Abstract: A subscriber interface operating as a Personal Agent is provided to simplify, enhance and integrate the currently fragmented telephone services. The Personal Agent enables the subscriber to access and activate telephone network services using voice recognition technology. The subscriber interface is seamlessly integrated with the telephone network to enable the subscriber to perform one or more activation and deactivation commands of telephone features, initiate a call, and take calls at their discretion. The subscriber interface also enables the subscriber to administer the options that tailor the system to the subscriber. Access and activation of telephone features are enabled by the subscriber using voice commands. In particular, the present invention integrates Calling Line ID (CLID) with the names identified in a voice dialing personal directory and/or Name Display database to enable the user to use spoken names to instruct the various telephone features to work specifically on particular lines, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for limiting call velocity attempts in the public switched telephone network. A central office of the network is provided with a program element that examines all the physical channels from respective customer premises equipments (CPE). The program element counts the number of times each CPE goes off-hook within a given period of time. This condition is interpreted as an attempt to establish a call through the telephone network. If the number of attempts exceeds a threshold, the physical channel is de-activated for a predetermined time period. De-activation means that call establishment over that channel is negated for all possible destinations. This can be implemented by preventing establishment of dial tone. In a variant, selective de-activation is effected.

Abstract: A call center is adapted to select calls on a preprogrammed basis for possible participation in a survey. Selected calls are transferred to an interrogation point, which may be by Interactive Voice Response, where the callers are asked if they will participate. For those callers who do not wish to participate, the calls are routed by normal routing rules. For those callers who do wish to participate, the calls are transferred according to survey routing rules, and after transaction with an agent, to a survey point where the survey is conducted. In one embodiment callers who indicate a willingness to participate, but hang up before being transferred to a survey point, are automatically called back, and then, if willing, transferred to the survey point.

Abstract: An application module associated with a terminating telecommunication exchange serving a particular called party subscriber maintains data reflecting the number of call setups attempted by a calling party subscriber toward the restricted or barred called party subscriber. In case the number of call setups attempted by the calling party subscriber within a predefined time period reaches a certain threshold level, an incoming call connection is effectuated toward the otherwise restricted called party subscriber. As a result, even if the called party subscriber has a do not disturb (DND) call barring subscriber feature activated, emergency or urgent calls repeatedly made toward the called party subscriber are allowed to be terminated thereto.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for providing telecommunication services to a user. When the user is engaged in a first telephone call via a telephone switch with a first party and a second party attempts to place a second telephone call to the user via the switch, the method and apparatus advise the second caller that the user is engaged in a telephone conversation and allow the second caller to determine whether to interrupt the user or choose another alternative. The user can then decide whether to accept the call from the second caller, putting the first caller on hold, or to refuse the second call. Alternative embodiments are disclosed where the user is advised of the identity of the second caller (or wherein the user has previously authorized certain callers to interrupt a current call with a new call), and then the user can decide whether to accept the call from the second party (placing the first party on hold) or to deny the second party (in which case the second party is transferred to a message center).

Abstract: A stand-alone toll-barring device powered by the telephone line voltage or from an external supply. The device recognizes a user's personal identification number (PIN) as it is dialed in from a telephone or similar peripheral device, and has device to recall rights (if any) corresponding to that PIN from a memory table, and a device to assess whether a number being dial just after entry of the PIN is permitted under those rights. Emergency numbers and incoming calls are not barred. If the number is not permitted, the call is immediately interrupted. Reprogramming of the data is provided by a further PIN. The device may be installed within a telephone or across fixed telecommunications wiring installations within a building. Should a larger range of permitted or denied numbers be required, multiple devices can be used in series.

Abstract: The method of in-session activation of the present invention gives Telcos the ability to offer callers a menu of call completion services when the call encounters a busy or no-answer condition. It provides in-session activation capability from DTMF and dial-pulse sets enabling callers to activate the services without having to hang up. The method is intended for residential and business end-users with RES, business lines, or PBX lines.

Abstract: A technique for automatically designing a fraud detection system using a series of machine learning methods. Data mining and constructive induction are combined with more standard machine learning techniques to design methods for detecting fraudulent usage based on profiling customer behavior. Specifically, a rule-learning is used to uncover indicators of fraudulent behavior from a large user database. These indicators are used to create profilers, which then serve as features to the fraud detection system that combines evidence from multiple profilers to generate high-confidence intervention activities when the system is deployed on-line with user data.

Abstract: A telephone system for travel card users where the users may program a switch processor so that it completes, re-routes, or refuses to complete calls as predetermined by the customer. Data is captured as it is transferred from the switching module to an internal buffer and is fed through a digital communications path and an analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converter to a switching station computer. The switching station computer is in communication with a data storage server computer and the data storage server computer is in communication with remote telephones and with computers and facsimile machines in remote customers' offices. The switching station computer is thus programmable by the customer and incoming calls are handled as predetermined by the customer. A voice response device provides verbal communication between the system and its users.

Abstract: A destination telecommunication switch receives a request to establish a call to a first party served by the switch. The request includes call type data that identifies the party originating the call request as one of a plurality of call categories. A first record associated with the first party is read from a database. The first record includes at least one set of data which defines a call category and a corresponding call processing technique to be utilized for the call category. The switch processes the incoming call in accordance with the predetermined call category handling if the incoming call is identified by call category data in the database.

Abstract: A remote access call forwarding method and system adapted for an Advanced Intelligent Network to forward a call incoming to a subscriber's telephone number in response to a routing destination number if the routing destination number does not correspond to a blocked destination identifier retrieved from a database. Further, a search to a subscriber profile unique to each subscriber is provided, the subscriber profile containing valid routing destination numbers previously validated to which the calls incoming to the subscriber have previously been forwarded. Thus, calls are forwarded in response to the routing destination number when the routing destination number matches a valid destination number found in the subscriber profile.

Abstract: Calling party identification announcement service (CPIAS) provides an announcement of the caller's name to a called party, so that the called party may accept of reject a call. This invention relates to arrangements for providing CPIAS using centralized announcement synthesis apparatus, under the control of a data base (in accordance with the principles of intelligent networks), within the basic call processing arrangements of the public switched telephone network, without requiring users of the services to have two telephone numbers. Billing entries for the use of the announcement service are made under the control of the terminating switch so that these entries can be readily combined with other billing entries for the called party in order to generate a bill for that party.

Abstract: A long-distance telephone service system provides for accounting and flexible, customizable control of long-distance telephone usage by customers, especially prepaid long-distance service customers. The system maintains a set of global operating parameters associated with each access number. It further maintains a database of user accounts or card numbers, and a set of card processing parameters associated with each card number. Both the global parameters and the individual card processing parameters are applied in completing a long-distance call to a destination number so as to provide highly flexible control over individual accounts as well as groups of accounts. Establishment of new accounts, and "recharging" the prepaid balance of existing accounts is accomplished automatically from remote locations.

Abstract: An network screening application is provided for use in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN). The network screening application may provide two screening features for a private telecommunications network. One screening feature may screen off-network calls to be terminated on the private network to ensure that the calling party is an authorized user of the network and to ensure that the called party is authorized to receive the off-network calls. The other screening feature may screen outgoing calls from the private network (i.e., on-network calls) such as long distance phone calls terminating outside of the local service area of the network, to ensure that the on-network calling party is authorized to make outgoing calls from the network.

Abstract: A telephone exchange enables subscribers to use voice dialing more easily with existing telephone systems. The voice dialing does not require special input operations or preregistration of called parties. Rather, a subscriber can make a telephone call easily without having to perform multiple operations. The telephone exchange includes structure for discriminating dial pulse information, push-button tone information, and spoken information so that one or more of these types of information can be input by a caller to achieve connection to the called party.

Abstract: An Advanced Intelligent Network is disclosed which permits even "disconnected" subscriber equipment to complete calls to the business office of the network operator or to 911 by providing soft dial tone to such users for access to only a limited sub-set of network capabilities. In addition, methods and apparatus are disclosed for coordinating the retrieval and presentation of data related to a particular subscriber's call to a Business Office Representative.

Abstract: The present invention telecommunications system provides validation of authorization codes input by a user for placing a call from a service area of a first telecommunications service provider with a calling card issued by another telecommunications service provider. The present invention allows the subscriber to place a special service call irrespective of whether the signaling protocol of the first service provider is different from the service provider to which the subscriber is a customer of. If the protocol of one telecommunications service provider is indeed different from the other service provider, a gateway residing in an intelligent service network node would convert the signaling protocol of the first service provider into a signaling protocol that is compatible with the other service provider.

Abstract: In a telecommunications network, a toll fraud detection system analyzes call placement information concerning toll calls placed using billing numbers for unauthorized use of billing numbers. In the preferred embodiment, a set of artificial intelligence rules operate on the placement information to develop an indication that the use of a particular billing number is unauthorized.

Abstract: Telephone fraud is monitored by effectively interfacing workstations with a fraud data server. Multiple customers may have their respective workstations coupled to the data server with attendant limited access to ensure security. A workstation manager and alarm manager cooperate with a management system database to process login and alarm detail requests from the various workstations. The managers are coupled to a single shared memory. The interface between the workstations and the fraud data server is by means of a message-based interface which standardizes the various functions of the workstation.

Abstract: With Calling Number Identification (CNID) service, Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) data is sent over the telephone lines to the telephone service customer. A telephone subscriber may prevent their name/number from being transmitted to the party they are calling on a per call basis by dialing a prefix before they dial the desired number. The present invention allows for the automatic insertion/removal of that prefix in the number stream when the called party's number is dialed. This feature is accomplished by inserting a $ character into the dialing sequence. If the blocking feature is enabled, the $ is translated to the numeric sequence necessary to prevent the transmittal of one's telephone number. In the alternative, the $ is translated to a meaningless delimiter if the feature is disabled.

Abstract: A method for recording subscriber specific messages in a telephone call for use in telephone services, particularly, for use in cooperation with an AIN Service Switching Point (SSP), an AIN Service Control Point (SCP) and an Intelligent Peripheral (IP). A CallInfoToResource message is generated at the AIN SCP for receipt by the SSP and the IP. The message instructs the SPP to establish a connection to the IP and further instructs the IP to record a subscriber message. The SSP generates a PRIFACILITY message which is directed for receipt by the IP and instructs the same to play an announcement and begin recording. Thereafter, an announcement is played at the IP which instructs the subscriber to begin speaking. The subscriber's message is recorded and a release message is generated at the SSP for receipt by the IP. The release message instructs the IP to tear down the call. A ResourceClear message is thereafter generated at the SSP for receipt by the SCP.

Abstract: In a telephone communications system an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) platform is used to complete or block incoming calls to a subscriber in accordance with a threshold stored in the ISCP call processing record (CPR). The CPR contains a table of information that is customized in accordance with the options selected by the subscriber or simply may contain a threshold number that is decremented each time a call is completed. Incoming calls subsequent to decrementation to zero may be blocked, may require payment by the caller, or may be billed at a different rate. Decrementation may take place simply at a rate of one unit per completed call or at different rates in dependence upon calling area codes or locations. The CPR table may include a list of directory numbers against which individual threshold settings may be applied, while a generic threshold may be set for all other callers.

Abstract: A communication network (1) comprises a number of network nodes (2, 3, 4 and 5) linked together by transmission paths (6, 7 and 8). A network manager (9) controls acceptance of calls onto transmission paths by classifying an incoming call and selecting from the database (14) an appropriate mean to peak bit rate distribution. This selected distribution is then used with the monitored transmission path load to determine a posterior distribution which reflects the load. The decision to accept or reject the call is made on the basis of the posterior distribution by a call acceptance algorithm considering the effective bandwidth for example.

Abstract: A facility is provided in a telecommunications network so that a record containing details about an associated call may be delivered to a customer in real time during the progression of the call and/or immediately after the call has been terminated.

Abstract: A subscriber inputs data into a centralized database of the public switched telephone network to control communication services which the network provides via a number of telephone lines assigned to the subscriber. The subscriber offers the communication service over the lines to selected ones of the subscriber's own customers. The input data may relate to a variety of different parameters for use in controlling the service. For example, the data may identify specific lines, define periods of time when service should be available, define authorization codes, establish restriction on what types of calls can be made or specify parameters for controlling the routing of the calls over specific trunks groups, or the like. The subscriber can thereby limit the time service is available, can control which customers can use the communication service, can restrict what types of calls the customers can make or can control the telephone network to route calls over the subscriber's private facilities.

Abstract: An adjunct processor (16) sends an end-of-address indication, such as a pound sign, along with the address, such as an extension number, to which a call is to be transferred, to a switching system (12, 14). The sent end-of-address indication causes the switching system to not accept further addressing information from the caller (10), thus preventing the caller from modifying the sent address and effecting the transfer of the call to an address different from the sent address, such as a long-distance telephone number. Perpetration of adjunct-assisted toll fraud is prevented thereby.

Abstract: Call completion apparatus is disclosed for enhancing the integration of voice store and forward facilities with calling parties attempting to complete telephone calls to a telephone switching system. The call completion equipment intercepts incoming calls, provides voice prompts to the calling parties, and collects telephone extension digit information. On a determination of the unavailability of the called party, the call completion equipment prompts the calling party concerning an optional connection to voice store and forward equipment. In response to the input of a digit code by the calling party, the call completion equipment consults personality tables, translation tables and call flow control tables to provide all the appropriate information which is outpulsed through the telephone switching system to the voice store and forward facility. The operations of the call completion equipment in establishing communications with the voice store and forward facility are transparent to the calling party.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the cell loss rate estimation in an integrated network, capable of highly accurate estimation which is not too small compared with the actual cell loss rate. In the apparatus, inputting probability density functions of number of arriving cells and an average number of arriving cells for a prescribed constant period of time; calculating a weighted sum of the probability density functions of number of arriving cells, using weight factors which depend on a buffer capacity of the output buffer and a link capacity of the integrated network; and obtaining an estimation value for the cell loss rate by dividing the weighted sum by the average number of arriving cells. These method and apparatus for the cell loss rate estimation are applied to a method and an apparatus for the call admission control as well as a method and an apparatus for the buffer/link capacity designing.

Abstract: A call processing embodiment where customers are offered, in addition to the conventional office dialing plan, a special dialing plan where received numbers are processed such that a query of a database is defined when a prespecified access code, e.g., *66, is received, for example followed by a destination number, but where call blocking is defined for a predefined plurality of destination numbers, e.g., all destination numbers beginning with 976 or 1-900 or all destination numbers beginning with 1, when such numbers are received without the prespecified access code. Illustratively, the database query may result in the customer being prompted for a personal identification number (PIN) and accordingly 976 or 1-900 access is thereby limited to those knowing the PIN. The database may perform other call screening and call management operations such as time of day or day of week screening or limiting the number or cost of 976 calls in a given time period.

Abstract: Call completion apparatus is disclosed for enhancing the integration of voice store and forward facilities with calling parties attempting to complete telephone calls to a telephone switching system. The call completion equipment intercepts incoming calls, provides voice prompts to the calling parties, and collects telephone extension digit information. On a determination of the unavailability of the called party, the call completion equipment prompts the calling party concerning an optional connection to voice store and forward equipment. In response to the input of a digit code by the calling party, the call completion equipment consults personality tables, translation tables and call flow control tables to provide all the appropriate information which is outpulsed through the telephone switching system to the voice store and forward facility. The operations of the call completion equipment in establishing communications with the voice store and forward facility are transparent to the calling party.

Abstract: Methods for avoiding a call blocking feature. In a first method a list is kept for the trunks previously used to call a particular telephone number. Each time that particular telephone number is called a different trunk, not on that list, is used to place the call. The list is cleared and restarted whenever all the trunks have been used. In a second method a list is kept for trunks for which a call blocking message has been received when an attempt was made to call that telephone number. Each time that particular telephone number is called a trunk which is not on that list is used to place the call. Only non-blocked trunks are used to call a telephone number.

Abstract: Disclosed in an apparatus and method for effecting timed-do-not-disturb services in telephone networks. An adjunct computer is associated with the Remote Memory Administration System (RMAS) for switches which include a facility for providing call forwarding services. The adjunct computer is inserted between the RMAS and the switches which it controls. The adjunct includes a processor responsive to subscriber identification and stored class of service information to recognize that timed-do-not-disturb service is to be provided to an identified subscriber station. The processor receives requests for timed-to-not-disturb service via a multiline hunt group associated with a do-not-disturb access number associated with a voice response unit which feeds request signals to the processor and voice prompts to the caller.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and a method for use in conjunction with a service wherein a called telephone customer receives a display of the number of a calling telephone customer. In conjunction with this service, customers are offered a class of service and/or an option to dial a privacy request wherein their telephone number will not be displayed to the called telephone customer. In accordance with this invention, the customers are offered a class of service wherein they will receive calls only from telephone customers willing to have their telephone number displayed. If a call is made from a caller who does not wish to have his number displayed to a called customer who will not accept calls from customers unwilling to identify themselves, the caller is given a special announcement; in response to this announcement if the caller keys a special privacy override code then the call is completed with the caller's number displayed.

Abstract: Subscribers (100-108) of an electronic mail system (1-2) service are divided into a plurality of subscriber communities (30-34). Subscribers in each community have common rights of access to one or more communication service--the sending and receiving of mail messages--which rights are generally different from those of subscribers in other communities. Permissions to send and receive messages between any two communities are specified on each mail system in a permissions matrix (40), wherein each row (41) represents a different sender community, each column (42) represents a different recipient community, and the value stored at their intersection (43) indicates the permission vis-a-vis the two communities. A function (50) is invoked on the sender's mail system (1,2) at message addressing, and on the sender's and recipients' mail systems (1,2) at message delivery, to enable or prevent (FIG. 3) message sending or delivery according to the matrix-specified permissions.

Abstract: In a network in which all information from terminals having various traffic characteristics is transmitted/switched by a fixed length block including a virtual channel id, a terminal requesting communication declares destination address information and traffic characteristics of the requested communication upon set-up to a network. The exchange in the network expresses traffic characteristics of an individual terminal and an offered load (estimated cell flow) in the network. The traffic characteristics of each terminal are expressed as a maximum cell flow generated from the terminal in time units .DELTA.(i) (i=1, 2, . . . , n) having n predetermined lengths. The predicated offered load of the line supposing that a new request call is accepted is expressed as an estimated cell flow predicted to be transmitted to the line in the time unit .DELTA.t(i) by using traffic characteristic values of the calls currently transmitting on the line and a new request call.

Abstract: A method of telephone call, in which if a subscriber is unable to answer an expected call to this telephone due to a conference, business trip, vacation or temporary absence, the reason of not answering is registered with an electronic switching unit from the subscriber's telephone. When an incoming call arrives for the subscriber's telephone, the electronic switching unit decides whether the subscriber's telephone is advisable to call it on the basis of the registered subscriber status data. If the reason for no answer is registered, the calling subscriber is informed without calling the other subscriber by an audible signal or a recorded message.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exchange system having an originating call restriction function comprising a unit for counting originating calls, a unit for counting incoming calls, a storage unit for storing a number (N.sub.o) or originating calls that can be accepted from accommodated subscribers (111) within a predetermined period, storage unit for storing a number (N.sub.i) of incoming calls that can be accepted within a predetermined period, and a unit for correcting the number of calls that can be accepted. The correction of the number of calls that can be accepted is effected by comparing the number (N.sub.i) of incoming calls that can be accepted and a number (N.sub.ai) of accepted incoming calls. When the difference between the number (N.sub.i) of incoming calls that can be accepted and the number (N.sub.ai) of accepted incoming calls is decreased below a predetermined value, the number (N.sub.o) of originating calls that can be accepted is decreased by a predetermined correcting value (.alpha.), and the number (N.

Abstract: An electronic system and method for communicating and composing messages by means of speech spoken into a microphone. Speech signals output by a microphone when select words of speech are spoken therein, are computer processed and analyzed to generate select code signals. The body of a message is formed either of such code signals generated when select speech is spoken and computer analyzed or when the results of such analysis, select code signals, are employed to query a memory in which a plurality of messages are stored, to selectively reproduce a message or messages therefrom to comprise the information or message desired to be transmitted. The identity of the sender or message composer and one or more recipients of the message or messages so formed, are functions also effected by the computer analysis of speech signals generated when select words of speech are spoken into the microphone.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for automatically disabling call communications through a switching system until answer supervision is received for the call. A four-wire switching system includes a fraud control unit which disables communications over the established transmit portion of a four-wire call connection through the switching system and prevents normal communications from a calling to a called line. However, normal call progress signals are allowed to pass on the established receive portion of the call connection from the called to the calling line. The fraud control unit includes a generator for generating idle code and a selector for inserting either the idle code from the generator or caller communications on the transmit portion of the call connection from the calling to the called line. The selector is controlled by a selector control unit under the control of the central processor of the switching system.

Abstract: This feature provides the telephone communication system with the capability to automatically select one of a plurality of inter-exchange carriers to serve an inter-exchange call originated by a telephone communication system user. In response to an inter-exchange call origination, the telephone communication system selects the appropriate and most economical inter-exchange carrier and then outpulses the inter-exchange carrier access code, the user's personal identification code and the called party number dialed by the user to complete the call.

Abstract: A method of discouraging the completion of certain classes of calls including wrong-number calls. Incoming calls from calling parties not included on a customer-specified screening list are first connected to an appropriate advisory announcement. Such calls are advantageously not extended to the customer station if the calling party disconnects within a specified time of receiving the announcement. To limit the delay of calling parties, the announcement is bypassed for callers included on the screening list and may be quickly interrupted by the transmission of a single, dual tone multifrequency digit from the calling station.

Abstract: A method for receiving and delivering voice messages responds to the inability of a caller to complete a call from a calling station to a called station to automatically cause the calling station to default to a voice message center. If the caller desires to leave a voice message to be delivered to the called station, the caller is prompted to store the voice message. Thereafter, the voice message center initiates an outdial routine which makes a predetermined number of attempts to deliver the voice message to the called station at predetermined time intervals. In the preferred embodiment, the method is incorporated in a multiple user station telephone system in either a "shared tenant services" or "on-campus" configuration.

Abstract: A communication system offering specific services to specific persons bears a portable memory device with a record of personal information such as the bearer's identification number, class of service, personal data, etc. In making a call, the bearer of the memory device puts it on a communication terminal device and the terminal device reads out the personal information, which is transferred to a data processor such as a central processor in the exchange so that a service specific to the calling person is rendered.

Abstract: An advanced electronic communication system is provided for the deposit, storage and delivery of audio messages. A Voice Message System (10) interconnects multiple private branch exchanges (12) of a subscriber with a central telephone office (22). Individual subscriber users may access the Voice Message System (10) through ON NET telephones (18) or OFF NET telephones (24). The Voice Message System (10) includes an administrative subsystem (60), call processor subsystem (62) and a data storage subsystem (64). The Voice Message System (10) enables the user to deposit a message in data storage subsystem (64) for automatic delivery to other addresses connected to the system. The Voice Message System (10) also enables the user to access the system through voice commands which are received and compared to prestored speaker independent digital templates.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is disclosed for selectively disallowing and allowing the extension of a call originated by a calling customer through a toll telecommunications network when the billing number involved with the call has a predetermined billing status such as delinquent payment. The toll network includes a toll office for switching calls between local telephone networks. The toll network also includes a data base having a list of delinquent payment billing numbers. In response to a call originated by a calling customer, the toll office sends the billing number involved with the call received from the local network to the data base. When the billing number involved with the call is in a list of billing numbers having a delinquent payment status, a "deny call" reply message is returned to the toll office to disallow the extension of the call through the toll network. The toll office also announces to the calling customer the disallowance of the call to discourage further attempts through the network.