Abstract: A method for communicating information to a caller on a telephone network is herein proposed. The method includes the steps of (a) generating a signal suitable for producing an audible dial tone, (b) transmitting the signal to the receiver of a telephone set, when the caller initially takes the receiver off-hook, to thereby produce the audible dial tone, and (c) superimposing an audible information message over the audible dial tone while the audible dial tone is produced. The audible information message may, for example, be a branding-type message that identifies a provider of local telephone service to a caller. The audible information message may be superimposed over the audible dial tone in a whisper-like or low-decibel manner to avoid interfering with modems that operate on a “wait for dial tone” (WFDT) basis.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying redirected calls are provided. A particular method includes receiving a redirected call. When the redirected call is redirected from a first address, the method includes generating a first distinctive ring at a communication device. When the redirected call is not redirected from the first address, the method includes generating a second distinctive ring at the communication device.

Abstract: A method for managing contact information is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to perform a web-based search for contact information based on a request, present search results obtained from the web-based search, monitor for a selection to populate an address book of the communication device with a target portion of the contact information for an entry of the search results, parse the entry of the search results to obtain the target portion of the contact information, and populate the address book with the target portion of the contact information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to present a graphical user interface (GUI) with a plurality of toolbars, detect a selection of a web-based toolbar, present the GUI with a hierarchical listing of content associated with the selected web-based toolbar, detect a selection of content from the hierarchical listing of content, create a new toolbar associated with the selected content with at least one selectable GUI element, present the GUI with the new toolbar intermixed with at least a portion of the plurality of toolbars, poll a web service for content updates, wherein the web service is associated with the selected content, and present the GUI with content updates supplied by the web service displayed in a portion of the new toolbar. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of managing publications is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Address Book System (ABS) having a controller element to adjust publication privileges of a publisher of a portion of an address book stored in the ABS responsive to detecting that a number of recipients of an invitation to subscribe to the portion of the address book have declined the invitation and the number of declined invitations exceeds a first threshold. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for managing a scope of communications of a communication device is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, communication device having a controller element to receive one or more entries in a contact book of a second communication device, and limit a scope of communications with other communication devices according to the one or more contact book entries received. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A prepaid telephony system and a method of activating a prepaid telephony account are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method of activating the prepaid telephony account includes providing a message to a caller including an offer to associate a prepaid account corresponding to a prepaid calling card with an origination address of the caller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for provisioning media content in a multi-user environment is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Set-Top Box having a controller element to: receive multimedia content from a communication system; configure individual access to the multimedia content among a group of users in accordance with individual user profiles, wherein each of the individual user profiles has a separate service package provided by one or more broadband providers; and provision a delivery of the multimedia content to a media device in accordance with access settings defined at least in part in the individual user profiles. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying redirected calls are provided. A method may include receiving data related to a call termination request. The call termination request may indicate call redirection. The method may also include selecting one of a plurality of distinctive rings in response to the data related to the call termination request. A first distinctive ring is selected when a redirect number address associated with the call termination request does not match a specified redirect number address.

Abstract: A system and method for authentication of a communication device is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an authentication system can have a controller element that receives from a communication device by way of a packet-switched network an authentication request comprising a first identification (ID) of a gateway and a second ID of the communication device. The gateway and at least one network element of the packet-switched network can be provisioned to have a physical association with each other such that other network elements of the packet-switched network deny services to the gateway when the gateway attempts to operate outside of said physical association. From said physical association and the aforementioned IDs the controller element can authenticate the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing multimedia signals is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an adjunct device coupled between a Set-Top Box (STB) and a media device. The adjunct device can have a controller element that receives a telephony signal from a communication system and an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) multimedia signal supplied by the STB, monitors call origination activities in the telephony signal, and presents at the media device in whole or in part the telephony and the IPTV multimedia signal according to the call origination activities monitored. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for provisioning a communication device is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller element that establishes wireless communication with a base unit operating according to a short-range cordless phone communication protocol, and receives from the base unit provisioning information that enables a communication device to establish wireless communications with an access point operating according to a wireless fidelity (WiFi) communications protocol. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In one particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a method of activating a prepaid telephony account. The method includes receiving a call from a caller at a prepaid service destination address identified by a prepaid calling card; receiving a prepaid card number of the caller; receiving a destination number; receiving an origination address of the caller; providing a message to the caller including an offer to associate a prepaid account corresponding to the prepaid calling card with the origination address of the caller; receiving a response to the message from the caller; and associating a long distance service code with the origination address of the caller based on the response to the message.

Abstract: A method for positioning a user interface of a computing device is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device having a user interface (UI), a counterweight, and a housing assembly that houses the UI with one or more exposed portions, and the counterweight. The counterweight can be positioned in the housing assembly to cause a desired position of at least one of the one or more exposed portions of the UI when a select one of a plurality of surfaces of the housing assembly rests on a nearly planar surface. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating a communication device is disclosed. An system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an authentication system having a controller element that receives from a communication device over a packet-switched network a terminal ID and a request to authenticate said communication device, generates a first registration ID, stores the first registration ID and a first communication identifier, transmits the first registration ID to the communication device, receives from an interactive response system a second communication identifier and a second registration ID that the interactive response system received during a communication session with the communication device over a circuit-switched network, and authenticates the communication device in response to detecting a match between the first and second communication identifiers and the first and second registration IDs. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for managing media content is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device can have a controller element that receives a media guide from a Set-Top Box (STB), and presents on a display unit of the terminal device the media guide without presentation of said media guide on a media device coupled to the STB. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of providing interactive video content is presented that includes receiving video content from a video content source. An initial interactive content indicator is encoded within a closed-captioning portion of the video content at the video content source. The method also includes selecting a substitute uniform resource locator (URL) associated with interactive content related to the video content. Further, the method includes replacing the initial interactive content indicator with the substitute URL within the closed-captioning portion of the video content.