Abstract: A new method for initiating a telecommunication service is specified, which is independent of a call being set up after initiation by a service user. The application protocol (also called the IN Service Logic) is initiated by a so-called external trigger, or else a virtual trigger.

Abstract: A telephone system includes a storage device, which receives a telephone number and stores the telephone number. A customer premises equipment (CPE) device includes a three-way calling feature such that the stored telephone number is enabled to be called from the CPE over a switched network and a connection is made by the CPE over the switched network between the telephone number and a user at a location remote from the CPE.

Abstract: A telephony network optimization system and method comprises receiving a request from an application to provide to the application service on a telephony network. The method also comprises automatically allocating to the application a channel on the telephony network to provide balanced network service in response to telephony parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for creation and automatic deployment of personalized, dynamic and interactive voice services relating to subscriber entertainment, including information derived from on-line analytical processing (OLAP) systems. More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method that enable personalized delivery of entertainment-related information in real-time, via natural language voice communication with a voice-enabled terminal device.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that can automatically facilitate busy line validation (BLV) and emergency interrupt (EI) services with the aid of various sensors and systems that can automatically determine the status of a given phone-line, and further provide a menu of services to a calling party. A calling party that encounters a busy signal during an attempt to call a called party can validate the status of the called line without the intervention of a human operator. If the called line is currently used for a voice conversation, as opposed to a modem or facsimile call, then the calling party can optionally interrupt the ongoing conversation with the permission of the called party.

Abstract: The present invention comprises four principal elements: (1) a telephone instrument; (2) a computer; (3) an automatic dialer; and (4) a telephone line. These elements allow for automatic dialing of local and long distance calls in the United States, as well as automatic dialing of international calls. The automatic dialing feature is accomplished, in part, by implementing a computerized data base grouped in N-files. These files may be searched by the computer system during and after the caller dials a number. If the dialed number matches one of the numbers in the files, the system may automatically out-dial the dialed number. The present invention also relates to a system for automatically selecting, preparing and entering supplemental information to information entered to completed or change an alphabetic, alphanumeric or numeric address.

Abstract: Communications system comprising a set of interface devices adapted to be coupled to a public switch telephone network (PSTN) and radio transceivers. The interface devices are configured to serve in various geographic regions. The radio transceivers are coupled to the interface devices in the set of interface devices. The radio transceivers are for communication with mobile subscribers. The mobile subscribers each have a home region. The circuitry coupled to the set of interfaces routes a call through a path including an interface device that serves the mobile subscriber's home region, for a call involving the PSTN and a mobile subscriber located outside the mobile subscriber's home region.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying a participant during a conference call include the capability to receive a packet containing data that represents audible sounds spoken by one of a plurality of participants in a conference call and to determine a speaker of the audible sounds using voice profile information of the participants. The system and method further include the capability to provide identification information of the speaker to the other participants in the conference call contemporaneously with providing audible sounds based on the data to those participants.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing transparent enhanced telecommunications services to subscribers by implementing an enhanced services platform on a local network exchange within the public telephone network. More specifically, the apparatus and method of the present invention is capable of providing a plurality of enhanced telecommunications services to a subscriber by using a voice-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services. In addition, the apparatus and method of the present invention may use a web-activated interface to enable the subscriber to access at least one of the plurality of enhanced telecommunications services.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for setting user communication parameters for a voice communication between a calling party and a called party, whereby at least one of the calling party and the called party include at least a first user and a second user. In the present invention, after a voice communication is established between the parties, a user communication parameter of the first user is set if the first user is determined to be a registered user in accordance with the first user's identification. If the first user passes the communication to the second user, the communication parameter is changed to that of the second user by determining the second user's identification. The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for setting user communication parameters based on priority information of the users if the first and second users are in the communication simultaneously.

Abstract: A method of establishing a voice/data call between at least two subscribers is disclosed. Prior to the establishment of the connection between subscriber 1 and subscriber 2 via exchanges, a first time window is inserted in which subscriber 1 requests specific execution of the call to be established.

Abstract: An intelligent telephone network provides personalized communication services based on a voice identification of the subscriber. Specifically, when a person requests a service, the network executes a speech processing operation, to identify the person or a party that the person is calling as a known subscriber. One or more switching offices of the network utilize profile data associated with the identified subscriber to control services. The personalized service applies both to incoming and outgoing calls. The network can provide the personalized services to several subscribers sharing a common line. For incoming calls to such a line, the network executes an interactive procedure to determine from the caller which subscriber she is calling. If the line is free, the switch applies distinctive ringing. If the line is in use, the switch uses the profile of the identified subscriber to provide a distinctive call waiting tone or a voice message over the line.

Abstract: A communication apparatus and method that enables a user to effect a change of telephone number, at will, without involving any technical support, or service provider personnel. Publishing a user's telephone number to a predefined list of third parties is also provided. Verification of the forwarded telephone number is provided as well as the ability of a user to invite or reject forwarded calls to accept or reject calls. Call management rules, affecting incoming calls, on a call by call, or calling party by calling party basis is provided on a case by case basis. These rules may further be applied to calling groups. The user may express the current user mode and indicate whether the user can be reached or not. Additional information related to calling parties utilizing a proprietary server or other third party directories, databases and the like can also be obtained. Further, authorized third party callers can communicate directly with the user's call management system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing call forwarding services using AIN techniques and next event list messages are described. Methods of notifying a subscriber of a call forwarded using AIN techniques are also described. In accordance with one feature of the present invention, a subscriber is allowed to set the number of rings which are allowed to occur prior to a call being forwarded. The number of rings, e.g., the ring count, is stored as part of a customer's call processing record (CPR) which is used by a service control point (SCP) to implement the call forwarding service. The ring count information may be updated via the Internet or via a dial-up telephone connection. Call forwarding customers are provided with a distinctive ring, e.g., a ring shorter than an ordinary telephone ring, to notify them when a call is being forwarded. Distinctive rings may be used to distinguish between different forwarding services.

Abstract: Multiple subscriber services are associated with an individual trigger. The same trigger, such as a terminating attempt trigger (“TAT”), activates multiple associated subscriber services. A query mediator determines the order in which the multiple subscriber services are to be executed. After the first subscriber service has completed execution, the next subscriber service is executed, as determined by the query mediator using a priority system, for example, or processing continues without further subscriber services being executed, if a conflict would otherwise arise, for example, or if the executed subscriber service has disposed of the call.

Abstract: A system and method for providing easy access to messaging services in a telecommunications network having office switches that are used by different providers of telephone and messaging services. The system uses a supplementary services database to maintain customer records including whether the customer uses messaging services and whether the customer subscribes to a short dialing sequence service for access to the messaging services. The customer is connected to the central office switch, which analyzes the dialing sequences generated by the customer. When the customer attempts access to the messaging services, the customer dials a short dialing or message sequence, such as *XX. The central office switch triggers a query to the supplementary services database for a call forwarding number to the messaging service used by the customer when the selected short dialing sequence is recognized by the switch.

Abstract: A CTI system in which a user profile contains a call-related feature table for holding the user's chosen timeout values for the facility “Divert To Mail After Timeout”. The call-related features are Name, Area Code, Time, and Route, and there is also provision for a Default value. The call-related features are ranked, and, for a incoming call to a called user, the CTI controller accesses that called user's profile, selects the highest ranking of the entries, e.g. Bob, and, using a CLI-to-name translation table, tries to find a match, i.e. is the incoming call from Bob. If there is a match, the associated timeout value is retrieved, and if there is no match, the Default timeout is retrieved. A countdown timer is started from the retrieved timeout value, and the current countdown value is displayed at the client of the called user to enable the called user to make a more informed decision about how and whether he will answer that call.

Abstract: A process for configuring a service that is to be provided for a subscriber (SUB) by a telecommunication network (NW), a barcode tagger (TAG) for same, a configuration module (KM) for same, a configuration device (KMP) for same, a data entry module (INM) for same, as well as a data entry device (IN) for same. In the process, a barcode (BC) is assigned to the service that is to be provided, wherein the barcode (BC) is read by a data entry device (IN) of a barcode tagger (TAG). The data entry device (IN) transmits barcode data (BDA) determined from the barcode (BC) to a configuration device (KMP) of the telecommunication network (NW) and the configuration device (KMP) configures the service for the subscriber (SUB) by means of the barcode data (BDA).

Abstract: An approach for establishing a communication session according to a subscriber profile that is automatically updated is disclosed. A locator device, which is associated with a subscriber and includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) transponder, outputs geographic information that is transmitted to a communications network for establishing the communication session. The geographic information corresponds to one of a plurality of addresses specified in the subscriber profile to set a current address. The addresses are associated with a plurality of devices adapted to complete the communication session. The one address is designated as the current address if the geographic information corresponds to the one address, otherwise the current address is set to a default address, wherein the communication session is established based on the current address.

Abstract: A telephone system for permitting multiple users to log in to a plurality of line appearances on a multi-line telephone set in order to access personalized services associated with individual user profiles for the users. The telephone set is provided with individual displays and message notification lights for the individual line appearances. Users identify themselves by logging in to a particular line appearance via telephone key input of user name and password, or other suitable log in function.

Abstract: A telephony application architecture which allows creating programs as a set of nested routines running independently and concurrently on three different control layers. Each layer focuses on only a particular portion of the overall call processing function thus allowing that portion to be written or presented in a substantially linear fashion. This linear presentation greatly reduces the complexity of development and maintenance of the software.

Abstract: A system for and method of updating a database over a telephone network wherein a caller enters a number and the database is searched for that number. If the entered number is found as an entry in the database, that entry is deleted from the database. If the entered number is not found to be an entry in the database, the entered number is then added to the database as a new entry. The caller is given an opportunity to confirm whether the entered number should be deleted or added, as the case may be. Interactive voice response may be implemented to aid a caller through the simplified database updating process.

Abstract: A communication system for use in accessing switch functionality from an external endpoint is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to the subsequent handling of forwarded calls by means of subscriber-individual, adjustable profiles. Calls for a subscriber and forwarded to a call management system (WebAMs) are subjected to subsequent handling in accordance with the call number of the terminal (TEL1) from which the call has been made. Possible subsequent handling measures include, for instance, forwarding the call to a terminal specified in the profile, sending a notification to a terminal specified in the profile and receiving and storing the call. In the case of call numbers not included in the profile, the call is handled in accordance with a default setting. In another embodiment, subscriber-individual profiles can be activated or deactivated according to a time schedule. One advantage of the invention is that it offers greater flexibility while enabling the handling of calls in line with the needs of the subscriber and user friendly modification of settings.

Abstract: A transaction server system is provided for routing and processing telephony events in a multi-tenant communication center. The transaction server system comprises a CTI-enabled routing point having transaction server software and multiple venues for receiving and notifying of telephony events according to venue, a plurality of virtual transaction server applications associated one each per venue for disposing of pending telephony events according to established protocols and an intermediary server disposed between and connected to the routing point and to the plurality of virtual transaction applications. The intermediary server maps communication paths between individual ones of the multiple venues of the routing point to individual ones of the virtual transaction applications and wherein each virtual transaction application functions on behalf of at least one tenant of the multi-tenant communication center to process events.

Abstract: A communications system includes nodes and terminals capable of being involved in a telephony session. Telephony cookies may be created in telephony sessions between a calling terminal and a called terminal. The telephony cookies may be created by the called terminal and sent to the calling terminal for storage. Contents of the telephony cookie may include identifiers of the calling terminal and the called terminal. Other contents may include the date and time the cookie was created, expiration data and time of the cookie, and a data field that can store other types of information relating to telephony sessions.

Abstract: A service management system for a communications network which accepts requests for communications services from service order sources. The service management system includes an interface to the service order sources, a database, and an interface to network elements which provide the communications services. The service order sources may have differing order input formats which are converted by the system into a single internal format for processing and determining of provisioning information to be output to the network-elements. The service management system includes table-driven logic which is used to validate and process the requests to determine the provisioning information. Once the provisioning information is determined, it is queued to the appropriate network element, and an acknowledgment is sent to the originating service order source. The service management system also includes a interface to query the database and network elements to perform debugging and error correction.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing a communications line associated with two or more users. These methods and systems include receiving first user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a first address book, the first address book associated with the first user. Further, these methods and systems include receiving second user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a second address book, the second address book associated with the second user.

Abstract: An element management system (“EMS”) interfaces between a telephone company administrative or customer service computer or a terminal and a telephone network element. The EMS contains a proxy database and maintains it between the periods when access to the telephone computer system is desired and available, without detrimentally involving the telephone computer system, the telephone switching network or any elements thereof. The EMS is capable of operating as the sole repository of subscriber data in a telephone computer system configured to operate in such an environment. The proxy database effectively mirrors subscriber data in one or more central offices and/or other network elements of the telephone computer system.

Abstract: A system for adding internet functionality to a telephone call between a first caller and a second caller. The system comprises a telephony application, responsive to receiving a source telephone number associated with the first caller and a destination telephone number associated with the second caller, for extracting the numbers. A first query is constructed using the source number to access details relating to the first caller and a second query is constructed using the destination number to access details relating to the second caller. An internet related function is then performed in accordance with these details. The internet related function may be to record a telephone conversation and email it to the callers, or to email call or caller details to each of the callers, or to exchange files, such as word processing documents and images etc.

Abstract: A profile management system is provided for accessing and maintaining profile data associated with a telecommunications service subscribed to by a user. The profile data is stored on a telecommunications network which executes the telecommunications service subscribed to by the user in accordance with the profile data. The profile management system includes a client and a server. The client hosts a user interface allowing the user to view and update the profile data. The server processes user requests from the client to view and update the profile data by obtaining the profile data from the telecommunications network and forwarding the profile data to the client. The server also processes user requests from the client to update the profile data by forwarding user updates of the profile data from the client to the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A procedure for creating a service profile dependent on user selection for a subscription in a telecommunication network. The invention makes it possible to use a single subscription in a telecommunication network with several different subscriber numbers, each number being associated with an optional user-selected service profile.

Abstract: A one number, multi-application, intelligent call processing system provides service benefits to a caller, a servicing location and/or a vanity number advertiser during a call, parallel to the call and/or post call in an integrated common architecture. The system utilizes VRU technology in conjunction with the national telecommunications network connected via Computer Telephone Integration (CTI) to a virtual telephone number database containing a nationwide master list of telephone numbers with attribute data items associated by Spatial Key linkage to each telephone number. The process of the invention is initiated by a caller dialing a selected telephone number to request information and/or services. Based on the number dialed, a caller or network provided ten-digit telephone number and VRU prompted for and received caller input, the system retrieves the application requested data from the virtual telephone number database and provides it to the network.

Abstract: A call routing function may receive information from a user profile about how to handle a telephone call. In addition, the call routing function may also receive information about what the user is currently involved in doing. This information may be derived from the user's software-based calendar. Using both sources of information, a call may automatically be appropriately routed by the call routing function.

Abstract: A telephone user sets up a “personalized” menu identifying a set of information options from which he or she desires to select when placed on-hold in a telephone system. The user's personal preferences are then saved. When the party later makes a call to a telephone system or is called, and then is placed on-hold, the party's telephone service provider or local equipment accesses the user's personalized menu and offers the one or more information options as defined in the menu. In an illustrative embodiment, the personalized menu options are voiced over the telephone line and the user then makes selections using keypad (i.e. DTMF signaling) or voice input. A response may be interrupted to make another menu selection, or to repeat the current response. If the response being played has not completed when the other party returns, that response is suspended and may be completed when the user is placed back on hold or the call is completed.

Abstract: A call party profile presentation system and method for use in a multimedia-capable network for delivering a party's presentation profile to a subscriber at call setup or during the call in order to uniquely identify the party. A multimedia session engine is operable to launch a call treatment application for the subscriber with respect to a call between a call party and the subscriber. Logic associated with the call treatment application determines an appropriate portion of the call party's presentation profile to be provided to the subscriber based on subscriber selection, call party presentation restrictions, or both. A multimedia interface operable with the subscriber's terminal is actuated for delivering an indicium associated with the selected portion of the call party's presentation profile to the subscriber.

Abstract: This invention is comprised of a telephone exchange having a memory for storing a telephone number and a personal data corresponding to the telephone number; a telephone set stored in the telephone exchange; and a portable information terminal having a memory for storing the telephone number and personal data corresponding to the telephone number, wherein when the portable information terminal is installed in the telephone set, the content in the memory in the telephone exchange is collated with the content in the memory in the portable information terminal and the contents in both memories are coincided to each other.

Abstract: A novel communication handling system 25 is disclosed. In one embodiment, communication handler process 120 accesses read-only, in-memory copies 130 of data tables from read-write table storage 140. In this embodiment, handler process 120 provides control information to hardware 101 so that hardware 101 performs selected actions, such as playing a recorded message, recording a message from the caller, transferring the call to a particular extension, etc. In other embodiments, communication handler process 120 directs voice, data, or video chat requests delivered via an external network 55. In still other embodiments, the in-memory copies 130 are updated manually and/or automatically. In further embodiments, handler process 120 may perform operations on sets of records from in-memory copies 130.

Abstract: A system and method for providing easy access to messaging services in a telecommunications network having office switches that are used by different providers of telephone and messaging services. The system uses a supplementary services database to maintain customer records including whether the customer uses messaging services and whether the customer subscribes to a short dialing sequence service for access to the messaging services. The customer is connected to the central office switch, which analyzes the dialing sequences generated by the customer. When the customer attempts access to the messaging services, the customer dials a short dialing or message sequence, such as *XX. The central office switch triggers a query to the supplementary services database for a call forwarding number to the messaging service used by the customer when the selected short dialing sequence is recognized by the switch.

Abstract: A method, comprising the steps of receiving a communication originally directed to a POTS line by a service platform, the communication including ANI information and DNIS information, identifying a customer of the service platform using the DNIS information, accessing a customer profile to determine a type of service to be provided to the customer and routing the communication to a device connected to the original POTS line to which the communication was directed.

Abstract: A computer-telephone integrated system includes a switch engine carrying out a switching control, devices coupled to the switch engine, a service request part requesting a telephone switching service with respect to the switch engine, and a service request process/call information notifying part providing an interface function between the switch engine and the service request part. The service request process/call information notifying part processes a switching service request from the service request part to the switch engine, and notifies call information related to the devices and the switch engine from the switching engine to the service request part. The call information includes information related to states of the devices and information related to a connection of a path between the switch engine and the devices.

Abstract: A method of operating an availability service in a telecommunication system interconnecting a legacy telephone system with at least one presence system, said legacy telephone system including a plurality of terminals (T1 . . . T10), at least some (T1,T2) of which are terminals of subscribers to said availability service, said method including: (a) continuously monitoring each subscriber terminal (T1,T2) for a change of a call status of said subscriber terminal from the presence of a call to the absence of a call; (b) generating a first or “high availability” signal when said call status of said subscriber terminal changes from said presence of a call into said absence of a call; (c) monitoring an interval of time beginning with said first signal; (d) generating a second or “availability unknown” signal after a predetermined time period &tgr; within said interval; and (e) making said availability signals accessible to any interconnected presence system.

Abstract: A method and a system for utilizing an interactive identity for an automated transaction are disclosed. User identification information is received. A pre-selected identity that is associated with the user identification information is retrieved. The pre-selected identity is utilized for interaction with a user for an automated transaction. The pre-selected identities can be stored in a database indexed by user identification information. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, selectable options for identities are provided to the user and the selected options form the basis for determination of a pre-selected identity for the user. The pre-selected identity can be one of an audio-based, a video-based, and a multimedia-based identity.

Abstract: A system for anonymously initiating communication between system-connected communications devices is provided wherein the initiation of communication results from comparison and priority matching of profile information shared between the devices. The system in one aspect comprises at least two communications devices connected to the system, the communications devices having at least a microprocessor, a data-input mechanism, a display screen, a wireless local-area-network protocol application enhanced with short-wave radio communication capability installed per instance to each of the devices, and a profile comparison and matching application installed per instance to each of the devices.

Abstract: An information system includes a plurality of messaging systems, a data center and a control system. The plurality of messaging systems process respective messages intended for recipients. The data center is in operative communication with the plurality of messaging systems and stores a recipient preference profile associated with each respective recipient. The control system accessing an intended recipient preference profile corresponding to an intended recipient of a message and uses the intended recipient preference profile to process the message.

Abstract: In a communications network that provides services to a plurality of users, events occurring during service processing are accumulated in an event record and sent to a record processor to perform post-processing, such as assessing charges to be billed to users of the network. Each service processing node in the communications network accumulates event records, bundles them with instructions as to how they are be processed, and dispatches them to one or more record processors. Before being sent to a record processor, an event record is augmented with instructions describing how to perform processing upon the events in the event record. The record processors are general-purpose processors and the instructions for post-processing are carried within the event records themselves. Post-processors are no longer required to be dedicated to a particular purpose such as billing computation.

Abstract: A voice processing system provides background audio during a telephone call between a caller and a callee telephony device. A storage system contains digital audio data and a database includes a plurality of subscriber data elements associated with the caller and callee devices. A processing device provides the digital audio data during the telephone call based on the subscriber data elements linked to the caller or callee devices such that background audio is provided during a telephone call.

Abstract: A system and method include implementing and accessing a subscriber's telecommunications services, using a graphical user interface (GUI) via the Internet, and an interactive voice response (IVR) system via the public switched telecommunications network (PSTN). The system and method enable a subscriber to review, schedule and modify call forwarding information stored and implemented by a service control point (SCP) through a common server from any dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) telephone and IVR system via the PSTN or any GUI and Web client via the Internet. The subscriber is able to build and edit call forwarding data, such as a scheduler and priority and rejection screening lists, by the GUI via the Internet for subsequent implementation.

Abstract: A telephone calling way based upon an association system is disclosed. The association system, as a database system recording the relation between a subscriber's personal number and his/her current-in-use telephone number(s), has widely-distributed workstations and runs outside a telephone telecommunication system (TTS). It is not only able to assist a TTS to convert a personal number to its relevant telephone number locally, but also able to make a subscriber to input his/her current-in-use phone number locally even after he/she has relocated. And a subscriber's personal number, given by the database system, is designed totally without any telephone telecommunication routing information in order to make the subscriber, even after having changed his/her telephone telecommunication provider, be still reachable by his/her friends based on his/her personal number for his/her all lifetime. The telephone calling way is a cheaper way both to TTS' and a customer.

Abstract: A networked system of voice-activated dialers is described. When a calling party using a local voice-activated dialer utters a phrase which indicates that information to reach a called party may be available at a remote site, a network connection is established to the remote site, spoken words or phrases are transmitted to the remote site, and the called party information is obtained from the remote site. The called party information is used to provide additional networked services to the calling party such as call-completion, voice messaging, or paging. These additional networked services may use the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and an existing signaling network such as the Signaling System No. 7 network.