At+t Corp.

At&t Intellectual Property I, L.p.

Lucent Technologies Inc.

Steven Charles Salimando

Kenneth H Rosen

Peter H Stuntebeck

Bruce Lowell Hanson

Raymond L Bolduc

Roy Philip Weber

Joseph Thomas O'Neil

Robert Edward Markowitz

Geoffrey Richard Zampiello

Kenneth Mervin Huber

Sam Russell

Eugene J Joseph

Heather C Dee

Andrew Frederick Bulfer

Robert F Mortenson

Randy Glen Goldberg

Richard R Rosinski

Sunny M Youn

Robert Finberg

Kenneth M Huber

A device including a processor and a memory that includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include receiving a call request from a calling device. The call request includes an identifier of a call alert option. The call alert option is a particular option selected by a user of the calling device from a list of called party approved call alert options. The operations include retrieving a content item based on the identifier. The operations also include, in response to the call request, generating a call alert based on the content item.

Call alert options

A device including a processor and a memory that includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include receiving an indication that a plurality of call alert options are authorized by a second device. The operations also include receiving input selecting a call alert option of the plurality of call alert options. The operations further include sending a call request from the first device to the second device, wherein the call request includes data related to the call alert option.

A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example transmitting, by a system comprising a processor, via a first emergency media channel a first video stream comprising first evacuation routing information for a first evacuation group responsive to receiving a notification of an emergency event, instructing, by the system, a first media processor device to select the first emergency media channel while disabling selection of other media channels according to the first evacuation routing information, where the content of the emergency media channel is presented at a display device by way of the first media processor device, and enabling, by the system, the first media processor device to select the other media channels responsive to receiving user input acknowledging the emergency media channel. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for communicating emergency information

A device including a processor and a memory that includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations include displaying a plurality of call alert options at a user interface. The operations also include receiving, via the user interface, a selection of a first call alert option of the plurality of call alert options and sending information associated with the first call alert option to a server. The operations further include receiving a call request from a second device, where the call request includes data related to the first call alert option. The operations further include, responsive to receiving the call request, generating a call alert based on the first call alert option.

An automated toll-free telecommunications information service may be provided responsive to a user sending an E-Mail request via the Internet or by a caller dialing a toll-free telephone number and announcing a voice request. A service node interprets the request and collects matches to the request from a database. A match to a request may comprise the identity of an entity corresponding to the match, a toll-free number for the match and a brief information sketch describing the entity. The matches are announced and played for the caller. The caller may barge in with a predetermined voice announcement such as &ldquo;please dial&rdquo; when they wish to select an item of the list. In response, the service node initiates the launch of a call to the selected entity.

Automated toll-free telecommunications information service and apparatus

The invention provides a system that includes a method and apparatus for automatically barging-in on telephone calls. When a first party is talking to a second party, a third party may be automatically connected to the first party and the second party given an option to hold or leave a voice mail message. In addition, when a first party is connected to a stored information service provider, a third party may be automatically connected to the first party and a bookmark is set in the stored information. If the call between the first party and the third party does not exceed a predetermined time limit, the first party may resume the stored information service from the location of the bookmark.

Method and apparatus for an automatic barge-in system

A method and system for consolidating multiple mailboxes into a single universal mailbox. The system comprises an agent, a user database, an application database and a mail repository. The agent searches a user database to determine the list of messaging systems the user subscribes to. The agent then recalls from the application database the procedures for accessing the messaging systems and logs onto each messaging system in turn to retrieve any new messages. The agent notifies the user of new messages according to a predefined notification method.

Messaging agent and method for retrieving and consolidating messages

An intelligent data network call setup system forwards data network user information to an operator, for example, for a call with a data network user. The intelligent data network call set up system monitors the data network user's actions and generates information that summarizes potential reasons for the data network user's call and forwards such information as preamble information to the operator. The intelligent data network call set up system includes a call coordination device that serves as an interface between the data network user and the operator. The call coordination device supports web sites visited by data network users and when a request for a call is received, the call coordination device provides the operator with the user's action history, and other helpful information to the operator such as products that may interest the user to avoid the undesirable &ldquo;cold start&rdquo; experience. In this way, the operator may be more knowledgeable and helpful to the user.

Method and apparatus for intelligent data network call setup

An automated toll-free telecommunications information service may be provided responsive to a user sending an E-mail request via the Internet or by a caller dialing a toll-free telephone number and announcing a voice request wherein the caller request comprises categories of interests. A service node interprets the request and collects matches to the request from a database. A match to a request may comprise the identity of an entity corresponding to the match, a toll-free number for the match and a brief information sketch describing the entity. The matches are announced and played for the caller. The caller may barge in with a predetermined voice announcement such as &ldquo;please dial&rdquo; when they wish to select an item of the list. In response, the service node initiates the launch of a call to the selected entity.

An intelligent data network call spawning system monitors a subscriber's interactions on a data network and spawns a call to an information provider. The intelligent data network call set up system monitors the data network user's navigational actions and analyzes the actions with an expert system, for example. The system spawns a call to an information provider based on these actions. The intelligent data network call spawning system includes a call spawning device that serves as an interface between the subscriber and the information provider. The call spawning device supports web sites visited by subscribers and spawns calls to information providers and may coordinate with a call coordination device to provide preamble information to a called party so that the called party is briefed regarding the subject matter of interest to the subscriber.

Method and apparatus for intelligent data network call spawning system

An automated emergency notification system is disclosed. When practicing one embodiment of the present invention, a calling party places a phone call to an emergency service provider by dialing into a service provider network. The service provider network determines the identity of the calling party by accessing a subscriber database. The network determines a set of parties to be called by utilizing the identity of the calling party to access the set of parties to be called from an outcall database. The calling party pre-defines the set of parties to be called (i.e., before an emergency occurs) in the event of an emergency and stores this information in the outcall database. The service provider network then establishes the phone call between the calling party and the emergency service provider and also automatically places phone calls to each individual included in the set of parties to be called that was defined by the calling party. The service provider network will provide a pre-defined message to each individual called.

Automated emergency notification system

A method and system are disclosed for providing call screening in conjunction with a variety of network-based call services. An exemplary method for providing a called party at a called party station with call screening includes: (a) forwarding a call to the called party station (CPS) to a voice mailbox so that a caller can leave a message for the called party; (b) initiating a simplex call to the CPS; and (c) bridging the call forwarded to the voice mailbox and the simplex call to the CPS so that the called party can hear the caller leaving a message for the CPS; (d) initiating a duplex call to the CPS in response to signaling received from the CPS; and (e) bridging the call forwarded to the voice mailbox and the duplex call so that the caller and the called party are in communication with one another. In one embodiment of the present invention, the step of initiating a simplex call includes the step of delivering a distinctive ring to the CPS indicating that the caller is leaving a message for the CPS. In another embodiment of the present invention, the step of initiating a simplex call includes the step of transmitting a call waiting indicator to the CPS. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the step of initiating a simplex call includes the step of transmitting a signal to the CPS indicating that the calling party station will pay for cellular charges associated with the call.

Growing community of inventors

Little Silver, NJ, United States of America

Steven Charles Salimando