Telephonic communications inventions 04/06

20060088141 - Method and apparatus for telephone line testing: A method and apparatus for qualifying a telephone transmission line for XDSL communication services is disclosed. The system includes a modem, located at the customer premises to be connected. The modem analyzes actual signals to determine the electrical characteristics of the communication channel associated with the customer premises. The modem...

20060088142 - Emergency communication system: Disclosed is a system for informing of an emergency state via a line telephone or a cellular phone at emergency situation. The system includes an on/off switch for maintaining the system in a standby state, a magnetic switch and an infrared sensor each connected in series to the on/off switch...

20060088143 - Communications device, computer program product, and method of providing notes: There is provided a communications device comprising: a processing unit for controlling functions of the device, a display for showing application views coupled to the processing unit, and an input device for giving control commands coupled to the processing unit. The processing unit is configured to detect a start of...

20060088144 - Method and apparatus for associating messages with data elements: A method and apparatus for associating message types, elements, and/or content with data from one or more data stores are provided. Current limitations on the tracking and management of information contained within or associated with message types and elements are overcome through an association manager or “data linking engine” that...

20060088145 - Methods and systems for an interactive communications directory and directory channel: A user may use an input terminal, a remote control device, and/or an alternate device to select an electronic communications directory to access, or alternatively, to download and store to memory of a media delivery device. A directory assist and connect module includes instructions and/or commands that enable the user...

20060088146 - Telephone device with integral apparatus for simulating telephone \"in use\" signals in a line in a telephone ring system: A system, apparatuses and a method is disclosed for use in a facsimile machine, a telephone and a VoIP system, for simulating an “in use” condition in a telephone line in those devices, so that incoming calls will get a busy signal and, therefore, will not ring all telephones on...

20060088147 - Device and method for monitoring available calling plan minutes: A device and method for monitoring Available Calling Plan Minutes for use by a consumer with a calling plan is disclosed. The device and method include registers at different memory locations for storing data related to a calling plan and to Available Calling Plan Minutes. The device and method also...

20060088148 - Selective unblocking of caller id based on security level: A system for selectively blocking and unblocking the sending of outgoing caller ID information from a communication device comprises a communication device, a processor coupled to the communication device and a storage medium coupled to the processor containing a directory of information entries. The information entries include both telephone numbers...

20060088149 - Set-top-box apparatus and method of providing voip service information: A set-top-box (STB) apparatus and a method of providing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service information. The STB apparatus and the method allow a user to quickly and intuitively identify caller information carried in an incoming call signal, regardless of whether a TV is turned on or not, by outputting...

20060088150 - Apparatus and method of simulating telephone \"in use\" signals in a line in a telephone ring system: An apparatus and method is disclosed for simulating an “in use” condition in a telephone line, so that incoming calls will get a busy signal and, therefore, will not ring all telephones on that line....

20060088151 - Security system reporting which compares a caller telephone number with a ten digit account number: A security central station monitors a plurality of individual subscriber security systems installed in residential or commercial accounts. Each security system at an account is programmed to periodically place a telephone call to the security central station receiver, and then to send a signal to the security central station receiver...

20060088152 - Conference-call initiation: In response to a request for a conference call among specified invitees, a conference-call system provides web pages that elicit from respective invitees the telephone numbers at which they can be reached, and it causes messages that contain those web pages' URIs to be sent to those invitees. If a...

20060088153 - Progressive alert indications in a communication device: A communication device and method for providing progressive alert indications includes a first step of storing at least one alert indication in the communication device. The alert indication can include ring tones, vibrations, and lights. A next step includes detecting an incoming call to the communication device. A next step...

20060088154 - Telecommunication devices that adjust audio characteristics for elderly communicators: A telecommunication device (200) adaptable for elderly users (105). The telecommunication device can include a user classifier (205) and one or more audio processors (215 and 220). The user classifier can establish one of several categories for a device user, wherein the category determines at least one configurable setting of...

20060088155 - Mode-dependent, multiple bias-driven battery switch for subscriber line interface circuit: A mode-dependent, battery-coupling switch for a subscriber line interface circuit (SLIC) selectively adjusts its current requirements to provide optimal current handling capability irrespective of the mode of operation of the SLIC. Where current demands of the SLIC are relatively minimal (e.g., on-hook idle mode), the bias is set at a...

20060083356 - Test system for remotely testing switches within a telecommunications network: A system for centrally and remotely testing cellular and conventional telecommunications network wherein a controller located at a remote location provides instructions to Remote Call Processor (RCP) to thereby prompt the RCPs to establish a communication link from the RCP through a switch to a destination device whereby audio from...

20060083357 - Selectable state machine user interface system: A system that concurrently provides multiple user interface (UI) mechanisms that facilitate control of an application state machine (e.g., unified message system). More particularly, the invention can create two relatively distinct user experiences, one via dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) navigation and another through speech recognition navigation of a unified message...

20060083359 - Apparatus for mail delivery notification and process for doing same: An Apparatus for Mail Delivery Notification and Process for doing same. This consists of an imaging device at point of entry for physical mail, a sensing mechanism responsive to entry of mail at the delivery point, thereby triggering the imaging of the physical mail, a connection to an electronic storage...

20060083358 - Unified messaging architecture: A system and/or methodology that unifies a telephonic communication component and/or system with a data (e.g., messaging) server component and/or system. The system can facilitate telephonically accessing rich information in the server (e.g., messaging server). This rich information can include email content, calendar content, contacts information, or the like. Moreover,...

20060083360 - Method and system for call, facsimile and electronic message forwarding: A method and system are provided for forwarding telephone calls, facsimile transmissions and electronic messages to a single forwarding telephone number. The telephone calls, fax transmissions and electronic messages are first forwarded to a central forwarding repository by the forwarding party where the fax transmissions, and messages are converted to...

20060083361 - Intelligently providing dialup access numbers using an automated voice response system: A method for an automated voice response system to present access numbers to dial-up Internet users. The automated voice response system can perform the step of establishing a telephony communication with a party responsive to a received telephone call from the party. An indicator a service region within which dial-up...

20060083363 - Interface for providing connection of a switch and a vms using an ip network: An interface for use in a telephone communication system provides for connection of a telephone switch to an IP network, allowing data signals between the telephone switch and a VMS to be transmitted by the IP network. In addition to transmission of the signals over an IP network, the interface...

20060083362 - System for distributing vxml capabilities for execution on client devices: A system for interacting with voice extensible markup language application content includes a content source node connected to a network for rendering availability of voice extensible markup language content and code; a communication device connected to the network for acquiring at least the code rendered available; and a software interface...

20060083364 - Method and system for text-to-speech conversion of caller information: 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...

20060083365 - Voicemail system with subscriber specific storage folders: A method and system are provided for creating and utilizing subscriber specific memory locations or storage folders for storing incoming voicemail messages in a telecommunications system voicemail system. A subscriber to voicemail services creates subscriber or user-specific memory locations or storage folders to which callers may direct a voice message....

20060083366 - Wireless network modification support system and radio network modification support method: A wireless network change support system includes a change setting section, an income prediction section and an expense calculation section. The change setting section sets a change data for changing a setting data based on a status data indicating a status of a wireless network with wireless base stations and...

20060083367 - Transaction capabilities application part message router: Networks, methods, and devices are provided for handling transaction capabilities application part (TCAP) messages. One device embodiment includes a computing device in a communication network having program instructions storable in a memory and executable by a processor. The program instructions receive a protocol identifier from within a transaction capabilities application...

20060083368 - Method for upgrading access equipment in a telecommunications exchange and an upgrade telecommunications exchange: When replacing an old exchange with a new one, one or more of a small unit (board or magazine) of the old exchange is removed at a time, and replaced by new equipment controlled through a different communications channel than the old equipment. This enables reuse of the existing MDF...

20060078092 - System and method for providing a backup-restore solution for active-standby service management systems: The preferred embodiments described herein include a system and method for providing a backup-restore solution for active-standby service management systems. In one embodiment, a telecommunication system is disclosed having first and second service management systems (SMS), a storage device shared by the first and second SMSs and circuitry operative to...

20060078093 - Power and data redundancy in a single wiring closet: Redundancy of data and/or Inline Power in a wired data telecommunications network from a first network device and a second network device configured as power sourcing equipment (PSE) devices and coupled together and to a third network device (such as a PD) via a Y device is provided by providing...

20060078095 - Emergency call handling in a voice-over-packet environment: A method of routing an emergency call received at a network element. The method comprises determining a directory number associated with a communication device having originated the emergency call, consulting a local database to obtain routing information associated with the directory number, and directing the call and the routing information...

20060078094 - Methods and systems for managing a call session: Methods and systems are provided for managing call sessions on public and private networks. The methods and systems operate to receive and send voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communications using a network, such as an IP network. The methods and systems also operate to receive and send emergency information over...

20060078096 - Systems and methods for encapsulation based session initiation protocol through network address translation: Provided are improved SIP communication systems and methods for traversing firewalls, NATs, and ALGs. An encapsulation protocol is used to preserve the original SIP message by encapsulating the original SIP message in visible encapsulation protocol of layers 4+. An encapsulated SIP message is decapsulated after transparently traversing a firewall, NAT,...

20060078097 - Remote call encoder: A system apparatus and method for generating streaming audio content includes an encoder computer for receiving, encoding, and storing audio signals, and a telephonic interface coupled to the encoder computer, the telephonic interface having voice and data inputs. A system further includes a telephone coupled to the encoder computer via...

20060078098 - Answering phone calls: A telephone and methods of operating a telephone are disclosed. The telephone may have a casing, a microphone, a speaker and a memory. The telephone may receive calls through at least one of a wireless or wire line telephone network. The telephone may store a voice print of a user...

20060078099 - Method, apparatus and system for restricted prepaid calling card: A system, method and apparatus for prepaid calling cards, providing prepaid phone system connections between calling parties and called parties, whereas said prepaid calling cards are authorized at a point of purchase and restrictions are created at the point of purchase such that said prepaid calling card cannot be used...

20060078100 - System and method for using a prepaid card: A system and method for transferring money by use of a prepaid card account is disclosed wherein two cards are issued to the user accountholder, one of which is provided to another user, and either user may add value to the prepaid account so that the other user may use...

20060078101 - System and method for obtaining a status of an authorization device over a network: A system and method for determining the status of an authorization device over a network. Output signals indicative of the status of the authorization device are stored in a status file. An authorization datastore accesses the status file over the first network and obtains the status of the authorization device....

20060078102 - Door answering system: A door bell answering system for a dwelling includes an internally disposed answering device which has a housing, a control member capable of at least storing and playing an audio message, a speaker for broadcasting the audio message and a predetermined plurality of function keys manually operable from an exterior...

20060078103 - System and method for determining the status of a telephone in a packet switched network: A system and method for determining the status of a telephone in a packet switched network. The system and method provides for the telephone status to be determined by a status monitoring device or, where the network is a cable network and the equipment comprises a telephone, by a subscriber...

20060078104 - Method and system for providing calling name identification requery: A method for determining the name of a calling party where the calling party's name and corresponding telephone number are found in a remote database. The method first identifies whether the calling party's telephone number is contained within the local database. When it is determined that the telephone number is...

20060078105 - Telephone system with emergency override for caller to bypass telephone answering device and cause phone of called party to ring: A telephone system allowing a caller whose call is intercepted by a telephone answering machine (TAD) to hear an alternate outgoing message from the TAD with instructions allowing the caller, who feels his/her call is an emergency, to override the TAD and cause the user's phone to ring anyway. This...

20060078106 - Self-dialing telephone directory: An apparatus intended for the elderly, handicapped, or very young, for automatically storing and dialing telephone numbers based on the selected page of an attached telephone directory. The telephone directory pages accommodate photos, names, or other memory cue information. The directory pages also incorporate specialized markers to uniquely identify each...

20060072707 - Method and apparatus for determining impact of faults on network service: A method and apparatus is provided for reporting the impact on services in a network caused by node and network faults or outages. As a method, the operator of a specified network device is provided with notice of the impact of a network fault on one or more services running...

20060072708 - Test system for assessing dsl capability of telephone lines: A system and method for performing DSL assessments of a telephone line along a prescribed test path is disclosed. The disclosed system includes a loop diagnostic test unit adapted for testing said telephone line using narrow-band and mid-band frequency test signals; a test system controller and a test system server...

20060072709 - Multi-protocol, multi-interface communications device testing system: A multi-protocol, multi-interface communications device testing system is disclosed. The system simultaneously controls communication channels of a communications platform though multiple Interface Protocols, such as TDM, IP and Telephony Application Program Interfaces. The system also allows the creation of multi Interface Protocol Test Scenarios, and displays the results of executing...

20060072710 - Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing emergency information: Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing emergency information. Methods include providing emergency information to a requestor including receiving a request from the requestor requesting emergency information. An automatic number identification (ANI) is determined in response to the request and a database accessed. The emergency information is retrieved from...

20060072711 - Network based voice mail with call screening: Embodiments of the present invention provide a network based voice mail system that includes advantages of traditional answering machines. When a call comes in that is not answered, a Remote Answering Device may pick up after a preselected number of rings and play a prerecorded greeting that is stored locally...

20060072712 - Telephone system having message recording function: A telephone system having a message recording function includes a message receiving system that is connectable to a calling station to the telephone system through a telephone line and receives a message transmitted from the calling station through the telephone line, a message storage in which the message received by...

20060072713 - Method for sending telephone message tag from calling party to recipient: A method and apparatus is provided for enabling a telephone caller to generate a brief message for transmission to an intended call recipient, as part of the initial procedure of setting up a phone call between the caller and recipient. The message is sent and displayed or otherwise made available...

20060072715 - Greetings based on presence status: A voice message system utilizes presence status information obtained from a presence server in playing inbox greeting to incoming callers. The presence status can indicate the actual presence or availability of the called user and is thus dynamic in nature. By using a voice message system to reflect and relay...

20060072714 - Integrated voice record and playback systems having indicator for the presence of new recorded audio messages: Integrated voice record and playback systems having indicator for the presence of new recorded audio messages. The voice record and playback integrated circuits include circuitry for the sensing of the recording of a new message and the generation of a pulsing signal which can be used to pulse an external...

20060072716 - Downloadable and controllable music-on-hold: A method is disclosed that enables a telecommunications terminal user who is on hold during a call to determine which audio segments, such as musical compositions, are to be played, without some of the costs, disadvantages, and limitations of techniques in the prior art. The illustrative embodiment of the present...

20060072718 - Method for exchanging messages between an end subscriber and a text message server and a telecommunication network and service computer for this: The invention relates to a method for exchanging messages between an end subscriber and a text message server in a telecommunication network via even a conventional telephone device, which is connected to the text message server via a gateway with browser, which has means for voice recognition and for converting...

20060072717 - Systems and methods of adding attachments to voice calls over a circuit-based network: Systems and methods are disclosed for adding attachments to voice calls. A communication system for the invention includes a file server and a switching system of a circuit-based network. During a voice call connected between a first station and a second station over the circuit-based network, the switching system detects...

20060072719 - Audio caller identification: 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...

20060072721 - Mobile messaging system and method: Systems and methods are provided for messaging with mobile devices (e.g., cellular phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs)) and, more particularly, to systems and methods for messaging multiple media with mobile devices....

20060072720 - Presence enhanced outcalling: An outcalling system considers subscriber presence information in determining when to initiate attempts to deliver messages to the subscriber. The subscriber presence state may provide insight into the likelihood of successful message delivery. The outcalling system may decide to initiate or may forgo initiation of a delivery attempt based in...

20060072722 - System and method for optimizing digital subscriber line based services: A method is provided that can be used for modifying a control parameter associated with a digital subscriber line (DSL) service. Initially, a real-time performance parameter is received from a first termination unit that is coupled to an DSL circuit. The real-time performance parameter is measured at the termination unit...

20060072723 - Method and system for managing folders of email accounts and voice messages: A system for managing access to folders of an email account so that some folders can be viewed by Internet users other than the email account owner. One way of access is simply by typing an Internet address in an Internet browser. Contents can also be posted by any Internet...

20060072724 - Sponsored information distribution method and apparatus: A database having information sought by a consumer, a database containing consumer attributes, and a database of advertising messages are made responsive to telephone calls placed to an interactive voice response (IVR) system. Alternatively, the databases can be linked to a web site responsive to consumer input. Either system can...

20060072725 - Method and apparatus for processing routing requests: The invention provides a method and apparatus for communication and provision of routing address information. The prior owner of a called telephone number is referred to herein as a “prior subscriber”. When a number is released by a prior subscriber, it is placed into a database referred to as the...

20060072726 - Wireless device to manage cross-network telecommunication services: A communication remote control system allows a user to remotely configure call management functions across various phone networks using a client device. The communication remote control system centrally handles call management for the user's telephones. The communication remote control system may provide a centralized address book, call log, and voicemail....

20060072727 - System and method of using speech recognition at call centers to improve their efficiency and customer satisfaction: Disclosed is a method, system and computer program for handing over a communication from a first party to a second party. The method comprises the steps of analyzing an audio communication with said first party for quality; and transcribing to text said audio communication with either a speech recognition function...

20060072728 - Dynamic routing for a telephone conference call: A method and system are disclosed to provide a conference among conference participants over a communication network. A routing system receives conference utilization data from a plurality of conference systems. The routing system receives a request to join the conference from one of the conference participants. The routing system processes...

20060072729 - Internet conference call bridge management system: The invention pertains to an Internet conference call bridge management (ICCBM) system and method with which a person (customer) having access to the Internet may efficiently input the contact number of at least one party (call recipient) with whom the customer wants to speak. The ICCBM system then calls the...

20060072730 - Systems and methods of changing attributes of voice calls over a circuit-based network: Systems and methods are disclosed for changing attributes of voice calls. During a voice call over a connection of a circuit-based network between a first station and a second station through a switching system, the switching system receives audio from the first station. The switching system also detects a code...

20060072731 - Selective telephony functions: Method and system for reachability via time controls to a selective register. This is achieved by the fact that the identity of the calling number from other subscribers to the first subscriber, that via time controls are permitted to be forwarded to a register that corresponds to the identity of...

20060072732 - Next-generation network that reduces the effect of a service failure: A next-generation network utilizes a three-tier, cascading fault approach to providing emergency stand-alone (ESA) switching in a circuit-to-packet (C2P) network. Calls that are placed to destination numbers which are connected to the same local network device are completed even when connectivity with a community network level has been interrupted, while...

20060072733 - System and method for merchant contact and lead management: A system is used with advertisements or merchant listings that include promotional phone numbers associated with particular merchants. The system includes a database of associations between phone numbers for the particular merchants and their promotional phone numbers. A call tracker is provided that includes a telephone interface that receives calls...

20060072734 - System and method for preferred provider services in an enhanced directory assistance system: An enhanced directory assistance system includes a directory assistance platform configured to receive calls from at least one requester seeking a listing and a listing database, coupled to the directory assistance platform configured to store a plurality of listings. At least one listing has a preferred status. When the requester...

20060072735 - Increasing the level of automation when establishing and managing network connections: Increasing the level of automation when establishing and managing network connections. A connection manager operates between system level APIs and application programs, providing a level of abstraction. When a user wishes to access a remote resource included in destination network, the user simply identifies the remote resource and the connection...

20060072736 - Key to correlate a call with call-handling information: A telecommunication call center handles a call from a telecommunication network. The call center comprises a call center processor and a call center destination system. The call center processor receives and processes a message from the telecommunication network for the call to select a route code and to select a...

20060072737 - Dynamic load balancing between multiple locations with different telephony system: An allocation component allocates its received calls among a plurality of telephony systems including a first telephony system and a second telephony system. A first routing protocol (RP) component distributes those of the calls allocated to the first telephony system among a first plurality of call center sites. A second...

20060072738 - Dialoguing rational agent, intelligent dialoguing system using this agent, method of controlling an intelligent dialogue, and program for using it: A rational agent includes interpretation means to transform events translating a communication activity of an external agent into incoming formal records, a rational unit producing outgoing formal records as a function of the incoming formal records and a behavioral model of the rational agent, and outgoing events generation means transforming...

20060072739 - Method and system for assessing and deploying personnel for roles in a contact center: Improving the deployment of human resources in a work environment and particularly in a contact center environment. Agents working in a contact center are given different assignments based on their skills and proficiencies. Conventional contact centers typically use a static skills resume to evaluate their agents for particular roles. The...

20060072740 - Selective analog signal sensing from a plurality of integrated circuits using a common node: A first integrated circuit generates one or more control signals to couple a select one of a plurality of nodes of a plurality of second integrated circuits to a common input node for the first integrated circuit. The first integrated circuit senses an analog signal at the common input node...

20060072741 - Method and system for providing dc power on local telephone lines: A system for providing DC power on local telephone lines, such as telephone lines in a building or office, for powering devices and circuitry associated with communications over those telephone lines, as well as other functions. Desired voltage and power levels are supplied over local telephone lines by separating the...

20060072742 - Magnetic hook switch: A telephone magnetic hook switch board mounted within a handset cradle of the communications device. The device magnetic circuits place the communications station on-hook or off-hook, depending on the amount of ambient magnetic flux. The magnetic flux varies with the presence or absence of a handset in the cradle. If...