Abstract: A method of modifying services can include reading a plurality of beliefs and a plurality of rules. The beliefs can describe at least one of data and a function available from a plurality of service providers. The rules can define conditions for combining different ones of the plurality of beliefs. The method further can include automatically combining at least two beliefs from the plurality of beliefs according to the rules to create a service.

Abstract: A communication system (100) has a portal (110), a subscriber (108), a plurality of content providers (112), and a communication network for providing communication between the portal, the subscriber and the plurality of content providers. The components of the communication system are programmed to transmit to the subscriber from the portal an available selection of the plurality of content providers, select at the subscriber a select one of the plurality of content providers, and transmit content provider registration corresponding to the selected content provider from the portal to the selected content provider.

Abstract: A method (50) of dynamic creation of web services includes exposing (51) a flow of a service being built to other service providers in a network, soliciting (52) for services needed by a flow node of the flow, and enabling (55) other service providers to fill-in the services needed for the flow node. The method can further include incorporating (56) the services filled-in by the other service providers and optionally removing (57) any solicitation for services needed by the flow node once the services are filled-in and incorporated by the flow. The method can then complete (58) all the nodes of the flow, and create and deploy the service. Note, the step of soliciting can include advertising (53) WSDL files for the services needed by the flow node. The step of soliciting can also optionally include publishing (54) needed WSDL files in a UDDI-like directory.

Abstract: A method (50) of dynamic creation of service flows includes exposing (51) a flow of a service being built to other service providers in a network, soliciting (52) for modification of at least a portion of the flow, and selectively enabling (56) other service providers to modify at least a portion of the flow. The step of soliciting can optionally include advertising (53) BPEL files to indicate flows or portions of flow that are modifiable by other services providers and tagging (54) such BPEL files to indicate such modifiable or reusable portions of the flow. The BPEL files can also be published (55) in a UDDI-like directory. New flows can be created by incorporating (57) the modifications into at least a portion of the flow. Optionally, solicitations for modifications can be removed (59) once the new flow is created.

Abstract: A three tiered data synchronization system including a client, an enterprise data server, a synchronization server, and a pre-fetch data store. The client can have an associated client data store and the enterprise data server can have an associated server data store. The synchronization sever can intermittently and bidirectionally synchronize data within the client data store with data within the server data store. The pre-fetch data store can maintains data specific to synchronization requests that is used by the synchronization server when performing synchronization operations responsive to detected synchronization requests. The data specific to synchronization request used by the synchronization server is stored within the pre-fetch data store before the corresponding synchronization requests are detected by the synchronization server.

Abstract: A bypasser configured to operate within a three tiered synchronization system. The bypasser can include an interceptor and an inference engine. The interceptor can intercept synchronization requests before a synchronization event involving a synchronization server is initiated. The inference engine can determine if the data store and the another data store are to be synchronized and can selectively initiate the synchronization event based on the determination of the inference engine. For example, when the inference engine determines that synchronization is not to occur, the bypasser can convey a notification that no update is needed to the source of an intercepted synchronization request without requiring the synchronization server to process the synchronization request. When the inference engine determines that synchronization is to occur, the bypasser can convey an intercepted synchronization request to the intermediate synchronization server for processing.

Abstract: A method for processing the payment of a bill in the bill payment service can include detecting within a PSTN an attempt to establish a telephone call between a caller and a call center configured to process bill payments. An identity for the calling party can be resolved externally to the call center. Also, a telephonic connection can be established between the caller and the call center. Finally, the resolved identity can be forwarded to the call center over a data communications link which is separate and apart from the established telephonic connection. Preferably, the resolving step can include querying a LIDB through a name resolution adapter disposed in the PSTN for identifying information for the caller. Moreover, the resolving step can be performed responsive to receiving an SS7 message in an SCP to set up the telephonic connection between the caller and the call center.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for bill payment over a PSTN. The method can include processing a call in the PSTN to establish a telephonic connection between a caller and a call center configured to process bill payments. The method further can include resolving an identity for the caller separate from the established telephonic connection. The identity can be routed to the call center over a data communications link unrelated to the telephonic connection. Finally, a bill payment process can be managed for the caller within the call center based upon the routed identity. Preferably, the resolving step can include querying a LIDB through a name resolution adapter disposed in the PSTN for identifying information for the caller. Further more, the processing step can include performing the resolving step responsive to receiving an SS7 message in an SCP to set up the telephonic connection between the caller and the call center.

Abstract: In accordance with an improved call routing methodology, a call is routed within a communication network by reference to one or more databases. In response to receiving a local number portability request at a service control point (SCP), the SCP accesses one or more databases to determine whether or not to apply custom call routing to a call directed to a called telecommunications number. In response to determining to apply custom call routing to the call, the SCP performs at least a second access to the one or more databases to obtain a local routing number (LRN) associated within the one or more databases with a calling telecommunications number associated with the call. The SCP thereafter provides the LRN to a service switch point in the communication network so that the call is routed to a called station associated with the called telecommunications number.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for name-alias based delivery of services through the public switched telephone network (PSTN). A method for resolving caller identity in a PSTN can include detecting an attempt to establish a telephone call between a calling party and a called party and prompting the calling party from within the PSTN for clarifying information. An alias for the calling party can be resolved based upon the clarifying information. Subsequently, the alias can be forwarded to the called party for use by the called party in identifying the calling party at the time of the telephone call.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for location relevant directory assistance through a PSTN. The method can include receiving a directory assistance request from a calling party over the PSTN and retrieving an address for the calling party from the PSTN. Location relevant directory information can be identified based upon the retrieved address. Subsequently, the directory assistance request can be handled using the identified location relevant directory information. The method further can include the steps of prompting the calling party with the identified location relevant directory information. In response, a selection from the calling party from among the identified location relevant directory information can be received from the calling party. Consequently, the responding step can be performed using the selection. Alternatively, the responding step can be performed without location restriction if the calling party does not select from among the identified location relevant directory information.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for automatic call completion in a directory assistance system in concert with the PSTN. In accordance with the present invention, a method for automatic call completion in a directory assistance system can include receiving and processing a directory assistance request from a calling party over the PSTN. An address for the calling party can be retrieved from the PSTN and an address for a telephone number produced by the directory assistance request can be second retrieved from within the directory assistance system. Prospective telephone charges can be computed based upon the retrieved addresses and the calling party can be prompted with the computed prospective charges. Finally, a call can be automatically completed between the calling party and the telephone number.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for vote processing in concert with a PSTN. In accordance with the present invention, a method for vote processing in a PSTN can include receiving a vote from a calling party over the PSTN. Caller information for the calling party can be retrieved from the PSTN. Subsequently, the vote can be validated based upon the caller information. Finally, the vote can be processed based upon the validation. For instance, the vote can be tallied if the calling party is validated as not having previously voted. In contrast, the vote can be rejected if the calling party is determined to have previously voted.

Abstract: A method for distributing content can include the step of a content broker receiving digitally conveyable content from a content producer. The content broker can provide the content to at least one content distributor. The content distributor can provide the content to at least one content customer. The content producer can report content usage information to the content broker. The content broker can establish media distribution data and can convey the media distribution data to the content distributor. The content distributor can use the media distribution data and distribution data that the content broker does not have access to when providing the content to the content customer.

Abstract: A method for interfacing an application server with a resource can include the step of associating a plurality of Enterprise Java Beans (EJBs) to a plurality of resources, where a one-to-one correspondence exists between EJB and resource. An application server can receive an application request and can determine a resource for handling the request. An EJB associated with the determined resource can interface the application server to the determined resource. The request can be handled with the determined resource.

Abstract: A system for implementing voice services can include at least one virtual machine, such as a Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) virtual machine. The virtual machine can include a bean container for handling software beans, such as Enterprise Java Beans. The bean container can include a voice browser bean. The voice browser bean can include a VoiceXML browser.

Abstract: A method of interfacing a telephone application server and a speech engine can include the step of establishing one or more audio sockets in a media converting component of the telephone application server. The audio socket can remain available for approximately a duration of a call. A work unit that requires processing by a speech engine can be detected for the call. An identifier for the audio socket and a data for the work unit can be conveyed to a selected speech engine. Work unit results from the selected speech engine can be received by the media converting component via the previously established audio socket.

Abstract: A method for providing voice telephony services can include the step of receiving a call via a telephone gateway. The telephone gateway can convey call identifying data to a resource connector. A media port can be responsively established within a media converter that is communicatively linked to the telephone gateway through a port associated with the call. A call description object can be constructed that includes the call identifying data and an identifier for the media port. The call description object can be conveyed to a telephony application server that provides at least one speech service for the call. The telephony application server can initiate at least one programmatic action of a communicatively linked speech engine. The speech engine can convey results of the programmatic action to the media converter through the media port. The media converter can stream speech signals for the call based upon the results.

Abstract: A method for detecting speech utterances within a telephone call can include the steps of initializing a componentized voice server having at least one software-based speech detection routine. At least one previously established parameter can be used to discern a speech detection methodology for handling an incoming call. The software-based speech detection routine can be set in accordance with a select one of the parameters. An indicator of particular one of the parameters can be conveyed to an external speech detection component so that the external speech detection component is set to detect speech for the call in accordance with the conveyed indication. The software-based speech detection routine and/or the external speech detection component can detect a speech utterance for the call. The voice server can perform at least one programmatic action responsive to the detecting of the speech utterance.

Abstract: A communication system can include a telephony application server and at least one speech engine, where the system uses a standardized messaging protocol that specifies a standard for media resources. The telephony application server can have at least one voice server component. The speech engines can be allocated to handle requests for the voice server component on a per turn basis. The standardized messaging protocol can define a message format for request messages sent from the voice server component to a selected speech engine, a message format for response messages sent from the speech engine to the voice server component, and a message format for event messages sent from the speech engine to the voice server component. Each message format can include a field for a call identifier.