Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for multimedia messaging system collaboration. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sender sends a message to multiple recipients. A recipient wishing to make a comment or insert changes to the message submits his comments to a moderator for approval. If the moderator approves of the changes, then the changes are automatically incorporated into the message. The original message is then automatically recalled from recipients who have not yet opened the message and a revised message is automatically sent to those whose messages were recalled. Additionally, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a message is automatically sent to those recipients who have already opened the original message to indicate the change to the original message and update those recipients.

Abstract: Synchronization techniques that improve the ease with which synchronization operations can be performed are disclosed. Synchronization is performed between resources on a portable computing device and resources stored on a remote server. The synchronization can be centralized across different types so that user interaction to achieve the different types of synchronization is minimal. Battery power can also be conserved during synchronization. A user can also be informed as to when the portable computing device should be shut-down or placed in a low-power state to have sufficient battery power remaining to perform the synchronization. The synchronization operations can be easily activated without much user interaction.

Abstract: Techniques to dynamically control the allocation of resources between audio and video (and perhaps data) streams of a video conference are disclosed. By providing the dynamic control, a participant to a video conference is able to alter the quality levels for the audio and video (and perhaps data) streams that they receive while the video conference is ongoing. A tool bar, window or the like can be used to enable a participant to dynamically control the quality levels. The techniques are particularly well suited for personal computer based video conferencing.

Abstract: A system (100) that employs media “blending” to notify a multi-media user of the use of one or more default configurations and provides an opportunity to record or reconfigure the item for the future. In particular, a system (100) according to the present invention monitors usage of a default or other predetermined setting and provides a message to the user indicative of its usage. Once the user has been notified of the usage, the user is given the option of reconfiguring from the default setting.

Abstract: A system and method for sending an electronic message in a compatible messaging format are presented. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a file, such as a data file, is automatically examined in the context of its application, and the lowest available file format level that preserves the data integrity is selected. An alternate version of this file, such as an unformatted text-only file, that preserves the content of the message may also be created and sent.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing and managing subconference calls within a main conference call includes a subconference call subsystem which responds to a subconference call request from a first terminal during the main conference call by transmitting the subconference call request to a second terminal. The subconference call subsystem monitors a connection to the second terminal to detect a signal indicating acceptance of the request. Upon detecting an acceptance, the subconference call subsystem establishes a first subconference call and a data mixer mixes first voice data from the main conference call with simultaneously transmitted second voice data generated from the first and second terminals. A data router transmits the mixed first and second voice data to the first and second terminals without transmitting the second voice data to any of the other terminals participating in the main conference call.

Abstract: An error reporting system in a communication system of the type that includes a PBX (10) and a monitoring system (20) that forwards internally detected errors from the PBX to a customer service center (28). A trouble ticket server (30) is coupled via a switch contact (40) to the monitoring system and is programmed to close the switch contact in an event a user reported error message is received. Upon detecting the contact closure, the monitoring system forwards an external alarm message to the customer service center. Alternatively, the trouble ticket server may be connected to the monitoring system via a serial communication link (52) that forwards a description of the user reported error to the monitoring system. The monitoring system may direct the PBX to run one or more diagnostic tests and forward the results of the tests to the customer service center along with the description of the user reported error.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting delay-sensitive data over a packet-based network involve converting the delay-sensitive data into two versions for transfer through the network with one version of the data being used to supplement the other version of the data in the event that packets are delayed or lost. In a preferred embodiment, real time voice conversation data is compressed using two different compression algorithms, where one version is more highly compressed and of a lower quality than the other. The highly compressed data is sent before corresponding packets from the less compressed data and the highly compressed packets are buffered at the receiving device to be utilized to regenerate any data segments from the less compressed packets that are lost or delayed during transmission. Sending dual versions of the same data allows the lower quality voice segment to be used as a backup in places where the high quality voice segments are lost.

Abstract: A cellular telephone (116) and a pager (118) having a common battery (256) are integrated into a single unit. The unit is maintained in a low-power receive page mode when not in use. An incoming call is processed first as a conventional pager message. The device receives the page and wakes from the low-power page mode. When the device has gone to full-power active mode, a cellular phone call is connected. A smart battery controller (254) for the unit is provided. The smart battery controller (254) monitors the power level left in the battery (256) and stops allowing telephone operations when power reaches a minimum level. For example, the level may be configurable by the user as the number of hours of paging that may be accommodated after cell phone operations are no longer permitted.

Abstract: A communication system for transmitting address changes. A communication system includes a source communication system and one or more destination communication systems, each of which is identified by a unique number or address. A memory in the source communication system maintains a record of each destination communication system that communicates with it. If the number or address of the source communication is changed, the source communication system generates a new number or address message which is transmitted to each of the destination communication systems. The destination communication systems receive the new number or address message and update a memory to reflect the new number or address of the source communication system. Those destination systems that are able to read the new number or address message and update a record of the number or address for the source communication system generate an acknowledge signal which is transmitted to the source communication system.

Abstract: A system and method for adaptive packet-length IP telephony includes a first IP telephony communication device located on a data network and enabled to establish an IP telephony connection to a second IP telephony communication device. Optionally, the first communication device is enabled to access network topology information from a server regarding a network segment connecting the first and second communication devices. If the network topology reflects the presence of a low efficiency router on the network segment, the first communication device enters a fixed packet-length operational mode. If the network topology indicates an absence of a low efficiency network router on the segment, the first communication device enters an adaptive packet-length operational mode.

Abstract: A system for updating area code information in predetermined telecommunications devices and networks as newly created area codes are implemented. Area code lists may be updated automatically and without the need for human intervention or manual reprogramming. A message receiving unit monitors the telephone connection and determines whether a “new area code” message is being transmitted by the telephone company central office or carrier. A message decoding unit decodes the transmitted message into a required format for a predetermined device. An update unit enables the area code lists to be automatically updated in the predetermined device if a list comparator determines that the area code does not exist in the lists.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for automatic synchronization in multimedia presentations. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when a data stream is compressed, delay which would normally be compressed out is replaced by a delay token which indicates a length of time of the delay. When a data stream is decompressed and presented, the delay tokens may either be used or ignored. In particular, when data streams are presented together in a multimedia presentation the delay tokens may be used to synchronize the various data streams of the multimedia presentation. Otherwise, when data streams are presented alone without the other data streams of a multimedia presentation or are not part of a multimedia presentation, the delay tokens may be ignored. In such cases when the delay token is ignored, any data stream delay is simply skipped since there is no need to synchronize with other data streams.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for automatic synchronization in multimedia presentations. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when a data stream is compressed, delay which would normally be compressed out is replaced by a delay token which indicates a length of time of the delay. When a data stream is decompressed and presented, the delay tokens may either be used or ignored. In particular, when data streams are presented together in a multimedia presentation the delay tokens may be used to synchronize the various data streams of the multimedia presentation. Otherwise, when data streams are presented alone without the other data streams of a multimedia presentation or are not part of a multimedia presentation, the delay tokens may be ignored. In such cases when the delay token is ignored, any data stream delay is simply skipped since there is no need to synchronize with other data streams.

Abstract: A system and method for silent Automatic Call Distributor (ACD) call monitoring in a telephony-over-LAN environment includes an ACD agent terminal for handling incoming calls from customers. A first call between the agent terminal and a customer terminal includes agent voice data and customer voice data. After the agent terminal has set up the first call with the customer terminal, the agent terminal receives a monitoring call setup request from a supervisor terminal. In response to the call setup request, the agent terminal cooperates with the supervisor terminal to establish a monitoring call over which the agent terminal transmits the agent voice data and the customer voice data to the supervisor terminal. The agent terminal monitors the first call for simultaneously transmitted agent voice data and customer voice data.

Abstract: A system and method within a multimedia messaging system for automatically enabling the system to notify a user that his or her mailbox is full and therefore no longer accepting messages for storage. The system includes one or more mailboxes to receive and store messages from callers, a capacity calculator to determine whether the messages stored in the mailbox exceed the allotted amount of storage space and a message transmittal unit to enable one or more notification alerts to be generated in response to the capacity calculator determining that the mailbox is full.

Abstract: A communication system for transmitting address changes. A communication system includes a source communication system and one or more destination communication systems, each of which is identified by a unique number or address. A memory in the source communication system maintains a record of each destination communication system that communicates with it. If the number or address of the source communication is changed, the source communication system generates a new number or address message which is transmitted to each of the destination communication systems. The destination communication systems receive the new number or address message and update a memory to reflect the new number or address of the source communication system. Those destination systems that are able to read the new number or address message and update a record of the number or address for the source communication system generate an acknowledge signal which is transmitted to the source communication system.

Abstract: A system for updating area code information in predetermined telecommunications devices and networks as newly created area codes are implemented. Area code lists may be updated automatically and without the need for human intervention or manual reprogramming. A message receiving unit monitors the telephone connection and determines whether a “new area code” message is being transmitted by the telephone company central office or carrier. A message decoding unit decodes the transmitted message into a required format for a predetermined device. An update unit enables the area code lists to be automatically updated in the predetermined device if a list comparator determines that the area code does not exist in the lists.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling dynamic location of a voice and video mixing site in a telephony-over-LAN (TOL) automatic call distributor (ACD) system includes establishing a first call between an ACD agent terminal and a customer terminal, wherein the first call includes first voice data transmitted from the agent terminal and second voice data transmitted from the customer terminal. Upon receiving a monitoring session request from an ACD supervisor terminal, agent processor monitoring circuitry determines whether sufficient agent processor resources are available to mix voice, and if applicable, video data samples. If sufficient agent processor resources are available, an agent terminal call control cooperates with a supervisor terminal call control to establish a first monitoring call. The agent call control monitors the first call for simultaneously transmitted agent and customer voice and video data.

Abstract: A method and system for remotely troubleshooting a local computer connected to an array of local peripheral devices include a data collector connected to the local computer. The data collector includes a signal interceptor for intercepting signaling information transmitted by the computer to the peripheral devices. The intercepted signaling information has been formatted for processing by the local peripheral devices at a point of interception. The data collector further includes a transceiver having a transceiver input configured to relay signaling information received from remote peripheral devices located at a remote troubleshooting site to input/output (I/O) ports of local peripheral devices. A transceiver output is configured to transmit intercepted signaling information to the remote peripheral devices at the remote troubleshooting site.