Abstract: A method and system for providing a service node for authenticating online transactions. The authentication service node improves the ability to verify that an online transaction is made by an authenticated user. The authentication service node receives a request to authenticate a transaction, such as a purchase from an online merchant made by a purchaser using a first device and providing a user identifier such as a user name and password. The authentication service node identifies a second device associated with the provided user identifier, where the second device has been configured to validate inputs by a person associated with the provided user identifier. The service node sends the second device a request to confirm the online transaction and receives a determination specifying whether inputs providing by the user of second device match inputs provided previously by the user associated with the user identifier.

Abstract: A method performed by a computing system includes managing an audio communication session that includes an audio connection between a plurality of participant devices, associating with each of the plurality of participant devices, a volume adjustment factor, adjusting a volume of an audio out signal from a first participant device of the plurality of participant devices to create an adjusted audio out signal, the adjusting being based on the volume adjustment factor associated with the first participant device, and transmitting a conference audio signal based on the adjusted audio out signal to a subset of the plurality of participant devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for starting both a synchronous communication session and an asynchronous communication session that overlap in time, and sending a digital link to users associated with the synchronous communication session that allows them to access the asynchronous communication session. The synchronous communication session includes real-time multimedia data transfer among the users associated with the session. The asynchronous communication session includes allowing users to add information to or retrieve information from the session. The asynchronous communication session persists after the synchronous communication session ends.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing real-time communications services to a user. A service node provides user interaction instructions and functional execution instructions to a communication application container executing on a computing host. The user interaction instructions include instructions for the display by a web client of a real-time communications graphical display, such as a softphone graphical interface. A real time communication service is configured by the service node based on user input to the graphical display executing on the communication application container. The service node provides the real time communication service to the user of the computing host based on the functional execution instructions executing on the communication application container.

Abstract: A method performed by a first computing device to transfer a multimedia conversation to the first computing device includes sending, to a first service node, a request to transfer a first communication session to the first computing device, the first communication session using a first type of protocol, the first communication session being between a second computing device and a first endpoint, and sending, to a second service node, a request to transfer a second communication session to the first computing device, the second communication session using a second type of protocol that is different from the first type of protocol, the second communication session being between the second computing device and a second endpoint. The multimedia conversation comprises the first communication session and the second communication session.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for enhancing media quality by dynamically inserting a quality enhancement gateway are disclosed. According to one method, steps are performed at a service node. The method includes detecting a condition associated with a session between two endpoints that indicates that the session could benefit from media quality enhancement processing. The method also includes signaling the endpoints to route at least a portion of the session through a quality enhancement gateway (QEG) capable of providing the media quality enhancement processing for the session.

Abstract: A method performed by a computing system includes managing an audio communication session that includes an audio connection between a plurality of participant devices, associating with each of the plurality of participant devices, a volume adjustment factor, adjusting a volume of an audio out signal from a first participant device of the plurality of participant devices to create an adjusted audio out signal, the adjusting being based on the volume adjustment factor associated with the first participant device, and transmitting a conference audio signal based on the adjusted audio out signal to a subset of the plurality of participant devices.

Abstract: Mobile terminals to receive location-based information upon entering a local wireless zone established by an access point are described. The access point includes or is associated with one or more servers, which may provide the location-based information and control access. The local wireless zone is a limited area in which communications between the access point and the mobile terminal are possible. Once the mobile terminal enters into one or more local wireless zones, the presence of the mobile terminal in the local wireless zone is detected. Once detected, the mobile terminal is afforded access to a server on which the location-based information is stored. The server is associated with the local wireless zone.

Abstract: The present invention allows different types of communication applications to cooperate with an associated communication client to facilitate communications having a defined quality of service. The communication client may establish an authorized virtual circuit having a defined quality of service through a network using a first session establishment protocol on behalf of the communication application. Once the authorized virtual circuit is established, the communication application may establish one or more communication sessions, which may support different types of multimedia services, through the virtual connection. In one embodiment, the virtual connection extends through the local access network, which may be supported by an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). The communication client may use the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as the first session establishment protocol to establish the virtual circuit through the local access network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for the automatic transfer of mobile calls between wireless packet switched (PS) and guaranteed service (GS) networks based on quality of service (QoS) measurements are disclosed. One method includes establishing a call over the PS or GS network. The method may further include monitoring a quality of service (QoS) parameter associated with the PS network, and comparing the QoS parameter to a minimum quality threshold. The method may further include receiving instructions to initiate a call transfer based upon the comparison of the QoS parameter to the minimum quality threshold.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and computer readable media for deriving user availability from user context and user responses to communications requests. According to an aspect, a method includes monitoring communications requests. Each of the communications requests may include a request for conducting a communication session between a requesting user and a requested user. The method may also include monitoring user responses to the communications requests. Further, the method may include determining user contexts for the requested user corresponding to each of the communications requests communicated to the requested user. The method may include determining an indication of user availability for the requested user based on the user responses and the corresponding user contexts. The method may also include providing the indication of user availability to one or more authorized users.

Abstract: In a click-to-call communication environment, the present invention is employed to select an appropriate call server to use when establishing a call between two endpoints. A computing terminal provides a request to initiate a call between the two endpoints. The request is passed to a service node directly or through any number of intermediate nodes, such as a web server. The request may identify a source and a destination for the call. The service node will select a call server to use for establishing the call between the two endpoints based on the destination for the call, and send instructions to the call server to initiate the call. In response, the call server will initiate the call between the two endpoints.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for session initiation protocol (SIP) device-level call/session/service management are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system for SIP device-level management includes a SIP service node that makes available to a user the unique device identifier of a SIP device, where the SIP device is one of multiple devices that register using the same SIP identity, and that allows the user to use the unique device identifier to manage calls, sessions, or services on a SIP device-level basis, which may include performing screening, routing, or logging operations. In one embodiment, the SIP service node is configured to receive SIP device-level management rules for managing SIP calls, sessions, or services on a SIP device-level basis and to use the rules to manage calls, sessions, or services on a SIP device-level basis.

Abstract: The present invention provides an originating user with a prioritized list of communication contacts associated with the various communication devices of a destination user, wherein the originating user will initiate communications with the destination user using one of the communication contacts provided in the prioritized list. Upon selecting a destination user, a request is sent to a service node, which includes rules for establishing the prioritized list based on various prioritization criteria. The prioritization criteria may include static information and dynamic information, such as time, day of the week, and date, as well as presence information bearing on the availability or location of the destination user. Information may be provided in the request corresponding to the originating user, the type of communication desired by the originating user, the relative priority of the communication, among other information, which may be used to create the prioritized list.

Abstract: A method performed by a conversation manager in a communications network includes establishing a multimedia conversation between a first device associated with a first user and at least one endpoint associated with at least one other user, the multimedia conversation comprising at least two different media types according to respective and different protocol types. The method further includes receiving an instruction to transfer the conversation from the first device of the first user to a second device, adding the second device to the multimedia conversation by establishing connections for the at least two different media types to the second device, and removing the first device from the multimedia conversation by removing connections for the at least two media types to the first device.

Abstract: An automated attendant system is made multimedia capable by adding a combined user agent to the automated attendant. A search is done to verify that the caller to the automated attendant has combined user agent capabilities. If so, the caller receives multimedia content from the automated attendant's combined user agent so that the content may be presented on the caller's computer to assist the caller in navigating through the automated attendant's menus and options. Upon selection of a desired connection from the menus and options, the automated attendant's combined user agent helps the caller be connected by voice to the selected connection.

Abstract: A method performed by a conversation manager in a communications network includes establishing a multimedia conversation between a first device associated with a first user and at least one endpoint associated with at least one other user, the multimedia conversation comprising at least two different media types according to respective and different protocol types. The method further includes receiving an instruction to transfer the conversation from the first device of the first user to a second device, adding the second device to the multimedia conversation by establishing connections for the at least two different media types to the second device, and removing the first device from the multimedia conversation by removing connections for the at least two media types to the first device.

Abstract: A method performed by a first computing device to transfer a multimedia conversation to the first computing device includes sending, to a first service node, a request to transfer a first communication session to the first computing device, the first communication session using a first type of protocol, the first communication session being between a second computing device and a first endpoint, and sending, to a second service node, a request to transfer a second communication session to the first computing device, the second communication session using a second type of protocol that is different from the first type of protocol, the second communication session being between the second computing device and a second endpoint. The multimedia conversation comprises the first communication session and the second communication session.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a query from an external entity for information about a call between a first user and a second user, determining a call identifier associated with the call and providing the call identifier to the external entity. Subsequently, when a request to alter the call and comprising the call identifier is received from the external entity, the call is altered the call in accordance with the request.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operating a communication session control server. A first communication session initiation message is received from a first communication terminal, the first communication session initiation message indicating a second communication terminal with which the first communication terminal is requesting a communication session. A second communication session initiation message is sent to the second communication terminal, the second communication session initiation message indicating a delay to be used by the second communication terminal to determine when to initiate an alerting process.