Abstract: In a packetized communications system call waiting functionality is expanded to provide for handling of unlimited calls concurrently of one or more service types. When a subscriber is engaged in an ongoing call, incoming calls can be placed on a call queue by a call manager such that bandwidth and other resources are not allocated to a waiting call between the call manager and broadband residential gateway, and thereafter can be accessed by the subscriber in the order received or in the order desired by the subscriber. For subscribers with a device having video display capability, identification information regarding each call in the queue such as service type waiting time and caller identification information may be displayed at the subscriber's premises to allow the subscriber to manage their incoming calls. Also, a particularized tone may be heard to identify the incoming call including its service type.

Abstract: In a packetized communications system call waiting functionality is expanded to provide for handling of unlimited calls concurrently of one or more service types. When a subscriber is engaged in an ongoing call, incoming calls can be placed on a call queue by a call manager such that bandwidth and other resources are not allocated to a waiting call between the call manager and broadband residential gateway, and thereafter can be accessed by the subscriber in the order received or in the order desired by the subscriber. For subscribers with a device having video display capability, identification information regarding each call in the queue such as service type waiting time and caller identification information may be displayed at the subscriber's premises to allow the subscriber to manage their incoming calls. Also, a particularized tone may be heard to identify the incoming call including its service type.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a dynamic call forwarding service for a subscriber in an IP telephone network is disclosed. When a predetermined telephone number is called from a telephone other than the subscriber's home telephone, the subscriber enters a code for location registration. The directory number of the telephone the subscriber is using is determined for location registration. A call for the subscriber's home telephone is then routed to the telephone the subscriber used for location registration.

Abstract: A method of managing a call traffic includes determining when a load of a first call manager exceeds a predetermined load level, and ameliorating the load when the load exceeds the predetermined load level. The load is ameliorated by either notifying a network that future calls are to be directed to a second call manager, or transferring at least one pending call from the first call manager to a second call manager, or both.

Abstract: Surveillance of IP telephony may be performed through the use of conventional telephone equipment, according to principles of the invention while preventing giving indication to the monitored phone by alerting the user of the monitoring phone to such surveillance use prior to pick up by an agent for engagement of the monitoring phone in response to the alert. Such alerts may assume many forms such as ringing, visual indicators, data readouts, activating ancillary equipment, various flags, etc. This alert prior to surveillance is distinct from alerts used for normal non-surveillance calls, which the monitoring phone is capable of receiving.

Abstract: Monitored calls are intercepted and rerouted to a changed location number of a called party while appearing to be at the same directory number by intervention of an IP Address Mapping check Point (IP-AMCP) which duplicates the voice to a monitoring location, automatically identifies the types of networks to be traversed to the new location and adapts the duplicated voice message to traverse such network types. Surveillance is enabled to be conducted at more than one monitoring location each of which many are widely separated from the other.

Abstract: Monitored calls are intercepted and rerouted to plural selected monitoring stations by intervention of an IP phone monitor center (IPMC) which duplicates the voice to a monitoring location and automatically identifying the types of networks to be traversed and adapting the voice message to such a network type to communication with monitoring stations connected to these networks. Surveillance is, therefor, enabled to be conducted at more than one monitoring location each of which many are widely separated from the other. In a particular embodiment an authorized surveillance agent transmits a valid request to an IP phone monitor center (IPMC) which in response intercepts voice packets to and from the targeted IP phone. The duplicated voice packets are transmitted to the designated monitoring location. The IPMC determines the type of voice signal to be transmitted to the terminal monitoring station.

Abstract: A monitoring network is able to provide surveillance of IP phone calls, which span plural backbone networks, which may embody different transmission techniques. An agent connected through a monitor center to one backbone network enters a request for surveillance (i.e. wiretapping) of a particular network connected to another backbone network. A WatchDog program is associated with each backbone network. These WatchDogs all communicate with other watchdogs associated with other backbone networks. All these watchdogs interact with one another to set up the surveillance connections. The watchdog of the requester's backbone network receives the surveillance request and flows/transmits the request to a watchdog function of the terminating backbone network of the specific caller to be monitored establishing a point-to-point connection, through as many backbone networks as needed.

Abstract: Secure monitoring of a target IP telephone may be obtained simultaneously at a plurality of monitoring stations by requiring authentication to be provided by each of the monitoring stations prior to granting access permission to monitor the call. A single request generates multiple duplicate calls to a plurality of different monitoring location, each of which must be authenticated. When the monitored call arrives at each of the multiple monitoring stations a password is used to achieve authentication permission. The password is entered at each monitoring station by a touchtone keypad that generates Dual Tone Multi-frequency (DTMF) signals (e.g., each signal is a combination of two tones at different frequencies) which is sent to an IP monitoring center, which grants surveillance permission.

Abstract: Surveillance of IP voice calls over a public communication IP link is achieved by a WatchDog program, associated with an IP Address Mapping Check Point translating IP phone numbers into IP addresses, that are connected to a head end hub connected in turn to a Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) link of IP phone users or to a backbone network carrying IP voice packets.

Abstract: A chase me method of routing a variable bit rate communication between a first terminal and a distant terminal over alternative networks including a circuit switched network and a packet network permits changing routing parameters remotely in response to user inputs including user requested changes in chasing parameters. A chase me system permits setting a chase me bit when a call is not immediately deliverable and chasing a subscriber even if the message is to be delivered by converting the message to text for delivery by paging the subscriber.

Abstract: An Internet Protocol Telephony Network and public switched telephone network, in which closed user groups may be dynamically defined and modified to take advantage of special billing within the closed user groups. Abbreviated dialing within the closed user groups may also be used to make dialing more convenient. The closed user groups may include members anywhere in a global network, and may take advantage of the special billing, regardless of whether the members are located in different states and/or countries.

Abstract: A called number processing system transforms called/dialed telephone numbers into a unique global routing number. In the process called numbers are analyzed and based on the called/dialed number a Regional Administration Code is allocated and the dialed global number is translated into a global subscriber number. The global subscriber number is translated into a local subscriber number at the last international processing point.

Abstract: A technique is provided for translating database queries used to perform database functions on a first database management system so that a user can perform the database functions on one or more second database management systems using the translated database queries. The database management systems can be based on a relational model database, a hierarchical model database, a network model database, or a file system (proprietary) model database.

Abstract: An automated method is provided, in concert with applications programs, to recover data potentially lost in a database unavailable/crash or system failure, by use of an update transaction log that maintains current copies of any update to a system data base before any application program actually physically updates the system data base. The update transaction log is a temporary stored record of application transactions and the relevant data to be stored in the data base. The transaction log is a part of the application program and is operative whenever the application program is generating data which must be added to a relevant data base. If the database is unavailable, the external system update request can still be processed for the lagging update.

Abstract: A database network having a primary database and a plurality of heterogeneous subscribing databases for replicating data updates of the primary database in the heterogeneous subscribing databases includes a database engine connected to the primary database for capturing the data updates in the primary database, a query manager connected to the database engine for generating queries, where each of the queries is translated based on a specified format for each of the heterogeneous subscribing databases, and a data distributor connected to the query manager for distributing the translated queries to the heterogeneous subscribing databases.