Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for updating the telephone number in a subscriber's profile to the telephone number at the subscriber's current location based on a revertive call. When a revertive call is received by a system from a subscriber, the subscriber's number is identified and compared to a default number in the subscriber's profile. The call is connected and the system checks whether the telephone number is the same as the number stored in the subscriber's profile. If the subscriber's number is different than the number stored in the subscriber's profile, after the call is terminated, the system queries the subscriber as to whether the subscriber would like to have calls forwarded to his or her current telephone number for a particular length of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a centralized electronic mail apparatus and method in which a message is sent to each of a subscriber's electronic mail receiving devices. When a sending party wishes to send an electronic mail message to a receiving party, the sending party creates the electronic mail message along with any attachments using his/her user device and sends the electronic mail message to the centralized electronic mail apparatus. The centralized electronic mail apparatus receives the electronic mail message and retrieves profile information from a profile database corresponding to the receiving party. Based on the profile information, the centralized electronic mail device further determines the receiving party's electronic mail receiving devices to which the electronic mail message is to be sent. The centralized electronic mail apparatus further determines the portions of the electronic mail message that are to be sent to each of the electronic mail receiving devices.

Abstract: In order to minimize the number of transmitters from which a page is transmitted in a Personal Reach System in which a subscriber is paged to alert him or her of a waiting telephone call, the subscriber's last known location, the time at her or she was located there, and the elapsed time since being located there, are used to determine an outer perimeter of the geographic area in which the subscriber is likely to be presently located. A page is then transmitted to the subscriber from those transmitters which cover that geographic area. If the elapsed time is more than a predetermined threshold, during which period the subscriber could have traveled anywhere, a nationwide page, rather than a localized page, is transmitted.

Abstract: A service optimizer establishes an initial subscriber profile relating to a subscriber upon subscribing to a service. The service optimizer uses service data within the subscriber profile to administer a service for the subscriber. The initial subscriber profile contains personal and service information particular to the subscriber. The service optimizer analyzes the personal and service information in the subscriber profile to alter the service data used by the service optimizer to more efficiently administer the service. Additionally, the service optimizer analyzes information indicating how the subscriber uses the service to alter the service data used by the service optimizer to more efficiently administer the service.

Abstract: Managing, in a two-way paging communication system, paging menus containing paging-menu options, comprises receiving, from a subscriber, paging-menu options. A subscriber then sends information including a first set of callers and a second set of callers, and first and second paging menu are configured accordingly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide a database in a pager that contains menus that may be displayed on a pager display. A paging service sends a page including an identification to the pager. The pager receives the identification, retrieves a menu from the pager database and displays the menu. The pager responds to the page based on a selection selected from the displayed menu.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for updating a communications network from one or more user communications devices. The invention uses the electronic scheduling or other time-based features within a communications device to control and/or initiate transmission of information between the communications device and the communications network. Information from one or more communications devices is updated to the communications network in response to time-based components in the information entries corresponding to a timing device associated with the respective communications device. Also, once the network has received this updated information, comparisons of related information entries are initiated to detect discrepancies therebetween. In this manner, user submitted time and geographic location information is compared with similar information automatically retrieved by the communications network using conventional and future network communications technology.

Abstract: A call routing system routes an incoming telephone call to a desired party based upon at least one of a plurality of conditions of at least one general purpose electronic device associated with the desired party. The call routing system includes a receiver, a processor, a selector and a routing device. The receiver receives the telephone call of the desired party. The processor determines the state of the desired party at the location of the received telephone call based on at least one general purpose electronic device. The selector selects one of a plurality of communication devices based upon the determined condition of the at least one electronic device. The routing device routes the telephone call to the selected one of the plurality of communication devices. A method for routing telephone calls is also described.

Abstract: A system and method of using two-way paging to establish communications with a mobile party having a Personal Telephone Number (PTN). The mobile party uses the two-way pager to transmit call control parameters which are used by the telephone network to route calls directed to the party's PTN. The mobile party may also use the pager to transmit a location indicator which specifies the subscriber's location and informs the network of the subscriber's intention to receive calls according to a call examination procedure. To invoke the call examination procedure, the bandwidths and protocols of all possible terminating stations associated with the subscriber's location are stored in the network on a pre-provisioned basis.

Abstract: A private broadcasting system includes communication terminals which are coupled to both a broadcasting network and point-to-point network. A private broadcasting device included in the broadcasting system is coupled to a database that contains a pool of encryption keys and a pool of channel numbers. The encryption keys and channel numbers are assigned to a private broadcast request when the communicating partners of the private broadcast request are available for communication. The encryption key and channel number is issued to each of the participating terminals. Each of the participating terminals encrypts and de-encrypts the information transmitted on and received from the broadcasting channel at the assigned channel number. In this way, the terminals communicate with each other privately excluding all other terminals that are not part of the private broadcast communication.

Abstract: A system and method of using two-way paging to establish communications with a mobile party having a Personal Telephone Number. The mobile party uses the two-way pager to transmit call control parameters which are used by the telephone network to route calls directed to the party's PTN. The mobile party may also use the pager to transmit subsequent routing parameters which are used by the network to reroute calls which have been previously routed. The subsequent routing of a call may be performed at any time following a previous routing, even after the call has received answer supervision.

Abstract: Call center functions are provided to a plurality of remotely located customer service representatives (CSRs) via a data network, such as the Internet. Each CSR station includes a telephone and a computer. Separate log-in procedures for the computer and the telephone improve system security. Incoming calls are routed to an available CSR. A call control server provides call control pages that include a set of clickable commands (e.g., transfer, hold, conference, speed-dial buttons, and the like) and telephone digits to CSR computers that allow CSRs to remotely control telephone calls. A merchant server can also provide a merchant application page to CSR computers to allow CSRs to process customer calls.

Abstract: A method for routing a call to a cordless/cellular telephone accessible over the landline network via a home cordless base station according to a LL#, and acessible over a cellular network according to a mobile identification number (MIN). Upon receiving a call to a cordless/cellular user's land-line telephone number (LL#) or to the corresponding MIN, the landline network ascertains whether the cordless/cellular telephone is within communication range of its home cordless base station. The telephone call is then routed to the home cordless base station only if the CCT is within communication range of the cordless base station. If the CCT is not within range of the home cordless base station, the call is forwarded by the land-line telephone network to the cellular network with the MIN in order to complete a cellular call to the CCT.

Abstract: A system and method of using two-way paging to establish communications with a mobile party having a Personal Telephone Number. The mobile party is equipped with a two-way pager which the party may use to provide call control. The pager is periodically queried by a network and/or paging service to determine whether or not the pager is reachable. If the pager becomes unreachable, and thereafter a call is placed to the party's Personal Telephone Number, the network routes the call to a default station. If the pager is reachable, any one of a number of alternative call routing procedures may be invoked including: registration type routing, call-by-call routing, revertive calling, call examination routing, and subsequent routing. In one possible embodiment, a Customer Routing Point is used to store the pager status along with other call routing information, and a Network Control Point is used to carry out the appropriate routing procedure.

Abstract: A paging service decides whether a subscriber may be paged, or is busy and should not be paged, depending on the subscriber's location. The subscriber's location is either transmitted by his 2-way pager, or determined by determining the identity of the cell site used to relay the pager's signal. The status corresponding to a cell site may be fixed, or may vary with a schedule or subscriber preference information stored in a memory.

Abstract: A system and method of using two-way paging to establish communications with a mobile party having a Personal Telephone Number. The mobile party is equipped with a two-way pager which the party may use to provide call control. The pager is periodically queried by a network and/or paging service to determine whether or not the pager is reachable. If the pager becomes unreachable, and thereafter a call is placed to the party's Personal Telephone Number, the network routes the call to a default station. If the pager is reachable, any one of a number of alternative call routing procedures may be invoked including: registration type routing, call-by-call routing, revertive calling, call examination routing, and subsequent routing. In one possible embodiment, a Customer Routing Point is used to store the pager status along with other call routing information, and a Network Control Point is used to carry out the appropriate routing procedure.

Abstract: A paging service database is updated by a subscriber by using a terminal. The terminal may update a corresponding database in a pager served by the paging service by linking to the pager through an infrared or wired serial link. The pager may also be coupled to the paging service through a modem and receive database updates or may receive database updates directly from the paging service over the airwaves. The subscriber may enter a new menu using the pager and update the paging service database by sending an update command. The new menu may be permanent or temporary. A temporary new menu may be erased either by an erase command sent from the pager to the paging service or a time limit specified by the subscriber.

Abstract: A user connected to the Internet (102), over his or her telephone line (105), through an Internet Access Provider (IAP) (104) can place the Internet connection on hold to take an incoming telephone call from a calling party at a telephone set (110). The user is informed of the waiting call by means of a signal send by the Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) (103) to the IAP that indicates the presence of the waiting call and the identity of the calling party. This information is then transmitted by the IAP to the user's terminal (101). Upon an affirmative decision to take the call, indicated to the IAP by means of a "click" on the screen of the user's terminal, the call to the IAP is placed on hold and the incoming call is connected to the user's telephone set (111).

Abstract: An intelligent pager remotely manages an E-Mail server that receives E-Mail messages transmitted over an E-Mail network. Useful E-Mail messages can be identified by the pager and separated from the junk mail. The pager remotely controls the server to forward messages as directed by the recipient. The E-Mail server sends a summary of the E-Mail message to the pager over a different network so that the pager can select a forwarding destination for the message. The pager sends a selection signal to the E-mail server which then forwards the E-Mail message to the selected destination. The E-Mail message can be forwarded by the server over another network, such as the public telephone network, to a computer or a FAX machine at the recipient's office, home or other destination.

Abstract: A method for updating a caller database in a communication system by detecting repeat callers during the bridging of calls placed to a called party subscriber and upon such detection, enabling the subscriber to enter corresponding alphanumeric identifiers in the frequent caller database. This method is useful in a communication system that completes a telephone call placed by a caller to a personal telephone number of a called party by bridging that call to a return call originated by the called party in response to a paging signal alerting the subscriber of the telephone call.