At+t Corp.

At&t Bell Laboratories

David G Unger

Kermit Hal Purdy

Bethany Scott Robinson

Karrie Jo Hanson

Martha Desmond

Michael Chris Varley

Daniel Selig Furman

Christine Patricia Peterson

Arthur G Martin

Orlando S King

Anthony D D'Urso

A multimedia call is completed to a mobile user, who registered to receive a multimedia call at a multimedia terminal using a portable intelligent device. A mobile user record including a physical address of a multimedia terminal and a user address is stored. In response to a multimedia call addressed to the user address, the physical address is determined and call notification information is transmitted to the multimedia terminal at the physical address. The multimedia call is then completed to the multimedia terminal at the physical address.

Method and apparatus for personalization of a public multimedia communications terminal

A method and apparatus that provide enhanced directory assistance information. An operator receives a request for directory information about a listed party over a telephone connection. It is then determined if enhanced directory information for the listed party is available in an enhanced information database. The enhanced directory information associated with the listed party is retrieved, from the enhanced information database, as a script that incorporates the enhanced directory information. The enhanced directory information can then be provided using the script. The enhanced directory information can be stored, for example, on a Web server that is updated by the listed party and the information can be transferred using a Phone Markup Language script.

Method and apparatus to provide enhanced directory assistance information in a communication network

An operator receives a request for directory information about a listed party over a telephone connection. It is then determined if enhanced directory information for the listed party is available in an enhanced information database. The enhanced directory information associated with the listed party is retrieved, from the enhanced information database, as a script that incorporates the enhanced directory information. The enhanced directory information can then be provided using the script. The enhanced directory information can be stored, for example, on a Web server that is updated by the listed party and the information can be transferred using a Phone Markup Language script.

A system and method of providing a telephone calling card service including the steps of providing a user with an access number to a telephone network and a personal identification code, prompting the user to input a personal identification code to initiate automatic dialing of at least one pre-selected telephone number associated with the personal identification code, and determining whether a call has been successfully completed to a called party via the pre-selected telephone number. The system may continue dialing pre-selected telephone numbers until a call has been successfully connected. In the alternative, the system may automatically and simultaneously dial all of the pre-selected phone numbers. An arrangement for determining whether an answering machine has answered a call is also provided. To implement the method, a telephone communications apparatus is used including a structure for recording a series of telephone numbers associated with a personal identification code, and a structure for retrieving the telephone numbers associated with the code and automatically dialing the telephone numbers until a call has been successfully completed to an individual.

Telephone calling card and service

A prepaid telephone system having multilingual capabilities is provided in a public switched telephone network. A telephone user buys a predetermined amount of service beforehand and receives a card imprinted with a unique account number. A plurality of toll free access telephone numbers allows the user to access the prepaid telephone system. Each of those telephone numbers causes the prepaid system to interact with the user in the language in which he or she wishes the system to operate. The user is prompted in the chosen language to enter his or her card number. The authenticity of the number and the available credit is determined. If there is a certain minimum amount of credit available, the user is prompted to enter the phone number of a desired party. The user may also dial a speed dialing alias which connects the user to special services including news, weather, travel, translation, and other services. If the user has enough available credit to pay for at least a minimal amount of calling time, the call is completed. A timer is set with an amount of calling time permitted by the available balance. The timer runs during the course of the phone call and the call is disconnected when the timer runs out. If the call is ended prior to the timer running out, a new available balance is computed in light of the time remaining on the timer. The user can make additional phone calls using the new available credit balance.

Growing community of inventors

Mendham Township, NJ, United States of America

David G Unger