Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for addressing and broadcasting a message to recipients having both telephone network-based receiving devices and data network-based receiving devices. The apparatus includes a message router that translates the broadcast message into individual messages that are addressed to each message recipient in a format, e.g., voice, text, email, fax, pager, compatible with each message recipient's receiving device. The individual messages are transmitted by a data network server over a data network. Individual messages designated for recipients having receiving devices addressable by the data network are delivered directly over the data network to the receiving devices. Individual messages designated for recipients having receiving devices addressable by the telephone network are delivered over the data network first to a telephone network server.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for addressing and broadcasting a message to recipients having both telephone network-based receiving devices and data network-based receiving devices. The apparatus includes a message router that translates the broadcast message into individual messages that are addressed to each message recipient in a format, e.g., voice, text, email, fax, pager, compatible with each message recipient's receiving device. The individual messages are transmitted by a data network server over a data network. Individual messages designated for recipients having receiving devices addressable by the data network are delivered directly over the data network to the receiving devices. Individual messages designated for recipients having receiving devices addressable by the telephone network are delivered over the data network first to a telephone network server.

Abstract: As apparatus and method for initiating device independent voice communication over a data network via a web interface is provided. The apparatus includes a network operations center (NOC), having a web server and a customer database. The NOC is connected to point of presence (POP) servers around the world via a data network. Telephony servers convert voice information to streaming audio format, and vice versa, for sending and receiving voice information over a data network. Device independent voice communication is established.

Abstract: A computer-implemented control center for permitting a subscriber of a plurality of communication services of a unified mess aging system to customize communication options pertaining to the plurality of communication services. The communication options include parameters associated with individual ones of the plurality of the communication services and routings among the plurality of communication services. The plurality of communication services comprise a voice telephone service through a telephony-centric network and an e-mail service through a data-centric network. The communication options are accessible via display terminals coupled to the data-centric network and via telephones coupled to the telephony-centric network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for managing access to transaction services offered over a network. The apparatus comprises query logic, configured to query up-to-date transaction records for a user's account to detect an account event. The transaction records each have an associated transaction cost. The apparatus also comprises an event monitor that is configured to prescribe the account event. Upon detection of the account event, the event monitor manages access to the transaction services as a function of the transaction cost which is associated with the transaction record of the detected account event. The event monitor further prescribes the account event in response to a command initiated by a user from a remote computer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for alerting a user upon receipt of selected messages, independent of the type of device generating the message is provided. Message generating devices include telephony devices (telephone, fax machine, etc.), or data devices such as a computer or PDA. All messages are converted into a format compatible with a data network for delivery to a web server. The web server includes a message notification system with message alert type selection and incoming message filtering. A user designates, either from a computer, or from a telephone, the types of messages for which s/he wishes to be alerted, and designates one or more device types (email address, fax machine, pager number, or telephone number) to receive the alert. When messages are received by the web server, they are distinguished by message type, and filtered according to the user defined criteria. Selected messages cause a message alert to be generated to the user configured devices.

Abstract: An integrated message system receives and stores telephonic and data messages through a telephony-centric network and a data-centric network, respectively, and provides voice access through the data-centric network. As a result, the familiar message access of an ordinary telephony-centric network is provided through a data-centric network, e.g., the Internet. As a result, a user's messages can be retrieved via a voice interface through the Internet from anywhere in the world toll-free. In addition, the message system provides a gateway to the telephony-centric network, e.g., the public switched telephone network, such that the user can respond to messages from anywhere in the world through the Internet for the same toll charges that would accrue to the user for responding to the messages from home or the home office.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for controlling access to a telecommunications and messaging services system from a server computer that has a web browser installed. The apparatus includes a billing server that maintains a database of telecommunications transaction records. Each time a new telecommunications event occurs, such as a toll call from a number in a user's account, a new transaction record is added to the data base. A service provider interfaces to the database of transaction records through a series of web pages that are transmitted over the internet by a web server. The web pages that are generated by the web server provide the service provider with the capabilty to periodically query the data base to detect the occurrence of a prescribed account event, such as exceeding a charge credit limit. Upon detection of the prescribed account event, messages are sent to the web server to control access to the telecommunications and messaging services system for a corresponding account.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for permitting a subscriber of a call forwarding service to customize call forwarding parameters associated with the call forwarding service. The call forwarding service being configured to permit the subscriber to specify whether a call received at a telephone number associated with a given account of the call forwarding service be forwarded to a forwarding telephone number. The call forwarding parameters includes a call forwarding enable option and the forwarding telephone number. The method includes providing a subscriber communication profile database. The subscriber communication profile database has therein the account pertaining to the subscriber. The account includes the call forwarding parameters for the subscriber.

Abstract: A computer-implemented control center for permitting a subscriber of a plurality of communication services of a unified mess aging system to customize communication options pertaining to the plurality of communication services. The communication options include parameters associated with individual ones of the plurality of the communication services and routings among the plurality of communication services. The plurality of communication services comprise a voice telephone service through a telephony-centric network and an e-mail service through a data-centric network. The communication options are accessible via display terminals coupled to the data-centric network and via telephones coupled to the telephony-centric network.

Abstract: A unified messaging system. A server node with a telephony interface to interface with the public switch telephone network and a web interface providing an interface to a wide area network receives messages of a plurality of type via these interfaces. The messages are stored in a database and provided by the server node to a user node executing a web browser. The server node provides message conversion so that a user at the user node can retrieve messages of the different media types, respond to those messages, forward messages, and send messages of different message types across a plurality of media originating from the user node over the wide area network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for addressing and broadcasting a message to recipients having both telephone network-based receiving devices and data network-based receiving devices. The apparatus includes a message router that translates the broadcast message into individual messages that are addressed to each message recipient in a format, e.g., voice, text, email, fax, pager, compatible with each message recipient's receiving device. The individual messages are transmitted by a data network server over a data network. Individual messages designated for recipients having receiving devices addressable by the data network are delivered directly over the data network to the receiving devices. Individual messages designated for recipients having receiving devices addressable by the telephone network are delivered over the data network first to a telephone network server.

Abstract: A learned speed dial system (LSDS) for use in a telecommunication device monitors the telephone numbers dialed by the user. When the number of times a particular telephone number is used reaches a predetermined threshold, the LSDS determines whether the telephone number is in the speed dial directory. If this telephone number is not in the speed dial directory, the LSDS prompts the user to update the speed dial directory with this telephone number. The user can then elect to update the speed dial directory with this new telephone number, as desired. The learned speed dial system may be configured to automatically add this telephone number to the speed dial directory if the directory is not full. If the speed dial directory is full, the LSDS prompts the user to select a telephone number to delete from the speed dial directory. The LSDS keeps track of the usage of the currently stored speed dial telephone numbers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for alerting a user upon receipt of selected messages, independent of the type of device generating the message is provided. Message generating devices include telephony devices (telephone, fax machine, etc.), or data devices such as a computer or PDA. All messages are converted into a format compatible with a data network for delivery to a web server. The web server includes a message notification system with message alert type selection and incoming message filtering. A user designates from a computer the types of messages for which s/he wishes to be alerted, and designates how the alert is to be presented on his/her computer. When messages are received by the web server, they are distinguished by message type, and filtered according to the user defined criteria. Selected messages cause a message indication to be generated provided to a program on the user's computer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented control center for permitting a subscriber of a plurality of communication services of a unified messaging system to customize communication options pertaining to the communication services through either a telephony-centric network using a telephone or a data-centric network using a display terminal is disclosed. The computer implemented control center includes a subscriber communication profile database having therein an account pertaining to the subscriber. The account includes the communication options for the subscriber. The communication options include parameters associated with individual ones of the communication services and routings among the communication services. There is also included a computer server coupled to exchange data with the subscriber communication profile database.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for locally intercepting and servicing a long-distance call, prior to incurring charges associated with routing of the long-distance call over a corresponding long-distance carrier channel. A caller is immediately given the option to send a voicemail message to a recipient rather than completing the long-distance call. If the caller so chooses, the voicemail is recorded locally, the call is terminated, and the voicemail message is subsequently transmitted to the recipient via a data-centric network. The apparatus includes a telephony-centric network server and a message router. The telephony-centric network server detects initiation of the long-distance call, it intercepts the long-distance call, and it transmits the voicemail message over the data-centric network. The message router is coupled to the telephony-centric network server. The message router forwards the voicemail message over the data-centric network to a recipient.