to the data base, a method of contacting the parent is transmitted to the central computer.

Abstract: A personal reach system includes a network, a personal reach unit, a cellular network, and a landline telephone station. The personal reach unit is coupled to the cellular network and the landline telephone through the network. When a first party pages a second party through the personal research unit, the first party is connected to the second party by either the personal reach unit through the landline telephone station or the cellular network through the cellular phone.

Abstract: A technique is provided for establishing data communications links and associated telephone calls between customers and customer service representatives. Customers access the Internet from clients. A merchant provides an on-line catalog using a Web server. When the customer requests that a customer service representative contact the customer, linking information is provided to the client. When one of the customer service representatives is available, the server sends a notification packet to the client to notify the customer and to provide the customer with an opportunity to decide whether or not to continue. If the customer decides to continue, an Internet communications link and telephone call are established between the customer and the customer service representative based on the linking information.

Abstract: A system and method for secure communication of access information codes to access a telecommunications network and use network services, such as a personal reach service. In that regard, the present invention communicates the access information with the network over a secure paging channel. When call for the user is received at a personal reach service node, a paging message is transmitted to the user through a paging system, the paging message indicating that the call has been received. The user then places a call to the personal reach service node. Upon receiving the call from the user, a request for access information is transmitted to the user. The user then transmits a paging signal from a two-way pager, the paging signal including an indicator of the access information. The personal reach service node receives the indicator of the access information from the user through the paging system and validates the indicated access information.

Abstract: E-Mail messages transmitted over an E-Mail network are routed to an E-Mail server servicing the recipient, where useful E-Mail messages can be identified, separated from the junk mail, and forwarded as directed by the recipient. The E-Mail server sends a summary of the E-Mail message to the recipient over a different network so that the recipient can select a forwarding destination for the message. The recipient sends a selection signal to the E-mail server which then forwards the E-Mail message to the selected destination. The E-Mail message can be forwarded by the server over another network, such as the public telephone network, to a computer or a FAX machine at the recipient's office, home or other destination.

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: A method and apparatus for a telephone call routed over a network to include called party identification information personally identifying the called individual such that the called individual is distinguished from any other individual associated with a common telephone number of an end-user device. The telephone call is connected or rerouted based upon the called party identification information. Based on the called party identification information, a call may be automatically routed by the network to an end-user device, and the end-user device may further be provided with the called party identification information. A premises-based end-user device may automatically or by user control route the call based on the called party identification information.

Abstract: A reconfigurable Local Area Network (LAN) and method of controlling the reconfigurable LAN. Clients connected to the LAN are connected according to priority, e.g., based on speed. New client requesting access to the LAN are inserted according to priority. First, a determination is made of where to place the new client so as to maintain the connection order. The new client is inserted between higher priority clients (faster clients) and lower priority clients (slower clients) than the new client.

Abstract: A communication system for remotely re-selecting and re-transmitting received electronic mail at a destination terminal to another destination terminal using a remote communication device, e.g., a two-way pager. The system includes an electronic mail server coupled to an electronic mail network, a backbone and an alert network. The electronic mail server receives electronic mail messages from the electronic mail network or from the backbone network. Each received mail message includes a sender identification, an E-mail identification and a destination terminal. The server generates and transmits over the alert network a select signal and a message summary to the communication device when an E-mail has been received from a destination terminal. A communication device stores the message summaries and displays them as a user scrolls the message summaries. The user through a keyboard in the device may select and revise a message summary by entering a new destination in the message summary.

Abstract: It is possible to redirect a package in mid-transit, so as to deliver it to the addressee who will not be at the location to which the package was originally addressed when the package would otherwise be delivered. To do so, a package carrier, prior to delivering a package to an address specified by the sender, determines if the addressee desires the package to be rerouted to a different address. This determination is prompted by detection of the fact that the addressee is not in the vicinity of the address specified by the sender. The location of the addressee is determined from the location of a two-way pager associated with the addressee as detected by a paging antenna, e.g., tower, of a conventional two-way paging. A comparison is made between the location of the addressee and the address specified by the sender. If there is a disparity and the addressee subscribes to the package special delivery redirection service, the package is then processed according to the instructions of the addressee.

Abstract: The radio subscription system of the present invention enables a subscriber to remotely define and identify one or more playlists, each specifying information content selected by the subscriber from a subscription content database, for later transmission to the subscriber's radio. The radio subscription system also permits the subscriber to use the local subscriber radio to remotely request transmission of a particular playlist to the subscriber's radio for storage and playback. The subscriber may then use the local subscriber radio to play back the particular playlist.

Abstract: A system and method for processing telephone calls to a personal telephone number, such calls being of the type in which a call to a called party's personal telephone number results in a page to a pager of a called party and the caller's call is held in the network to be bridged to a return telephone call of the called party, employs type-ahead for faster perceived system response while not permitting free paging. In particular, although type-ahead is permitted, the page is not immediately initiated upon receipt of the last character of a valid command string prior to the end of the announcement that is played to the caller upon his call reaching a bridging and signaling unit. Instead, the bridging and signaling unit is arranged to respond so that it appears to have accepted and executed the command, and moves into the next phase of operation, e.g., music on hold.

Abstract: We have recognized that in the prior art, to insure that there is at least some communication between the calling and called parties, when the called party is unavailable to take a call, the calling party may be connected to an alternate destination, e.g., a voice messaging system, and the caller's telephone call is considered completed. If the called party thereafter becomes available, the called party is not connected to the caller's telephone call. However, in accordance with the principles of the invention, this problem is overcome by, in response to receipt of an indication that the called party is available for a caller's telephone call after the caller's telephone call has already been connected to an alternate destination, a) disconnecting the caller's telephone call from the alternate destination and, instead, b) connecting it the called party, thus interrupting the connection between the caller and the alternate destination.

Abstract: A communications system is designed to transmit to end-user devices involved in a call information related to communications services that are invokable in real time from the end-user devices. The transmitted information includes activation codes for invoking for a usage fee, features that may or may not be subscribed to by a caller.

Abstract: A call placed by a calling party from within the local office or campus area served by an intelligent PBX of a called party who is a subscriber to a personal reach service is held at that PBX for determination of whether the called party/subscriber is within or outside the local area served by the PBX. This determination is made using two-way paging technology through which a pager-carrying called party/subscriber is determined to be within the local area if the two-way pager carried by the called party/subscriber is registered within the area. If the called party/subscriber is determined to be within the local area, then a local page is broadcast to the called party/subscriber and a return call to the PBX by the called party/subscriber is bridged with the call being held from the calling party at the PBX.

Abstract: A communications system is designed to exempt communications services users, such as wireless communications subscribers and calling card callers, from entering an authentication code for calls directed to pre-selected destination numbers, notwithstanding the authentication code entry requirement implemented by the communications services provider for all other calls.

Abstract: An estimation of traffic conditions on roads located in the radio coverage areas of a wireless communications network is provided based on an analysis of real-time and past wireless traffic data carried on the wireless communications network. Data analyzed may include, for example, actual (current) and expected (past average) number of a) active-busy wireless end-user devices in one or more cells at a particular period of time, b) active-idle wireless end-user devices registered in a location area of the wireless communications network, c) amount of time spent by mobile end-user devices in one or more cells at a particular period of time.

Abstract: A conference call sound level balancing method and system for selectively muting a conferee whose sound environment is loud enough to dominate other conferees of a conference call. The method is operable on a system that includes a network-based conference bridge and a sound equalization platform that is coupled to each telephone of a conference call. If one telephone connected to the conference call has a higher noise level than the other branches of the call, thus making it so the other branches cannot obtain speaking privileges, a predetermined touchtone key is entered at the noisy telephone. The sound equalization platform responds by automatically measuring the ambient sound levels of the respective branches of the conference call and balancing the speaking privileges for the respective call branches of the conference call.

Abstract: It is known in the prior art to, when a telephone customer is unavailable to take a call, page the customer, thereby notifying the customer that a telephone call is waiting. The customer may then call in to a meet-me bridge to be connected to the incoming telephone call. However, if the customer does not respond to the page in time, prior art systems provide for the calling party's call to be routed to an alternate destination, e.g., a voice messaging system. The calling party's telephone call is thereby considered completed. If the customer thereafter becomes available, the customer is not connected to the caller's telephone call even if the caller is still connected to the alternate destination.