Abstract: The system for providing emergency voice mail service includes two components: a first component that informs a calling party that emergency voice mail service has been activated due to an interruption in telephone service provided by the affected local exchange(s), and a second component that provides emergency voice mail service to customers who are displaced from their residences or simply affected by the service outage. The calling party that wishes to leave a message or the customer whose service is interrupted and wishes to listen to their messages calls a nationwide toll free number and is routed to the Emergency Voice Mail System. The caller is asked to enter the telephone number of the customer who is out of service and then can enter a predetermined code to leave a voice mail message or retrieve a voice mail message for the wire -line or wireless customer who is out of service.

Abstract: The content access control system has a content permissions field in the Home Location Register database for each mobile subscriber. The content permissions data are managed by a content manager who has content access responsibility for the mobile subscriber pursuant to an existing management relationship, such as parent-child or employer-employee. The content manager initiates a communication connection to a designated content access control administration system and uniquely identifies the subscriber via their mobile communication device identification and assigns one or more content rating access permissions to each identified subscriber. The content rating permissions comprise a definition of the content that is prohibited and/or permitted by indicating via selecting content ratings or other such code definitions to identify the appropriate content.

Abstract: The present time of day warning system provides the subscriber with the ability to designate at least one time interval during the course of the day when the subscriber prefers not to receive calls on their mobile phone unless these incoming calls are of an urgent nature. In this system, if the subscriber has enrolled in the Time Of Day Warning Service and their mobile phone is turned on, when someone attempts to call the subscriber, the mobile phone system determines the present time of day at the subscriber's present location. If the incoming call is attempted during one of the subscriber-designated blackout time intervals, the incoming call is intercepted. The calling party receives a recorded message which indicates the present time at the subscriber's present location and an indication that the subscriber is not taking calls at this time.

Abstract: The Simulated Facility Group System manages a plurality of IP Centrex Groups within a GR303 interface, where each IP Centrex Group is assigned to a unique Simulated Facility Group. A Centrex Feature Gateway interconnects the IP Centrex Access Facilities that serve each IP Centrex Group to a GR303 interface. The Simulated Facility Group System calculates the IP Centrex Access Facility bandwidth requirement of each IP Centrex call set up request, based on a Call Type Parameter received from the Centrex Feature Gateway. On a per call basis, the Simulated Facility Group System checks the available bandwidth on the IP Centrex Access Facility that serves the Centrex Group from which the call originated. The Simulated Facility Group System determines if the call set up request requires a timeslot on the GR303 interface to the central office switch. If a timeslot is required, the Simulated Facility Group System determines if a timeslot is available on the GR303 interface.

Abstract: A phone of a system comprises a connector component that is operationally connectable through a packet network to any selected one or more of a plurality of switch components. The any selected one or more of the plurality of switch components serve to provide one or more of originating and terminating telecommunication service to the phone.

Abstract: The dual mode handset system provides unified cellular service and wire-line service with a single Directory Number assigned to the dual mode handset and a corresponding cordless base station that are connected to the subscriber's local wire-line (POTS line) connection to the telephone network. The dual mode handset is programmed to operate as a cordless telephone when in proximity of the cordless base station. The handset operates as a cellular telephone when it is out of reach of the cordless base station. The dual mode handset is assigned the same telephone number as the subscriber's connection to a local wire-line telephone switching system. Consequently, the Caller ID information is consistent on calls originated through the dual mode handset, regardless of whether the call passes through the cordless base station to the subscriber's connection to a local wire-line telephone switching system or the cellular network.

Abstract: The dual mode handset system provides unified cellular service and wire-line service with a single Directory Number assigned to the dual mode handset and a corresponding cordless base station that are connected to the subscriber's local wire-line (POTS line) connection to the telephone network. The dual mode handset is programmed to operate as a cordless telephone when in proximity of the cordless base station. The handset operates as a cellular telephone when it is out of reach of the cordless base station. The dual mode handset is assigned the same telephone number as the subscriber's connection to a local wire-line telephone switching system. Consequently, the Caller ID information is consistent on calls originated through the dual mode handset, regardless of whether the call passes through the cordless base station to the subscriber's connection to a local wire-line telephone switching system or the cellular network.

Abstract: A Caller Profile system and service enables a caller to establish a caller profile which is to be selectably delivered to called parties contemporaneous with the delivery of a call. The caller profile may optionally be delivered at another time upon the caller's request. The caller profile may include text information, images, sound, or other multimedia content. The caller profile information may be stored in a Caller Profile Database operated by a service provider, but may also be stored in a corporate or user-operated Caller Profile database However stored, the caller profile may be created and revised by the user, as needed, using a network terminal, such as a computer-based World Wide Web browsing system, or an interactive voice response system, to update a Caller Profile Administrative server. When a call is made and extended to a terminating switch, the switch consults the Caller Profile Database server.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for flexibly completing a call to one of several associated telephone stations or to voice mail, or to a paging system. When a call is received for a called party having called party location service, a database is accessed to determine the routing of this call. The routing can be a function of the caller's identification, the status of various telephone stations of the called party, and of specific requests made by the called party. Advantageously, calls are routed in conformance with the called party's wishes, the number of desired call completions that are not effected is reduced, and the number of undesired call completions is also reduced.

Abstract: The Simulated Facility Group System manages a plurality of IP Centrex Groups within a GR303 interface, where each IP Centrex Group is assigned to a unique Simulated Facility Group. A Centrex Feature Gateway interconnects the IP Centrex Access Facilities that serve each IP Centrex Group to a GR303 interface. The Simulated Facility Group System calculates the IP Centrex Access Facility bandwidth requirement of each IP Centrex call set up request, based on a Call Type Parameter received from the Centrex Feature Gateway. On a per call basis, the Simulated Facility Group System checks the available bandwidth on the IP Centex Access Facility that serves the Centrex Group from which the call originated. The Simulated Facility Group System determines if the call set up request requires a timeslot on the GR303 interface to the central office switch. If a timeslot is required, the Simulated Facility Group System determines if a timeslot is available on the GR303 interface.

Abstract: The Click to Dial Favorites system maintains a listing of only the subscriber's most frequently accessed telephone numbers to thereby parse the universe of all telephone numbers available to the Click to Dial feature down to a minimal set that are relevant to the subscriber. The Click to Dial Favorites system maintains a record of the incoming and outgoing calls for individual subscribers. On subsequent searches of large telephone directories, the results of the search are compared to the entries in the subscriber's Click to Dial Favorites Database. Entries in the search results that have been previously called by the subscriber or have called the subscriber are highlighted. Similarly, the results of the search can be filtered to only show the subscriber entries that have been previously called or have called the subscriber.

Abstract: A “Call Me” conference call system includes a multiport conference unit (MCU) interconnected with the public switched telecommunications network (PSTN), a telecommunications switching system also interconnected with the PSTN, a service control point (SCP) or other intelligent network control component having at least a signaling connection to the switching system, a Call Me conference bridge reservation system interconnected with the SCP and the MCU, and suitable facilities interconnecting these components. When a conference reservation is made, information regarding the conference is distributed to the SCP and MCU. A “Called Party Busy” trigger is applied to the conference host's line. To join the conference, the host and participants alike simply call the host's telephone number. The switching system, finding the host's line busy, queries the SCP, which instructs it to redirect the call to the MCU.

Abstract: The present system for automatically billing direct dialed calls to a subscriber designated third party number enables a subscriber to generate a list of called numbers, each of which has associated with it a third party billing number. Whenever the subscriber dials a called number from their home location, the Local Exchange Carrier automatically compares the direct dialed number with the numbers stored on this list. If the Local Exchange Carrier identifies a match, the charges for the direct dialed call are automatically and directly billed to the third party number on the list. The list is typically stored and managed by an Alternate Billing Server maintained by the third party but can also be stored and managed by the Local Exchange Carrier or the Inter-Exchange Carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are provided for personal telecommunication incoming call screening and alerting for call waiting applications. During a first telecommunication call, the method includes, first, receiving a second telecommunication call, and second, determining a relative priority of the second telecommunication call compared to the first telecommunication call. When the second telecommunication call has a same relative priority or a higher relative priority than the first telecommunication call, the method provides a first level of priority service to the second telecommunication call, such as interrupting the user and providing a distinctive user alert during the first telecommunication call indicative of the same or higher level of priority.

Abstract: A system for providing alternate point of contact (APOC) information to a caller when a called station/terminal is unavailable includes a call processing element, a database of APOC information, and means for presenting to the caller one or more APOCs. The service may be provided by a call processing element serving the calling subscriber terminal or a call processing element serving the called subscriber terminal. The information may be presented using a display or a voice announcement. Optionally, the caller may select which, among several candidate APOCs, the caller wishes to be connected to. The APOC information may be stored in a call processing element, an intelligent network services control point, or some other database server.

Abstract: A phone of a system comprises a connector component that is operationally connectable through a packet network to any selected one or more of a plurality of switch components. The any selected one or more of the plurality of switch components serve to provide one or more of originating and terminating telecommunication service to the phone.

Abstract: A Caller Profile system and service enables a caller to establish a caller profile which is to be selectably delivered to called parties contemporaneous with the delivery of a call. The caller profile may optionally be delivered at another time upon the caller's request. The caller profile may include text information, images, sound, or other multimedia content. The caller profile information may be stored in a Caller Profile Database operated by a service provider, but may also be stored in a corporate or user-operated Caller Profile database However stored, the caller profile may be created and revised by the user, as needed, using a network terminal, such as a computer-based World Wide Web browsing system, or an interactive voice response system, to update a Caller Profile Administrative server. When a call is made and extended to a terminating switch, the switch consults the Caller Profile Database server.

Abstract: A method for identifying a route of a call in a telecommunication system (10) comprises the steps of routing the call from a telephonic calling device (12) via a telephonic switch (14) to a telephonic terminating device (56) and disconnecting the telephonic call. After the telephonic call is disconnected, a call trace is established to identify a called line number of a terminating line in response to a call trace request from the telephonic calling device (12) after the telephonic call is disconnected.

Abstract: A method for identifying damaged cable pairs in a pulp cable comprises arbitrarily attaching proximal ends of damaged cable pairs to ports on a first connector block of a service restoration system (SRS), and arbitrarily attaching distal ends of damaged cable pairs to ports on a second connector block of the SRS. Directory number information associated with each damaged cable pair is retrieved by the SRS from affected subscribers, and the serving switch. If a match of directory number information is found, the proximal damaged cable pair end is interconnected to the distal damaged cable pair end of a single cable pair via SRS switch fabric. The SRS periodically generates a status report including port locations of corresponding ends of a damaged cable pair so that the ends may be permanently spliced together.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording call features, whenever they are sactivated, at the originating and/or terminating switch, whether or not the call features activated have successful results. Many such call feature activation records are gathered together and analogized to assist telecommunications customers make informed decisions about the types of call features they should buy and at what price in order to complete more calls and increase business.