Abstract: A method of supporting a mid-call hand-off feature (22) is provided in a telecommunications network (40). The method includes: connecting a first call through a first switching facility (20) of the telecommunications network (40), the first call being connected between a first party served by the first switching facility (20) and a second party; receiving a second call at the first switching facility (20) for the first party while the first party is still connected to the first call; determining where the second call originated from; and, selectively connecting the second party to the second call in response to the determined origin of the second call.

Abstract: A method of supporting a mid-call hand-off feature (22) is provided in a telecommunications network (40). The method includes: connecting a first call through a first switching facility (20) of the telecommunications network (40) such that a first party served by the first switching facility (20) and a second party are participating in the call; making a decision to-invoke the mid-call hand-off feature (22); placing a second call from the first switching facility (20) to a designated telephone number; and, connecting the second party to the second call.

Abstract: A method is provided for routing an emergency call from Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The method includes: establishing a session over a packet-switched network (200) between a CPE (110) and a network node (302), such that the CPE (110) accesses a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) (400) from the network node (302) via a telecommunications switch (500) associated with a first PSAP (320) serving a geographic region (300) different than where the CPE (110) is currently located; identifying a telephone number for a second PSAP (120) serving the geographic region (100) in which the CPE (110) is located; and, substituting the identified telephone number for a dialed telephone number when the dialed telephone number is indicative of an emergency call.

Abstract: A system that implements the display of the well-recognized MLPP keypad generated by a computer-based application adaptable for any authorized user. In one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a system is provided for emulating an MLPP telephone. The exemplary system comprises a data entry portion that accepts telephone call initiation information, including MLPP priority information, from a user, and an information display portion that displays information relating to the data entry portion. In one form of the invention, the data entry portion comprises a visual representation, on a display device, of an MLPP telephone keypad, and a data input device. The visual representation, on a display device, may be a visual representation on a video display terminal associated with a personal computer.

Abstract: A method of establishing a call over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) (20) is provided. The PSTN (20) includes an End Office (EO) (40) serving a calling party's Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE) (10, 70). The method includes: receiving at a network element (22) of the PSTN (20) a message requesting establishment of the call over the PSTN (20), the message being received over a packet-switched network (30) and identifying the calling party's CPE (10, 70) from which the call is to be placed; and, notifying the EO (40) serving the calling party's CPE (10, 70) of the request for establishment of the call such that the EO (40) treats the call as a terminating call as opposed to an originating call.

Abstract: A method of detecting a user's presence at a workstation is provided. The workstation includes a computer (12) having an operating system (100) that has an interface for communicating with a screen saver (110). The interface provides for screen saver communications intended to selectively result in screen saver activation and screen saver deactivation. The method includes: detecting the screen saver communications; determining that the user is not present at the workstation when the detected communications are intended to result in screen saver activation; and, determining that the user is present at the workstation when the detected communications are intended to result in screen saver deactivation.

Abstract: A method of provisioning a gateway (80) is provided in a telecommunications network including a circuit-switched network (90) and a packet-switched network (70). The gateway (80) bridges calls between the circuit-switched network (90) and the packet-switched network (70). The method includes: receiving a registration message from consumer premises equipment (CPE) (60), the message including an address for the CPE (60) on the packet-switched network (70); determining a directory number (DN) for the CPE (60); placing a probe call to the determined DN over the circuit-switched network (90); receiving a call from the circuit-switched network (90), the call being terminated at a call reference value (CRV); recognizing the received call received from the circuit-switched network (90) as the probe call; capturing the CRV at which the probe call is terminated; and, associating the captured CRV with the address for the CPE (60).

Abstract: A method of processing half-calls each having opposing first and second ends is provided within a telecommunications network. Each of the half-calls is either an originating half-call terminated at the first end thereof by calling consumer premises equipment (CPE) or a terminating half-call terminated at the first end thereof by called CPE, wherein an associated pair of half-calls connected at their second ends including both an originating and terminating half-call completes a call connecting the CPE terminating the respective first ends of the half-calls that form the pair.