Importance

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Abstract

A method of alerting a user of a variable bit rate communication between a first terminal and a distant terminal over alternative networks including a circuit switched network and a packet network permits the user the opportunity to change alerting preferences from a remote location or locally and to predetermine instructions for a calling party. A method of alerting a broadband user at a first terminal of an incoming multimedia call from a particular calling party comprises the steps of receiving input data at a broadband gateway of user preferences of calling parties, calling party locations, and terminal configuration data for a terminal normally utilized by the user, alerting a called user by utilizing a user-defined alerting scheme, the scheme including identifying the multimedia call as one specifically intended for the user among a plurality of different users and identifying one of the identity or the location of the calling party, comparing the identity or location with said user preferences and alerting the calling party of the priority of the call, the priority of the call including an indication of whether the called party has left instructions for the calling party. In accordance with a further embodiment, a method of alerting a broadband user at a first terminal of an incoming multimedia call from a particular calling party comprises the steps of receiving input data at a broadband gateway of user preferences of calling parties, calling party locations, and terminal configuration data for a terminal normally utilized by the user, comparing the user preferences with data describing the incoming multimedia call, and, if the terminal normally utilized by the user is not appropriate for the call, alerting the called user to one of moving to another terminal or arranging to equip said terminal so that the terminal is appropriate for the call.

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First Claim