Abstract: A system and method for reducing cyber attacks on vetted web sites includes a haven web site hosted on a server computer. A list of certified web sites meeting specified criteria is maintained by the haven web site. The certified list is accessible over a global computer network for query or download. A computer virus or the like, operating on a remote computer, runs software coding, available for download on the haven web site, that determines whether a proposed targeted address is on the certified list. If so, the attack by the remote computer is aborted, and if not, the attack proceeds. Alternatively, a certification marker is included on certified web sites, and the remote computer runs software coding, available for download on the haven web site, to determine whether a proposed targeted address corresponds to a certified web site.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for screening a request to establish a SIP session is provided. The method may include a) receiving a request to establish a SIP session at a network node of an internet protocol network and incrementing a counter, b) determining whether the request includes a resource priority parameter with an elevated priority value and, if so, incrementing a counter, c) comparing a ratio of the priority request count to the total request count to a threshold, and d) processing each request that includes the elevated priority value using more comprehensive screening after the ratio exceeds the threshold, allowing processing for each request that includes the elevated priority value to continue in accordance with the elevated priority value after the ratio does not exceed the threshold, and allowing processing for each request that does not include the elevated priority value to continue in accordance with a routine priority.

Abstract: A capability is provided for detecting a misaligned page of a document. A method includes detecting that a page is misaligned and generating a control signal adapted for use in triggering presentation of an alarm indicating that the page is misaligned. A method includes detecting that a page is misaligned and initiating one or more control actions for the misaligned page. These and other methods may be performed on any suitable copy device, such as on a fax machine, a photocopy machine, a scanner, a photograph copying device, a user device, a network device, and the like, as well as devices having combinations of such functionality.

Abstract: A security system is provided for a facility (10). The security system includes: a central monitoring station (20) that controls one or more security measures for the facility (10); and, a heart rate monitor (30) that detects a heart rate of an individual (50), the heart rate monitor (30) being in wireless communication with the central monitoring station (20). Suitably, the central monitoring station (20) selectively implements one or more of the security measures in response to a determination that an abnormal heart rate has been detected.

Abstract: A manner of creating an electronic device directory containing the identity of electronic devices that registered in an area associated with a plurality of events, which events are similar in certain respects. The directory is useful, for example, investigating criminal cases. When such an event occurs, an application server is notified and generates one or more device registration capture requests to determine which electronic devices are registered in the area and at approximately the same time at which the event occurs. The device registration capture associated with this event is compared with other device registration captures associated with other, similar events to create the electronic device directory. The electronic device directory entries are preferable filtered to select the devices most likely to be associated with the actual events in question.

Abstract: A method of administering a priority service is provided in a telecommunications network (20). The priority service provides higher priority handling of calls employing the service as compared to calls not employing the service for purposes of call completion. The method includes: obtaining at least one authentication credential from a user placing a call over the network (20); verifying a validity of the obtained credential; designating the call for priority handling if the credential is valid, otherwise designating the call for non-priority handling if the credential is invalid; and, attempting to complete the call over the network (20) in accordance with the designated handling.

Abstract: A method of logging call data for failed emergency calls includes: receiving from a calling party an emergency call that is to be routed to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) (40) over a telecommunications network (20); determining if the received emergency call is connected to the PSAP (40); and, if the received emergency call fails to be connected to the PSAP (40), then capturing selected call data regarding the failed emergency call and recording the captured call data.

Abstract: An individualized baggage tracking and notification system provides airline baggage tracking information to individual customers for purposes of customer convenience and/or theft avoidance. The individualized baggage tracking information may indicate, for each of one or more baggage items affiliated with the customer, indicia of one or more baggage handling nodes visited by the baggage items, indicia of recorded arrival times of the baggage items at the visited nodes, indicia of one or more baggage handling nodes not yet visited by the baggage items and indicia of projected arrival times of the baggage items at those nodes. In an instance where a customer baggage item has reached a terminating node (e.g., a baggage carousel), the system may indicate the arrival time of the baggage item at the terminating node; or in the instance the baggage item has not yet reached the terminating node, the system may indicate a projected arrival time of the baggage item at the terminating node.

Abstract: A system for processing emergency calls in a telecommunications network includes: receiving a first call at a node (30) of the telecommunications network from a calling party that originated the first call; detecting that the received first call is an emergency call; establishing a conference bridge in response to the detected emergency call; connecting the emergency call over the conference bridge to a designated facility (40) that handles emergency calls; and, automatically originating at least one second call from the node (30) to at least one predetermined third party that is different than the calling party and the facility (40).

Abstract: A capability is provided for detecting a misaligned page of a document. A method includes detecting that a page is misaligned and generating a control signal adapted for use in triggering presentation of an alarm indicating that the page is misaligned. A method includes detecting that a page is misaligned and initiating one or more control actions for the misaligned page. These and other methods may be performed on any suitable copy device, such as on a fax machine, a photocopy machine, a scanner, a photograph copying device, a user device, a network device, and the like, as well as devices having combinations of such functionality.

Abstract: A method for regulating a call placement rate (CPR) of an autodialer (AD) (100) includes: measuring a time delay between a first event and a second event; and, adjusting the CPR of the AD (100) in response to the measured time delay.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for screening a request to establish a SIP session is provided. The method may include a) receiving a request to establish a SIP session at a network node of an internet protocol network and incrementing a counter, b) determining whether the request includes a resource priority parameter with an elevated priority value and, if so, incrementing a counter, c) comparing a ratio of the priority request count to the total request count to a threshold, and d) processing each request that includes the elevated priority value using more comprehensive screening after the ratio exceeds the threshold, allowing processing for each request that includes the elevated priority value to continue in accordance with the elevated priority value after the ratio does not exceed the threshold, and allowing processing for each request that does not include the elevated priority value to continue in accordance with a routine priority.

Abstract: An anti-key logging protocol executable by a computer platform and a corresponding keystroke input device (e.g., keyboard or keypad) functions as a countermeasure to a key logger device. Following an authentication procedure, the computer platform sends encryption parameters to the keystroke input device, and the keystroke input device uses the encryption parameters to scramble or otherwise encrypt keystrokes entered on the keystroke input device before sending them to the computer platform. In such manner, keystrokes and/or keystroke representations sent from the keystroke input device to the computer platform are unrecognizable to a key logger device yet can be decoded by the computer platform.

Abstract: A method for notifying an emergency response organization of an emergency message cluster may include: a) detecting emergency messages directed to a first emergency response organization during a time window; b) detecting an emergency message cluster to the first emergency response organization at least in part by determining a quantity of emergency messages detected during the first time window exceeds a threshold value; and c) sending a notification message to a second emergency response organization in response to detecting the emergency message cluster. A network node associated with the method may include a switching module for handling the emergency messages in normal fashion, a message detecting logic for detecting emergency messages to the first emergency response organization, a cluster detecting logic for detecting the emergency message cluster, and an output module for sending the notification message.

Abstract: A method for controlling a conference bridge may include: a) establishing status information for a conference call and storing the status information in a storage device, the status information for maintaining a participant status for user devices; b) setting the status information to indicate user devices participating in the conference call are connected; c) transmitting a unique identifier to each user device via an in-band signal; d) receiving a line-on-hold signal and the corresponding unique identifier from at least one user device, the line-on-hold signal being an in-band signal; and e) updating the status information in response each line-on-hold signal received to indicate the corresponding user device has placed the conference call on hold. An apparatus for may include a storage device for storing the status information, a processor, a transmitting device for transmitting the unique identifier, and a receiving device for receiving the line-on-hold signal.

Abstract: A manner of creating an electronic device directory containing the identity of electronic devices that registered in an area associated with a plurality of events, which events are similar in certain respects. The directory is useful, for example, investigating criminal cases. When such an event occurs, an application server is notified and generates one or more device registration capture requests to determine which electronic devices are registered in the area and at approximately the same time at which the event occurs. The device registration capture associated with this event is compared with other device registration captures associated with other, similar events to create the electronic device directory. The electronic device directory entries are preferable filtered to select the devices most likely to be associated with the actual events in question.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for detection of performance conditions in processing systems. For example, a method of detecting a performance condition in at least one particular processing device of a processing system having a plurality of processing devices includes the following steps. Data is input to a data structure associated with the particular processing device, over a given time period. The input data may be a buffer or a bucket. The input data represents data associated with the execution of at least one function performed by the particular processing device. The given time period includes the time period between consecutive heartbeat signals transmitted by the particular processing device. At least a portion of the input data is removed from the data structure associated with the particular processing device, near the end of the given time period. The removed input data is compared to an expected function execution level.

Abstract: A telephone answering system includes a receiver, a detector and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive a voice signal. The detector is adapted to detect voice activity on the signal. The transmitter is adapted to transmit an initial prompt. In the event that the detector detects a gap in the voice activity after the initial prompt, transmitter is configured to transmit a notice.

Abstract: A method for disseminating information relating to a local emergency condition includes: a) receiving an incoming message from a user device directed to a destination device within a emergency response organization; b) determining if the incoming message can be connected to the destination device without wait time; and c) sending an outgoing message to the user device if the incoming message cannot be connected without wait time. The outgoing message may provide a status report for the local emergency condition within a geographic area served by the emergency response organization and a guidance report with a response measure. A network node associated with the method may include an incoming message module for receiving the incoming message, a message handling module for determining if the incoming message can be connected to the destination device without wait time, and an outgoing message module for sending the outgoing message to the user device.

Abstract: A method for disseminating information relating to a local emergency condition includes providing a user device with access to an outgoing announcement via a network node in a communication network, the outgoing announcement accessible via a non-emergency network address for a destination device of an information service organization that provides information service relating to local emergency conditions for a geographic area, the outgoing announcement providing information for a local emergency condition within the geographic area; receiving an incoming call originated by the user device and directed to the non-emergency network address, the network node and the user device being located within the predetermined geographic area; connecting the incoming call to the destination device; and routing the outgoing announcement from the destination device to the user device through the network node. A network node associated with the method may include an input module, a handling module, and an output module.