Abstract:
This invention provides methods and apparatus for providing customised prior-to-answer and in-call media playback telephony services. The services allow for playback of customised media content to calling parties in the form of customised ringback tones, engaged tones, call holding, call transfer tones and other content such as pre-recorded announcements. The media content for playback is stored in equipment associated with subscribers and playback of the media content is originated from the subscriber equipment. The invention allows subscribers to give their telephony services a personal touch as they can choose different items of media content for playback to different calling parties. As the media content is stored on subscriber equipment local to subscribers, no additional network resources such as data storage and data processing facilities are required.
Abstract:
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for the delivery of enhanced telephony services for calls received on local telephone exchange switches. The invention employs an intercept node which intercepts number portability query messages and ascertains whether enhanced telephony services should be applied to a call with reference to an enhanced telephony service user database. If enhanced telephony services are to be applied to the call, the call is routed to a node capable of applying enhanced telephony services, otherwise the call is forwarded on to a number portability processing node. Enhanced telephony services may thus be provided in relation to calls received at local telephone exchange switches which do not themselves support identification of enhanced telephony service users and associated triggering to initiate the provision of enhanced telephony services, but which do generally support a number portability mechanism.
Abstract:
This invention provides methods and apparatus for providing a single service destination, such as a single mailbox, for multi-service users who have access to a plurality of different telephony services in a telecommunications network. Signalling information for unanswered calls is altered so as to modify the destination for the calls to that of a single service destination, for example a network node where a single mailbox service can be provided. Signalling information identifying the calling party in the network where the single service is provided is added to avoid rejection of the unanswered calls by the single service destination. The invention allows unanswered calls to any of a multi-service user's telephones to be routed to a single service destination where the multi-service user can access data for multiple services together, rather than having to access multiple service destinations in a disparate and uncoordinated fashion.
Abstract:
This invention provides methods and apparatus for providing customised prior-to-answer and in-call media playback telephony services. The services allow for playback of customised media content to calling parties in the form of customised ringback tones, engaged tones, call holding, call transfer tones and other content such as pre-recorded announcements. The media content for playback is stored in equipment associated with subscribers and playback of the media content is originated from the subscriber equipment. The invention allows subscribers to give their telephony services a personal touch as they can choose different items of media content for playback to different calling parties. As the media content is stored on subscriber equipment local to subscribers, no additional network resources such as data storage and data processing facilities are required.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method for processing messages at a session border controller (618) in a telecommunications network (616), which is performing the function of an address translator and therefore reducing the number of network elements in the telecommunication chain. The network address may be associated with a group media data delivery mechanism, for example a multicast mechanism, which provides delivery of media data to the target devices without the need for media data to pass out from or back into the target network.
Abstract:
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing text messaging services in a telecommunications network to subscribers having subscriber equipment including a telephone and television equipment. A subscriber creates a text message by entering text characters using key strokes on their telephone. Predicted text for the subscriber key strokes is obtained by performing a lookup in a text prediction database. A subscriber can review a number of text segment predictions (such as one or more words, phrases or symbols) corresponding to the text characters they have entered and select the most appropriate segment for insertion into the text message using suitable input on their telephone. The subscriber can then review the contents of the text message created thus far on the television equipment. The time and effort involved on the part of the subscriber in creating the text message is decreased by use of the text prediction database.
Abstract:
This invention relates to the delivery of advanced telephony services for calls received on a local telephone exchange switch which only supports services of a first type. A call forwarding function is set on the local telephone exchange switch for incoming calls directed to the main telephone dialling number for a subscriber to forward calls to a service platform. Telephony services of a second type can be provided to some calls for the subscriber at the service platform. Other calls for the subscriber can be forwarded back to the local telephone exchange switch using an alternate telephone dialling number for the subscriber and directed to subscriber equipment. The local exchange can be reconfigured to disable a subscriber-configurability feature for services of a first type to prevent a subscriber from configuring a setting which may interfere with services of the second type provided on the service platform.
Abstract:
This invention provides methods and apparatus for providing customised prior-to-answer and in-call media playback telephony services. The services allow for playback of customised media content to calling parties in the form of customised ringback tones, engaged tones, call holding, call transfer tones and other content such as pre-recorded announcements. The media content for playback is stored in equipment associated with subscribers and playback of the media content is originated from the subscriber equipment. The invention allows subscribers to give their telephony services a personal touch as they can choose different items of media content for playback to different calling parties. As the media content is stored on subscriber equipment local to subscribers, no additional network resources such as data storage and data processing facilities arc required.
Abstract:
The invention provides methods and apparatus for providing one-telephone dialling number telephony services where only a single telephone dialling number is required for each subscriber, despite each subscriber having multiple telephony devices on which they wish to be contacted. Calls to a one-telephone dialling number telephony service subscriber may be detected at a telephone switch using one or more triggers configured in association with a device-shared telephone dialling number allocated to the subscriber. Upon receipt of a call connection request to a subscriber, control of the call is assumed, for example by redirecting the call to a service platform capable of generating multiple call connection requests. Multiple outgoing call connection requests are transmitted to multiple telephony devices, including a mobile telephone, associated with the dcvicc-sharcd telephone dialling number allocated to a subscriber.
Abstract:
The invention provides methods and apparatus for processing telephone calls in a packet-based telephony service. A store of telephone party identifiers is maintained for multi-service users having access to the packet-based telephony service and an alternate telephony service. Incoming signalling information for telephone calls in the packet-based telephony service is monitored and outgoing signalling information may be altered with reference to the store. An alteration may involve replacing telephony party identification data associated with one telephony service for telephony party identification data associated with another telephony service. The invention allows a multi-service user to be consistently identified by other telephony users by a single telephony party identifier instead of one telephony party identifier for each service they subscribe to. Further, a multi-service user can be identified at the call destination by a single telephony party identifier, irrespective of which telephony service is used to make the call.