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In one embodiment, the system includes a processor, referred to herein as a tandem access controller (TAC), coupled to the PSTN, where the TAC allows a subscriber to set-up and make changes to the configuration of his or her phone line or other communications device. Such changes include selective call forwarding. In one embodiment, the TAC is controlled by the subscriber using the web. The TAC is coupled internally to the PSTN in a local service area and is outside the central office of the subscriber. A calling party makes a first call to the subscriber using the subscriber's public telephone number. The TAC receives the first call prior to the call reaching the subscriber's terminating central office, which in some cases avoids a toll. The TAC then carries out the subscriber's instructions for the first call, such as making one or more second calls using telephone numbers different from the subscriber's public telephone number. When the second call is answered, the answering phone is connected by the TAC to the caller.
1. A method for providing user control selections for routing of one or more communications between users of one or more communications networks, wherein the users either 1) initiate a communication, 2) receive a communication, or 3) control a communication, the user control selections provided by a user via access to a web server of a web-enabled processing system connected to operate at least in part with the one or more communication networks, wherein at least one of the communication networks is a network comprising edge switches for routing calls from and to users within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to other edge switches or other switching facilities local or in other geographic areas, the web server of web-enabled processing system facilitating direct access by a user for providing user control selections to the at least one of the switching facilities, the user having a communications device with which to communicate with the web server of the web-enabled processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
facilitating access by authorized users to the web-enabled processing system, via the web server, the web-enabled processing system coupled to at least one of the switching facilities of the network, the web-enabled processing system configured to route a communication from a specific one of the users to an intended recipient of the users;
executing control criteria, via the web-enabled processing system, to control the routing of the one or more communications via the web-enabled processing system, the control criteria predetermined by the users control selections via the web server before the control criteria are executed via the web-enabled processing system,
wherein the web-enabled processing system is configured to perform the following operations to execute the control criteria:
first, receive a message indicating a communication request from a user initiating a communication for an intended recipient user, wherein the message request is transmitted using a signalling protocol of the at least one communication network;
second, validate and acknowledge said communications request without first forwarding said request to a terminating edge switch within the geographic area of the intended recipient of the users;
third, determine the control criteria for access to the intended recipient of the users;
fourth, facilitate selection of a routing path over the at least one communication network in accordance with the control criteria for the intended recipient user;
fifth, route the communication in accordance with the control criteria, and
sixth, complete a communications link between the user initiating the communication and the intended recipient of the users, when the intended recipient of the users accepts the communication from the user initiating the communication.
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a) selective call forwarding whereby a call request from an initiating communications device is forwarded to a particular communications device of an intended recipient of the users based on either a time of the communication or the user initiating the communication; and
b) conditional blocking of the communication based on either a time of the communication or the user initiating the communication.
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providing access to the web-enabled processing system, via the web server for certain of the users to obtain information regarding the one or more communications either received or initiated by certain of the users.
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providing access to the web-enabled processing system via the web server, for certain of the users to initiate a communication to a third party, the web-enabled processing system routing the communication to the third party; and
establishing communication with the third party after the web-enabled processing system connects a user's communications device to a communications device of the third party.
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20. A method of providing a user interaction system to enable users to control routing of one or more communications between a calling party and a called party through user input, the user interaction system comprising a web server coupled to a controller with access to at least two communication networks, wherein at least one of the networks is a packet network configured to support voice over IP ("VOIP"), and the second network is coupled to a switching facility of a network comprising edge switches for routing calls from and to users within a local geographic area and switching facilities for routing calls to other edge switches or other switching facilities local or in other geographic areas, comprising the steps of.
providing a website for the users to view features associated with the routing of the one or more communications;
facilitating certain of the users to sign up to become subscribers of the communication networks through the entry of user personal data through the website;
granting access to authorized ones of the users;
providing a menu of available features, via the website, for the users to make feature selections;
processing of feature selections into control criteria;
receiving and storing the control criteria in a database associated with the server, the controller, or both;
receiving a communication request at the controller, from the calling party to an intended called party;
upon receiving the communication request, utilizing the controller to retrieve at least a portion of the control criteria relating to the user to determine a possible route for the one or more communications from the calling party; and
executing the control criteria to facilitate the routing of the one or more communications across at least one of the at least two networks.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/426,279, filed Apr. 30, 2003, entitled "Branch Calling and Caller ID Based Call Routing Telephone Features," which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/565,565, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,328, filed May 4, 2000, entitled "Telephone Call Control System for the Public Switched Telephone Network," both documents being incorporated herein by reference.
This invention relates to telephone services and, in particular, to a system for allowing a subscriber to select features of the subscriber's telephone service and to various novel features that can be selected.
People have used various means for limiting interruptions due to the telephone. In the past, people used switchboards and secretaries to screen incoming, or inbound, calls. Voice mail systems took over some of this role both in the home and in the central office. Today, there are web-based companies managing 3rd-party call control, via the toll-switch network, which allow users to enter call control information through a web portal. There are also edge devices in each of the public telephone company's central offices which provide local control, but offer an extremely limited number of features and do not provide true 3rd-party call control.
The web-based toll systems provide good user interaction but they are not economical and cannot take advantage of local number portability because they do not provide local control and connectivity.
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) consists of a plurality of edge switches connected to telephones on one side and to a network of tandem switches on the other. The tandem switch network allows connectivity between all of the edge switches, and a signaling system is used by the PSTN to allow calling and to transmit both calling and called party identity.
Until now, optional features were provided by the local service telephone company (telco) through the edge switch at the central office (CO). It was not possible to provide optional features through any other means. Control of these features was done through the first party (calling party) or the second party (called party), or worse yet, manually by calling the business office.
In the past, numerous devices have been built that allow the connection of two lines together at an edge switch. These devices can be used to add features to a telephone network by receiving a call on one line and then dialing out on another line. The problem with these devices is that, because they are connected through an edge switch, transmission losses and impairments occur, degrading the overall connection. In addition, signalling limitations prevent full control, by the subscriber or the system, over the call.
A preferred embodiment of the inventive system described herein connects at the tandem, thereby eliminating these problems.
In the edge devices residing in the PSTN central offices, the 1st party (the calling party) has numerous features available (dialing options). The 2nd party (called party) also has options available such as call forwarding, but these features typically require access from the first or second party's device and are extremely awkward to program. The user interaction is not only awkward, it is limited and requires interaction with the telephone company to provision them. In other words, past systems for provisioning, meaning addition, modification, or control of telephone features, required a subscriber to make the feature selection through the telephone business office. Central office workers would then implement the provisioning under request of the business office.
Call Forwarding is one popular provision. There is signification transmission degradation for Call Forwarding to take place. The calling party pays for a call to the edge device, and the edge subscriber, the called party, pays for the call to the forwarding number. For enhanced inbound call control to occur, a direct 3rd-party call control means is needed.
A variety of services have arisen to address the problems mentioned above. Many of these systems allow the called party to make changes to his/her call forwarding attributes which do not allow direct 3rd-party call control. These services provide good user interaction, some via the internet, but they rely upon the toll network through the use of "800" numbers.
This requires the subscriber to pay by the minute and does not allow the subscriber to take advantage of number portability in order to obtain 3rd-party call control. There are other toll network mechanisms for remote call forwarding. For example, MCI offers a service where the customer can remotely change the forwarding target number for "800" numbers. Contacting the ultimate end-user before terminating the first incoming call is similar to the manner in which "800" credit calls and collect calls are processed, but these are not done at the local subscriber level.
In addition to these toll services, there are edge devices that perform some of the same services. Edge devices such as phones and PBXs that include voice mail, inter-active voice response, call forwarding, speed calling, etc., have been used to provide additional call control. These devices allow the phone user direct control over incoming and outgoing calls. The disadvantage of edge devices is that they add cost, degrade voice and transmission quality, can be difficult to program, are not easily programmed remotely, can require the user to pay for two lines, provide lower quality of service, and cannot provide the same level of functionality as a system that controls the PSTN directly. There are Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoiP) products emerging that provide better user interfaces and control but they do not take advantage and voice quality of the PSTN.
A system for allowing a subscriber to remotely control features is described herein along with various telephone features that may be programmed into the system. A subscriber may be any customer using the telephone service, in contrast to employees of the PSTN who may use special communication networks within the PSTN.
The present invention adds direct control of third party call control features, but does not suffer from any of the disadvantages listed above, and allows the subscriber to manage his/her telephone system in a dynamic and exceptionally useful manner that is not currently available through the existing PSTN. The invention allows enhanced direct third-party call control features, such as selective call routing and remote dialing, to be added to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) using local call control and providing dynamic provisioning of the system by the subscriber. Direct 3rd-party control means that the ability to provision the 3rd-party features is directly available to a subscriber, eliminating the need to go through the telephone company (telco) business office.
In one embodiment, the system includes a processor, referred to herein as a tandem access controller (TAC), connected to the PSTN, where the TAC allows a subscriber to set-up and make immediate changes to the configuration of his or her phone line or other communications device. In one embodiment, the TAC subsystem is connected internally to the PSTN in a local service area and is outside the central office of the subscriber. A calling party makes a first call to the subscriber using the subscriber's public telephone number. The TAC receives the first call prior to the call reaching the subscriber's terminating central office, which in some cases avoids a toll. The TAC then carries out the subscriber's instructions for the first call, such as making one or more second calls using telephone numbers different from the subscriber's public telephone number. When the second call is answered, the answering phone is connected by the TAC to the caller.
The TAC provides features, selected by the subscriber, to all edge switches connected to the PSTN tandem switch. Connecting directly to the PSTN tandem switch (or embedding the system into the tandem switch) eliminates the signal degradation problems previously described.
In one embodiment, the system allows provisioning of features via the internet under direct control of the subscriber. Recently, several products have been introduced that provide a means of controlling features via the public internet. However, all these devices fall short in that they require the subscriber to obtain an "800" number or some other number that requires the subscriber to pay a toll charge each time a call is made. The present invention connects locally, so no toll charges are incurred.
The web-enhanced services in one embodiment of the invention coexist with and overlay the local phone service at the local level, thereby providing good economics and user interaction, single number access to multiple subscriber devices, connectivity without transmission impairments and true, direct 3rd-party call control.
The present invention relies upon use of local telephone facilities thereby eliminating all the extra charges associated with making toll calls. It also allows the user to take advantage of number portability and keep his/her existing public phone number.
Examples of two features that may be performed by the TAC are caller ID (CID) based call routing and branch calling. The system allows the subscriber to set up a feature where the CID signal is detected within the PSTN and automatically associated with stored information relating to the caller. The stored information may have been previously entered into a memory within the PSTN by the subscriber via the world wide web. The CID signal may be also used to route the call to one of more forwarding numbers or to take any other action, such as blocking the call. This feature also allows the subscriber to use the CID signal to display certain information even though the caller may have her CID blocked.
Another feature described herein is referred to as branch calling, which allows a call to be forwarded to multiple telephones simultaneously, where the first telephone answered terminates the calling of the other telephones (or any other end units).
The offered features are implemented by software programs run by the processing system.
The web-enhanced services in one embodiment of the invention coexist with and overlay the local phone service at the local level, thereby providing good economics and user interaction, single number access to multiple subscriber devices, connectivity without transmission impairments and true, direct 3rd-party call control.
The present system relies upon use of local telephone facilities thereby eliminating all the extra charges associated with making toll calls. It also allows the user to take advantage of number portability and keep his/her existing public phone number.
The TAC 10 is connected to or inside the conventional PSTN tandem switch 16 such that calls may flow through the TAC 10 in the same manner as the existing PSTN tandem switch, except that additional 3rd-party features are applied to the call. As is well known, PSTN tandem switches are exchanges that direct telephone calls (or other traffic) to central offices 17, 18 or to other tandem switches. Details of the operation of the existing phone network may be found in the publication entitled "New Net SS7 Tutorial," by ADC Telecommunications, copyright 1999, incorporated herein by reference. Additional details may be found in the numerous books describing the PSTN.
The PSTN tandem switch 16 directs a first call (from the calling party 20 to the subscriber's phone 14 using the subscriber's public phone number) to the TAC 10, which in turn places a second call, subject to 3rd-party control information, to the subscriber's "private" phone number without yet terminating the first call. The TAC 10 is connected within the subscriber's local service area so calls from TAC 10 to the subscriber do not incur a toll. When the subscriber 12 terminates (or answers) the second call, the TAC 10 terminates the first call and connects it to the second call, thereby connecting the calling party 20 to the subscriber 12. Hence, the calling party essentially calls the TAC 10, using the subscriber's public phone number, and the TAC 10, after processing the call using the selected features, calls the subscriber, as appropriate, using the subscriber's private phone number and connects the two calls. The process is transparent to the parties.
The TAC 10 is connected inside the PSTN in the sense that it is not an edge device such as a PBX or central office (CO) switch because it does not connect directly to subscribers. Rather, it redirects calls to subscribers. The TAC 10 provides intelligent interconnection between a calling party and a subscriber.
The reader should keep in mind that although only one tandem switch 16 is shown in
The invention may also include ivr/vm/voverip.
The subscriber can also program a set of the call control features via a telephone link in the event a data link connection is unavailable.
Incoming call data is received by the TAC 10 from the tandem switch 16. The TAC 10 processor checks calling and called numbers, class of service, time of day, number lists, etc. In some cases additional data is gathered from the calling party via a DSP (Digital Signal Processing) system and stored in the system memory. The DSP system is used to play call progress tones and voice announcements as required. Voice announcements can be played through the DSP system. In response to the call data, an outgoing call to the subscriber 12 may be placed back through the tandem switch 16 by TAC 10. The TAC 10 links the two calls and monitors the connection.
Information about the call may be collected by the TAC 10 and sent to the subscriber or a 3rd party for display. Such information may be the length of the call or information used to bill the subscriber for the use of the system. The provisioning system can also collect control information from a 3rd party and relay it back to the TAC 10, which will then affect the call accordingly.
One embodiment of the invention allows a subscriber to view the current state of his/her telephone via the Internet. Internet is a term of art by which we mean an interconnection of packet switched networks. Prior to this system there was no way for a user to examine the status of a telephone line. Recently, several products have been introduced that provide a means of examining the voice message boxes.
An internet portal is connected via a data link to the TAC 10. When a user logs onto the internet portal and is granted access to an individual subscription, the user can examine the status of calls/features. This information is transmitted from the TAC 10 to the web portal and translated into user viewables. The TAC 10 keeps track of incoming and outgoing calls based on this information.
The TAC 10 may be implemented using conventional processor hardware. The connection to the tandem switch 16 may be as simple as a telephone circuit, since the TAC 10 receives an incoming call from a caller and processes the call. Devising the software/firmware use to control the TAC 10 is well within the capability of those skilled in the art since the various control features that can be made available are generally already known.
Certain advantages that can be obtained using the invention include the following:
Web-Based Telecom Navigator
Manage Incoming Call Control
Manage Outgoing Call Control
Web-Based Billing
Web-Driven Personal Communications Management
Cost-Effective Single Phone Number Access
On-Line "Personal Digital Assistant"
On-Line "Telcom Navigator"
Inspired User Interaction
Secure and Reliable Technology
Cost-Effective Single Phone Number Access
CLEC Status
Compatible With Existing Devices, Standards
Web-Based Personal Digital Assistant
Centralized and Consistent Personal Data
Web Dialing
Unified Messaging
User Interaction
Expected Behavior
Mode-Based Definition and Selection
Learning Modes
Automatic Data Capture
Secure and Reliable Technology
Separate Web-Site and Link Gateway
VoIP Link Degradation Detection
E-Commerce Security
One advantage of using TAC 10 is its ability to enhance caller ID information. Caller ID is a common feature where a calling party's telephone number is transmitted to the called party's telephone so it can be displayed on a small display screen in the telephone. This caller ID information is provided by the calling party's central office switch. Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) is a global standard for telecommunications and defines the procedures and protocol by which network elements in the PSTN exchange information (including the caller ID) over the telephone network for call set up, routing, and control. In some telephone sets, including wireless telephones, the name of the caller associated with the telephone number is also displayed on the called party's display screen.
TAC 10 can use this automatically generated caller ID signal to provide an enhanced set of caller ID related features. One such feature is the association of the standard caller ID information with additional information about the caller stored in a memory addressed by TAC 10. The enhanced caller ID information provided through TAC 10 provides a valuable tool to the subscriber in handling incoming calls. The basic caller ID information, such as the caller's telephone number and name, can still be sent to the subscriber's phone and displayed in a conventional manner while the enhanced caller ID information may be displayed on the phone display or on the subscriber's computer monitor via the web.
The caller ID signals, pursuant to the SS7 protocol, are detected by TAC 10 when a calling party calls the subscriber using the subscriber's public telephone number, as previously described. TAC 10 then uses the basic caller ID data to address a look-up table (LUT) containing any additional information that the subscriber has entered into the LUT's memory locations for association with that caller ID data.
In one example, the subscriber may identify a prospective calling party's telephone number to TAC 10 via the Internet and then associate the number with any other information for storing in LUT 40. Such other information may be all the possible callers using the calling telephone, personal information regarding the calling party, billing information, business information, account numbers, past discussions with the caller, or any other information. When TAC 10 detects the caller ID signals, TAC 10 addresses LUT 40 and downloads the retrieved information to the subscriber's telephone display or to the subscriber's computer via the web. Since TAC 10 (including LUT 40) stores this additional information, the subscriber is not required to personally provide processing or memory devices for this feature.
Multiple subscribers use the same TAC 10 and LUT 40 but only the memory locations in LUT 40 authorized for access by a particular subscriber are available to that subscriber.
A subscriber may program TAC 10 using the various means described previously to perform any number of features on an incoming telephone call based upon the caller ID data. Such features include forwarding a call associated with that particular caller ID data to one or more other telephones, or blocking calls associated with that particular caller ID data. Such calls may be forwarded or blocked only at certain times or on certain days as requested by the subscriber. All of the other features previously described may also be applied based upon the caller ID.
When the calling party elects to block her caller ID information, displaying the caller's number and name on the subscriber's telephone may violate the privacy act, so such a restriction should be programmed into the system. However, TAC 10 may still use the caller ID information for various legal purposes. For example, the subscriber may not wish to receive phone calls from a particular phone number or calling party. The subscriber may transmit to TAC 10 the caller ID information (e.g., the telephone number and/or the name) and instruct TAC 10 to either forward the call, block the call, or transmit any additional information from LUT 40 to the subscriber's phone display or computer monitor for screening the caller.
If caller ID information does not exist, such as where the local telephone company does not offer caller ID, TAC 10, when receiving the incoming call, can transmit an automatic message to the caller to enter identification information. TAC 10 then uses that information to address LUT 40 to identify any associated information in LUT 40 for transmission to the subscriber. TAC 10, in a recorded or simulated voice, can request the caller to enter her phone number via the telephone keypad. Alternatively, TAC can request that the caller speak her name or number, which would then be played to the subscriber or converted to text or a code by TAC 10 to address LUT 40. Alternatively, the caller can enter a personal identification number or any other type of code (e.g., the caller's name) via the keypad, which would identify the caller to TAC 10. Once obtained, the caller ID information entered can be used to route the incoming call via TAC 10 in any way programmed by the subscriber. Call routing can be based on time of day, the caller ID, any web input instructions, a direction by the calling party itself, or any other variable.
This technique is contrasted with 800-type services, which are reverse long distance services requiring the owner of the 800 number to pay for the incoming call. With 800 numbers, the caller ID must be unblocked to identify the amount of the toll. With the inventive technique, even blocked caller ID calls can result in information about the caller being transmitted to the subscriber or used by TAC 10 to selectively perform a function.
In step 50 of
In step 52, using the SS7 protocol, TAC 10 detects the caller ID signal (CID), if any. Even if the calling party has a blocked CID, the CID is still transmitted to TAC 10; however the blocked caller ID cannot be displayed on the called party's telephone. If the CID is detected, the process continues to steps 54 and 56, which determine whether the CID is associated with any data in a look-up table. Existing data in the look-up table associated with the CID indicates that the caller is a previous caller. If caller ID information is known without ever previously receiving a call from that party, the additional information can still be entered into the look-up table, and the calling party will be treated as not a new caller in step 54.
Assuming the caller has information stored in the look-up table, this additional information is retrieved by TAC 10 and displayed on a web page (step 58) that is accessible by the subscriber via the web. In addition, the caller's name and telephone number may also by displayed (step 60). The information may also be transmitted to the subscriber's telephone for display.
In step 62, TAC 10 performs any programmed function on the call, such as forwarding the call to the subscriber's private telephone number or another number.
The placing of the second call by TAC 10 causes the called phone to ring (step 64) as well as causes the CID and additional information to be available to the subscriber (step 66) on the subscriber's telephone display. When the subscriber answers the phone, TAC 10 completes the connection between the two parties.
The retrieved information from LUT 40 that is transmitted over the web may appear as a screen pop-up on the subscriber's monitor. This CID information can then be reviewed and edited to include new information about the caller provided during the call. The subscriber then downloads this edited information to TAC 10 so future calls from the same caller would display the new information.
In step 54 if it is determined that the CID information is not associated with any existing information in the look-up table, TAC 10 determines whether the CID is blocked (identified in the SS7 protocol) in step 68. If the CID is not blocked, then the CID information is transmitted to the subscriber's telephone when TAC 10 places the call to the subscriber's private number (or any other forwarding number), and the CID is displayed on the subscriber's phone.
In step 68, if it is determined that the CID is blocked, TAC 10 will prompt the caller, via a recorded message or a simulated voice, to press the appropriate touch tone buttons to unblock the CID (step 70). For example, TAC 10 may be programmed to detect that a "1" key is pressed by the caller to unblock CID and then treat the CID information as unblocked. Alternatively, the caller may be required to call back after pressing the proper touch tone keys to unblock the CID in a conventional way.
In step 72, if the CID is now unblocked, the CID is obtained from the caller in step 74. The process also goes to step 74 if, in step 52, the CID is not initially obtained.
In step 76, TAC 10 determines whether the CID signal has been provided by the calling party from either the automatic CID signals or from the caller manually entering the caller's telephone number, name, or PIN, as previously described. If yes, then in step 54 TAC 10 uses the CID information to determine whether the caller is a new caller, and the remainder of the process continues as previously described.
In step 72, if it is determined that the CID remains blocked after TAC 10 has prompted the caller to unblock the CID, then in step 74 it is determined by TAC 10 is step 77 (after reviewing the subscriber's programmed instructions) whether the subscriber is accepting blocked calls. If yes, TAC 10 then places a call to the subscriber's private number or any other number identified by the subscriber, and puts the blocked call through. The blocked CID information would not be transmitted to the subscriber's phone.
If the subscriber's instructions are to not accept blocked calls, then in step 78 the blocked call is not forwarded to the subscriber's phone, or the blocked call is sent to voice mail. Voice mail may be a memory internal to TAC 10, or TAC 10 may transmit a special code to the subscriber's phone that automatically causes the call to be routed to a private voice mail system.
As seen, as long as the caller ID data received by TAC 10 has information associated with it in the look-up table, the stored information can be transmitted to the subscriber even if the caller ID is blocked. Further, even blocked caller IDs can still be used by TAC 10 to perform a routing function on the call. The caller ID feature may be implemented by a software program run by the processing system in TAC 10.
Because the conventional blocked CID information provided by the phone company is never displayed to the subscriber, the tagging system does not violate the privacy act. Known features such as call trace (where CID is provided to law enforcement people), or call return (where the blocked caller can be called back) have established a legal precedent that it is ok to use blocked CID information for certain purposes as long as the caller ID is not disclosed to the called party
Branch Calling
Branch calling is an enhanced telephone feature not believed to be provided on today's public telephone networks. This feature can be easily provided using TAC 10.
Branch calling is a technique where a caller places a first call intended for a called party to TAC 10. After receiving the call, TAC 10 looks up the call handling instructions programmed into TAC 10 by the subscriber via the web, via the telephone, or via any other technique. One set of these instructions is branch calling, which instructs TAC 10 to simultaneously call any number of different telephone numbers programmed into TAC 10 by the subscriber. The called phone numbers may be any combination of local, long distance, or cellular numbers.
When a party answers one of the ringing lines, the answering party is connected to the calling party, and the other calls are abandoned.
For branch calling to operate in the most desirable manner, the system must detect that a call has been answered in order to terminate the calls to the other telephones (or other end units). Accordingly, some form of answer supervision must be present. Answer supervision is implemented inside the PSTN but generally not available to private networks (e.g., PABXs). Since SS7 signaling supports answer supervision, it is easy for this branch calling feature to be provided through TAC 10 since TAC 10 is connected inside the PSTN.
Prior art systems without answer supervision must call each forwarding number sequentially, whereby after a certain number of preprogrammed rings, the calling stops and the next number is called until someone answers the phone. Because a ringing time-out must occur before the next call can be tried, an unrealistically long delay can occur before the call is placed to the proper telephone and finally answered. In contrast, the present invention allows TAC 10 to ring all the numbers simultaneously so the call can be answered quickly.
It is desirable that the answer supervision signaling not be delayed so that the calling and called parties may be connected quickly when the call is answered and so that during the delay time two parties do not answer two different ringing phones.
In step 80 of
In step 82, TAC 10 looks up the routing instructions for the DNIS (Dialed Number Identification Service) and caller ID (if any). The DNIS identifies the number that was called, and the caller ID (CID) identifies the calling telephone number and sometimes the caller. DNIS works by transmitting the touch tone digits to TAC 10. A subscriber for TAC 10 may program TAC 10, as previously described, to perform any number of functions based upon the DNIS number, the CID, the time of day, or based upon any other factor. Such instructions may be stored in a look-up table addressed by the subscriber's public phone number (identified by the DNIS number). Since multiple subscribers will be using the same TAC 10, TAC 10 needs to know what number was dialed in order to perform the function on the call selected by the subscriber.
In step 86, TAC 10 identifies the features to apply to the incoming call. If the instructions are to block the call, then TAC 10 blocks the call in step 87. In the present example, it is assumed that the feature the subscriber wants to apply is a branch calling feature where two telephone numbers are to be called by TAC 10.
In step 88, TAC 10 generates a ring back tone to the caller to indicate that a telephone is ringing.
In step 90, TAC 10 places a call to a first telephone number, which causes the called phone to ring (step 92). Parallel operations are performed for a second phone number in steps 93 and 95.
In step 96, it is determined by TAC 10 whether the first phone has been answered using answer supervision signaling provided by SS7 (step 98).
In response to the answer supervision signaling, TAC 10 abandons the other call to the second telephone (step 100).
In step 102, TAC 10 completes the phone call by connecting the calling party to the answered telephone. This process may be applied to other than telephones, such as computers or other types of communication equipment.
In step 96, if the call is not answered after the ring, it is determined whether the other telephone has been answered (step 104). If not, the two phones continue to ring.
If it is determined in step 104 that another telephone has been answered (i.e., the answer supervision signal has been received by TAC 10), the call to the first telephone is abandoned (step 106).
The same operation is performed with respect to the second telephone call in steps 108-112.
Any number of telephone calls may be simultaneously placed by TAC 10 in response to a branch calling instruction.
In step 86, if the instructions programmed by the subscriber are to block the call, then TAC 10 blocks the call in step 116.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.
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text: Road Atlanta plays a vital role in the community. In addition to the economic impact from 20+ events annually attracting over 320,000 visitors, Road Atlanta proudly supports numerous local and national charities. The track hosts the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and annually supports the Austin Hatcher Foundation. Road Atlanta also takes its role as a prominent corporate citizen very seriously. In addition to giving back to the community, the track actively takes part in green initiatives established by IMSA and NASCAR.


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Here are two new split-page board books in the popular series from Eric Carle. In the brilliantly colorful My Very First Book of Animal Homes, children can match each animal with the home it lives in. Where do the bees live? Where does the bird live? In My Very First Book of Animal Sounds, children can match each animal with the sound it makes. Which animal barks? Which animal roars? Only you can match them. Full of vibrant animals, these books are loads of fun for young children.
By Eric Carle
ISBN 9780399246487 | 20 pages | 18 Jan 2007 | Philomel | 9.25 x 6.25in | 1 - 3 years


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Leben Interview: Maybe I was meant to go through these struggles to be the man I'm going to be in the future
"What I tell myself is that I'm just going to prepare. I'm going to do everything that I can do, and I'm going to worry about what I can handle right now. But that worry is definitely there.
The UFC is all that I've known for the last ten years, and it's going to be a heartbreaker when I have to walk away, and if losing this fight is what does it, that's definitely going to be hard.
Anybody that says they don't worry about those types of things has to be a liar. So, I do the best I can to block it out and to try and what I can effect and what I can change and not worry about what I can't, but that comes creeping in sometimes."
Leben is preparing for the bout against Hall, his 33rd career fight (22-10) by training with Alliance MMA in San Diego, "You've got top level fighters in there every single day. It seems like every month four new guys come in to train for their fights, so I've always got this great rotating crew of top-level guys to train with. I can't see many places in the world where the training would be more conducive."
Leben spent a great deal of time earlier in his career living and training in Hawaii. That locale had its benefits, but it also had its fair share of drawbacks when it came time to prepare for a fight, "I had some great coaches in Hawaii, but as far as training partners went, it was really hard for me to put together a good camp. In Hawaii when the surfs up, the gym's empty. It was always hard. Not to mention, if I flew anyone out to Hawaii, well, they were in Hawaii, and they had other things they wanted to see too."
Leben said it's a totally different scenario in San Diego, the fighters at Alliance are completely focused on improving their skills, "It's eat, sleep, train. That's what these guys live to do. That's why they're here. It's a lot more nose to the grindstone, hardened environment."
Today, Leben seems fully entrenched and accepted by the team at Alliance. However, when he first made the call informing Alliance head coach Eric Del Fierro that he wanted to train at the gym, the red carpet wasn't exactly rolled out for Leben, "Coach E is the head coach, and I called him and talked to him ahead of time and said 'Hey, I want to come down. I want to train. I want to be part of Alliance.' He kept it short and sweet and said, 'Why don't you just come out and train and we'll see how it goes' and that was it. I thought, 'Wow, I've got a name', I thought he'd be a little more happy that I was coming out, but I understand that everybody's going to have some reservations about me until I prove myself."
Leben was quickly able to erase any doubts that Del Fierro and the Alliance team had about him, "After the first month or so of being there, after everyone realized that I was legit about what was going on with me and that I was serious about fighting, that I trained hard and had a good work ethic, everyone lined up behind me.""I have learned a lot of lessons the hard way. I think regret is a tough word. There are some things I look back on and I shake my head. I look back, and I'm not proud of, absolutely. I don't know. Would I be where I'm at today if it wasn't for those things? Would I be going down this positive route if I hadn't gone through some of those things? Is there some master plan, and I was meant to have to go through all these struggles for the man I'm going to be in the future? I tend to believe so. So, from that standpoint I had to go through it, it had to be the way that it was."
In the past, Leben carried a kind of black cloud around him. He's shed that aura and seems to be in a much better state of mind, something that was evident before his most recent fight, a split decision loss to Andrew Craig at UFC 162. Despite that setback, and the possibility of fighting for his UFC career in Las Vegas at the end of December, Leben couldn't be happier with where his head is at right now, "My mindset is real good right now. I don't know if that's going to help me fight or not.
Obviously, I want to win, so I'm doing everything I can as far as training goes. I've pulled out every single stop. I felt like my last fight I pulled out every stop, but I didn't get the victory, so I had to go back and work and say, 'what else can I tweak? What else can I add?' Now I've got the altitude tent. I'm getting my meals delivered, so I am eating perfect. I'm spending more time with my hands coach. I've really tried to break down the problems I had in my last fight, like not finishing the takedown off the cage. I've really tried to work out those problems.
At this point, I'm going into this fight with the attitude that I've done everything that I can do. I'm going to be as prepared as I can possibly be, and fate is really going to decide this one."My career has always been a little bit of a rollercoaster. I go out and beat somebody that I should lose to, and then I lose to somebody I should have beat, and part of that's been my failure to prepare properly, and the other things going on in my life that have distracted me from real goals.""My nemesis has been these guys that have been longer than me fighting me going backwards.
It really is a tightrope walk between figuring out how to close the distance without over engaging. Those have been the two problems that I've had. If they run too long, I over engage trying to close the distance and that's when they're able to land their shots, so I've really had to overcome that urge to just rush in when guys don't want to fight me, but at the same time he is longer than me and I am going to have to win this fight on the inside."It's not how old you are, but how long you've been doing it, and I've been doing this for a while. So, there's some nicks and dings there that weren't there before, and you only get one brain.
That's why I say my dream come true would be just to have a great run, and put together a couple winning streaks over the next two and half years and then bow out. That would be my perfect finish. Obviously, Uriah Hall stands in the way of that right now.
Leben knows that the storybook end of his career exists only in his mind right now, but he's doing everything in his power to make that fantasy a reality, "That's the dream, but I'm not dreaming right now. Right now, I'm focused on what's in front of me.The reason Leben has set a two and a half year plan for himself is because that is when his wife will graduate law school, and that's when Leben hopes he will be able to step away from the fighting aspect of the sport and move on to the next chapter of his career, "I know that my athlete stage was just that, just a stage in my life. I want to make a transformation. When my wife graduates law school and hopefully gets a job, then that'll give me a little bit more freedom to pursue some other options like travelling and doing seminars, maybe picking up a full time coaching spot."
Leben admits that until he turned 30, "I didn't even think about the future. Saving money, paying taxes, living like a regular citizen, I was worried about making it through that day.
Every year is a transformation for me, but in particular these last few years I feel like I've really made the shift to being a real law abiding citizen, so it is different. I do find myself thinking about the future. Me and my wife talk about our plans, our five-year goal, all this crazy stuff that wasn't on the table a few years ago.""Dana's great. He's taken a liking to me, and thank God because I've given him more than enough excuses to give me the boot.
Dana has really been a huge support for me. It was Dana that was behind getting me into rehab and getting me another shot. Dana's always been fighting in my corner. He's always kind of protected what's going on with me, and my hat's off to him for that. There's nothing bad I can say about the guy at all.""I've been over two years without taking a pain pill, which was my hugest issue. I don't drink any more. I have made a couple mistakes on drinking, but I'm a non-drinker now, and I don't (drink).
I just take it one step, one day at a time. I've really had to make some huge changes about who I surround myself with and who my friends are, who I reach out to for support. The guys at Alliance all know what's going on with me, and everybody's been so supportive of where I'm at with that."


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Published on Thursday, January 20 2011 00:00
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Published on Thursday, January 20 2011 00:00
The Town of Lyons Staff held a roundtable meeting with the owners and landlords of the medical marijuana businesses here in Lyons last Wednesday evening (January 12). A second meeting for input from the general public was held Wednesday, January 19, but because of publishing schedules, that story will be in next week's edition. On hand were: Administrator Victoria Simonsen, Economic Development and Community Relations
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Published on Thursday, January 20 2011 00:00
In the interest of full disclosure, let it be known that the author of this article is married to the Mayor.
The Lyons Board of Trustees (BOT) passed the first reading of an ordinance Monday night that would grant the gas franchise for the Town of Lyons to Xcel Energy for the next twenty years. Xcel Area Manager Craig Eicher told the Board that his company served between 880 to 900 residential and commercial customers in the Lyons area, and collected $640,000 in revenues in 2009. The franchise agreement calls for a three
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Published on Thursday, January 13 2011 00:00
Construction began several weeks ago on a new sound wall along Highway 36 on the western edge of Planet Bluegrass. The eight foot tall sound barrier is the final element relating to the North St. Vrain bridge projects, which were rebuilt by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) in 2007. "This was part of the plan all along," says Planet Bluegrass president Craig Ferguson.
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Did you know that your purchases can help the Friends of the Library? If you shop at Tom Thumb, link your Rewards card to Charity #13161, and the Friends of the Library will receive a percentage of your purchase!
You can support Grapevine Public Library with ANY Amazon Purchase!
Use the link above to access the Amazon Website and the library will receive a percentage of all your purchases with no added cost to you.


text: Dick's Sporting Goods' Black Friday 2014 Ad features 16 pages of jam-packed doorbusters. Customers will be able to find varying selections of apparal on atheletic shoes, hoodies, shirts, rifles, sporting goods, and much more. Dick's Sporting Goods will be releasing their live deals at 5PM on Thanksgiving Thursday and continues into 2PM on Black Friday.


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Hotels in 14141 - Springville NY
Only hotels in 14141 zip code are listed below. Search for cheap and discount hotel rates in Springville, NY for your upcoming leisure or conference / group travel. We list the best 14141 hotels and motels so you can review the Springville hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. Hotels in Erie county and area code 716 are also listed.
14141 Hotels & Accommodations
Next: Show All Available 14141 Hotels with Pricing >


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30 Pomeroy Avenue
Meriden, CT 06450
Browse our complete inventory of low priced new Volvo cars in Meriden. We are committed to offering you a variety of vehicles that suit your lifestyle and budget. A member of the Gengras Volvo sales team has the expertise to find a new Volvo that will meet all of your needs. Choose from all of the latest Volvo models including the new 2015 or 2016 S60, S60 AWD, S80, V60, XC60, and XC90. Get behind the wheel of a Volvo by visiting our greater Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, Glastonbury, New Britain, Cheshire, Tolland, Woodbridge, New Haven, Guilford, Madison, Branford, New London, Milford, Orange, Avon, Simsbury and Waterbury, CT car dealership located at 300 Connecticut Blvd in East Hartford.
Browse our current Volvo inventory by using the Power Search tools below. If you cannot locate a particular vehicle give us a call and we will locate the new car you are searching for.If you don't see the vehicle you are interested in, please ask us about it. We may have this vehicle arriving soon at our dealership, or we are able to order your car or locate it. We have a constantly changing inventory of new vehicles, and the car you're interested may just be a phone call away.


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Before Going Red, Consider a Colorist's Three Key Factors
In the sharply dressed, stunningly colorful, picture-effing-perfect world of Mad Men, there is rarely a hair out of place. That's particularly true for Christina Hendricks's character, Joan, the ad-agency partner whose strawberry strands are as polished as the office's bottomless supply of cocktail glasses. Of course, we can't all be Christina Hendricks. (Sigh.) But according to Terra Therapos, a colorist at Chicago's award-winning Circle Salon, we can all be redheads. It's just an issue of choosing the right shade. "The level of lightness to darkness can vary, but I believe that anyone can wear red or a color that has red in it," Terra said. But when shades of red hair range from strawberry blond to deep burgundy, how do you know which one is right for you? It's (fairly) simple. Here are three factors to keep in mind when going red, as well as what you can expect for maintaining your new color. 1. Your natural hair color. This is important for both aesthetic and scientific reasons. "Stay close to your hair's natural level and work with the tones that naturally exist at that level," Terra said. Blonds should consider light copper or strawberry blond; brunettes can play with mahogany and other red-browns. Not only will this naturally complement your features, it also won't upset the laws of science. As Terra explained it, red is the smallest molecule in the color spectrum. So if, for example, you're a blond, you would need a lot of synthetic color to achieve a deep, dark red. But your hair already contains plenty of blond pigment, and there simply isn't room for it all. "No matter what your colorist does, the hair will always fade back to a lighter shade," she said. 2. Your undertone.Honoring your skin's natural tone is the best way to ensure your red hair will look sultry, not scary. "Try not to oppose your skin tone with your hair color because you can look washed out," Terra advised. (Figure out your undertone here.) For those with yellow undertones, Terra recommends a red "that has warmth in it, like a golden copper, auburn, or brown red." She cited Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, and Debra Messing (pictured at right) as examples. If you have pink undertones, you should aim for something cooler. Think Nicole Kidman's strawberry blond or the ruby red sported by Karen Elson (pictured above) and Florence Welch. If your hair is naturally darker, mahogany can be beautiful as well. Neutral undertones work with most any color. Think about it—Jessica Chastain (pictured at left), Amy Adams, and Emma Stone all have neutral skin tones but have all pulled off very different shades of red hair. If this is you, use your natural hair color and eye color (more on that in a second) as your guides instead. 3. Your eye color.Although it's a less important factor to consider, the right shade of red can really play up your eyes. Let's circle back to Christina Hendricks (pictured at right). Because orange and blue are complementary colors, her hair and eyes make for a striking match.By that same token, green's complementary color is red. So good news, green-eyed girls: your peepers will pop against most any red tones. Brown eyes, like brown hair, will warm to warmer hues, like golden copper or auburn.How to maintain your red Remember what Terra said earlier about red being the smallest color molecule? That also means it takes less time for those molecules to fade away. "Red hair tends to have the most noticeable fading of all hair colors," Terra said. "Expect to visit the salon more often to keep it looking its best." For more vibrant shades, she estimated touchups every four to six weeks. To combat color fade as much as possible, Terra recommends staying vigilant about your hair's health. Use products with UVA and UVB protection on sunny days, and shop for moisturizing shampoos and conditioners that are loaded with antioxidants. You can also try pigmented shampoos and conditioners (like the red or copper versions from Davines), which will actually add color to your hair with every wash. Oh, and one last thing—if you're gonna go red, really embrace it. "I do believe that there is a red for everyone," Terra said. "But it definitely takes the right personality and vote of confidence to wear it well." Photos courtesy of the Instagrams of Karen Elson, Debra Messing, and Jessica Chastain and the Facebook page of Christina Hendricks. Photo illustration by Becca Murray, Groupon.Embrace red from head to toe with these articles:Find the Right Red Lipstick for Your Skin ToneHow to Wear Marsala, Pantone's Color of the Year, All Year LongRead More


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June 5, 2009
Junior Stephanie Ralls and the women's 4x100 relay will join Reindell Cole, Sherrina Lofton and De'Shawn Waters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., on June 10-13.
Ralls, a junior from Deer Island, Ore., received an at-large berth in the women's javelin. She finished 11th (143-5) at the NCAA West Regional last weekend in Oregon, but advances to the NCAA Championships based on her season-best of 159-3 (48.54). Ralls, who finished 10th at the 2008 NCAA Championships with a lifetime-best 165-5 (50.43), ranks 25th among 27 women's javelin throwers in the championship field.
The Matadors will also send their women's 4x100 relay team of Dominique Calvin, Tara Prier, Shelese Ruffin, Precious Watkins and Sherrina Lofton. Lofton will also be competing in the 100 meters as well as the heptathlon. Northridge nearly earned an automatic berth at the West Regional but finished one spot out of the top-three. The Matadors ran a season-best 44.73 in the regional and rank 17th among the relay teams competing at the NCAA Championships.
Cole and Waters, along with Lofton, earned automatic berths during the regionals as Cole took second in the men's long jump, Waters finished third in the 100 meters and fourth in the 200 meters while Lofton placed fifth in the women's 100 meters.


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Hollywood Movies, Trailers, Pictures, News & DVDs
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The sequel to 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Retaliation features the G.I. Joe Team coming into a conflict with Zartan (Arnold Vosloo), Storm Shadow and Firefly (Ray Stevenson) all serving under the newly released Cobra Commander. Zartan (who is last seen in disguise as the President of the United States) frames all G.I. Joe operatives as traitors and wipes most of them out in a sneak attack, leaving only Roadblock, Snake Eyes, Flint, and Lady Jaye. Zartan and the Commander now have all the world leaders under Cobra's control, with warheads headed towards innocent populaces. Badly beaten, out numbered, and outgunned the Joes make a desperate plan to expose the truth and stop Cobra from taking over the world. Starring Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock and Adrianne Palicki as Lady Jaye.
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Pictures from the action sci-fi thriller G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2012), the sequel to 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra


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|Nutritional Counseling
Our Nutritional Counseling service will help you understand the diet principles prescribed by your doctor and develop a personal nutrition plan to fit your lifestyle. Depending on your need, the following may be accomplished:
Nutrition Can Make a Difference
Your specific needs will be evaluated by a registered dietitian (RD) or a licensed medical nutrition therapist (LMNT) who will present thorough, easy-to-understand information during your counseling sessions. This individualized counseling requires an appointment as well as a physician referral. Appointments must be made in advance by calling 308-398-5588. Follow-up visits will be scheduled as deemed necessary by the dietitian and/or patient.
For more information contact Saint Francis Medical Center Nutritional Services at 308-398-5663.
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Dude, jailbreak and install "notifier" and you can haz all you desire. Includes different tones for different events and allows you to control time interval of notifications....
Supports vm, email, sms, and missed call notifications. All individually controlled.
Also has small icon on the menu bar indicating which you have received....
Patent Watch: Always-on iPhone Status Indicators
In similar fashion to the patent for a today screen, Apple Insider is reporting Apple's new filing shows a way of displaying icon-like status indicators on the iPhone's display even though the phone is locked with the backlight not turned on. Apple seems to be paying attention lately to alerts/notifications and that is great news!
blockquote>Apple proposes the implementation of a dual backlight system, where a secondary, low-power backlight system would be positioned behind the primary backlight system. The always-on light provided by the secondary backlight system could then be projected through one or more transparent or semitransparent regions of the primary backlight system to reach the display even when the primary backlight is turned off.
The lack of a feature similar to this is one of the current iPhone's biggest complaints. You leave your iPhone on a table and you walk out of the room for 5 minutes... during that time you get a email or missed call... you get sidetracked and don't turn your phone on... you never know that a message is waiting for you. No blinking LED, no second audible alerts (unless it's a SMS message), nothing. That is a major gripe that I hear over and over regarding the iPhone.
So as soon as this is actually a reality, it will give the haters one less reason to complain. It's just too bad we will all have to wait until a future iPhone to see this feature.
[Via Apple Insider]
Have something to say about this story? Leave a comment! Need help with something else? Ask in our forums!
Reader comments
Patent Watch: Always-on iPhone Status Indicators
Dude, jailbreak and install "notifier" and you can haz all you desire. Includes different tones for different events and allows you to control time interval of notifications....
I agree this is basically a design for an additional layer. so you won't need to turn on the main screen to get notified. I predict this will be on the 3rd gen iPhone. Along with video of course and an HD Screen. Woot =)
@ jeremy, it has an audible tone individualized for each different type of notification and it works regardless of whether the screen is on or not...
Does it not do everything that you requested? (I'm not talking about the app 'status notifier' but 'notifier')...
As to why everyone doesn't jailbreak: not my problem, you can lead a horse to water....
@jeremy, well while those people complain about what they don't have, I enjoy that which is available. It serves me very well. You should mention that these options are available while lamenting that the exact solution implemented exactly how you want it is not availabe yet (or ever possibly). That would be the right thing to do. I would also like to see you guys review more of the apps outside Job's sandbox.
@Anon, I love to blog about everything related to jailbreaking. Not to long ago I did a top jailbroken apps article and the second one is going to drop in early December. If you or anyone else has any jailbroken apps they would like to mention for me to include, please feel free to email me.


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Improving lives through learning
Used by more than 11 million students each year, Pearson's MyLab & Mastering programs deliver consistent, measurable gains in student learning outcomes, retention, and subsequent course success. Start your search for user-provided evidence now.
Have a success story you'd like to share with your peers? Talk to your Pearson rep about how you can partner with an Efficacy Results Manager to document your implementation and results. We'd love to hear from you!
Data-supported evidence of Mastering's positive impact on teaching and learning
A compendium of 47 studies quantifying Mastering's impact on teaching, learning, and retention. The studies illustrate the variety of ways instructors have used Mastering and the results they have achieved.


text: Islay is home to a stunning variety of single malt whisky distilleries. From the south of the island come some of Scotland's most peaty whiskies, from distilleries including Ardbeg, Lagavulin, Laphroaig and the legendary Port Ellen. Further up lies the smoky, coastal-influenced Bowmore, the unusually varied whisky from Bruichladdich, the oily smoky malt from Caol Ila to the north, and Bunnahabhain with its fruity, gentle malts. The island is also now home to a new distillery named Kilchoman, which produces rich, peaty whiskies using the methods of the ancient Scotch distilleries.


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Chocolate Buffet Napkins, Set of 6 1 1
Nice Napkins I have these napkins in three colors--henna, deep jungle (turquoise), and now chocolate. I washed the napkins immediately to see if they held their color. They do. They're cotton, so they need to be ironed. They are not fancy, but nicely hemmed, and the colors pop. December 30, 2013
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Before Taking Placement Assessment
- ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces) is a powerful artificial intelligence based assessment software product, used for the placement assessment, that zeros in on the student's mathematical strengths and weaknesses and reports its findings.
- Students will take the first placement assessment remotely, at a time and place convenient for them. Some regional campuses offer on-campus testing for those students unable to test remotely.
- Students are expected to take the ALEKS placement assessment without assistance from another person or resource. Results from ALEKS will lead to placement in a mathematics course. If students complete the assessment using assistance, there is a strong chance that they will perform poorly in their mathematics course and have to pay tuition fees to retake it.
- ALEKS will have students answer between 25 and 30 questions, none of which are multiple choice. Before beginning the assessment, students will complete an online tutorial so they know how to enter answers in ALEKS. The tutorial and placement may take up to 90 minutes to complete. The ALEKS assessment will be available 48 hours from the time of your first login. After that, it will timeout and you will not be able to complete that assessment.
- Students will need paper and pencil/pen to complete the placement assessment but NO PERSONAL CALCULATOR is permitted! A calculator will be provided by ALEKS when needed.
- Students may be asked questions on material that is unfamiliar. On such questions the student should answer, "I don't know." But on any question that is even slightly familiar to the student it is important to attempt to answer. "I don't know" is interpreted by ALEKS to mean that the student has no knowledge of the topic and this will be reflected in the assessment results. If the student's best effort is not given then then ALEKS will underestimate their knowledge.
- If you would like to learn more about ALEKS and/or sign up for an optional free trial, click here.


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What's The Best Zelda?
There have been a whole bunch of Zelda games! And Danny hasn't played most of them. So Peter, Alexa and Chris let us know which of Link's adventures are the ...
There have been a whole bunch of Zelda games! And Danny hasn't played most of them. So Peter, Alexa and Chris let us know which of Link's adventures are the ...
Select Wii U and 3DS games are 30% off on the eShop right now.
Tom cannot imagine where The Legend of Zelda is headed without exploring its incredible past, and still wonders what direction Nintendo will take.
Console might have "minor cosmetic blemishes," but Nintendo guarantees it to be fully functional; comes with Nintendo Land and one-year warranty.
Jess lets you know why you shouldn't write off the Wii U quite yet and what five things Nintendo could do to convince you to pick one up for yourself!
Zelda mastermind talks about his Wind Waker best bits, why people now love Toon Link, and negotiating budgets with Miyamoto.
Watch Dogs has been pushed back to 2014, Resident Evil 7 rumours are buzzing, the Xbox One is named a top breakthrough product, has cross-platform play hinted at AND the ...
After $50 price cut, sales of Wii U hardware in the United States during September jumped 200 percent over August's numbers; 3DS the best-selling system for fifth straight month.
Sales of Nintendo's struggling HD platform jump in United Kingdom after launch of Wind Waker HD.
Zelda series producer Eiki Aonuma discusses the process of bringing the GameCube original to the Wii U.
Feeling nostalgic? Relive Link's adventures in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD or Snake's past in Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection.
Take a look at the launch trailer for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.
Nintendo designers recall creator Shigeru Miyamoto saying they needed to come up with a means to justify Link's oversized eyes.
Martin Gaston sets sail on a journey of nostalgia with The Wind Waker HD, taking Link through an old adventure on a new console.
Link wakes to find himself on a talking boat, The King of Red Lions, in the Wii U remake of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.
Fooling the guards is easy when you look like a barrel and not a young boy-hero in the Wii U remake of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD.
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Make this friendly giraffe grow tall with a simple touch of his tail—let go and he slides back down! The perfect toy to teach action and response to little ones during playtime.
- Ages 18m+
- Move the giraffe tail up and down to move his head
- Paints & finishes non-toxic, child safe
- High quality wood, all new materials
- Products comply with ASTM & EN71 standards
- Coordinates with Giraffe Safari collection
- Size (inches): 5.5l x 1.5w x 5.5h; (cm): 14l x 4w x 14h


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Sunday, July 7, 2013
James Aubrey Dyal, 77, of Summerville, founder and owner of James A. Dyal Funeral Home, Inc., died Saturday, July 6, 2013 at Hospice Center of Charleston in Mt. Pleasant.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at 4 o'clock at Dorchester Memory Gardens Mausoleum, 11000 Dorchester Road, Summerville. Following the service a reception will be held at Dorchester Memory Gardens. Visitation will be held Monday from 5 to 9 o'clock at James A. Dyal Funeral Home, 303 S. Main Street, Summerville.
Jimmy was born November 29, 1935 in Jasper County, SC, son of the late Marvin Anthony Dyal and Clenner Woods Dyal.
He was a 1954 graduate of St. Paul's High School, Yonges Island, and a graduate of Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in Louisville, Kentucky. He served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. He served on the SC State Board of Funeral Service. He was proud to be a member of the SC Funeral Directors Association, Selected Independent and Order of Golden Rule. He was a lifetime member of Chicora Lodge #366. He was also a member of the Omar Shrine, VFW and the American Legion. He was formerly a member of the Summerville Lions Club and Rotary Club. He established Dorchester Memory Gardens, Tri County Cremation Center and Lowcountry Monuments after establishing the funeral home in 1963. Jimmy was Deputy Coroner of Dorchester County from 1965 until 1985 and also had an ambulance service that served the tri county area for a number of years.
He married Mary Alice Marvin on July 20, 1957.
Surviving are his wife, a daughter; Elizabeth Dyal Locklear, a son; James A. Dyal, Jr. both of Summerville and three grandchildren, a brother; Bernard L. Dyal and his wife, Gloria; a sister; Elizabeth "Lib" Simmons and her husband Horis, all of Summerville. He is also survived by his brother in law Frank M. Marvin of Hollywood and brother in law W. Henry Marvin and his wife Narda of Winston Salem, NC. He was preceded in death in 1983 by his daughter, Lorraine Dyal.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dorchester Memory Gardens Development Fund, PO Box 3040, Summerville, SC 29484.
A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jamesadyal.com.
Arrangements by James A. Dyal Funeral Home, 303 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483 (843) 873-4040.
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Thursday, May 9, 2013
Deputies with the Drug Enforcement Unit of The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office have seized more illegal gambling machines in their ongoing investigation.
Following up on information received, agents raided an establishment at 2140 Highway 41 in Wando, known as A.J.'s, and have confiscated 10 sweepstakes poker machines.
The BCSO is conducting this operation in conjunction with a statewide crackdown by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division on these illegal gambling machines.
Charges against the owner of A.J.'s, which could include civil or criminal charges, are forthcoming, according to the BCSO.
If anyone has information on locations of gambling operations please call the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office at (843) 719-4412 or (843) 723-3800 ext. 4412.
The Gazette is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Gazette.
If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.
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Paige optimistic he can win two racesBy Neal P. Goswami
VERMONT PRESS BUREAU | August 23,2014
Jeb Wallace-Brodeur / Staff Photo ¬ H. Brooke Paige of WashingtonMONTPELIER With just days to go before the Democratic primaries, and a sitting governor and attorney general who havent even acknowledged his presence on the ballot, H. Brooke Paige is undeterred and believes he can win both those races.
Paige, of Washington, took the unusual step of securing his place on the ballot for governor and attorney general with one petition. State officials, namely Secretary of State James Condos, did not challenge the single petition for two offices. As a result, the 61-year-old is facing both Gov. Peter Shumlin and Attorney General William Sorrell.
Paige last ran for office in 2012, when he was a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. Now, hes on the ballot in two Democratic primaries. Paige isnt shy about why it provided the best chance, in his estimation, to win.
Also, he says he is not really the worlds greatest Republican.
These are just labels. Some people take them very seriously, Paige said.
He has his own label for himself.
I am a classic liberal, he said. Post-neoclassic liberal, Im told, is the proper name.
The definition, according to Paige, is a strong belief in small government and liberal rights for individuals. Vermont is leaning more and more toward big government and creating a group of citizens dependent on government, he said.
We create situations where people are too disadvantaged to take care of themselves, Paige said. We get to a point where we cant lead people on a pathway to self-sufficiency anymore. We get them stuck in a rut of dependency, and I think that is very sad.
The state must provide people with safety but look out for the common good at the same time, Paige said.
Hes running for governor against Shumlin because he believes the incumbents policies are hurting the state.
I got looking at all of the landscape here in Vermont and really realized that it would be a public service to save Vermont from another two years of Peter Shumlin, he said. I dont think Im alone in that consideration.
Paige called Shumlins proposal for a universal, publicly financed health care system a steamy pile of crud. He said the states effort under Shumlin to implement an online health insurance marketplace required by the federal Affordable Care Act has been a failure.
Paige said he favors universal access to health care that is not a financial detriment. But that should have been achieved by expanding the now-defunct Catamount Health plan, he said.
Additional changes, including tort reform and allowing the purchase of insurance across state lines, would help Vermonters more, according to Paige.
The sad part is nothing was broken but Shumlin couldnt hang his name on it, he said. Lets get back on firm footing and then we can take a look at the landscape and determine if theres something better to do.
Shumlins energy policies are also suspect, Paige said. Boosting the states renewable energy may be a laudable goal, he said, but the state is investing money and subsidizing technology that is not fully developed.
Whats wrong here is were investing far too much when were still in the innovator cycle, he said. Its all touchy-feely, instead of letting good, sound economic decisions drive the market, drive the technology.
In his race for attorney general, Paige said he is concerned with the cases and causes that Sorrell chooses to pursue.
I think Mr. Sorrell is running his office like a boutique law firm, picking and choosing politically desirable topics. Hes running it more like an extension of Vermont Law School, where every day theyre holding mock trials, Paige said.
The problem is when they lose one down at the AGs office it costs us another few million dollars, he said.
Sorrell, who participated in a public forum with Paige, said he enforces and defends the laws passed by the Legislature.
I have no idea what hes taking about, Sorrell said. The reality is I enforce the laws the Legislature enacts and when the state gets sued we defend whether its GMOs or Vermont Yankee wanting to avoid shutting down. If thats what a boutique firm is all about, then I guess Im guilty.
Despite political disagreements, Paige said he holds Sorrell in much higher regard than Shumlin.
I like Bill Sorrell. As a person, hes a nice guy. I cant say that for Shumlin by any stretch of the imagination, Paige said. I can say that I think Mr. Shumlin is morally and ethically challenged.
Shumlin has not engaged in any primary campaigning against Paige. In fact, Shumlin is scheduled to be out of state on vacation through the primary, which is Tuesday. His campaign declined to comment.
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MLL382 - Indian Law
Unit details
|2015 unit information
|Enrolment modes:
Trimester 3: Study tour
|Credit point(s):
|EFTSL value:
|Unit chair:
L Xynas
Prerequisite for M312 students: Nil
|Incompatible with:
|Contact hours:
This unit requires students to attend a supervised study tour
For further information on this study tour please refer to the below study tour link:
This unit has two principal aims. First, to introduce the current Indian legal system and, second, to study in detail some aspects of Indian commercial law, particularly law in relation to commercial transactions in India. The unit introduces Indian legal history and India's law-making mechanisms and then examines in more detail some key topics in Indian commercial law. After having completed the unit, you should have an understanding of both the underlying principles of the legal system, and Indian Commercial Law. Furthermore, you will have some exposure to the particular rules or principles which affect commercial transactions with India. The unit is designed to maximise the benefits to be gained from the study tour in India, drawing on the expertise available at the Indian institutions.
Assessment 1 (Individual) - Written Session reviews (500 words per review), class presentations and participation in cultural and social events (20%)
Assessment 2(Individual) - Written Assignment (Reflective Journal) 2500 words, 30%
Assessment 3 (Group of 3 students) - Written Assignment 5000 words, 50%.
Unit Fee Information
|Student Contribution Rate*
|Student Contribution Rate**
|Fee rate - Domestic Students
|Fee rate - International students
* Rate for all CSP students, except for those who commenced Education and Nursing units pre 2010
** Rate for CSP students who commenced Education and Nursing units pre 2010
Please note: Unit fees listed do not apply to Deakin Prime students.


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Let it go … and go … and goWritten by Michael Miller | Editor in Chief Emeritus | email@example.com
Literature, theater and film can transport your mind and spirit to other realms and induce intense intellectual engagement, but music is the art form that most effectively grips emotions.
Not many people recite poetry or novel passages in the shower or car, but a song stuck in the head can melt inhibitions and inspire headbanging under the water and on the highway. Not many of us have been caught acting out scenes from our favorite movies, but lots of us have been caught singing and bopping in the car, cubicle or classroom.
I remember one summer day walking around our duplex in Walbridge singing Roger Miller's "King of the Road" with lusty off-key abandon. As I came around the corner, I faced our neighbor family looking at me with bemused smiles. Too lost in my melody to be appropriately embarrassed, I took a deep breath and kept singing about trailers for sale and rent, ignoring the friendly laughter as it faded behind me.
Many people had far worse childhoods than I did, but mine had its share of abusive and scary moments, which I often dealt with by hiding under headphones and listening to music for hours at a time.
There used to be a Seligman Brothers record store on Sylvania near Douglas, and they specialized in stocking jukeboxes.
When the records returned from the bars, sometimes worn gray in the grooves from thousands of spins, the store would sell them for a quarter. I could walk in there with $2 or $3, spend an hour browsing and walk home with a dozen fairly recent 45s.
When things got nasty or heated on the homefront, I could close the door to my room, put on the huge airplane landing strip headphones held together with duct tape and play record after record, until every note and vocal nuance was etched on my brain. I spent more time with Bob Seger, Billy Joel and The Police in those days than I did with the in-name-only parents who expressed themselves through absence or aggression.
I did not always sing to the music, but I remember one day belting out the drama of — don't ask me why — "Don't Cry Out Loud" by Melissa Manchester as it played over the WOHO airwaves. One minute I was belting out the story of how baby cried the day the circus came to town, and the next minute my father was crashing through the door, yelling at me about singing too loud. He tried to pull the headphones from the Realistic stereo but knocked it off the bookshelf to the floor, where its fake wood panel case cracked, silencing it forever and me temporarily.
You may have heard the quote about parenting that cautions kids may not remember what you do or remember what you say, but they will forever remember how you make them feel. The details of that afternoon are lost to me, but that feeling of humiliation and embarrassment — which I did not feel at all in front of neighbors but felt drowned in as the target of my old man's wrath — associated itself with singing out loud for far too many years. One of my life's great pleasures was spoiled, and while I got over it eventually, I do not remember giving any more impromptu concerts.
So when my 6-year-old son Sean walks around the house or plays in the backyard, singing "Let It Go" from the movie "Frozen" at the top of his little lungs, I may be tempted to hand him a wad of taffy to keep him silent, but I refrain from repeating his grandfather's mistake.
"Let It Go" is the elementary school national anthem, heard anywhere there are children. I do not know what subliminal commands are buried in the music or the film's images, but they are powerful mojo. Sean knows every line to the song, and sings it with classmates and family members on a seemingly perpetual, ceaseless, uninterrupted, endless, repeating loop that keeps going on and on and over and over and doesn't stop and continues and repeats and starts again and refreshes and keeps going, forever and ever, amen.
It's maddening, like a low, throbbing toothache. But he is so sweet and happy when he sings it; I may shush his volume when it gets to 11, but with Manchester over my shoulder, I never want to make him feel bad about singing or want him to associate such a happy expression with parental consternation. I hope that means that while the beat goes on, the generational beatdowns don't have to.
Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and news director of Newsradio 1370 WSPD. Email him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Tags: "Don't Cry Out Loud'", "King of the Road", "Let it Go", 45s, Billy Joel, Bob Seger, Broadway, childhood, frozen, jukeboxes, Melissa Manchester, Music, Roger Miller, Seligman Brothers, South End, The Police, WOHO


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