Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are described for delivering smart services. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for delivering smart services includes receiving a request to determine an availability of a service subscriber for responding to an event associated with a service. The service is defined in terms of the event and a situation of the service subscriber. A current situation of the service subscriber is determined using subscriber context information based on private information of the subscriber. Attributes of the event and the current subscriber situation are used to provide to the service at least one of the subscriber context information and a probability related to an availability of the subscriber for responding to the event, allowing the service to generate a response to the event on behalf of the subscriber without the service having direct access to the private subscriber information.

Abstract: A system and method of the present invention provide parental and corporate control for a camera-phone. An administration authority web site is provided that enables an owner of a camera-phone to log into a server and establish a set of control policies that specify what actions on the phone are authorized for what user. The control policies that affect behavior of the camera-phone are downloaded to the camera-phone, and the camera-phone is then operated such that a user of the camera-phone is only able to perform actions authorized by the control policies. In a further embodiment, a control policy is provided that requires the camera-phone to upload captured images to the server for review by the camera-phone owner. In addition, the images may be quarantined until the camera-phone owner authorizes their release to the user.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are described for delivering smart services. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for delivering smart services includes receiving a request to determine an availability of a service subscriber for responding to an event associated with a service. The service is defined in terms of the event and a situation of the service subscriber. A current situation of the service subscriber is determined using subscriber context information based on private information of the subscriber. Attributes of the event and the current subscriber situation are used to provide to the service at least one of the subscriber context information and a probability related to an availability of the subscriber for responding to the event, allowing the service to generate a response to the event on behalf of the subscriber without the service having direct access to the private subscriber information.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a task reminder includes a monitoring module configured to monitor a location of a user via a mobile communication device associated with the user at predetermined time intervals for tracking historical travel information of the user and a data store for storing the historical travel information and for storing user specified task information that includes a task and a task location. The apparatus also includes a message module configured to generate a reminder of the task based on the user's historical travel information and a distance between the task location and a current position of the user.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are described for adaptively learning user preferences for smart services. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for adaptively learning user preferences for smart services includes modeling an availability of a subscriber for responding to an event associated with a service in terms subscriber context information available to determine a current situation of the subscriber related to the service, the subscriber context information based on private information of the subscriber. The availability of the subscriber for responding to the event is determined using a probability value associated with at least a portion of the subscriber context information. The probability value associated with the portion of the subscriber context information is updated based on feedback received from the subscriber in response to being presented a response to the event.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a task reminder includes a monitoring module configured to monitor a location of a user via a mobile communication device associated with the user at predetermined time intervals for tracking historical travel information of the user and a data store for storing the historical travel information and for storing user specified task information that includes a task and a task location. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a reminder module configured to calculate a novelty rating of a region that includes the task location and a current position of the user based on the user's historical travel information. The novelty rating is related to a historical presence of the user in the region. The apparatus also includes a message module configured to generate a reminder of the task based on the novelty rating of the region and a distance between the task location and the current position of the user.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are described for adaptively learning user preferences for smart services. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for adaptively learning user preferences for smart services includes modeling an availability of a subscriber for responding to an event associated with a service in terms of probability values associated with attributes of the event and subscriber context information available to determine a current situation of the subscriber related to the service, the subscriber context information based on private information of the subscriber. The availability of the subscriber for responding to the event is determined using a probability value associated with an event attribute and a probability value associated with at least a portion of the subscriber context information.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for presenting topical information referenced during a communication. A topic key phrase is received during a communication between a first party communicating via a first communication device and a second party communicating via a second communication device. A topic descriptor associated with the topic key phrase is identified. Whether or not to present the associated topic descriptor at the first communication device is determined based on a relationship between the first party and the second party. The topic descriptor is presented on a user interface based on the determination.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for presenting topical information referenced during a communication. A topic key phrase is received during a communication between a first party and a second party. A topic descriptor associated with the topic key phrase is identified. A topic descriptor weight associated with the identified topic descriptor is determined. A topic descriptor presentation threshold is determined based on a relationship between the first party and the second party. The topic descriptor weight is compared with the determined topic descriptor presentation threshold. The topic descriptor is presented based on the comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a task reminder to be performed at a task location includes a monitoring module that monitors a location of a user via a mobile communication device associated with the user at predetermined time intervals for tracking historical travel information of the user, and a data store for storing the historical travel information and for storing user specified task information that includes a task and a task location. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a reminder module that is configured to determine a reminder position as a position where an estimated probability of the user traveling from the reminder position at a particular time in a trajectory leading away from the task location exceeds an estimated probability of the user traveling from the reminder position at that same time in a trajectory leading toward the task location by a threshold value. The reminder module generates a reminder of the task when the reminder position is identified.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a task reminder to be performed at a task location includes a monitoring module that monitors a location of a user via a mobile communication device associated with the user at predetermined time intervals for tracking historical travel information of the user, and a data store for storing the historical travel information and for storing user specified task information that includes a task and a task location. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a reminder module that is configured to determine a reminder position as a position where an estimated probability of the user traveling from the reminder position at a particular time in a trajectory leading away from the task location exceeds an estimated probability of the user traveling from the reminder position at that same time in a trajectory leading toward the task location by a threshold value. The reminder module generates a reminder of the task when the reminder position is identified.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are described for creating smart services. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for creating smart services includes defining a service based on a situation of a service subscriber and an event for interacting with the subscriber on behalf of the service. Access is provided to subscriber context information based on private subscriber information. The subscriber context information is used in determining a current situation of the subscriber. The method allows the service to use the subscriber context information to generate a response to the event on behalf of the subscriber without the service having direct access to the private subscriber information.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are described for delivering smart services. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for delivering smart services includes receiving a request to determine an availability of a service subscriber for responding to an event associated with a service. The service is defined in terms of the event and a situation of the service subscriber. A current situation of the service subscriber is determined using subscriber context information based on private information of the subscriber. Attributes of the event and the current subscriber situation are used to provide to the service at least one of the subscriber context information and a probability related to an availability of the subscriber for responding to the event, allowing the service to generate a response to the event on behalf of the subscriber without the service having direct access to the private subscriber information.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are described for adaptively learning user preferences for smart services. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for adaptively learning user preferences for smart services includes modeling an availability of a subscriber for responding to an event associated with a service in terms of probability values associated with attributes of the event and subscriber context information available to determine a current situation of the subscriber related to the service, the subscriber context information based on private information of the subscriber. The availability of the subscriber for responding to the event is determined using a probability value associated with an event attribute and a probability value associated with at least a portion of the subscriber context information.

Abstract: A method for coordinating a synchronous activity includes receiving an instruction from a first principal to send a tag request to a second principal to participate in an activity and sending the tag request to the second principal. After the tag request is received, it is determined whether the second principal is available to participate in the activity. When the second principal is available, a response is sent indicating that the second principal is available to participate in the activity and the first principal is notified that the second principal is available to participate in the activity after the response is received and it is determined that the first principal is available to receive the notification.

Abstract: A method for providing a contextual description of an object includes receiving a first object associated with a user. The first object has a first object type representing one of a place, an event, and a person and includes a first attribute associated with the respective place, event, or person. A second object is identified that has a second attribute related to the first attribute, and has a second object type representing one of a place, an event, and a person. According to an exemplary embodiment, a first pre-defined phrase template corresponding to the first object type is dynamically combined with a second pre-defined phrase template corresponding to the second object type to form a linguistic prompt related to the place, event, or person representing the first object. The linguistic prompt is then presented to the user to describe the place, event, or person representing the first object.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a task reminder includes a monitoring module configured to monitor a location of a user via a mobile communication device associated with the user at predetermined time intervals for tracking historical travel information of the user and a data store for storing the historical travel information and for storing user specified task information that includes a task and a task location. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a reminder module configured to calculate a novelty rating of a region that includes the task location and a current position of the user based on the user's historical travel information. The novelty rating is related to a historical presence of the user in the region. The apparatus also includes a message module configured to generate a reminder of the task based on the novelty rating of the region and a distance between the task location and the current position of the user.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a task reminder to be performed at a task location includes a monitoring module that monitors a location of a user via a mobile communication device associated with the user at predetermined time intervals for tracking historical travel information of the user, and a data store for storing the historical travel information and for storing user specified task information that includes a task and a task location. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a reminder module that is configured to determine a reminder position as a position where an estimated probability of the user traveling from the reminder position at a particular time in a trajectory leading away from the task location exceeds an estimated probability of the user traveling from the reminder position at that same time in a trajectory leading toward the task location by a threshold value. The reminder module generates a reminder of the task when the reminder position is identified.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying a location for naming includes a monitoring module that is configured to monitor actions taken by a user via a mobile communication device and to monitor a location of the mobile communication device when an action is taken by the user and at predetermined time intervals. The apparatus also includes a data store for storing user-specific location information and user-specific action information associated with the location monitored by the monitoring module and a location naming module that is configured to calculate a relevance rating of the location based on the user-specific action information associated with the location and on the user-specific location information, and to prompt the user to name the location based on its relevance rating.

Abstract: A system for naming a location includes a mobile communication device equipped with a position locator system that is configured to identify a location of the device, a first data store for storing general information that is managed by or for an entity other than the user and that is related to the location, a second data store for storing user-specific information that is managed by or for the user, and a name generation module. According to aspects of one embodiment, the name generation module is configured to receive the location of the mobile communication device, to retrieve from the first data store general information relating to the location, and to generate a name for the location based on an atemporal correlation between the general information and the user-specific information.