Abstract: An exemplary method includes 1) retrieving a set of presentation elements from a remote server, the set of presentation elements including a graphical element, 2) retrieving metadata from the remote server, the metadata associated with the graphical element and including information specifying coordinates at which the graphical element is to be displayed and a distance for the graphical element to cover within a graphical user interface, 3) using the metadata to determine a distance to stretch the graphical element within the graphical user interface, 4) stretching the graphical element the determined distance starting from the specified coordinates, and 5) including the stretched graphical element within the graphical user interface. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: In certain exemplary embodiments, data representative of a proximity heuristic specifying a plurality of levels of an object detection zone associated with a display screen is maintained, an object is detected within the object detection zone, one or more of the levels are selected based on one or more attributes of the object, and an action associated with the selected one or more levels is performed. In certain examples, the action includes modifying a graphical user interface view displayed on the display screen.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide an online directory service over a network. After receiving a request to view an online directory listing from a network-enabled user terminal, an online directory server may present to the user terminal a directory listing associated with an identifier of audiovisual content. In response to a selection by a user of the listing, the user terminal may provide the identifier associated with the selected directory listing to the directory server. Based on the identifier, the directory server may access the audiovisual content and provide it to the user terminal and may present it to the user in conjunction with the other information of the directory listing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for enabling a user to perform telecommunication operations are disclosed. A method disclosed includes receiving a device having a storage containing data corresponding to an account identifier and data associated with a voice portal and then establishing a connection with a server associated with the voice portal. Upon establishing the connection, the data corresponding to the account identifier is provided to the server associated with the voice portal. Then, upon confirmation by the server that the account identifier corresponds to an active subscriber account, the user is enabled to perform selected operations of the voice portal using voice input commands based on limitations, if any, associated with the active subscriber account.

Abstract: Methods and systems for establishing a computer-enhanced conference call are disclosed. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention establish a computer-enhanced conference call between a plurality of users, including an initiating user. A service center detects a computer-enhanced conference call event that was previously configured by the initiating user. Conference users associated with the computer-enhanced conference call event are thereafter contacted. After at least one response from the conference users is received, a conference call between the initiating user and the conference users is established based on the at least one received response. The service center also establishes a collaboration between the initiating user and conference users that are authorized to participate in the collaboration.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing a call in real-time are disclosed. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention manage a call in real-time based on input from a user. A service center receives information pertaining to a call to the user from a service control point and sends a notification of the call to a device associated with the user. The service center receives a response to the notification from the user. Thereafter, the service center instructs the service control point to connect the call based on the response.

Abstract: An interactive assistant for managing telephone communications and services is disclosed. In one of many possible method embodiments, a chat interface is provided to a device associated with an intended recipient of an incoming voice call. A chat message from the intended recipient is received through the chat interface. The chat message is presented to a calling party associated with the incoming call prior to a disposition of the call being determined. In other embodiments, an interface provides controls for individually managing calls on a conference call, without affecting other calls on the conference call.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a call notification, voice mail message notification, or SMS message for a wireless device to a user's preferred device. When a wireless device receives an incoming call, a voice mail message, or a SMS message, the wireless device connects to a network and sends a notification to the user's preferred device. If the preferred device is not available, the notification is stored in a database.

Abstract: Methods and systems for routing a communication to a preferred device are disclosed. A service center consistent with the present invention is operable to receive information pertaining to a communication to a user from a calling party, and retrieve data corresponding to the user using the received information. The service center also determines a preferred device of the user based on the retrieved data, wherein the preferred device is one of a plurality of devices associated with the user. Thereafter, the service center ascertains whether the preferred device of the user requires a new mode of delivery, and routes the communication to the preferred device of the user based on the ascertaining.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a SMS message sent to a particular phone number or address to a preferred device. A sender may send a SMS message to a phone number address of a user. The SMS message is then routed to a preferred device selected by the user and displayed in an appropriate format on the preferred device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for initiating a collaboration between users are disclosed. An application server receives information pertaining to a call to a first user placed by a second user. A notification server sends notification of the call to a device associated with the first user. A network access server may then receive a response to the notification. Thereafter, the notification server sends a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the second user based on the response, and the application server initiates a collaboration between the first user and the second user based on a determination that the second user accepts the collaboration request.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide personal channels from a network-capable user terminal. A first user terminal may receive a request from a second user terminal for access to a personal channel created by a user and stored on the first user terminal in association with media content. In response to the request, the first user terminal may access the media content associated with the requested personal channel and provide the media content to the first user terminal over the network. A data center accessible by both the first and second user terminals may facilitate the access to the personal channel by storing information associated with the personal channel, including terminal identifiers and metadata, and providing a searchable catalog interface to identify personal channels to view.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention screen calls. A first server receives information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party. The first server then determines whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user and determines whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid when the realtime call management function is not enabled. A call screening function is performed when the calling party number is invalid. The first server provides a notification of the call to a device associated with the user when the real-time call management function is enabled. A second server initiates the call screening function when the user selects a call screening option included in the notification.

Abstract: Enhanced call management services to users receiving incoming calls on extensions on a private branch exchange (PBX) is provided by an application server configured to provide call management services to at least one of the users and a protocol proxy configured to receive call information from the PBX according to a protocol for establishing call sessions. The application server is further configured to receive the call information from the protocol proxy.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide an online directory service over a network. After receiving a request to view an online directory listing from a network-enabled user terminal, an online directory server may present to the user terminal a directory listing associated with an identifier of audiovisual content. In response to a selection by a user of the listing, the user terminal may provide the identifier associated with the selected directory listing to the directory server. Based on the identifier, the directory server may access the audiovisual content and provide it to the user terminal and may present it to the user in conjunction with the other information of the directory listing.

Abstract: A video conferencing system (100) includes a switch (125), a server (140), a telephony device (152), and a node (102) in a packet-switched network (135). The switch (125) establishes a circuit-switched connection between a calling party number and a called party number. The server (140) associates first and second network addresses in a packet-switched network (135) with each of the called party and calling party numbers. The telephony device (152) transmits audio data via the circuit-switched connection. The node (102) in the packet-switched network (135) transmits packetized video between the first and second network addresses responsive to establishment of the circuit-switched connection.

Abstract: A video conferencing system (100) includes a switch (125), a server (140), a telephony device (152), and a node (102) in a packet-switched network (135). The switch (125) establishes a circuit-switched connection between a calling party number and a called party number. The server (140) associates first and second network addresses in a packet-switched network (135) with each of the called party and calling party numbers. The telephony device (152) transmits audio data via the circuit-switched connection. The node (102) in the packet-switched network (135) transmits packetized video between the first and second network addresses responsive to establishment of the circuit-switched connection.

Abstract: A system including a location server configured to receive registration data from an IP device and a location database configured to store location information of the IP device, wherein the location server queries the location database to determine whether the registration data matches the location information stored at the location database.

Abstract: A telephony system (100) includes a user device (110, 130) configured to enable a user of the telephony system (100) to place and receive telephone calls, and a service node (180, 185) configured to communicate with the user device (110, 130) and to thereby provide the user with an automated voice interface to the telephony system (100) upon the user's initiating access to the telephony system (100) via the user device (110, 130). The automated voice interface permits the user to verbally specify a desired objective corresponding to any one of a number of predefined objectives, the predefined objectives including directory assisted call placement and at least one form of information retrieval. Upon receiving the desired objective from the user, the service node (180, 185) acts to implement the desired objective.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a video messaging service for transmitting video messages between network terminals over a network. After a caller's video-messaging terminal receives a notification that a receiver failed to respond to a communication request, the caller's video-messaging terminal may enable the caller to record a video message and store it for viewing on-demand by a receiver's video-messaging terminal. After recording, the caller's video-messaging terminal transmits a stored message notification terminal to a network server which, in turn, transmits a stored message notification, including an identifier of the caller's video-messaging terminal, to the receiver. Based on the identifier, the receiver's video-messaging terminal may request access to the video message from the callers video-messaging terminal. In response to the request, the caller's video-messaging terminal retrieves the video message from storage and provides it to the receiver's video-messaging terminal over the network.