Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a call notification, voice mail message notification, or SMS message for a wireless device to a user's preferred device. When a wireless device receives an incoming call, a voice mail message, or a SMS message, the wireless device connects to a network and sends a notification to the user's preferred device. If the preferred device is not available, the notification is stored in a database.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a SMS message sent to a particular phone number or address to a preferred device. A sender may send a SMS message to a phone number address of a user. The SMS message is then routed to a preferred device selected by the user and displayed in an appropriate format on the preferred device.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention screen calls. A first server receives information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party. The first server then determines whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user and determines whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid when the realtime call management function is not enabled. A call screening function is performed when the calling party number is invalid. The first server provides a notification of the call to a device associated with the user when the real-time call management function is enabled. A second server initiates the call screening function when the user selects a call screening option included in the notification.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a video messaging service for transmitting video messages between network terminals over a network. After a caller's video-messaging terminal receives a notification that a receiver failed to respond to a communication request, the caller's video-messaging terminal may enable the caller to record a video message and store it for viewing on-demand by a receiver's video-messaging terminal. After recording, the caller's video-messaging terminal transmits a stored message notification terminal to a network server which, in turn, transmits a stored message notification, including an identifier of the caller's video-messaging terminal, to the receiver. Based on the identifier, the receiver's video-messaging terminal may request access to the video message from the callers video-messaging terminal. In response to the request, the caller's video-messaging terminal retrieves the video message from storage and provides it to the receiver's video-messaging terminal over the network.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a user's preferred device with a notification of an incoming communication for one of a plurality of a user's devices. Notification of an incoming communication is provided to the user's preferred device via a communications service. The communications service receives, from a data or voice network, information representing an incoming communication intended for one of a plurality of a user's devices. The service then provides a notification of the incoming communication to the user's preferred device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically providing conference calls are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, methods and systems detect a conference call event that was previously configured by a subscriber user and identify participant users associated with the conference call event. Once identified, each participant user is contacted and a response is received from each of the users. Based on the received responses, a conference call is established between the participant users and the subscriber user. In one aspect of the invention, at least one of the detecting and identifying steps are performed without user intervention.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing a communications line associated with two or more users. These methods and systems include receiving first user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a first address book, the first address book associated with the first user. Further, these methods and systems include receiving second user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a second address book, the second address book associated with the second user.

Abstract: A call log associated with outgoing calls originating from calling devices may be established and maintained. Filter parameters may be set to specify which outgoing calls to log. Outgoing call information associated with calls originating from a user's calling devices may be obtained and transmitted to a service center. A server in the service center may determine whether or not to log the outgoing call information based on the filter settings. The outgoing call information may be stored in the call log, which may reside in a database in the service center. The user may access the call log from a user terminal and/or the calling devices. The call log may be used to add contacts to a contact list and facilitate data analyses.

Abstract: Methods and Systems are provided for managing one or more communications lines associated with a user of a communications network. A service center may receive from a user line management information regarding one or more of the user's communications lines. This line management information may include a request from the user to handle all calls to the communications line in a particular manner (e.g., forward all calls to a different number). This line management information may also include information regarding scheduling the handling of calls to the communications line (e.g., scheduling call forwarding) or a request to handle calls differently based on information identifying the origination of the call (e.g., caller-ID). The service center may then forward instructions to the communications network such that the components (e.g., SSP or SCP) of the communications network implement the user's modifications.

Abstract: Methods and Systems for managing one or more communications devices associated with a user of a communications network are disclosed. The methods and systems are capable of receiving an indication regarding wireless communications between a first device and a second device. This indication may indicate that the first device has entered or left a vicinity (or range) of a second device. Additionally, this may be accomplished by using a protocol such as Bluetooth protocol, the IEEE 802.11(b) protocol, and/or the IEEE 802.11(g) protocol. For example, in an embodiment, if a first device (e.g., a Bluetooth-enabled wireless phone) enters the vicinity of a second device (e.g., a Bluetooth-enabled user computer), calls for the user may be automatically forwarded to a phone of the user that is located near the second device. Likewise, in an embodiment, if the first device (e.g., a Bluetooth-enabled wireless phone) leaves the vicinity of the second device (e.g.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for obtaining contact-related information associated with a party using an identifier. The identifier may include a calling party number, a previously-dialed number, and/or a number specified by a user. The identifier could also include an e-mail address, an instant messenger address, a photograph, etc. A request for contact-related information may be initiated by a user and/or a device associated with the user. The request may include an identifier associated with a party. Methods and systems may retrieve contact-related information associated with the party using the identifier. Methods and systems may leverage one or more networks to retrieve the contact-related information. Contact information may be retrieved in order to add a contact to a user's address book.

Abstract: The present invention discloses systems and methods for transmitting video messages between network terminals over a network. When transmitting video data, a first network determines at least one video parameter based on, at least, the performance of the first network terminal, the performance of the network performance and user-preference data. Transmitted video data is encoded based on the video parameter.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for remote establishment of a call from a first device to a second device. In said methods and systems the information is retrieved from the first device regarding the second device along with information associating the user with a device associated with the user. The call is then transferred to a switch associated with the user's device. The switch then forwards the call to the second device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for transmitting audio and video messages between network terminals over a network. A communication link is established between a first network terminal and a second network terminal, and audio data and video data is transmitted concurrently over the link. During communication, the first network terminal acquires data representing the performance of the first network terminal and data representing the performance of the network. Based on negotiation between the first network terminal and the second network terminal and received performance data the at least one buffering parameter is determined and, if the parameter is within a predetermined range, the buffering parameter of the first network terminal is modified.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling and retrieving messages from multiple voice mail systems used by a single individual are described. A voice messaging retrieval and forwarding (VMRAF) system checks a subscriber's voice message systems for messages, retrieves the messages and forwards them to the subscriber as attachments to E-mail files. E-mail replay messages are used to control deleting of the messages from the original systems. Prompt messages played to callers by different voice messaging systems before they leave a message can be updated automatically. This is done by indicating to the VMRAF system when one or more prompt messages are to be updated and which messages, from a set of prerecorded messages, are to be loaded into the voice message systems to replace the existing prompt messages. Accordingly, the VMRAF system facilities message retrieval and the updating of prompt messages, e.g., on a preselected schedule or at preselected times.

Abstract: Methods and systems for conference call buffering are disclosed. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention record a conference call between a plurality of users. A service center in conjunction with a conference bridge and conference server establishes a conference call between a plurality of users. The service center may also ascertain the identities of a plurality of destination devices for an audio stream corresponding to the conference call, where the destination devices corresponding to the plurality of users. An audio streaming server provides the audio stream to the plurality of destination devices. Memory located centrally and/or local to the destination devices stores the audio stream. A user of one of the destination devices may choose to replay a selected portion of the audio stream.

Abstract: Generating oscillator signals with which selected signals may be mixed. Such oscillator signals may be generated by dividing a pilot tone, such as a 120 MHz pilot tone found on many cable TV systems. Oscillator signals for demodulating received selected signals may be similarly generated.

Abstract: Techniques for generating, distributing, and using speech recognition models are described. A shared speech processing facility is used to support speech recognition for a wide variety of devices with limited capabilities including business computer systems, personal data assistants, etc., which are coupled to the speech processing facility via a communications channel, e.g., the Internet. Devices with audio capture capability record and transmit to the speech processing facility, via the Internet, digitized speech and receive speech processing services, e.g., speech recognition model generation and/or speech recognition services, in response. The Internet is used to return speech recognition models and/or information identifying recognized words or phrases. Thus, the speech processing facility can be used to provide speech recognition capabilities to devices without such capabilities and/or to augment a device's speech processing capability.

Abstract: SMDI messages are used by the SMDI message server to generate either E-mail notifications of received messages which are forwarded to a user of the VMS or to supply VMS message status information to a voice message retrieval and forwarding system using IP messaging instead of SMDI FSK or PSK signaling. SMDI messages between a stored program controlled switching system, e.g., C.O. switch, and a voice message system are monitored by the SMDI message server of the present invention, e.g., by inserting a Tee into the SMDI link between the C.O. switch and VMS. The SMDI message server uses the directory number information and/or a message line identifier included in a received SMDI message to identify a subscriber or voice message retrieval and forwarding system which should be notified of the received SMDI message information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling and retrieving messages from multiple voice mail systems used by a single individual are described. A voice messaging retrieval and forwarding (VMRAF) system checks a subscriber's voice message systems for messages, retrieves the messages and forwards them to the subscriber as attachments to E-mail files. E-mail replay messages are used to control deleting of the messages from the original systems. Prompt messages played to callers by different voice messaging systems before they leave a message can be updated automatically. This is done by indicating to the VMRAF system when one or more prompt messages are to be updated and which messages, from a set of prerecorded messages, are to be loaded into the voice message systems to replace the existing prompt messages. Accordingly, the VMRAF system facilities message retrieval and the updating of prompt messages, e.g., on a preselected schedule or at preselected times.