Abstract: A method for supporting an application can include the step of receiving a problem indication relating to the application. The method can also identify a host within a grid environment, wherein a host can be a software object used by said application. A ghost agent can be associated with the host. The actions of the host can be replicated for use by the ghost agent. Data relating to the replicated actions can be recorded using the ghost agent. The indicated problem can be responded to, where the response can be based at least in part upon the recorded data.

Abstract: A method of providing telephony services can include receiving a request to query a subscriber information data store to determine service description information for a call. The service description information can specify at least one telephony service associated with a subscriber for use in processing the call. The method further can include querying the subscriber information data store to determine the service description information, receiving the service description information from the subscriber information data store, and providing the service description information to a telephony service node to implement a telephony service specified by the service description information with respect to the call.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable medium for providing a Virtual Contact Center (VCC) to call-in customers is presented. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the steps of: screening a plurality of service agents according to agent qualifications needed by a Virtual Contact Center (VCC); developing a network of pre-qualified service agents from the screening step, wherein each pre-qualified service agent is an independent contractor; receiving, at a Virtual Contact Center Portal (VCCP), a request for service call from a customer; and directing the request for service call through the VCCP to one of the pre-qualified service agents according to a nature of the request for service call.

Abstract: A method for supporting an application can include the step of receiving a problem indication relating to the application. The method can also identify a host within a grid environment, wherein a host can be a software object used by said application. A ghost agent can be associated with the host. The actions of the host can be replicated for use by the ghost agent. Data relating to the replicated actions can be recorded using the ghost agent. The indicated problem can be responded to, where the response can be based at least in part upon the recorded data.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for vote processing in concert with a PSTN. In accordance with the present invention, a method for vote processing in a PSTN can include receiving a vote from a calling party over the PSTN. Caller information for the calling party can be retrieved from the PSTN. Subsequently, the vote can be validated based upon the caller information. Finally, the vote can be processed based upon the validation. For instance, the vote can be tallied if the calling party is validated as not having previously voted. In contrast, the vote can be rejected if the calling party is determined to have previously voted.

Abstract: A connector application for integrating disparate systems within a pre-set computer telephony integration framework for routing calls is provided. The connector application receives input regarding a status of an agent of a plurality of agents. The connector application stores the status of each agent of the plurality of agents. The connector application receives a request for the status of each agent of the plurality of agents. The connector application then transmits the status of each agent of the plurality of agents to the requesting application.

Abstract: A system (10) and method (50) to enable instant collaboration via the use of pervasive messaging can include the steps of receiving (52) a call from a caller to a callee, transferring (54) the call to a voicemail system when the callee is unavailable, determining (56) if the callee is available via instant messaging, and querying (58) the caller if they want to leave one among a voice message and an instant message. In another aspect, a system and method (70) enables instant collaboration by receiving (72) a text message having a designation for text-to-speech conversion via an instant messaging network (14) where the text message is intended for a phone (16 or 18) coupled to a voicemail system (20), recognizing (74) the designation, converting (76) the text message to a voice message, calling (78) the phone, and delivering (86) the voice message to the voicemail system.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a chat tool including a chat window configured to permit a user to simultaneously receive chat messages for two or more different chat sessions, thereby permitting side discussions within a secondary chat session. Each of the different chat sessions can correspond to a session specific chat channel. Different chat sessions can include private and public sessions. The participants of a private chat session can be participants of the public chat session and/or can be able to view discussions occurring in the public chat session. Further, members of the public chat session can be unaware of the existence of the private chat session. Any number of private chat sessions can be spawned from a public chat session using an invitation option, which automatically establishes new private sessions for invited individuals.

Abstract: A system (10) and method (50) to enable instant collaboration via the use of pervasive messaging can include the steps of receiving (52) a call from a caller to a callee, transferring (54) the call to a voicemail system when the callee is unavailable, determining(56) if the callee is available via instant messaging, and querying (58) the caller if they want to leave one among a voice message and an instant message. In another aspect, a system and method (70) enables instant collaboration by receiving (72) a text message having a designation for text-to-speech conversion via an instant messaging network (14) where the text message is intended for a phone (16 or 18) coupled to a voicemail system (20), recognizing (74) the designation, converting (76) the text message to a voice message, calling (78) the phone, and delivering (86) the voice message to the voicemail system.

Abstract: A method for providing driving directions can include the step of within a mobile telephone device, associating one or more of audio files with enabling GPS coordinates. The audio files can include digitally encoded speech that specify driving instructions. Current GPS coordinates for the mobile telephone device can be ascertained. When the current GPS coordinates match enabling GPS coordinates, the audio file associated with the enabling GPS coordinates can be played.

Abstract: A method of testing path a voice response system can include establishing a voice link between a test system and a voice response system and playing voice prompts to the test system over the voice link. The method also can include sending execution information to the test system over the voice link.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium for optimizing retrieval of customer data needed to handle a call are presented. The method includes the steps of receiving a call at a data center; initiating a query for a business data related to the call; creating a key that identifies the business data related to the call; pre-fetching the business data using the key with a lookup table; caching the pre-fetched business data; attaching the key to the call; routing the call with the attached key to a desktop agent; receiving a request from the desktop agent for the pre-fetched business data; retrieving the cached pre-fetched business data; and transmitting the cached pre-fetched business data to the desktop agent.

Abstract: A method of implementing telephony services can include receiving a call from a telephony switch and matching the received call to a voice markup language document implementation of a telephony service. The voice markup language document can be retrieved from a data store. The received call can be processed in accordance with the retrieved voice markup language document thereby implementing the telephony service.

Abstract: A solution for determining the accuracy of a speech recognition system. A first graphical user interface (GUI) is provided for selecting a transaction log. The transaction log has at least one entry that specifies a speech recognition text result. A second GUI is also provided for selecting at least one audio segment corresponding to the entry. The second GUI includes an activatable icon for initiating transcription of the audio segment through a reference speech recognition engine to generate a second text result.

Abstract: Within an interactive voice response system, a method of automatically disambiguating results presented to a user can include determining the identity of a user within an interactive voice response session, receiving user inputs specifying selections in an interactive voice response menu hierarchy, and storing historical information specifying the user selections within a profile associated with the identity of the user. For at least one subsequent input from the user, identifying the historical information associated with the identity of the user and using the historical information to reduce a number of possible selections in the interactive voice response menu hierarchy which are presented to the user.

Abstract: A method of call conferencing using a voice browser can include establishing a voice browsing session between a calling party and the voice browser, and conferencing an additional party into the voice browsing session. The conference can provide a voice communications link between the calling party and the additional party.

Abstract: A method of automatically resolving a Digital Subscriber Line failure can include detecting a failure of the Digital Subscriber Line and establishing a call over a public switched telephone network with an administrative system for the Digital Subscriber Line. The method further can include notifying the administrative system for the Digital Subscriber Line of the failure over the established call. The administrative system then can cause the Digital Subscriber Line to be reset.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for bill payment over a PSTN. The method can include processing a call in the PSTN to establish a telephonic connection between a caller and a call center configured to process bill payments. The method further can include resolving an identity for the caller separate from the established telephonic connection. The identity can be routed to the call center over a data communications link unrelated to the telephonic connection. Finally, a bill payment process can be managed for the caller within the call center based upon the routed identity. Preferably, the resolving step can include querying a LIDB through a name resolution adapter disposed in the PSTN for identifying information for the caller. Further more, the processing step can include performing the resolving step responsive to receiving an SS7 message in an SCP to set up the telephonic connection between the caller and the call center.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for service management. In accordance with the present invention, a service management method can include the steps of receiving a telephone call from a service subscriber over a PSTN and identifying the service subscriber through identifying information received externally to the received telephone call. Importantly, a service term for a subscription associated with the service subscriber can be modified only if payment can be resolved on behalf of the service subscriber.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for service management. A service management system can include a name resolution adapter disposed in a PSTN. The name resolution adapter can be communicatively linked to a LIDB also disposed within the PSTN. Notably, an enterprise application can be configured to manage service subscriptions and can enjoy communicative couplings both to the name resolution adapter over a data communications network and also to a switch disposed in the PSTN. Finally, service renewal logic can be associated with the enterprise application and programmed to renew service subscriptions for calling ones of subscribers to the service subscriptions based upon identifying data for the calling ones of the subscribers as received in the enterprise application over the data communications network from the name resolution adapter.