Abstract: A data source access editor and a network data management method are disclosed. The method is carried out in a network within which at least one data service element interacts with services. The network has data access layers, an administrator user interface and different platform data sources. The method includes the steps of: accepting administrator input through the user interface, processing the administrator input into executable instructions, and generating an abstraction of one of the platform data sources from the instructions. The abstraction defines a derivative of the one of the platform data sources that the data service element makes available to the services. The abstraction coordinates the data service element in effectuating operations on the one of the platform data sources, such that the operations generate data source responses communicated to the services in order for the services to be performed.

Abstract: Graphical interface based software for creating communication service agents is disclosed. The software is stored on or embodied in a computer readable medium used in a computer system having at least one display device, at least one input device operated by a computer user and at least one storage device having structured data. The computer readable medium includes code executable in the system to provide a service editor for use by the computer user. The service editor is for creating at least one interactive service and has a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI permits the computer user to build a flow map defining the interactive service. The flow map is displayable on the display device and includes a plurality of elements connected together by flow lines. At least one of the elements incorporates a customizer for assisting the computer user in further defining the interactive service. Operations on the structured data are effectuated by the interactive service.

Abstract: A communication system, a CTI (computer telephone interface) server that executes a server program, and client computers that execute client programs. The server program can be configured from the client programs to control call handling behaviors for calls from a telephone network or internal telephone extensions based on the configuration of the server program by the client programs.