At&t Bell Laboratories

Lucent Technologies Inc.

American Telephone & Telegraph Co., At&t Bell Laboratories

American Telephone and Telegraph, Co.

Richard W Hemmeter

Richard J Piereth

Diane E Herr

Robert Petrelli

Douglas C Dowden

Chander S Sehgal

Samuel M Salchenberger

Mahendra K Verma

Shye-Bin S Chang

William K McCormick

William Jackson Bushnell

Thomas Michael Bauer

Stinson Samuel Mathai

Hong Xie

Thomas C Davis

Cyrenus M Rubald

Palanichamy Raghavan

A communication device is described that includes a POTS interface system, a processing system, a conversion system, a voice interface system, and a digital interface system. When in operation, the POTS interface system receives analog voice signals for a call. The POTS interface system converts the analog voice signals from analog to digital to generate digital voice signals. The processing system performs an application on the digital voice signals to provide a presentation format of the digital voice signals of the call to a user. The conversion system then converts the digital voice signals into analog voice signals and a voice interface system transmits audible signals to the user. The digital interface system receives digital data signals from a data service provider and the processing system performs an application on the digital data signals to provide additional data to the user.

Communication device that provides enhanced services

A method and apparatus for supplying cooling air to electronic equipment from ones of at least two sources. A detector detects whether the quality, such as the temperature of the cooling air from a source, is satisfactory and if not shuts the damper to that source and opens the damper to another source. A main controller provides additional control signals for controlling the dampers to protect the electronic equipment, or for shutting down the electronic equipment.

Controlling cooling air intake for air cooled equipment

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for automatically processing operator assistance calls. A caller is connected to an automated operator position. The automated position has speech recognition facilities to replace those of an operator, has announcement capabilities to replace those of an operator, and has control apparatus for transmitting and receiving the same set of messages transmitted and received by an operator position. Advantageously, the operator assistance switch has the same interface to an automated position as to an operator position and interacts with the two identically. Since the capabilities of the automated position are limited by its program, the automated position switches a call to an automated position when a situation occurs for which it has not been programmed. Advantageously, a switch need not be specially programmed to communicate with an automated position. Advantageously, new operator assistance services can be provided automatically without rewriting the complex control software of the switch. The invention further relates to the use of automated operator positions for providing spontaneous voice message service wherein a caller converts a call to a message call if the called party does not answer or is busy, and to a method of recognizing a voice specified destination and establishing a call to that destination.

Automation of telephone operator assistance calls

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for automatically processing operator assistance calls. A caller is connected to an automated operator position. The automated position has speech recognition facilities to replace those of an operator, has announcement capabilities to replace those of an operator, and has control apparatus for transmitting and receiving the same set of messages transmitted and received by an operator position. Advantageously, the operator assistance switch has the same interface to an automated position as to an operator position and interacts with the two identically. Since the capabilities of the automated position are limited by its program, the automated position switches a call to an automated position when a situation occurs for which it has not been programmed. Advantageously, a switch need not be specially programmed to communicate with an automated position. Advantageously, new operator assistance services can be provided automatically without rewriting the complex control software of the switch.

A method and apparatus for processing operator assistance calls with minimum expenditure of operator work time. For collect and person-to-person calls, a first operator at a first operator position determines the type of call and, optionally, the name(s) of the calling and called parties. These are recorded in the memory of a program controlled processor system for controlling an operator assistance switching system. The first operator then disconnects from the call while the call is being set up and the call party being alerted. When the called party answers, a second operator position and second operator, having a display of the call information previously recorded, are unattached to the call to determine whether a connection between the calling and called parties should be established and, if so, to cause that connection to be so established. Advantageously, no operator position and operator need be attached to the call while the called party is being alterted; even more operator work time is saved if the called party never answers.

More efficient call handling for operator assistance calls

An arrangement for serving an operator assistance request detected in a first operator assistance system from an operator position in a second operator assistance system. If a first operator assistance system is overloaded or has no attended operator positions, the two operator assistance systems cooperate to establish a connection between the customer requesting operator assistance and the operator position in the second system. The attending operator at that position keys information into the operator position for transmission to the first system. Responsive to this data, the first system enters data, such as billing data, into its records, and sets up connections, such as a connection for a person-to-person call, in its switching network. The arrangement can be used to transfer operator assistance requests at night, during overload, or to specialized operators not available at the first office. The arrangement can also be used on a permanent basis, to transfer all operator assistance requests, when a serving team of operators cannot be economically justified for the first office.

Method and apparatus for sharing operators among assistance systems

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

Richard W Hemmeter