摘要:
An Internet switch box connects between a telephone set and a public switched telephone network (PSTN) line, the latter of which is used both for PSTN telephone conversations and for connection to an Internet service provider (ISP). The switch box contains hardware and embedded software for establishing a connection to an ISP and for Internet telephone. When two users, each having an Internet switch box connected to the telephone set, wish to have an Internet telephone conversation, one calls the other over the PSTN. When they agree to an Internet telephone conversation, they signal their Internet switch boxes, by pressing either buttons on the switch boxes or certain keys on the telephone keypads, to switch to Internet telephone. The switch boxes disconnect the PSTN call and connect to their ISPs. Once the switch boxes are on the Internet, they contact each other through a server which supplies Internet protocol (IP) addresses of switch boxes, and the users continue their conversation by Internet telephone. The users can also prearrange to call each other solely by Internet telephone, in which case they do not need to talk to each other over the PSTN.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for arranging, reporting, and delivering call record information to customers. The communication records of each customer includes call transaction data corresponding to call transaction activity of the customer. The call transaction data is received and matched to a customer. The call transaction data is appropriately formatted, and electronically transmitting the formatted call transaction data to the subscriber, such as via e-mail.
摘要:
An approach for providing an on-line directory assistance service system for charging for directory assistance services that are provided over a packet switched network is disclosed. The system includes a server that tracks the number of directory listings that are transmitted to and displayed on a client access device (e.g., non-PC devices) and to prepare billing information based upon the number of directory listings. The system also includes a database that is coupled to the server and that stores the directory listings.
摘要:
A web/Internet-based Outbound Network Management tool that enables customers of telecommunications network providers to modify outbound access to their virtual networks via a Web/Internet-based graphical user interface. Via a secure Web/Internet-based connection, the tool enables customers to add, create, modify or view their outbound network telecommunications network assets including: calling party numbers, calling cards, virtual network dialing plans, and their Code ID/Set attributes and features associated with their virtual networks.
摘要:
Specialized computer terminals with a telephone, touch screen and magnetic stripe reader are used to access a customer's bill from various locations within a hotel, such as a restaurant and bar. When checking out a customer can review the bill and can be automatically linked to a customer service representative (CSR) over voice and data links. Groupware permits the customer and CSR to cooperatively review the same version of the bill on their respective terminals and resolve any disputes.
摘要:
A number of gateway objects interconnect circuit switched and packet switched networks, such as the telephone network and the Internet, for example to enable telephony communication across the combined networks. A directory object coupled to the packet network provides address translation capability, and the directory object polls or communicates with the gateways to provide an intelligent selection of one of the gateway objects, typically for egress to the telephone network. The system also includes an authorization control object. After gateway selection, a calling terminal attempts communication through the gateway object. The gateway object then queries the authorization control object, which instructs the gateway object to proceed only if the requested communication between the calling terminal and the destination terminal is authorized.
摘要:
An integrated system of user interfaces for communicating with remote services. A backplane architecture controls and manages the user interfaces by instantiating, launching, overseeing and closing the user interfaces associated with a plurality of applications residing in a remote server. Each application communicates with one another and with the backplane via messaging interfaces. The backplane provides a single uniform user authentication procedure during logon for the user interfaces and also provides session management for a duration of a user session. Session information is maintained by exchanging a session key or keys for identifying the session with remote servers.
摘要:
A least cost routing system is disclosed. The routing system includes at least one telephone dialing unit, at least one least cost router and a database updating unit. The telephone dialing unit dials a telephone number to place a telephone call. Each least cost router has a corresponding routing database of tariffs of telephone service providers and determines, from information in its corresponding routing database, which telephone service provider or providers to utilize to execute the telephone call. The database updating unit electronically updates tariff information into each of the routing databases shortly after updated tariff information is entered therein.
摘要:
A purchase authenticating and billing method and system for automatically authenticating customer information and to place charges on customer's telephone bill. The customer authentication and billing information is requested in a computer protocol and converted to a telephone protocol, then a response is generated and the billing information is added to a telephone data base, if authentication occurred successfully.
摘要:
The present invention relates to establishing a communication channel between two communication systems having computer telephony integration (CTI). Many CTI systems are configured into incoming and outgoing lines according to the anticipated demands. Consequently, if sufficient outgoing or incoming capacity is unavailable at a given time to support a communication channel of required characteristics, the users of such a system must conventionally wait until sufficient capacity becomes available. However, the present invention determines who the intended addressee is and can instruct the CTI system associated with that addressee to instigate the establishment of a communication channel to the user who originally desired the connection. The instructions can be sent to the intended addressee using for example, another communication network, such as the Internet or other data communications network. This arrangement also allows the call to be placed in the reverse direction, where this is favourable for tariff reasons. The invention also includes the automatic selection of a telephone network carrier based on tariff data requested over a data network such as the Internet.