Abstract: Mobile terminals to receive location-based information upon entering a local wireless zone established by an access point are described. The access point includes or is associated with one or more servers, which may provide the location-based information and control access. The local wireless zone is a limited area in which communications between the access point and the mobile terminal are possible. Once the mobile terminal enters into one or more local wireless zones, the presence of the mobile terminal in the local wireless zone is detected. Once detected, the mobile terminal is afforded access to a server on which the location-based information is stored. The server is associated with the local wireless zone.

Abstract: In a click-to-call communication environment, the present invention is employed to select an appropriate call server to use when establishing a call between two endpoints. A computing terminal provides a request to initiate a call between the two endpoints. The request is passed to a service node directly or through any number of intermediate nodes, such as a web server. The request may identify a source and a destination for the call. The service node will select a call server to use for establishing the call between the two endpoints based on the destination for the call, and send instructions to the call server to initiate the call. In response, the call server will initiate the call between the two endpoints.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing multimedia services includes receiving from a first user a request for engaging in multimedia services with a second user, generating a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), transmitting the URL to an address associated with the second user, enabling voice communication between the first user and the second user, and enabling multimedia services between the first user and the second user in response to receiving an indication that the second user has accessed the URL.

Abstract: The present invention moves service control, including call control, for a user element from a cellular network to a multimedia subsystem (MS), such as the Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Call control is provided by the MS irrespective of whether the user element is using cellular or WLAN access for the call. Call control for originating and terminating calls in the CS or MS as well as transferring calls between a circuit-switched subsystem (CS) and MS is anchored at a continuity control function (CCF) in the MS. All call signaling for the call is passed through the CCF. The CCF is a service provided in the user element's home MS and anchors the user element's active CS calls and MS sessions to enable active roaming across the CS and MS.

Abstract: The present invention provides an audio source selection process for a conference bridge. The conference bridge receives multiple audio sources and selects at least one of the audio sources based on the relative signal levels associated with the audio signal at each of the audio sources. The audio signals associated with the selected source are delivered to conference participants via one or more audio outputs. The conference bridge will repeatedly employ a selection process to select an audio source based on signal level measurements for the audio signals of the audio sources. During the selection process, the influence of a selected audio source relative to the other unselected audio sources is reduced, after the selected audio source has remained selected for more than a first time period.

Abstract: An automated attendant system is made multimedia capable by adding a combined user agent to the automated attendant. A search is done to verify that the caller to the automated attendant has combined user agent capabilities. If so, the caller receives multimedia content from the automated attendant's combined user agent so that the content may be presented on the caller's computer to assist the caller in navigating through the automated attendant's menus and options. Upon selection of a desired connection from the menus and options, the automated attendant's combined user agent helps the caller be connected by voice to the selected connection.

Abstract: The present invention moves service control, including call control, for a user element from a cellular network to a multimedia subsystem (MS), such as the Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Call control is provided by the MS irrespective of whether the user element is using cellular or WLAN access for the call. Call control for originating and terminating calls in the CS or MS as well as transferring calls between a circuit-switched subsystem (CS) and MS is anchored at a continuity control function (CCF) in the MS. All call signaling for the call is passed through the CCF. The CCF is a service provided in the user element's home MS and anchors the user element's active CS calls and MS sessions to enable active roaming across the CS and MS.

Abstract: Mobile terminals to receive location-based information upon entering a local wireless zone established by an access point are described. The access point includes or is associated with one or more servers, which may provide the location-based information and control access. The local wireless zone is a limited area in which communications between the access point and the mobile terminal are possible. Once the mobile terminal enters into one or more local wireless zones, the presence of the mobile terminal in the local wireless zone is detected. Once detected, the mobile terminal is afforded access to a server on which the location-based information is stored. The server is associated with the local wireless zone.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for presenting, to a first user, information about a second user to enable the first user to select an appropriate communication means for communicating with the second user. A service node receives from a web browser executing at a communication device used by the first user a request for a web page associated with the second user. The service node collects information related to a current status of activity of the second user, determines one or more options for establishing communications with the second user, and transmits to the first user the web page having the current activity of the second user and the one or more communications options.

Abstract: In a click-to-call communication environment, the present invention is employed to select an appropriate call server to use when establishing a call between two endpoints. A computing terminal provides a request to initiate a call between the two endpoints. The request is passed to a service node directly or through any number of intermediate nodes, such as a web server. The request may identify a source and a destination for the call. The service node will select a call server to use for establishing the call between the two endpoints based on the destination for the call, and send instructions to the call server to initiate the call. In response, the call server will initiate the call between the two endpoints.

Abstract: The present invention employs scalable video coding (SVC) in a multi-view camera system, which is particularly suited for video conferencing. Multiple cameras are oriented to capture video content of different image areas and generate corresponding original video streams that provide video content of the image areas. An active one of the image areas may be identified at any time by analyzing the audio content originating from the different image areas and selecting the image area that is associated with the most dominant speech activity.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for presenting, to a first user, information about a second user to enable the first user to select an appropriate communication means for communicating with the second user. A service node receives from a web browser executing at a communication device used by the first user a request for a web page associated with the second user. The service node collects information related to a current status of activity of the second user, determines one or more options for establishing communications with the second user, and transmits to the first user the web page having the current activity of the second user and the one or more communications options.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operating a communication session control server. A first communication session initiation message is received from a first communication terminal, the first communication session initiation message indicating a second communication terminal with which the first communication terminal is requesting a communication session. A second communication session initiation message is sent to the second communication terminal, the second communication session initiation message indicating a delay to be used by the second communication terminal to determine when to initiate an alerting process.

Abstract: The present invention provides an audio source selection process for a conference bridge. The conference bridge receives multiple audio sources and selects at least one of the audio sources based on the relative signal levels associated with the audio signal at each of the audio sources. The audio signals associated with the selected source are delivered to conference participants via one or more audio outputs. The conference bridge will repeatedly employ a selection process to select an audio source based on signal level measurements for the audio signals of the audio sources. During the selection process, the influence of a selected audio source relative to the other unselected audio sources is reduced, after the selected audio source has remained selected for more than a first time period.

Abstract: The present invention provides an originating user with a prioritized list of communication contacts associated with the various communication devices of a destination user, wherein the originating user will initiate communications with the destination user using one of the communication contacts provided in the prioritized list. Upon selecting a destination user, a request is sent to a service node, which includes rules for establishing the prioritized list based on various prioritization criteria. The prioritization criteria may include static information and dynamic information, such as time, day of the week, and date, as well as presence information bearing on the availability or location of the destination user. Information may be provided in the request corresponding to the originating user, the type of communication desired by the originating user, the relative priority of the communication, among other information, which may be used to create the prioritized list.

Abstract: The present invention provides an audio source selection process for a conference bridge. The conference bridge receives multiple audio sources and selects at least one of the audio sources based on the relative signal levels associated with the audio signal at each of the audio sources. The audio signals associated with the selected source are delivered to conference participants via one or more audio outputs. The conference bridge will repeatedly employ a selection process to select an audio source based on signal level measurements for the audio signals of the audio sources. During the selection process, the influence of a selected audio source relative to the other unselected audio sources is reduced, after the selected audio source has remained selected for more than a first time period.

Abstract: The present invention provides call processing for an incoming call based on the relative location of the user for which the call is intended. If the user is at a certain location, the incoming call is routed to one or more telephony devices associated with the user or location based on whether the user is at the location. If the user has multiple telephony devices associated with a given location and the user is at that location, an incoming call may be routed to one or more of the telephony devices. If the user is not at the location, the incoming call may proceed in normal course or may be processed as desired based on the user not being at the location. Different telephony devices may be associated with different locations, and different call processing rules may be implemented based on the location of the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides an originating user with a prioritized list of communication contacts associated with the various communication devices of a destination user, wherein the originating user will initiate communications with the destination user using one of the communication contacts provided in the prioritized list. Upon selecting a destination user, a request is sent to a service node, which includes rules for establishing the prioritized list based on various prioritization criteria. The prioritization criteria may include static information and dynamic information, such as time, day of the week, and date, as well as presence information bearing on the availability or location of the destination user. Information may be provided in the request corresponding to the originating user, the type of communication desired by the originating user, the relative priority of the communication, among other information, which may be used to create the prioritized list.

Abstract: The present invention moves service control, including call control, for a user element from any number of subsystems to a multimedia subsystem (MS). Call control for originating or terminating a call in any subsystem as well as transferring the call between user elements is anchored at a continuity control function (CCF) in the MS. A call may be transferred by the CCF from a first user element to a second user element in the same or different subsystems upon receiving a request from the second user element. A user may invoke a transfer from the first user element to the second user element by having the second user element send an appropriate request to the CCF. The request may be provided to the CCF by initiating a call from the second user element that is intended for the CCF, when the call with the first user element is active.

Abstract: Operating a communication terminal is disclosed. A communication session initiation message is received at a first time. An alerting process is initiated at a second time, the second time being later than the first time by a predetermined delay.