Abstract: An integrated video-telephony system is provided. The system allows a video communication session to be established to complement an audio communication session when communication devices or endpoints associated with the audio communication session are also video communication enabled. By coordinating the establishment of separate audio and video communication channels, integrated video-telephone communication sessions can be provided, without requiring the use of specialized communication servers or dedicated video telephone devices.

Abstract: A switching system adjunct (120) monitors a call between a calling and a called party and reestablishes the call when one of the parties has been or is being dropped. The reestablishment may be effected to a same or a different phone number of the dropped party, and may be effected via the same or a different medium (e.g., wired or wireless). The call record of the original call is merged into the call record of the reestablished call, thus preserving the context of entities involved in the call that exists at the time that the party is dropped.

Abstract: A communications system featuring a remote security server is provided. The system allows the validation of requests for access to a communications network to be performed in a centralized security server. The use of a security server allows security features to be implemented, without the need to distribute a security algorithm to individual client devices. In addition, changes to the security algorithm can easily be made, because such changes need only be made in the security server itself, and in the communications server to which access is desired. The present invention is particularly useful in connection with communication services provided as part of a private branch exchange.

Abstract: A switching system adjunct (120) monitors a call between a calling and a called party and reestablishes the call when one of the parties has been or is being dropped. The reestablishment may be effected to a same or a different phone number of the dropped party, and may be effected via the same or a different medium (e.g., wired or wireless). The call record of the original call is merged into the call record of the reestablished call, thus preserving the context of entities involved in the call that exists at the time that the party is dropped.

Abstract: A communications system featuring a remote security server is provided. The system allows the validation of requests for access to a communications network to be performed in a centralized security server. The use of a security server allows security features to be implemented, without the need to distribute a security algorithm to individual client devices. In addition, changes to the security algorithm can easily be made, because such changes need only be made in the security server itself, and in the communications server to which access is desired. The present invention is particularly useful in connection with communication services provided as part of a private branch exchange.

Abstract: In an integrated voice and multimedia communications system (FIG. 1), an end-user is given explicit control over which audio access mechanism he wishes to use regardless of whether a call is a multimedia or a voice call. The end-user's voice terminal (101) is equipped with a PC-Audio control button (127). When the user originates or receives a call, a multimedia PBX (102) automatically connects audio to the voice terminal's handset (124) regardless of whether the call is a multimedia or a voice call. If the user then presses the PC-Audio button, the PBX transfers audio to the audio subsystem (112-114) of the multimedia terminal (100), an LED (128) associated with the button is lit, and the user may cradle the handset without disconnecting the call. If the handset is subsequently lifted, audio is reconnected to the handset and the LED is extinguished. If the button is pressed while its LED is lit, the call is disconnected.

Abstract: A telecommunications switching system such as a private branch exchange (100) processes calls as follows. When it receives (200) a call associated with an individual vector directory number (VDN), the switching system invokes conventional vectoring (107) and commences processing the call by executing (202) the VDN's call-processing vector. However, when it encounters (206) a “wait” vector command in the executing vector, the switching system sends (208) a notice of the call and the call's identity to an external source of vectors, such as an expert system implemented on an adjunct processor (110). This notice functions as a request for another call-processing vector for the call. The expert system obtains (252-256) information relevant to processing of the call from the switching system and from external databases (111-112), and based on that information dynamically creates (258) a new call-processing vector for the call, in real time.