Abstract: A method for appending a dialing prefix to a telephone number digit string which has been dialed from a calling party is provided which comprises the steps of storing the dialed telephone number digit string in a buffer, marking the telephone number digit string stored in said buffer to define the local line number, checking whether the dialing prefix and local line number provides a valid network address, determining a correct dialing prefix to reach the destination party, advising the calling party via a computer-generated audio message of the correct dialing prefix required to reach the destination party, appending the correct area code prefix to the local line number; and automatically connecting the call to a destination party. The dialing prefix can include 1+, 0+, area codes, international access codes, and foreign country and city codes. The caller can be prompted for manual input of the correct dialing prefix using the touch tone keypad, or the prefix can be appended automatically.

Abstract: A telephone set comprises a help key, a telephone service key to initiate a telephone service, and a logic circuit. The logic circuit detects a simultaneous actuation of the help key and the telephone service key, and in response thereto, retrieves help information specific to the telephone service.

Abstract: A method of anticipating an access code such as a telephone number. A database of reference access codes is provided. As each character of a new access code is dialed, the database is searched for reference access codes that have the same leading digits. If one match is found, that matching reference access code is displayed to allow the user to call it without dialing new characters. If more than one match is found, the matching reference access codes are ranked according to a selection criterion. Preferably, the database includes an indication of the history of usage of the reference access codes and the selection criterion is based on the usage histories of the reference access codes, for example, according to their times of most recent usage, and also according to other criteria such as current day of the week. The highest ranking reference code is displayed. If the user completes dialing with no match found, then the newly dialed access code is included in the database.

Abstract: An improved dialling code processor (12) that is adapted to connect to a telephone line (11) in parallel with other devices (13) that use the same telephone line (11). The processor (12) may operate by: (a) detecting at least one dialling signal placed on a telephone line (11), and (b) inverting the detector signal to form a modified signal, and (c) placing the modified signal on the telephone line (11), wherein the modified signal is adapted to substantially cancel out the original detected dialling signal on the telephone line (11).

Abstract: A telephone of the present invention is a push button type telephone whereby a DTMF signal of a first one-touch dial table is sent out in accordance with operation keys input in the general line mode and a DTMF signal of a second one-touch dial table is sent out in the private branch exchange mode. A signal sent out from a telephone in the private branch exchange mode represents a character string composed of one or more of character, starting with a character selected from a particular character group like such a less frequently used character as “A”, “B”, “C” or “D”, for example. A function table on the part of a private branch exchange establishes ties between a character string starting with a character included in the aforementioned character group and a service function.

Abstract: An automated prefix dialing system is disclosed to allow a subscriber/user to automatically insert a predetermined prefix dialing code in certain outgoing telephone call situations. The system is electrically disposed between the telephone company's central office circuit and the subscriber's circuit. The system preferably comprises six sub-circuits: DC power path circuit (off-hook sensor circuit), shadow-ring detector circuit, isolation circuit, DTMF receiver circuit, DTMF generator circuit, and micro controller circuit. When not in use, no power is used by the system. The DC power path circuit, provides power received from the central office line to the various circuits and components of the system when the subscriber's phone is taken off-hook. Off-hook sensor circuitry detects when the telephone has been lifted either in response to an incoming call or to initiate an outgoing call.

Abstract: There is provided a device used in a telephone terminal including a dial memory storing at least one address and a plurality of dial data associated with the address, for retrieving one of the dial data, an identifier being assigned to each one of the dial data, the identifier being comprised of a number in accordance with which the dial data is arranged, the device, on receipt of both a first signal indicative of the identifier and an aural signal indicative of the address, retrieving the dial data in accordance with the received first and aural signals, reading out dial data identified by the first and aural signals, and displaying the thus read-out dial data in a display screen. The device makes it possible to retrieve a target dial number more readily and in a shorter period of time than a conventional device.

Abstract: Computerized switching system provides a method of connecting a caller and a called party or target by a manual or automated dialer by informing a control station of a PIN or ID number and optionally the service type, and having the call routed based on preprogrammed numbers provided by the called party. The call is routed to a destination that may be based on many factors, including the hour of day, priority of call, service type, destination and origination of caller and other programmed commands. The called party has the ability to administer the routings and direct all call flows, including destination, scanning originator, time, etc. A dialer service pre-programmed with access and PIN numbers may be used to automate these procedures. A dialer may also be incorporated in a pager to permit automated access of pager messages.

Abstract: The present multi-media subscriber station has control unit and a plurality of communication devices. Each communication device includes speed dial controls which, when activated but a user, provide for establishing a communication session to a communication end point associated with the speed dial control. Each speed dial control is associated with a programmable image display on which an image associated with the communication end point may be displayed.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a reading unit, a recognizing unit, a registering unit, a searching unit, and a control unit. The reading unit reads image information including character data such as a phone number recorded in a recording medium. The recognizing unit recognizes the character data in the image information read by the reading unit. The registering unit registers the character data recognized by the recognizing unit. The searching unit searches a desired phone number from the character data registered in the registering unit. The control unit performs communication processing on the basis of the phone number searched by the searching unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing voice labels and establishing communication connections between a calling party and a called party based on the voice labels. When the calling party wishes to establish a communication with the called party, the calling party activates his/her user device and speaks a voice label into the audio receiver of the user device. The calling party's voice is then converted into analog voice signals (or data voice signals if a data network is being used) and transmitted to a voice label processor. The voice label processor receives the voice signals and extracts at least one feature pattern from the voice signals that identifies the voice label to which it corresponds.

Abstract: A spoken user interface for speech-enabled devices includes a processor and a set of software instructions that are executable by the processor and stored in nonvolatile memory. A user of the speech-enabled device is prompted to enter a voice tag associated with an entry in a call history of the speech-enabled device. The call history includes lists of incoming and outgoing email messages, and incoming and outgoing telephone calls. The user is prompted to enter a voice tag after associated with a telephone number or email address in the call history after a user-selected number of telephone calls has been sent from the speech-enabled device to that telephone number, or has been sent from the telephone with that telephone number to the speech-enabled device, or after a user-selected number of email messages has been sent from the speech-enabled device to that email address, or has been sent from that email address to the speech-enabled device.

Abstract: When a call has been transmitted to a telephone apparatus of a user through a communication means, a control means 102 extracts identification data, such as the telephone number, indicating the connected telephone. Then, a comparison is made between extracted data and the telephone number stored in the storage means 104. When coincident registered data is present, the address of a portion in which related image data has been stored is read. Then, reading of the address of the portion in which image data has been stored is controlled to extract image data in a corresponding memory card 103. Extract image data is transferred to a display portion 101 so as to be displayed.

Abstract: A telephone (100) is configurable to automatically dial an area code selected from an area code selection pad (104). Once selected, the selected area code is automatically prepended to subsequent outgoing calls until a different area code is selected. A processor (212) implements a safety feature overrides the automated system when emergency numbers are called. With this system, repetitive dialing of the area code for consecutive calls to the same area code is eliminated.

Abstract: A method for entering an Internet site address including a plurality of Internet sub-addresses for wirelessly accessing an Internet website using a keypad of a mobile communication terminal is disclosed. According to the method, at least one Internet sub-address is assigned to at least one key of a plurality of keys arranged on the keypad in accordance with a predetermined sequence and the assigned Internet sub-address associated with the corresponding key is stored into a memory unit. If a key on the keypad is selected by a user of the mobile communication terminal, it is determined the number or time duration the key is depressed, the stored Internet sub-address corresponding to the number or time of depressing the key is retrieved from the memory unit, and transferred to a display unit for displaying the Internet site address.

Abstract: A call origination method and a DTMF signal transmission method. According to the present invention, a phone having a phone book function can originate a call even if a selected phone number includes characters, and a phone having a DTMF transmission code storing function can transmit a corresponding DTMF signal even if a selected DTMF transmission code has characters. For this purpose, the characters of the selected phone number and the selected DTMF code are converted to digits assigned to keys having the characters.

Abstract: An improved account access system and device in which a portable electronic card may be loaded into a combined programming and printing system to be programmed with predetermined signals and imprinted with associated variable data. The predetermined and programmed signals may be representative of telephone numbers, account authorization numbers, or other data. The associated variable information to be printed may be textual such as name, account number or telephone number data or graphical, such as graphic designs or barcode images. The variable information may be printed or affixed to the portable electronic system using a wide variety of processes adapted to the needs of the end user. An improved assembly design for the portable electronic system and improved programming and imprinting system are particularly adapted to accommodate high volume production of many devices with different programming and imprinting requirements. Additional new programming techniques are also described.

Abstract: A telecommunications system, apparatus and method are described that are capable of providing an alphanumeric speed dialing service. Basically, the apparatus includes a database having a table of stored alphanumeric speed dialing codes (e.g., “MOM, “D”, “BILL”, “GB”, “HOLLY”) and stored phone numbers that where provided by a calling party (subscriber). The apparatus also includes a controller that is capable of receiving an alphanumeric speed dialing code (e.g., “MOM”) from the calling party and is further capable of comparing the received alphanumeric speed dialing code (e.g., “MOM”) to the stored alphanumeric speed dialing codes (e.g., “MOM, “D”, “BILL”, “GB”, “HOLLY”) and if there is a match then enabling a connection between the calling party and a called party (e.g.

Abstract: A telephone is provided with a biometric input sensor for receiving a biometric input. The telephone also includes memory for storing a plurality of phone numbers each associated with unique biometric information template. A comparator compares the biometric input to stored biometric templates in a database. Upon finding a match between the biometric input and the stored biometric templates an associated telephone number is provided to the telephone for dialing.

Abstract: A phone apparatus having a redialing function comprises a memory, a redialing button, a digit setting button which is used for setting a maximum digit number of limiting the digit number of the redialing number and which makes the memory record the maximum digit number, and a controller which is used for controlling operations of the phone apparatus upon the maximum digit number stored in the memory so that the digit number of dialing made by the redialing button is limited to the maximum digit number.

Abstract: Improved methods and arrangements are provided for use in a computer telephony system that supports dial by name operations. A multiple purpose contacts database is modified through a graphical user interface (GUI) to include corresponding phonetically spelled information and/or other alias information for a contact. Voice recognition capabilities in the computer telephony system, which support the dial by name operations, can be directly invoked through the GUI to playback the phonetically spelled information and/or other alias information.

Abstract: Telephone numbers are entered into an input device by a voice recognition method and apparatus. Location codes, such as country codes or area codes, can be generated by voice recognition of the area name. The method and apparatus also permit telephone numbers to be entered manually. This method of entering telephone numbers facilitates hands-free telephone calls in a vehicle.

Abstract: A radiotelephone (10) simulates the call origination process performed by land-line telephones. Dial tone is generated (78) in response to an off-hook condition and removed when a first digit (54) is dialed. A timer process (84, 110) and a number analysis process (100) simultaneously evaluate dialed digits to detect the completion of dialing. The number analysis process (100) identifies seven, ten, and eleven digit, and indeterminate length phone number formats (64, 66, 52, 68). The ten digit format is recognized in response to remotely programmed (42) connected NPA codes. For most calls, the number analysis process (100) instantly detects a phone number's final digit (62). In a few cases the timer process (84, 110) detects the final digit through the absence of dialing activity for a predetermined duration. When the final digit (62) is detected, an origination message is transmitted to a cellular network.

Abstract: The inventive apparatus, hereto called an Automatic Telephone Dialer (ATD), is a telephone device that implements the inventive method. The ATD is designed to automatically and directly connect long distance phone calls to predefined long distance service providers' telephone switching equipment by means of automatically dialing the providers' long distance dial around prefix numbers, to provide protection to the consumer against unauthorized switching of the long distance service provider known as “slamming,” and to allow for the user to conveniently program and store a personal prefix, such as a three digit area code, that could be appended to the normal seven digits dialed in order to complete a local phone call. The ATD captures digits dialed by the telephone by monitoring the activity on the telephone line. As the digits are detected the device determines what intervention is required, if any.

Abstract: The present invention a speech enabled automatic telephone dialer device uses a spoken name corresponding to name-telephone number data. User telephones are connected to a public service telephony mechanism. The telephony mechanism and user computer workstations containing loaded address book programs with name-telephone number data, are connected to the name dialer device. The name dialer device includes a host computer in a network; a telephony board for controlling the telephony mechanism for dialing; memory within the host computer for storing software and name-telephone number data; and, software to access computer-based address book programs, to receive voice inputs from the telephony mechanism, to create converted phonemes from names to match voice inputs with specific name-telephone number data from the computer-based address book programs for initiating an automatic dialing.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting from a plurality of data service options in a wireless communication network is presented. The system includes a terminal device for originating a call and for transmitting and receiving data in accordance with a selected data service option. The terminal device includes a dialing interface for inputting a sequence of one or more symbols representing a dial command string for originating the call. The input symbol sequence includes information indicating the selection of a data service option. The system also includes a communication device, coupled to the terminal device, for receiving the dial command string from the terminal device, for storing a plurality of pre-determined symbol sequences including standard telephone numbers and reserved telephone number sequences representing different data service options, and for comparing the contents of the dial command string with the stored pre-determined symbol sequences.

Abstract: A method and system for dialing a telephone number selected on display in a software application includes a computer system chassis and a display device coupled to the computer system chassis. A mouse, stylus, or keyboard selection keys allow a computer user to select a telephone number on display in the software application. One or more audio speakers in the computer chassis or connected to the monitor generate Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (“DTMF”) audio tones. The audio system also includes an audio receiver that may be part of a telephone handset and receives the DTMF audio tones produced by the audio speakers. Prior to generation of the DTMF audio tones, the caller places the audio speakers in close proximity to the audio receiver of the telephone handset.

Abstract: A telecommunications system (10) is provided that provides for telephone functions to be accessed through client computer system (14). A server computer system (16) provides telephony services, database services and access to E-mail, voice mail, video conferencing and facsimile systems. A graphical user interface 116 is presented to a user to allow the user to perform a large number of functions and to access databases of information associated with calling and called parties.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a point-to-point-to-point telephone connection between a remote telephone and a desired called telephone. The method and apparatus use a two-line base telephone unit, e.g., a home or office telephone, as an intermediary point in the telephone call to reduce long distance rates and/or to utilize features and/or information stored in the base telephone unit when the user is away from the home or office. In a first embodiment, the remote telephone makes a local call to the base telephone unit and instructs the base telephone unit to establish a telephone call with, and interconnect the remote telephone to, a called third party. In a second embodiment, the remote telephone makes a quick call to the base telephone unit instructing the base telephone unit to establish and interconnect both a telephone call back to the remote telephone and a second telephone call to the desired called telephone.

Abstract: A number of associated directory numbers are sequentially correlated into a link list and stored within a telecommunications device, such as a mobile station. In response to a user instruction or pre-determined call setup results, the telecommunications device retrieves a second directory number from the correlated link list and originates another outgoing call connection therewith. As an illustration, the user may provide such an instruction by pressing the volume-up or volume-down key. Alternatively, the mobile station may automatically retrieve and originate a new outgoing call connection using the next directory number from the link list in response to a busy signal from the pending call connection. With repeated detection of such instructions or conditions, the mobile station sequentially and individually retrieves the linked directory numbers and automatically originates outgoing call connections without the user having to separately and inconveniently entering the associated directory numbers.

Abstract: A system for handling special number calls in a telecommunication network. The network includes an array of switches, junctions, communication channels, customer-operated communication devices and telecommunication service providing stations connected to facilitate communication among a plurality of stations using a plurality of communication milieux. The system comprises: (a) at least one special number call processing center connected with the network; (b) at least one special number answering station connected with the special number call processing center; and (c) at least one special number action station connected with the special number answering station. The special number action station is configured for selective connection with a plurality of action agencies. Selected of the telecommunication service providing stations are connected with at least one of the at least one special number processing center.

Abstract: A telecommunication system configured for use with a network for handling special number calls is described. The network includes a plurality of switching junctions connected by a plurality of channels, a plurality of service providing stations connected into the network at at least one of the switching junctions and the plurality of channels for effecting various telecommunication milieux. Selected of the service providing stations serve customer-operated communication devices using selected of the telecommunication milieux. The system comprises: (a) an action station configured for selective connection with action agencies; (b) an answering station connected with an action station; (c) a call processing center connected with an answering station and configured for connection with the network; and (d) an on-demand answering station connected in a virtual private network with a call processing center and with an action station.

Abstract: An information terminal equipment is provided with a managing part for managing functions and/or information in a manner linked to a plurality of using situations, a switch for setting a using situation, and a control part for automatically selecting a function and/or information from the managing part depending on the using situation set by the switch, and making the selected function and/or information usable by a user.

Abstract: A programmable telephone system includes a guestroom telephone, where each guestroom telephone includes at least one speed-dial key, a memory corresponding to the at least one speed key for storing data corresponding to speed-dial telephone numbers, a controller and a call recognition circuit. The system further includes a computer remotely located from the guestroom telephone where the computer is configured to automatically place a call to the guestroom telephone and establish communication therewith. The communication is established when the call recognition circuit determines that the call has not been answered based on a predetermined criteria. The computer is configured to transmit the speed-dial data to the guestroom telephone during the communication such that the controller programs the guestroom telephone with the data corresponding to the received speed-dial data.

Abstract: A radio telephone that returns to a selectable default mode when idle has programmable keys with associated functions that depend upon the default mode of the radio telephone.

Abstract: A wireless communication device provides streamlined access to recording functions that allow a user to readily record information from a called directory information service provider or other predetermined number. Directory service provider numbers and other predetermined numbers are stored in the system and compared with a user selected destination telephone number. If a match is detected, the system display automatically enables a recording function or prompts the user to manually activate the recording function to permit the user to manually record information obtained from the directory information service provider. Alternatively, the information may be automatically transferred directly into the system without user intervention through a communication link using a formatted data exchange. The system includes options for editing the recorded information, permanently storing the recorded information, and completing a call to the telephone number provided by the service.

Abstract: A method of processing a phone dialing process. At first, whether the dial key signal of the dial device is inputted is checked. When the dial key signals of the dial device are inputted and the dial device is not connected, that is, a user is pressing a phone number, the values corresponding to the inputted dial key signals are sequentially stored in a first memory. When the dial device is connected but the dial key signals of the dial device are still inputted, which means that the user is pressing an extension number or a key instruction, the values corresponding to the inputted dial key signal are also stored in the first memory. In addition, at least a time value is stored in a second memory. During the redial procedure, the time value can be used to properly process the time delay problem between the normal phone number and the extension number.

Abstract: A telephone apparatus is disclosed wherein the use of the call-waiting service is provided while a dedicated call-waiting operating portion is not required. When there is a call from a third party's telephone apparatus to a first party while the first party is conducting a telephone conversation with a second party, a call-waiting unit switches the first party's line connection from the second party's telephone apparatus to the third party's telephone apparatus. A call-waiting operating portion or button is used to instruct the call-waiting unit to switch the line connection. The call-waiting operating portion is structured so that the operating portion can also be used as an operating portion that has a function other than the call-waiting function. When the call-waiting button is depressed, a CPU determines whether the line is connected and then whether the telephone apparatus is in a dialing or communication mode.

Abstract: A telephone according to the invention provides a memory adapted to hold a speed dial number, a calling mechanism adapted to place an outgoing call to the speed dial number based on user input, an input unit adapted to receive updating information, and a speed dial updating unit adapted to change the speed dial number in the memory according to the updating information. In an alternative embodiment, a method of updating a telephone number associated with a speed dial button includes the steps of receiving a signal relating to a change in the telephone number, and updating a memory location to reflect the change in the telephone number.