At+t Corp.

At&t Intellectual Property I, LP

Jennifer H Chen

Robert Sayko

Douglas M Nortz

Gary A Munson

Paul James Fellingham

Wesley A Brush

Edite M Hanlon

Jerry A Leger

A user's location is automatically transmitted to a network, and the network automatically customizes one or more environments, such as by customizing communication devices, other types of devices, or the like, based on the detected location and on profile information. Customizing an environment may include enabling services, such as setting up a public telephone or hotel telephone with a user's home base telephone settings and/or services, and/or may include disabling functions, such as disabling long-distance service when the user is away from home.

Environment customization based on location

In a communication network that provides a path through a cable IP network between sending and receiving terminals residing on respective networks (e.g., an HFC, and/or PSTN network) controlled by different network managers or service providers, a controller hands off control of service access of the terminals between the service providers. Subscriber terminals may include broadband telephony interfaces, cable modems, or multimedia terminal adapters. To effect hand-off control, configurable modules of the terminals enable them to respond directly to a network manager (e.g., cable modem termination system or call management server) according to instructions supplied by the controller based either on subscriber authorization, database information, call type, dialing plan, and/or other parameters. Transfer of call control may also occur on a call-by-call basis. Further, a usage server collects network usage information of the respective terminals or subscribers to determine user fees between competitive networks.

Method and apparatus for handing off control of service access over a cable IP network

Methods and systems are provided that can automatically facilitate busy line validation (BLV) and emergency interrupt (EI) services with the aid of various sensors and systems that can automatically determine the status of a given phone-line, and further provide a menu of services to a calling party. A calling party that encounters a busy signal during an attempt to call a called party can validate the status of the called line without the intervention of a human operator. If the called line is currently used for a voice conversation, as opposed to a modem or facsimile call, then the calling party can optionally interrupt the ongoing conversation with the permission of the called party.

Methods and systems for call interruption services

This invention provides for intelligent alerting systems that receive a notification, such as an incoming message or the like or indication thereof, or an indication of an abnormal condition, such as a device malfunction, a burglary attempt, or the like and alert end-users via one or more devices, including one or more enhanced performance reproduction devices such as an enhanced television or an enhanced radio. The systems include an intelligent processor that determines whether the one or more enhanced performance reproduction devices are reproducing a performance, and transmits an alert when a performance is being reproduced. The systems may also transmit an alert to other devices, such as pagers, telephones, personal computers, etc. When the notification indicates an abnormal condition, the systems may perform countermeasures, such as turning off a malfunctioning device, calling the police or the like.

Intelligent alerting systems

A communications network includes plural intelligent peripherals, a single announcement management system, a service provisioning platform and plural service control points controlled by corresponding application programs. A method of provisioning a service in the network includes recording an announcement at an intelligent peripheral, receiving an ID number associated with the announcement from the announcement management system at the intelligent peripheral, sending the ID number from the intelligent peripheral through a switch to a service control point, distributing the ID number from the service control point to all other service control points, and distributing the announcement and the ID number from the intelligent peripheral to all other intelligent peripherals.

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Jennifer H Chen