Siemens Information & Communication Networks, Inc.

Siemens Communications, Inc.

Siemens Corporation

Siemens Enterprise Communications, Inc.

Unify, Inc.

Peggy Marie Stumer

Nissim Ozery

Dennis L Kucmerowski

David Alan Vander Meiden

Richard Frank

Joseph Budziak

Eugene A Wodka

Faramarz F Sahim

Jorge Waimin Siu

Heinz Schmitt

David J Swartz

Charles Goodman

Georg Mayer

Alfons Fartmann

Robert Stampfl

David A VanderMeiden

Walter Hipfinger

Nibal T Aziz

Bruce M Skeldon

Todd Lindley

Henry Wu

An object of the invention is to associate a DID/public or non-DID/private telephone number and/or reachable location information with a SIP Enabled Device. More specifically, an embodiment of the invention is directed to providing an additional data parameter comprising alphanumeric data, as a 'Display_ID' parameter. The parameter includes information including a DID/public telephone number non-DID/private number and/or location information that is specific to the SIP user endpoint and is different from the SIP URI host address/user information (terminal name and/or terminal number). In another embodiment, a first SIP Enabled Device accesses the local Display_ID and includes the Display_ID in a communication request. A second SIP Enabled Device is capable of processing the incoming communication request, extracting the Display_ID parameter, and displaying the Display_ID associated with the first SIP Enabled Device on the text display of the second SIP Enabled Device.

SIP enabled device identification

Devices, systems and methods for transient endpoint location identification are disclosed. The exemplary method may include transmitting a registration request from an endpoint to a server. The server requests a location identification number from the endpoint. The server associates the address of the endpoint with the location identification number provided by the endpoint. When the endpoint contacts emergency personnel, the server provides the location identification number associated with the endpoint, allowing emergency personnel to locate the endpoint.

Systems and methods for location identification of endpoints

A system and apparatus for enabling supplementary service functions, such as group pickup, to be implemented in a communication network having one or more local servers. The group pickup system is adapted to enable one group member to automatically receive or manually pick up another group member's call from anywhere within the network, including outside the local server in a multiserver network. The group pickup system includes an automatic mode unit for enabling the system to pro-actively seek a group member to take a call and a manual mode unit for enabling the system to search for an alerting group member. The system further includes a local connect unit and a remote connect unit to establish local or remote connections to a group member, respectively. A remote search unit enables the system to request a remote search. A queue/dequeue unit is provided for selecting a group member from a group list. A call establishing unit is provided for establishing a connection between the call and the group member and an answer unit is provided to complete the connection. A notification unit may be provided to notify the system of the completed connection. A release links unit may also be provided to release any temporary links used in establishing the connection. An exception handler may also be provided to deal with any error conditions which may occur.

Network group pickup

Under the present invention, resources such as gateways which interconnect usually disparate networks are released for processes which, while originally being inter-network, become intra-network, and the resource (e.g., gateway) is no longer needed for the intra-network process to be completed. The present invention is useful to optimally interwork an IP network with a PISN employing the QSIG Call Diversion and Single Step Call Transfer supplementary services. Attendant features achieved with implementation of the present invention, include quick release of network circuits that are being used for media connections that are no longer necessary and of system resources that are being used for signaling connections that are no longer necessary. Under the present invention, a media channel is not established from an IP network to a PISN, if a user of the PISN makes a call to a user of the IP network, who has forwarded/diverted her calls into the PISN and vice versa.

Optimally interworking SIP and QSIG call diversion and transfer

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) private network call rerouting or switching, substantially transparent to both the caller and the called party. IP private network calls (e.g., VoIP private network) are automatically switched over a Public Services Telephone Network (PSTN) such as an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) as the need arises. Alternate routing may occur because of, for example, network congestion, network outages, or detected poor Quality of Service (QoS) in the private network. Routing is over existing customer PSTN trunks and a dedicated Direct Inward Dial (DID) number, unlisted, that serves all users at a distributed system. Calls that may be switched to the PSTN (ISDN) are correlated with call associated information, such as a private calling user number, name, classmarks, Dialed Number Identification Services (DNIS), user group. VoIP calls made between users appear as intranetwork calls regardless of whether they are intranetwork calls or alternately routed.

Transparent interchangeable network (TIN)

A system and method allow PBX features to be extended through the public network. A teleworker calls into a PBX system and is assigned a fictitious port. The fictitious port is controlled by a telework server and appears to the PBX to be a local device. PBX features are invoked by particular sequences of DTMF tones or by voice prompt, or another data input system.

Method and apparatus for extending PBX features via the public network

A system and apparatus within a communications server for intercepting supplemental service requests to a communications network and ensuring redirection to correct network party and optimal resource usage when redirecting a call over the network. The optimization system includes a database and database server software. A device/trunk handler is used to interface signalling channels to the optimization system. A monitoring and statistics unit monitors the signalling channels. The server software is responsive to the monitoring and statistics unit and selects the routing of the supplementary service through the appropriate server(s) in the network.

Network redirection control routing

The invention is directed to methods (and corresponding apparatus) for accurate transmission of an ELIN/callback number from an emergency caller after the emergency call goes on-hook. The methods include (upon initiation of an emergency call) the steps of storing an emergency location identification number and/or callback number in a buffer; and, upon detecting an on-hook event, transmitting the ELIN and/or callback number from the buffer. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the emergency call is disconnected after said step of transmitting; and prior to said step of transmitting, optionally first over private network and to the public network PSAP, a timer is initiated. The step of disconnecting is performed after the timer expires.

Methods and apparatus for transmitting accurate emergency location identification numbers (ELINs) after an emergency caller disconnects

Methods for accurate transmission of ELIN/callback number from an emergency caller calling from behind a PBX/MLTS include prioritizing the emergency call, assigning a port equipment number to each device/trunk of the PBX/MLTS and associating ports/devices with ELINs and callback numbers. The apparatus of the invention detects an emergency number, assigns the call priority, and uses the port/device number to determine the ELIN/callback number and properly transmit the ELIN/callback number.

Priority based methods and apparatus for transmitting accurate emergency location identification numbers (ELINs) from behind a multi-line telephone system (MLTS)

A private communications network and method of private communications network operation. One or more communications servers each have connected communications devices. From communications devices users enter called party numbers that may include a carrier access code (CAC) and carrier identification code (CIC). The called party number is checked for a CAC and any identified CAC/CIC is parsed from the called party number. The parsed called party number and the CAC/CIC are passed independently of each other over a private network to a public network gateway server. The public network gateway server directs the parsed called party number to a carrier network identified by the CIC, connecting the user to the called party.

Carrier identification codes (CIC) transport

Methods and apparatus for automatically determining a call service request in a first communications device and for signalling the call service request determination to a second communications device. The second communications device can apply the service to the call based on the type of call service request. The methods and apparatus of the invention utilize predefined call criterion to make a determination of the call service request. The call criterion may, for example, be selected from called number, calling number, time of day, day of week, and date. An exemplary protocol and message encoding are disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for automatically determining a call service request

Methods and apparatus for controlling the ability of an ACD server to pull back a call from an IVR server and for allowing an ACD caller to complete a critical transaction while connected to an IVR include special processing and network signaling which enable the ACD to set a pull back status flag and grant permission to the IVR to request a change in the pull back status flag. An exemplary protocol and message encoding are disclosed.

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING CALL PULLBACK BY AN AUTOMATIC CALL DISTRIBUTION (ACD) SYSTEM FROM AN INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR) SYSTEM AND FOR ALLOWING AN ACD CALLER TO COMPLETE A CRITICAL TRANSACTION WHILE CONNECTED TO THE IVR

Methods and apparatus for controlling call handling in a communications network. The methods and apparatus include special processing and network signalling (between network communications devices) which enable a caller to complete a critical transaction, without interruption. An exemplary protocol and message encoding are disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for controlling call handling in a communications network

A Carrier Identification Code (CIC) aware private communications network. International calls are placed with a CIC from a station at an originating server and routed over a private network to a connected public network gateway switch located in another country for a far-end hop-off. The public network gateway switch includes a CIC cross reference table with corresponding local CICs. The public network gateway switch replaces the original CIC with a corresponding local CIC from the cross reference table. Then, the call egresses from the public network gateway switch to a corresponding selected carrier network and connects to the called party on the public communications network.

Growing community of inventors

Boca Raton, FL, United States of America

Peggy Marie Stumer