At+t Corp.

AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP

Bell Telephone Laboratories

Blake Lane Wattenbarger

Robert Sayko

Thomas Michael Bauer

Charles David Caldwell

Walter H Hawkins

Jac P Dowens

Amy J Rupert

A method and system allows multiple and simultaneous use of a pre-paid calling card. A call management system allows for the completion of multiple calls under one pre-paid calling card account number. Depending on the number of concurrent users, a billing system assigns a portion of the total number of available service units to individualized user accounts. The individualized accounts are debited according to the rate charges for each of the calls and are initially assigned an account balance that allows all concurrent users with the same amount of talk time.

Method and system for allowing simultaneous usage of prepaid services

The invention provides a telecommunication relay device that relays communication from a first party to at least one second party. The first party and the second party may use terminals of different types such as telephone stations, text telephones, two-way pagers, personal digital assistants with communication capabilities, data network terminals, etc. The telecommunication relay device converts text received from text terminals into voice for voice terminals and converts voice to text and vice versa. The telecommunication relay device also permits the first party to leave messages for other parties. For example, the first party may send an e-mail message using a telephone station or receive an e-mail using a telephone station. In addition, the telecommunication relay device may open a private chat room to allow communication between data network terminals and telephone stations, for example. The telecommunication relay device may also provide conferencing capability where the conferees may use different type terminals.

Method and apparatus for relaying communication

A voice-directed telephone dialing method and system is provided for automatically accessing a directory assistance service for obtaining a telephone number for a spoken voice label that is not contained within a subscriber's personal telephone list. Upon retrieval of the desired telephone number, the subscriber is prompted for adding the new number to the personal list.

Voice-directed telephone directory with voice access to directory

The loudness of a telephone set ringer is controlled by audible ambient noise in the vicinity of the telephone set to match the ringer intensity level to the ambient noise level. During an on-hook state of the telephone set, the transmitting microphone is utilized to detect the ambient noise which is then utilized to control the loudness of the ringer. In one illustrative embodiment, ring bursts which contribute to the ambient noise level cause build-up of ringer intensity starting at a level appropriate to the initial ambient noise level. In another embodiment, noise detection is terminated when the set is rung to maintain ringer intensity at the same level.

Growing community of inventors

Fair Haven, NJ, United States of America

Blake Lane Wattenbarger