Abstract: A system and method for reducing cyber attacks on vetted web sites includes a haven web site hosted on a server computer. A list of certified web sites meeting specified criteria is maintained by the haven web site. The certified list is accessible over a global computer network for query or download. A computer virus or the like, operating on a remote computer, runs software coding, available for download on the haven web site, that determines whether a proposed targeted address is on the certified list. If so, the attack by the remote computer is aborted, and if not, the attack proceeds. Alternatively, a certification marker is included on certified web sites, and the remote computer runs software coding, available for download on the haven web site, to determine whether a proposed targeted address corresponds to a certified web site.

Abstract: A method of processing message service requests to a subscriber's communication device in a communication network is provided. The method includes receiving a message service request from a sender at a network element, wherein the message service request includes a message and is directed to the directory number of the communication device; accessing a centralized database that stores message service blocking data for the subscriber; retrieving the message service blocking data for the subscriber; and analyzing the data retrieved from the centralized database and determining whether the message service request should be permitted or denied.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for screening a request to establish a SIP session is provided. The method may include a) receiving a request to establish a SIP session at a network node of an internet protocol network and incrementing a counter, b) determining whether the request includes a resource priority parameter with an elevated priority value and, if so, incrementing a counter, c) comparing a ratio of the priority request count to the total request count to a threshold, and d) processing each request that includes the elevated priority value using more comprehensive screening after the ratio exceeds the threshold, allowing processing for each request that includes the elevated priority value to continue in accordance with the elevated priority value after the ratio does not exceed the threshold, and allowing processing for each request that does not include the elevated priority value to continue in accordance with a routine priority.

Abstract: A capability is provided for detecting a misaligned page of a document. A method includes detecting that a page is misaligned and generating a control signal adapted for use in triggering presentation of an alarm indicating that the page is misaligned. A method includes detecting that a page is misaligned and initiating one or more control actions for the misaligned page. These and other methods may be performed on any suitable copy device, such as on a fax machine, a photocopy machine, a scanner, a photograph copying device, a user device, a network device, and the like, as well as devices having combinations of such functionality.

Abstract: A method of supporting a mid-call hand-off feature (22) is provided in a telecommunications network (40). The method includes: connecting a first call through a first switching facility (20) of the telecommunications network (40) such that a first party served by the first switching facility (20) and a second party are participating in the call; making a decision to invoke the mid-call hand-off feature (22); placing a second call from the first switching facility (20) to a designated telephone number; and, connecting the second party to the second call.

Abstract: A security system is provided for a facility (10). The security system includes: a central monitoring station (20) that controls one or more security measures for the facility (10); and, a heart rate monitor (30) that detects a heart rate of an individual (50), the heart rate monitor (30) being in wireless communication with the central monitoring station (20). Suitably, the central monitoring station (20) selectively implements one or more of the security measures in response to a determination that an abnormal heart rate has been detected.

Abstract: An Internet Service Provider (ISP) node is configured to suppress malicious session initiation protocol (SIP) messages. The ISP node is coupled to receive a new session initiation protocol (SIP) message from a user agent client associated with the ISP. If the SIP message includes a resource priority header (RPH) indicating the new SIP message should be given priority within the network, the ISP node determines whether the user agent client previously sent an initial SIP message with an RPH that has not yet been authorized, and if so, places the new SIP message in a buffer.

Abstract: A method of supporting a mid-call hand-off feature (22) is provided in a telecommunications network (40). The method includes: connecting a first call through a first switching facility (20) of the telecommunications network (40), the first call being connected between a first party served by the first switching facility (20) and a second party; receiving a second call at the first switching facility (20) for the first party while the first party is still connected to the first call; determining where the second call originated from; and, selectively connecting the second party to the second call in response to the determined origin of the second call.

Abstract: A manner of creating an electronic device directory containing the identity of electronic devices that registered in an area associated with a plurality of events, which events are similar in certain respects. The directory is useful, for example, investigating criminal cases. When such an event occurs, an application server is notified and generates one or more device registration capture requests to determine which electronic devices are registered in the area and at approximately the same time at which the event occurs. The device registration capture associated with this event is compared with other device registration captures associated with other, similar events to create the electronic device directory. The electronic device directory entries are preferable filtered to select the devices most likely to be associated with the actual events in question.

Abstract: A method of administering a priority service is provided in a telecommunications network (20). The priority service provides higher priority handling of calls employing the service as compared to calls not employing the service for purposes of call completion. The method includes: obtaining at least one authentication credential from a user placing a call over the network (20); verifying a validity of the obtained credential; designating the call for priority handling if the credential is valid, otherwise designating the call for non-priority handling if the credential is invalid; and, attempting to complete the call over the network (20) in accordance with the designated handling.

Abstract: A method is provided in a telecommunications network for clandestinely providing a transmission relay service (TRS) to a called party (30). The method includes: receiving a first call from a calling party (10), the first call being received at a network node (40) serving a called party (30) for which the first call is intended; detecting the called party (30) answering the first call; and, determining whether or not to invoke a feature (44) supported by the network node (40).

Abstract: A method is provided for routing an emergency call. The method comprises receiving an emergency call and identifying an end node associated with the call. The end node may be a communications device involved in establishing the emergency call that is geographically near the originator of the emergency call. A look-up table is then accessed to identify the appropriate public safety answering point (PSAP) associated with the end node, and the emergency call is routed to the identified PSAP.

Abstract: A security protocol is disclosed for detecting occurrences of intruder activity, including hidden or concealed activity that may occur in a computer system including a host platform operably connected to an application platform. The protocol relies on parameters defining a tag sequence and syntax commonly known to the application platform and host platform (and hence the user) to detect occurrences of intruder activity during the session.

Abstract: A method of logging call data for failed emergency calls includes: receiving from a calling party an emergency call that is to be routed to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) (40) over a telecommunications network (20); determining if the received emergency call is connected to the PSAP (40); and, if the received emergency call fails to be connected to the PSAP (40), then capturing selected call data regarding the failed emergency call and recording the captured call data.

Abstract: A service control component of an apparatus in one example provides to one or more telephony devices of a plurality of telephony devices on a call, one or more services associated with one or more numbers associated with the one or more telephony devices on the call through employment of one or more data streams associated with the call.

Abstract: An individualized baggage tracking and notification system provides airline baggage tracking information to individual customers for purposes of customer convenience and/or theft avoidance. The individualized baggage tracking information may indicate, for each of one or more baggage items affiliated with the customer, indicia of one or more baggage handling nodes visited by the baggage items, indicia of recorded arrival times of the baggage items at the visited nodes, indicia of one or more baggage handling nodes not yet visited by the baggage items and indicia of projected arrival times of the baggage items at those nodes. In an instance where a customer baggage item has reached a terminating node (e.g., a baggage carousel), the system may indicate the arrival time of the baggage item at the terminating node; or in the instance the baggage item has not yet reached the terminating node, the system may indicate a projected arrival time of the baggage item at the terminating node.

Abstract: A system for processing emergency calls in a telecommunications network includes: receiving a first call at a node (30) of the telecommunications network from a calling party that originated the first call; detecting that the received first call is an emergency call; establishing a conference bridge in response to the detected emergency call; connecting the emergency call over the conference bridge to a designated facility (40) that handles emergency calls; and, automatically originating at least one second call from the node (30) to at least one predetermined third party that is different than the calling party and the facility (40).

Abstract: A system and method for email management. An automatic reply control table is provided, and an entry may be created based on a designation made by a user when composing an email for transmission. An email manager then monitors incoming email to determine whether a particular email includes an indicator that it is an automatic-reply message and, if so, whether it corresponds to an entry on the automatic reply control table. If it does, then the received automatic reply message is deleted or otherwise disposed of. A notification may be generated for presentation to the sender of the original email indicating the disposition of received automatic reply messages corresponding to a particular transmitted email.

Abstract: A capability is provided for detecting a misaligned page of a document. A method includes detecting that a page is misaligned and generating a control signal adapted for use in triggering presentation of an alarm indicating that the page is misaligned. A method includes detecting that a page is misaligned and initiating one or more control actions for the misaligned page. These and other methods may be performed on any suitable copy device, such as on a fax machine, a photocopy machine, a scanner, a photograph copying device, a user device, a network device, and the like, as well as devices having combinations of such functionality.

Abstract: A method for regulating a call placement rate (CPR) of an autodialer (AD) (100) includes: measuring a time delay between a first event and a second event; and, adjusting the CPR of the AD (100) in response to the measured time delay.