Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an avatar engine having a controller to retrieve a user profile of a user, present the user an avatar having characteristics that correlate to the user profile, detect one or more responses of the user during a communication exchange between the avatar and the user, establish a communication session with a language translation system responsive to identifying from the one or more responses a need to engage in language translations, transmit to the language translation system content in a language format other than a language understood by the user, receive from the language translation system a translation of the content in the language understood by the user, and present the user an adaptation of the avatar that presents the translated content in the user's language. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first computing device having a controller to present an avatar having characteristics that correlate to a user profile and that conform to operating characteristics of the first computing device, and transmit to a second computing device operational information associated with the avatar for reproducing at least in part the avatar at said second computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system having a controller to retrieve a user profile, cause a set-top box (STB) to present an avatar having characteristics that correlate to the user profile, receive from the STB one or more responses of the user, detect from the one or more responses a change in an emotional state of the user, adapt a search for media content according to the user profile and the detected change in the emotional state of the user, adapt a portion of the characteristics of the avatar relating to emotional feedback according to the user profile and the detected change in the emotional state of the user, and cause the STB to present the adapted avatar presenting content from a media content source identified from the adapted search for media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system having a controller to retrieve a user profile associated with a user of the IPTV system, cause a set-top box (STB) operating in the IPTV system to present an avatar having characteristics that correlate to the user profile, receive from the STB one or more responses of the user, wherein the one or more responses are collected by the STB from a communication exchange between the avatar and the user, identify from the one or more responses a need to communicate with a content source, establish a communication session with the content source, receive from the content source an avatar profile, adapt the characteristics of the avatar to correlate at least in part to the avatar profile, and cause the STB to present the adapted avatar. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system including a digital radio broadcast station, a receiver, and a network. The digital radio broadcast station includes a transmitter and a server. The receiver is in communication with the digital radio broadcast transmitter and also includes a user interface for receiving user input commands comprising a request for information from the digital radio broadcast station. The receiver is configured to establish a two-way communication path between the receiver and the digital radio broadcast transmitter. The network is in communication with the server and the receiver for exchanging information therebetween. The request for information is provided to the server via the network and the server is configured to receive the request and transmit a response message to the receiver in accordance with the request.

Abstract: A system including a digital radio broadcast station, a receiver, and a network. The digital radio broadcast station includes a transmitter and a server. The receiver is in communication with the digital radio broadcast transmitter and also includes a user interface for receiving user input commands comprising a request for information from the digital radio broadcast station. The receiver is configured to establish a two-way communication path between the receiver and the digital radio broadcast transmitter. The network is in communication with the server and the receiver for exchanging information therebetween. The request for information is provided to the server via the network and the server is configured to receive the request and transmit a response message to the receiver in accordance with the request.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for providing an automatic synthetically generated voice describing media content, the method comprising receiving one or more pieces of metadata for a primary media content, selecting at least one piece of metadata for output, and outputting the at least one piece of metadata as synthetically generated speech with the primary media content. Other aspects of the invention involve alternative output, output speech simultaneously with the primary media content, output speech during gaps in the primary media content, translate metadata in foreign language, tailor voice, accent, and language to match the metadata and/or primary media content. A user may control output via a user interface or output may be customized based on preferences in a user profile.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for displaying objects. A software application is associated to a profile storing display characteristics for the software application. A video display screen is segmented into segments. A video object produced by the software application is mapped to a segment in the video display screen that corresponds to the profile.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the format of a video display. The apparatus includes a profile module for defining at least one profile. The profile has at least one display characteristic of video information associated with a type of application. The apparatus also includes a runtime engine in communication with the profile module. The runtime engine accepts the video information, modifies the video information according to the profile, and outputs the modified video information.

Abstract: Multi-touch interfaces allow user interaction with multiple points of contact to control external devices such as game consoles, authenticate users, partition the interface for multiple users, and so forth. The multi-touch interface may provide graphical representations that are manipulated by users through multiple points of contact to participate in games running on an external game console. Additionally, user authentication may occur through multiple points of contact with the multi-touch interface where each user has a unique contact pattern that includes points of contact, location of points of contact, rhythm of points of contact, and so forth. The graphical representations may be customized based on the authentication of a user, and the multi-touch surface may be partitioned based on the number of users present.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for alerting of a call. A message is received that notifies of a call to a called number having an established connection to a data network. A customer-selected style and a customer-selected location of a control is retrieved that responds to the customer's action. The message and the control are processed to alert of the call to the called number.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media provide presenting a customized message to an incoming calling party and for allowing the calling party to save or forward the customized message. A called party desiring to leave a customized message for certain incoming calling parties submits a customized message to an intelligent network component of her telecommunications service provider along with identifiers for specified incoming callers who are to receive the customized message upon calling the called party. After the customized message is prepared, incoming callers who have been associated with the customized message are presented with the customized message before being connected to the called party. After an incoming caller receives the customized message, the calling party may store or send the customized message for later retrieval. If the incoming call is not from a telephone directory number associated with the customized message, the incoming call is processed according to normal call processing methods.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for selecting the content of Internet Call-Waiting messages. An Internet Call-Waiting message is generated when an incoming call is received while having an established connection to a data network. Content is retrieved to accompany the Internet Call-Waiting message. A customer-selected style and a customer-selected location of a control is retrieved that accompanies the Internet Call-Waiting message. The Internet Call-Waiting message is presented to alert of the incoming call.

Abstract: Methods and computer-readable media provide presenting a customized message to an incoming calling party and for allowing the calling party to save or forward the customized message. A called party desiring to leave a customized message for certain incoming calling parties submits a customized message to an intelligent network component of her telecommunications service provider along with identifiers for specified incoming callers who are to receive the customized message upon calling the called party. After the customized message is prepared, incoming callers who have been associated with the customized message are presented with the customized message before being connected to the called party. After an incoming caller receives the customized message, the calling party may store or send the customized message for later retrieval. If the incoming call is not from a telephone directory number associated with the customized message, the incoming call is processed according to normal call processing methods.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for locating files. Upon receipt of caller identification information, a search is performed to identify all files associated with the caller identification information. A presentation of the caller identification information is caused.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for providing Internet Call Waiting (ICW) Messaging Services. In an embodiment, a calling party places an incoming call to a called telephone number having an active ICW session and data connection. A telecommunications system allows a calling party to communicate an ICW message to a computer system engaged in the ICW session and data connection. The telecommunications system may also allow a called party (e.g., the user of the computer system) to communicate a response to the ICW message and, thus, allow interactive ICW messaging.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for locating and retrieving stored computer files that are related to an incoming telephone call directed to a computer user. A called party receives a telephone call while the called party is operating her computer. A computer telephony interface receives caller identification information on the calling party and uses that information to launch a software synchronization program for locating files stored on the called party's computer that are related to the calling party. A dialog box is displayed on the screen of the called party's computer that provides the caller identification on the calling party and provides an icon for displaying a list of stored files related to the incoming caller. The list of files may be automatically presented to the called party, or the called party may retrieve the list of stored files by selection of the icon presented in the dialog box.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for establishing a two-way communication feedback path between a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver includes an input portion, a processor, a user interface, a control module, and a network interface. The input portion is configured to receive a signal transmitted by a transmitter and to convert the signal to an audio signal. The user interface is configured to receive an input command and to convey the input command to the processor. The processor executes a control module for processing the input command and generating a query in accordance with the input command. The network interface is configured for facilitating communication between the receiver and the transmitter via the network and the query is transmitted from the receiver to the transmitter via the network.

Abstract: A system including a digital radio broadcast station, a receiver, and a network. The digital radio broadcast station includes a transmitter and a server. The receiver is in communication with the digital radio broadcast transmitter and also includes a user interface for receiving user input commands comprising a request for information from the digital radio broadcast station. The receiver is configured to establish a two-way communication path between the receiver and the digital radio broadcast transmitter. The network is in communication with the server and the receiver for exchanging information therebetween. The request for information is provided to the server via the network and the server is configured to receive the request and transmit a response message to the receiver in accordance with the request.

Abstract: A system including a digital radio broadcast station, a receiver, and a network. The digital radio broadcast station includes a transmitter and a server. The receiver is in communication with the digital radio broadcast transmitter and also includes a user interface for receiving user input commands comprising a request for information from the digital radio broadcast station. The receiver is configured to establish a two-way communication path between the receiver and the digital radio broadcast transmitter. The network is in communication with the server and the receiver for exchanging information therebetween. The request for information is provided to the server via the network and the server is configured to receive the request and transmit a response message to the receiver in accordance with the request.