Abstract: A system and method employed in a call center provide a memory structure for use in maintaining a call queue including data representing a plurality of calls to be serviced, and the data is structured so as to represent an order in which the plurality of calls are to be serviced. The call queue data further indicates whether each call is to be handled as an inbound or an outbound call. When an incoming call is received by the call center and no service representative is currently available to service the call, the caller is prompted to elect to either wait on-line for a next available service representative or to disconnect the call and receive a call back at a later time. An aspect of this technology is that the caller does not lose his or her place in the queue and is not stuck on hold.

Abstract: An online and offline communication processing and tracking using data processing and data/voice networks is described. A phone address from a phone address number pool is automatically assigned to a first entity. A call quality rating is determined and recorded. A call from a caller directed to the phone address is received at a call bridging system coupled to at least one network, wherein the call is associated with call signaling information. Based at least in part on the call quality associated with the caller call, the caller call is assigned to a first location in a call queue. An outbound call is generated from the call bridging system and the inbound and the outbound calls are bridged. One or more parameters of the bridged call are compared to the call quality rating. An indication is recorded regarding the successful bridging of the calls in association with an entity identifier.

Abstract: The collect cellular call identifies the cellular telephone carrier and called party cell phone. After determining whether the carrier and phone accept message service charges (SMS), a voice response module seeks positive authorization from the called party with the telephone. If positive, the system facilitates a connection between the calling party and the called party and initiates a predetermined billing charge assigned to the cellular telephone number. If the carrier or the cell phone is not enabled or if no authorization is obtained from the called party, the system facilitates a denial of completion signal. A timer monitors the length of the collect cellular call. Databases are accessed to locate the carrier and called cell phone number approved list of numbers and deny service list of numbers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in processing disconnected emergency calls and other communications involving mobile communication devices, as well as the remote monitoring of such mobile communication devices, are disclosed. In one illustrative example, an emergency call with a public safety answering point entity is established by a mobile communication device via a wireless communication network. If the emergency call is disconnected, the mobile device monitors to receive an incoming call message for a continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity. In response to receiving such incoming call message, the mobile device refrains from producing an audible alert and automatically answers the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity without detecting any manual answer signal via its user interface. In one specific approach, the mobile device answers the call automatically if the incoming call message is received within a time period following the disconnection and a data indication of the incoming call message indicates that the message is for the continued emergency call or automatic answering. Otherwise, if the incoming call message is received outside of the time period following the disconnection, or if the data indication fails to indicate that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or the automatic answering, the mobile device refrains from automatically answering the call associated with the incoming call message.

Abstract: An intelligent interactive call handling system is provided that typically includes a central office, a call-handling device, and an internet call routing system. The central office typically triggers a query responsive to receiving a call request. The call-handling device is coupled to the central office, receives the query, and triggers an internet call routing query. The internet call routing system, which is coupled to the call-handling device, typically receives the internet call routing query, determines presence of the called party with respect to at least one registered communication device, sends a prompt to the called party at said at least one registered communication device responsive to the presence determination, receives a reply from said at least one registered communication device, and routes the call responsive to the reply. Methods and other systems are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing call continuity in a wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a first communication unit for setting a call with a counterpart terminal in a first network, a second communication unit for setting a call with the counterpart terminal in a second network while the call is set in the first network, and a control unit for terminating the call of the first network after the call setup is completed in the second network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to a mobile telephony device that is roaming outside of its native service area make use of a forwarding termination service. The forwarding termination service causes the native mobile telephony service provider that provides service to the mobile telephony device to forward incoming telephony communications directed the native telephone number of the mobile telephony device to a forwarding access number. The forwarding termination service receives telephony communications directed to the forwarding access number, and then terminates the telephony communication to the mobile telephony device via any one of multiple different methods. The mobile telephony service provider can be instructed to implement and cancel call forwarding instructions by dialing a special character string on the mobile telephony device.

Abstract: Customer service agents within a communications handling center, such as a contact center handling telephone calls, are assigned to queues. One or more calling agents are also given rights to initiate calls through a manual dialing interface. In certain embodiments, these calling agents dial a telephone number by clicking a mouse on a designated button on a computer display. When a call is placed, if a live party is detected, the call will be routed to the next available customer service agent in the queue. As calls are initiated, the calling agent will see the number of calls connected and routed to customer service agents increase, and can compare this number to the total number of customer service agents available. By manually clicking to dial, the calling agent can manually place calls at a pace that will keep customer service agent occupancy at a maximum, without overflowing the queue.

Abstract: Management of a call between a calling party that is a mobile terminal in a first cellular network and a called party that is a mobile terminal in a second cellular network is provided by: receiving at an Application Server, AS, of the first cellular network a request to establish a call with the called party from the calling party, the called party being identified in the indication by a circuit-switched identifier; identifying a registration for the called party in the first cellular network using the circuit-switched identifier for the called party, the registration providing a packet-switched identifier for the called party; and setting up a call between the calling party and the called party of the first cellular network by initiating a packet-switched connection from the AS in the first cellular network to the called party in the second cellular network using the packet-switched identifier for the called party.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to perform call screening in a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network are disclosed. Disclosed example methods include receiving a call screening termination message at a feature server of an Internet protocol multimedia subsystem, initiating a communication session between a first user device operable with the Internet protocol multimedia subsystem and a second user device operable with the Internet protocol multimedia subsystem in response to the call screening termination message, the first and second user devices being involved in a call screening session, and releasing a signaling resource of a messaging server, the signaling resource having been used in the call screening session.

Abstract: A technique for managing simultaneous incoming and outgoing calls between the same far-end called terminal and far-end calling terminal and/or same user associated with a far-end called terminal and user associated with the far-end calling terminal includes an easy call abandon facility on a near-end terminal configured to compare information associated with an outgoing call to information associated with an incoming call. The easy call abandon facility is configured to initiate an audible or visible indicator when the terminal and/or user of the far-end called party is the same as that of the far-end calling party. In response to an easy call abandon indication received from a near-end terminal user, the easy call abandon facility disconnects the call from the near-end and connects the call received from the far-end terminal.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for announcing a calling party from a communication device. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing system can have a controller for processing calls in a communication system. The controller can be programmed to detect an incoming call initiated by a third party communication device over a first voice channel, transmit to a communication device over a control channel a notification signal associated with the incoming call, detect a connection made by the communication device to a second voice channel, transmit to the communication device over the second voice channel audio signals that identify a calling party, and link the first and second voice channels upon detecting over the control channel a call acceptance action by the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for routing incoming customer service requests directly to the most appropriate destination within a call center without requiring customer knowledge of a specific telephone number or extension to call and without requiring the customer to select from a series of menus. The receiving location or inbound call center accepts a voice call from a customer. The incoming voice call includes an associated data stream. This data stream is processed by the inbound call center and is used to route the call to the appropriate destination or customer service representative, for example a specific person, a department, a subsidiary, an individual either working within a facility or working outside the facility, a subcontractor and combinations thereof. Additional functionality is provided by including additional data, e.g. data in addition to routing data, along with voice data.

Abstract: The invention relates to telephone communication, in particular to methods for notification of the called subscriber in the communication networks, namely in the absence of the calling party's valid credit account, and can be used in existing mobile telecommunications systems, including GSM, 3 GSM, 3G, CDMA, WCDMA, and others. In the method each subscriber of the network is provided with an opportunity to get network access for outgoing calls, regardless of the status of his/her account, and to accept the call and/or receive the calling subscriber's messages without the pre-paid credit account. The calling subscriber dials the phone number of the called subscriber; the operator of the calling subscriber determines his solvency; upon initiation of a call by the calling subscriber, who does not have a valid credit account, for its transmission to the called subscriber the outgoing call is directed through the operator serving the calling subscriber to a forwarding and controlling server and at its command disconnects the calling subscriber. The forwarding and controlling server processes the obtained information and forms a transit call, by the transit call through the operator serving the calling subscriber is transferred an outgoing call to the operator's network serving the called subscriber as an information call, notifying of the missed call. A notification about the missed call is created for the called subscriber, providing information about the calling subscriber, and the information call is disconnected after its receipt by the called subscriber. The result, obtained by means of the claimed method, consists in increasing the reliability and ease of communication between subscribers in an irregular situation, namely upon insolvency of the calling subscriber.

Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to demonstrate that call termination is not one side of a two‐sided market and that a “waterbed effect” does not exist for calling‐party's‐network‐pays (CPNP) markets where mobile termination rates are being reduced towards the cost of an efficient operator.Design/methodology/approach – The cases of Namibia, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Botswana are investigated and the impact of cost‐based termination rates on subscriber numbers, investment and profits of dominant operators is analysed.Findings – In Kenya, the reduction in mobile termination rates in August 2010 led to an immediate reduction in retail prices, allowing smaller operators to compete with dominant operators. In Namibia, lower retail prices led to an expansion of the market, which, in turn, led to higher investment and profits for the dominant operator. On the strength of the most recent empirical evidence from Africa, the paper shows that cost‐based mobile termination rates increase competition between operators...

Abstract: A system and method of authenticating a calling party to a remote service, including receiving a request via a communications network to approve a future call to the remote service using a calling identifier associated with the calling party, recording an approval of the future call subject to the future call being made within a predetermined period of time, the remote service receiving a call at a point in time using a calling identifier, determining if a call at that point in time using the received calling identifier is recorded as approved by the authentication system, and, if so, the remote service accepting the call and using the approval of the authentication system to authenticate the calling party.

Abstract: A system, method and mobile device for initiating a voice call from the mobile device is provided. An expiration time is determined based on a time reference synchronized with a mobile call server. The mobile device transmits to the mobile call server a session initiation protocol (SIP) call initiation request including a destination number and the expiration time. A second call initiation request to a secondary contact number is initiated to establish the voice call to the destination number, when a response to the SIP call initiation request is not received from the mobile call server prior to the expiration time enabling reliable establishment of the voice call when the first attempt is unsuccessful. The mobile device does not have to wait on the mobile call server to determine a call failure and ensure that subsequent call initiation by the mobile device does not result in a call establishment collision with the mobile call server.

Abstract: A method for performing elective call termination to a mobile unit is provided. A call request is received a mobile unit. If the mobile unit is in a vehicle and traveling at a speed greater than a speed threshold and is driving the car, selective call termination is provided. The call request is screened by playing an announcement to the caller that the intended call recipient is a mobile phone that is currently being used by the driver of a cat travelling at a speed greater than a speed threshold. The caller can then decide if the call is important enough to distract the driver, which could be the case, for example, in an emergency situation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the trustworthiness of calling party information, such as caller ID and ANI information, contained in a call request are provided. The method includes receiving a call request at a service provider network element, such as a telecommunication carrier switch. A decision is made as to whether the call request should be verified by reviewing a database of called telephone numbers for monitoring. When the call request is to be verified, a determination is made whether a discrepancy exists between the calling party information contained within the call request and authenticated stored calling party information. For example, the caller ID information in a call request is compared to service provider caller ID information for the calling party to determine if they match. When a discrepancy exists, a discrepancy report is transmitted to the called party.

Abstract: Network nodes for an access network and a home network of a first UE are described for use when routing an originating call from the first UE in the access network including an IMS network A network node receives a SIP INVITE message associated with the originating call from the first UE, and including a called party number associated with the call It determines whether the first UE is visiting the access network and whether the called party number is associated with the access network A query to a database is performed, the database comprising a plurality of called party numbers, as to whether the called party number is allowable for use in the access network when the UE is visiting and when the called party number is associated with the access network Instructing the home network to route the originating call to the access network when a response from the query indicates the called party number is allowable for use in the access network The home network receives the instruction and routes the originating call to the access network for further processing

Abstract: A control circuit, during a multi-party conference call, provides a menu-based opportunity to a user to select at least one call-based action as regards individual parties to the multi-party conference call. This menu-based opportunity can comprise a user-selectable opportunity-selection zone on a touch-screen display. By one approach the call-based action can comprise an opportunity to selectively drop a particular party to the multi-party conference call. By another approach, in combination with the foregoing or in lieu thereof, the call-based action can comprise an opportunity to selectively split a particular party to the multi-party conference call away from the conference call to another call (such as, but not limited to, a held call).

Abstract: A call center maintains various pools of telephone numbers, where each telephone number pool comprises a plurality of telephone numbers in a geographic area. A call originating to a called number uses a calling telephone number that is selected from one of a plurality of telephone number pools based on the area designated by the called number. An index value is used to select the telephone number from the selected telephone number pool. The selected telephone number is used to as a calling telephone number when originating a call to the called party.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing called party data to a subscriber of a call forwarding system via at least one mobile network. In one embodiment, the method includes processing an incoming call to a subscriber device of a call forwarding system, identifying a calling number and a called number of the incoming call, wherein the called number corresponds with a call forwarding number of the subscriber device, accessing called party data that is associated with the called number, and communicating the called party data to the subscriber device.

Abstract: A method and system for implementing a multimedia call are provided. The method includes: after receiving a calling request from a VoIP client, a calling controller transmitting the calling request to an application server; the application server acquiring rate options of calling respective called numbers by the VoIP client and returning the rate options to the calling controller, wherein the respective called numbers comprise one or multiple numbers registered by and/or bound with a called party of the calling request; the calling controller transmitting the rate options to the VoIP client, and suspending call handling of the calling request; and, after receiving a rate option selected by the VoIP terminal among the rate options, the calling controller transmitting the rate option selected by the VoIP terminal to the application server, resuming the call handling, and connecting a call between the VoIP client and a called terminal of a called number corresponding to the rate option selected. The disclosure shows the rate of the call before connecting the call, thereby improving user experience.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for providing telephone number sharing services to subscribers over public switched telephone network or data network. The disclosed system maintains a bank of reusable caller identifiers (IDs). The system receives call details of a call from a subscriber of the system. The call details include a caller identifier (ID) preference of the subscriber and a called number corresponding to the called party. The system stores the call details in a database. The system determines whether the call from the subscriber is a first call to the called number. In response to the call being the first call to the called number, the system assigns a call ID from the bank of reusable caller IDs that satisfies the reusable caller ID preference of the subscriber, and connects the call to the called number along with the caller ID.

Abstract: An IP telephony system allows a calling party to provide a message that is played to the called party before the called party is connected to the calling party. The message can provide information about the call that helps the called party decide whether to answer the call. In some instances, information provided by the calling party can be used by the IP telephony system to automatically determine how to the handle the call.

Abstract: A call center maintains various pools of telephone numbers, where each telephone number pool comprises a plurality of telephone numbers in a geographic area. A call originating to a called number uses a calling telephone number that is selected from one of a plurality of telephone number pools based on the area designated by the called number. An index value is used to select the telephone number from the selected telephone number pool. The selected telephone number is used to as a calling telephone number when originating a call to the called party.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for selecting a first telephone number associated with an account for a targeted party and dialing the first telephone number to place an outbound call to the party. Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the first telephone number may be dialed to place a subsequent call after a first predetermined period of time as a result of detecting a busy signal for the initial call. Likewise, in particular embodiments, the first telephone number may be dialed to place a subsequent call after a second predetermined period of time as a result of detecting an automated answering device for the initial call. Furthermore, in particular embodiments, a second telephone number associated with the account for the party may be selected and dialed to place a subsequent call as a result of detecting a no-answer condition for the initial call.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention enable and facilitate radio aceess technology based call control. For example, a method for call control is described. A call request that includes a call number is received. A call type of the call request is identified based on the call number. A radio access technology associated with the call number and the call type is determined. A call is performed using the radio access technology associated with the call number and the call type. In some instances, embodiments can be used for emergency type calls. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.