Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing intelligent paging services is disclosed. A server receives a paging request from a customer. The page request may be, for example, a telephone call initiated by the customer from a telephone. The server then determines the identity of the customer who initiated the page request and (if necessary) the condition which prompted the identified customer to initiate the page request. The identity and condition information is then used to identify a predetermined list of one or more parties who should be contacted on behalf of the customer and how they should be contacted. Examples of the contact methods the server may execute include making a telephone call to a designated number via a public switched telephone network (PSTN), sending a page to a designated pager via the PSTN, and/or sending an electronic mail (e-mail) message to an Internet protocol (IP) addressable device via an IP network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing intelligent paging services is disclosed. A server receives a paging request from a customer. The page request may be, for example, a telephone call initiated by the customer from a telephone. The server then determines the identity of the customer who initiated the page request and (if necessary) the condition which prompted the identified customer to initiate the page request. The identity and condition information is then used to identify a predetermined list of one or more parties who should be contacted on behalf of the customer and how they should be contacted. Examples of the contact methods the server may execute include making a telephone call to a designated number via a public switched telephone network (PSTN), sending a page to a designated pager via the PSTN, and/or sending an electronic mail (e-mail) message to an Internet protocol (IP) addressable device via an IP network.

Abstract: Apparatus for linking multiple baseband telephone lines to provide broadband communication. The apparatus comprises a broadband port, a plurality of baseband ports, and a controller. The broadband port provides connection to a broadband device or broadband communication line. The baseband ports provide connection to baseband communication lines. The controller integrates baseband data streams accepted at the baseband ports into a broadband data stream for transmission at the broadband port, and/or demultiplexes a broadband data stream received at the broadband port into baseband streams for transmission at the baseband ports. The baseband data include message data corresponding to the message data of the broadband stream, and control data describing an interrelationship among the message data, for controlling integrating of said baseband message data. The invention allows an individual to use multiple plain old telephone service (POTS) lines in combination to emulate the capability of a broadband line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for prioritizing telphone calls that enables a caller to specify priority criteria relating to the calls and a recipient to specify priority criteria relating to the treatment of the calls.

Abstract: A method for use in completing a caller's telephone call that is placed to the telephone number of a called party, comprises the steps of receiving the caller's call, in response to which selecting a meet-me system from among a plurality of meet-me systems. The method further comprises the steps of routing the caller's call to the selected meet-me system, and, routing a call originated by said called party to this selected meet-me system so as to connect to the caller's call at the selected meet-me system. Thereafter, the method includes the step of transmitting appropriate instructions associated with a plurality of available features to the called party so as to allow the called party to select at least one of the available features.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the location of a subscriber of a two-way paging service includes a telephone network with a switched network and a paging service operatively connected thereto. The paging service includes a paging receiver for receiving a location parameter from a two-way pager of a subscriber of a paging network. The switched network includes a unit for generating a location message to a caller when the caller queries the network for the subscriber location.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for messaging multimedia calls with a non-CCITT compliant switch when the intended recipient is unavailable. The method is used in connection with a telecommunication network which has an identified multimedia server. According to the method, multimedia calls from a caller, using a multimedia device running a first application and a second application, are messaged when the called party is unavailable. The method involves initiating a multimedia call to the called party using the first application and determining that the multimedia call is an unanswered call using the second application. Using the second application, the first application is signalled to indicate that the multimedia call was unanswered. In response to the signal, an X.25 packet message is sent from the multimedia device to the identified network based multimedia server. The multimedia device receives back a messaging address identifying a multimedia messaging server from the network based multimedia server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording and indexing audio information exchanged during an audio conference call, or video, audio and data information exchanged during a multimedia conference. For a multimedia conference, the method and apparatus utilize the voice activated switching functionality of a multipoint control unit (MCU) to provide a video signal, which is input to the MCU from a workstation from which an audio signal is detected, to each of the other workstations participating in the conference. A workstation and/or participant-identifying signal generated by the multipoint control unit is stored, together or in correspondence with the audio signal and video information, for subsequent ready retrieval of the stored multimedia information. For an audio conference, a computer is connected to an audio bridge for recording the audio information along with an identification signal for correlating each conference participant with that participant's statements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for prioritizing telephone calls that allow the caller to specify priority criteria relating to a call and the recipient to specify priority criteria relating to the treatment of incoming calls. The caller designates priority of the call based on specified priority criteria. The caller's specified priority criteria is stored in a database in the telephone service provider's network, is retrieved from the database when the caller places a call and is transmittal with the call through the telephone network. The call recipient designates specified priority criteria for incoming calls. The call recipient's specified priority criteria is stored in a database and is retrieved from the database in response to incoming calls. The treatment of a call, i.e. connection, termination or redirection, is based on comparison of the caller's specified priority criteria and the call recipient's specified priority criteria.

Abstract: A process for converting a point-to-point multimedia call into a bridged multimedia call for accommodating multi-party conferencing. The process utilizes the bearer channel configuration of the standard BRI format to disconnect, one at a time, each bearer channel from the point-m-point call and to reconnect each line to a multipoint control unit, whereupon the reconnected lines are individually reformatted in accordance with standard video phone protocol. The process facilitates the continuous and uninterrupted exchange of audio information and data between the point-to-point participants throughout the disconnection and reconfiguration stages of the conversion.

Abstract: We have recognized that in the prior art, to insure that there is at least some communication between the calling and called parties, when the called party is unavailable to take a call, the calling party may be connected to an alternate destination, e.g., a voice messaging system, and the caller's telephone call is considered completed. If the called party thereafter becomes available, the called party is not connected to the caller's telephone call. However, in accordance with the principles of the invention, this problem is overcome by, in response to receipt of an indication that the called party is available for a caller's telephone call after the caller's telephone call has already been connected to an alternate destination, a) disconnecting the caller's telephone call from the alternate destination and, instead, b) connecting it the called party, thus interrupting the connection between the caller and the alternate destination.

Abstract: A requester making a request for access to a destination is prompted to supply additional authentication information, beyond that which may be supplied by the requester in an attempt to meet a first level of security processing specified by the nature of the request itself, only if it is determined from a predetermined set of attributes of the particular access request that additional security processing is necessary before access can be granted to the destination.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for employing a communications system with actively connects communicating entities to mediate transactions. Disclosed are general methods and apparatus for mediating transactions, methods and apparatus permitting information from one transaction to be used in other transactions, and methods and apparatus for performing credit card transactions in which the vendee need not disclose his credit card to the vendor. An implementation of a system for performing credit card transactions in a stored program-controlled telephone switching network is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to arrangements for providing pre-authenticated access from a caller to a service provider. The caller dials the number of the service provider and subsequently enters a personal identification number (PIN) or other suitable authentication data, and, if necessary, an account number. A data base in the communications carrier verifies that the caller has been authorized to access the service provider and that the PIN is correct for that caller and forwards the call to the service provider only if both checks are satisfied. Only preauthenticated calls are delivered to the service provider, and the caller need only remember one PIN for all the service providers accessed by this arrangement.

Abstract: A method of balancing traffic loads to a plurality of customer automatic l distributors (ACDs). Each ACD periodically transmits call congestion data to a central data base. Periodically, the data is automatically analyzed and resulting call routing information stored at the data base. The call routing information is queried in response to each call directed to the customer to select and ACD for routing of the call. Other signals are independently sent from the ACDs to the data base to indicate the present availability of trunks. A given call may or may not be routed to the selected ACD depending upon the status of these signals. In this case, the ACD selection process is repeated at the data base.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of using the public switched telephone network, including the CCIS (Common Channel Interoffice Signaling) system, to provide nationwide personal locator telephone service for called subscribers. In accordance with the service, a calling party may reach a called subscriber wherever the subscriber may be located by merely keying from a standard push-button telephone set a personal number unique to the subscriber. A telephone office having access to CCIS sends the number to a centralized data base. A telephone number at which the subscriber is located is returned to the access office, and the call is automatically completed to the telephone number. Other information may be returned to the access office to provide enhanced features. Such features include called subscriber unavailability announcements to the calling party, storage of a caller's telephone number, automatic call-back by the subscriber, and paging of the subscriber.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing call data among telephone switching offices and a remotely situated data base system for deriving call service information needed to complete special service calls, such as INward WATS (Wide Area Telephone Service) calls to a destination specified by the derived information. A network of local and toll offices compiles a special service call message including a caller dialed 800 number and an originating area code for the INWATS service and then transmits that message to the data base system over CCIS (Common Channel Interoffice Signalling) facilities including signal transfer systems. At the data base, the message is translated into a directory-unlisted number identifying an INWATS customer station designated to serve the call.