Abstract: Negotiation of a future communication through a personal virtual assistant is provided. A trigger command is received. The trigger command identifies a communication received for a recipient from a sender. Schedule information is accessed. The schedule information is related to the recipient of the received communication. A plurality of options is presented to the sender. The plurality of options are for arranging a future communication between the sender and the recipient, and include at least one option determined based on the accessed schedule information. A selection of an option for arranging a future communication is received. The selected option is executed to arrange the future communication.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for detect adjunct peripherals, and coordinating their media capabilities (as a preparation to be able to signal their capabilities). The host device and the peripherals can synchronize wall clocks. The system sets up a call (or receive a call) from a remote host device, and requests the peripherals to check for network connectivity to the remote host device (connectivity check). This check can be done by using a STUN/TURN procedure. The system establishes direct connectivity between the peripherals and the remote host device and monitors lip sync by transferring RTCP messages between the host device and the peripherals and instructing display and playback peripherals/sub systems to align lip sync.

Abstract: Negotiation of a future communication through a personal virtual assistant is provided. A trigger command is received. The trigger command identifies a communication received for a recipient from a sender. Schedule information is accessed. The schedule information is related to the recipient of the received communication. A plurality of options is presented to the sender. The plurality of options are for arranging a future communication between the sender and the recipient, and include at least one option determined based on the accessed schedule information. A selection of an option for arranging a future communication is received. The selected option is executed to arrange the future communication.

Abstract: Negotiation of a future communication through a personal virtual assistant is provided. A trigger command is received. The trigger command identifies a communication received for a recipient from a sender. Schedule information is accessed. The schedule information is related to the recipient of the received communication. A plurality of options is presented to the sender. The plurality of options are for arranging a future communication between the sender and the recipient, and include at least one option determined based on the accessed schedule information. A selection of an option for arranging a future communication is received. The selected option is executed to arrange the future communication.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing customer service help. The system first receives, from a user device, contact information associated with the user device, wherein the contact information is received via a customer service terminal having a user interface configured to wirelessly receive data from the user device when the user device is within a distance of the customer service terminal. In response to receiving the contact information, the system then identifies a customer service representative associated with the customer service terminal. The system then sends the contact information to a remote device associated with the customer service representative. The customer service representative can then initiate a customer service communication between the user device and the remote device in order to provide customer service help to the user associated with the user device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing customer service help. The system first receives, from a user device, contact information associated with the user device, wherein the contact information is received via a customer service terminal having a user interface configured to wirelessly receive data from the user device when the user device is within a distance of the customer service terminal. In response to receiving the contact information, the system then identifies a customer service representative associated with the customer service terminal. The system then sends the contact information to a remote device associated with the customer service representative. The customer service representative can then initiate a customer service communication between the user device and the remote device in order to provide customer service help to the user associated with the user device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for detect adjunct peripherials, and coordinating their media capabilities (as a preparation to be able to signal their capabilities). The host device and the peripherials can synchronize wall clocks. The system sets up a call (or receive a call) from a remote host device, and requests the peripherials to check for network connectivity to the remote host device (connectivity check). This check can be done by using a STUN/TURN procedure. The system establishes direct connectivity between the peripherials and the remote host device and monitors lip sync by transferring RTCP messages between the host device and the peripherials and instructing display and playback periphrials/sub systems to align lip sync.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing customer service help. The system first receives, from a user device, contact information associated with the user device, wherein the contact information is received via a customer service terminal having a user interface configured to wirelessly receive data from the user device when the user device is within a distance of the customer service terminal. In response to receiving the contact information, the system then identifies a customer service representative associated with the customer service terminal. The system then sends the contact information to a remote device associated with the customer service representative. The customer service representative can then initiate a customer service communication between the user device and the remote device in order to provide customer service help to the user associated with the user device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for providing customer service help. The system first receives, from a user device, contact information associated with the user device, wherein the contact information is received via a customer service terminal having a user interface configured to wirelessly receive data from the user device when the user device is within a distance of the customer service terminal. In response to receiving the contact information, the system then identifies a customer service representative associated with the customer service terminal. The system then sends the contact information to a remote device associated with the customer service representative. The customer service representative can then initiate a customer service communication between the user device and the remote device in order to provide customer service help to the user associated with the user device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for calculating a relative activity factor from a plurality of endpoints in a video conference to affect display layout during the video conference.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for adding video to an audio only communication session. During a communication session between a first device and a second device, the first device receives an audio portion of the communication session from a user. The first device then receives, via a wireless connection, a video portion of the communication session from a third device. The first device synchronizes the audio portion of the communication session and the video portion of the communication session to yield a synchronized audio and video portion of the communication session. Next, the first device sends the synchronized audio and video portion of the communication session to the second device.

Abstract: A method that allows customers to connect remotely with customer service representatives by continuously monitoring the customers with cameras. Images from the cameras are sent to a computerized system that employs image processing techniques to determine when assistance is sought by a customer. When the customer is deemed in need of such assistance, a video phone call is initiated between the customer and a customer service representative.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for adding video to an audio only communication session. During a communication session between a first device and a second device, the first device receives an audio portion of the communication session from a user. The first device then receives, via a wireless connection, a video portion of the communication session from a third device. The first device synchronizes the audio portion of the communication session and the video portion of the communication session to yield a synchronized audio and video portion of the communication session. Next, the first device sends the synchronized audio and video portion of the communication session to the second device.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed that enables a context-driven, adaptive technique for generating a list of telephone numbers. The technique of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention seeks to dynamically anticipate what telephone numbers a user might want to dial—even before the user knows—and presents the names of the parties and their telephone numbers to the user at his or her terminal. In particular, the technique monitors a user, the user's locale, and one or more terminals in that locale; selects one or more telephone numbers from a master set of numbers, based on the monitored information; and presents the selected numbers to the user—for example, in the form of a speed-dial list or a one-touch dial list. The user can then examine the presented telephone numbers and decide if he or she wants to call one of them. The technique can be implemented at the user's computer, telephone, private branch exchange, or other device in the relevant telecommunications system.

Abstract: A video camera and microphone associated with a telecommunications terminal are used to gather information about the environment in the vicinity of the telecommunications terminal. Such information includes, but is not limited to: (i) how many people are in the environment, (ii) which specific people are in the environment, (iii) if the environment is dark, (iv) if the environment is quiet, and (v) if the environment comprises human speech. When a specific person is associated with the telecommunications terminal and a request arrives to establish a telephone call with that person, then the information about the environment can be used to decide whether: (1) to transmit the call to the telecommunications terminal, or (2) forward the call away from the telecommunications terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed that enable the sharing, between a telephone and a computer, of input peripherals such as a keyboard and mouse and of output peripherals such as a video display. Historically, a telephone and a computer have possessed different interfaces with their user and with peripheral devices. Therefore, except where the telephone functionality is in the form of a softphone implemented on a computer, the telephone in the prior art is often incapable of sharing certain peripherals with a physically-adjacent computer. The telephone device of the illustrative embodiment enables sharing between the telephone and a computer, in contrast to sharing peripherals between computers in the prior art. The telephone device is able to determine which user inputs from a shared keyboard or mouse are intended for which data-processing device (i.e.

Abstract: A conferencing room has conferencing equipment which identifies a person speaking, among a group of people in the conferencing room, to remote participants in a conference call. The conferencing equipment includes a plurality of unique tags, each fixed proximate to a seating position for a person in the conferencing room. Each person reads the tag at their seated position using a personal interrogator, which may be incorporated into a cellular telephone. The person's identification and seated location are received and stored by a controller. The controller receives inputs from a microphone array, which monitors the voices in the room. By using the microphone array, the controller can approximate the source of the voice to one of the unique tag locations and hence can identify the person speaking.

Abstract: A video camera and microphone associated with a telecommunications terminal are used to gather information about the environment in the vicinity of the telecommunications terminal. Such information includes, but is not limited to: (i) how many people are in the environment, (ii) which specific people are in the environment, (iii) if the environment is dark, (iv) if the environment is quiet, and (v) if the environment comprises human speech. When a specific person is associated with the telecommunications terminal and a request arrives to establish a telephone call with that person, then the information about the environment can be used to decide whether: (1) to transmit the call to the telecommunications terminal, or (2) forward the call away from the telecommunications terminal.

Abstract: A method that allows customers to connect remotely with customer service representatives by continuously monitoring the customers with cameras. Images from the cameras are sent to a computerized system that employs image processing techniques to determine when assistance is sought by a customer. When the customer is deemed in need of such assistance, a video phone call is initiated between the customer and a customer service representative.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed that enable the sharing, between a telephone and a computer, of input peripherals such as a keyboard and mouse and of output peripherals such as a video display. Historically, a telephone and a computer have possessed different interfaces with their user and with peripheral devices. Therefore, except where the telephone functionality is in the form of a softphone implemented on a computer, the telephone in the prior art is often incapable of sharing certain peripherals with a physically-adjacent computer. The telephone device of the illustrative embodiment enables sharing between the telephone and a computer, in contrast to sharing peripherals between computers in the prior art. The telephone device is able to determine which user inputs from a shared keyboard or mouse are intended for which data-processing device (i.e.