Abstract: In an apparatus and method, one method example has the steps of: placing a call from a calling terminal to a called terminal in a cable telecommunication network, and communicating with a ring back application; initiating a new call by the ring back application to the called terminal via a call management server; ringing the called terminal by the call management server and providing an indication of the ringing to the ring back application; and sending, by the ring back application, a predetermined ring back signal to the calling terminal. Upon answer by the called party, the ring back application informs the calling party end device of the called party's address, and upon receiving the acknowledgement from the calling party's end-device it stops the predetermined ring back signal and informs the called party end device to cut thru the bearer path to the calling party's device.

Abstract: A method is provided for displaying, upon an attempt to configure a personalized notification of an event, a menu of categories of multi-media content available on a communications device. An indication of the categories of multi-media content desired by a user of the communications device and a scheduled date and time for the event are stored. Upon the occurrence of the scheduled date and time, particular notification files selected by the user and associated with the categories of multi-media content are generated on the communications device as the personalized notification.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method, one method example has the steps of: placing a call from a calling terminal to a called terminal in a cable telecommunication network, and communicating with a ring back application; initiating a new call by the ring back application to the called terminal via a call management server; ringing the called terminal by the call management server and providing an indication of the ringing to the ring back application; and sending, by the ring back application, a predetermined ring back signal to the calling terminal. Upon answer by the called party, the ring back application informs the calling party end device of the called party's address, and upon receiving the acknowledgement from the calling party's end-device it stops the predetermined ring back signal and informs the called party end device to cut thru the bearer path to the calling party's device.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method, one method example has the steps of: placing a call from a calling terminal to a called terminal in a cable telecommunication network, and communicating with a ring back application; initiating a new call by the ring back application to the called terminal via a call management server; ringing the called terminal by the call management server and providing an indication of the ringing to the ring back application; and sending, by the ring back application, a predetermined ring back signal to the calling terminal. Upon answer by the called party, the ring back application informs the calling party end device of the called party's address, and upon receiving the acknowledgement from the calling party's end-device it stops the predetermined ring back signal and informs the called party end device to cut thru the bearer path to the calling party's device.

Abstract: Communication networks and associated methods are disclosed that provide an advertisement or other type of informational message to a calling party before providing ringback tones. A communication network described herein receives a call from the calling party to the called party, and temporarily interrupts call processing for the call. The communication network then selects an advertisement for the call, and initiates delivery of the advertisement to the calling party. After the advertisement is delivered to the calling party, the communication network resumes call processing for the call. In resuming call processing, the communication network provides ringback tones to the calling party and attempts to connect the call to the called party.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a call setup message for a call from a calling party device to a called party device is received. At least one calling party parameter for the calling party device is determined. A user message is selected based on the at least one calling party parameter. Delivery of the user message to the calling party device is initiated in parallel with a call setup for the call from the calling party device to the called party device.

Abstract: A ringback tone is played to a calling party on a call to a called party. Identification information of the ringback tone is stored, upon receipt of a bookmark request from the calling party, for later access by the calling party to the ringback tone and/or information related to the ringback tone.

Abstract: An opt-out request in one example is received from a calling party to avoid employment of a specialized ringback tone on one or more subsequent calls from the calling party to a called party. A ringback tone call controller determines, based on the opt-out request, to provide a substitute tone to the calling party in place of the specialized ringback tone on the one or more subsequent calls from the calling party to the called party. After receiving the opt-out request on a call, the specialized ringback tone in a further example is stopped for a remainder of a ringing phase of the call. If a ringback tone service state associated with the calling party is an opt-out state, then in one example the calling party makes an opt-in request to allow use of the specialized ringback tone on one or more subsequent calls to the called party.

Abstract: A control server of an apparatus in one example manages a plurality of resource servers that are allocated to handle a load. The control server receives from a first resource server, of the plurality of resource servers, a first status message that comprises a first indicator of a relative availability of the first resource server. The control server receives from a second resource server, of the plurality of resource servers, a second status message that comprises a second indicator of a relative availability of the second resource server. The control server employs a comparison of the first indicator of the relative availability of the first resource server with the second indicator of the relative availability of the second resource server to promote a selected balance of the load between two or more of the plurality of resource servers.

Abstract: A ringback tone, indicative of an emotional state that is input by a user of a called communication device, is selected to play to a calling communication device during a call to the called communication device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for dynamically generating one or more group lists as a sub-group of the contact list by assigning tags to contacts in a contact list. A user may define one or more tags for contacts in the contact list to generate a tag list in addition to the contact list. The tags indicate additional attributes of the contact that cannot be included in the contact list. To dynamically generate the group list, the user enters list criteria, and the tag list is searched to identify which of the contacts in the contact list has tags that match the list criteria. The contacts having tags that match the list criteria are combined into a group list which the user may then access to initiate communication with those contacts, or store for later use.

Abstract: A method of providing ringback in a telecommunications network (100) includes: receiving a call at a service switching point (114) for a called party (112) served by the service switching point (114), the call being from a calling party (122); encountering a trigger detection point (116) while engaging in a call setup for the call, the trigger detection point (116) being provisioned for the called party (112) at the service switching point (114); in response to encountering the trigger detection point (116), extending a first leg of the call to a service node (130) that provides ringback to the calling party (122); setting-up a second leg of the call between the service node (130) and the called party (112); bridging together the first and second legs of the call at the service switching point (114); and, removing the service node (130) from participation in the call after the first and second legs have been bridged together at the service switching point (114).

Abstract: A control server of an apparatus in one example receives an offer message from a resource server. The offer message indicates an availability of the resource server to handle one or more tasks for the control server. The control server employs the offer message to determine whether to add an indication of the resource server to a resource server mapping table that comprises indications of a plurality of available resource servers. The resource server mapping table is employable to determine a selected resource server of the plurality of available resource servers to use for a task of the one or more tasks.

Abstract: A playback characteristic of a ringback tone, played to a calling communication device employed by a user for a call to a called communication device, is changed based on input from the user of the calling communication device.

Abstract: Ringback tone preference information, input by a user of a communication device, is presented to a ringback tone service subscriber or a proxy for the ringback tone service subscriber to assist the ringback tone service subscriber or the proxy select a ringback tone to be played to the user of the communication device on a call to the ringback tone service subscriber.

Abstract: A software platform in one example comprises a plurality of software applications. The plurality of software applications comprise a first software application that performs a determination of a load level associated with the first software application. The first software application employs the determination of the load level to manage a quality of service level associated with the first software application.

Abstract: A network controller of a wireless and/or wireline telecommunications network of an apparatus in one embodiment makes a scheduled determination of an availability of a network resource, of the wireless and/or wireline telecommunications network, based on a determination of success or failure in timely arrival of a message from the network resource.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for dynamically generating one or more group lists as a sub-group of the contact list by assigning tags to contacts in a contact list. A user may define one or more tags for contacts in the contact list to generate a tag list in addition to the contact list. The tags indicate additional attributes of the contact that cannot be included in the contact list. To dynamically generate the group list, the user enters list criteria, and the tag list is searched to identify which of the contacts in the contact list has tags that match the list criteria. The contacts having tags that match the list criteria are combined into a group list which the user may then access to initiate communication with those contacts, or store for later use.

Abstract: An incoming call screening treatment is selected for a call to a called communication device based on an emotional state criterion input by a user of the called communication device.

Abstract: Presence servers, communication devices, and methods are disclosed for determining the availability of a target party to receive a call prior to call setup. Upon initiation of a call to a target party, the communication device of a subscriber transmits an availability request message to a presence server requesting the availability of the target party to receive the call. Responsive to the availability request message, the presence server determines the availability of the target party to receive the call and transmits an availability response message indicating the availability of the target party to receive the call to the subscriber's communication device. The subscriber's communication device receives the availability response message from the presence server, displays the availability of the target party to receive the call from the subscriber, and may talk other associated actions such as setting up the call to the target party if it is available.