A system and method of providing caller identification (ID) over a public switched telephone network (PSTN). For outbound calls, the system and method enable a caller to provide a caller ID that differs from the native caller ID of their mobile phone. The system and method enable multiple phones tied to a single account to display the same caller ID for outbound calls. For forwarded inbound calls, such as calls being forwarded from an office, the system and method inform the recipient of the identification of the call as well as that the call is being forwarded. The system and method enable the recipient to have calls forwarded from more than one number and identify the identity of the caller as well as the specific number the call is being forwarded from.

A connection manager manages connections for associated user devices by determining whether an incoming connection has been answered at a user device, and if so then generating and transmitting silencing commands to associated user devices using first and second wireless communication modes, with one mode being faster. Connections can comprise phone calls, and modes can comprise push and Bluetooth messaging. The connection manager can instruct device outputs to provide connection alerts, limited to visual alerts when an associated user device is active, listen for associated user device communications, and instruct device outputs to stop providing alerts when a silencing command is received. Further, a connection manager can receive a signal regarding a headset status, route an outside connection from a phone to the headset when the headset is active or to another device when the headset is not active, detect a change in headset status, and reroute the connection accordingly.

A group database can maintain information about member user equipments (UEs) that are part of a group associated with a shared group number. One or more of the member UEs can be associated with distinct phone numbers that are different from the shared group number. One or more communication servers can route incoming calls and text messages sent to the shared group number to one or more member UEs based on the information in the group database, such as routing incoming calls only to member UEs indicated as being active members of the group in the group database.

According to at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method to manage incoming communications is described. An incoming call may be received on a landline. One or more devices may be located within a predetermined area based at least in part on the receipt of the incoming call. The incoming call may be forwarded to the one or more devices based at least in part on the locating.

A method and a call manager node (200) for handling calls directed to a group of subscribers. When receiving (2:3) a request from a caller (202) for access to a first group of subscribers (204) having at least one common characteristic, the call manager node assigns (2:4) first caller-specific temporary group number (A1) for the caller, wherein the first group number can be used exclusively by the caller for calling the subscribers in the first group. The call manager node further sends (2:5) the first group number to the caller in response to the request. The caller is then connected (2:7, 2:9, 2:11) to a subscriber in the first group sequentially or according to a scheme each time the caller dials (2:6, 2:8, 2:10) the first group number. The group is created according to a criteria and the anonymity of the called parties is kept. Call hunting.

A reception system includes: a visitor recognition unit that recognizes a visitor; a receiving person recognition unit that recognizes a receiving person that corresponds to the visitor; a receiving person contact information storage unit that stores contact information of the receiving person; a notification unit that notifies the receiving person of a visit of the visitor at the contact information of the receiving person stored by the receiving person contact information storage unit; and a receiving person selection unit that selects a substitute receiving person associated with the receiving person in a case where the receiving person is absent when the notification unit notifies the receiving person at the contact information of the receiving person, wherein the notification unit notifies the substitute receiving person selected by the receiving person selection unit when the receiving person is absent.

A subscriber to a universal point of contact service designates a preferred point of contact at which a communication initiator, such as a telephone caller, can contact the subscriber. Such an initiator desiring to contact the subscriber uses the subscriber's email address to establish a communication session with a device associated with the subscriber's preferred point of contact. The subscriber's email address is input to an initiating device, preferably a telephone or facsimile machine, using an entry device capable of entering an email address. A requestor unit, receiving the email address, locates a repository of the subscriber's point of contact information, and requests that information. The repository sends the point of contact information the subscriber has designated as preferred, and the requestor unit uses that information to control a telephone switch to establish a communication session between the initiating device and the subscriber's preferred point of contact device.

A first call from a caller to a called party is forwarded to an agent at an answering service. A notification is received from the agent that a level of seriousness of the first call has become dire, and a second call is established between the agent and a crisis service having a crisis counselor that can provide assistance to the caller. The agent is connected into the second call only when the crisis counselor has acknowledged being available, and the second call is joined with the first call. The crisis counselor and the caller are allowed to speak directly by way of the joined calls, so that the crisis counselor can address the caller and attempt to convince same to avoid any activity that would be harmful thereto.

A group routing server, communication devices, and related methods are described. The group routing server may comprise a processor operably coupled with communication elements and memory, and be configured to determine a destination communication device from among a plurality of communication devices to which an incoming call is to be routed, determine whether an assistive communication service is needed for providing interpretive services based, at least in part, on differing communication abilities between a far-end user associated with a far-end communication device initiating the incoming call and a near-end user associated with the destination communication device, route the incoming call to the assistive communication service according to the routing rules if the assistive communication device is determined to be needed, and route the incoming call directly to the communication service according to the routing rules if the assistive communication device is not determined to be needed.

A request to establish a communication is received. For example a request to establish a voice communication is received. The request can be forked to a plurality of communication devices based on an address of record. The address of record is an address associated with multiple communication devices of the same user. The request to establish the communication is stored in a call log entry in a call log. An event associated with the call log entry is received. The event is based information associated with a calling device or a communication device that is not initially part of an established communication session. In response to receiving the event associated with the call log entry, the call log entry in the call log is updated based on the event. The updated call log or the updated call log entry is the sent to the plurality of communication devices.