Abstract: A method for visually generating a service component can include specifying at least one service building block, wherein the specification includes visually selecting a plurality of event handlers for inclusion in the at least one service building block. The method can also include exporting the at least one service building block. The exporting step can produce a deployment descriptor which describes events for which the at least one service building block has been configured to handle. The at least one service block can be visually arranged, wherein the arrangement can form the service component. Finally, the service component produced by the visual arrangement can be configured for insertion in a SLEE in an advanced intelligent network. Notably, in one aspect of the method, the method can further include the step of encapsulating the service component in a service application container.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for managing subscriber services. The system can include a service renewal system configured to renew service subscriptions based upon identifying information associated with the service subscriptions. The system also can include one or more subscribers calling a service renewal system over a PSTN to renew respective service subscriptions. Finally, the system can include logic disposed within the PSTN to obtain the identifying information and to provide the obtained identifying information to the service renewal system.

Abstract: A system and method for providing caller information across heterogeneous networks is provided. A Name Resolution Adapter (NRA) receives a message from a destination central office which includes a caller's telephone number and a call recipient's telephone number. The NRA retrieves a call recipient contract and caller authorization entries, and identifies caller fields that the call recipient is authorized to receive. The NRA includes the identified caller fields in a message to a Service Control Point (SCP), whereby the SCP retrieves caller attributes corresponding to the caller fields from a Line Information Database (LIDB). The SCP forwards the caller attributes to the NRA. In turn, the NRA includes the caller attributes in a message and forwards the message to the call recipient over a computer network. The call recipient processes a corresponding telephone call using the caller attributes that are included in the message.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for managing delivery service instructions. A method for managing delivery service instructions can include receiving a telephone call from a customer through a PSTN linkage. Identifying information for the customer can be retrieved through a data communications network linkage without identifying said customer using data derived from the telephone call. As such, the retrieved identifying information can be correlated with the telephone call. Finally, access to apply delivery service management instructions received over the PSTN linkage can be authenticated based upon the identifying information.

Abstract: Within an interactive voice response system, a method of aggregating conference calls can include registering a caller with the interactive voice response system, accessing a calendar system used by the registered caller to determine teleconference data specifying at least a telephone number for a scheduled conference call, and, at approximately a time of the conference call, automatically calling the telephone number for the conference call. The method also can include establishing contact with the registered caller and joining the registered caller with the conference call.

Abstract: A method for sharing signaling event data in a telephony system can include receiving within a first service logic component an event from a telephony signaling network. An event context can be determined for the event and asynchronously stored within an event context cache communicatively linked with at least said first service logic component and a second service logic component.

Abstract: A voice server for hosting telephony services can include a stack interface configured to exchange telephony signaling information with a circuit-switched to packet-switched interface and a plurality of core clients, each having a call model stored therein. Each core client can be configured to select and execute at least one voice service associated with a call. The voice server further can include a speech processing system configured to convert speech to text and to convert text to speech for processing the call as well as a core processor. The core processor can be configured to distribute the telephony signaling information to the core clients and coordinate operation of the core clients and the speech processing system. The core processor also can exchange telephony signaling information with the circuit-switched to packet-switched interface via the stack interface.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for managing variable information in a line information database (LIDB). In summary, a LIDB which has been configured in accordance with the present invention and which further has been disposed within a public switched telephone network (PSTN) can include a first collection of invariant data persisted in individual records in the LIDB. Each of the records can have an association with a subscriber in the PSTN. A second collection of variable data can be persisted in the individual records in the LIDB. Specifically, the variable data can have been produced in an application deployed outside of the PSTN in a data communications network. Finally, a query interface can be included in the LIDB (or in association with the LIDB) to retrieve the variable data therein and to persist variable data therein.

Abstract: A method for providing call authorization within a telephony network can include receiving a telephony connectivity request for establishing a telephony voice channel between the originating device and a receiving device. The specified receiving device can be determined and receiving device specific information that includes an authorization requirement can be accessed. A connection between the originating device and the receiving device can be established responsive to whether the authorization code satisfies the authorization requirement.

Abstract: A method of directly changing a service attribute corresponding to a service component through a hypermedia document. The hypermedia document can provide an interface to a service logic execution environment (SLEE). The method can include providing a plurality of selections embodied in the hypermedia document. The plurality of selections can correspond to the service attribute. The method further can include receiving a user specified selection in the hypermedia document and generating a SLEE compatible event based on the user selection. The event can be of a type which the service component has been registered in the SLEE to receive. Also, the event can be routed to the service component via the SLEE. The service component can process the event and update service attribute information corresponding to the service attribute consistent with the event.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for name-alias based delivery of services through the public switched telephone network (PSTN). A method for resolving caller identity in a PSTN can include detecting an attempt to establish a telephone call between a calling party and a called party and prompting the calling party from within the PSTN for clarifying information. An alias for the calling party can be resolved based upon the clarifying information. Subsequently, the alias can be forwarded to the called party for use by the called party in identifying the calling party at the time of the telephone call.

Abstract: A method for implementing a remote receiver connected to a telephony network can include a call authorizer that can access remote receiver specific information, wherein the remote receiver specific information can include an authorization requirement. The call authorizer can receive a digitally encoded signal specifying an authorization code. Prior to a telephony connection being established between the remote receiver and an originating device, the call authorizer can determine whether the authorization code satisfies the authorization requirement. Responsive to this determination, the call authorizer can send a ringing signal via the telephone line to the remote receiver. The remote receiver can power an actuator within the remote receiver with a voltage from the ringing signal. The actuator can activate a device controlled by the remote receiver.

Abstract: A method and machine readable storage for facilitating communications between a user and an interactive voice response (IVR) application. The method includes the step of configuring to be displayed on a wireless communications device having a graphical user interface (GUI) at least one menu which includes user selectable options correlating to available IVR options. Responsive to a communications link being established between the wireless communications device and the IVR application, the menu is forwarded to the wireless communications device for presentation to the user on the GUI. A user selection is received via the GUI and an IVR operation is performed corresponding to the menu selection.

Abstract: A method of implementing a telephony service in a Transaction Capability Application Part (TCAP) processing system can include receiving a TCAP event from a signaling network and matching the received TCAP event to a TCAP markup language script implementation of a telephony service. The TCAP markup language script can be retrieved from a data store. The TCAP event can be processed in accordance with the TCAP markup language script to implement the telephony service.

Abstract: An instant message (IM) communication method. An IM communication method can include the steps of: detecting a voice communications identifier in an IM transmitted by a sender; responsive to detecting the voice communications identifier, displaying a selectable icon; and, responsive to a selection of the icon, establishing a voice communications link with the sender. The establishing step can include the step of, responsive to the recipient selecting the voice communications identifier, establishing a Voice over IP (VoIP) based voice communications link with the recipient. Alternatively, the establishing step can include the step of, responsive to the recipient selecting the voice communications identifier, establishing a telephony-based voice communications link with the recipient over a public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Abstract: A method of directly administering a service component through a hypermedia document can include a series of steps. The hypermedia document can provide an interface to a service logic execution environment (SLEE). At least one administrative option embodied in the hypermedia document can be provided. The at least one administrative option can correspond to a function to be performed by the service component. A user specified administrative option can be received in the hypermedia document and a SLEE compatible event can be generated based on the user specified administrative option. The event can be a type which the service component has been registered in the SLEE to receive. Also, the event can be routed to the service component via the SLEE. The service component can process the event and perform an administrative function consistent with the event.

Abstract: A method for providing a call waiting notification to a participant in an existing telephone call includes the steps of establishing a telephone call with a calling party. A specified telephone number of the participant in the existing telephone call is received from the calling party. A distinctive call waiting tone is caused to be sent to the participant wherein the distinctive call waiting tone is specified with the calling party. Responsive to the participant electing to speak with the calling party, the established call is transferred to the participant. A system for providing a call waiting notification to a participant in an existing telephone call is also disclosed.

Abstract: An e-mail communication method can include a series of steps. The steps can include inserting in an e-mail message a voice conference identifier comprising a voice conference call list identifying conference call nodes. The e-mail message can be transmitted to a recipient at a recipient node. Responsive to the recipient selecting the voice conference identifier, a voice conference call between selected ones of the identified conference call nodes can be established.

Abstract: An advanced intelligent network according to the present invention can include a service logic execution environment (SLEE). The SLEE can include an event handler for routing messages between and among client components and service components. The advanced intelligent network further can include at least one service component configured to post and receive messages to and from other service components in the SLEE through the event handler. At least one Internet enabled service component (IESC) executing in the SLEE also can be included. The IESC can be configured to post and receive messages to and from other service components in SLEE through the event handler. The IESC can be communicatively linked to a server side program external to the SLEE.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for processing bill payments in a PSTN. The method of the invention can include, responsive to answering a telephone call from a caller over the PSTN, identifying the caller from a data communications source external to the telephone call and retrieving billing information for the identified caller. Once the billing information has been retrieved for the identified caller, the payment of a bill can be processed based upon the billing information. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the identifying step can include identifying the caller based upon identifying information for the caller received through a data communications link from a name resolution adapter disposed within the PSTN. For instance, the identifying step can include identifying the caller based upon identifying information retrieved from a LIDB and transmitted by the name resolution adapter.