Abstract: Audio data, corresponding to an utterance spoken by a person within a detection range of a voice communications device, can include an audio message portion. The audio data can be captured and analyzed to determine the intent to send a message. Based at least in part upon that intent, a remaining portion of the audio data can be analyzed to determine the intended message target or recipient, as well as the portion corresponding to the actual message payload. Once determined, the audio file can be trimmed to the message payload, and the message payload of the audio data can be delivered as an audio message to the target recipient.

Abstract: Audio data, corresponding to an utterance spoken by a person within a detection range of a voice communications device, can include an audio message portion. The audio data can be captured and analyzed to determine the intent to send a message. Based at least in part upon that intent, a remaining portion of the audio data can be analyzed to determine the intended message target or recipient, as well as the portion corresponding to the actual message payload. Once determined, the audio file can be trimmed to the message payload, and the message payload of the audio data can be delivered as an audio message to the target recipient.

Abstract: Disclosed is the technology for dynamic and intelligent generation of dialog recommendations for the users of chat information systems based on multiple criteria. An example method may include receiving a speech-based user input, recognizing at least a part of the speech-based user input to generate a recognized input, and providing at least one response to the recognized input. The method may further include identifying at least one triggering event, generating at least one dialog recommendation based at least in part on the identification, and presenting the at least one dialog recommendation to a user via a user device.

Abstract: The invention features a computer-implemented method for playing back an announcement message to a user device. The method includes initiating, by a computing device, an announcement session in response to a user device establishing communication with the computing device and determining, by the computing device, the announcement message to be played back to the user device. The method includes loading, by the computing device, into a queue associated with the announcement session, a descriptor referencing a memory buffer on the computing device. The memory buffer includes a plurality of memory partitions, each memory partition storing at least one portion of the announcement message encoded at a different rate. The method includes the computing device scheduling play back of the announcement message, playing the announcement message to the user device at a first rate and receiving a request from the user device for playback at a second rate.

Abstract: A method for network maintenance and supervision of an on-board controlled audio agent, the method constituted of: providing a plurality of audio portions, each of the provided audio portions being selected responsive to user descriptive data associated with a call initiator; providing a reimbursement rule associated with each of the audio portions; selecting, for each call instance, a particular one of the plurality of audio portions responsive to the determined reimbursement rules; and outputting the particular one of the plurality of audio portions at each call instance initiation such that at least a portion of the particular audio portion is heard by the call initiator prior to call connection.

Abstract: A method for retrieving information may include receiving a telephone call from a caller and identifying a telephone number from which the telephone call was made. The method may also include retrieving information from a database based on the identified telephone number. The method may further include providing an audible message to the caller to verify whether the retrieved information is correct.

Abstract: In exemplary embodiments, a universal messaging adapter provides hands-free operation of a communications device. The adapter communicates with the communications device, and in some embodiments, with a peripheral device such as another communications device, a headset, and other devices. The universal messaging adapter allows a user to use voice commands so that the user does not have to handle the communications device. The universal messaging adapter receives voice commands from a user interface and translates the voice commands to commands recognized by the communications device. The universal messaging adapter also monitors the communications device to detect communications device events and provides notice of the events to the user. Still further, the universal messaging adapter presents customized voice messaging tools that enable a portable voice messaging service that the user may use with a plurality of communications devices.

Abstract: A message greeting system receives a notification that a party is unavailable in response to a communication initiated by a contacting party. In response to receiving the notification, the message greeting system acquires contextual data associated with the contacting party, determines a message greeting that is appropriate for the contacting party based upon the contextual data, acquires the appropriate message greeting, and sends the appropriate message greeting to a contacting party device associated with the contacting party. The appropriate message greeting includes a message greeting that is usable by the contacting party given a context in which the contacting party is involved as identified by the contextual data. In some embodiments, the message greeting system acquires the appropriate message greeting by adapting an inappropriate message greeting for the context in which the contacting party is involved, thereby creating the appropriate message greeting.

Abstract: A message greeting system receives a notification that a party is unavailable in response to a communication initiated by a contacting party. In response to receiving the notification, the message greeting system acquires contextual data associated with the contacting party, determines a message greeting that is appropriate for the contacting party based upon the contextual data, acquires the appropriate message greeting, and sends the appropriate message greeting to a contacting party device associated with the contacting party. The appropriate message greeting includes a message greeting that is usable by the contacting party given a context in which the contacting party is involved as identified by the contextual data. In some embodiments, the message greeting system acquires the appropriate message greeting by adapting an inappropriate message greeting for the context in which the contacting party is involved, thereby creating the appropriate message greeting.

Abstract: An automated ringback update system for customizing ringback signals is disclosed. Communications devices activate and interact with the automated ringback update system via the recognition of a feature associated with a printed matter to allow for modifications of the network service.

Abstract: A method for network maintenance and supervision of an on-board controlled audio agent, the method constituted of: providing a plurality of audio portions, each of the provided audio portions being selected responsive to user descriptive data associated with a call initiator; providing a reimbursement rule associated with each of the audio portions; selecting, for each call instance, a particular one of the plurality of audio portions responsive to the determined reimbursement rules; and outputting the particular one of the plurality of audio portions at each call instance initiation such that at least a portion of the particular audio portion is heard by the call initiator prior to call connection.

Abstract: Communication networks and associated methods are disclosed that provide an advertisement or other type of informational message to a calling party before providing ringback tones. A communication network described herein receives a call from the calling party to the called party, and temporarily interrupts call processing for the call. The communication network then selects an advertisement for the call, and initiates delivery of the advertisement to the calling party. After the advertisement is delivered to the calling party, the communication network resumes call processing for the call. In resuming call processing, the communication network provides ringback tones to the calling party and attempts to connect the call to the called party.

Abstract: A distributed intercom system that interconnects a hub and various keypad and door zone units having microphones and/or speakers via CAT5 or similar cable having multiple twisted pairs. Audio is carried between all devices over a first audio wire pair, in analog signal format, forming an audio bus. Audio twisted pair acts as a data communication bus for control messages. One or more of receiver units may be active, while only one keypad device can be individually instructed to connect its corresponding microphone circuit to the audio bus. Determination of which unit is selected to be the transmitter occurs under the control of the hub. For example, in a case where a first user wishes to speak to another user in a different room, the first user presses a “talk” button at his keypad, causing that keypad to send out a message on a data communication bus to the hub.

Abstract: A method for generating a ring tone for a given caller based on a prior conversation with that caller. A portion of a conversation with a given caller is recorded and stored in memory as a ring tone. When a subsequent call is received from the same caller, identified by caller ID, the ring tone is played, alerting the user to the incoming call as well as the context of their prior communication. In alternative embodiments of the invention, a prior textual or video conversation is used as the basis for a ring tone, and/or the ‘ring tone’ is delivered by other than audio means. The invention is capable of implementation in telecommunications systems such as cellular, local exchange, and VOIP, and in combination with other forms of internet-based telecommunication.

Abstract: A method for customizing a communications network, including receiving, at a ringback update system, information regarding a machine recognizable feature associated with a printed matter located on an article, where the information is obtained with a feature recognition unit. The feature recognition unit is associated with or resides in or on a communications station associated with a called party, and further the information regarding a machine recognizable feature is transmitted from the feature recognition unit or from a communications station associated with the feature recognition unit. In addition, the method includes accessing, with the ringback update system, a storage device containing at least one announcement, downloading the announcement in response to receiving the information regarding a recognition of a machine recognizable feature and replacing a call signal with at least a portion of the at least one announcement.

Abstract: A method for retrieving information may include receiving a telephone call from a caller and identifying a telephone number from which the telephone call was made. The method may also include retrieving information from a database based on the identified telephone number. The method may further include providing an audible message to the caller to verify whether the retrieved information is correct.

Abstract: A doorphone is provided with a camera, a microphone, a button serving as an input device, and a loudspeaker serving as an output device. When a visitor pushes the button, the camera starts recording an image and the microphone becomes ready for input of voice. The doorphone sends the recorded image and the input voice to an operation panel. The doorphone sends the recorded image and the input voice to the home server as well. Upon reception of the image and the voice, the home server recognizes which sensor senses a user through the use of a LAN, and selects a video/audio device (e.g., a personal computer) associated with that sensor as a data destination device. The image and voice received from the doorphone are transferred to the selected video/audio device through the LAN.

Abstract: A telephone set device capable of vocalizing a telephone number being called. A line interface circuit serves as an interface between the tip and ring wires of a standard telephone circuit and the internal circuit. A ring detector detects whether a ring signal is being input. A controller provides the input of signals from the line interface circuit, the keypad, and the ring detector. A hybrid circuit divides the connecting terminals of the line interface into a voice input and a voice output. A keypad inputs the control signal or the number signal to the controller, and sets the address data in the internal memory of the controller to output the voice data. A DTMF generator generates DTMF signals to represent each key on the keypad. A number voice generator receives the address data and decompresses the corresponding compressed voice data retrieved from the internal memory. A handset receives/transmits a voice signal.

Abstract: A telephone device that has a call subscriber telephone number detector, a memory for memorizing a plurality of call subscriber information audio signal in advance and which can memorize an arbitrary call subscriber telephone number in correspondence with a call subscriber information audio signal arbitrarily selected from the plurality of call subscriber information audio signals, a comparator for comparing whether a call subscriber telephone number detected by the call subscriber telephone number detector is coincident with a call subscriber telephone number memorized in the memory, upon coming-call, and an electroacoustic transducer to which a call subscriber information audio signal read out from the memory is supplied, wherein when it is detected by the comparator that a call subscriber telephone number detected by the call subscriber telephone number detector is coincident with a certain call subscriber telephone number memorized in the memory, a certain call subscriber information audio signal corre