Abstract: Described herein are devices and techniques for detecting an inbound message (e.g., text, voice, voicemail) directed from an identifiable message sender to one of a collection of message recipients (e.g., by telephone numbers). The message is selectively forwarded to the message recipient's communication devices in response to a reputation score of the identifiable message sender. The devices and techniques described herein are further adapted to automatically determine or otherwise update the reputation score of the identifiable message sender, for example, in response to previously detected incoming messages. User preferences can be provided to override one or more of forwarding and blocking of detected messages regardless of any automatically obtained reputation score.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allowing a call center to accept and schedule callback appointments for the service of inbound calls at times which are convenient for the inbound caller as well as automatically placing an outbound call at the scheduled callback time. The system collects information from the caller when scheduling a callback time which assists the agent with servicing the scheduled callback more efficiently than the original incoming call. The system also uses algorithms and various system parameters to determine how many agents are needed to service all scheduled callbacks at a given time while maximizing the efficiency of the agents by avoiding having agents service callbacks which fail to reach the person to be serviced for various reasons. When not enough agents are available to handle the scheduled callbacks and current incoming calls the called back individual is automatically connected to the next available agent avoiding the line of incoming calls entirely.

Abstract: A call receiving device includes an identification information acquisition part configured to acquire identification information by receiving calls each made based on identification information that is explicitly or implicitly provided in a web page and that identifies a call receiver. An information associating part is configured to associate the acquired identification information with discrimination information to discriminate each of the calls. A call connection part is configured to connect each of the calls to the call receiver. A discrimination information sending part is configured to send the discrimination information to the call receiver through the call connected to the call receiver. A discrimination information receiving part is configured to receive the discrimination information input into a predetermined device.

Abstract: Methods are described for providing conference calls. Methods are performed in a conference call system and includes: receiving local contact information for a plurality of contacts stored in a local phone book of a user equipment associated with a caller; updating a contact database of the conference call system based on the local contact information; registering the caller with an interactive voice response system of the conference call system; receiving a spoken request from the caller; accessing the contact database with contact information and retrieving a phone number responsive to the spoken request; calling the retrieved phone number; and establishing contact between the caller and a person associated with the retrieved phone number. Systems and computer readable mediums are also described.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing the price of a call to a business and the placement of a business' information within an ad buy on a Web page are disclosed. A call is received by a client from a potential consumer of a product. The call is transcribed into a text call stream on both the consumer and the client sides of the call. Patterns are extracted from the call. The patterns extracted may be applied against patterns relevant to the client. Patterns relevant to the client may be tied to certain goals of the business of the client that indicate successful business transactions between the consumer and the client or that indicate a service provide by the client. Extracted patterns may be used for targeting of advertisements based on a call containing patterns relevant to the client.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic assignment of outbound and inbound call identity between a salesperson and a client is disclosed. For automatic assignment of outbound call identity between a salesperson and a client, a salesperson places a call to the telephone number of the client. A phone server matches a sales group to a salesperson and an entered sales group and an NPA (i.e., area code) of the client in a database. If a match is found, the phone server substitutes a replacement caller ID for actual caller ID of the salesperson. When the client answers the call, the replacement caller ID or default caller ID is displayed on client's phone. For automatic assignment of inbound call identity between a client and a salesperson, the client places a call using the replacement caller ID. The phone server searches the database for a sales group that matches the DID of the replacement caller ID.

Abstract: Identifying a caller includes establishing, by a service provider, a connection over a computer network with a user device and accessing information enabling determination of a location of the user. A request to place a call to a call recipient is received from the user and a pool of temporary telephone numbers is accessed. Based on the location of the user, a temporary telephone number from the pool of temporary telephone numbers is selected. The temporary telephone number is associated with the call, the call is initiated to the call recipient, and information sufficient to identify the temporary telephone number is provided in call information sent to the call recipient.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for extracting caller identification information during a phone call and transmitting the caller identification information over a network to another device that presents the caller identification information to a user. An apparatus includes a first communication interface communicatively coupled to a telephone network and a second communication interface communicatively coupled to a communication network. The apparatus receives a phone call, extracts caller identification data, and transmits the caller identification data to another device over the communication network.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing customized information, including: a control unit used for sending a trigger signal to a play unit upon receiving a call request from a caller terminal, an information storage unit used for storing the customized information, and a play unit used for sending the customized information obtained from the information storage unit to the caller terminal. A method for providing customized information, including: obtaining and storing the customized information by the called terminal, and sending the customized information stored to the caller terminal by the called terminal upon receiving a call request from the caller terminal.

Abstract: A permanent, secure, on-line electronic repository (i.e., electronic safety deposit box or virtual safety deposit box) where a member/customer can store personal information (in electronic form) is provided within the confines and behind the security layers provided by a financial institution such as a bank. Features include catalog functionality for easy management and retrieval of data, access control facilities for the owner to designate other individuals authorized for access, event-driven access dedicated privacy with a subset space for shared elements with the bank (provider), and survivorship functionality with regard to disposition of contents, and intelligent retention rules.

Abstract: A system for providing ringback content. In the system, a user places a call on a communication device to a callee via a network. The network may store content information about the user and uses this content information to deduce the intent of the user's call. The callee provides ringback content to the user's communication device based on the deduced user call intent.

Abstract: A method and system for presenting additional information about a user are provided. The user may be a calling party or a called party. A request for information in addition to the information normally contained in the caller ID may be constructed and sent to a repository of additional information that returns the additional information. If the user is a calling party, the additional information may be presented on the called party's communication device. If the user is a called party, the additional information may be presented on the calling party's communication device. A system including the repository may receive the request. An authoring and editing component of the system may allow the user or others to edit the additional information about the user. The system may select and send the additional information based on a set of parameters in the request and the access type of the requestor.

Abstract: A method and communication device for scheduling a conference call. The method includes receiving, in a first communication device, an invitation message containing at least some conference call scheduling information with respect to a scheduled conference call session; displaying an interface in relation to the invitation message, the interface including an option to send a request for recorded conference call content of the scheduled conference call session; receiving an input selecting the option; and sending a communication to a second communication device including a response to the invitation message and including said request for recorded conference call content. A conference call server is also described for sending recorded conference call content to the communication device.

Abstract: The present invention enables network providers of toll free calls to give customers a choice of what network announcements they want to listen to as they wait in queue. For example, customers could select to hear silence with periodic estimations of wait time, different types of music, current global, domestic, or local news, information about sports or financial information. The present invention allows customers to toggle between different selections via a predefined Dual Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) signal.

Abstract: An instant messaging translation plug-in interacts with an instant messaging program to intercept incoming messages and forward these messages to a language translation service. The plug-in then displays a translation received from the service along with the original message. This provides translation which can be used by instant messaging users to communicate across language barriers, and without local translation or knowledge of the internal workings of the translation services used. Additionally, the translation plug-in also provides for manual translation of messages, which allows communication with users who use a different language but do not use the translation plug-in. Messages are modified before translation in order to correct spelling, to prevent particular words or phrases from being translated, and to change instant messaging language into standard language form.

Abstract: A particular method includes initiating outbound calls associated with at least two recipients that are to receive a notification message. The outbound calls include a first call to a first telephone address associated with a first recipient of the at least two recipients. The method further includes, in response to a determination that the first call is unanswered, initiating a second call to a second telephone address associated with the first recipient and initiating generation of an email message to an electronic mail address associated with the first recipient.

Abstract: A method for grouping voice messages includes extracting a voice signature from a voice message and tagging the voice message with an identification associated with the voice signature. The method also includes grouping the voice message based on the identification.

Abstract: A method of controlling a graphical user interface (GUI) at a wireless device is disclosed and includes storing a set of audio GUI controls at an interactive voice response server and creating an audio GUI control string that is to be communicated to the wireless device within a voice stream. The audio GUI control string corresponds to a text string that is selectably presentable at the wireless device. Further, the method can include embedding the audio GUI control string within the voice stream. Additionally, the method can include transmitting the voice stream with the embedded audio GUI control string to the wireless device.

Abstract: To reduce the communications in an IM conversation between two devices, two or more IM events of the conversation at the first device are confirmed by sending to the second device a single IM communication that confirms the most recent of the events. In order that the user of the second device not experience undue delay in receiving the confirmation, the method may be applied where the time interval between any two consecutive ones of the events is less than a predetermined time.

Abstract: A method for determining termination of an emergency service call; the emergency service call being connected with an emergency service answering entity in an emergency service network employing a locating unit for ascertaining a geographic origin for the emergency service call; the method including: (a) presenting a query signal from the emergency service answering entity during the emergency service call soliciting a responsive signal from the locating unit relating to the geographic origin; (b) if the query signal relating to the geographic origin is received by the locating unit, considering that the emergency service call is not terminated; and (c) if no query signal relating to the geographic origin is received by the locating unit, considering that the emergency service call is terminated.