145results about "Existing connections interruption" patented technology

A method for determining the security level associated with transmissions in a telecommunications network includes means for alerting parties of the security status of the transmission. When a route interconnecting the parties includes an insecure link, an alert is provided so that the parties are aware of the insecure nature of the call before communications begin. Alternatively, the parties may elect to decline or alter content of the communications to preserve integrity.

In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.

A method and system for call management is provided. In a system embodiment a call manager server is provided that can managing incoming call requests from certain telephony devices and effect connections to other telephony devices based on those incoming call requests. The call manager server can also maintain a policy that defines permissions as to whether certain telephony devices can request interruption of an ongoing phone call at a destination telephony device.

A residential private branch exchange (PBX) allowing IP telephones, analog telephones and computers to connect to an IP communication network. A broadband residential gateway (BRG) PBX provides residences with multiple phone lines capability and the implementation of complex calling features traditionally associated with complex and expensive business PBX systems. The BRG PBX provides an open architecture interface minimizing problems during installation and operation, minimizes interoperability problems across multi-vendor equipment platforms and may provide customers with an option to bypass the local telephone company's high cost infrastructure. The BRG PBX may also provide a range of services from basic calling with few features to highly sophisticated calling features servicing multiple phone lines to the residence. The BRG PBX may be configured to connect multiple BRG PBX systems together in a Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN) configuration. These network configurations may be implemented to connect neighborhoods or families across multiple geographic regions. In addition to having the capability of connecting to each other, the BRG PBXs may be connected to IP Central Stations forming an IP communication network.

The present invention, which meets the needs identified above, is an apparatus and method of controlling a conference call using an improvement on the conference calling center's computer software. The control program allows the host of a conference call to selectively control the dissemination of information between conference call participants. The control program allows the host to designate other hosts, create private meetings among conference call participants, mute any number of participants in relation to each other, or completely exclude participants. The participants may also send messages to other participants or the host using the present invention. A control screen is disclosed that allows the user to direct the flow of information among participants. A connection screen is also disclosed to further assist the host in determining the appropriate flow of information between participants.

The present invention comprises a method for audio / video conferencing. In a preferred embodiment, the method comprises using a dynamic threshold value to determine whether there is speech on a line. One aspect, the method comprises determining a dynamic threshold value based on one or more characteristics of signals received on a port, associating that dynamic threshold value with the port; and comparing one or more characteristics of signals subsequently received on the port to the dynamic threshold value. Signals received over a plurality of ports are summed, but for ports whose signal characteristics have a specified relationship to the dynamic threshold value associated with that port, signals are not contained in the sum.

A conferencing system includes a number of devices that can participate in an audio conference using a conference bridge. Responding to a human or automated conference administrator, the bridge determines that audio content of media from a particular device is undesirable, and disables media from the particular device. If appropriate, the device receives prompts to rejoin the conference at a later time.

Method and adapter apparatus for securing information exchanged between a calling party and a called party. A first signal is generated, which is representative of an analog probe signal. The first signal is released towards the called party. Responsive to receipt from the called party of a second signal responsive to the analog probe signal and indicative of an ability of the called party to participate in a secure information exchange, negotiations are performed with the called party to securely exchange subsequent information with the called party. In this way, the adapter apparatus can securely exchange information without prior knowledge of whether the called party is secure-capable or secure-incapable and without prior knowledge of whether the called party is a POTS phone or a packet-switched device.

Disclosed are systems and methods that provide centralized or nodal inmate management and telephone call processing capabilities to controlled environment facilities. An inmate management and call processing system serves a plurality of facilities and includes an inmate information database. The database is shared across the facilities and contains inmate records that may be accessed and modified by each facility as the inmate is transferred among those facilities. Each inmate record may include, among other information, contact information of third parties whom may be notified of the inmate's arrest and / or subsequent transfers of the inmate to different facilities. The inmate management and telephone call processing system may use third party contact information to establish accounts used to charge calls or transactions made by an inmate while residing at the facility. Some systems may also provide call processing, video conferencing, e-mail, voicemail, and / or videomail applications, and the like to the facilities.

A modem (34, 40) at a customer premises (14, 38) and a switch at an exchange (12, 50) are modified to allow a data session (102, 202) supported on a dedicated wireline communication resource (16) to be optionally terminated (110), but preferably suspended (114, 218), upon detection of a subsequently placed voice call (104, 204) on the dedicated wireline communication resource (16). Before termination of a data session, a user either selects a termination option or is provided with an in-call option to terminate the data session, with the voice call then switched (122) to the dedicated wireline communication resource (16). The data session is therefore cleared down rather than lost through connection corruption. Alternatively, the modem (34, 40) and the exchange (50) interact to silence modem transmissions therebetween, whilst retaining a data connection (20) between the exchange (12, 50) and an end-point data service provider (ISP, 18). Assuming acceptance (128, 228) of the voice call and its subsequent termination, the modem (34, 40) and the exchange (12, 50) again interact (134, 236) to re-establish (136, 238) the data session across the dedicated wireline communication resource (16). Re-training (138, 238) of modems involved in the data session is required, but suspension of a sector in an end-to-end physical link avoids re-dialing and any associated connection costs.

A method and apparatus for managing subscription-type arrangements involving a recurring series of messages sent to a plurality of user recipients on a communications network is disclosed. Incoming messages are monitored by a filtering agent, and message attributes are compared to corresponding parameters stored in a database to block certain messages from unauthorized sources and forward authorized messages to an addressee. Provisions are made for a communications service provider to create special arrangements with commercial partners to facilitate the starting, modification, and canceling of subscription arrangements. Individual user recipients can independently contact the commercial partners, third-party commercial entities, individual or groups to establish a subscription-type arrangement. Various forms and procedures enable a subscription manager component to keep track of all such arrangements in the database.

The present invention provides a system and method for managing calls for a subscriber, including accessing a calling plan while the subscriber is in an existing active call with at least one other party. The call is placed or received by the subscriber at a first device. At least one service feature of the calling plan is invoked during the active call. This service feature includes an add callers feature for adding at least one additional party to the existing active call between the subscriber and the other party. The service feature additionally includes a transfer devices feature for transferring the existing active call to at least one additional device of the subscriber and hanging up on the first device by the subscriber to confirm the transfer of the call to the additional device.

According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a communication method comprising the steps of making a determination in respect of at least initiating a first call between first and second communication devices having first and second contact numbers respectively; said making the determination comprising identifying at least one of the first and second contact numbers associated with said initiating, accessing a database comprising at least a first monitored contact number and at least one associated third party number corresponding to a third communication device, determining whether or not at least one of a first contact number and the second contact number match the first monitored contact number; and establishing, in response to the determination, a third party call to the third communication device.

A system to allow a conferee defined as a nuisance source to respond to an automatic nuisance decision of a Multipoint Control Unit is disclosed. For example, a conferee placing a conference on hold may generate on hold music, which may be identified by a nuisance detector. The nuisance detector sends an indication of the nuisance condition to a control unit in the MCU. The control unit mutes the signal coming from this conferee and sends an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) message to the conferee. The message may inform the conferee that he has been muted and requests the conferee for example to press one of a plurality of touch tone keys depending on his situation. For instance, the conferee can select particular keys if he is returning from the hold condition, if he is experiencing a noisy line / environment and needs to reduce the sensitivity of the nuisance detector algorithm, or if he wishes to disable the nuisance detector algorithm.