A telecommunications addressing system/method allowing selection of a telephone instrument device (TID) using arbitrary identifiers is disclosed. The system/method allows a source TID (STD) to select a target TID (TTD) by the use of a Target Telephone Identifier (TTI) data string rather than a traditional numeric telephone identification (NTI). This TTI is then indexed within a TTI/NTI mapping server (TMS) that functions as a hierarchical repository of TTI/NTI mappings. STD/TTD communication is established by first performing a lookup of the STD-selected TTI within the TMS to identify the NTI of the TTD. Once the NTI of the STD has been identified by the TMS, communication between the STD and TTD is established using the NTI via the normal public switched telephone network (PSTN). TMS TTI lookup may be performed via STD TID web application and/or via PSTN infrastructure interface.

Techniques for managing transmission rates for users from each of a plurality of call engines (CEs) distributed on a communications network are provided. A list of users with at least one pending call in a corresponding queue from all other CEs is received, wherein each user's queue has a maximum queue depth calculated, in part, using a capped transmission rate in calls per second (CPS) for each user associated with their queue. It is determined, for each user, a total number of CEs having at least one pending call in their corresponding queue. A current CE transmission rate is calculated for each user by dividing the capped transmission rate for each user by the total number of CEs having at least one pending call in their corresponding queue. The current CE transmission rate indicates a rate at which calls in each user's queue are dequeued at each of the plurality of CEs. When a call request is received at a CE from a specific user, a total number of calls currently queued for the specific user in all CEs is determined. A maximum queue depth for the specific user is also determined, the maximum queue depth indicative of the total number of calls the specific user may queue for a predetermined length of time. The call request will be rejected when the total number of calls currently queued exceeds the maximum queue depth.

A system for exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities, child location monitoring, work group coordination, dispatching of employees etc. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers have loaded therein a Buddy Watch application and a TalkControl application. The Buddy Watch application communicates with the GPS receiver and other wireless devices operated by buddies registered in the users phone as part of buddy groups or individually. GPS position data and historical GPS position data can be exchanged between cell phones of buddies and instant buddies such as tow truck drivers via a buddy watch server. Emergency monitoring services can be set up with notifications to programmable individuals in case an individual does not respond. Positions and tracks can be displayed. TalkControl simplifies and automates the process of joining talk groups for walkie talkie services such as that provided by Nextel.

Programmatically reversing numerical line identity presented at a communications services gateway into named IP Telephony users with “prior association”, delivers dynamic “reverse address resolution” switching connections from ground to cloud, permitting any conventional telephone to dial and connect to any associated IP Telephony endpoint in the world, without changes to the conventional telephone. Reversing line identity into associated named users bridges both the addressability and economic divide between mass conventional “paying” (mobile and fixed) and “free”. IP Telephony networks. A system for supporting communications between a user on an IP-addressed-communications-device and a telephony subscriber device, the telephony subscriber device having a corresponding telephone number, includes: one or more service nodes configured to: receive from the user the telephone number of the telephony subscriber device and create an association from the telephone number to the user, wherein the association allows the telephony subscriber device to connect to the user.

Techniques are described that update a caller on call progress status using various effects based on a likelihood that the call will connect with the callee, and/or a likelihood that the caller will prematurely terminate the call. In some examples, a machine-learned model may determine a likelihood that a call will connect based on conditions associated with the callee. In some cases, a machine-learned model may determine a likelihood that a call will be prematurely terminated by the caller based on conditions associated with the caller. Animations, haptic outputs, sounds, and/or other content may be used to indicate likelihood of the call connecting to the caller.

Telecommunications systems and methods having a mapping server; a communication network; and a mapping database in communication with the mapping server via the communication network, the mapping database associating telephone identifier data strings (which identify a target telephone device) with numeric telephone identifiers; the mapping server is configured to match numeric telephone identifiers of a source telephone of a caller and a target telephone of a callee with respective telephone identifier data strings using the mapping database; the mapping sever is configured to initiate an electronic communication between the source telephone and the target telephone; the numeric telephone identifier of the target telephone is masked to the caller using the target telephone identifier; the mapping server is configured to locate the target telephone device by the telephone identifier data string to provide a Global Positioning System display of the target telephone device on a screen of a source telephone device.

A first data center includes a first virtual network that provides a communication service in cooperation with at least a part of a communication facility of a first communication operator and a first communication unit that is operable to communicate with a second data center. The second data center includes a second virtual network that provides a communication service in cooperation with at least a part of a communication facility of a second communication operator and a second communication unit that is operable to communicate with the first data center. The first communication unit is operable to transmit to the second communication unit, communication data to be transmitted from a first terminal connecting to the first virtual network via a communication facility of the first communication operator to a second terminal connecting via a communication facility of the second communication operator to the second virtual network.

The present invention relates to a method for routing communications in a telecommunications network comprising a first telephony user device and a server system. The method includes at the first telephony user device: receiving instructions to initiate communications with a contact associated with an address; initiating communications via a channel within the telecommunications network to a local address for the server system; and transmitting information associated with the contact address to the server system via the telecommunications network. A communications action is performed in relation to the contact at the server system. Other methods, devices, systems and networks for routing communications are disclosed.

Techniques for connectivity using a geographic phone number are described. According to various implementations, techniques described herein enable various policies pertaining to the use of telephone numbers at different locations to be enforced. For instance, techniques described herein enable a client device that is outside of a permitted geographic area for a geographic phone number to use a non-geographic phone number to connect a call, while the call can be routed using the geographic phone number.

Techniques for connectivity using a geographic phone number are described. According to various implementations, techniques described herein enable various policies pertaining to the use of telephone numbers at different locations to be enforced. For instance, techniques described herein enable a client device that is outside of a permitted geographic area for a geographic phone number to use a non-geographic phone number to connect a call, while the call can be routed using the geographic phone number.