Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to present a graphical user interface (GUI) with a plurality of toolbars, detect a selection of a web-based toolbar, present the GUI with a hierarchical listing of content associated with the selected web-based toolbar, detect a selection of content from the hierarchical listing of content, create a new toolbar associated with the selected content with at least one selectable GUI element, present the GUI with the new toolbar intermixed with at least a portion of the plurality of toolbars, poll a web service for content updates, wherein the web service is associated with the selected content, and present the GUI with content updates supplied by the web service displayed in a portion of the new toolbar. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for validating installation of optical network devices is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an optical network device (OND) having a controller element to receive a work order from a monitoring device coupled to the OND, transmit the work order and identification data to an optical management device (OMD), receive an installation status report from the OMD based on a comparison of the identification data and validation data retrieved according to the work order, and transmit the installation status report to the monitoring device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for translating received input from a sender to recipient in an instant messaging dialog is disclosed. The method comprises receiving instant messaging input from a sender for recipient, wherein the instant messaging input comprises at least one subculture specific term. A category is identified the defines a difference between the sender and the recipient and the received instant messaging input is modified from the sender by generating an output associated with the least one subculture specific term and based on the identified category. Multiple recipients in a chat session may also each receive a translated or annotated message according to characteristics of each individual recipient.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable media for tracking a person of interest. The method embodiment comprises identifying a person of interest, capturing a voiceprint of the person of interest, comparing a received voiceprint of a caller with the voiceprint of the person of interest, and tracking the caller if the voiceprint of the caller is a substantial match to the voiceprint of the person of interest.

Abstract: According to MPEG-4's TTS architecture, facial animation can be driven by two streams simultaneously—text, and Facial Animation Parameters. In this architecture, text input is sent to a Text-To-Speech converter at a decoder that drives the mouth shapes of the face. Facial Animation Parameters are sent from an encoder to the face over the communication channel. The present invention includes codes (known as bookmarks) in the text string transmitted to the Text-to-Speech converter, which bookmarks are placed between words as well as inside them. According to the present invention, the bookmarks carry an encoder time stamp. Due to the nature of text-to-speech conversion, the encoder time stamp does not relate to real-world time, and should be interpreted as a counter. In addition, the Facial Animation Parameter stream carries the same encoder time stamp found in the bookmark of the text.

Abstract: A method for managing contact information is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to perform a web-based search for contact information based on a request, present search results obtained from the web-based search, monitor for a selection to populate an address book of the communication device with a target portion of the contact information for an entry of the search results, parse the entry of the search results to obtain the target portion of the contact information, and populate the address book with the target portion of the contact information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A technique for providing multimedia communication services to a subscriber includes receiving a communication query for the subscriber, the communication query having an associated requested communication mode. The technique also includes servicing the communication query for the subscriber using the requested communication mode when the requested communication mode corresponds to one of one or more selected communication modes.

Abstract: An interface is provided by creating prompts for the interface. The prompts represent tasks to be accomplished by a user and are obtained based on user input. The prompts are grouped according to relationships, obtained from the user input, among the tasks. The interface is updated based on user feedback. Each of the prompts is designated using user terminology obtained from the user input.

Abstract: A predefined interface is presented to a remote user. A natural language inquiry from the remote user is received via the predefined interface. The natural language inquiry is configured for use in an analysis. A customized interface is presented to the remote user based on the analysis of the natural language inquiry. The customized interface includes a customized set of communications options for the remote user to route communications.

Abstract: Communications are routed in a communications network based on a location of a requesting party. A communication from the requesting party is received. A location of the requesting party is determined using a geographic address which defines the smallest of two of a set of multiple geographic areas defined by multiple available geographic addresses for the location of the requesting party. A communications destination address for the communication is selected, from multiple possible communications destination addresses, based on the location of the requesting party. The communication is forwarded to the selected communications destination address.

Abstract: A system for video call processing is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first communication device having a controller element to establish by way of a PSTN port of the first communication device a Public Switched Telephone Network communication session with a second communication device, submit by way of a broadband port of the first communication device a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message to determine whether the second communication device has video capability, receive a second SIP message indicating the second communication device is video capable, present a notice indicating the second communication device is video capable, receive a request to establish video communications with the second communication device, and submit a third SIP message to establish a video communication session with the second communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A wireless communications system providing interactive voice response is disclosed. The system is menu driven, and can accept information as well as deliver information to the customer in the form of prompts or prompt information. The system includes provisions that permit customers to vary the prompt information. In prompt information can be varied in a number ways, including the method of delivery, the content, pre or post-call prompts, and the frequency in which the prompt information is delivered.

Abstract: A new architecture capable of utilizing the existing twisted pair interface between customer premises equipment and an associated serving local switching office is used to provide a vast array of new services to customers. Using an intelligent services director (ISD) at the customer services equipment as an interface for the equipment to an existing twisted cable pair and a facilities management platform (FMP) at the serving local switching office as an interface to various networks and service opportunities, new services such as simultaneous, multiple calls (voice analog or digital), facsimile, Internet traffic and other data can be transmitted and received over the twisted cable pair by using digital subscriber loop transmission schemes. The new services include but are not limited to videophone, utility meter reading and monitoring, broadcasting and multicasting.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving information regarding a telephony platform and for retrieving the object of the services provided by the telephony platform corresponding to the information received. Customer premises equipment is connected to the general switched telephone network and to a supplemental service network via a central office switch. A telephony platform is connected to the general switched telephone network for providing accessory services such as voice mail, electronic mail and facsimile services. An event identifier is generated to identify a calling event. The event identifier may be attached to a message having caller identifier information. The event identifier is used if the caller is transferred to voice mail. If a voice mail message is left, an information indicator is attached to another caller identifier message that is maintained for display on the customer premises equipment to allow the user to determine which callers left messages.

Abstract: A network method for using a network telephone voice-mail service, by which a caller may leave a voice-message that includes the identification of an attachment, which may include, as examples only, audio, video, text, programs, spreadsheets and graphic attachments. A video, text, spreadsheet or graphic attachment may be converted to an audible attachment to the voice-mail at the caller's or the voice-mail subscriber's request. Such entries may be made, after receiving an automated prompt for leaving an attachment identifier or conversion request, audibly or by using a keypad entry. A network method is also provided for using a network telephone voice-mail service, by which the voice-mail service may detect an attachment to a voice-mail message and provide access to the attachment to the voice-mail message.

Abstract: A method and system that enables a network and components of the network to be aware of the services existing at the edges of the network and to route connection requests for these services to appropriate servers within the network based on a variety of criteria. By making the network and network components service-aware, routing functions can be implemented in a more scalable and efficient way.

Abstract: A communication network is operated by logically dividing the communication network into a plurality of zones. Policies are specified that define allowable communications between elements in different ones of the plurality of zones. Communications are blocked between elements in different ones of the plurality of zones that violate at least one of the policies.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing communications services. One method receives a first data stream at a computer, with the first data stream comprising packets of data packetized according to a packet protocol. The first data stream is recursively segmented into segments, and at least one of the segments is dispersed via a network for a subsequent processing service. A result of the processing service is received, and the result is aggregated into a second data stream. The second data stream is then communicated via the network.

Abstract: A system and method for voice activated dialing (VAD) using an intelligent peripheral (IP), such as a service circuit node (SCN) in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN). This invention preserves subscriber preferences for certain attributes including preferred interexchange carrier (PIC) and billing information, without the need for data replication within either the IP or the service switching point (SSP) hosting the IP. Additionally, call routing within the network is optimized and the need for double trunking is eliminated because the IP drops the call back to the originating SSP, from which the call is then routed.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for forwarding telephone calls, facsimile transmissions and electronic messages to a single forwarding telephone number. The telephone calls, fax transmissions and electronic messages are first forwarded to a central forwarding repository by the forwarding party where the fax transmissions, and messages are converted to audio formats. Forwarded telephone calls and audio formatted versions of the fax transmissions and electronic messages are then forwarded directly to a designated forwarding number. If the forwarding party answers at the forwarding number, she will receive forwarded calls, and the audio formatted versions of fax transmissions and electronic messages will be played to her over her telephone. If the forwarding party does not answer the forwarded call, she subsequently may retrieve saved telephone calls, saved telephone messages and saved audio versions of fax transmissions and electronic messages from the central forwarding repository.