Abstract:
A voice communication occurs between a subscriber terminal and a called party terminal through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or Internet protocol (IP) network. A gateway receives at least one digital voice packet from the subscriber terminal through a local loop, the voice packet including voice data, a context identifier (CID) associated with the voice packet based on a local loop protocol, and no packet header. The gateway maps the CID to a communication session and adds a packet header, which includes routing information based on the mapped CID. The gateway forwards the voice packet to the IP network for routing to the called party terminal based on the packet header. A gateway controller may determine whether to route the call through the PSTN or the IP network based on whether a number of the called party terminal has an associated IP address.
Abstract:
Each of a plurality of remote control devices (70, 72, 74, and 76) receives user-initiated video selections of any of direct broadcast satellite (DBS) channels, digital subscriber line (DSL) video content, and combinations of DBS channels and DSL video content. Based on the selections, each of a plurality one of video processing modules is responsive to a corresponding one of the remote control devices to request any of a DBS channel, DSL video content, and a combination of a DBS signal and DSL video content, and to generate a television signal based thereon. A DBS distribution module (44) simultaneously receives and distributes all DBS channels requested by the video processing modules (50, 52, 54, and 56). A DSL modem receives any DSL video content requested by the video processing modules. A networking module (80) distributes the DSL video content to those of the video processing modules requesting same.
Abstract:
A subscriber dynamically selects an Internet protocol (IP) service provider (20, 22, 24). In response to the selection, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem (12) establishes a switched virtual circuit (SVC) connection from the subscriber (10) to the selected service provider (20, 22, 24) across an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network (16). After the SVC has been established, the modem (12) formats IP data, received from the subscriber (10), into ATM cells. The ATM cells are forwarded from the DSL modem (12), via the SVC, to a router (18) associated with the selected service provider (20, 22, 24). The router (18) formats the ATM cells into IP packets and forwards the IP packets to the selected service provider (20, 22, 24). Thus, the subscriber (10) has a dynamically established connection to the selected service provider (20, 22, 24) that can be used for IP traffic.
Abstract:
A telecommunications service translates an abbreviated dialing code into a toll free number, routes the call to an interexchange carrier, and manages the billing associated with the call. A billing system processes the billing such that a subscriber of the abbreviated dialing code service is billed for the call rather than a calling party.
Abstract:
A centralized recorded announcement unit (120) shared by multiple end offices (130, 150, 170) on a public switched telephone network stores announcements in digital files. When a call is received at a switch (125) and an announcement is required, the announcement is played to the caller by an announcement device (140, 160, 180) if the particular announcement file is stored locally. If the announcement is not stored locally, a request is sent to the centralized recorded announcement unit (120) to retrieve the announcement file and play the announcement to the caller. Both the request and the announcement file are sent via a packed-switched network (128).
Abstract:
A system and method for providing customer activities while in queue allows for one or more customers to interact with one or more customer activities while waiting to speak with a live agent. The customers engage the customer activities while holding in a queue where the customer activities reduce the boredom, frustration, and perceived hold duration associated with holding to speak to a live agent. The customers are offered one or more options of the customer activities to interact with and the system and method monitors the customer’s selections and interaction with the customer activities. As agents become available, each customer is transferred to an agent along with information regarding the customer’s interaction with a selected customer activity. Upon completion of the interaction between the agent and the customer, the customer has the option to return to the selected customer activity and continue interacting with the selected customer activity.
Abstract:
A system for providing termination information for an international telephone number includes a centralized database of terminating characteristics. The system may also include request processing logic that receives an international telephone number from a user. In response to receiving the telephone number, the request processing logic may automatically query the centralized database to obtain information that indicates whether the telephone number uses wireless termination. In response to obtaining the information from the centralized database, the request processing logic may automatically transmit to the user a response that indicates whether the telephone number uses wireless termination. The system may also include a database engine that uses a tree structure of linked nodes to perform a longest matching prefix search on the telephone number in response to the request processing logic querying the centralized database.
Abstract:
Multiple videos in a particular set are distributed for local storage at central offices. Each of the videos is distributed to at least one but not all of the central offices. An order for a selected video from the set is received from a customer served by a first of central offices. If the selected video is not stored by the first central office but is stored by a second of the central offices, the selected video is downloaded from second central office to the first central office, and communicated from the first central office to the customer.
Abstract:
A multi-channel video and data unit comprises a splitter to split a combined data and video service signal into a data service signal and at least one video service signal. A modem and data networking module generates a data networking signal based on the data service signal. A user-initiated video selection is received by each of a plurality of remote control devices. Each of a plurality of video processing modules is responsive to a corresponding one of the remote controls to process the video service signal based on the user-initiated video selection and to generate a corresponding television signal based thereon. Each of a plurality of combiners combines the television signal from a corresponding one of the video processing modules with the data networking signal to form a corresponding combined television and data networking signal.
Abstract:
System for pre-qualifying telephone transmissions line for XDS communication services. The system includes a modem (10), located at the customer premises to be connected . The modem (10) analyzes actual signals to determine the electrical characteristics of the communication channel associated with the customer premises. The modem (10) includes a transmitter (26), receiver (26) and controller (30) to generate test signals and receive responses. The modem (10) then analyzes the data to generate an output value indicative of the electrical characteristics of the communication channel being tested. This output value is then displayed (48) to a user or transmitted over the communication channel to a network. The system thereby eliminates the necessity of dispatching a technician to test the telephone line, and provides more accurate test results than those achievable at the network side of the connection alone.