Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, is directed to a spam filter 132 that identifies, based on a likely interest of a user, electronic text messages addressed to the user as being spam or non-spam and determines a likely interest of the user using at least one of the following: (i) at least part of a search query provided to a search engine; (ii) content of at least one web page selected by the user during a browsing session; (iii) content of a cookie; (iv) a live voice electronic address; and (v) an entry in an electronic calendar of the user.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an assistive adjunct for blind and low vision users is described. Specifically, the contact between a telescoping stylus and a touchscreen may be detected, where the stylus is capable of providing two or more footprints. When the stylus is touched lightly to a touchscreen, only the tip of the innermost tube makes contact with the touchscreen, thereby triggering a first response. If the user presses down on the stylus to cause the innermost tube to collapse into a middle tube until the center tube and the middle tube both touch the touchscreen, this additional contact is detected by the device thereby triggering a second response. Additional pressure on the stylus can cause all three tubes to make contact with the touchscreen, thereby causing yet another detectable contact and triggering a third response.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing noise from an audible signal are provided. More particularly, a vibration sensor is used to obtain a vibration signal from an environment including a communication device. The signal from the vibration sensor is combined with a signal from a microphone associated with the communication device, to create a modified audible signal. More particularly, a filtering or subtraction process can be performed with respect to the audible signal, at a time corresponding to an event detected as part of the vibration signal. The resulting modified audible signal can have reduced noise as compared to the original audible signal.

Abstract: An exemplary technique disclosed herein is that the transmitter of a VOIP stream can assess the psycho-acoustic importance of each packet, and then use a protocol that supports redundant transmission to retransmit only the packets that are judged to be important for voice quality and intelligibility. Illustratively, a packet containing a plosive might be retransmitted redundantly because of its disproportionate contribution to intelligibility, but a packet that occurs entirely within a long-duration fricative transmitted only once. An exemplary aspect may also support multiple levels of transmission redundancy based on multiple levels of packet importance, with the levels varying based on the relative psycho-acoustic importance of each packet and/or the degree of network congestion.

Abstract: Location information associated with a wireless access point is used to assist with emergency call routing. Additionally, the location information can be used to assist with determining where an emergency call is physically originating from. This location information is one or more of enterable, detectable and/or populated with the assistance of a location determining device, such as a GPS, associated with the wireless network. The location information can also be dynamic to account for mobile wireless access points, such as a mobile access point provided on public transportation. The location information is also associatiable with an outbound communication, such as an emergency communication, with this location information usable to route the communication to an appropriate entity(ies).

Abstract: One exemplary problem addressed by the techniques disclosed herein is that the A-to-D converter of the broad-band audio codec that is being used more frequently in IP telephony, G.722, samples the analog audio source 16,000 times per second, rather than 8,000. Since all G.722-capable telephones must continue to be G.711-capable, one problem is that a microphone that provides appropriate bandpass filtering for G.722 encoding fails to provide adequate filtering for G.711. One exemplary aspect is therefore directed to telephones that must be able to switch back and forth between narrow-band digital audio encoding in which the A-to-D converter samples the audio stream 8,000 times per second, and a wide-band audio encoding in which the A-to-D converter samples the audio stream 16,000 times per second. This is accomplished using one or more of a plurality of switched microphones, a filter and a modification of the resonant frequencies of a handset.

Abstract: A communication endpoint is configured to record content which may be audio content, video content, and/or other content and send the recorded content to an endpoint, such as a contact center. In one instance, the communication endpoint initiates content recording upon the detection of an outbound user initiated request, such as an emergency request, and transmits the recorded content when the communication session has been established. As another example, the communication endpoint may record content in a circular manner such that a latest content corresponding to a predetermine amount of time may be transmitted when the communication session has been established.

Abstract: A microprocessor executable work assignment mechanism selects a work item associated with a customer, dynamically determines, for the customer, a customer proficiency level with respect to a contact center product and/or product area sold and/or serviced by a contact center, and uses the customer proficiency level in assigning the selected work item to a resource for servicing and/or in providing the determined customer proficiency level to an assigned resource for use in servicing the selected work item.

Abstract: A personal electronic device is configured to unobtrusively detect heart rate and rhythm anomalies utilizing an electrocardiogram (EKG)-based detection and monitoring method. As one example, while a user is using the personal electronic device for its intended function, such as communicating, playing music, and/or watching videos, the personal electronic device may be unobtrusively detecting and recording a user's heart rate and heart rhythm to detect anomalies. For instance, while a user is making a phone call, electrodes of the personal electronic device located in the vicinity of the earpiece and on the handset, may come into contact with a user's ear and a user's hand respectively. Thus, while the personal electronic device is being consciously used for a function other than EKG monitoring, EKG monitoring is unobtrusively occurring.

Abstract: When a PSAP receives a call from a cellular telephone in reference to an emergent event, the speed and quality of the response may be improved by the cellular service provider's provision to the PSAP of information that includes the geographic location of the caller's phone. In a typical scenario, in which the call is from a GPS-equipped phone, the GPS coordinates of the phone may be echoed back to the PSAP in response to a specialized open “ping” request from the service provider. Of particular advantage to this approach is that GPS ping requests typically work regardless of whether a call is in progress, as long as the phone is turned on.

Abstract: Methods and systems for allowing analog TTY devices to be operated in conjunction with voice-only soft client applications are provided. Supported communication styles include a text-only TTY mode, a mode in which the user of the soft client receives text and responds by voice, a mode in which the user receives voice and responds with text, and a voice-only mode. Mode selection may be manual or automatic. Communication between the TTY device and far-end user may be via a direct connection between the TTY and the associated PBX, or via a connection between the TTY and the PC that is hosting the soft phone application.

Abstract: A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is configured to receive a description of detected movement associated with one or more inertial sensors of a communication device. The description of the detected movement may then be analyzed to determine a likelihood of injury associated with the movement, whether or not the user associated with the communication device is experiencing abnormal neuromuscular activity, and/or whether the user is outside a range of the communication device such that the user is unlikely to hear audio information originating from the communication device. The PSAP may additionally or alternatively utilize the description of the movement information to assist and/or provide an advisory recommendation in the decision of which, if any first responder resources should be dispatched; the recommendation may include which resources and at what priority the resources should be dispatched.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are disclosed for enabling certain types of communications to occur, even when presence information might indicate that a particular user is unavailable. In the illustrative embodiment, a first user submits a request to communicate with a second user, where the request specifies a maximum time duration for the communication, and optionally: a minimum time duration, an expected time duration, a priority, a subject, and a type of communication. A presence server receives the request and decides whether the request should be granted based on the information specified in the request, and one or both of: presence information for the second user, and the contents of a calendar. The illustrative embodiment is also capable of detecting inconsistencies between calendars and presence information, as well as events that might affect a user's presence or indicate a departure from scheduled activities.

Abstract: The system generates a first data stream which represents a data signal. The first data stream is encoded via a first encoding technique. The first data stream comprises one or more packets with a duration and timestamp. The data signal is encoded into a second data stream using a different encoding technique with a corresponding packet in the second data stream. A packet in the second data stream has the same duration and timestamp as the corresponding packet in the first data stream. The first data stream is sent on a first network. The second data stream is sent on a second network. The first and second data streams are received. A missing/delayed packet in the first data stream is detected. The data signal is regenerated using the first data stream and the packet from the second data stream that corresponds to the missing/delayed packet in the first data stream.

Abstract: An optical scanner is configured to scan multiple print portions of a body part such as a finger. The optical scanner identifies a first one of the print portions in an area of an optical surface. An event such as launching an application is generated based on identifying the first print portion in the area of the optical surface. In addition, various events can be generated based on different combinations of print portions in different areas of the optical surface. In a second embodiment, a property detector is configured to identify different properties of a sleeve in different areas of a surface. An event is generated based on the detection of a property of the sleeve in an area of the surface.

Abstract: A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is configured to enable the detection of one or more clinical signs associated with a caller. The clinical signs may include both auditory and visual clinical signs and may be detected by analyzing a portion of the call information to determine one or more characteristics associated with the call information and comparing the one or more determined characteristics to known clinical sign characteristics. The PSAP may additionally or alternatively utilize the detection of the clinical signs to assist and/or provide an advisory recommendation in the decision of which, if any first responder resources should be dispatched; the recommendation may include which resources and at what priority the resources should be dispatched.

Abstract: A communication system receives data that does not pertain to an attempted initial establishment of a communication. The communication system uses a new message format under an existing analog Caller ID standard. The communication system inserts the data (which can be in addition to existing Caller ID data) into a Caller ID message that uses the new message format. The communication system then sends the Caller ID message to a communication device/Private Branch Exchange (PBX)/contact center that can interpret the new message format. The communication device/PBX/contact center can use the data to further route the communication to a specific telephone and/or can use the data to display information such as Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of a cell phone. The data can enhance the capabilities of devices and systems that currently work under the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

Abstract: An optical scanner is configured to scan multiple print portions of a body part such as a finger. The optical scanner identifies a first one of the print portions in an area of an optical surface. An event such as launching an application is generated based on identifying the first print portion in the area of the optical surface. In addition, various events can be generated based on different combinations of print portions in different areas of the optical surface. In a second embodiment, a property detector is configured to identify different properties of a sleeve in different areas of a surface. An event is generated based on the detection of a property of the sleeve in an area of the surface.

Abstract: A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is disclosed. The PSAP is configured to enable the detection of language preferences, capabilities, or inabilities and, based on such detection, assist the PSAP agent in assisting the PSAP caller. The PSAP may additionally or alternatively utilize the detection of language information to assist in the decision to route or re-route the PSAP caller to appropriate PSAP resources.

Abstract: Methods and systems for allowing analog TTY devices to be operated in conjunction with voice-only soft client applications are provided. Supported communication styles include a text-only TTY mode, a mode in which the user of the soft client receives text and responds by voice, a mode in which the user receives voice and responds with text, and a voice-only mode. Mode selection may be manual or automatic. Communication between the TTY device and far-end user may be via a direct connection between the TTY and the associated PBX, or via a connection between the TTY and the PC that is hosting the soft phone application.