Abstract: For use with a user communication device (UCD) that communicates over a packet network by alternately transmitting and receiving streams of associated continuous media communication data packets, systems and methods for providing call processing features, such as call forwarding and call blocking, to the communication device. In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the call processing system: (1) determines that a call composed of a stream of continuous media communication packets and associated with the UCD requires a specified alternative processing and (2) causes the continuous media communication data packets associated with the call to be processed in accordance with the specified alternative processing.

Abstract: For use with a user communication device (UCD) that communicates over a packet network by alternately transmitting and receiving streams of associated continuous media communication data packets, systems and methods for providing call processing features, such as call forwarding and call blocking, to the communication device. In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the call processing system: (1) determines that a call composed of a stream of continuous media communication packets and associated with the UCD requires a specified alternative processing and (2) causes the continuous media communication data packets associated with the call to be processed in accordance with the specified alternative processing.

Abstract: For use with a user communication device (UCD) that communicates over a packet network by alternately transmitting and receiving streams of associated continuous media communication data packets, systems and methods for providing call processing features, such as call forwarding and call blocking, to the communication device. In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the call processing system: (1) determines that a call composed of a stream of continuous media communication packets and associated with the UCD requires a specified alternative processing and (2) causes the continuous media communication data packets associated with the call to be processed in accordance with the specified alternative processing.

Abstract: A computer system coordinates the receipt of incoming messages, such as electronic mail (email) and/or voice mail messages, from third parties with a user's computer-based personal scheduler to automatically forward outgoing messages to the third parties based upon the unavailability of the user. In one embodiment, for email messages, upon the receipt of an incoming email message from a third party, the user's computer-based email application accesses information previously stored in the user's computer-based personal scheduler to determine the current availability of the user and automatically sends an appropriate outgoing email message to the third party when the user is unavailable. The amount and type of information contained within the outgoing email message may depend on the type of current activity stored in the user's personal scheduler and/or the source of the incoming message.

Abstract: An automatic selective paging system and method is utilized in which at least one entity of a predetermined group of entities is automatically selected as being available to answer a page in accordance with prescribed criteria, and then is paged. Specifically, a page request or requests is received from, for example, a salesperson, customer representative, account representative, customer, anyone needing information, assistance, advice, help of any sort or the like. To realize this, individual entities in the group of entities populate at least one associated scheduler with their individual schedules indicating availability to provide a service, for example, times of a day, days of a week, etc. These individual schedules are available to a paging system and, for example, to a hunt group therein.

Abstract: A private message, formed generally by an e-mail manager or browser, has a privacy attribute. The private message with the privacy attribute is transmitted to a receiver where only certain permitted message processing, called private message processing, may be performed in response to the detection of the privacy attribute. For example, in response to a received privacy attribute only three message processing functions in the receiver of the message are activated, namely message reading, reply to addressee, and delete. Other edit and re-transmit functions which may exist with an e-mail manager or browser at the receiver are disabled in response to the privacy attribute so that the private message cannot be edited and retransmitted. Likewise, the message cannot be stored external from the e-mail manager or browser.

Abstract: A voice messaging system enables a callee to specify a retention time for retaining a stored voice message from a caller. The system then automatically deletes the stored voice message after the expiration of the retention time. In one embodiment, the caller is able to specify one retention time when the message is first recorded, and the callee can change that retention time when the message is retrieved. If the message is not retrieved by the callee before the caller-specified retention time expires, the system will automatically delete the message. In one embodiment, a callee can also assign a retention time to an outgoing voice message for playback to subsequent callers. The present invention improves the operations of a voice messaging system with limited memory resources, by reducing the chances that the system's memory will become filled with old messages which would leave the system unable to store new messages from callers.

Abstract: Computer programs such as word processing, spreadsheet and electronic mail are run from a remote telecommunications terminal, without benefit of any user interaction with a screen display, by software associated with the computer that translates a combination of remotely-generated tone and voice signals to executable application program commands. The communication protocols use a conversant system's query-response sequences to call up an application and to run selected portions of the program. Pre-recorded voiceprints of a particular user's voice commands and utterances required to operate the software are stored at the computer; and compared during usage to the actual utterances. Insufficient matches result in suspension or termination of access.

Abstract: An enhanced call waiting (ECW) feature is provided by a switch serving a called subscriber who, while still on a first telephone call, receives a subsequent telephone call.

Abstract: An enhanced call waiting (ECW) feature is provided by a switch serving a called subscriber who, while still on a first telephone call, receives a subsequent telephone call.

Abstract: An enhanced call waiting (ECW) feature is provided by a switch serving a called subscriber who, while still on a first telephone call, receives a subsequent telephone call.

Abstract: The functions of a paging device and the calling card or any other type of credit card having integrated into one unit which is referred to as a smartcard and has approximately the dimensions of a standard credit card. The smartcard not only receives the number of the caller from the paging center but automatically dials and transmits billing information when inserted into a pay telephone. The user can through the use of switches on the smartcard return all of the calls for the telephone numbers that were received from the paging service. In addition, the smartcard allows for the storage of commonly-dialed numbers used by the user that can also be automatically dialed when the smartcard is inserted into a pay telephone. Also, if the name of the caller is transmitted rather than the telephone number from the paging center, the smartcard searches the commonly-dialed numbers to find the telephone number associated with that name.