Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a network; a social networking service operably coupled to the network and configured to allow registration of users, to allow identification of registered users' interests, and to identify associated users, said associated users being associated with registered users; a presence service operably coupled to the network and configured to determine an availability of associated users responsive to one or more availability criteria; a translation unit configured to convert user information from a social networking service format to a presence service format; and a messaging service operably coupled to the network and configured to send notification messages to associated users determined to be available and having a common interest corresponding to an event responsive to an occurrence of the event and one or more availability criteria.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a plurality of network clients (150) including a positioning controller (504) and a communications controller (502); and a positioning server (152) including a coordinating controller (161) for maintaining a database of network clients to be tracked and provide updates of position-related information to a presence server (104); wherein an associated network client is configured to transmit position information received via said positioning controller (504) to said positioning server (152) via said communications controller (502) when said associated network client is determined to be outside a predetermined range.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a plurality of network clients (150) including a positioning controller (504) and a communications controller (502); and a positioning server (152) including a coordinating controller (161) for maintaining a database of network clients to be tracked and provide updates of position-related information to a presence server (104). The plurality of network clients (150) are configured to transmit position information received via the positioning controller (504) to the positioning server via the communications controller (502), the positioning information including information related to loss of a position signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forwarding Caller ID data on demand when retrieving messages from an answering device using an endpoint telecommunications device and an associated call control system (such as the central office of the calling phone, a PBX, ToL Gatekeeper, wireless carrier switch, etc.), to fully or partially automate the dialing process for remotely calling back a message sender. The invention permits the caller retrieving messages to quickly and easily return calls with little or no manual intervention, without having to create a trombone connection. The invention operates with calling endpoint telecommunication devices that are “intelligent” enough to receive, store and/or utilize Caller ID data forwarded from an answering device; as well as with not so intelligent telecommunications devices (such as many pay phones) that may lack the ability to receive, store and/or utilize forwarded Caller ID data.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system including a telephone and a computing device coupled to the telephone, the computing device to establish a conference call between the telephone and at least one other telephone.

Abstract: In some embodiments, presence inquiry system may include one or more of the following steps: (a) a memory comprising, (i) presence information submitted from at least two presence providers, (ii) a requestor's presence information, and (iii) an access determination program that checks a requestor's caller ID received from a phone call to determine whether the requestor is allowed access to an entity's presence information, (b) a processor coupled to the memory that executes the access determination program.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a plurality of remote clients (150) including a positioning controller (504) and a communications controller (502), the positioning controller receiving position information and the communications controller communicating the position information; and a server (152) including a coordinating controller (161) for maintaining a database of location-presence rules for remote clients that are being tracked. The location-presence rules are user-configurable from a network client (122). In certain embodiments of the present invention, the position information is received from a global positioning system and the communications controller is a cellular telephone controller.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a plurality of network clients (150) including a positioning controller (504) and a communications controller (502); and a positioning server (152) including a coordinating controller (161) for maintaining a database of network clients to be tracked and provide updates of position-related information to a presence server; wherein said plurality of network clients are configured to transmit position information received via said positioning controller (504) to said positioning server via said communications controller (502), said positioning information including information related to a speed of movement.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a network (102) and a multimedia server (104) operably coupled to the network. The multimedia server (104) is adapted to manage a multimedia conference and includes a memory (103) for storing selectable portions of the multimedia conference. The system further includes one or more client devices (122) operably coupled to the network and adapted to set recording cues for choosing portions of said multimedia conference for playback. The multimedia server or clients may include a voice recognition system (216) for transcribing audio portions of the conference. The voice recognition system may further be used to detect instances of the recording cues. In addition, in certain embodiments, the system provides for a moderator or participants to the conference an ability to adjust relevance probabilities generated upon recognition of the cues.

Abstract: A ToL/PBX system is provided whereby a single policy may be enforced for both TFA (telephony feature access) and ToL (telephony over LAN) users by making the H.323 gatekeeper (103) aware of those TFA connectors so as to accurately allocate the remaining available bandwidth. According to one embodiment of the invention, the H.323 gatekeeper (103) is notified whenever a TFA call is being made or received.

Abstract: A telecommunications system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a wireless device (30-150) including a positioning controller (504) and a communications controller (502); and an administrative device (30-152) for receiving alerts from said wireless communication device via said communications controller when said positioning controller determines that said wireless device is outside a predetermined geographic range, route, or daily routine.

Abstract: A distributed communication system that is capable of providing emergency call diversion during an event such as a power outage, network or sub-network failure, site closure, or the like, allows devices within the system affected by the event to rapidly inform one another that it is necessary to enter a call diversion state or mode during the duration of the outage. In this manner, calls may be diverted from different points within the network, or with different diversion behaviors as necessary.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a switch having a controller implementing software to control switching operation and a memory for storing a database of software upgrade risk factors. The software upgrade risk factors define whether a software upgrade is to be attended by an on-site technician or by a remote monitor. The system further allows for downloading to the switch a software upgrade for the controller if a software upgrade risk factor for that software upgrade has a predetermined value.

Abstract: A telecommunications device includes a positioning controller (504) adapted to determine positioning information for said telecommunications device; and a wireless communications controller (502) adapted to receive said positioning information from said positioning controller and cause said positioning information to be transmitted to an associated administration device (104/152; 2-122) when said telecommunications device is determined to be out of a predetermined range.

Abstract: In an isochronous telecommunications system sending packets over two routes in a network, a server of the network compares overall transmission delay between the routes. If the new route is faster, a server buffers cells on the new route until the last cell on the old route is delivered. Then the first cell from the new route is delivered at the old delay and subsequent new route cells are delivered with the same delay. If the old route is faster, a server identifies the type of transmission; if it is voice, a signal is inserted to alert the receiver of delay, and if the transmission is video, the system resends the last frame from the old route until frames from the new route arrive.

Abstract: An external or secondary messaging system is coupled to a ToL system for providing a temporary storage cache where messages may be left when elements of ToL system cannot be reached do to outage events. The secondary messaging system is located outside the area of the ToL system that may be subject to the outage event and hides the outage event from the caller (i.e., the caller leaves a message on a messaging system he or she believes the normal messaging system of the party called).

Abstract: A telecommunications network includes a central service center (112) for maintaining a master system database (122, 124) and propagating to switch databases preactivation information. Local switches (114) include or are operably coupled to switch databases (126, 128) and PIN collection units (130). The central service center (112) is adapted to receive a PIN and preactivation information, and then propagate this information to the local switch databases (128). The local switches (114), associated databases and PIN collection units, are adapted to detect a power on of a cellular telephone, receive and check and PIN, and activate to allow service to the telephone. The local switches (114) are further adapted to transmit the activation information to either the central master database (122, 124) (which will then transmit to other switches) or to propagate the activation information to other switch databases itself.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a network (102) and a multimedia server (104) operably coupled to the network. The multimedia server (104) is adapted to manage a multimedia conference and includes a memory (103) for storing selectable portions of the multimedia conference, as well as action prompts. The system further includes one or more client devices (122) operably coupled to the network and adapted to set action cues for use during conferences. A voice recognition system may be used to detect instances of the action cues, which cause the launching of an associated action prompt.

Abstract: Within a network environment, redundant capabilities for exchanging call-processing signals enhance reliability of telephony support for telephony endpoint devices. A data network, such as a telephony-over-local area network, provides primary support for the telephony endpoint devices, which may be telephony-enabled computers or Internet Protocol telephones. A second network has a first mode in which it is inactive with respect to telephony traffic to the telephony endpoint devices, but has a second mode in which call-processing signals are routed through the second network in response to a determination that the data network is disabled. As a result, telephone features such as call deflection may be continued when the primary support is disabled.

Abstract: An e-mail alias registration system is provided. According to one embodiment, users may register an e-mail address and a password at an alias relay server (102). Then, when a third party attempts to reply to the registered user, the third party will be presented with a sign on screen. Only if the sender is himself or herself a registered user will e-mail be allowed to be sent directly. To ensure that spammers do not abuse the registration system, only a limited number of e-mails will be allowed to be sent by registered users per day. Also, in order to register, a credit card number or other affirmative identification may need to be provided.