Abstract: Systems and methods for populating a contacts directory are disclosed. A method of populating a contacts directory associated with a telephonic device includes placing a call from a first telephonic device to a second telephonic device. Called party contact information associated with the second telephonic device can be received and stored automatically in the contacts directory as a contact.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are presented for generating and outputting an interactive image object for display using a graphical user interface. The interactive image object is associated with a computational workflow having a sequence of computational operations. A processor device is configured to determine a required computational operation for the workflow based upon a task request wherein the operation requires a user input. The processor generates the interactive image object.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a conference call user interface and methods thereof. In one illustrative embodiment, the user interface provides a simple teleconferencing solution that allows a user to establish a conference as well as an individual conversation. Graphical representations, in the form of avatars, can be provided. A table surrounded by the avatars can be used to mimic a meeting room as though the parties were actually there. When phone icons on the chests of the avatars are actuated, a directory application to search for parties can be provided. A consult line, separate from the avatars, can also be provided. After connecting and associating the parties with an avatar, call handling actions can be displayed on or around each of the avatars.

Abstract: A network apparatus in a collaboration system with a plurality of participants, the apparatus comprising: a processing structure; and a memory including computer program code, wherein the memory and the computer program code are configured, with the processing structure, to cause the network apparatus to at least: present content on a display coupled to the processing structure; select a portion of the display for sharing, the portion having the shared content; simultaneously send said shared content to said display and to an encoder for encoding; automatically discover a network server configured to distribute the shared content with the plurality of participants; couple the apparatus to the network server and transmit the shared content to the network server for distribution to at least one of the plurality of participants, such that the shared content is encoded and decoded, and displayed in real-time.

Abstract: Described are a system and method of managing a real-time communication initiated to a mobile communications device. A communication from an originating communications device is sensed as being directed to a first destination address corresponding to a mobile communications device. Location information of the mobile communications device is determined. The communication is directed to a second destination address based on the determined location of the mobile communications device.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a conference call user interface and methods thereof. In one illustrative embodiment, the user interface provides a simple teleconferencing solution that allows a user to establish a conference as well as an individual conversation. Graphical representations, in the form of avatars, can be provided. A table surrounded by the avatars can be used to mimic a meeting room as though the parties were actually there. When phone icons on the chests of the avatars are actuated, a directory application to search for parties can be provided. A consult line, separate from the avatars, can also be provided. After connecting and associating the parties with an avatar, call handling actions can be displayed on or around each of the avatars.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method of audio-video communications including a plurality of end-user terminals coupled via a communications link. Each end-user terminal includes a video processor component, a user interface, a display, a speaker and a microphone, a video camera device and a storage device, all coupled to the processor. The user interface includes a video muting function. The video processor component includes a module responsive to the video muting function for switching from a video source of the video camera to a predetermined video signal. The video muting function includes a selection for muting video sent from one of the plurality of end-user terminals, muting video received by one of the plurality of end-user terminals, muting video, both video sent from and video received by one of the plurality of end-user terminals, or muting audio and video sent from one of the plurality of end-user terminals.

Abstract: A system and method for partial fault tolerance in an embedded appliance is disclosed. The method comprises providing an embedded appliance having first and second digital storage locations, with the second location including a boot manager and a recovery operating system. An image instance of the operational section of the first digital storage location can be copied at a selected frequency to a selected location on the second digital storage location. Files in the image instance can be re-mapped to operate at the second digital storage location. The embedded appliance can be rebooted from the second digital storage location using the boot manager to load an operating system in the image instance to operate the embedded appliance from the image instance at the selected location on the second digital storage location when the operational section of the first digital storage location is inaccessible.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving sound from a teleconference host at a teleconference phone is disclosed. The method comprises identifying a person to act as the teleconference host. A location of the identified teleconference host relative to the teleconference phone is determined. A plurality of microphones on the conference phone are configured as a beamforming receiver to receive an audio signal from the location of the teleconference host. Selected microphones from the plurality of microphones are biased to receive sound from the direction of the teleconference host relative to sound received from other directions.

Abstract: Technology for constructing a contact sharing history is disclosed. One method comprises receiving, at a computing device of a second user, a communication contact information element of a first user. The contact information is linked to a personal identification key associated with the first user. A link to a personal identification key associated with the second user is added to the communication contact information element to form the contact sharing history. The contact sharing history can then be used to identify how the second user obtained the first user's communication contact information element.

Abstract: One aspect of the specification is the use of a virtual entity to represent the bandwidth bottleneck point in a network. Areas of the network where bandwidth does not need to be managed can be modeled as zones. This model enables more flexibility as the virtual bottleneck point can represent a collection of components (e.g. routers), or a portion of a real component (e.g. a router could be represented by multiple virtual bottleneck points with different purposes.) This model can also allow a user to decide which points in their network should be managed, independent of the underlying data network infrastructure. These virtual entities can be placed between areas of the network, and configured with specific policies. Bandwidth usage across these virtual entities can be tracked and compared to the configured bandwidth limit available to the application at each bottleneck point. When the bandwidth available at the bottleneck point is fully utilized, additional calls can be blocked or rerouted.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring information over a short range are disclosed. The system and method can be used for a variety of applications, including administrative provisioning of information to particular users, providing information relating to a user during a conference call, handing off calls to or from another phone, for other application deployment, for pass of control, and similar applications. The system includes a first device capable of short-range communication and having a client application thereon and a second device capable of short-range communication and having a client or an administrator application thereon. Information is passed between the first device and the second device using short range communication.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a system in which individual employee records can be updated across multiple services by an administrator at the interface to a particular service. Multiple services may be provided with this capability. This will eliminate the need in the current art for a central directory that contains a service description that will be common across all services. The technology eliminates the need for the development of this directory and the training of administrators in its interface. Administrators may utilize their training in one service interface to update records across multiple services. This will enable the more rapid development of solutions utilizing services from multiple vendors. Administrators need not be trained on interfaces for all services but can apply routine global updates from a convenient and familiar interface.

Abstract: A system and method for recording and providing a written transcript of a portion of a media session (e.g., a video or audio conference) are provided. An exemplary system continuously records a media session, allowing one or more users to select segments of the session to store and have transcribed. A copy of the recording and the corresponding transcription may be provided to one or more users.

Abstract: A system and method for service aware virtualization is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of virtual instances operating on virtualization software and a plurality of service manager modules operating on the virtualization software. Each service manager module is coupled to a separate virtual instance and configured to interface with an operation of guest software operating within the virtual instance on the virtualization software. A management interface coupled to the service manager modules interfaces with the plurality of virtual instances.

Abstract: A multi-mode device for providing call waiting network identification. The device can establish a first call through a first network. While communicating through the first network, a second call can be received from a second network. The first network can be independent of the second network and operate separately on the multi-mode device. The multi-mode device can inject an alert specific to the second network into the call through the first network signaling the call through the second network. By providing the alert, the user of the multi-mode device can determine if the call waiting tone is for business or personal giving the user the chance to ignore the call and continue talking without having to take the handset away from their face, activate the screen and view the caller identification information to decide whether or not to take the call.

Abstract: A conference device and an application for enabling geographically dispersed individuals to collaborate with one another are disclosed herein. Communication protocols can be used to invoke actions within the conference device and the application. Files can be transferred between the application and conference device. The application can remotely control connected conference devices. The application along with the conference device can offer a range of capabilities from multi-party audio conferencing to three hundred and sixty degree microphone pick-up for in-room participants. Multi-party video conferencing capabilities and in-room presentation displays via a built-in video interface to the in-room projector or monitor are provided. The conference device can include features such as Bluetooth™ or other connection that enables detection of wireless devices when meeting participants are present by virtue of their mobile device being within range.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for distributing video conference resources among connected parties and methods thereof. In an illustrative embodiment, an ad-hoc network providing conferencing resources is presented. The network can include a master device and a number of slave devices. Each of the slave devices can present their bandwidth capabilities to the master device. End devices can be connected to the master device. When no additional connections can be made to the master device, slave devices can be used to add the end devices into the conference. The slave device can thus share its resources to the conference. In one embodiment, individual slave devices can handle different types of codecs.

Abstract: A system and method for service aware virtualization is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of virtual instances operating on virtualization software and a plurality of service manager modules operating on the virtualization software. Each service manager module is coupled to a separate virtual instance and configured to interface with an operation of guest software operating within the virtual instance on the virtualization software. A management interface coupled to the service manager modules interfaces with the plurality of virtual instances.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method of call handling comprising a first communications device having an acceptor of call purpose from a first party for a call, a communications channel including a conveyor of call purpose and a second communications device coupled to the first communications device via the communications channel and having a presenter of call purpose to a second party.