Abstract: A method for processing subscriber calls is disclosed. A call agent receives signals associated with a first call from a first subscriber of a first point of presence. The first subscriber is associated with a first feature set. The call agent receives signals associated with a second call from a second subscriber of a second point of presence. The second subscriber is associated with a second feature set. A feature server is notified of the first call and the second call. A feature from the first feature set is provided to the first subscriber in response to the notification, and a feature from the second feature set is provided to the second subscriber in response to the notification.

Abstract: A method for transmitting choices to a caller has steps of (a) interacting by voice with a caller using a communication device; (b) encountering a point in the interaction that a choice between two or more options is to be provided to the caller; (c) determining if the caller's communication device is capable of receiving a text message; (d) selecting a compatible text message comprising the options; (e) associating with the text message a text message destination address to the caller's device; and (f) transmitting the text message to the caller's device. The interaction may be by IVR or by a live agent.

Abstract: A method for providing a telephone user interface programmable shortcut for a telephone-accessed system includes steps as follows. The telephone user interface programmable shortcut is mapped to a telephone key stroke sequence. The telephone-accessed system is dialed into via a telephone. The telephone key stroke sequence is pressed by the telephone-accessed system when the telephone user interface programmable shortcut is activated via the telephone.

Abstract: A system manages the operations of an integrated communications provider. One aspect of the system is a work flow engine. The work flow engine decomposes the service model into sub-model components based upon whether crossing of plural networks is appropriate to provide requested telecommunication services and which service providers are available to provide service consistent with the location of the customer. The work flow engine also creates a telecommunications design from the sub-model components based on order rules of the service providers. The system automatically retrieves customer service records and preparing sales proposals based on those records. The system includes a gateway to incumbent local exchange carriers and trading partner service providers.

Abstract: A technique for connecting a dialed B-party number to a data object is described. The connecting of a B-party number to a specific data object, hereafter referred to as phonepage, will allow an A-party direct access to information that a B-party wishes to display to a calling party. The phonepage resides in a memory in a telecommunications network, or in a memory in a data-communications network connected thereto. The phonepage may have a similar appearance to an Internet web page, but may also take other appearances. The displaying of the phonepage may be made dependent upon the capabilities of the A-party user equipment.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program for automatically generating call flow statistics in a voice application. Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to call flow statistics generation systems and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for automatically generating a call flow statistics-generating application and presenting updated statistics on a call flow representation. Various statistics collection points are identified on the visual representation. Upon running of the voice application, call flow statistics are gathered and presented for each statistics collection point. Call identifiers corresponding to each call path can be selected and call paths corresponding to the selected call identifier may be highlighted and their call statistics displayed.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a custom-developed service by a customer in a service directory of a network service provider are provided. The data defining the custom-developed service received by the network service provider may be tested, corrected, and verified. The service directory may be established in the provider's network to store the data associated with the custom-developed service. Once the custom-developed service is established and operational, the customer or its subscribers may be billed based on their use of the service.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for handling calls. In one embodiment of the invention, a call handling system is configured for handling a variety of emergency and/or non emergency related calls. The call handling system may enable recognition of and response to received call information. The call handling system comprises a call interface configured for receiving the call information. A processor is communicatively coupled to the call interface and configured for processing the call information to initiate a protocol. This protocol may, as it progresses, be used to generate data for use in a CAD system. The CAD system may subsequently dispatch responders based on the generated data. The call handling system includes an advisory component that recommends a type of dispatch and a risk assessment. The call handling system also includes a build component that allows for the generation of protocols.

Abstract: A method and system for providing computer-network related information about a calling party. First, the called party receives a telephone number of a calling party. The called party's customer premises equipment (CPE) or elements in a telephone network then use the telephone number to index a database, which contains combinations of telephone numbers and computer-network addresses. Once the calling party's computer-network address is retrieved, calling-party-customized information present at the computer-network location specified by the computer-network address can be sent to and displayed on the called party's CPE. Also, the calling party's telephone number can be sent to an application in the computer network, causing the calling-party-customized information to be automatically displayed on the called party's CPE.

Abstract: A personal Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system includes a plurality of IVR servers communicating personal IVR service node information in a network and a plurality of personal IVR service node clients coupled to the plurality of IVR servers communicating the personal IVR service node information. The plurality of personal IVR service node clients have a client-server relationship with the plurality of IVR servers. The personal IVR system further includes facilities for managing transmission of the personal IVR service node information using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

Abstract: A system and method for providing automatic generation of a local service request is disclosed. The system may comprise a front-end module configured to receive data associated with an order for a telecommunications service. A request generation interface may be provided to determine at least a service provider and a telecommunications service associated with the order. The request generation interface may also be configured to find a one or more matching templates in a list of templates stored in at least one data storage unit, apply the one or more matching templates to the order, and generate a local service request. A template module may be provided to generate at least one template based on the determination and match at the request generation interface. A business rules module may be provided to apply one or more business rules when generating the local service request.

Abstract: A method for updating communications service parameters includes receiving, at a platform configured for speech recognition functionality and corresponding to a communications address associated with verbally updating communications service parameters, a voice instruction from a requester to update a communications service parameter. The voice instruction is translated into digital command data and the digital command data and the update to the communications service parameter are stored in a database. A change in a communications service corresponding to the update to the communications service parameter is implemented in near real-time.

Abstract: An IP telephone number query system includes a terminal, a Web server, and an ENUM server. The terminal displays a call recipient profile hypertext markup language (html) that is assigned a HTML document file name. The Web server includes a phonebook searcher that has a plurality of call recipient profile htmls, and returns a selected call recipient profile html in response to a request from the terminal. The ENUM server has a database, a query issuer and a reversed query issuer. The database stores a plurality of NAPTR resource records in association with an ENUM domain name, each NAPTR resource record containing a URI that at least includes a telephone number and a HTML document file name. The query issuer searches the database in response to a query by an ENUM domain name and returns a NAPTR resource record corresponding to the ENUM domain name.

Abstract: A phone is provisioned automatically when a user couples the phone to a network, with minimal (or preferably zero) involvement on part of an administrator to activate the phone. In several embodiments of the invention, when the user couples the phone to a network, a computer associated with the network automatically checks to see if the phone was previously provisioned. If not previously provisioned, the computer automatically records the existence of the phone in a memory of a telephone exchange that is to thereafter provide service to the phone. At this stage a phone number is not yet associated with the phone. In some embodiments, the just-described acts, namely checking and recording of existence are performed without any involvement on part of the administrator. The telephone exchange provides basic service to the new phone as soon as it detects existence of the phone (in its memory).

Abstract: A system and method for communicating guest preferences to a telephony device is disclosed. The system comprises a guest identification device (GID) configured to identify a guest and a digital telephony device which may be located in a hotel room. A GID reader is coupled to the digital telephony device. A guest personalization database located on a server is coupled to the digital telephony device. The guest personalization database contains a guest profile comprising guest information used to configure the telephony device for the guest.

Abstract: A messaging interface provides the flexibility to allow interchangeability of underlying telecommunications service provider processing systems, such as billing systems. At the same time, the messaging interface extends the underlying functionality of the telecommunications service provider processing system to a series of business events defined as part of a common data model shared across multiple telecommunication service provider processing systems. The messaging may implement a mechanism for tracking the implementation of the business event in the underlying telecommunication service provider processing systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing feature mediation and orchestration on SIP-enabled networks are shown. In one exemplary embodiment, a method may include providing a first telephony services application, providing a second telephony services application, and combining a feature of the first telephony services application with a feature of the second telephony services application to form a logical telephony services application. In another exemplary embodiment, a system may include an application server platform and a feature mediation layer operable upon the application server platform, where the feature mediation layer provides a subscriber with a feature of the first telephony services application and a feature of the second telephony services application.

Abstract: A method for implementing services on an ASON (automatic switched optical network) network element based on multiple IDs is disclosed, including: a network element setting an ID corresponding to a new service in local as an active ID; the network element advertising an ID information including the newly set active ID over the network by a routing protocol; each adjacent network element which is connected with the network element via a Traffic Engineering (TE) link acquiring the newly set active ID, setting the newly set active ID as its new opposite-end active ID of the TE link, and advertising over the network an link information which contains the new opposite-end active ID and its current active ID; when implementing the new service on the network, calculating paths based on the new active ID, and implementing the new service according to the calculation result.

Abstract: A method for providing voice telephony services can include the step of receiving a call via a telephone gateway. The telephone gateway can convey call identifying data to a resource connector. A media port can be responsively established within a media converter that is communicatively linked to the telephone gateway through a port associated with the call. A call description object can be constructed that includes the call identifying data and an identifier for the media port. The call description object can be conveyed to a telephony application server that provides at least one speech service for the call. The telephony application server can initiate at least one programmatic action of a communicatively linked speech engine. The speech engine can convey results of the programmatic action to the media converter through the media port. The media converter can stream speech signals for the call based upon the results.

Abstract: Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for personal service integration on a network. A personal service monitors and stores user requests for services. The stored user requests are processed to determine usage patterns. The personal service processes the usage patterns to determine future requests and/or to determine how to fulfill a request. The personal service processes the request.

Abstract: A method includes creating process data which constitutes at least a portion of the control program and describes the execution contents of the communication functions, and parameter data which constitutes a different portion of the control program from the process data portion and is used to describe individual setting information of user in accordance with the process data, in the center apparatus, sending the process data and the parameter data from the center apparatus to the user apparatus via the communication network, receiving the process data and the parameter data from the center apparatus, then describing input individual setting information in the parameter data to create the control program, in the user apparatus, recording the resulting control program onto a recording medium, and reading the control program from the recording medium and setting the read control program in the communication equipment as requested by the user, in the user apparatus.

Abstract: Methods of processing a call initiated by a caller and received by a call processing system wherein, in at least one embodiment, information specific to the caller's identity is obtained, at least one message is selected automatically and based on the obtained information, and the at least one message is automatically presented to the caller, among other aspects. The obtained information upon which the at least one message is automatically selected may also be automatically obtained. Such automatically obtained information may also be obtained based on or employ previously obtained information, including previously obtained information that was also automatically obtained.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for automating the process of configuring a telephone system. More specifically, the techniques disclosed herein enable a telephone system to monitor the behavior of users of that system and to configure the users' preferences based on their observed behavior. For example, the system may observe that a particular user frequently dials a particular telephone number manually. In response to this observation, the system may automatically configure the frequently-dialed telephone number as a speed dial number for that user. As a result, the user may dial the number in the future by pressing a speed dial button rather than by entering the number manually. Such an automatic configuration process may enable the telephone system to be adapted to its users' needs more quickly and accurately, and with less effort on behalf of the users, than is possible using conventional systems that require their users to perform configuration manually.

Abstract: A telephony-based messaging system application is built for use by a particular customer. The application is stored on a computer readable medium and includes a set of modules, where each module comprises call flows, code and a Customization List. The Customization List includes one or more tables each having a list of names and a modifiable list of corresponding DTMF signal identifiers. With this architecture, the particular customer is permitted to change the mapping between caller-entered DTMF signals and the corresponding actions taken by the messaging system by modifying the list of DTMF signal identifiers, i.e., without modifying the call flows or code.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for the automated routing and processing of telecommunication service orders. A system and method in accordance with the present invention may further prioritize the analysis and processing of telecommunication service orders, identify and classify past due telecommunication service orders for analysis and processing, and manage the order of completion of components of a telecommunication service order. A system and process in accordance with the present invention receives a service order and parses it to find messages on the service order that are included on a message table. Analysis rules provide actions to be taken with a service order based on the messages found in the service order.

Abstract: A system for providing user support includes a setter configured to set up at least one communication service for a user including providing a unique communication identifier of character strings to access the communication services, and an accessor configured to access customer support including providing a unique customer support identifier character string to the user, the customer support identifier character string comprising at least a portion of the unique communication identifier character string.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and a network structure for moving a call leg, and implementing a call leg move with the network structure. The method includes creating a call leg moving interface and its method interface reference parameters, which are used to move a call leg from an original call to a destination call. The interface reference parameters are an identifier of a call leg to be moved and a destination call identifier. The method further includes, if an application wants to move the call leg, determining the interface reference parameters according to the call leg and the destination call, and invoking the call leg moving interface to move the call leg from the original call to the destination call with the interface reference parameters. In this manner, the disclosed method provides a simple, convenient, easy to implement and spread interface to the application to move the call leg from one call to another.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for use on a computer for the automated generation of commands or other data to populate tables of a database. The automated generation process of the present invention entails separating business logic from device specific logic, defining the organization of incoming data, identifying and setting default data parameters, defining the format for the output data, and implementing the command generating object oriented classes in program source code, to generate device specific commands.

Abstract: A method for providing telephony services in an IP network includes enabling a first telephony device to adopt a telephony profile of a second telephony device in response to a telephony profile event (TPE). The telephony profile defines a set of telephony services, features, and configurations associated with the end user. The TPE may be the insertion of a portable storage device (PSD) into a port of the first telephony device. The PSD may be implemented, for example, as a USB compliant memory stick. The PSD includes a storage medium embedding telephony profile information. In some embodiments, the TPE may be a request, generated by a network resource, for the telephony profile. The telephony profile request may be generated by the first telephony device itself, e.g., when an end user or administrator asserts a predetermined button, soft button, or other control element of the telephony device.

Abstract: A voice application creation and deployment system includes a voice application server for creating and serving voice applications to clients over a communication network; at least one voice portal node having access to the communication network, the portal node for facilitating client interaction with the voice applications; and an inference engine executable from the application server. In a preferred embodiment the inference engine is called during one or more predetermined points of an ongoing voice interaction to decide whether an inference of client need can be made based on analysis of existing data related to the interaction during a pre-determined point in an active call flow of the served voice application, and if an inference is warranted, determines which inference dialog will be executed and inserted into the call flow.

Abstract: A system and method for providing integrated telephony and Internet services is described. An embodiment of the present invention comprises passively collecting incoming and/or outgoing call information from communications links communicatively coupled to a first party. The call information is extracted and customer information, such as demographic information, is retrieved. The customer information may be, for example, retrieved from a data provider or may have been previously collected or gathered. Thereafter, reports, charts, graphs, maps, and the like may be made available. In an embodiment, the reports, charts, graphs, maps, and the like are made available via a network such as the Internet.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for handling calls. In one embodiment of the invention, a call handling system is configured for handling a variety of emergency and/or non emergency related calls. The call handling system may enable recognition of and response to received call information. The call handling system comprises a call interface configured for receiving the call information. A processor is communicatively coupled to the call interface and configured for processing the call information to initiate a protocol. This protocol may, as it progresses, be used to generate data for use in a CAD system. The CAD system may subsequently dispatch responders based on the generated data. The call handling system includes an advisory component that recommends a type of dispatch and a risk assessment. The call handling system also includes a build component that allows for the generation of protocols.

Abstract: The inventors provide herein methods for the decomposition of initial Filter Criteria (iFCs) into user-independent, global data and user specific data. In various embodiments of the present invention, the approach is based on Trigger point templates that represent families of trigger points, which are able to be instantiated to real trigger points by adding missing user specific data. Trigger point templates are specified at service deployment time and are instantiated to real trigger points and complemented with the other iFC components to form complete iFCs at the time of service subscription. It is demonstrated that the trigger point methods of the present invention facilitate the storing, provisioning and downloading of initial filter criteria and are beneficial in terms of at least storage and run-time efficiency.

Abstract: A method for reporting an activation status of an feature service such as termination conversion or termination rejection to a subscriber comprising the steps of activating a certain feature service using a feature code, and reporting the activation status of the feature service if a mobile station requests a location registration or a call origination is capable of reporting the activation status of the feature service to the subscriber at the preferable time or periodically using the service control point (SCP).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computing devices and systems, as well as software, computer programs, applications, and interfaces, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods to activate telecommunications services. For example, a method may include configuring configuration data for a user account, the configuration data specifying a subset of telecommunications services for one or more user accounts, presenting in an interface an identifier for accessing the subset of telecommunications services, receiving data representing a request to activate the subset of telecommunications services associated with the identifier, the data representing the request including a user identification number, and activating the user account to include the subset of the telecommunications services, wherein configuring the configuration data occurs prior to presenting the identifier.

Abstract: A service execution environment for an advanced interactive voice response (IVR) service node. The service execution environment functions within a next generation service node (NGSN) IVR platform in a telecommunications network. The environment uses individual service-independent building blocks (SIBBs) that allow the creation of customer applications with simple references to the individual primitive SIBBs or composite SIBBs, with branching available. Functional calls to a sequence of SIBBs along with customer specific data stored in a database comprise a complete customer application. When a call is received by an IVR service node, the application is executed by calling the SIBBs to apply certain treatments to the call. The use of the SIBBs allows increased efficiency in the network because calls can be routed to any NGSN node. Each NGSN needs no customization to perform a particular customer application.

Abstract: A method of telecom software and service development that allows a user to model and create telecom services independent of telecommunications protocols and network layer details. The method of the invention operates by creating an abstract model of a desired telecom service or services that is converted, using a set of extensible transformations, into executable code.

Abstract: A method of telephone call management in process of service development that allows a user to model and create telephone call management schemes independent of telecommunications protocols and network layer details. The method of the invention operates by creating an abstract model of a telephone call life-cycle that is converted, using a set of communication threads, into executable code. Models in accordance with the method of the invention are constructed using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for creating and developing telecom services that embodies the Telecom Service Domain Specific Language (TS-DSL) which is implemented as a Unified Modeling Language (UML) extension for the telecom domain. By this method, individuals without specialized knowledge of telecom related software programming and protocols can successfully design and implement telecom services that manages calls.

Abstract: A charging system has: a plurality of client apparatuses connected to a network; a server apparatus which provides a service to the client apparatuses via the network; a charging apparatus connected to the network in order to make a charge regarding the provision of the service; a plurality of first processing apparatuses which are provided for the network in order to control the provision of the service from the server apparatus to the client apparatuses and accumulate charge information by the charging apparatus with respect to the service when the service is provided to the client apparatuses via the first processing apparatuses; and a second processing apparatus which has a cyclic unit which circulates among the first processing apparatuses via the network, collects the charge information accumulated in the first processing apparatuses by the circulation of the cyclic unit, and provides the collected charge information to the charging apparatus.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus of requesting confirmation of a communication handling rule change is provided. A proposed change to a set of communication handling rules is determined. A time within a schedule for requesting confirmation of the proposed change is determined. The confirmation of the proposed change requested, at the time.

Abstract: A personal Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system includes a plurality of IVR servers communicating personal IVR service node information in a network and a plurality of personal IVR service node clients coupled to the plurality of IVR servers communicating the personal IVR service node information. The plurality of personal IVR service node clients have a client—server relationship with the plurality of IVR servers. The personal IVR system further includes facilities for managing transmission of the personal IVR service node information using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

Abstract: A method of achieving co-acting services in a data system that includes telephone or data services and at least two computer systems. A transaction database connected to each computer contains transactions that are identified by transaction references, where each transaction is part of a data program for executing a service. Fetching of transactions for execution in the data system is initiated in response to an incoming call from a telephone or from an external computer. The call includes an identification of the caller and type of call. All instructions from one computer system to another takes place through the agency of the transactions, wherein certain transaction references identify transactions that upon execution transfer the service to a computer system other than the call-receiving computer system for execution. Caller information is transferred together with the transfer of the service.

Abstract: A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include receiving, from a customer, limitation data associated with managing telephone number allocation, determining a limitation threshold based on at least the limitation data, allocating one or more telephone numbers to a customer based on at least the limitation threshold, and providing the one or more telephone numbers to a customer.

Abstract: Techniques for using a proxy model to encapsulate one or more telecommunications (telecom) functionalities are provided. The techniques include generating a proxy model, wherein the proxy model comprises at least one of a representation module, an implementation module, a metadata module, one or more utility snippet modules, one or more unit test code modules and a module linking to one or more blogs, and using the proxy model to encapsulate one or more telecom functionalities. Techniques are also provided for creating a telecom service using the proxy model.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a communications system that dynamically provides context sensitive functionality. In one embodiment, the system comprises a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) connected by communications channels to one or more communications devices and controlled, in part, by software objects that provide functionality that varies dependent on the hardware and software currently available and the status of that hardware and software. In one embodiment, the user of the communications device is presented, by way of an addressable display and associated function buttons, with only the function options appropriate to the context in which they are currently using the system. For instance, a conference option only becomes available when more than one incoming call is made to the same telephone.

Abstract: A method for sharing distributed media resources includes determining at a first call manager that a telephony device controlled by the first call manager requires the use of a media resource device. The method further includes selecting an appropriate media resource device from a media resource group list associated with the telephony device. In addition, the method includes communicating an allocation request to a device process that is associated with the selected media resource device and that is executing at a second call manager controlling the selected media resource device.

Abstract: Controlled public telephone communication systems includes a plurality of telephones at a given site, a programmable control computer for switching, accessing, routing, timing, billing, and the control of the telephones at the site and a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network connecting the telephones to an off site public switched telephone network. The programming of the control computer is distributed to remote locations over the VoIP network. A data exchange network interconnects other sites with the telephone communications system being integrated into the data exchange network.

Abstract: A system (140) that delivers messages receives a message intended for the receiving party. The system (140) determines whether the message should be delivered to the receiving party and converts the message to an audible message when the message should be delivered to the receiving party. The system (140) then initiates a telephony call to the receiving party and delivers the audible message to the receiving party during the telephony call.

Abstract: A distributed software system provides functionality for users to cluster together various types of computing devices (PCs, mobile phones, PDAs, set top boxes, IP appliances, etc.) and associated service resources (landline telephone, mobile telephone, long distance service, VoIP, instant messaging, etc.) to form a service cluster, and to effectively bind the service cluster to a common user identity. The software system enables each service resource that is natively available to a device in the cluster to be accessed and used by the other devices in the cluster. For example, in one embodiment, a call placed to any device in the cluster can be routed to and answered on any other device in the cluster, transparently to the caller. A cluster owner can also grant permissions to other users to use particular service resources available to the cluster. Routing of calls is handled efficiently using a distributed hash table system.

Abstract: To perform service provisioning in an infrastructure, a provisioning system receives a request to provision a service environment for an application. In response to the request, the provisioning system employs web services to configure resources of the infrastructure for the application. The provisioning system defines interactions between the web services, and provides the service environment based on the configuring performed by the web services.