Abstract: A hyperlink is added to user interface code to provide a user with an easy way to access various functions of a communication application. The hyperlink can provide target telephone numbers in different formats, specify a web page to be displayed during a call, specify rules to be used to identify a telephone number from a set of telephone numbers, and include commands to manage the communication application.

Abstract: Conferencing data is reliably delivered to computer systems participating in a hierarchically arranged multi-cast conferencing session. When a child computer system does not receive a multi-cast packet (e.g., an IP multi-cast packet), the child computer system sends a negative acknowledgment to a parent computer system. In response, the parent computer system re-transmits conferencing data that was contained in the multi-cast packet to the child computer system. Conferencing data can be re-transmitted to the child computer system via uni-cast (e.g., TCP). Accordingly, conferencing data that is not received or that is damaged via multi-cast can be repaired via uni-cast. Computer systems can join an existing multi-cast conference session without having to communicate with the root computer system. The root computer system adjusts a multi-cast send rate to compensate for changed network conditions.

Abstract: Establishing a connection from a caller to a user using a pre-authorized credit from the user is described. A processor identifies one or more source identifications (IDs) for receiving pre-authorized credit for the incoming call. One or more destinations are specified to receive the incoming call. The processor defines a rule associated with the one or more destinations and the one or more source IDs. An interface receives the incoming call directed to one of the destinations from the caller. A storage area stores the defined rule. The incoming call and the caller are determined as a function of the one of the destinations, one or more identified source IDs and the defined rule. The pre-authorized credit is issued for the incoming call from the caller if it is determined that the incoming call to the destination satisfies the defined rule. The processor routes the incoming call to the user.

Abstract: Selecting a source account for an outgoing communication content of a user is described. A collection of source accounts is associated with the user. Each source account has an individual content storage storing communication content associated with the corresponding source account. A user's authentication is validated for using the collection of source accounts. One source account in the collection is designated as a primary source account. The source accounts in the collection are aggregated to a primary content storage. The user is authenticated to sign in to the primary source account. Instructions are received from the user for generating a communication content from the primary source account and the primary content storage. Instructions are received from the user for selecting one of the source accounts in the collection as the source account for the generated communication content, and the user is signed in to the primary source account.

Abstract: A method for establishing a hybrid voice session between a mobile device and a VoIP device is disclosed. A caller using a mobile device in a mobile network initiates a request for a voice session by clicking on a virtual identifier, e.g. an email address, provided for the callee in an address book on the caller's mobile device. If the callee is online, then the request is enabled. In one embodiment, the request is enabled by creating a call registration record using a mobile data network. In another embodiment, the request is enabled by having the caller interact with an IVR system. In yet another embodiment, a caller can interact with the IVR system from any type of telephone device. The callee is notified regarding the voice session, and if accepted, the hybrid voice session is established via a voice channel and a VoIP channel.

Abstract: A call is established between a user at a mobile device and a contact logged into a communication service through a computer application. A user selects a contact through a page displayed on a mobile device. The contact may be an email address, a messaging username, or some other contact other than a phone number. A call registration record with the contact data is generated at a network server. The mobile device places a call to a VoIP system, the VoIP system receives the call, retrieves the call registration record and establishes an audio connection between the cell phone and the computer application through which the contact is logged into the communication service. The audio connection is a hybrid connection consisting of a mobile device voice connection between the caller's cell phone and a gateway system and a VoIP connection between a computer and the gateway system.

Abstract: A method and system provides the ability to share access information for external data over a digital voice communication channel. The access information of external data may be exchanged instead of the external data itself. More specifically, a recipient device may receive contextual information which relates to the access information of external data. The contextual information may be processed to identify the source of the external data and other information necessary to access the external data. For example, a hyperlink directed to the external data in a Web server may be exchanged while the recipient device and the sending device are involved in a digital conversation. The recipient device can access the external data by activating the hyperlink.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting and verifying the location information of a calling party and a device of the calling party is provided. More specifically, a method and system is provided for determining whether the identity of the calling party can be confirmed, via evaluating location information, with an acceptable degree of certainty. The location information may be provided by the calling party or obtained from various sources over a digital communication channel. Some of the provided location information which can be accidentally or intentionally altered is identified and evaluated to determine its accuracy as part of the verification process of the caller's identity.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and system for providing VoIP clients with the ability to confirm accuracy in conversation data over a digital communication channel. More specifically, a method and system is provided for verifying, via a visual representation whether a receiving client captures accurate information from a particular portion of the digital voice conversation. In response to a triggering event, a visual representation, including information extracted from the particular portion of the digital voice conversation, may be generated for verifying the accuracy. Based on the needs of the clients engaging in the conversation, one or more visual representations and corresponding verifications can be exchanged. In this manner, a multi-tiered oral agreement with authentication may be generated over a digital communication channel.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for broadcasting a message to selected devices. More specifically, the method and system identifies appropriate VoIP devices of a recipient client suitable for a broadcast message and transmits the broadcast message to the identified appropriate VoIP devices over a digital communication channel. The appropriate VoIP devices are selected in accordance with various constraints of broadcasting such as recipient client's preference, functionality and capability of the recipient VoIP device, broadcaster's bandwidth, a set of broadcasting rules, or the like. In order to identify appropriate VoIP devices or a recipient client, the information relating to the recipient client and VoIP devices may be exchanged using the digital communication channel.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for intelligent formatting of VoIP telephone numbers. The intelligent VoIP formatting system includes a presentation and user interface layer, an E.164 formatting engine, a location routine, and a database of telephone number data which are used to deconstruct input telephone numbers and reconstruct them as E.164 compliant telephone numbers.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an ability to have two-way broadcasting in a VoIP system is provided. A call center may originate or relay a broadcast message to several clients. When a third party requests to broadcast a message, or specified triggering events are detected, content of the message may be collected and composed, and a group of recipient clients identified based on the content of the message. An individual broadcast message may be formatted, scheduled and transmitted based on the profile information of the recipient client(s). Moreover, a set of rules to specify the process of broadcasting may be provided from the third party and the service provider. For example, based on a set of rules, a next group of recipient clients may be determined after the initial broadcast and different broadcast messages may be formatted for each recipient client and transmitted.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed at software systems for sending a data item from a sending client to a receiving client. In accordance with one embodiment, software components are provided that include a command handling component and a processing component. The command handling component accepts event data when a command to send a data item is received. Then a request to present the data item is transmitted from the sending client to the receiving client. When the request is received, the processing component uses instructions transmitted from the sending client to cause the data item to be presented on the receiving client.

Abstract: Generally described, the present invention relates to the identification, extraction, and further use of content contained in a digital voice conversation, such as a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) conversation. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of “mined” data from a conversation to provide extended services, such as recommendations to individuals participating in a digital voice conversation.

Abstract: Generally described, aspects of the present invention are directed at software systems for responding to a received voicemail message. In one embodiment, a selection user interface is provided where a primary callee may generate an event to create a draft voicemail message that is related to a received voicemail message. In response to receiving an event from the selection user interface to create a draft voicemail message, aspects of the present invention (1) create an electronic file to store the draft voicemail message, and (2) insert metadata into the electronic file that defines the relationship between the draft voicemail message and the received voicemail message. As a result, a callee may easily create a draft voicemail message that is related to a received voicemail message and have the draft voicemail message automatically populated with contextual data.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed to software that allows a callee to access and filter data related to a voicemail message. In accordance with one embodiment, searchable index key(s) are identified that are associated with a selected voicemail message. Then, a search is performed to identify data that is related to the selected voicemail message using the index key(s). Once the search is performed, a user interface is presented that references data identified as being related to the voicemail message. As a result, a callee may easily access and review data related to a voicemail message without being required to use multiple software applications.

Abstract: When the user hovers on a telephone number (or other indication of a target of a voice communication) on a web page (or other interface), the telephone number will be highlighted and the user will be provided with the opportunity to make a call using the highlighted number. If the user clicks on the highlighted telephone number, the telephone number will be provided to a communication application to facilitate making a telephone call. If the user moves away without clicking on the highlighted telephone number, the highlight will disappear. In alternative embodiments, a user can select text in a web page (or other interface) and, if there is a telephone number in the selected text, that telephone number can be automatically provided to the communication application to facilitate making a call. In another embodiment, the system finds telephone numbers in content and replaces those telephone number with hyperlinks to enable the behavior described above.

Abstract: A method and system for processing received VoIP data packets based on preferences of a recipient client or capabilities of a recipient computing device is provided. Several users and/or service providers are allowed to specify rules instructing how to process contextual information upon receipt of the contextual information. More specifically, a recipient computing device may have contextual processing rules specified based on its individual need and capability. The contextual processing rules may indicate what application can be used on a certain type of contextual information. Based on the contextual processing rules, the contextual information may be stored in local storage of the recipient computing device or forwarded to another device. In this manner, each recipient computing device of the recipient client can process contextual information based on its need and capability.

Abstract: A hyperlink is added to user interface code to provide a user with an easy way to access various functions of a communication application. The hyperlink can provide target telephone numbers in different formats, specify a web page to be displayed during a call, specify rules to be used to identify a telephone number from a set of telephone numbers, and include commands to manage the communication application.

Abstract: Generally described, the present invention provides the ability to process digital voice conversations to identify data packets containing content of interest and to further process the identified data packets. More specifically, mining profiles may be developed identifying particular types of content that is to be mined and further identifying what is to be done when data packets containing such content is located. A system may search a digital voice conversation for the data packets containing the content and perform processing on the data packets once identified.