Abstract: A method for managing outgoing media messages (OMMs) employs a message management system (MMS). A first network component receives and routs a call attempt from a calling party to a second network component for establishing a communications link between the calling party and a called party. The second network component redirects the call attempt unanswered by the called party to the MMS on occurrence of an event, for example, the called party being busy, being unreachable, etc. The MMS obtains the OMM recorded by the calling party, provides access to the recorded OMM to the calling party via multiple access modes, and manages actions such as viewing, editing, withdrawing, forwarding, etc., performed on the recorded OMM. On receiving a withdrawal indication from a sender device, the MMS manages a withdrawal action on the recorded OMM by deleting the recorded OMM from the sender device and a recipient device.

Abstract: A method and a system for completing an incomplete call made by a calling party to a called party, provide a call completion application on a calling party device. The call completion application detects an incomplete call, which is a call that is not connected to a called party device or a short duration call that does not enable an intended communication to occur between the calling party and the called party. The call completion application determines one or more call completion actions, for example, setting a reminder, transmitting media data, etc., to be performed to complete the incomplete call, for example, based on user selections, a duration of the incomplete call, user configuration of the call completion application on the calling party device, etc. The call completion application triggers execution of the determined call completion actions based on one or more action execution criteria for completing the incomplete call.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting early media notifications (EMNs) of communication services, for example, call completion, etc., is provided. A network component, a calling party device, and/or a called party device detect a call made by a calling party to a called party, and occurrence of events, for example, a call attempt, start of ringing the called party, an incomplete call, call redirection, etc. A multi-modal early media application (MMEMA) transmits one or more EMNs in more than one mode, for example, a text and audio mode for viewing and/or listening, to the calling party at any time instant, for example, immediate, during or after play of a ring back tone, prior, immediate, or after detection of an incomplete call or call redirection, etc. The MMEMA triggers billing of the calling party based on the calling party's action or a non-action after the EMNs transmission to the calling party.

Abstract: A method and a system for completing an incomplete call made by a calling party to a called party, provide a call completion application on a calling party device. The call completion application detects an incomplete call, which is a call that is not connected to a called party device or a short duration call that does not enable an intended communication to occur between the calling party and the called party. The call completion application determines one or more call completion actions, for example, setting a reminder, transmitting media data, etc., to be performed to complete the incomplete call, for example, based on user selections, a duration of the incomplete call, user configuration of the call completion application on the calling party device, etc. The call completion application triggers execution of the determined call completion actions based on one or more action execution criteria for completing the incomplete call.

Abstract: Methods for combining speech with existing text wireless Short Message Service (SMS) to create a multimodal SMS service are provided. A user of standard SMS text service is provided with a link within each message that allows adding or retrieval of a voice message associated with an SMS text message. A speech server in the wireless network may be used for recognition of voice commands, rendering of test into speech, and recording or playing back voice recordings. An automatic and unique identification of each message is created to allow retrieval of the message without manually selecting the message. Additional services include message lists, integration with voicemail systems, image and video messages, cross-functional applications with Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) and Enhanced Message Services (EMS), and extensions of the combination of voice with text SMS to other computing devices such as PDAs and PCs.

Abstract: A system for enabling multi-modal bookmarks comprises a bookmark repository coupled to two browsers. A user bookmarks content using a first browser, and a bookmark is stored in the bookmark repository. The user subsequently uses a second browser and requests that the bookmark be de-referenced to point the second browser to the bookmarked content. The second browser accesses the bookmark in the content repository and is directed to the bookmarked content. The first and second browsers may be visual and voice browsers that render Wireless Markup Language (WML) and Voice Extensible Markup Language (VXML) content, respectively, wherein a mapping is provided that links a given piece of visual content to an equivalent piece of voice content.

Abstract: A system for enabling multi-modal bookmarks comprises a bookmark repository coupled to two browsers. A user bookmarks content using a first browser, and a bookmark is stored in the bookmark repository. The user subsequently uses a second browser and requests that the bookmark be de-referenced to point the second browser to the bookmarked content. The second browser accesses the bookmark in the content repository and is directed to the bookmarked content. The first and second browsers may be visual and voice browsers that render Wireless Markup Language (WML) and Voice Extensible Markup Language (VXML) content, respectively, wherein a mapping is provided that links a given piece of visual content to an equivalent piece of voice content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of billing a user for Voice short messaging services. A user subscribing to a first network may send a first Voice short messaging service (Voice SMS) message to a recipient user subscribing to a second network. The recipient user may reply to or forward the first Voice SMS message. The Voice SMS message reply may be routed to an intelligent network element of the first network. The intelligent network element prompts the recipient for a payment for delivering the Voice SMS message reply to the sender. The off-net recipient user may make the payment through a premium chargeable SMS message. A confirmation of this payment is communicated to the intelligent network element by the second network.

Abstract: A system for enabling multi-modal bookmarks comprises a bookmark repository coupled to two browsers. A user bookmarks content using a first browser, and a bookmark is stored in the bookmark repository. The user subsequently uses a second browser and requests that the bookmark be de-referenced to point the second browser to the bookmarked content. The second browser accesses the bookmark in the content repository and is directed to the bookmarked content. The first and second browsers may be visual and voice browsers that render Wireless Markup Language (WML) and Voice Extensible Markup Language (VXML) content, respectively, wherein a mapping is provided that links a given piece of visual content to an equivalent piece of voice content.

Abstract: A technique for synchronizing a visual browser and a voice browser. A visual browser is used to navigate through visual content, such as WML pages. During the navigation, the visual browser creates a historical record of events that have occurred during the navigation. The voice browser uses this historical record to navigate the content in the same manner as occurred on the visual browser, thereby synchronizing to a state equivalent to that of the visual browser. The creation of the historical record may be performed by using a script to trap events, where the script contains code that records the trapped events. The synchronization technique may be used with a multi-modal application that permits the mode of input/output (I/O) to be changed between visual and voice browsers. When the mode is changed from visual to voice, the record of events captured by the visual browser is provided to the voice browser, thereby allowing the I/O mode to change seamlessly from visual to voice.

Abstract: Combining speech with existing text wireless Short Message Service (SMS) to create a multimodal SMS service. A user of standard SMS text service is provided with a link within each message that allows adding or retrieval of a voice message associated with an SMS text message. A speech server in the wireless network may be used for recognition of voice commands, rendering of text into speech, and recording or playing back voice recordings. The messages may be retrieved or sent using any wireless handset. Additional services that may be used include message lists, prerecorded messages, integration with voicemail systems, image and video messages, cross-functional applications with Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) and Enhanced Message Services (EMS), and extensions of the combination of voice with text SMS to other computing devices such as PDAs and PCs.

Abstract: A technique for synchronizing a visual browser and a voice browser. A visual browser is used to navigate through visual content, such as WML pages. During the navigation, the visual browser creates a historical record of events that have occurred during the navigation. The voice browser uses this historical record to navigate the content in the same manner as occurred on the visual browser, thereby synchronizing to a state equivalent to that of the visual browser. The creation of the historical record may be performed by using a script to trap events, where the script contains code that records the trapped events. The synchronization technique may be used with a multi-modal application that permits the mode of input/output (I/O) to be changed between visual and voice browsers. When the mode is changed from visual to voice, the record of events captured by the visual browser is provided to the voice browser, thereby allowing the I/O mode to change seamlessly from visual to voice.

Abstract: A technique for synchronizing a visual browser and a voice browser. A visual browser is used to navigate through visual content, such as WML pages. During the navigation, the visual browser creates a historical record of events that have occurred during the navigation. The voice browser uses this historical record to navigate the content in the same manner as occurred on the visual browser, thereby synchronizing to a state equivalent to that of the visual browser. The creation of the historical record may be performed by using a script to trap events, where the script contains code that records the trapped events. The synchronization technique may be used with a multi-modal application that permits the mode of input/output (I/O) to be changed between visual and voice browsers. When the mode is changed from visual to voice, the record of events captured by the visual browser is provided to the voice browser, thereby allowing the I/O mode to change seamlessly from visual to voice.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of billing a user for Voice short messaging services. A user subscribing to a first network may send a first Voice short messaging service (Voice SMS) message to a recipient user subscribing to a second network. The recipient user may reply to or forward the first Voice SMS message. The Voice SMS message reply may be routed to an intelligent network element of the first network. The intelligent network element prompts the recipient for a payment for delivering the Voice SMS message reply to the sender. The off-net recipient user may make the payment through a premium chargeable SMS message. A confirmation of this payment is communicated to the intelligent network element by the second network.

Abstract: Multi-modal applications are capable of interacting with a user in a voice mode, a visual mode, and/or other modes of communication. Mode swapping refers to the process of changing from one mode of communication (or one combination of modes) to another. Mode swapping may be initiated by a user, by an application, or by another entity. Mode swapping may be performed “adaptively,” in that an entity monitors the effectiveness of a communication mode and initiates a mode swap if communication is proceeding non-optimally in the current mode. Mode swapping may be performed by dropping a call to a telephone terminal in the currently-open mode and placing a call to that same device in another mode. In one embodiment, logic for mode swapping resides on a gateway proxy that mediates communication between an application and a telephone terminal.

Abstract: A technique for allowing an automated participant in a telephone conversation, such as an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system or a voice browser, to react to the placing of the conversation “on hold.” When a conversation between an automated participant and a human participant is placed on hold, a signal is provided to the automated participant indicating that the voice circuit between the two participants has been broken. In response to the signal, the automated participant may take appropriate action, such as suspending its participation in the conversation, extending the time for which it awaits a response from the human participant, continuing the conversation in a “visual” mode using the keypad and display on the human participant's handset, or some other appropriate action.

Abstract: Combining speech with existing text wireless Short Message Service (SMS), to create a multimodal SMS service. A user of standard SMS text service is provided with a link within each message that allows adding or retrieval of a voice message associated with an SMS text message. A speech server in the wireless network may be used for recognition of voice commands, rendering of text into speech, and recording or playing back voice recordings. The messages may be retrieved or sent using any wireless handset. Additional services that may be used include message lists, prerecorded messages, integration with voicemail systems, image and video messages, cross-functional applications with Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) and Enhanced Message Services (EMS), and extensions of the combination of voice with text SMS to other computing devices such as PDAs and PCs.

Abstract: A technique for synchronizing a visual browser and a voice browser. A visual browser is used to navigate through visual content, such as WML pages. During the navigation, the visual browser creates a historical record of events that have occurred during the navigation. The voice browser uses this historical record to navigate the content in the same manner as occurred on the visual browser, thereby synchronizing to a state equivalent to that of the visual browser. The creation of the historical record may be performed by using a script to trap events, where the script contains code that records the trapped events. The synchronization technique may be used with a multi-modal application that permits the mode of input/output (I/O) to be changed between visual and voice browsers. When the mode is changed from visual to voice, the record of events captured by the visual browser is provided to the voice browser, thereby allowing the I/O mode to change seamlessly from visual to voice.

Abstract: In a database, a database manager can generate a view, which, in concept, is a subset of the database, which is placed outside the database for use without disturbing the database, and without disturbance by others using the database. The subset, or view, can be understood as a collection of rows, or tuples, of data copied from the database. With views existing, multiple copies of data within the database now exist: the original in the database, and copies in the views. If one of these is changed, without corresponding changes made in the others, then inconsistencies occur, which cannot be tolerated. Under the invention, when a user seeks a lock on a view, indicating that a change may be imminent, the invention locks a superset of the tuples in the database from which the view is derived. A superset is a set which contains the set of tuples of the view, plus possibly others. Thus, more tuples are locked than strictly necessary. The excess locking is tolerated because other benefits are obtained.

Abstract: A technique for allowing an automated participant in a telephone conversation, such as an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system or a voice browser, to react to the placing of the conversation “on hold.” When a conversation between an automated participant and a human participant is placed on hold, a signal is provided to the automated participant indicating that the voice circuit between the two participants has been broken. In response to the signal, the automated participant may take appropriate action, such as suspending its participation in the conversation, extending the time for which it awaits a response from the human participant, continuing the conversation in a “visual” mode using the keypad and display on the human participant's handset, or some other appropriate action.