Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing media communications in a communication system that includes communication devices managed and mediated by a communication server, wherein the communication devices are communicable over a plurality of configurable channels. A communication server receives, from a first communication device, a request to immediately communicate with one or more other communication devices over a channel configured for direct media communications between the first and one or more other communication devices. The request includes a means for identifying the one or more other communication device. The communication server determines a current channel to which the one or more other communication devices are set and automatically switches the channel to which the one or more other communication devices are set from the current channel to the channel configured for direct media communications between the first and one or more other communication devices.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for tracking location data among a plurality of communication devices communicable with a communication server. A plurality of communication devices may be linked into a group. The communication server may receive location data for each of the plurality of communication devices and calculate a distance and heading data between each of the plurality of communication devices. This data may be distributed to each of the plurality of communication devices in the group. A first communication device in the group may include a ring of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a microphone, and a speaker but lack a display screen. The first communication device may receive the location, distance, and heading data from the communication server while also determining its own orientation via a magnometer. The first communication device may calculate a heading offset between its orientation and a second communication device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for responding to a pre-recorded inbound voice message in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. In a first communication device, a pre-recorded inbound voice message is received from a sender communication device via a communication server. A reply mode is set for a response voice message from a plurality of reply modes. The response voice message is recorded and a reply mode flag is inserted into a message header. The response voice message is then sent to the communication server where it determines the reply mode. When the reply mode is reply to all, the response voice message is sent to the sender communication device and other recipient communication devices. When the reply mode is reply to sender, a direct channel communication link is established between the first communication device and the sender communication device and the response voice message is sent directly to the sender communication device.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing inbound voice messages in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. A communication device receives an inbound voice message that is associated with a voice message temporal mode that includes a message mode and a live mode. The communication device may then determine the voice message temporal mode for the inbound voice message as well as a device temporal mode associated with the receiving communication device. The device temporal mode also includes a message mode and a live mode. When the voice message temporal mode is determined to be message mode, the communication device may provide a message received notification on the receiving communication device. When the device temporal mode is determined to be message mode, the communication device may provide a message received notification on the receiving communication device regardless of the voice message temporal mode.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing outbound voice messages in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. A temporal mode of either live mode or message mode and a recipient mode of either group mode or direct mode are selected and set for an outbound voice message. Based on the selected settings for temporal mode and recipient mode the originating communication device records a voice message that is relayed to the communication server where it is distributed to other communication devices according to the rules or parameters associated with the temporal and recipient mode selected.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing communication channels in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. In one embodiment, first and second near field communication (NFC) equipped communication devices are put into a designated temporary channel and placed into close enough proximity to cause an NFC transaction. The NFC transaction may generate a transaction identifier that may be included in a channel establishment message sent from the first and second communication devices to the communication server. The communication server receives the transaction identifiers from the first and second NFC equipped communication devices and when they match, the communication server creates a temporary communication channel accessible to the first and second NFC equipped communication devices.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for managing communication channels in a communication system that includes communication devices and a communication server. In one embodiment, a communication device may receive an invitation to join a new communication channel, the invitation comprising a universal resource locator (URL) link to a location that contains instructions for joining the new communication channel. The communication device may then launch a companion application in response to activating the URL link where the companion application may be associated with an account administered by a communications server. The companion application may be configured to manage one or more communication devices. A user may select from among the communication devices managed by the companion application to be added to the new communication channel and send, to the communication server, an acceptance to the invitation to join the new communication channel.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for placing an outbound telephony call using a smart speaker as a proxy device for a telephone account. A smart speaker may receive a verbal command to initiate the telephone call that includes identifying information for the called party. The verbal command may be forwarded to a smart speaker server where it may be converted to a computer instruction to initiate the telephone call. The computer instruction may then be forwarded to a communications server. The communications server may determine the telephone number to call based on the identifying information for the called party. The communications server may then establish a first communication link between itself and a telephony endpoint of the called party and a second communication link between itself and the smart speaker device. The communication links may then be bridged into a communications session between the smart speaker device and the telephony endpoint of the called party.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for screening an inbound telephony call to a called party. At a communications server, an inbound telephony call intended for a called party's telephone number is received and checked against a whitelist database and a blacklist database. When the caller ID of the inbound call matches a telephone number contained in the blacklist database, the communications server automatically routes the call to a voicemail system or spam folder associated with the called party's telephone number. When the caller ID of the inbound call matches a telephone number contained in the whitelist database, the communications server determines whether the called party is available to receive the call. Otherwise, when the caller ID of the inbound call does not match a telephone number contained in either the whitelist database or the blacklist database, the communications server prompts the caller for additional information.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for screening an inbound telephony call to a called party. At a communications server, an inbound telephony call intended for a called party's telephone number is received and checked against a whitelist database and a blacklist database. When the caller ID of the inbound call matches a telephone number contained in the blacklist database, the communications server automatically routes the call to a voicemail system or spam folder associated with the called party's telephone number. When the caller ID of the inbound call matches a telephone number contained in the whitelist database, the communications server determines whether the called party is available to receive the call. Otherwise, when the caller ID of the inbound call does not match a telephone number contained in either the whitelist database or the blacklist database, the communications server prompts the caller for additional information.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for screening an inbound telephony call to a called party. At a communications server, an inbound telephony call intended for a called party's telephone number is received and checked against a whitelist database and a blacklist database. When the caller ID of the inbound call matches a telephone number contained in the blacklist database, the communications server automatically routes the call to a voicemail system or spam folder associated with the called party's telephone number. When the caller ID of the inbound call matches a telephone number contained in the whitelist database, the communications server determines whether the called party is available to receive the call. Otherwise, when the caller ID of the inbound call does not match a telephone number contained in either the whitelist database or the blacklist database, the communications server prompts the caller for additional information.

Abstract: Various embodiments describe a multi-step process for determining whether the keyword has been spoken. The first tier uses an onboard digital signal processor (DSP) to process converted audio signals. If the DSP analysis cannot confirm the keyword due to noise in the signal, a second tier of processing may use an applications processor (AP) and a more stringent audio filter to try to verify the keyword. If the AP analysis cannot confirm the keyword, a third tier of processing may use server side processor and an even more stringent audio filter to try to verify the keyword. Certain signal to noise ratios (SNRs) of the detected and converted audio signal are used to decide when and if to try the second and third tier of processing.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for screening an inbound telephony call to a called party. At a communications server, an inbound telephony call intended for a called party's telephone number is received and checked against a whitelist database and a blacklist database. When the caller ID of the inbound call matches a telephone number contained in the blacklist database, the communications server automatically routes the call to a voicemail system or spam folder associated with the called party's telephone number. When the caller ID of the inbound call matches a telephone number contained in the whitelist database, the communications server determines whether the called party is available to receive the call. Otherwise, when the caller ID of the inbound call does not match a telephone number contained in either the whitelist database or the blacklist database, the communications server prompts the caller for additional information.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for placing an outbound telephony call using a mobile telephony device as a proxy to make the call on behalf of a smart speaker device. At a communications server, it is determined whether a mobile telephony device is in proximity of a smart speaker device. When the mobile telephony device is in proximity of a smart speaker device and attempts to place a telephony call, the communications server establishes a communications link between the communications server and the smart speaker device. The communications server may then dial the telephone number sent by the mobile telephony device and establish a communications link between the communications server and a device associated with the dialed telephone number.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for responding to voice commands within an existing telephony call between two or more end user communication devices mediated by an IP based communications server. The server is mediating a telephony call among the two or more end user communication devices where each end user communication device has its own communication link to the server. The server may detect a trigger event from one of the end user communication devices. Upon detecting the trigger event, the server may receive voice input over the communication link from the end user communication device that generated the trigger event. The received voice input may be parsed into one or more voice commands. The server may then cause the one or more voice commands to be executed. In other embodiments, much of the intelligence and processing may be carried out on the end user communication device directly.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for responding to voice commands within an existing telephony call between two or more end user communication devices mediated by an IP based communications server. The server is mediating a telephony call among the two or more end user communication devices where each end user communication device has its own communication link to the server. The server may detect a trigger event from one of the end user communication devices. Upon detecting the trigger event, the server may receive voice input over the communication link from the end user communication device that generated the trigger event. The received voice input may be parsed into one or more voice commands. The server may then cause the one or more voice commands to be executed. In other embodiments, much of the intelligence and processing may be carried out on the end user communication device directly.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for responding to voice commands within an existing telephony call between two or more end user communication devices mediated by an IP based communications server. The server is mediating a telephony call among the two or more end user communication devices where each end user communication device has its own communication link to the server. The server may detect a trigger event from one of the end user communication devices. Upon detecting the trigger event, the server may receive voice input over the communication link from the end user communication device that generated the trigger event. The received voice input may be parsed into one or more voice commands. The server may then cause the one or more voice commands to be executed. In other embodiments, much of the intelligence and processing may be carried out on the end user communication device directly.

Abstract: Techniques for hosting a communication session between a first communication device and a second communication device in an IP network are described. A contact server establishes separate communication links between itself and the communication devices wherein the communication links may traverse one or more telephony networks. The contact server receives personalized user session data generated by a user of a communication device. The personalized user session data may be indicative of a subjective evaluation of the quality of the communication link or a preference for a particular telephony network. The contact server may then cause the communication device to establish a new communication link with the contact server and handoff from its current communication link to the new communication link when the subjective evaluation of the quality of the communication link crosses a threshold level or a condition for a preference for a particular telephony network is detected.

Abstract: Techniques for hosting a communication session between a first communication device and a second communication device in an IP network are described. A contact server establishes separate communication links between itself and the communication devices wherein the communication links may traverse one or more telephony networks. The contact server receives personalized user session data generated by a user of a communication device. The personalized user session data may be indicative of a subjective evaluation of the quality of the communication link or a preference for a particular telephony network. The contact server may then cause the communication device to establish a new communication link with the contact server and handoff from its current communication link to the new communication link when the subjective evaluation of the quality of the communication link crosses a threshold level or a condition for a preference for a particular telephony network is detected.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for hosting a communication session in a call server between communication devices. The call server functions as a bridge service between the communication devices joining an original communication link between the first communication device and the call server with a second communication link between the second communication device and the call server. The first communication device includes at least two RF transceivers each capable of communicating with the call server over a separate network. The call server receives a signal from the first communication device indicative of the need to handoff the original communication link to an alternate communication link on an alternate network. The call server establishes the alternate communication link with the first communication device on the alternate network and joins it with the second communication link to maintain the communication session between the communication devices.