Abstract: A novel communication system allows telephone customers to send and retrieve e-mail using only conventional telephone units. The system includes an “E-mail Device” (EMD), which is a special host computer for enabling customers to remotely create, send, retrieve and store e-mail messages. The EMD resides in the central office as part of a PSTN, or with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Subscribers to the e-mail service can give calling parties the option of leaving e-mail messages when the subscribers' telephone lines are busy. Customers can also create and send e-mail messages by either dialing an access code to connect directly to the EMD, or dialing an ISP with a resident EMD. Once connected to the EMD, the customer is guided through menus to send either pre-stored or custom e-mail messages to a chosen customer, telephone number, or e-mail address. The message information and details are entered via the touch-tone pad, or by voice, followed with voice-to-text conversion.

Abstract: A novel communication system allows telephone customers to send and retrieve e-mail using only conventional telephone units. The system includes an “E-mail Device” (EMD), which is a special host computer for enabling customers to remotely create, send, retrieve and store e-mail messages. The EMD resides in the central office as part of a PSTN, or with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Subscribers to the e-mail service can give calling parties the option of leaving e-mail messages when the subscribers' telephone lines are busy. Customers can also create and send e-mail messages by either dialing an access code to connect directly to the EMD, or dialing an ISP with a resident EMD. Once connected to the EMD, the customer is guided through menus to send either pre-stored or custom e-mail messages to a chosen customer, telephone number, or e-mail address. The message information and details are entered via the touch-tone pad, or by voice, followed with voice-to-text conversion.

Abstract: A telecommunication network includes a first telecommunication switch that supports subscribers coupled to the first switch and recognizes a request for call origination by a calling party on an associated communication line. The request for call origination services seeks services from a second switch. A first record in a database coupled to the second switch is located based on the identification of the calling party's line. The second switch is disposed at a hierarchical level above the first switch. A first set of predetermined features is determined based on information contained in the first record. A personal identification number of the calling party is received at the second switch. A second record in a database is located based upon the PIN; the second record is independent from the first record. A second set of predetermined features is determined based upon information contained in the second record.

Abstract: Relates to arrangements for utilizing an originating caller's customer network identifier (ONI) to provide special treatment of a call, especially one that terminates outside the caller's network. The ONI is recognized in an originating switching system and is transmitted in an initial address message (IAM) to the terminating switching system for serving the call. In the terminating switching system, the ONI is used to screen the call for special treatment such as denied termination, denied termination for collect calls, or direct completion to a principal of a principal-secretary group. The ONI is also used for screening for use of originating services for members of a network. The originating or terminating switch can also query a data base to obtain screening data.

Abstract: An automated method and apparatus in a telecommunications network for granting, on demand, changes in the custom feature services available for use at the port. The caller is connected to a feature processor which interactively determines, through prompts and responses, the custom feature services desired by the caller differing from those available in the base services then provided to the port. The feature processor modifies the feature keys seen by the telecommunications network from those normal to the port to include those for the features selected by the caller. Activation of termination triggers cause feature services to revert to those base services normal to the port.