Abstract: A network monitoring device includes a flow processing element, disposed to receive flow information relating to network flows, and to generate a set of virtual packets, each representing a portion of a network flow. The virtual packets are maintained in a time-sequential order, and read by elements of the network monitoring device to generate information relating to network traffic, such as symptoms affecting the communication network, problems affecting the communication network, and otherwise. The network monitoring device randomly samples virtual packets, with at least one of two effects: (1) flow information from traffic reporting devices that are themselves sampling at differing rates can be equalized, with the effect of standardizing information from all of them; (2) the network monitoring device itself can restrict its attention to a fraction of all virtual packets, with the effect of keeping up with a relatively large number of virtual packets.

Abstract: A network monitoring system includes devices receiving network traffic information, and generating at least partial results relating to network symptoms. Those partial results are forwarded to devices processing those partial results and generating information relating to problems in response to those symptoms. Problems are reported to users or sent as notifications. In one embodiment, information relating to network traffic is monitored both by a first set of devices associated with source addresses for that network traffic and a second set of devices associated with destination addresses for that network traffic. Information received by that first set of devices includes information relating to both the source address and destination address of network traffic. That first set of devices processes information relating to the source address of network traffic and forwards information relating to the destination address of network traffic to that second set of devices.

Abstract: A computer-based virtual assistant includes a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a user of a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application enabling the user to access email and voicemail messages of the user, the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface, and the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action, and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface. Also a method of using the virtual assistant.

Abstract: A computer-based virtual assistant includes a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a user of a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application enabling the user to access email and voicemail messages of the user, the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface, and the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action, and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface. Also a method of using the virtual assistant.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for analyzing voice recognition results in order to improve efficiency and accuracy of voice recognition. When a voice activated module undertakes a voice recognition attempt, it invokes a voice recognition module that constructs a list of voice recognition results. The list is analyzed by a results postprocessor that employs information relating to past recognition results and user information to make changes to the list. The results postprocessor may delete results that have been previously rejected during a current recognition transaction and may further alter and reorder the results list based on historical results. The results postprocessor may further alter and reorder the results list based on information relating to the user engaging in the recognition attempt.

Abstract: A method of handling an interrupted call on a communication terminal, which includes updating a task model table including a plurality of informational fields related to a task performed during a call placed on the terminal, and restarting the task at a location corresponding to where the task stopped executing when the call was interrupted using the informational fields in the task model table.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for improved user prompting. A system according to one aspect of the invention includes a central server hosting various modules providing services to users. The modules suitably employ voice recognition in order to interpret user inputs. Each module has access to user information that includes information indicating the user's experience with each function of each module. When a module needs to issue a prompt to the user, it retrieves and examines the user information to determine the user's experience with the module and function. Suitably, each module is operative to categorize a user as belonging to an experience category, such as novice, intermediate and expert based on the user's level of experience with the function. The module selects a prompt associated with the user's level of experience with the function and presents it to the user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing auditory feedback in a personal virtual assistant (PVA) is presented. A user communication is received at the PVA. A determination is made whether an event sound is required in response to the receiving a user communication and upon determination that an event sound is required, an event sound is provided to the user and upon determination that an event sound is not required an event sound is not provided to the user. A response to the communication received from the user is determined and is transmitted to the user.

Abstract: A call handling system includes a call handling device arranged between a user's phone and a telephone network. The call handling device detects an incoming call to the user's phone and forwards a message to the user including information about the incoming call to a mobile device held by a user over a two-way interface. Furthermore, the call handling device allows the user to send instructions regarding how to handle the call from the mobile device over the two-way interface.

Abstract: A computer-based virtual assistant includes a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a user of a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application enabling the user to access email and voicemail messages of the user, the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface, and the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action, and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface. Also a method of using the virtual assistant.

Abstract: A computer-based virtual assistant includes a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a user of a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application enabling the user to access email and voicemail messages of the user, the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface, and the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action, and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface. Also a method of using the virtual assistant.

Abstract: A computer-based virtual assistant includes a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a user of a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application enabling the user to access email and voicemail messages of the user, the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface, and the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action, and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface. Also a method of using the virtual assistant.

Abstract: A computer-based virtual assistant includes a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a user of a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface, the virtual assistant application enabling the user to access email and voicemail messages of the user, the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface, and the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action, and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface. Also a method of using the virtual assistant.

Abstract: A computer-based virtual assistant the behavior of which can be changed by the user, comprising a voice user interface for inputting information into and receiving information from the virtual assistant by speech, a communications network, a virtual assistant application running on a remote computer, the remote computer being electronically coupled to the user interface via the communications network, wherein the behavior of the virtual assistant changes responsive to user input.

Abstract: A method of handling an interrupted call on a communication terminal, which includes updating a task model table including a plurality of informational fields related to a task performed during a call placed on the terminal, and restarting the task at a location corresponding to where the task stopped executing when the call was interrupted using the informational fields in the task model table.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for improved efficiency and accuracy in voice dialing and directory lookup applications. A voice dialing module receives an input from a user and examines a directory to identify recognition results matching the voice input. A list of recognition results matching the voice input is constructed, the entries being ranked by confidence. A called party cache for each user includes entries for parties the user is likely to call. Once the result list has been constructed, the voice dialing module compares the list with the called party cache in order to determine if entries in the list appear in the cache. If an entry in the result list appears in the cache, the result list is reordered in order to take into account the increased likelihood that an entry appearing in the called party cache will be an entry the user wishes to call.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for improved user prompting in the event of voice recognition failures. A system according to one aspect of the invention includes a central server hosting various modules employing voice recognition in order to interpret user inputs. When a module fails to recognize an input, it invokes a help application that selects an appropriate help prompt. The help application has access to user information including information indicating the user's experience with each function of each module. The help application receives notification of the module and function being used when the unrecognized input was received and examines the user information to determine the user's experience with the module and function. The help application categorizes a user as belonging to an experience category, such as novice, intermediate and expert based on the user's experience with the function and selects a help prompt associated with the user's experience with the function.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for improved efficiency and accuracy in voice dialing and directory lookup applications. A voice dialing module receives an input from a user and examines a directory to identify recognition results matching the voice input. A list of recognition results matching the voice input is constructed, the entries being ranked by confidence. A called party cache for each user includes entries for parties the user is likely to call. Once the result list has been constructed, the voice dialing module compares the list with the called party cache in order to determine if entries in the list appear in the cache. If an entry in the result list appears in the cache, the result list is reordered in order to take into account the increased likelihood that an entry appearing in the called party cache will be an entry the user wishes to call.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for analyzing voice recognition results in order to improve efficiency and accuracy of voice recognition. When a voice activated module undertakes a voice recognition attempt, it invokes a voice recognition module that constructs a list of voice recognition results. The list is analyzed by a results postprocessor that employs information relating to past recognition results and user information to make changes to the list. The results postprocessor may delete results that have been previously rejected during a current recognition transaction and may further alter and reorder the results list based on historical results. The results postprocessor may further alter and reorder the results list based on information relating to the user engaging in the recognition attempt.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for improved user prompting. A system according to one aspect of the invention includes a central server hosting various modules providing services to users. The modules suitably employ voice recognition in order to interpret user inputs. Each module has access to user information that includes information indicating the user's experience with each function of each module. When a module needs to issue a prompt to the user, it retrieves and examines the user information to determine the user's experience with the module and function. Suitably, each module is operative to categorize a user as belonging to an experience category, such as novice, intermediate and expert based on the user's level of experience with the function. The module selects a prompt associated with the user's level of experience with the function and presents it to the user.