Abstract: In some embodiments, a call urgency screening system may include one or more of the following features: (a) a data storage device comprising, (i) a call urgency screening program that allows a recipient to choose whether to accept a call from a caller or offer to the caller other alternate call handling of the call based on interaction with the caller and a dialog engine, and (b) a processor coupled to the data storage device that executes the call urgency screening program.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a future availability system may include one or more of the following features: (a) a memory having, (i) a future availability program that allows a caller to obtain future availability information about a call recipient if the caller has been designated by the recipient to have access to the future availability data, (ii) program that notifies the caller through a method chosen by the caller when the call recipient's availability changes (b) a processor coupled to the memory that executes the future availability program, (c) an inference engine located on the memory that stores information about the call recipient.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a future availability system may include one or more of the following features: (a) a memory having, (i) a future availability program that allows a caller to obtain future availability information about a call recipient if the caller has been designated by the recipient to have access to the future availability data, (ii) program that notifies the caller through a method chosen by the caller when the call recipient's availability changes (b) a processor coupled to the memory that executes the future availability program, (c) an inference engine located on the memory that stores information about the call recipient.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a call urgency screening system may include one or more of the following features: (a) a data storage device comprising, (i) a call urgency screening program that allows a recipient to choose whether to accept a call from a caller or offer to the caller other alternate call handling of the call based on interaction with the caller and a dialog engine, and (b) a processor coupled to the data storage device that executes the call urgency screening program.

Abstract: A telecommunications system includes a conferencing system configured to manage a teleconference; a plurality of user devices; wherein at least one of said plurality of user devices is designated a host and is configured to receive an announcement, provided by the conferencing system, of a participant attempting to join a teleconference hosted by the host and authorize the participant to join.

Abstract: An originating endpoint supports visual presence indications. The originating endpoint determines a destination endpoint with which to establish a desired communication session. A network communicates a notification message to the destination endpoint regarding the desired communication session. Prior to establishing the desired communication session and in response to the notification message, the originating endpoint receives image capture data representing the surroundings of the destination endpoint. The originating endpoint may then determine from the image capture data whether to continue or terminate the attempt to establish the communication session. Visual presence indications may increase productivity by reducing the time that would otherwise be spent on unsuccessful call attempts. Visual presence indications may also conserve network bandwidth and processing resources that would otherwise be spent on the unsuccessful call attempts.

Abstract: A telecommunications apparatus includes a teleconferencing service; and a participant list announcement service operably coupled to the teleconferencing service and configured to announce the names of active participants in a teleconference to a requesting participant.

Abstract: Two or more calls to the same destination are mixed. The mixed audio information includes foreground and background calls. The call in the foreground is mixed with a higher volume level than background calls. A key, button, switches or other information is used to switch between foreground and background calls. By reducing the volume of a background call but still providing audio information from the background call, a user may hold a conversation for the foreground call while monitoring information being provided in the background call. Conversation is provided for the foreground call, but only one way communications to the destination are provided for the background. Alternatively, two way communications are provided on background calls.

Abstract: A system for modeling real time systems includes a plurality of modules for modeling components of a system. Each module represents a single component of the system or other systems that compete for system resources. In one embodiment, each module is XML-based. Each module can also include instructions to log appropriate transactions. The system creates the loads and delays which are then logged for later analysis.

Abstract: A telecommunications server includes a bio-print control server including one or more identification databases, a transmit/receive unit, a compare unit, and a routing control unit. Various network clients may include bio-print input units. In operation, according to certain embodiments, the user can input the bio-print using any of the selected network clients. The input is then transmitted to and received via the transmit/receive unit at the telecommunications server. The telecommunications server accesses the database(s) and compares the received bio-print input with its database to determine if there is a match. If so, then the user is given a predetermined level of access to the network client from which the bio-print has been received.