Abstract: In one of many possible examples, a system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to successively display a plurality of history tabs configured to graphically represent and facilitate access to a corresponding plurality of hierarchical representations within a browsing thread. The media content processing subsystem is further configured to collapse at least two of the history tabs into an expandable history tab after a pre-determined number of the history tabs are displayed. The expandable history tab is configured to graphically represent and facilitate access to a plurality of the hierarchical representations within the browsing thread.

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 caller's 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: In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a media content provider and a media content processing subsystem communicatively coupled to the media content provider by a network. The media content processing subsystem is configured to receive a first media content instance from the media content provider, and receive a second media content instance from at least one other media content processing subsystem connected to the network. At least a portion of the second media content instance is received concurrently with the receipt of the first media content instance. In certain embodiments, the media content processing subsystem is configured to receive the second media content instance without using a tuner.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a content processing subsystem and a user device communicatively coupled to the content processing subsystem. The content processing subsystem is configured to provide content for experiencing by a user, the content processing subsystem being further configured to modify at least one element of the content based on a positional relationship between the content processing subsystem and the user device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for connecting a call using a name or series of characters are disclosed. A user provides data pertaining to a call from the user to a called party. The data includes name information that corresponds to the called party. A query may be sent to a global name database to search for a telephone number that corresponds to the name information. During the search, a determination may be made as to whether the global name database has multiple telephone numbers that correspond to the name information. When the name information corresponds to multiple telephone numbers, one of the telephone numbers is selected based on preference information associated with the user. Thereafter, the call is routed to a device associated with the selected telephone number.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing aggregated financial services at a plurality of user access points, such as a cellular phone or a television, are provided. Each user access point is capable of communicating with an integrated communications network, through which the aggregated financial services are provided. The aggregated financial services are directed to enabling the user to centrally manage a variety of dispersed financial accounts, including the user's bank accounts, brokerage accounts, credit card accounts, frequent flyer accounts, reward programs, and any other accounts that may impact the user's financial position. Using the aggregated financial services, the user may perform a variety of transactions in and among one or more of the financial accounts without having to separately interacting with each of these accounts.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to display a scrollable program guide graphical user interface. The graphical user interface is configured to show a multiplicity of blocks of information corresponding to a multiplicity of content carriers. The processing subsystem is further configured to display a magnified area within the program guide graphical user interface. When a block corresponding to a particular content carrier within the multiplicity of content carriers is entered into the magnified area, the processing subsystem is configured to display enhanced information corresponding to one or more media content instances transmitted via the particular content carrier.

Abstract: A first request for information that is related to a specified location is received. A first query for advertisements related to the specified location is submitted. A response to the first query that includes one or more advertisements related to the specified location is received. At least one of the one or more advertisements related to the specified location is sent to a client device. A second query for the information based on the first request is submitted. A first search result that is responsive to the second query is received. Information that is related to the location based on the first search result is sent to the client device after sending at least one of the one or more advertisements to the client device.

Abstract: A telephony system (100) includes a user device (110, 130) configured to enable a user of the telephony system (100) to place and receive telephone calls, and a service node (180, 185) configured to communicate with the user device (110, 130) and to thereby provide the user with an automated voice interface to the telephony system (100) upon the user's initiating access to the telephony system (100) via the user device (110, 130). The automated voice interface permits the user to verbally specify a desired objective corresponding to any one of a number of predefined objectives, the predefined objectives including directory assisted call placement and at least one form of information retrieval. Upon receiving the desired objective from the user, the service node (180, 185) acts to implement the desired objective.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a requesting media content processing subsystem and a network entity. The requesting media content processing subsystem is configured to transmit to the network entity a request to access a snippet of a media content instance. The network entity is configured to augment the snippet with additional media content and provide a user with access to the augmented snippet via the requesting media content processing subsystem.

Abstract: A telephony system (100) includes a user device (110, 130) configured to enable a user of the telephony system (100) to place and receive telephone calls, and a service node (180, 185) configured to communicate with the user device (110, 130) and to thereby provide the user with an automated voice interface to the telephony system (100) upon the user's initiating access to the telephony system (100) via the user device (110, 130). The automated voice interface permits the user to verbally specify a desired objective corresponding to any one of a number of predefined objectives, the predefined objectives including directory assisted call placement and at least one form of information retrieval. Upon receiving the desired objective from the user, the service node (180, 185) acts to implement the desired objective.

Abstract: A method and system for administering calls on a voice network allows a user to selectively determine which calls will be accepted and assists the user in placing calls to other users on the network. The user may establish a list of users whose calls will be accepted and may also establish a list of users whose calls will not be accepted. The method and system may provide unwanted callers with an option to speak with the user for a fee. Users may establish “business card” headers, or profiles, which serve to identify the user to a called party. The user may also maintain profiles for received calls by using the “business card” header provided by the caller, or by inputting caller profiles. The method and system may also be used in conjunction with a scheduling system, such that calls amongst two or more users will be initiated at an agreed upon time.

Abstract: In one of many possible examples, a system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to display an interactive main menu graphical user interface having at least a first viewing pane and a second viewing pane, display a stationary magnified area within the first viewing pane, and display a list of entries that is configured to be selectively located within the magnified area within the first viewing pane. Each entry within the list of entries represents content available via the processing subsystem. When one of the entries within the list is located within the magnified area, the processing subsystem is further configured to display content represented by that entry within the second viewing pane.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for supplying calling party information to a called party via a network comprising a telephone network, a data network, and at least one gateway device. The gateway device is connected to both the telephone network and the data network. The gateway device receives, via the telephone network, signaling information representing a telephone call from the calling party to the called party. The signaling information includes called party information. Calling party information is obtained based on the signaling information. The calling party information is provided to the called party via the data network.

Abstract: An exemplary method and apparatus for facilitating contact sharing between users of a communication network are described. The method may include maintaining contact information in first and second address books associated with first and second users, respectively, and forwarding, from the first user to the second user, a request to copy contact information from the first address book to the second address book. The method may further include receiving a confirmation from the second user in response to the request, and copying the contact information from the first address book to the second address book in response to the confirmation.

Abstract: Interests of a person may be analyzed based on the dial stream to/from the person. When a call is being made to/from a person, signaling information from the dial stream is routed to an analysis server. Information in the signaling information, such as called party identifier and caller-id data, is retrieved and archived by the analysis server. Based on the information in the dial stream, a person's interests may then be analyzed and provided to a recipient, such as a business. The person may be compensated in exchange for allowing their dial stream to be analyzed. In addition, businesses may also register with the analysis server.

Abstract: A method for providing a message to a called party through a network comprised of both a telephone network and a data network, and at least one gateway device connected to both the telephone network and the data network. The method performed by the gateway device includes receiving, through the telephone network, signaling information representing a message from a calling party to a called party and providing the message to the called party via the data network by displaying an instant message containing a notification of the message on a display device visible to the called party.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and apparatus for context based querying to more efficiently provide directory services. In particular, methods and apparatus for querying a database to resolve contact information, e.g., a phone number, based on the context of the query are provided. By querying based on context, the query may be searched using a smaller field of search. Moreover, a context based query allows private phone numbers to be provided when the context of the query has been authenticated and approved for disclosure of the private phone number. Thus, when processing a query for a phone number, the present invention evaluates the context of the query in addition to the query itself to determine what results to provide to a user.

Abstract: A DSL network testing tool (110) tests multiple elements (141, 143) in a DSL circuit. The testing tool may operate in either a single circuit test mode or a batch mode. In batch test mode, the network testing tool receives multiple DSL phone numbers and automatically tests the DSL circuit's elements corresponding to the phone numbers. The test information may be used when troubleshooting or provisioning DSL circuits.

Abstract: A video conferencing system (100) includes a switch (125), a server (140), a telephone device (152), and a node (102) in a packet-switched network (135). The switch (125) establishes a circuit-switched connection between a calling party number and a called party number. The server (140) associates first and second network addresses in a packet-switched network (135) with each of the called party and calling party numbers. The telephone device (152) transmits audio data via the circuit-switched connection. The node (102) in the packet-switched network (135) transmits packetized video between the first and second network addresses responsive to establishment of the circuit-switched connection.