Abstract: Systems and methods for providing context to a forwarded call include a private branch exchange (PBX) that has an interface for receiving a call from a calling device. The call includes a caller ID of the calling device. The PBX stores a company ID for identifying the company and includes a signal handler for forwarding the received call as a forwarded call to a receiving device, and a caller ID enhancer for adding context to the forwarded call. The context includes the company ID and a selection made by a user of the calling device. The receiving device displays the context prior to answering the forwarded call.

Abstract: Systems and methods dynamically form a context group that has a plurality of members and propagate payload data between the members. A database associates a context identifier (ID) of the context group with a user ID of each member. A context manager, communicatively coupled with the database, receives a join context request containing the context ID and a user ID from each said member, creates the context group, if not existing, within the database in response to the join request, and adds the user ID, if not existing, of each said member to the database in association with the context ID. A payload handler receives payload data from one of said members and propagates the payload data to other said members of the context group.

Abstract: A system, method and software product connects a call from an internet protocol (IP) phone and a telephone apparatus connected to a public switched telephone network (PSTN) using a personal gateway configured within a network group. A call from a user of the IP phone is answered and the user is authenticated. A destination number for the telephone apparatus is received from the user. A list of personal gateways is created based upon the destination number. The list is prioritized based upon least cost routing. A highest priority personal gateway that is available is determined using the prioritized list. The highest priority personal gateway that is available is instructed to dial the destination number using a PSTN interface. The IP phone connects with the telephone apparatus to make the call. The call terminates and associated resources are freed if either the IP phone or the telephone apparatus hangs-up.

Abstract: There is described a provides a method for selecting a buddy with which a user wants to connect. The buddy having a buddy identification being listed in a pre-identified group of Internet-accessible destinations. The user using a user telephone means to which is associated identification information. The method comprises: initiating a call from the user telephone means to an Internet-enabled computing device, the call having associated thereto calling line identification (CLID) information; comparing the CLID information to the user telephone means identification information; validating the CLID information using the comparison upon positive validation, the user providing the buddy identification; consulting the pre-identified group of Internet-accessible destinations for a match between the buddy identification and one of the Internet-accessible destinations; and advising the user of a successful or unsuccessful match.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating across telephone and data networks are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method, comprises receiving a first call from a first user phone that converts the first call from a format of a first local phone network to a first digital call. The first digital call is transmitted over a large area data network. The first digital call is converted to a format of a second local phone network to generate a second call. The second call is transmitted to a second user phone over the second local phone network. A real-time bi-directional voice communication session is established between the first user phone and the second user phone.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating across telephone and data networks are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method, comprises receiving a first call from a first user phone that converts the first call from a format of a first local phone network to a first digital call. The first digital call is transmitted over a large area data network. The first digital call is converted to a format of a second local phone network to generate a second call. The second call is transmitted to a second user phone over the second local phone network. A real-time bi-directional voice communication session is established between the first user phone and the second user phone.

Abstract: The present document describes a method and system for placing a call through an Internet Protocol (IP) network, from a contact voice interface device for use by a contact user located in a first geographical area, to a subscribed voice interface device for use by a subscribed user located in a second geographical area, each geographical area defined by an area in which a local call can be made.

Abstract: A method and system for communicating across telephone and data networks are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method, comprises receiving a first call from a first user phone that converts the first call from a format of a first local phone network to a first digital call. The first digital call is transmitted over a large area data network. The first digital call is converted to a format of a second local phone network to generate a second call. The second call is transmitted to a second user phone over the second local phone network. A real-time bi-directional voice communication session is established between the first user phone and the second user phone.

Abstract: Systems and methods communicate information between mobile devices. A message having a destination address is received from a messaging application running on a first mobile device. A data store that stores addresses of devices subscribing to the messaging server is searched for the destination address, and if the destination address is found, the message is pushed to a second messaging application running on the destination device. If the destination address is not found, the message is formatted as a generic message and sent to a service provider of the destination device.

Abstract: A method selects a buddy with which a user wants to connect. The buddy has a buddy identification listed in a pre-identified group of Internet-accessible destinations. The user using a user telephone means to which is associated identification information. A call is initiated from the user telephone means to an Internet-enabled computing device and has associated thereto calling line identification (CLID) information. The CLID information is compared to the user telephone means identification information. The CLID information is validated using the comparison and upon positive validation, the user providing the buddy identification; consulting the pre-identified group of Internet-accessible destinations for a match between the buddy identification and one of the Internet-accessible destinations; and advising the user of a successful or unsuccessful match. Alternatively, a call is placed to a party which does not necessarily belong to a pre-identified group of Internet-accessible destinations.

Abstract: There is described a system and a method for triggering an Internet application from an Internet-enabled computing device having access to information specific to a user, namely user-specific information. The Internet-enabled computing device being for coupling to a network, and the method comprising: receiving a message from the user via the network, the message having associated thereto user identification; comparing the user identification with the user-specific information; validating the user identification using the comparison; and upon positive validation, triggering the Internet application from the Internet-enabled computing device using the received message.