A method of operating a captioned telephone comprising the steps of dialing a telephone number to a relay gateway, connecting to the gateway over a communication network, performing a test to assess communication network quality, based on the test results, setting up the captioned telephone to operate in at least one of a first mode and a second mode wherein each of the first and second modes is one of (i) a PSTN mode in which data is communicated between the captioned telephone and the relay gateway via analog transmission and (ii) an IP mode in which data is communicated between the captioned telephone and the relay gateway via the Internet.

A data-communications (e.g. VoIP-type) server is configured to provide data-communications services such as VoIP services to a plurality of endpoint devices. The server receives, from applications running on the endpoint devices, location updates identifying geographic locations of the endpoint devices. The server may modify a location database to include entries specifying the geographic locations of the endpoint devices. Data/telephone calls are routed based upon the entries specifying geographic locations of the plurality of endpoint devices. Based upon input parameters, a set of periodic update timings are generated and sent to the endpoint devices.

Apparatus and methods concerning call routing are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a call alert message, indicative of the call answer options, is communicated from the VoIP server to the communication device, determined in response to receiving an incoming VoIP call for a communication device at a VoIP server. A selected option is received from the communication device. In response to the selected option indicating the first call answer option, the call is routed to the communication device as a VoIP call via a data network. In response to the selected option indicating the second call answer option, the call is routed to the communication device via a PSTN.

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.

A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server is configured to provide VoIP services to a plurality of VoIP-capable endpoint devices. Geolocation information identifying a first geographic location of the particular endpoint device is received at the VoIP server and from an application running on a VoIP-capable endpoint device. A second geographic location for an IP address is compared to the first geographic location. In response to a mismatch between the compared geographic locations, a location database is modified to include an entry specifying that the particular endpoint device is located at the first geographic location. For an outgoing telephone call from the endpoint device, the modified entry is used to select a telephone carrier. The outgoing telephone call is routed using the selected telephone carrier.

A differentiated routing system includes an electronic service in communication with an ingress gateway that receives a communication service, such as a call from a terminal, over a trunk. The service receives a request from the ingress gateway for establishing a communication service for the calling party terminal. The service obtains information associated with the calling party terminal, which may be based on the trunk and its relationship to a customer, in which the information is to be used for applying at least one of a routing decision and policy decision to the communication service, and appends a tag to the request based on the information. The service may then transmit the request appended with the information to a routing device, which may then use the information when providing the service.

Devices, systems and methods for communications that include social media clients are provided. In particular, a server operates a virtual client for communicating with clients of a social media server. The server receives a call request associated with a directory number of a call server, the call request to initiate a call associated with the directory number and a given client of the social media server. The server conducts the call by controlling: the virtual client to communicate with the given client, via the social media server; and the virtual client to communicate with a communication device associated with the directory number, via the call server. The server may also facilitate exchange of status updates between a given client of the social media server and the call server. The server may also facilitate calls between respective clients of different social media servers.

A method of redirecting of an incoming call received over a telephone line connected to a gateway. The gateway manages a local network and determines, for a terminal present in the local network, if a call number is associated with an identifier of the terminal in view of redirecting the incoming call to the terminal from the call number.

Systems and methods for managing non-associative communications between devices is provided. A first call chain that indicates a routing between phone numbers is stored. A first phone call or a first SMS text is received from a first session initiation protocol (SIP) provider. Based on information provided by the first SIP provider, (i) a sender identity of the first phone call or the first SMS text; (ii) a receiver identity of the first phone call or the first SMS text; and (iii) an access mode of the call chain are determined. If the receiver identity corresponds to a first phone number in the first call chain, a second phone call or a second SMS text is initiated via a second SIP provider, from a second phone number in the first call chain, based on the sender identity and the access mode.

A system, method and program product for electronic communication includes checking if a current called number of a subscriber is on a list of unsuccessful calls made by an onward caller. A determination is made that the current called number is on the list of unsuccessful calls. A calling route used to establish a connection between onward caller and subscriber is concluded as a low-quality route. A subscriber ID is extracted and included on the list of low quality routes. A request is made for a list of all possible routes for communication between onward caller and receiver user. A comparison list of all possible routes and low quality routes is made. A route not earlier marked as a low-quality route is identified and selected as an alternative route. An electronic communication between onward caller and receiving user is established using the alternative route.