Abstract: According to various embodiments, declined (or unanswered) calls to an alternate number on a mobile device can be handled differently than declined calls to the device's native phone number. For example, such declined (or unanswered) calls to an alternate number can be sent to a different voicemail system than the primary voicemail system associated with the device's native voice call functionality. The techniques described herein can be applied to any situation in which a call is declined or otherwise disposed of, including, for example: the recipient failing to answer the call; the device being in airplane mode; a “do not disturb” setting preventing acceptance of the call; or the like.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, declined (or unanswered) calls to an alternate number on a mobile device can be handled differently than declined calls to the device's native phone number. For example, such declined (or unanswered) calls to an alternate number can be sent to a different voicemail system than the primary voicemail system associated with the device's native voice call functionality. The techniques described herein can be applied to any situation in which a call is declined or otherwise disposed of, including, for example: the recipient failing to answer the call; the device being in airplane mode; a “do not disturb” setting preventing acceptance of the call; or the like.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, declined (or unanswered) calls to an alternate number on a mobile device can be handled differently than declined calls to the device's native phone number. For example, such declined (or unanswered) calls to an alternate number can be sent to a different voicemail system than the primary voicemail system associated with the device's native voice call functionality. The techniques described herein can be applied to any situation in which a call is declined or otherwise disposed of, including, for example: the recipient failing to answer the call; the device being in airplane mode; a “do not disturb” setting preventing acceptance of the call; or the like.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a user can receive voice calls using multiple phone numbers on a mobile device such as a smartphone. The voice calls can be carried via the wireless carrier associated with the mobile device, using the device's normal allowance for voice calls, without the need to use large amounts of data. In at least one embodiment, incoming voice calls are accurately identified as having been made to either the registered number for the device or an alternate number. In addition, in at least one embodiment, when a voice call is received at a device, the phone number, name, and/or other contact information for the originator of the call is/are provided to the user of the device. In at least one embodiment, any or all of these pieces of information can be provided to the user of the device for every incoming voice call.

Abstract: A device's arrival at a destination location is automatically detected, and notification of such arrival is automatically generated, without any need for a user to specify the destination location in advance. A perimeter, or geofence, is continually or periodically defined around the device's current location. A timer is automatically set, with some pre-specified duration. If the device exits the geofence before the timer expires, the new location of the device is determined, a new geofence around that location is defined, and the timer is reset. If the timer expires before the device exits the geofence, the device is considered to have arrived at a destination; an “arrives” event is generated. Notification of such an event can be output at the device and/or transmitted to one or more subscribers. Various exceptions, conditions, and preferences can be taken into account so as to avoid false positives.

Abstract: A drawing application provides functionality for assisting the user in performing freehand drawing. The user can place virtual stencils on the screen, and can manipulate the stencils in various ways. The stencils can be used as guides for freehand drawing and/or to transform freehand drawings into more precise shapes. In general, the stencils do not form part of the final graphical document being created (or edited), but are used to assist the creation (or editing) of the document, in a manner that is analogous to the use of physical stencils in when drawing on paper or other physical medium. The stencils can be used for straightening lines, for constraining the effect of drawing or painting, and/or as a visual guide for performing any drawing operations. The user can cause the stencils to be dismissed and/or hidden at any time, so that the graphical document can be viewed without the overlaying stencils.

Abstract: Limits are placed on the number of free and/or discounted communications (such as voice calls and text messages) available to a user, based on the number of communications received by the user. A user is given an allotment of credits, each worth one or more free and/or discounted communications. A credit balance is established and is continually adjusted as follows: it is increased whenever qualifying communications of a given type are received, and is decreased whenever free and/or discounted communications of the given type are initiated by the user. Once the credit balance has been depleted, the user may be blocked from initiating additional free or discounted communications, until the credit balance is increased. In at least one embodiment, different types of credits can be earned and/or used for different types of communications. In at least one embodiment, exchanges between the different types of credits may be permitted.

Abstract: Limits are placed on the number of free and/or discounted communications (such as voice calls and text messages) available to a user, based on the number of communications received by the user. A user is given an allotment of credits, each worth one or more free and/or discounted communications. A credit balance is established and is continually adjusted as follows: it is increased whenever qualifying communications of a given type are received, and is decreased whenever free and/or discounted communications of the given type are initiated by the user. Once the credit balance has been depleted, the user may be blocked from initiating additional free or discounted communications, until the credit balance is increased. In at least one embodiment, different types of credits can be earned and/or used for different types of communications. In at least one embodiment, exchanges between the different types of credits may be permitted.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically populating contact information using an voice message addressed to a distribution list. In one example method, a new distribution list is identified that contains the telephone numbers or other contact information of a group of intended recipients. The contact information for the recipients is identified, and the contact information databases at least one of the recipients is automatically populated with the contact information of the other recipients and/or the distribution list information.

Abstract: Limits are placed on the number of free and/or discounted communications (such as voice calls and text messages) available to a user, based on the number of communications received by the user. A user is given an allotment of credits, each worth one or more free and/or discounted communications. A credit balance is established and is continually adjusted as follows: it is increased whenever qualifying communications of a given type are received, and is decreased whenever free and/or discounted communications of the given type are initiated by the user. Once the credit balance has been depleted, the user may be blocked from initiating additional free or discounted communications, until the credit balance is increased. In at least one embodiment, different types of credits can be earned and/or used for different types of communications. In at least one embodiment, exchanges between the different types of credits may be permitted.

Abstract: A voice messaging system associates each stored voice message with a unique combination of a retrieval telephone number and a recipient identifier such as a recipient telephone number. When a voice message is received, the system sends a notification message containing the retrieval telephone number to the intended recipient. Upon receiving the notification message, the intended recipient can access the voice message directly by calling the message retrieval telephone number. The system detects the recipient identifier, for example, via caller identification of the recipient telephone number. Using the unique combination of retrieval telephone number and recipient identifier, the system retrieves and plays the appropriate voice message. In one embodiment, the access point for retrieving messages is different from the access point for leaving voice messages.

Abstract: The invention relates to a media system and a method for providing a messaging service. One example media system includes a database containing digital media files, each digital media file associated with one or more categories. A subscription service receives and records subscription requests from subscribers, where each subscription request relates to one of the categories. A receiving module receives a new digital media file from a subscriber, wherein the identifier identifies the one or more categories with which the new digital media file is to be associated. A transmission module provides the new digital media file to the subscribers of the category that is associated with the new digital media file.

Abstract: A voice messaging system associates each stored voice message with a unique combination of a retrieval telephone number and a recipient identifier such as a recipient telephone number. When a voice message is received, the system sends a notification message containing the retrieval telephone number to the intended recipient. Upon receiving the notification message, the intended recipient can access the voice message directly by calling the message retrieval telephone number. The system detects the recipient identifier, for example, via caller identification of the recipient telephone number. Using the unique combination of retrieval telephone number and recipient identifier, the system retrieves and plays the appropriate voice message. In one embodiment, the access point for retrieving messages is different from the access point for leaving voice messages.

Abstract: A voice message service provider enables users to access voice messages through a first access point for creating voice messages and a second access point for retrieving the created voice messages. In one implementation, a user calls the first access point to create a message, and the voice message provider indexes the created voice message with a message retrieval telephone number and one or more recipient identifiers. A notification message containing the message retrieval telephone number is sent to the intended recipient to provide notification of the voice message. The intended recipient may retrieve the voice message by calling the message retrieval number contained within the notification message and providing the recipient identifier. The voice message service provider identifies the voice message associated with the message retrieval number and recipient identifier and returns the voice message to the intended recipient.

Abstract: A voice message service provider enables users to access voice messages through a first access point for creating voice messages and a second access point for retrieving the created voice messages. In one implementation, a user calls the first access point to create a message, and the voice message provider indexes the created voice message with a message retrieval telephone number and one or more recipient identifiers. A notification message containing the message retrieval telephone number is sent to the intended recipient to provide notification of the voice message. The intended recipient may retrieve the voice message by calling the message retrieval number contained within the notification message and providing the recipient identifier. The voice message service provider identifies the voice message associated with the message retrieval number and recipient identifier and returns the voice message to the intended recipient.

Abstract: A method and system for managing messages including voice messages in a graphical user interface. One example system includes a database configured to store messages having voice messages associated therewith. The system includes a graphical user interface comprising an inbox display configured to graphically display at least a portion of the messages. The inbox display includes at least one play icon that, when selected by a user, plays a selected voice message directly within the graphical user interface. The inbox display further allows the user to manage the messages and to control playback of the voice messages directly within the graphical user interface.