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 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.

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.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to synthetic call status updates. In some implementations, a method includes determining, by a task manager module, that a triggering event has occurred to provide a current status of a user call request. The method may then determine, by the task manager module, the current status of the user call request. A representation of the current status of the user call request is generated. Then, the generated representation of the current status of the user call request is provided to the user.

A system for detecting water flooding in telecommunications manholes may include a float switch disposed at a predetermined flooding line in a telecommunications manhole. The float switch may be a switching device without a power source. The system may include an analog phone connected to the float switch through a telephone line connection associated with a pre-existing communication network. The analog phone may be configured for detecting a triggering signal from the float switch and initiating an alert procedure upon detecting the triggering signal.

A system for detecting water flooding in telecommunications manholes may include a float switch disposed at a predetermined flooding line in a telecommunications manhole. The float switch may be a switching device without a power source. The system may include an analog phone connected to the float switch through a telephone line connection associated with a pre-existing communication network. The analog phone may be configured for detecting a triggering signal from the float switch and initiating an alert procedure upon detecting the triggering signal.

The system allows a consumer to shortcut through a call queue to reach a human agent faster. For phone or voice-based calls that require a consumer wait on hold, the system can give that consumer an accurate estimate of the wait time and allow them to skip all or some of it. It does this by using automated processes to proactively dial and wait in those call queues, measuring their time in queue. A new consumer making an incoming call can then join the call queue occupied by of those automated processes, shortcutting the consumer past all or some of the wait time.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to synthetic call status updates. In some implementations, a method includes determining, by a task manager module, that a triggering event has occurred to provide a current status of a user call request. The method may then determine, by the task manager module, the current status of the user call request. A representation of the current status of the user call request is generated. Then, the generated representation of the current status of the user call request is provided to the user.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to synthetic call status updates. In some implementations, a method includes determining, by a task manager module, that a triggering event has occurred to provide a current status of a user call request. The method may then determine, by the task manager module, the current status of the user call request. A representation of the current status of the user call request is generated. Then, the generated representation of the current status of the user call request is provided to the user.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to synthetic call status updates. In some implementations, a method includes determining, by a task manager module, that a triggering event has occurred to provide a current status of a user call request. The method may then determine, by the task manager module, the current status of the user call request. A representation of the current status of the user call request is generated. Then, the generated representation of the current status of the user call request is provided to the user.