Abstract: The present invention comprises methods and apparatus for compiling and furnishing demographic data to advertisers based upon a plurality of promotions deployed during free phone calls.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for conducting surveillance in a SS7 Intelligent Network (IN) or Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) provides in the case of AIN that an Info Analyzed trigger is armed in an end office switch and notifies a delivery function when a call is processed. The delivery function instructs the end office switch to forward the call to the delivery function, where it is accessed for monitoring forwarded back to the end office switch. A similar method is used to process calls received by the SUS. In the case of IN, the identity of a line card assigned to a subscriber under surveillance (SUS) is changed to a number dedicated to surveillance subjects. Calls originated by the SUS are forwarded to a delivery function, which identifies the SUS based on the dedicated number of the calling party, intercepts call content, and forwards the call back to the end office switch with the called party id and the original number and id of the SUS. The end office switch then completes the call.

Abstract: An electrical system for disabling incoming phone calls at selected times and routing calls during these times to a recorded message or an answering machine without ringing the phones in a specific area. This system also allows emergency calls to pass through and ring when normal incoming phone calls have been disabled. The times when calls are disabled may be selected by either pushing a specific button or programming the system through an alphanumeric keyboard.

Abstract: A modem (34, 40) at a customer premises (14, 38) and a switch at an exchange (12, 50) are modified to allow a data session (102, 202) supported on a dedicated wireline communication resource (16) to be optionally terminated (110), but preferably suspended (114, 218), upon detection of a subsequently placed voice call (104, 204) on the dedicated wireline communication resource (16). Before termination of a data session, a user either selects a termination option or is provided with an in-call option to terminate the data session, with the voice call then switched (122) to the dedicated wireline communication resource (16). The data session is therefore cleared down rather than lost through connection corruption. Alternatively, the modem (34, 40) and the exchange (50) interact to silence modem transmissions therebetween, whilst retaining a data connection (20) between the exchange (12, 50) and an end-point data service provider (ISP, 18).

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for placing a phone call when dialing out of the caller's local area. A database resident in a telephone connection mechanism contains the access codes required to place the out-of-local area call. A user input device is utilized by the calling party to retrieve the out-of-area access codes for the called party's telephone from the database. The user input device is also utilized by the calling party to input the called party's local telephone number into the telephone connection mechanism. The telephone connection mechanism automatically combines the local calling number input by the user with the out-of-area access codes retrieved from the database. The telephone connection mechanism then transmits a telephone connection request by utilizing the combined local telephone number and the out-of-area access codes.

Abstract: A mobile telephone, or personal communication services subscriber who wishes directory assistance services is connected in the conventional manner to an operator who identifies a destination telephone number desired by the subscriber. As known in the prior art, the operator then initiates a call connecting the subscriber to the destination telephone number. In a preferred embodiment, the operator locates a desired destination telephone number in a computer database, and can select automatic dialing of the located number. Further, rather than dropping all further involvement with the call, the preferred embodiment of the present invention continually monitors the connection thereby established for a predetermined DTMF signal issued by the customer, such as that obtained by pressing the “*” button. If such a signal is detected, the customer is transferred to a directory assistance operator, who can then provide whatever further assistance is needed (e.g., providing further directory assistance).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of establishing a connection for a communications network (KN2) in which two or more terminals (TE2 to TE7) are assigned to a user group (UG), as well as an exchange and a service computer to carry out this method. A call request is directed by a calling terminal (TE1) to a called terminal (TE5) of the communications network (KN2) which is assigned to the user group (UG). Upon a request from the other terminal or from one of the other terminals (TE2, TE3, TE4, TE6) of user group (UG), a connection (CON) is established between the calling terminal (TE1) and the requesting terminal (TE4). Before the connection between the calling terminal (TE1) and the requesting terminal (TE4) i15 has been established, data (DAT, DAT′) which determine the calling terminal (TE1) are sent to the other terminal or at least to one of the other terminals (TE2, TE3, TE4, TE6) of user group (UG).

Abstract: A dialed number of a called party is received from a calling party. Based on the dialed number, a name of the called party is retrieved from a database. An audio message which includes the name of the called party is generated and communicated to the calling party. A call is routed between the calling party and the called party after said communicating the audio message.

Abstract: A system for providing automated directory look-up over multiple switching systems in a network. Multiple switching systems are connected in a network. When a first switching system receives a request for a directory look-up, the first switching system generates a message requesting a directory look-up on each of the other switching systems. The messages is then transmitted to each of the other switching systems. The other switching systems receive the request and perform a look-up for matches to an input string. Response messages containing all of the matches are then transmitted back to the first switching systems. It is then determined whether a match for the desired name was found and the call is completed.

Abstract: A system for testing and monitoring the operation of telephone systems uses a call trace method for capturing messages associated with a phone call. The system can provide an indication as to the time a particular triggering signaling message (e.g., IAM or RLC message) was detected on a link. The present system assembles SS7 signaling messages in real-time. Time stamps are employed in triggers to identify past messages stored in a buffer that are related to the phone call.

Abstract: A method for procuring instructions regarding a target subscriber in a telecommunication network, who cannot be reached via the subscriber number dialed at a source terminal (TSRC). By dialing the subscriber number at the source terminal, a connection (CON1, CON2) is established from the source terminal via a first nodal point (XSRC)—which can be connected with an intelligent network unit (SCP)—to a second nodal point (XDEST). The second nodal point sends the first nodal point an answer message that the desired subscriber number cannot be reached. The connection on a section (CON2) to the first nodal point is released, and after receiving the answer message, the first nodal point requests instructions from the intelligent network unit regarding the target subscriber unable to be reached via the dialed subscriber number. Using the instructions, the first nodal point supplies a speech announcement to the source terminal or it executes the instructions for charging.

Abstract: A method for analyzing international long distance dialing errors and automatically completing a call it the error can be determined comprises the steps of receiving a dialed country code, city code and directory number. A potential error is determined by comparing one or pairs of the dialed country code and city code or the city code and dialed directory number or the combination of all three elements with predetermined valid dialing sequences for the dialed digits. For example, an error can be located between the country code and city code when a foreign telephone network has added a digit, for example, to expand the number of directory numbers available within a geographic area. A list of obsolete country codes, city codes or combinations thereof is stored in memory along with updated country codes and city codes. In one embodiment, a corrected dialed number is automatically redialed without further action by the caller.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an alternate common channel signaling system path. The alternative signaling path that does not rely on the same hardware or software that is used for a primary signaling path. The alternative signal path allows network devices on a local area network to be signaled when a primary signaling path to the local area network has failed. The alternative signaling paths may provide better fault tolerance for connecting local area networks to other external networks.