Abstract: A method and system for routing a call connection signal and corresponding contextual information to an appropriate destination is provided. A call center and at least one user may exchange signals, and/or contextual information during a call set-up phase. Relevant contextual information and other detailed information may be identified and collected from their corresponding sources. Based on the relevant contextual information and other detailed information, one or more appropriate routed destinations may be determined. In addition, contextual information may be tailored for each of the determined routed destinations. The call connection signal and the tailored contextual information are routed to each routed destination. In this manner, necessary contextual information may be readily available for the routed destination at the time of the call connection and thus the routed destination can provide a faster service.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting contextual information from several parties and generating an analyzed response to the contextual information is provided. Multiple sets of contextual information may be received from one or more clients. Relevant contextual information may be identified and pushed into a module which is configured to aggregate the relevant contextual information until it meets its threshold within a predetermined period. A set of events relating to the relevant contextual information may be generated to execute appropriate actions. The appropriate actions may include notifying a potential problem or an issue, providing a known solution, and so on. In this manner, contextual data from multiple parties can be analyzed to identify potential issues/problems that are frequently reported.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for automatically configuring devices on a network. The network adapters on a device are enumerated with a DHCP DISCOVER request. The system determines that the DHCP DISCOVER request will not return a complete set of information needed to configure the device, and broadcasts a DHCP INFORM request over a network to obtain additional information. The DHCP INFORM request includes a parameter requesting one or more server addresses, and at least one identification parameter that describes the device. The device listens for at least one response on its network adapters. Upon receiving at least one response to the DHCP INFORM request, the device takes an appropriate configuration action based on the response.

Abstract: A system for providing secure asynchronous message publishing and retrieval in a serverless environment. The system may be used on ad-hoc and segmented networks such as peer-to-peer networks. The system may provide a method of sending and storing asynchronous message requests/responses via a Distributed Hash Table (DHT), a method for establishing RSS feeds via the asynchronous messaging service, a method for publishing a request for Internet Message buddy authorization and of retrieving pending buddy requests.

Abstract: A system may publish authenticated contact information in a publicly available index store, retrieve the contact information, and validate it. The claimed method and system may provide a client-based, server optional approach to publishing. The publicly available index store may be a distributed hash table used in a peer-to-peer network. The system may be used in other secure directory service applications where a server may not be available or where server trust may be minimal.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting contextual information in order to provide a requested service is provided. A service provider and a user may exchange a conversation and/or contextual information relating to a service over a communication channel. Based on the received user contextual information, the server may determine an appropriate source for obtaining more information relating to the requested service from the user. The server contacts the appropriate source and obtains information from it. Additionally, the server identifies the user interfaces for collecting more information relating to the requested service from the user. The server may transmit a set of contextual information, such as embedded instructions for invoking the user interfaces on a user's device, over the communication channel. While the user interacts with the user interfaces, new user's contextual information may be obtained by the server.

Abstract: A user interface for a telephone system may include a telephone portion operable to provide telephone administration functionality for each of a plurality of telephones of a telephone system. The telephone portion may include a telephone icon corresponding to at least one telephone of the plurality of telephones, the telephone icon operable to provide the telephone administration functionality for the at least one telephone. Other portions of the user interface may include an external line portion, an extension portion, or a user portion, which may include, respectively, an external line icon, an extension icon, and a user icon, where each icon may provide associated administration functionality. Accordingly, the user interface allows an administrator of the telephone system to easily view and administer the devices and elements of the telephone system.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which network connectivity information may be communicated via a single notifications area (e.g., system tray) icon, including by representing different images of the icon to display different types/states of connectivity and different types of media connections. For example, the icon may indicate whether Internet connectivity is present, and whether the connection is wired or wireless. The icon may regularly transition between at least two images to communicate different variables, e.g., types of connectivity and/or different types of media connections. The icon may be interactive to provide a tooltip, flyout and/or context menu related to the network state, and the icon may change in response to the networking state change event, e.g., be updated when a different capability connection is detected, when a different interface is detected, and/or when a wireless network with a different signal quality is detected.

Abstract: An application and its associated user interface provide a meeting window for use in organizing and holding meetings using peer-to-peer network facilities. The meeting window offers menu selections for choosing a network over which to hold the meeting and for discovering and inviting meeting participants. The meeting window includes three main panes, one each for managing attendees, for distributing files to attendees, and for streaming presentation materials real-time to attendees. Data streaming is also supported to network devices such as projectors. Control of the presentation may be delegated by the presentation owner to another attendee, and may also be revoked by the presentation owner. The real-time streaming of the presentation may be paused and resumed to accommodate meeting dynamics or real-time changes.

Abstract: A drag-and-drop user interface facilitates the selection and presentation of data to meeting participants from one of the peers in a peer-to-peer network. First icons associated with data for presentation may be dragged onto second icons associated with networked resources such as computers associated with meeting participants or other networked resources such as projectors. The data may be streamed from the presenter's computer to the networked resource over peer-to-peer network facilities such as a terminal services session.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system enable users to create a social network providing access to other users. By providing access to such networks via a visual presentation, the system renders content available for access by other network members. Access is sometimes provided through propagation of metadata or other uniquely identifying indicia associated with the social network to all or at least certain other network members.

Abstract: A collaborative services platform may include a connectivity service, an activity service and a contact management service. The connectivity service may provide communicative connectivity between users of the collaborative services platform. The activity service may provide one or more collaborative activities supporting various modes of communication. The contact management service may maintain contact information for each of the users of the collaborative service platform. It may be that not every user is capable of participating in every collaborative activity. The contact information maintained by the contact management service may indicate the collaborative activities in which each user is capable of participating. A set of programmatic objects utilized to implement the collaborative services platform may include contact objects, conference objects, MeContact objects, endpoint objects, published objects and presence objects.

Abstract: A digitally signed message, protected with a chain of certificates from the sender's immediate certifier up through an ultimate certifier, is transmitted to a recipient together with the entire certificate chain. The entire certificate chain is stored in a single signer file accessible by the sender. Drag-and-drop gestures of a graphical user interface are used by the sender to sign and certify the message, and an icon is provided on the recipient's display to initiate verification.