Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a method for communicating data associated with a user of a voice device is disclosed. A server receives a first identifier associated with a first device, the first device comprising one of the voice device and the data device. The server determines a second identifier associated with a second device based on the first identifier, the second device comprising the other one of the voice device and the data device. The server then establishes a connection with the second device using the second identifier and communicates data associated with the user of the voice device between the server and the data device. The communicated data can represent a user identifier (such as a user identifier stored on a smart card, the user's iris scan, the user's fingerprint scan and the like).

Abstract: A method and system for providing a call completion service for a call between a caller and a destination over a network. Outgoing and Incoming call profiles, identifying enabled call completion services, are associated with callers and destinations, and are retrieved from a database based on the particular caller and destination. The caller and destination profiles are compared to select the appropriate call completion service for the call. In the absence of retrieving an outgoing call profile and an incoming call profile, a default profile can be generated and associated with the respective party to enable determination of the call completion service. The determination is made, at least in part, on the basis of a common call completion service identified as being enabled in both the OCP and the ICP. Additionally, a hierarchy of call completion services can be further considered in the determination of the call completion service.

Abstract: A system for secret conversation and record of the present invention comprises a call-sending apparatus which has a function of sending and receiving calls; a call-receiving apparatus which has a function of sending and receiving calls and communicating with the call-sending apparatus; a record apparatus which can be outside connected to or inside set in the call-sending apparatus or the call-receiving apparatus to record and copy images or sounds wherefrom secretly; and a sound-controlled system which is connected with the call-sending apparatus or the call-receiving apparatus to monitor them when there is no person.

Abstract: A conversation-based user interface (UI) is described. The presenting of the UI includes receiving communications from numerous people. The communications include media that is electronic. A conversation list is generated that includes conversation information of each of the communications. The conversation information includes information of a sender and the media of each communication. The conversation list is displayed.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a call monitoring service for multiple telecommunications units. When an incoming communication directed to a subscriber's simultaneous ring number is received, outgoing communications are placed to each of the telecommunications units associated with the subscriber's simultaneous ring number. A determination is made as to whether the incoming communication should be routed to the voice mail system. If the incoming communication should be routed to the voice mail system and the call monitoring service is activated, a communication between the calling party and the voice mail system is established. A determination is made as to whether a user of one of the telecommunications units takes an action to connect to the communication between the calling party and the voice mail system. If an action is detected, then a communication between the calling party, the voice mail system, and the telecommunications unit is established.

Abstract: The present invention allows a media terminal to initiate or receive a first communication session, and a control terminal to control the first communication session. The media and control terminals are generally proximate to or otherwise associated with each other. The control terminal may provide additional services associated with the communication session or for the media terminal. In addition to providing control and supporting additional services, the control terminal may support communication sessions associated with the first communication session involving the media terminal. A service node is provided to communicate with the media and control terminals to allow the control terminal to control the first communication session.

Abstract: A telecommunications terminal is disclosed that is capable of displaying information about calls that are on hold or queued for delivery at a data-processing system, wherein the calls are to be delivered the terminal itself. The terminal displays characteristics of each call, such as: (i) the caller's name, (ii) the calling number, (iii) the subject of the call, (iv) the urgency of the call, (v) the holding time of the call, and (vi) a telecommunications address of a messaging resource (such as email) associated with the call. The user (e.g., an off-premises representative, etc.) of the telecommunications terminal in the illustrative embodiment, in contrast with some terminals in the prior art, has the ability to remotely reorder or otherwise dispose the calls based on one or more of the call characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a non-email based precision web alert for a website or web-based application. The method involves the publisher registering at least one alert at an alert server and then presenting the alert on the related website or web-based application for selection by a user. When the alert is selected, the user can define at least one alert variable, such as an alert parameter and/or operator and/or threshold. When an event associated with the alert occurs, an event notification is posted by the website publisher at the alert server. Dedicated alert software at the user's terminal polls the alert server to identify any event notifications for selected alerts with the user-defined variables. When an event notification is identified, the alert software generates an alert notification at the user's terminal. In this way, non-email, precision alerts can be delivered to a user.

Abstract: The invention is a message distribution system that can deliver a single message to a large number of people with a single act using a group of computer servers. The preferred embodiment requires the user to establish an account using a website and enter a contact list. The contact list can include both email addresses and telephone numbers. When the user wishes to send a message, at a later time, the user contacts the group of computer servers by a telephone number or email address. The user records a message on the servers and the server sends the messages to all email addresses and telephone numbers on the contact list for that user. Other embodiments include procedures to confirm the validity of the email addresses and telephone numbers and to confirm the delivery of messages to the email address and telephone numbers on the contact list.

Abstract: A method for crediting a customer account maintained by a vendor of services in response to payment received from a customer is disclosed herein. The method includes issuing, to the customer, a membership account number associated with at least the customer account. A membership account number and a payment corresponding to a requested amount of a service offered by the vendor are received from the customer at a point-of-sale. The method further includes generating, at the point-of-sale, an authorization message including at least the membership account number and embedded transaction information identifying the service offered by the vendor and the requested amount. The embedded transaction information is then communicated from the point-of-sale to a database server. The customer account is credited, in response to the embedded transaction information, based upon an amount of the payment.

Abstract: A system and method provide a telecommunications extension service for a subscriber. The system allows a subscriber to identify one or more telecommunications units to serve as extensions of one of the subscriber's telecommunications units when a call is directed to the subscriber's telecommunications unit. A list of numbers associated with telecommunications units to serve as extensions is maintained by the subscriber and may be stored at a service control point. Upon receipt of a call directed to the subscriber's telecommunications unit, ringing is provided to the subscriber's telecommunications unit and the telecommunications units serving as extensions. After the call is answered by the first telecommunications unit to be answered, the remaining telecommunications units can join the in-progress call.

Abstract: This publication discloses a method for classifying and selecting records. This publication also discloses a classification and selection system according to the invention and a computer program product for classifying and selecting records. In the method according to the invention, a classification structure corresponding to a read field is selected (1001), a reference value according to the value contained in the field is searched (1004) from the selected classification structure, at least one class according to the conditions of the classification structure corresponding to the reference value is read (1007) from the selected classification structure, and the record is selected to the class read from the classification structure. The classification and selection system and computer program product according to the invention are suitable to the classification and selection of records.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and storage mediums for providing call routing services are provided. The method includes prompting a caller to select from options provided via a call routing service plan. The options are provided for enabling the caller to review existing call routing account information and modifying existing call routing account information. The method also includes retrieving a provisioning record for the caller in response to receiving an option selected by the caller. The provisioning record specifies the existing call routing account information. The method further includes executing the option selected by the caller and updating the provisioning record to reflect the execution.

Abstract: A federation of multinational PSTN, IP and cellular service providers coordinate their accounting by: populating a subscriber database of subscribers to one number services, a service providers database and a payments clearing database having amounts owed across the service providers based on the individual service provider's portion of pre-agreed payments for services; collecting accounting data from the service providers; updating the relevant databases with the data collected; and providing accounting data to the service providers and subscribers. Voice over IP service is applied to a cellular phone by selecting a compatible codec at peripheral gateways of IP network paths, thereby avoiding transcoding by a connecting multimedia terminal adapter.

Abstract: A voice reply system (200) suitable for handling an incoming call. The voice reply system can include a reply handler (220) that, responsive to receiving the first spoken utterance from a user (250) speaking into a headset (110), audibly provides to the user a caller identifier sound token correlating to the incoming call. The voice reply system also can include a call handler (210) that, responsive to the reply handler receiving a second spoken utterance from the user, implements at least one routine that handles the incoming call. For example, the routine can automatically provide a predetermined reply to a caller (240). The reply handler also can include a voice recorder (226) that can append a voice note onto the predetermined reply to provide a combined reply to the caller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus route telecommunication calls in a communication system based on media type by detecting a requirement for a special media type for a telecommunication call; and selecting a subset of a plurality of gateways wherein only the subset of gateways is capable of providing communication for the special media type.

Abstract: A privacy system determines in connection with a call from a particular calling party whether a name identification thereof is available, and if so allows the call to be put through to the called party with the name identification. The called party thus can review the name identification of the calling party prior to determining whether to answer the call. The privacy system includes a list of privileged calling parties with respect to and as specified by the called party, and if the name identification is not available, the privacy system determines whether the calling party is on such list. If so, the privacy system allows the call to be put through to the called party without the name identification.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for providing personalized on-hold music to a user. When a user is placed on hold, a determination is made as to whether the user subscribes to a personalized music on-hold service. If the user subscribes to the personalized music on-hold service, personalized on-hold music is sent to the user during the time that the user is on hold.

Abstract: An intercom system is provided having a plurality of intercom stations coupled to a digital network, each station transmitting intercom data onto a channel of the network. Each station receives intercom data from each other station and selects channels to be amplified and output to a speaker. Each station may listen to and talk to any other station or any selected group of stations. Processing of signals from the network is performed in each station, thereby eliminating the need for a centralized mixing and switching device. Stations may be added merely by connecting them to the network. The intercom system may be configured in a non-blocking mode or in a blocking mode.

Abstract: A disclosed method allows service subscribers to modify service subscriptions online. Operations within the method may include receiving an order for a service package from a subscriber, wherein the service package includes multiple features. In response to the order, the features in the service package may automatically be cross referenced with a list of existing features for the subscriber to detect any overlap between the features in the service package and the existing features. In response to detecting an overlap, a subscription change request may automatically be computed, wherein subscription change request includes only the features in the service package that do not overlap the existing features. The subscription change request may then be submitted for implementation by a service provider, possibly after receiving confirmation of the change request from the subscriber.

Abstract: Subscriber profile data associated with a communications service subscribed to by a subscriber is managed by a profile management system. The subscriber profile data is stored on a communications network which executes the communications service in accordance with the subscriber profile data. A subscriber request to view the subscriber profile data is received from a client which hosts a user interface configured to allow the subscriber to view and update the subscriber profile data. The subscriber profile data is retrieved from the communications network based upon receiving the subscriber request to view the subscriber profile data from the client. The subscriber profile data is forwarded to the client. A subscriber request to update the subscriber profile data is received from the client. An update for the subscriber profile data is forwarded to the communications network based upon receiving the subscriber request to update the subscriber profile data from the client.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for automatically establishing a conference call having a plurality of different subscriber participation classes includes maintaining at least one per conference call subscriber participation class list. The per conference call subscriber participation class list indicates contact information for a plurality of different subscribers and corresponding subscriber participation classes for the conference call. When a conference call is initiated, the call is automatically established using the contact information and the subscriber participation classes stored in the per conference call subscriber participation class list.

Abstract: A service node is used in the implementation of a call-transfer service in which a service call is transferred to a second agent from a first agent. A code receiver receives from a service control point, via a data link, at least one subscriber-defined call-transfer feature code that can be invoked by the first agent. A call-transferor transfers the service call to the second agent from the first agent in response to the service node receiving a signal from the first agent after the first agent invokes an elective call-transfer function using at least one subscriber-defined call-transfer feature code.

Abstract: A universal database of telephone numbers of the Public Switched Telephone Network operating under the North American Numbering Plan is created and updated regularly to reflect the most current name and telephone information for telephone subscribers. The database is updated by a system that accesses telephone company subscriber databases through a high-speed connection such as a T1 line that permits modification of the outgoing Calling Party Number (CPN) message field to include any telephone number that the system is interested in searching. By placing a call to a destination line belonging to the system and inserting a telephone-number-in-question (TNIQ) into the CPN message field, the system receives the subscriber name associated with the TNIQ as part of the Caller ID data reported by the telephone company on the destination line between the first and second rings of the incoming call.

Abstract: A method of accessing content at a speech-enabled automated system is disclosed and comprises receiving a verbal input at an interactive voice response system. The interactive voice response system can include one or more table-driven state tables, in which action-objects are embedded. Further, the method can include retrieving content from an information store, wherein the content is associated with the verbal input. The information store is logically external to the interactive voice response system.

Abstract: A distributed voice applications system includes a voice applications rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

Abstract: A method of managing incoming calls is disclosed and includes receiving a telephone call. Further, the method includes offering a caller a bypass option to bypass an automated help application and placing the telephone call in a queue for a next available customer service agent. The method can also include prompting the caller for payment when the caller selects the bypass option. Further, the method can include indicating a current wait time when the bypass option is declined. Moreover, the method can include offering the caller an instant service option to directly connect the caller to a customer service agent. The method can also include prompting the caller for payment when the caller selects the instant service option and directly connecting the telephone call to a customer service agent.

Abstract: An enclosure used with a system for delivering broadband service, including standard telephone service and telephone/DSL service, to a subscriber. The system includes a pair gain system, a cross-connect system, and a service distribution system. The enclosure is a retro-fit enclosure that incorporates the service distribution system into an existing cross-connect enclosure in a cost-effective and aesthetic manner. The service distribution system is operably located such that the standard telephone service and telephone/DSL service are routed from the service distribution system to the subscriber without being routed through the cross-connect system. The service distribution systems include terminating modules and switching modules. In some embodiments, the switching modules include protector plugs that protect the system from over-voltages and/or over-currents, and provides upstream and downstream diagnostic testing.

Abstract: A telephone keypad that enabling dial an alphabetic telephone number that has ‘.com’ therein is provided. The keypad has a key button having a numeric, for example “5”, at the center and “J”,“K”, “L”and “.” symbols surrounding the numeric “5”. The numeric can be any of one from 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. If the “.” places on numeric “2” button, the alphabetic symbols are “a”, “b”, and “c”. The telephone keypad makes it easy to remember the telephone number and Internet web site of one company at the same time.

Abstract: A system and method of message indicating that enable the sender of a message to chose the ringing tone of the receiver's cellular telephone upon arrival of the sender's message. The sender has the ability to either choose or create the ringing tone to be played on the receiver's cellular telephone. The sender also has the ability to create either SMS or multimedia messages to be sent with the ringing tone. The ringing tones may also be chosen or downloaded from Internet sites.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to attenuate a ringer tone signal, during a state in which a call is in progress, below the ringer tone signal level that occurs during a state in which no call is in progress, when a PC terminal is utilized as a telephone. A voice call system includes a handset unit for making a call, and a hook switch detection unit for detecting an on-hook/off-hook state of the handset unit. The PC terminal includes a sound source interface unit connected to a sound source, a fixed storage device for storing setting data indicative of a sound source for making a voice call, and a communication control unit responsive to a ringer tone generating operation command issued by the voice exchanger for determining whether or not a call is in progress from an on-hook/off-hook state detected by the hook switch detection unit.

Abstract: This present invention relates to having a person makes a call you will hear a song or a movie clip or other audio, but instead of hearing the person's regular voicemail; you will hear whomever's song is playing or who is saying the clip, voice on the voicemail with his message telling you to leave a message for the person that you are calling for. You will be able to have many different songs associate with different callers on your phone. For Example, you will be able to have another song for your mother, a different song for your cousin, another for your girlfriend, and etc. Ex. Lets say I call someone's phone and instead of me hearing the phone ring, I hear 50 cents In the Club song. If the person does not pick up the phone, I will hear 50 cent's voice on the voicemail telling me to leave a message.

Abstract: A telephone system includes a first endpoint device operable to populate a subject field with a message entered by a caller, and to send a call to a called party with the message being attached thereto. A second endpoint device is operable to retrieve the message when the call is received, and to communicate the message to a called party prior to the call being answered. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A system is provided to manage distribution of ring back multimedia content. The system includes a data store component to store the multimedia content and to associate the multimedia content with a called system. The system includes a distribution component operable when a caller system calls the called system to provide the multimedia content as ring back to the caller system. The content may be non-ring tone content.

Abstract: A system and method for providing ring back content is provided. In some embodiments, the ring back content is multimedia, audio and video, content and may be advertisements. The method includes calling a subscriber, and receiving content as ring back when calling the subscriber.

Abstract: A subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) for a subscriber loop includes a pair of output amplifiers for connection to the subscriber loop and a transient output current limit circuit. The transient output current limit circuit may have at least one programmable output current limit and limit respective output currents from the pair of output amplifiers based thereon. The transient output current limit circuit may limit both source and sink currents for each of the pair of output amplifiers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating analog voice service and derived POTS voice service in a DSL environment are provided. One embodiment is a system comprising: a first communication path for carrying plain old telephone service (POTS) voice signals between a telephone-type device and a subscriber line of a telephone network; a second communication path for carrying derived POTS voice signals between the telephone-type device and the subscriber line; and a switching mechanism configured to switch the telephone-type device between the first communication path and the second communication path.

Abstract: An adaptive filter in an echo canceling circuit includes a clipping detector that affects the coefficients of the adaptive filter when clipping is detected. Clipping is defined as at least two successive maxima or minima in a predetermined period. The coefficients are either locked or the echo estimate is reduced to prevent overcorrection. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, lower order bits are ignored to avoid problems of bit resolution when comparing signals.

Abstract: A system for delivering broadband service, including standard telephone service and telephone/DSL service, to a subscriber. The system includes a pair gain system and a service distribution system. In some embodiments, the service distribution system is located such that the standard telephone service and telephone/DSL service are routed from the service distribution system without being routed through a cross-connect system. In other embodiments, the functionality of a cross-connect system is incorporated into the service distribution system. The service distribution systems include terminating modules and switching modules. In some embodiments, the switching modules include protector plugs that protect the system from over-voltages and/or over-currents, and provides upstream and downstream diagnostic testing.

Abstract: A crosstalk compensator provides for the compensation of mismatches in mutual coupling capacitances between adjacent parallel wire pairs. The aforementioned mismatch in mutual coupling capacitance may arise in a customer premises wiring system which may consist of at least the drop cable, cable run and/or receiver cable (from the service drop point to a digital device). Mismatches in the mutual coupling capacitances in the customer premises wiring system may give rise to undesirable levels of premises end crosstalk (PEXT) interference for which the crosstalk compensator has been designed to mitigate by providing a system and method for the connection of compensating capacitors between pairs of conductors selected from the plurality of subscriber loop conductors such that the mismatch is reduced or eliminated. The crosstalk compensator may be implemented in a variety of formats, including firmware or program code residing on a computer-readable medium, hardware, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An inmate telephone for use by inmates of a prison or a mental institution is disclosed and does not include an inmate-accessible hook switch. Inmates are issued inmate devices for inmate identification purposes and for inmate telephone use. The inmate telephone can include a device reader and when an inmate device is located in close proximity to the device reader, the inmate telephone may be activated to allow an inmate to make and receive telephone calls.

Abstract: A software distribution method (300) with security add-on is proposed. Particularly, any software package to be deployed to selected target endpoints is encrypted (312-315) with a symmetric key (generated dynamically). The symmetric key is in turn encrypted (318-321) with a public key of each target endpoint. A multi-segment software package (embedding the encrypted software package and the encrypted symmetric keys) is then deployed (324-336, 360) to all the target endpoints. In this way, each target endpoint can decrypt (343-348) the encrypted symmetric key with a corresponding private key; it is then possible to decrypt (363-366) the encrypted software package with the symmetric key so obtained. As a result, the endpoint is able to apply (369) the decrypted software package. Therefore, the application of the software package can be restricted to the desired target endpoints only.

Abstract: To simplify the structure of a sound signal processing device for automatically switching between generation of pseudo-surround sound and generation of pseudo-stereo sound based on whether an original sound signal is stereo or monaural. A stereo sound decoder for receiving a sound channel signal of a TV receiving signal determines whether or not the sound type is stereo or monaural based on the presence or absence or the like of a control channel signal, and generates L and R signals according to the result of determination to output to an acoustic process circuit. The result of determination concerning the sound type, which is obtained by the stereo sound decoder is transmitted via a bus to the acoustic process circuit to be utilized in control of the automatic switching by the acoustic process circuit. This can eliminate the need to provide a separate sound type determination circuit.

Abstract: A novel system and method for correcting the residual phase offset between a recovered pilot signal and the received stereo signal. The invention uses a Costas loop as an auxiliary loop in addition to the pilot recovery phase locked loop (PLL) to lock onto the stereo component itself. This auxiliary loop functions to generate a pilot to stereo component phase correction signal that is added to the stereo carrier phase The resultant phase is used to generate the recovered pilot carrier used to demodulate the stereo MPX signal. The Costas loop is activated together with the main pilot recovery PLL that locks onto the pilot tone in the demodulated MPX signal. The auxiliary Costas loop is operative to track and determine a residual phase error of up to several degrees.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive estimation and compensation of clock drift in echo cancellers is provided. The invention includes an acoustic echo cancellation system with a built in adaptive clock drift compensation system. The acoustic echo cancellation system has an AEC component that performs acoustic echo cancellation on data from a capture buffer, by also using information derived from a render buffer. The clock drift compensation system has access to this capture buffer and render buffer. The clock drift compensation system includes a clock drift compensator that calculates, based on the current location of the capture data being processed by the AEC component as well as additional information, the ideal location in the render buffer from which the AEC component should process data. The clock drift compensator further adjusts the current location in the render buffer from which the AEC component processes data based, at least in part, upon this ideal location.

Abstract: A low-noise transmitting receiving earset includes a housing covered with a grille, a speaker mounted inside the housing adjacent to the grille and facing the back side of the housing, a first microphone mounted in the hub of the grille and facing the front side of the housing for picking up resonant sound waves from the external auditory canal of the user's ear, and a second microphone mounted inside the housing remote from the speaker for receiving voices directly from the user's mouth.

Abstract: A headphone system is provided with two earbud headphones and a control module, each fitted with a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The LEDs may be of many different colors and flash to the beat of the music. Patterns, colors, and intensity may be adjusted based on a user's preferences. The intensity, frequency, and light patterns of the LEDs may change when a threshold level is reached.

Abstract: A head-unit loading device of a vehicle A/V (audio/video) system is provided. The device includes: a head unit monitor; shafts protruded from both sides of the head unit monitor; inner spring holders inserted to ends of the shafts, respectively; springs inserted to the shafts and held at their one ends by inner surfaces of the inner spring holders; outer spring holders inserted to the ends of the shafts, respectively, and inserted at their smaller diameter ends to the other ends of the springs; and trim plates having guide grooves provided at their mutual corresponding inner surfaces and inserting larger diameter ends of the outer spring holders thereinto, respectively.

Abstract: Noise discrimination in signals from a plurality of sensors is conducted by enhancing the phase difference in the signals such that off-axis pick-up is suppressed while on-axis pick-up is enhanced. Alternatively, attenuation/expansion are applied to the signals in a phase difference dependent manner, consistent with suppression of off-axis pick-up and on-axis enhancement. Nulls between sensitivity lobes are widened, effectively narrowing the sensitivity lobes and improving directionality and noise discrimination.

Abstract: Noise discrimination in signals from a plurality of sensors is conducted by enhancing the phase difference in the signals such that off-axis pick-up is suppressed while on-axis pick-up is enhanced. Alternatively, attenuation/expansion are applied to the signals in a phase difference dependent manner, consistent with suppression of off-axis pick-up and on-axis enhancement. Nulls between sensitivity lobes are widened, effectively narrowing the sensitivity lobes and improving directionality and noise discrimination.