Abstract: Call management systems and methods are provided. The call management system includes a touch-sensitive display unit, and a processing unit. The touch-sensitive display unit displays data including at least a body and a phone number, and receives a selection corresponding to the phone number. In response to the selection corresponding to the phone number, the processing unit automatically dials according to the phone number, and displays the body of the data during dialing via the touch-sensitive display unit.

Abstract: A method and system determines whether the receiving subscriber unit is also part of a digital wireless telephone system that has compatible vocoding capability. If so, vocoded data is converted into tones that are introduced into a wire-based telephone system for routing to the appropriate receiving digital wireless telephone system. When these tones are received by the receiving digital wireless telephone system, the vocoded data is regenerated based on the tones and then transmitted to the receiving subscriber unit. If the originating and receiving wireless subscriber units are part of the same digital wireless telephone system, the steps of conversion to tones and introduction into the wire-based telephone system may be omitted, and the vocoded data is passed between the two digital wireless telephone systems via an all-digital connection such as an ATM packet network or a wire-based telephone connection where the integrity of digital information is assured.

Abstract: An application-level multicasting architecture that enables multiple nodes to interact in real time with data packets that are routed based on information about the connection states between the nodes is provided. Each node shares their connection states with other nodes in the same interactive session. The data packets may be routed in the application level using multiple packet transport protocols that are available on the sending node. A particular transport protocol may be selected based on a Quality of Service (QoS) requirement of the data packet. Nodes in the interactive session may relay data packet to other nodes according to a routing map that is created based on the connection states. The application-level multicasting architecture may be implemented for any multiparty interactive application, such as an application for videoconferencing, multiplayer games, distance learning, virtual meeting, and voice communication.

Abstract: In a communications system, after parties form a dial up voice telephone connection, the parties respective communications devices automatically create or leverage machine readable features or content of the telephone connection to identify the parties to each other or to a rendezvous server, and thereafter the communications devices and/or the rendezvous server automatically establishes a data link between the parties.

Abstract: A method for transferring data based on an event function is provided. The method includes receiving an event function from an event initiator. The event function is distributed to one or more destinations associated with event performers. A response message is received as a function of destination and time. It is determined whether the time is less than or equal to a limit time, and it is further determined whether an event parameter is greater than or equal to an event constant if the time is less than or equal to the limit time. Data is transferred from a data origination system accessible by the event initiator to a data destination system accessible by the event performer if the event parameter is greater than or equal to the event constant and if the time is less than or equal to the limit time.

Abstract: Provided are a name service system and a method thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a status of a teleconference by determining an approximate delay time and providing a status signal in view of the determined approximate delay time are provided. An approximate delay time is approximately the amount of time that will elapse before an occurrence occurring at a first time, which is captured into an occurrence signal by a source unit, will be experienced at a second time after the occurrence signal is received by at least one receiving unit.

Abstract: Phone systems for an integrated chat client service are provided. A representative phone system includes a call processing system operable to check a chat server for accessibility of a calling party chat client associated with a calling party and coupled to the internet, the call processing system being further operable to prompt a called party to select to talk or chat. Methods to connect telephone calls and answer telephone calls are also provided.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for establishing a call in a communication system including an Instant Messaging (IM) application provided by a Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) server connected to a number of IM clients, each associated with at least one conference endpoint managed by one or more management systems at least adapted to schedule and/or investigate possibilities for a conference between two or more individuals.

Abstract: A conference control method includes: an Application Server (AS) sets a digit collection template for the conference session; a Media Resource Server (MRS) detects and collects dialing operations of participants on the conference session according to the digit collection template set by the AS, and reports the digit collection result to the AS; the AS controls the conference according to the received digit collection result. A conference control system includes an AS and an MRS, where the AS is adapted to set a digit collection template for the conference session and send the set digit collection template information to the MRS, and adapted to receive the digit collection result from the MRS and control a conference according to the received digit collection result; the MRS is adapted to detect and collect dialing operations of participants on the conference session according to the digit collection template set by the AS, and send the digit collection result to the AS.

Abstract: In a telephone conferencing system, a digital communication network such as the Internet is used to establish and control the telephone connections between multiple conferees with the telephone network being the means of exchanging verbal information. Each conferee may have a computer connected to the digital network, and each has an independent telephone instrument connected to the public switched telephone network. An in-charge conferee utilizes his computer containing appropriate software to initiate the conference and to control the participation of the conferees. The in-charge conferee sends digital control signals to a switch interface controlling a telephone switch as a gateway to the telephone network using SS7 control signals. These SS7 control signals include the commands by which the conferee telephones are rung up, brought on line, or dropped from the conference.

Abstract: A teleconferencing system for voice and data provides interconnections among user sites via a central station. User stations at user sites each alternate operation between a data mode connecting a user computer and modem to a user telephone communication path and a voice mode connecting a telephony circuit to the communication path. The teleconferencing system is adapted for conducting a voice conference over standard telephone lines while allowing simultaneous viewing of data objects such as slides, graphs, or text. A host computer connected to the central station serves as a central repository for storage and retrieval of data objects for use in teleconferences.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a call monitoring service for multiple telecommunications units. When an incoming communication directed to a subscriber's simultaneous ring number is received, outgoing communications are placed to each of the telecommunications units associated with the subscriber's simultaneous ring number. A determination is made as to whether the incoming communication should be routed to the voice mail system. If the incoming communication should be routed to the voice mail system and the call monitoring service is activated, a communication between the calling party and the voice mail system is established. A determination is made as to whether a user of one of the telecommunications units takes an action to connect to the communication between the calling party and the voice mail system. If an action is detected, then a communication between the calling party, the voice mail system, and the telecommunications unit is established.

Abstract: A voice conference apparatus consists of at least one base conference block having three or more signal ports, each including an input for a digitalized voice signal and an output for a digitalized voice signal, wherein a base conference block is configured such that, at a signal port, optionally a terminal or another base conference block may be coupled up using a coupler for the realization of a voice conference apparatus extended with respect to the number of participants or in terms of space, and wherein a base conference block is configured to enable a voice conference among the terminals or base conference blocks coupled thereto, and a remote coupler configured to couple a base conference block with at least one other spatially remote base conference block in order to enable a spatially extended voice conference. A voice conference system may be composed of at least two spatially separate voice conference apparatuses and is structured in a decentralized and modular way and is flexibly extensible.

Abstract: A system that enables a telephone service subscriber to maintain his or her privacy by providing callers with a disposable telephone number. The system comprises a database that associates the disposable telephone number with subscriber information. The system also comprises a routing device that is in communication with the database. The routing device is adapted to receive calls dialing the disposable telephone number. When a call is received by the routing device, the routing device consults the database to retrieve the subscriber information. When the subscriber information comprises a true telephone number of the subscriber, the routing device forwards the call to the true telephone number.

Abstract: A voice communication controller (e.g., private branch exchange (PBX)) is described herein which can automatically enable an outbound dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) feature for one of it's extensions that is attached to a phone which belongs to a user while that user is or is likely to be participating in a session with an external DTMF communication system (e.g., a conference/collaboration bridge, an interactive voice response (IVR) system, or a voice mail system). This is desirable because if the user presses button(s) on their phone then the voice communication controller which has enabled the outbound DTMF feature will not attempt to process the corresponding DTMF digit(s) but instead will automatically transfer the corresponding DTMF signal(s) to the external DTMF communication system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling an event such as a telecollaboration or conference event in a communication network. The apparatus is tree-structured, and comprises a main site and one or more descendent sites, each site comprising one or more servers. Each site is a parent site, a descendent site, or both. Two sites may be connected via a dedicated or controlled connection. The apparatus further comprises client devices, each client device connecting to one site. The method of the disclosed invention comprises passing information between a client device and a server or between two servers exactly once. The information is propagated by each server to all the components connected to the server, i.e. the parent site if any, descendent sites if any, and client devices if any, excluding the component from which the server received the information.

Abstract: A teleconferencing system for voice and data provides interconnections among user sites via a central station. User stations at user sites each alternate operation between a data mode connecting a user computer and modem to a user telephone communication path and a voice mode connecting a telephony circuit to the communication path. The teleconferencing system is adapted for conducting a voice conference over standard telephone lines while allowing simultaneous viewing of data objects such as slides, graphs, or text. A host computer connected to the central station serves as a central repository for storage and retrieval of data objects for use in teleconferences.

Abstract: In a communications system having a plurality of endpoints (240,242,246) each including a logical entity and its physical counterpart, a system for controlling and managing session between at least two endpoints. The system including a registration manager (202), an application layer router (204), a session controller (206), a group database manager (208), and at least one group entity (210).

Abstract: In a communication device operable in at least two states, a method of transitioning between a call in a first state and a second state, each state having an associated number, each number having a prefix portion and a suffix portion, the call having at least one called party and a calling party is claimed. A party requests a change of state. The called party sends at least the suffix portion of the number corresponding to the second state to the calling party. The calling party compares the number corresponding to the first state with the number corresponding to the second state. The calling party appends the prefix portion of the number corresponding of the first state with the suffix portion of the number corresponding to the second state, and establishes a new call using the number corresponding to the second state.

Abstract: A system for managing internet protocol of at least unicast and/or multicast communications over a network has a network interface 20 for interfacing between the network 10 and other parts of the system. An audio compression/decompression and packetising controller 30 is interposed between the interface 20 and an audio mixer 40 such that the network interface outputs audio signals to the audio mixer for mixing the audio signals at different respective audio levels. An audio channel manager is connected to the controller 30 and audio mixer 40 so as to dynamically allocate audio channels and for connecting the audio mixer to an allocated channel. A message manager 60 is connected to the network interface and to the audio channel manager for managing the unicast and/or multicast communication of the audio signals.

Abstract: An interconnect communication system is provided that provides for dispatch-type services including Instant Access call set up, talkgroup creation and management, and in-band floor arbitration and mode switching that employ in-band signaling tones. By providing talkgroup creation and management and in-band floor arbitration that are transparent to the underlying network, the talkgroup creation and management and in-band floor arbitration may be implemented in a legacy system without the need to modify the network and regardless of the type of network employed. Furthermore, by providing Instant Access call set up procedures and mode switching procedures that are capable of utilizing modified versions of known messages, the procedures may be implemented in a legacy system in a simplified manner, minimizing the impact of an addition of such procedures to a legacy network.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a network communication system that provides textual communication and call transferring between nodes. The system further allows simultaneous notification of multiple nodes of an incoming call. The system includes a local computer that may also serve as a node in the system. A call may originate with the local computer or be generated by a remote device that is in communication with the local computer. The local computer generates a call indicator that is transmitted to one or more nodes simultaneously. Selection of the nodes may be based on user intervention or by predefined groupings. Each node receiving a call indicator is configured to generate a ring message in response. The ring message is displayed on an output device to alert a node user to the incoming call. In response to the ring message, a node user may choose to accept or decline the call. A node user's responses to the call indicator are transmitted to the local computer.

Abstract: An electronic conference system includes a portable storage device that stores written content as image data, a reader that reads the image data recorded in the portable storage device, and a display controller that incorporates the image data read by the reader as additional image data into image data to be displayed on a display device and displays the image data incorporating the additional image data.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a network (102) and a multimedia server (104) operably coupled to the network. The multimedia server (104) is adapted to manage a multimedia conference and includes a memory (103) for storing selectable portions of the multimedia conference. The system further includes one or more client devices (122) operably coupled to the network and adapted to set recording cues for choosing portions of said multimedia conference for playback. The multimedia server or clients may include a voice recognition system (216) for transcribing audio portions of the conference. The voice recognition system may further be used to detect instances of the recording cues. In addition, in certain embodiments, the system provides for a moderator or participants to the conference an ability to adjust relevance probabilities generated upon recognition of the cues.

Abstract: A teleconferencing system comprises a conference bridge having a multichannel connection to each customer equipment. The customer equipment has a unit to separately process each channel to provide one output representing each of the other participants. These outputs can be combined in a spatializer to provide a spatialized output in which each participant is represented by a virtual sound source. The conference bridge comprises a concentrator, having a unit to identify the currently active input channels and to transmit only those active channels over the multichannel connection, together with control information identifying the transmitted channels.

Abstract: A method of establishing a communications link uses automatic sensing of a computer user's presence and activity state to record user attributes in a form accessible to other computers in a communications network. Such automatic sensing may include keyboard/mouse monitors, cameras with associated image processing algorithms, speech detectors, RF radiation detectors, and infrared sensors. Preferably, the attribute recording is done in a server process which can be accessed by other computer programs. A first application of this method is to inform persons at remote locations whether the party to be called is available to receive a call. A second application of the method is to use a Connection Agent to determine whether all desired participants for a conference, or at least a quorum of them, are present and available, so that the conference can be started.

Abstract: The method and system for presenting a predetermined announcement or greeting to a calling party attempting to reach a called party within a Multimedia IP Communication System comprising the steps of or software or circuitry for: determining an announcement or greeting based on a variety of parameters, other than DTMF and ANI/DNIS, related to a call or caller; storing the announcement or greeting in a repository of announcements or greetings; identifying an incoming call or caller; selecting the predetermined announcement or greeting for that call or caller; playing the announcement or greeting to the calling party; and advising the called party of the incoming call.

Abstract: A teleconferencing system for voice and data provides interconnections among user sites via a central station. User stations at user sites each alternate operation between a data mode connecting a user computer and modem to a user telephone communication path and a voice mode connecting a telephony circuit to the communication path. The teleconferencing system is adapted for conducting a voice conference over standard telephone lines while allowing simultaneous viewing of data objects such as slides, graphs, or text. A host computer connected to the central station serves as a central repository for storage and retrieval of data objects for use in teleconferences.

Abstract: An arrangement is employed where a switching unit that conferences a remote telephone with other telephones pursuant to requests that originate via a digital connection from a site that includes the remote telephone. In one illustrative embodiment, the switching unit is an ISDN telephone coupled to a PBX. The remote telephone is connected to a conference point within the PBX via the PSTN. The requests from the remote site originate from a computer, and the digital connection comprises a packet network. Advantageously, the communication through the packet network is encrypted. Conferencing is initiated and controlled by the computer at the remote site, by communicating with the PBX via the ISDN telephone. In another embodiment the switching unit is adapted to create and maintain a plurality of conference calls, pursuant to control signals arriving at a port of the arrangement that is part of the digital connection.

Abstract: A system, method, apparatus, means, and computer program code for allowing an authorized party to join a conference are provided. In some embodiments, an application may create or generate a request for an MCU to handle an ad-hoc or meet-me type conference. The application may provide the request to an MCU resource controller or other device. The MCU resource controller may have knowledge of the capabilities of one or more MCUs and be able to assign an MCU to host or otherwise handle the conference. In addition, the MCU resource controller may create or generate a resource address that a participant in the conference may use to access the assigned MCU. The MCU resource controller can provide the resource address to the application, which may then distribute the resource address to one or more parties participating in the conference. The resource address may include or have associated data that the assigned MCU can use to validate or authorize a party to join the conference.

Abstract: Outgoing video communication requests are intercepted and screened by one or more unauthorized recipient lists, authorized recipient lists, caller-specific authorized/unauthorized recipient lists, and/or various combinations of these. The video communication requests may be blocked or forwarded to the recipient depending on whether the recipient is included or not included in one of the various lists. Third parties may also be prompted to accept or reject the video communication requests.

Abstract: Monitoring of any conventional telephone conference in which a requisite set of conference attendees respectively at a corresponding set of telephone stations are connected into a telephone conference. In association with the telephone conference, a communication network with user access via a plurality of data processor controlled interactive display stations for displaying received network documents available from sources on the network in which there is an interactive display station associated with each of said set of telephone stations with a displayed document including an indicator representing each attendee having means for indicating whether the attendee's telephone station is connected into the conference, and means for indicating whether the attendee is speaking.

Abstract: A method and system for adding a participant to a conference call. A feature of the method and system is that with respect to individual invitees to ad-hoc conference calls, the conference call can essentially be “turned around” and treated “as if” the individual invitees were dialing in to a “meet me” conference call, if it is determined that such is the more optimum calling method. A multipoint controller unit, in conjunction with a Call Optimization Application (COA), utilizes information contained in one or more tokens to make possible the change in call direction. The optimal call direction is established via a COA channel.

Abstract: A telephone line status notification system including at least one telephone line having a status, a communications network, at least one communications terminal which is connectable to the communications network and which is employable by a seeking user to communicate via the communications network a status request concerning the status of the at least one telephone line, apparatus for processing the status request the apparatus for processing is connectable to the communications network for receiving the status request from the seeking user therethrough and communicating the request, and apparatus for acquiring the status of the at least one telephone line, the apparatus for acquiring is in communication with the apparatus for processing for receiving the status request therefrom, and the apparatus for acquiring is connectable to the communications network for communicating the status via the communications network.

Abstract: A high-speed RF link connects multiple users with individual data appliances to a projection system in a multi-user meeting. The RF link enables high-speed transmission of graphics data in either compressed or uncompressed form to the projection system where application-aware software/hardware carries out any necessary de-compression before display of the graphics data. The RF link also enables high-speed links between multiple users and between one or more users and an external network via a wireline connection to the projection system. A user's capability may also be enhanced by the addition of a local keyboard and a local display.

Abstract: An e-mail communication method can include a series of steps. The steps can include inserting in an e-mail message a voice conference identifier comprising a voice conference call list identifying conference call nodes. The e-mail message can be transmitted to a recipient at a recipient node. Responsive to the recipient selecting the voice conference identifier, a voice conference call between selected ones of the identified conference call nodes can be established.

Abstract: During a conference call, identifying a communication terminal, and inhibiting transmission of audio signals to the conference call by the identified communication terminal in response to operations performed by another communication terminal.

Abstract: A method and system configures conferences and schedules communication devices, such as video, audio, application sharing, streaming or other multimedia devices, based on a query from a user to request the conference. A configuration engine accepts conference information from a query engine based on the request and applies device data and rules, such as scheduling, configuration and access control rules, to determine one or more possible communication device configurations. The configuration engine or an associated optimization engine determines a preferred configuration and schedules communication devices without requiring the user to have any in depth understanding of the device limitations and capabilities.

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 tile phonepage may be made dependent upon the capabilities of the A-party user equipment.

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: An apparatus and method is disclosed that allows a participant in a conference call to receive conference call roster information at a telephone display unit, at a computer display or at both types of display. The conference call information is updated during the call and includes identification of the speaker during a conference call. The conference callers are connected together and identified either by standard caller identification or by other identification provided by the operator. The conference callers' identifications are then transmitted in two ways. First, a coded signal is sent over the telephone connection to a telephone display unit. Second, an information packet is transmitted over the Internet to a conference call participant's computer. A server computer monitors the conference call and the identification of parties involved is updated and parties are added or disconnected. The speaking party is identified in one of two ways.

Abstract: A multimedia interface circuit is used to connect multimedia signal sources such as a telephone to a network. The multimedia interface circuit has a telephone communication interface circuit for receiving the telephone signal from the telephone. A signal conditioner receives the signal from the telephone communication interface circuit and conditions it for use on the network. A phone environment simulator cooperates with the signal conditioner to add an artificially simulated phone environment to the signal. The signal is then sent by a network communication circuit to the network. Personal computers and video sources may also be connected by the multimedia interface circuit to the network.

Abstract: The present invention is system and method for holding voice chat over a telephone network. An embodiment for implementing the invention can comprise the following steps. First, a caller accesses the chat service by dialing a telephone number that is associated with the service of the present invention. Second, the caller is routed to a conference bridge circuit. Third, the subscriber enters a public chat room. Fourth, the subscriber participates in the public chat room that he or she had entered. While in the public chat room, the subscriber hears the voices of other chatters in the public chat room, and those chatters hear the subscriber's voice when the subscriber speaks. Fifth, at anytime, the subscriber may leave the public chat room by pressing an appropriate key on the keypad. In the preferred embodiment, two or more chatters may request to be placed in a private chat room for a private discussion that is not heard by other chatters of the public chat room.

Abstract: A method of videoconferencing is disclosed. The method of videoconferencing includes initiating, with a first handheld computer, a conferencing call with a second handheld computer. The method also includes communicating, by the first handheld computer to the second handheld computer, a combination of at least two of video data, audio data, text data, and application data. Further, the method includes accessing selectively and substantially simultaneously, by the second handheld computer a combination of at least two of video data, audio data, text data, and application data.

Abstract: Video, voice and data are integrated using existing telephone connections by using a video network server to receive and transmit video signals to and from clients using telephone wires. Client frequency division multiplexing couplers, each associated with one of the clients, receive video and telephone signals from the client and frequency multiplex them onto the telephone wires for transmission. They also receive video signals from the server and frequency demultiplex them for transmission to the client. A video frequency division multiplexing coupler connected between the video network server and each of the client frequency division multiplexing couplers receive the video and telephone signals from the clients and transmit only the video signals to the video network server.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed that allows a participant in a conference call to receive conference call roster information at a telephone display unit, at a computer display or at both types of display. The conference call information is updated during the call and includes identification of the speaker during a conference call. The conference callers are connected together and identified either by standard caller identification or by other identification provided by the operator. The conference callers' identifications are then transmitted in two ways. First, a coded signal is sent over the telephone connection to a telephone display unit. Second, an information packet is transmitted over the Internet to a conference call participant's computer. A server computer monitors the conference call and the identification of parties involved is updated a and parties are added or disconnected. The speaking party is identified in one of two ways.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed that allows a participant in a conference call to receive conference call roster information at a telephone display unit, at a computer display or at both types of display. The conference call information is updated during the call and includes identification of the speaker during a conference call. The conference callers are connected together and identified either by standard caller identification or by other identification provided by the operator. The conference callers' identifications are then transmitted in two ways. First, a coded signal is sent over the telephone connection to a telephone display unit. Second, an information, packet is transmitted over the Internet to a conference call participant's computer. A server computer monitors the conference call and the identification of parties involved is updated and parties are added or disconnected. The speaking party is identified in one of two ways.

Abstract: Computers, particularly personal computers, have become everyday communications devices, nearly as common as telephones and televisions. A big reason for this is the expansion of computer networks, such as the Internet, which allow sending and receiving information, including audio and video information, from one computer to one or more other computers. Communicating audio and video information between computers can be problematic because users have to wait for the information to be fully downloaded before viewing or hearing it and because different computers sometimes communicate using incompatible communications protocols, which prevents comprehension. Accordingly, the inventors devised new methods, software, and computer systems that support interactive data streaming (real-time exchange of multimedia data) and full-duplex communications, for example, network conferencing, using more than one communications protocol.

Abstract: Monitoring of any conventional telephone conference in which a requisite set of conference attendees respectively at a corresponding set of telephone stations are connected into a telephone conference. In association with the telephone conference, a communication network with user access via a plurality of data processor controlled interactive display stations for displaying received network documents available from sources on the network in which there is an interactive display station associated with each of said set of telephone stations with a displayed document including an indicator representing each attendee having means for indicating whether the attendee's telephone station is connected into the conference, and means for indicating whether the attendee is speaking.