Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for exception handling of interactive communications privileges governing interactive communications with entities outside a domain are disclosed. The interactive communications privileges may have been learned through domain administrator configuration or may have been self-learned without domain administrator input. The interactive communications privileges can be used to process interactive communications requests between entities inside a domain and entities outside the domain. Exceptions to the interactive communications privileges can be requested by user entities inside the domain for interactive communications with entities outside the domain. In this manner, if the interactive communications privileges are not sufficient according to user entities inside the domain, the user entities inside the domain can request exceptions for other interactive communications privileges with entities outside the domain.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for self-learning interactive communications privileges for governing interactive communications with entities outside a domain are disclosed. The interactive communications privileges can be used to process interactive communications requests between entities inside and outside a domain. The requested interactive communications are allowed if the interactive communications privileges configured for the entity outside the domain allow for the requested interactive communications. The interactive communications privileges are determined in an automated, self-learning manner in response to monitoring communication interactions between the entities inside and outside the domain. In this manner, the interactive communications privileges are not required to be provisioned and maintained by an administrator. The interactive communications privileges can be determined by gathering insight about the entities outside the domain.

Abstract: A contact center media server for aurally positioning participants of a contact center transaction at aural positions designated by a contact center agent. The media server includes a communications interface coupled to a controller and adapted to interface with a plurality of voice paths. Each of the voice paths is associated with one of a plurality of participants in a contact center transaction. A three-dimensional (3D) spatializer engine is coupled to the controller and can receive incoming voice signals received over voice paths and corresponding aural position data. The 3D spatializer engine processes the incoming voice signals and generates outgoing voice signals that include signal characteristics that aurally position the first outgoing voice signals at an aural position with respect to the contact center agent indicated by the aural position data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for automatically establishing trusted relationships between users across organizational boundaries. A user makes a request to his system to create a trusted relationship with an individual of another organization. The system then analyzes the previous communication history between the user and the other individual, and, based on that analysis, sends a query to the other individual's system. The system then receives a response from the other individual's system, and if the response matches an expected response the system forms a trusted relationship between the user and the other individual.

Abstract: The present invention relates to creating a phonetic index of phonemes from an audio segment that includes speech content from multiple sources. The phonemes in the phonetic index are directly or indirectly associated with the corresponding source of the speech from which the phonemes were derived. By associating the phonemes with a corresponding source, the phonetic index of speech content from multiple sources may be searched based on phonetic content as well as the corresponding source.

Abstract: The present invention provides for delivering location information to any number of subscribers via their respective location applications, which may run on any type of communication device. The location is derived from state information received from one or more devices with which the user interacts or a system associated therewith. The state information is processed to create the location information, which is provided to the location applications of the subscribers. The system may allow the user to establish a profile, which defines to whom and how location information is disseminated. The profile may specify those who can receive location information, those who cannot receive location information, and those who should always get the location information even if others are restricted by time, date, location, or other criteria specified by the user. Further, certain subscribers may receive a preset location, regardless of the received state information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering a message. A plurality of audio messages destined for a recipient is received from a corresponding plurality of senders. Each of the plurality of audio messages includes a corresponding first sender designated priority designated by the corresponding sender. Member configuration data that identifies a first recipient prioritization attribute is accessed. A prioritized list of the plurality of audio messages is generated based on both the corresponding first sender designated priority and the first recipient prioritization attribute associated with the each of the plurality of audio messages. A subset of the plurality of audio messages is provided to a client device associated with the recipient based on the prioritized list.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying information about a message. A subset of audio messages is received based on a prioritized list of a plurality of audio messages. The prioritized list of audio messages is prioritized based on a first sender designated priority and a first recipient prioritization attribute corresponding to each of the plurality of audio messages. For each audio message in the subset, a first sender priority indicium indicative of the first sender designated priority of each audio message, and a recipient priority indicium indicative of a priority corresponding to the first recipient prioritization attribute of each audio message, are displayed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delegating a message. An audio message from a prioritized list of audio messages is received by a computing device. The audio message identifies a first sender designated priority and a first recipient prioritization attribute. A delegate for responding to the audio message is determined. A delegation action identifier identifying a delegation action of a plurality of delegation actions is determined. A first delegation action directs a delegate to generate a response and send the response to the sender without notifying a delegator. A second delegation action directs the delegate to generate the response and send the response to both the sender and the delegator. A third delegation action directs the delegate to generate the response and send the response to the delegator.

Abstract: The present invention allows for dynamic association of a computational device, such as a personal computer or personal digital assistant, with a telephone terminal. A computer-telephone adaptor or like function implemented in a telephony switch or other telephony device will receive authentication indicia. The authentication indicia may be provided by the computational device that is to be associated with the telephone terminal, or through other means. The authentication indicia may be provided by a user or generated by the computational device or by other means. To confirm the association, the user must enter confirmatory authentication indicia corresponding to the original authentication indicia through the telephone terminal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a collaboration timeline which illustrates application artifacts in context. A collaboration session includes a plurality of participants. Each participant collaborates via a corresponding processing device. Media streams associated with the plurality of participants are received during the collaboration session and a collaboration media stream based on the media streams is generated. A collaboration application generates an artifact during the collaboration session. A timeline entry is generated in a collaboration timeline, the timeline entry including time information identifying a time associated with the artifact, and a reference to the artifact.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling audio signals associated with a plurality of conferences. A user interface is displayed that depicts a first defined area and a second defined area. The first defined area is associated with a first conference and the second defined area is associated with a second conference. A first plurality of participant identifiers is displayed in association with the first defined area, and each of the plurality of participant identifiers corresponds to a different participant of a plurality of participants in the first conference. Aural position identifiers are determined for each participant associated with the first conference, and an aural position identifier is selected for the second conference. Audio signals are provided at aural positions identified by the aural position identifiers, enabling the user to correlate the voices of different participants with corresponding locations on the user interface, and to listen to multiple conferences simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for sharing content with participants in a conference including establishing a network conference session, identifying restricted content to be shared, and identifying global content which is a subset of the restricted content. The method further includes the steps of identifying a global participant group for the network conference session wherein members of the global participant group attend the network conference session using one or more communication devices, identifying a restricted participant group for the network conference session wherein members of the restricted participant group attend the network conference session using one or more communication devices, transmitting the restricted content to the restricted participant group, and transmitting the global content to the global participant group.

Abstract: The present invention provides a local agent operating in association with a communication client. The local agent acts on behalf of the communication client to enable capabilities the communication client is not capable of providing, by serving as a liaison between the communication client and the remainder of the communication network. By enabling additional capabilities and functionality, the local agent makes the communication client compatible with other communication clients and intermediate devices and systems through which communications are established. The local agent may process both messages and media streams to ensure compatibility, as well as facilitate interaction with other applications or a user to gather information sufficient to respond to requests from the other communication devices and systems.

Abstract: A method and system for designating an aural position of an audio stream in a collaboration environment. A plurality of icons corresponding to participants are displayed in a user interface. A moderator may move the icons from a first position in the user interface to a second position in the user interface. Upon moving an icon from a first position to a second position, an aural position identifier corresponding to the second position is generated and sent to a conference processor. The conference processor uses the aural position identifier to generate an outgoing audio stream that aurally positions the audio stream generated by the participant corresponding to the icon at the aural position. The outgoing audio stream is provided to the moderator, who uses a multi-channel capable device to perceive the audio stream at the designated aural position.

Abstract: The present invention allows for dynamic association of a computational device, such as a personal computer or personal digital assistant, with a telephone terminal. A computer-telephone adaptor or like function implemented in a telephony switch or other telephony device will receive authentication indicia. The authentication indicia may be provided by the computational device that is to be associated with the telephone terminal, or through other means. The authentication indicia may be provided by a user or generated by the computational device or by other means. To confirm the association, the user must enter confirmatory authentication indicia corresponding to the original authentication indicia through the telephone terminal.

Abstract: A method and communications device for displaying a contacts directory to a user. A contacts directory comprising a plurality of contact entries is maintained. Each contact entry includes a corresponding contact identifier and a corresponding contact address. A communication metric is maintained for at least some of the plurality of contact entries based on communication interactions via the corresponding contact address of the contact entry. A request to display the contacts directory is received. The contact identifiers are ordered in an order based at least in part on the communication metric. At least a portion of the plurality of contact identifiers is displayed on a display in the order.

Abstract: A collaboration agent for facilitating real-time communications on behalf of a user. The collaboration agent includes a conference bridge that anchors calls to the conference bridge. The collaboration agent uses contextual information associated with the user to manage the real-time communications. The collaboration agent can communicate with other collaboration agents associated with other users.

Abstract: The present invention creates a buddy list in association with an information vehicle, such as a word processing document, presentation document, or email. The buddy list is created from contacts associated with the information vehicle, and includes communication information such as directory numbers or communication addresses, which are sufficient to establish communications with the contacts. Accordingly, the buddy list may be displayed to a user, and upon the selection of one or more contacts, communication sessions may be established with the selected contact or contacts. Presence information bearing on the relative availability of the contacts may be supported in the buddy list, such that the user can readily determine whether a particular contact is available or determine the best way in which to communicate with the particular contact by viewing the buddy list. The presence information may be periodically updated or may be updated when a particular contact is selected.

Abstract: A collaboration agent for facilitating real-time communications on behalf of a user. The collaboration agent includes a conference bridge that anchors calls to the conference bridge. The collaboration agent uses contextual information associated with the user to manage the real-time communications. The collaboration agent can communicate with other collaboration agents associated with other users.