Abstract: A method is described and in one embodiment includes requesting from a calendaring system calendaring information for a participant in an online collaboration session, wherein the calendaring information includes free/busy information for the participant; receiving the requested calendaring information; verifying based on processing of the received calendaring information that the participant has a hard stop relative to an end of the online collaboration session, wherein the hard stop is a point in time at which the participant can no longer participate in the online collaboration session; and presenting on a display of user equipment associated with the online collaboration system a hard stop indicator for the participant a first amount of time prior to the hard stop, wherein the hard stop indicator is displayed proximate a representation of the participant.

Abstract: A method is described and in one embodiment includes requesting from a calendaring system calendaring information for a participant in an online collaboration session, wherein the calendaring information includes free/busy information for the participant; receiving the requested calendaring information; verifying based on processing of the received calendaring information that the participant has a hard stop relative to an end of the online collaboration session, wherein the hard stop is a point in time at which the participant can no longer participate in the online collaboration session; and presenting on a display of user equipment associated with the online collaboration system a hard stop indicator for the participant a first amount of time prior to the hard stop, wherein the hard stop indicator is displayed proximate a representation of the participant.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a first interface arrangement that obtains information from at least one data source. The information is associated with the presence of an entity at a location. The apparatus also comprises a processing arrangement that automatically updates a dynamic distribution list that is associated with the location based on the information.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network interface receives a first calendar meeting report from a first user and a second calendar meeting report from a second user. The first user and the second user are located on an internal network. The first calendar meeting report comprises first meeting attendees and a first calendar meeting time. The second calendar meeting report comprises second meeting attendees and a second calendar meeting time. A processor determines a common meeting attendee from the first meeting attendees and the second meeting attendees. The common meeting attendee is located on an external network, and the first user and the second user are unable to access calendar scheduling data associated with the common meeting attendee. The processor then generates a common calendar on the internal network. The common calendar associated with the common meeting attendee comprises the first calendar meeting time and the second calendar meeting time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to process an incoming message is described. The method may comprise, at a recipient system, receiving an incoming message from a message communicator and automatically analyzing message content to identify a keyword included in the message content. Thereafter, a predefined action associated with the keyword may be identified and the action may be performed. In an example embodiment, the predefined action may be a priority with the message, alerting an intended recipient of the message, routing the message to the intended recipient, paging the intended recipient, emailing the message to the intended recipient, sending an SMS message to the intended recipient, or the like. In an example embodiment, a user/owner of a mailbox may search a message database to identify incoming messages which includes the search term in the message content.

Abstract: Systems and methods for tuning a dictionary of a speech recognition system includes accessing a voice mail record of a user, accessing a recorded audio file of a name of the user in the voice mail record spoken by the user, providing the audio file to a speech recognition system, processing the audio file in the speech recognition system and obtaining a text result, determining whether a confidence score of the text result is below a predetermined threshold, and adding, at least, the name of the user to a list of low confidence names. Alternate spellings for the low confidence names can then be added to the dictionary.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, training a transcription system includes accessing recorded voice data of a user from one or more sources. The recorded voice data comprises voice samples. A transcript of the recorded voice data is accessed. The transcript comprises text representing one or more words of each voice sample. The transcript and the recorded voice data are provided to a transcription system to generate a voice profile for the user. The voice profile comprises information used to convert a voice sample to corresponding text.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an image of a user's eye at a device having a screen and a camera operable to input the image, processing the image to identify one or more characteristics of the user's eye for use in determining if the user is having difficulty viewing data displayed on the screen, and magnifying the data displayed on the screen if the user is having difficulty viewing the data. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining mobility information associated with a remote device. The mobility information indicates whether the remote device is approximately stationary. The remote device interacts with a server. The method also includes determining if the mobility information indicates that the remote device is approximately stationary, and selecting a first profile of a plurality of profiles if the remote device is approximately stationary. If the remote device is not approximately stationary, a second profiled of the plurality of profiles is selected.

Abstract: An example method is provided and includes establishing a communication pathway to a building element configured to control at least one environmental setting within a room. The method also includes communicating an ability to control the environmental setting within the room to an endpoint configured to participate in a meeting session. The method further includes receiving a command from the endpoint to adjust the environmental setting during the meeting session. The command can be communicated to the building element. In more specific examples, the method can include registering with one or more application program interfaces (APIs) associated with the building element, and communicating a credential to the building element in order to provide an authentication for controlling the environmental setting. In yet other embodiments, the command to adjust the environmental setting is received via a menu of a user interface provided by a video conferencing platform.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for a gesture device to detect a series of gestures performed by a user and execute corresponding electronic commands associated with the gestures. The gesture device detects a gesture constituting movements from a user in three-dimensional space and generates a confidence score value for the gesture. The gesture device selects an electronic command associated with the gesture and compares the electronic command with a prior electronic command associated with a prior gesture previously detected by the gesture device in order to determine a compatibility metric between the electronic command and the prior electronic command. The gesture device then adjusts the confidence score value based on the compatibility metric to obtain a modified confidence score value. The electronic command is executed by the gesture device when the modified confidence score value is greater than a predetermined threshold confidence score value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described to process an incoming telephone call. The method may comprise, at a recipient telephone system, receiving the incoming call including speech and identifying when a Do-Not-Disturb option is set. The Do-Not-Disturb option may identify that a user has requested not to receive telephone calls. Content analysis may be performed to identify content of the speech and a reference database may be interrogated based on the content to identify an associated rule. Thereafter, the Do-Not-Disturb option may be selectively overridden based on the associated rule. The content analysis may comprise performing speech recognition on the speech to obtain a reference word/phrase and interrogating the reference database with the word/phrase to identify the associated rule. A method of configuring a Do-Not-Disturb option in a telephone system is also described that allows a user to define reference words and associated rules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to process an incoming message is described. The method may comprise, at a recipient system, receiving an incoming message from a message communicator and automatically analyzing message content to identify a keyword included in the message content. Thereafter, a predefined action associated with the keyword may be identified and the action may be performed. In an example embodiment, the predefined action may be a priority with the message, alerting an intended recipient of the message, routing the message to the intended recipient, paging the intended recipient, emailing the message to the intended recipient, sending an SMS message to the intended recipient, or the like. In an example embodiment, a user/owner of a mailbox may search a message database to identify incoming messages which includes the search term in the message content.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an image of a user's eye at a device having a screen and a camera operable to input the image, processing the image to identify one or more characteristics of the user's eye for use in determining if the user is having difficulty viewing data displayed on the screen, and magnifying the data displayed on the screen if the user is having difficulty viewing the data. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to process an incoming message is described. The method may comprise, at a recipient system, receiving an incoming message from a message communicator and automatically analyzing message content to identify a keyword included in the message content. Thereafter, a predefined action associated with the keyword may be identified and the action may be performed. In an example embodiment, the predefined action may be a priority with the message, alerting an intended recipient of the message, routing the message to the intended recipient, paging the intended recipient, emailing the message to the intended recipient, sending an SMS message to the intended recipient, or the like. In an example embodiment, a user/owner of a mailbox may search a message database to identify incoming messages which includes the search term in the message content.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for a gesture device to detect a series of gestures performed by a user and execute corresponding electronic commands associated with the gestures. The gesture device detects a gesture constituting movements from a user in three-dimensional space and generates a confidence score value for the gesture. The gesture device selects an electronic command associated with the gesture and compares the electronic command with a prior electronic command associated with a prior gesture previously detected by the gesture device in order to determine a compatibility metric between the electronic command and the prior electronic command. The gesture device then adjusts the confidence score value based on the compatibility metric to obtain a modified confidence score value. The electronic command is executed by the gesture device when the modified confidence score value is greater than a predetermined threshold confidence score value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining whether to suppress images of a video feed in a video call or videoconference is provided. A communications server receives a first video feed from a first client and determines whether a face is present in images of the first video feed. The communication server determines whether to suppress images of the first video feed from a second video feed based on whether a face is detected in images of the first video feed. The communication server suppresses images of the first video feed from the second video feed in response to determining to suppress images of the first video feed and disseminates the second video feed to a second client.

Abstract: A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving video input data associated with a video stream and identifying one or more spatial plane coordinates within the video input data. The spatial plane coordinates can be associated with a smartphone configured to operate as a token in a video presentation associated with the video stream. The method also includes receiving location information that includes accelerometer data associated with the smartphone, and identifying a location of the smartphone based on the one or more spatial plane coordinates and the location information that includes the accelerometer data. In other embodiments, the method may include providing image data associated with a representation of the token as an overlay for a resultant video stream. The location information can include orientation data that includes a direction to which the smartphone can point, and an angle of rotation associated with the smartphone.

Abstract: A method of recording messages includes recording audio data in a first file structured in accordance with a file format that defines a first portion and a second portion. The audio data is recorded in the first portion of the first file. The method also includes encrypting the audio data stored in the first portion of the first file and generating a second file structured according to the file format. The second file includes decoy audio data in the first portion of the second file and the encrypted audio data in the second portion of the second file. The decoy audio data indicates a confidential status of the second file or serves as a red herring to distract from the encrypted audio data in the second portion of the second file.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining whether to suppress images of a video feed in a video call or videoconference is provided. A communications server receives a first video feed from a first client and determines whether a face is present in images of the first video feed. The communication server determines whether to suppress images of the first video feed from a second video feed based on whether a face is detected in images of the first video feed. The communication server suppresses images of the first video feed from the second video feed in response to determining to suppress images of the first video feed and disseminates the second video feed to a second client.