Abstract: A telephone subscriber unit (22) includes a caller identification device (120), a memory unit (114), a pre-processor (124) and a text-to-speech synthesizer (TTS) (110). The caller identification device (120) receives caller ID information of a calling party in a first textual format and stores the caller ID information in the memory unit (114) The pre-processor (124) converts textual caller ID information from the first data format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis by the text-to-speech synthesizer (110). The text-to-speech synthesizer (110) generates audible caller ID information responsive to receiving the textual caller information.

Abstract: A system for indicating to a message subscriber when a message has been left for that subscriber accommodates multiple time zones by providing information to the subscriber related to the subscriber's time zone indicating that the message was left. When the caller leaves his message, the caller's time zone is determined based the caller's phone number's time zone determined from a database corresponding these data. Then the subscriber's local time zone is determined. The difference in time zones is determined and the time indicated to the subscriber is related to the subscriber's time zone, not the caller's, by adding or subtracting the appropriate amount of time indicated by the difference in time between the time zones to give the subscriber the time of the call in the subscriber's local zone.

Abstract: A system (8, 60, 500) for identifying an unidentified person (14, 510) includes a database (42) that contains utterance data (162) and an ambiguity-resolution criterion (114, 119, 121) corresponding to a known person. A processing system (10, 11, 502) is coupled to the database (42) and receives utterance information and an ambiguity-resolution identifier corresponding to the unidentified person (14, 510). The processing system (10, 11, 502) compares the utterance information with the utterance data (162) to identify the unidentified person (14, 510) as at least one known person. If the processing system (10, 11, 502) ambiguously identifies the unidentified person (14, 510) as more than one known person, the processing system (10, 11, 502) compares the ambiguity-resolution identifier with the ambiguity-resolution criterion (114, 119, 121) to identify the unidentified person (14, 510) as a particular known person.

Abstract: A bi-directional Calling Identity Delivery (CID) system is disclosed, including a first CID unit of a destination phone set that receives, displays, and stores first CID data of a call and displays, stores, and transmits second CID data of a prior call. A call-originating terminal receives the corresponding second CID data in response to a CID data request signal. A second CID unit of a destination exchange transmits a CID data transmission control signal to the first CID unit, receives the corresponding second CID data from the first CID unit, and transmits the corresponding second CID data to the call-originating terminal. The first CID unit transmits the corresponding second CID data to the second CID unit in response to receiving the CID data transmission control signal, and the second CID unit transmits the CID data transmission control signal in response to receiving the CID data request signal initiated by the call-originating terminal.

Abstract: A communication apparatus for an exchange network having a service of notifying the telephone number of a caller during a call-receiving operation can recognize respective callers of past call-receiving operations. During a call-receiving operation, a communication partner's telephone number detection unit detects the telephone number (identification information) of the caller, and stores the detected telephone number in a nonvolatile RAM (random access memory). The RAM can store a plurality of sets of identification information, which are recorded and output in the form of a list by a recording unit.

Abstract: A communication such as a telephone call is received, bearing identification information such as caller ID. The received audio signal, if any, is encoded and stored. The identification information is used to look up additional information about the sender of the communication, such as by using the caller ID information to search the internet, for example by doing a reverse telephone number lookup. The user is presented with a graphical representation of this, and prior, communications, such as via an html page, and can select individual communications for playback, deletion, and the like. If the user is at a remote location, the encoded communications may be forwarded to that location, such as in the form of email attachments.

Abstract: A telephone device that has a call subscriber telephone number detector, a memory for memorizing a plurality of call subscriber information audio signal in advance and which can memorize an arbitrary call subscriber telephone number in correspondence with a call subscriber information audio signal arbitrarily selected from the plurality of call subscriber information audio signals, a comparator for comparing whether a call subscriber telephone number detected by the call subscriber telephone number detector is coincident with a call subscriber telephone number memorized in the memory, upon coming-call, and an electroacoustic transducer to which a call subscriber information audio signal read out from the memory is supplied, wherein when it is detected by the comparator that a call subscriber telephone number detected by the call subscriber telephone number detector is coincident with a certain call subscriber telephone number memorized in the memory, a certain call subscriber information audio signal corre

Abstract: The lexical network of a large-vocabulary speech recognition system is structured to effectuate the rapid and efficient addition of words to the system's active vocabulary. The lexical network is structured to include Phonetic Constraint Nodes, which organize the inter-word phonetic information in the network, and Word Class Nodes which organize the syntactic semantic information in the network. Network fragments, corresponding to phoneme pronunciations and labeled to specify permitted interconnections to each other and to phonetic constraint nodes, are precompiled to facilitate the rapid generation of pronunciations for new words and thereby enhance the rapid addition of words to the vocabulary even during speech recognition. Functions defined in accordance with linguistic constraints may be utilized during recognition. Different language models and different vocabularies for different portions of a discourse may also be invoked depending, in part, on the discourse history.

Abstract: An audio caller identification system and method are provided. A caller identification device of a called party's telephone, whether integrated with the telephone or stand-alone, includes a speaker for audibly alerting the called party to the nature of an incoming call. A speech synthesizer in concert with an audio caller ID program may audibly identify a name and/or number of the calling party displayed on the called party's caller ID device, including descriptive terms for calling parties such as “private,” “unlisted,” or “out of the area.” When the called party's telephone begins to ring, the called party may listen to the audio identification of the calling party for a quick screening without having to go to the telephone to read the caller ID.

Abstract: An efficient and effective method and system for providing to a customer an audible call notification of a current call and a subsequently received call waiting call. The present embodiments notify the customer that a current call is waiting in an effective manner that reduces confusion. Confusion is reduced by the combination of audible call waiting indicators and audible caller identification information associated with the calling telephone station. Additionally, both the indicator and the representation of the information can be provided automatically without significant delay. The indication is provided even when standard caller identification information is not available by prompting the caller to provide spoken caller identification information. The spoken caller identification information is provided to the called party along with call disposition options, such as options to accept or reject the call, route the call to voice mail or send a sales refusal message.

Abstract: Processing a call from a calling party at a calling communication station to a called communication station includes detecting signalling information for the call, including determining whether standard caller identification for the calling communication station can be provided to the called communication station and detecting a privacy level selected by a called party at the called communication station. The call is routed in response to the signalling information and the privacy level.

Abstract: The system for providing calling party privacy during subscriber call screening for a central office switching system enables a subscriber to monitor and intercept the last forwarded, active call to the Voice Messaging System, while providing the calling party with privacy as the voice messaging system provides the prerecorded instructions/message to the calling party. The calling party privacy feature delays call screening alerting to the subscriber to prevent the subscriber from monitoring the call connection until the calling party is recording their message on the voice messaging system. Depending on the method used, once the calling party privacy feature requirements are satisfied, the subscriber call screening system notifies the subscriber of the presence of a calling party who is recording a message for the subscriber on the Voice Messaging System.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal includes timer for detecting the time of an incoming call, a caller number registration table for storing caller numbers, answer message ID numbers and time-dependent switching codes in relation to each other, the time-dependent control codes designating callers for whom answer messages are switched depending on a time zone in which the call is made. There is thus provided a capability of selecting an answer message for a caller based on the caller number included in the incoming call signal and switching between answer messages based on the time of call incoming detected by the timer.

Abstract: In a multimedia communications system (100) that provides for two-way voice calls, multimedia caller identification data is provided to destinations for calls. A message is generated to set up the interactive communications session between the user terminal (102) and destination (202). The user terminal is a wireless communication device with an over-the-air interface for communicating with the network or the user terminal is a wired device (144, 154) that is coupled to the system. Caller identification data is added to the message (204). The caller identification data includes at least one of audio data and video data. For example, the caller identification data may include a video clip, logo, animation or tune. The caller identification data is alternatively added by the user terminal or a processor in the multimedia communications network. The caller identification data and the message are transmitted to the destination (206). The path for transmission preferably includes a packet-based network.

Abstract: An amplitude modulation detector use peak detection. A CAS (Customer premise equipment Alert Signal) detection apparatus and a caller information detection apparatus use the peak detection and methods for CAS and the caller information detection. The CAS detection apparatus includes a mixing unit, an amplitude modulation detection unit, and a frequency discriminating unit. The mixing unit mixes two or more frequency components of the input signal to generate an amplitude modulated signal including a carrier and an envelope. The amplitude modulation detection unit measures the envelope. Also, the frequency discriminating unit detects whether the frequency of the envelope is in a predetermined range to discriminate whether the CAS is present. Thus, the existence of the CAS can be detected through a single path by mixing a dual tone CAS signal, and can be accurately detected by discriminating the frequency the envelope.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and replaying a message received from a calling party through a telephone line is disclosed. Messages received from a plurality of calling parties are stored in a memory. The messages stored in the memory are replayed for each of calling parties using caller information. The received messages can be continuously replayed for each of calling parties to allow easy understanding of the messages for the same calling party.

Abstract: Improved methods and arrangements are provided that allow for dynamic mapping of users to devices in a computer telephony system. The computer telephony system is configured to allow users to select any access device therein, regardless of location or type. The user then logs into the computer telephony system through the selected access device by identifying who they are, for example, by stating their name. Within the computer telephony system, the user's telephony characteristics are then dynamically assigned to the selected access device. As such, subsequent calls to the user are directed to the selected access device.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for generating instructions enabling navigation between an origin and a location identified by an address corresponding to data in an incoming communication, such as a customer name or customer telephone number. The system comprises a conventional caller identification unit that reads information transmitted in conjunction with an incoming customer telephone call. A main processor engine receives this information and searches a database for a match between the information and the customer's address. Once the customer's address is successfully located and retrieved by the main processor engine, the address is communicated to a mapping engine. The mapping or other direction-generating engine searches a database for data associated with the address that may be used by the mapping or other direction-generating engine to generate or directions a map between a predetermined point of origin and the address.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product for automatically generating directory entries based on caller-id information are provided. When a call is received from a calling party, the caller-id information is obtained from a caller-id database. Either before, during or after the communication connection is established between the calling party's communication device and the called party's communication device, the called party is given the option to store and/or update the caller-id information as a directory entry in a local directory of the called party's communication device. If the called party elects to have the calling party's caller-id information stored in the called party's directory, the caller-id information is transmitted to the called party's communication device and stored as an entry in the called party's local directory and is used for further processing such as call block and the like.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving information regarding a telephony platform and for retrieving the object of the services provided by the telephony platform corresponding to the information received. The system includes a customer premises equipment having a display device and a plurality of function keys. The customer premises equipment is connected to the general switched telephone network and to a supplemental service network via a central office switch. A telephony platform is connected to the general switched telephone network for providing accessory services such as voice mail, electronic mail and facsimile services. When calls are made to the customer premises equipment, an event identifier is generated to identify the calling event. The event identifier may be attached to a message having caller identifier information. The event identifier is used if the user of the customer premises equipment does not answer and the caller is transferred to voice mail.

Abstract: The system and method consistent with the present invention provides improved electronic business cards for a communication device. Electronic business cards may be created using CLID information, transferred among users of a telephone network, and used to initiate a call automatically.

Abstract: A Caller Control System designed to give a person with a telephone full control of their phone calls by providing, in addition to Caller I.D. the ability to send unwanted calls directly to a Voice Mail system without causing the phone to ring.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for audibly announcing information associated with a calling party in an advanced intelligent network comprising a service switching point, a service control point and a services node. The service switching point is adapted to suspend calls directed to an audio caller identification service and to forward information concerning the calling and called parties to the service control point. The service control point is adapted to direct the call to a selected services node. The services node sends a query to retrieve information concerning the calling party from the service control point. If necessary, other service control points may be queried for the information. While the aforementioned processing is occurring, the calling party continues to hear a ringing signal. When the aforementioned information is retrieved, the service directs a second call to the called party.

Abstract: A telephone message system identifies a caller with an incoming message, and sorts messages according to caller identifying information for presentation to the user. Preferably, messages are grouped according to the caller's telephone number, but may alternatively be grouped using voice recognition technology. When a user plays back a large number of messages, all messages from the same number or person will be grouped together, making it easier to follow a chain of messages. The user may optionally prioritize message groups, either explicitly of by letting the system assign a priority.

Abstract: A call processing apparatus comprises a device for answering an incoming call, an interactive voice unit for eliciting information about the call from the customer, a device for analyzing the caller's response according to predetermined criteria to identify callers having certain behavioral characteristics, and a device for routing callers identified as having these characteristics to predetermined attendant stations. The apparatus therefore permits caller's having special needs to be automatically routed to suitably trained attendants.

Abstract: A system for monitoring incoming communications to a telecommunications device. The system includes a switch and a service control point in communication with each other. The switch is for detecting an incoming communication to the telecommunications device from a calling party, wherein the switch is in communication with the telecommunications device by a first communications link. The service control point is for receiving a first message from the switch regarding detection of the incoming communication and for sending a second message to a data communications device, the second message containing information regarding the calling party, wherein the service control point is in communications with the data communications device by a second communications link.

Abstract: This is a service which can be offered by a telephone service provider to enable a caller ID subscriber to now positively determine the identity of a member of a defined group regardless of the phone number from which the call is made. The subscriber-defined group can have a maximum of ten members with assigned numbers from 0 to 9. Specifically, the subscriber can assign a number, i.e., the number 1 to a person such as his/her mother. Now, when the subscriber's mother calls the subscriber, the number of the phone from which the call is made will appear as the caller ID number plus the number 1. Thus, regardless of the phone from which the call is made, be it from a pay phone or a friend's phone, the number 1 will identify the caller as being the subscriber's mother. In another embodiment, a name can be used in place of the number and, therefore, the name Mom can appear instead of the number 1.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forwarding Caller ID data on demand when retrieving messages from an answering device using an endpoint telecommunications device and an associated call control system (such as the central office of the calling phone, a PBX, ToL Gatekeeper, wireless carrier switch, etc.), to fully or partially automate the dialing process for remotely calling back a message sender. The invention permits the caller retrieving messages to quickly and easily return calls with little or no manual intervention, without having to create a trombone connection. The invention operates with calling endpoint telecommunication devices that are “intelligent” enough to receive, store and/or utilize Caller ID data forwarded from an answering device; as well as with not so intelligent telecommunications devices (such as many pay phones) that may lack the ability to receive, store and/or utilize forwarded Caller ID data.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for providing call subject information to a called party. A call subject platform receives a call from a calling party. The call subject platform prompts the calling party to provide call subject information. If call subject information is received at the call subject platform from the calling party, then the call subject platform sends at least part of the call subject information to the called party. The call subject platform then determines if the called party desires to communicate with the calling party.

Abstract: A system (10) and method (40) for providing audible caller information to telephone service subscribers is presented. The system (10) includes a pre-processor (28) that converts textual caller information from a first data format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis (TTS). The pre-processor (28) can be incorporated in a service node/intelligent peripheral (SN/IP) (24) in an advanced intelligent network (AIN). In this configuration, the pre-processor (28) can be used to convert caller-ID with name database entries into a predetermined TTS format. The TTS formatted information can be provided to a TTS synthesized (30) included in the SN/IP (24). In conjunction with a switching service point (SSP) (20), the pre-processor (28) can provide a talking call-waiting feature to subscribers with significantly improved intelligibility.

Abstract: A system (100) and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information can not be provided. A calling party is prompted by an announcement to provide the audible caller identification information. The announcement may be tailored by changing the language of the announcement, for example, to conform to the majority of calls received by the called party. A special designator may be stored in association with account information when the service is ordered. The designator is read before the announcement is played to the calling party. The audible caller identification information is recorded and played to the called party in a message. The message may be tailored by changing the language or format of the announcement.

Abstract: A telephone answering system that automatically dials a specified telephone number left by a caller in conjunction with a message left for a message recipient. The caller is given an option to leave such a number. In the case the caller has left such a number, the message recipient is given an option to have that number automatically dialed. If the message recipient chooses that option, the number as specified by the caller is automatically dialed, and the connection between the telephone line of the message recipient and the telephone answering system is terminated. The present invention thus provides great convenience to subscribers of telephone answering systems when calling back previous callers who have left messages.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes an antenna, a TDMA/TDD processing unit, a radio unit provided between the antenna and the TDMA/TDD processing unit for data transfer, a telephone directory memory that stores a plurality of telephone numbers divided into a plurality of groups, and a control unit that determines which group in the telephone directory memory an input telephone number belongs to and provides control of whether to notify calling information to a called party via the TDMA/TDD processing unit, the radio unit and the antenna according to the determination result.

Abstract: Presented is a telephone calling party announcement system which stores telephone numbers and associated voice messages provided by a user. When an incoming telephone call occurs, and a telephone number of a calling party matches a stored telephone number, an associated stored voice message is played back. Calling party information is provided by Caller ID information transmitted between a first and a second ring signal. If a stored telephone number matches the telephone number portion of the Caller ID information, a stored voice message associated with the telephone number is played back between (or in place of) subsequent ring signals. The stored voice message is typically the name of the calling party, and in this case the name of the calling party is announced between ring signals. A first embodiment includes a voice message unit which receives, stores, and plays back voice messages provided by the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verifying call waiting information in a communication system is particularly well suited for correcting mispronunciation of caller identification information provided for a call waiting call. A current pronunciation of the call waiting information is provided to the calling party who is prompted to change the current pronunciation. The system receives a new pronunciation of the call waiting information and stores information about the new pronunciation for subsequent retrieval.

Abstract: Customer premises telephone equipment and methods are provided for identifying a calling party's telephone number, household name, and city and/or state location, to a called party. The equipment and method includes one or more directories containing city and state location information corresponding to a complete listing of all area codes an local exchanges throughout a selected calling region or country. A receiver receives an incoming telephone number of an incoming telephone call and a comparator compares the received incoming telephone number with the directory or directories containing the city and state location information to identify a city and state location associated with the incoming telephone number. The equipment includes a display for displaying the incoming telephone call number, the household name, and/or the city and state location associated with the incoming call.

Abstract: Upon detecting an incoming call, a call screening system determines the CALLER ID information associated with the call and compares it to a database of allowable calling parties. If the calling party is to be allowed to ring through, the call screening system routes the incoming call to one or more communication devices associated with the calling party information in the allowable calling party database. In this manner, certain screened calls only ring through to a handset if authorized, while others are authorized to ring through to a fax machine, an answering machine, another handset, or a remote device connected between a remote handset and the local exchange. A single call screening device having several ports thus filters calls to multiple communications devices. Incoming call screening may be selectively different during different times of the day, for different calling parties, or for different communications devices connected to the call screening device.

Abstract: A calling party announcement apparatus and method for providing the identity of the caller in a non-synthesized, pre-recorded human speech. The invention detects and decodes the Incoming Caller Line Identification (ICLID) signal between ring signals before the called party answers the phone and announces the calling party's name and/or phone number. The called party answers the telephone or rejects the call before the receiver goes off-hook. Additionally, if the called party elects to accept the call, the call is answered, an individualized pre-recorded message is played back, or any other preferences selected with respect to the ICLID information is performed. An important aspect of the invention is the ability to play and record announcements and messages without the use of expensive and power-consuming digital signal processors. The invention provides for recording and locating pre-recorded announcements and predetermined preferences for call acceptance using the decoded ICLID information.

Abstract: In an audio-digital telephone interface system, selective operation prompts a caller with oral instructions to provide: digital control signals, digital data signals (numeric) or audio signals. Inbound and outbound operations are involved and inbound callers are qualified as by automatic number identification (ANI) signals and consumable key operation. A data cell is loaded in accordance with an operating program and the resulting data packet is flagged depending on the presence of audio signals. Data packets are returned to storage, as for subsequent addressing to call up, as to process or cue a caller. The illustrative format receives and organizes order data for goods or services or to isolate a subset or a sub-subset, of callers.

Abstract: A video enable answering machine having many new features including customized video announcement messages, caller ID based video announcement messages, and time based video announcement messages.

Abstract: When a business message, sent from a caller's phone, is recorded in the recording/playback section, the main control section makes a judgement as to whether or not any phone number that coincides with the caller's phone number contained in caller's information received by the caller information receiving section has been recorded in a storage section. If the judgment shows that there is a coincided phone number, it provides a special display in which, for example, the back light or LED of the display section is allowed to flicker, for example, at intervals of 4 Hz, or the illumination color of the back light or the LED is changed, or a message, such as “a business message from Mr. O O”, is displayed. Thus, the answer phone makes it possible for the user to positively recognize whether or not a business message from a desired caller has been recorded promptly.

Abstract: A directory dialing telephone set, with which the user can register necessary telephone numbers in a directory of the directory dialing telephone set efficiently and with a minimum of effort, is presented. For example, a telephone number dialed by the user for calling or a telephone number of a calling party which is informed via the telephone network (i.e. a current telephone number) is stored one by one in a telephone number temporary storage section which can store a predetermined number of telephone numbers.

Abstract: A slot card issued by a slot club, or a membership card in another incentive award program, that is also capable of being used as phone calling card is provided. Free calling time is credited to the member's card account in response to the playing of the slot machine or utilizing the respective service. After incentive points are awarded, the member may use the membership card as a prepaid phone calling card, whereby the member's account is debited for the cost of the call.

Abstract: A method for providing personal information which can overcome the duplication and redundancy of personal information and regional limitation, includes building a Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) information database, a personal information database, and a destination information database in a Service Control Point (SCP), to provide the personal information to CTI destination terminals in an intelligent network; transferring, by a Service Exchange Point (SSP), a calling line identification (CLI) and a dialing number (DN) to the SCP when an originating subscriber dials, retrieving a personal information and a destination information from said databases, and transferring the CLI and the retrieved personal information and destination information to the SSP; and providing, by the SSP, the CLI and the personal information to the destination terminals.

Abstract: A system provides for the coordination of caller ID devices connected to a common telephone line and additionally may provide control of a number of electronic appliances within a home or building. Within a home or building, caller ID devices as well as a number of electronic appliances receive electrical energy through the electronic power lines. Each of the caller ID devices includes a processor which allows the transmission of control signals over the power lines in order that all caller ID devices on the same telephone line can be synchronized. This system can be further expanded to include a home controller which, via the power lines controls the operation of the electronic appliances. The home controller is connected to the common telephone line, and may download information and generate the appropriate command signals to control remotely located appliances.

Abstract: A method for augmenting communications between called and calling parties with context information helps either or both parties decide whether and how to accept or initiate a communications event.

Abstract: In a communication device (20) comprising a message function (SMS, Short Message Service) a certain short message (7) or other reply message is sent in response to an incoming call in a situation where the user can't answer the call him/herself. The reply message can be sent immediately (9) or after a short delay (10, 11), whereby during the delay, the user can choose, whether he/she answers him/herself. The calling party (5) is identified from the CLI information (Caller Line Identity), whereby the reply message can be chosen according to the calling party. Time information can be included in the reply message in order to express at which time by the clock or after a how long time the receiving party is reachable. After that time the automatic reply function based on the reply message is automatically disconnected.

Abstract: A variable voice compression device and method in a voice messaging system is provided. The device includes a call related information/coding table or database which contains associations between call related information regarding desired calling parties, and selected coding techniques and effective data rates resulting in varying voice compression ratios. Upon receipt of an incoming call, call related information sent from the central office is compared to entries in the call related information/coding table or database. If a match is found, the subsequent voice message is encoded with a coding technique and effective data rate determined from the matching entry in the call related information/coding table or database. Otherwise, the voice message is encoded with a default coding technique and effective data rate.

Abstract: A method for storing caller identification information as a log of answered and unanswered telephone calls at a central server. This call log server is accessible by the internet, so if a subscriber is traveling, he or she is still able to access and read a list of answered and unanswered calls to the subscriber's home station. Internet devices such as browsers that are internet telephony capable may return a call from the call log list using a point and click sequence. The call log may be processed from natural chronological order into a personal priority order such as: family, professional and everything else. This call log may also be forwarded via e-mail to the subscriber. Such e-mail forwarding may be either contemporaneously with call logging or periodically.

Abstract: An audio storage apparatus for reproducing response message corresponding to caller information. An audio storage stores audio data such as a response message. A caller information detector detects caller information incoming from a network. A message controller assigns each caller information with the response message. When calling in, the response message is reproduced on the basis of the mailbox designated by the caller and the caller information detected by the caller information detector. If there is a response message to a specific caller in an assigned mailbox, this response message is reproduced. For example, by registering in the mailbox on the basis of the caller information separated into an organization and an individual person, the response message can be used selectively for the individual person and the organization.