Abstract: A telecommunications system having a software dispatcher is provided for delivering messages between dispatcher clients, i.e., software subsystems that may be in the same process, a different process, or on a different machine. The dispatcher manages a pool of threads to balance the workload. The dispatcher can process both synchronous and asynchronous messages by dispatching the message to all registered subsystems in order of their registered priority.

Abstract: A queue server is established in a packet telephony environment, wherein the queue server is defined as a callable entity, separate from the H.323 workstation for which it is being used. The queue may be used with any piece of H.323 software without modification to the software. All that need be done is the configuration that is typically accomplished when H.323 software is installed on the workstation. For example, the queue may be identified as a callable entity to receive call forwarding from the busy device or endpoint. The H.323 software of the endpoint needs to be able to handle only one call at a time, thereby reducing memory requirements for the equipment.

Abstract: A multimedia terminal for telephony based on the ITU-T Standard H.323 sets up multipoint connections to a plurality of other terminals. The multimedia terminal has a controller for processing signaling information for point-to-multipoint connections and has a mixer for mixing datastreams originating at the terminals involved in the multipoint connection and for providing datastream mixtures to these terminals.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for automatic call connection. A call back request is initiated by a first user and then sent to a second user. After the call back request is received by the second user, the second user is given the option of accepting or rejecting the call back request. If the second user accepts the call back request, then the first user is automatically connected to the second user.

Abstract: The communications system has a communications terminal that transmits status data to a remote computer. The remote computer processes a program that generates an instruction sequence on the basis of the status data. The instruction sequence is processed by a central controller of the communications terminal as a program section.

Abstract: A communication system, such as an H.323 system, in which a gatekeeper (108) may support a plurality of virtual private networks or virtual domains. Endpoints (102a, 102b, 106) are provided with communication domain identifiers (CDI) which identify the endpoints' domain. The CDI is provided during call setup and used during address resolution. In particular, H.323 endpoints according to the present invention are provided with a control layer which provides a communication domain identification (CDI) assigned to a user during call setup or other situations in which it is desirable to have domain-restricted functionality. In the call setup embodiment, the CDI may be used, during the address resolution phase of the H.323 direct signaling mode, to determine whether the call is to a user at another extension of the same company. In the direct signaling mode, the communication domain identification control layer accesses a local database to make this determination.

Abstract: A system and method in an H.323 network for automatically reestablishing signaling that was interrupted due to gatekeeper failure. Primary and secondary gatekeepers (104a, 106a) establish a supervisory link (1b) with one another while the media connection is set up between client terminals (112a, 114a). The primary gatekeeper (104a) also establishes the H.225/H.245 signaling between the client terminals. If the primary gatekeeper (104a) fails, the H.225/H.245 connections go down, but the media connections will continue. The secondary gatekeeper (106a) than takes over the call and sends a message to its zone's clients that the H.225/H.245 connections need to be reestablished. Further, the secondary gatekeeper (106a) sends a message to the other zone's gatekeeper (if any) of what has occurred. The clients then reestablish the H.225/H.245 channel by using the original setup message with a new Reestablish parameter.

Abstract: A method for operating a switching device utilizing different signaling protocols. A terminal device is connected to a switching device with the assistance of an interface unit for protocol conversion. Signaling commands that correspond to a signaling protocol employed in the switching device are “tunneled” between the interface unit and the terminal device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the transmission of voice data in data packets upon utilization of additional performance features in a terminal equipment, wherein switching equipment is employed for the through-connection of voice connections such that voice data is transmitted in voice channels and wherein switching equipment is also employed for the control of supplementary services.

Abstract: An arrangement and a method with which wireless terminal devices which can usually be reached via a call number of one individual network computer can also be reached when they are located in the wireless communication area of a base station that is connected to another network computer. To this end, connection information is retrieved via a mobility server, and a connection setup to a corresponding network computer in whose radio area the wireless terminal device is located is controlled via that mobility server. The wireless terminal device delivers information, which is transmitted to the mobility server and from which, together with additional information from the network computer or the base station, this server is able to derive the information for the connection setup to the wireless terminal device.

Abstract: A system and method for supporting communications among multiple interconnected networks include assigning multiple dynamic telephony addresses to each wireless communication device that registers in more than one network. The networks assign the addresses independently of each other. When an incoming call is directed to a particular wireless device via a first network, if the wireless device is beyond the transmission range of the first network, a locate-wireless-communication-device message may be single-cast, multicast or broadcast to remote networks, with instructions to return dynamic telephony addresses assigned to the device. While the telephony addresses are different in each network, each wireless device is associated with a device identifier that is universally applied in the internetwork. Upon receiving a telephony address from a remote network, the address is stored in local memory at the first network, thereby allowing access for subsequent incoming calls.

Abstract: A call transfer may be prompted by a first endpoint, from the active status—open bearer channels between the first endpoint and a second endpoint—in a communications network based on ITU-T Standard H.323. The call transfer is effected by a series of steps, namely a facility message for call transfer, including an address for the third endpoint, is transmitted to a proxy function; a connection setup message is transmitted from the proxy function to the third endpoint and the third endpoint responds by transmitting a call connect message to the proxy function; the connection between the first endpoint and the second endpoint is released; and the proxy function initiates a connection to be set up between the second endpoint and the third endpoint.

Abstract: A method and a system of providing call progress tones in a packetized network include storing the call progress tones and pre-programmed audio deliveries at a first device and includes multicasting or broadcasting the tones and deliveries from the first device to a number of telephony-enabled devices. The multicasts are in a format that enable the telephony-enabled devices to individually control transmissions of the tones and deliveries to other devices, particularly calling devices for incoming calls. Typically, the audio deliveries include memory intensive signals, such as announcements and music-on-hold. The progress tones include conventional call status tones, such as ringback, busy and error tones. In one embodiment, the telephony-enabled devices are telephones to which the calls are directed. In another embodiment, the telephony-enabled devices include proxies that process the system-wide multicasts for telephones of the network.

Abstract: An automatic call distribution system utilizes a number of H.323 compatible devices. An automatic call distribution (ACD) server (52) interfaces with a computer telephony interface gateway (54) to route calls to agents or to a music/video server (56). Calls are received by a gateway and supplied to a gatekeeper that determines an IP address of the destination. The ACD server selects the destination in response to the number of agents available. In addition, customer calls can be received via e-mail, facsimile or the Internet. The call distribution system can instruct an agent to return an e-mail or facsimile message or to call a customer if desired. Calls from one H.323 device can be routed to another H.323 device by a third party application by sending a call control message to the device's application program interface that executes the message as if it were generated at the device itself.

Abstract: A line group function in a communications network based on ITU-T H.323 is implemented via a proxy function. First, an alias address for the line group is converted into a group transport address for a proxy function, and a connection setup message is transmitted from the calling endpoint to the proxy function using the group transport address. A connection setup message is transmitted from the proxy function to group endpoints in the line group using transport addresses known to the proxy function. After a response message has been transmitted from one of the group endpoints to the proxy function, the address of this endpoint is transmitted to the calling endpoint, and the address of the calling endpoint is transmitted to the responding group endpoint by the proxy function. A connection is set up between the calling endpoint and the responding group endpoint using the addresses of these endpoints.

Abstract: A telecommunications system having a software dispatcher is provided for delivering messages between dispatcher clients, i.e., software subsystems that may be in the same process, a different process, or on a different machine. The dispatcher manages a pool of threads to balance the workload. The dispatcher can process both synchronous and asynchronous messages by dispatching the message to all registered subsystems in order of their registered priority.

Abstract: A method is specified for operating a communication and/or control system via a line network equipped with socket outlets, in which for the supply of a standardized supply voltage at least one transmission line is connected to at least one socket outlet, which line is connected with an apparatus via a plug connected into the socket outlet and on which apparatus-specific signals are transmitted. The transmission takes place according to one of at least two selectable transmission protocols, whereby one of the two transmission protocols is selected according to the type of device which is connected.

Abstract: A portable processing device, such as a laptop computer, includes a time-of-day clock that is dynamically adjusted based upon occurrences of travel among different time zones. An itinerary is stored as a travel schedule of departure and arrival information and is used to identify anticipated multi-zone travel. When there is a coincidence between the clock and the occurrence of an anticipated multi-zone trip, the clock is automatically adjusted. The itinerary may be input via a user interface mechanism, such as a keyboard, may be entered by means of synchronization with a compatible program of a second device, or may be input via a network, such as the Internet. The determination of the relevant time zones preferably utilizes a database and most preferably utilizes an internal database of cities and time differentials among the cities. The dynamic adjustments of the time-of-day clock occur en route, without accessing externally generated signals or external devices.

Abstract: A communication system has cordless system units (1, 2, 3, 4) connected to a communication network (7). The cordless system units respectively has at least one cordless base station (11-13, 21-23, 31, 32, 41). The identification of a respective cordless terminal equipment (8) is stored in a cordless system unit (1, 2, 3, 4) allocated thereto as a home system unit. The possibility or, respectively, allowability of a connection setup from the respective cordless system unit (1, 2, 3, 4) to a cordless terminal equipment (8) can be checked by a check apparatus (15, 25, 35, 45) respectively allocated to the cordless system units (1, 2, 3, 4). The cordless system units (1, 2, 3, 4) are connected to a network (6, 61) offering a connectionless service in order to exchange information with one another dependent on check results of the check apparatus (15, 25, 35, 45).

Abstract: In a method for operating a digital data transmission network, and in a digital data transmission network operating according to the method, in an initial part of a transmission event between a control unit and at least one user unit in the network, a first data block containing data and a second data block containing data are transmitted from the control unit to the user unit. In the control unit, a first reference number is prescribed as a first transmission parameter in the first data block, which identifies a number of bit places provided for subsequent data transmission of the data contained in the first block from the user unit in a first useful channel. The control unit also prescribes a second reference number as a second transmission parameter in the second data block, identifying a number of bit places for subsequent data transmission of the data contained in the second block from the user unit in a second useful channel.