Abstract: A communications network-based system and service is disclosed. The service permits subscribers to control and manage incoming telephone calls. Subscribers can establish preferences and set encumbrances. The service also connects calls to a called party otherwise prevented from receiving calls due to line encumbrances, permitting preselected or predesignated parties to by-pass line encumbrances.

Abstract: A communications network-based system and service is disclosed. The service permits subscribers to control and manage incoming telephone calls. Subscribers can establish preferences and set encumbrances. The service also connects calls to a called party otherwise prevented from receiving calls due to line encumbrances, permitting preselected or predesignated parties to by-pass line encumbrances.

Abstract: A communications network-based system and service is disclosed. The service permits subscribers to control and manage incoming telephone calls. Subscribers can establish preferences for how calls will be handled by a communications network if the calls are received while the subscriber has a privacy screening service engaged. The service also notifies a subscriber of a calling party's call based on whether preselected or predesignated preferences of the called party correspond to identifier(s) of the calling party.

Abstract: A communications network-based system and service is disclosed. The service permits subscribers to control and manage incoming telephone calls. Subscribers can establish preferences for how calls will be handled by a communications network if the calls are received while the subscriber has a privacy screening service engaged. The service also notifies a subscriber of a calling party's call based on whether preselected or predesignated preferences of the called party correspond to identifier(s) of the calling party.

Abstract: A privacy screening service in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) includes a service node which records a caller's name when a call directed to a subscriber of the service originates at an unknown number. The service node, in turn, places a call to the subscriber and transmits the recorded name together with a signal which is recognizable by a voice mail system. Following the transmission, the service node waits for the subscriber either to accept or reject a call from the caller. When the subscriber's line is answered by a voice mail system, the voice mail system recognizes and acknowledges the signal so that the voice mail system and service node may determine that their call is between two machines and may take appropriate action. One such action is to connect the caller to the subscriber's voice mail and to restart the subscriber's outgoing voice mail greeting.

Abstract: A method for providing message notification in a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication system includes: receiving an off-hook notification from a subscriber to the VoIP communication system; and generating an audible announcement to the subscriber responsive to the off-hook notification, wherein the audible announcement includes a verbal voice announcement adapted to indicate to the subscriber that a new message associated with the subscriber is waiting in the VoIP communication system. The method may further include: receiving a second off-hook notification from the subscriber when there are no messages associated with the subscriber in the VoIP communication system; and generating a second audible announcement to the subscriber responsive to the second off-hook notification, wherein the second audible announcement is different from the first audible announcement.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing unified access to communications services offered by vendors. One method presents an interface to a unified communications service offered by a communications service provider. If a user is authenticated to the unified communications service, the user is presented one or more communications services offered by a vendor that the user may access.

Abstract: A call reception limiter is disclosed. The call reception limiter prevents calls from ringing to a telephone. An attempted communication is processed from a calling party to a called party. A message is played to the calling party. After the message is played, only calling party information is communicated to the called party to inform the called party of the attempted communication.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments relate to a method, system, and storage medium for providing comprehensive facsimile information within a voicemail system. The method includes receiving and storing a facsimile at a voicemail system. The method also includes interpreting elements of a facsimile using an optical character recognition device. Upon receiving a request by a voicemail recipient to access a voice mailbox, the method includes converting interpreted elements of the facsimile into audible speech via a text-to-speech engine, formatting the converted elements resulting in a voicemail facsimile notification, and presenting the voicemail facsimile notification to a communications device associated with the voicemail recipient.

Abstract: A privacy screening service in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) includes a service node which records a caller's name when a call directed to a subscriber of the service originates at an unknown number. The service node, in turn, places a call to the subscriber and transmits the recorded name together with a signal which is recognizable by a voice mail system. Following the transmission, the service node waits for the subscriber either to accept or reject a call from the caller. When the subscriber's line is answered by a voice mail system, the voice mail system recognizes and acknowledges the signal so that the voice mail system and service node may determine that their call is between two machines and may take appropriate action. One such action is to connect the caller to the subscriber's voice mail and to restart the subscriber's outgoing voice mail greeting.

Abstract: A network-based call reception limiter is disclosed. The network-based call reception limiter prevents calls from ringing to a telephone. The network does so by directing calls made from a calling party to a third party, rather than directing the call to the party to which the calling party intended to be connected (the called party). The network may communicate the identity and/or calling time of the calling party to the called party during the period that the network directs calls away from the called party.

Abstract: A communications network-based system and service is disclosed. The service permits subscribers to control and manage incoming telephone calls. Subscribers can establish preferences for how calls will be handled by a communications network if the calls are received by while the subscriber in connected to an information network. The service also notifies a subscriber of a calling party's call based on whether preselected or predesignated preferences of the called party correspond to identifier(s) of the calling party.

Abstract: A privacy screening service in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) includes a service node which records a caller's name when a call directed to a subscriber of the service originates at an unknown number. The service node, in turn, places a call to the subscriber and transmits the recorded name together with a signal which is recognizable by a voice mail system. Following the transmission, the service node waits for the subscriber either to accept or reject a call from the caller. When the subscriber's line is answered by a voice mail system, the voice mail system recognizes and acknowledges the signal so that the voice mail system and service node may determine that their call is between two machines and may take appropriate action. One such action is to connect the caller to the subscriber's voice mail and to restart the subscriber's outgoing voice mail greeting.

Abstract: A system and method that notifies a voice mailbox subscriber of the receipt of a message at a voicemail server using instant messaging. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes an enhanced notification server that receives a notification of the message from the voicemail server, queries the availability of an instant messaging client via an instant messaging presence server, and forwards the notification to the instant messaging client via the instant messaging presence server if the instant messaging client is available. In preferred embodiments, provisions are made to forward the message to the subscriber via instant messaging.

Abstract: A system and method that notifies a voice mailbox subscriber of the receipt of a message at a voicemail server using instant messaging. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes an enhanced notification server that receives a notification of the message from the voicemail server, queries the availability of an instant messaging client via an instant messaging presence server, and forwards the notification to the instant messaging client via the instant messaging presence server if the instant messaging client is available. In preferred embodiments, provisions are made to forward the message to the subscriber via instant messaging.

Abstract: A privacy screening service in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) includes a service node which records a caller's name when a call directed to a subscriber of the service originates at an unknown number. The service node, in turn, places a call to the subscriber and transmits the recorded name together with a signal which is recognizable by a voice mail system. Following the transmission, the service node waits for the subscriber either to accept or reject a call from the caller. When the subscriber's line is answered by a voice mail system, the voice mail system recognizes and acknowledges the signal so that the voice mail system and service node may determine that their call is between two machines and may take appropriate action. One such action is to connect the caller to the subscriber's voice mail and to restart the subscriber's outgoing voice mail greeting.