Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a device, a notification of a call from an application server and displaying, at the device, a pop-up view based on the notification, where the pop-up view includes a screen call option. The method also includes receiving, at the device, a selection of the screen call option and, in response to the selection of the screen call option, displaying a call screening view, where the call screening view includes a plurality of call screening action options. The method further includes receiving a second selection of a particular call screening action option of the plurality of call screening action options and handling the call based on the particular call screening action option.

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: Ring tones and other alerts are processed based on social networks. A person's contact information, as an example, may be associated with a social network. Each different social network may also have its own custom ringtone or other alert. Calls, texts, and other electronic messages may thus processed with the alert of the social network.

Abstract: A method includes sending, from a base unit, provisioning information to a communication device. The provisioning information causes the communication device to establish a wireless communication connection with a wireless access point. The method includes identifying one or more other communication devices causing interference with the wireless communication connection. The method includes sending information to the communication device. The information includes instructions to disable the one or more other communication devices.

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 method includes receiving a notification that indicates that a call from a caller has been received at a remote network-based messaging system at a computer terminal. The computer terminal is connected to the remote network-based messaging system via a data connection. The method includes displaying a pop-up view at the computer terminal to notify a subscriber of the call. The pop-up view includes call screening options and an option to add information identifying the caller to an electronic address book that is not a call log. The method includes sending a request to intercept the call from the computer terminal to the remote network-based messaging system via the data connection and sending information that indicates a destination device from the computer terminal to the remote network based messaging system. The call is routed from the remote network-based messaging system to the destination device.

Abstract: Mobile devices, systems and methods are described with a plurality of virtual machines, wherein each virtual machine executes a separate virtual interface, or guest operating system. Each guest operating system corresponds to a different virtual device having its own contact list, applications, and so on. A virtual “device” can be controlled by an employer or service provider, and is a secure space that provides authenticated applications that are walled off from another virtual device. A host operating system provides a hardware abstraction layer. A proxy server on the host operating system receives an incoming signal from a remote device on the external network, and routes the incoming signal to one of the first and second virtual machines based on a call context. A method and computer program product for providing a plurality of virtual interfaces on a mobile device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method, computer-readable storage device and apparatus for providing collaborative area monitoring are disclosed. For example, the method monitors the area via a plurality of sensors, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises an optical sensor and a positioning sensor, detects an alarm condition, activates one of the plurality of sensors to capture information associated with the alarm condition, and sends a request for assistance to a neighboring standalone area monitor using a wireless communications protocol.

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: Methods and computer-readable media for providing a recommendation and for rerouting calls are disclosed. For example, a method detects updated status information regarding a contact of a user and determines whether the updated status information signifies an event of interest. When the updated information is determined to signify an event of interest, the method provides to a device of the user a recommendation that the user should communicate with the contact. The recommendation includes an indication of the event of interest.

Abstract: Methods of operating a communications service are provided in which a communication that is addressed to a user of a communication service is received. A determination is made that end user authentication is required before the communication may be delivered to a first recipient electronic device. A request for end user authentication may then be forwarded to the first recipient electronic device in response to determining that end user authentication is required. End user authentication information may be received from the first recipient electronic device. The received end user authentication information may be compared to stored end user authentication information for the user. The communication may be forwarded over a network to the first electronic device in response to determining that the received end user authentication information matches the stored end user authentication information for the user.

Abstract: Information is gathered regarding a first party. Social relationships between the first party and other parties are determined by transforming the gathered information into the social relationships. Relationship types of the social relationships between the first party and the other parties are determined by transforming the gathered information into the relationship types. Relationship strengths of the social relationships between the first and the other parties are determined by transforming the gathered information into the relationship strengths. The social utility grid is generated based on the social relationships between the first party and the other parties, the relationship types of the social relationships, and the relationship strengths of the social relationships.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for abstracting telephony functions is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device having a User Interface (UI) element that presents a plurality of Graphical User Interface (GUI) elements that abstract a corresponding plurality of telephony functions, and a telephony element that initiates a telephony process in response to a selection by an end user of the terminal device of two or more of the plurality of GUI elements to form a combined telephony function. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for abstracting telephony functions is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device having a User Interface (UI) element that presents a plurality of Graphical User Interface (GUI) elements that abstract a corresponding plurality of telephony functions, and a telephony element that initiates a telephony process in response to a selection by an end user of the terminal device of two or more of the plurality of GUI elements to form a combined telephony function. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Ring tones and other alerts are processed based on social networks. A person's contact information, as an example, may be associated with a social network. Each different social network may also have its own custom ringtone or other alert. Calls, texts, and other electronic messages may thus processed with the alert of the social network.

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.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a telephone customer to configure telephone service for multiple users at a single location associated with the customer. The location has at least two telephones, at least two phone numbers and a voice mail box. The telephone customer is visually provided an option to assign one of the phone numbers to one of the telephones. The telephone customer is visually provided an option to assign each of the multiple users exclusive access to at least one of the telephone numbers via their account identifier. The telephone customer is visually provided the option to, for each of the multiple users, allow access or deny access via their account identifier to the voicemail box.

Abstract: In embodiments of the disclosed technology, a plurality of ratings of websites is received, wherein each rating is associated with a category and a rater and each rater is associated with at least one group. A selection of a category is received from the user, wherein the user is associated with at least one group. One website location (or a plurality of website locations) is provided in the category to the user based on at least one rating of the plurality of ratings provided by at least one of the raters, wherein at least one group associated with the rater and at least one the group associated with the user are the same group.

Abstract: A video distribution system includes a local network interface operable to modulate video data to frequency blocks for communication via a local network. A first frequency block of the frequency blocks is associated with a first user. The video distribution system also includes a metrics engine operable to track at least one metric associated with the first user based on the video data modulated to the first frequency block.

Abstract: In embodiments of the disclosed technology, a plurality of ratings of websites is received, wherein each rating is associated with a category and a rater and each rater is associated with at least one group. A selection of a category is received from the user, wherein the user is associated with at least one group. One website location (or a plurality of website locations) is provided in the category to the user based on at least one rating of the plurality of ratings provided by at least one of the raters, wherein at least one group associated with the rater and at least one the group associated with the user are the same group.