Abstract: In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a system including a customer authentication and payment server, a merchant data server, a merchant network, and a merchant station. The merchant data server is coupled to a public data network and the public data network is coupled to the customer authentication and payment server. The merchant network is coupled to the merchant data server and the merchant station. The merchant station includes a communication interface to provide for wireless communication with customers located within a wireless coverage area using an ad hoc connection.

Abstract: A data modem aggregator system and a method of initializing a data modem is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the data modem aggregator system includes a plurality of data ports configured to communicate data traffic. The data traffic is carried over dedicated data twisted pair lines. The data modem aggregator system further includes shared data processing resources to process the data traffic communicated over the plurality of data ports and a high-speed multiplexed output responsive to the plurality of data ports and the shared resources.

Abstract: A remote control apparatus includes a hand-held housing, an antenna, a user interface, a wireless data interface, a display device, and a processing unit. The antenna is coupled to the hand-held housing. The user interface includes input selection elements accessible to a user. The user may access these elements from a surface of the hand-held housing. The wireless data interface is located within the hand-held housing and coupled to the antenna. The wireless data interface communicated using a wireless data protocol to a residential gateway system. The display device is capable of being updated by program logic. The processing unit may control the display device, manage the wireless data interface, and process speech input for transmission over the wireless data interface.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to an interface for federated access to customer data. The interface includes an application service. The application service has access to customer data through an integration service object. The integration service object represents data associated with a plurality of resource systems. In another embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a distributed computer system for providing a common customer interface. The distributed computer system includes an application service, an integration service, and a plurality of distributed resource systems. The application service provides the common customer interface. The integration service is coupled to the application service and includes an object. The plurality of distributed resource systems are coupled to the integration service. The application service requests data associated with the common customer interface from the integration service.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a distributed communications system for use in support of telecommunication operations. The distributed computer system includes a telecommunications related application service and an integration service. The telecommunications related application service has access to a plurality of interconnection services and a plurality of different computing nodes. The integration service is coupled to the telecommunications related application services. The integration service is also coupled to a plurality of distributed resource systems. The integration service has access to at least one of the plurality of distributed resource systems in response to a communication transmitted to at least one of the plurality of interconnection services.

Abstract: A billing data extraction and processing system for use in connection with a first billing system and a second billing system is disclosed. The billing data extraction and processing system includes a first input to receive rated billing data from the first billing system, a second input to receive rated billing data from the second billing system, and a data processing module, the data processing module responsive to the first input and to the second input, the data processing module processing the aggregated data extracted from at least one of the first and the second billing system. A first set of aggregated billing data at a first point in a billing period of the first billing system and a second set of aggregated billing data at a second point in the billing period of the first billing system are extracted and received at the first input.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to operations, administration, and maintenance related systems and methods associated with data communications. In a particular embodiment, an encapsulated operations, administration and maintenance (OAM) data packet for use in connection with a service provider network is disclosed. The encapsulated OAM data packet includes a service provider destination address and a service provider source address. The service provider destination address is associated with a destination node within the service provider network; and the service provider source address is associated with a source node within the service provider network.

Abstract: A communication system includes a criteria matrix for calculating a dialogue score in response to a request for a dialogue model from a dialogue node within a communication action. The criteria matrix also incorporates a dialogue selection table for selecting an appropriate dialogue type, based on the calculated score.