Abstract: A method for barging-in a call can include the step of establishing a component as a communication intermediary between at least one speech engine and a telephone gateway. The component can include at least one input media port and at least one output media port, where the input media port and the output media port can interface with selective ones of the speech engines. A barge-in command can be received while an automated prompt is being audibly presented. The signals for the prompt can be conveyed to the component via the output media port. Once the barge-in command has been received, the output media port can be closed to immediately stop the prompt from being presented. A halt command can be conveyed to a prompt generating source so that the source stops generating the prompt.

Abstract: A system and method for providing caller information across heterogeneous networks is provided. A Name Resolution Adapter (NRA) receives a message from a destination central office which includes a caller's telephone number and a call recipient's telephone number. The NRA retrieves a call recipient contract and caller authorization entries, and identifies caller fields that the call recipient is authorized to receive. The NRA includes the identified caller fields in a message to a Service Control Point (SCP), whereby the SCP retrieves caller attributes corresponding to the caller fields from a Line Information Database (LIDB). The SCP forwards the caller attributes to the NRA. In turn, the NRA includes the caller attributes in a message and forwards the message to the call recipient over a computer network. The call recipient processes a corresponding telephone call using the caller attributes that are included in the message.

Abstract: A system and method for processing caller information across heterogeneous networks is provided. An enterprise application receives a message from a name resolution adapter over a computer network. The message includes caller attributes and port location information. The enterprise application uses the caller attributes to retrieve a caller profile. The enterprise application determines whether to accept the call using the caller profile and whether a call exists on a telephone port corresponding to the port location information. Once enterprise application decides to accept the call, the enterprise application retrieves service subscriptions corresponding to the caller and processes the call using the caller's service subscriptions.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for managing subscriber services. The system can include a service renewal system configured to renew service subscriptions based upon identifying information associated with the service subscriptions. The system also can include one or more subscribers calling a service renewal system over a PSTN to renew respective service subscriptions. Finally, the system can include logic disposed within the PSTN to obtain the identifying information and to provide the obtained identifying information to the service renewal system.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for managing guest services to a telephone subscriber using identifying information provided through the PSTN to a guest services management center. In accordance with the present invention, a guest services management method can include receiving a telephone call from a guest through a PSTN linkage. Identifying information for the guest can be retrieved through a data communications network linkage without identifying the guest using data derived from the telephone call. The retrieved identifying information can be correlated with the telephone call and access to manage guest services through the PSTN linkage can be authenticated based upon the identifying information.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for managing delivery instructions for delivering goods to a telephone subscriber using identifying information provided through the PSTN to a delivery center. A method for managing delivery service instructions can include prompting a customer through an established telephone call to manage delivery instructions without first prompting the customer for identifying information. The method also can include managing the delivery instructions without accessing customer information derived through the phone call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing guest services to a telephone subscriber using identifying information provided through the PSTN to a guest services management center. In accordance with the present invention, a guest services management method can include telephonically connecting a guest to a guest services management system. Identifying information for the guest can be provided to the guest can be provided to the guest services management system externally to the telephonic connection. Consequently, management instructions received thought the telephonic connection for provisioned guest services for the guest can be processed using the identifying information provided externally to the telephonic connection.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for managing delivery service instructions. A method for managing delivery service instructions can include receiving a telephone call from a customer through a PSTN linkage. Identifying information for the customer can be retrieved through a data communications network linkage without identifying said customer using data derived from the telephone call. As such, the retrieved identifying information can be correlated with the telephone call. Finally, access to apply delivery service management instructions received over the PSTN linkage can be authenticated based upon the identifying information.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for service management. In accordance with the present invention, a service management method can include the steps of receiving a telephone call from a service subscriber over a PSTN and identifying the service subscriber through identifying information received externally to the received telephone call. Importantly, a service term for a subscription associated with the service subscriber can be modified only if payment can be resolved on behalf of the service subscriber.

Abstract: A method for establishing collaborative communications can include the step of receiving a request for a collaborative session with a designated user from an originating client. An intermediate client can be enabled, where the intermediate client can be deployed within a server that is communicatively linked to the originating client through an Internet protocol network. A mobile device associated with the designated user can be determined. A communication session can be initialized across a wireless network between the intermediate client and the mobile device. At least one collaboration message can be conveyed between the originating client and the mobile device using the intermediate client as a communication intermediary.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for managing guest services to a telephone subscriber using identifying information provided through the PSTN to a guest services management center. In accordance with the present invention, a guest services management method can include prompting a guest through an established telephone call to manage at least one guest service without first prompting the guest for identifying information. The method further can include managing the guest service without accessing guest information derived through the established telephone call.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for activating a credit card held by a telephone subscriber using identifying information provided through the PSTN to a credit card activation authority. In accordance with the present invention, a credit card activation management method can include activating a credit card through an established telephone call with a credit card customer using information derived from outside of the established telephone call without first prompting the credit card customer for identifying information. Also, the method can include the step of transferring the telephone call to a customer service representative responsive to a request for live help by the credit card customer.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for service management. A service management system can include a name resolution adapter disposed in a PSTN. The name resolution adapter can be communicatively linked to a LIDB also disposed within the PSTN. Notably, an enterprise application can be configured to manage service subscriptions and can enjoy communicative couplings both to the name resolution adapter over a data communications network and also to a switch disposed in the PSTN. Finally, service renewal logic can be associated with the enterprise application and programmed to renew service subscriptions for calling ones of subscribers to the service subscriptions based upon identifying data for the calling ones of the subscribers as received in the enterprise application over the data communications network from the name resolution adapter.

Abstract: A method of testing path a voice response system can include establishing a voice link between a test system and a voice response system and playing voice prompts to the test system over the voice link. The method also can include sending execution information to the test system over the voice link.

Abstract: A method of roaming between a mobile network and a wireless network can include receiving, over the wireless network, an invite from a user agent disposed within a mobile communications device. The mobile communications device can be engaged in a call over a voice channel in the mobile network. The method also can include selecting one of a plurality of gateways having an affinity with the user agent, wherein each gateway is configured as an interface between at least one mobile network and the wireless network. The call can be handed off from the mobile network so that at least a portion of the call is conducted over the wireless network using the selected gateway.

Abstract: A method of adjusting music length to expected waiting time while a caller is on hold includes choosing one or more media selections based upon their play duration and matching the selection(s) to the expected waiting time.

Abstract: A method (100) of dynamically assigning a plurality of voice ports and arranging a plurality of menu choice prompting sequences for at least one application includes the step of receiving (102) a plurality of incoming calls and monitoring (104) at least one among a recognition error rate for each menu option and execution path, a success rate for completing a desired transaction and an associated origination number, and monitoring frequently used menu options. In response to the monitoring steps, at least one of the menu choice prompting sequences among the plurality of menu choice prompting sequences can be rearranged (110) and at least one voice port among the plurality of voice ports can be reassigned (114).

Abstract: A method of roaming between a cellular network and a wireless network can include receiving an invitation over the wireless network. The invitation can be sent from a mobile communications device engaged in a cellular call over a cellular voice channel. The method also can include authenticating the mobile communications device over the wireless network, sending an acknowledgement of the invitation to the mobile communications device over the wireless network, and initiating a handoff. The established cellular call can be switched from the cellular network to the wireless network.

Abstract: A method of providing voice metrics over an established telephone call between a user and a subscriber can include receiving voice information from the user over the call and determining biometric information from the voice information for the user. The method further can include encoding the biometric metric information and sending the biometric information to the subscriber over the call.

Abstract: A method of sharing instant messaging transcripts can include establishing an instant messaging session. The method can also include receiving a user request to publish a transcript of the session to a Weblog and publishing the transcript to the Weblog.