Abstract: A method of testing a voice response system can include establishing a communications link between a test system and the voice response system, sending a signal to the test system over the voice link indicating that a voice prompt is to follow, and sending the voice prompt to the test system over the voice link. A system having means for performing the various steps disclosed herein and a machine readable storage for causing a machine to perform the steps described herein are also provided. The present invention relieves a tester or test system from having to know or be programmed with the operational details of a VRS, to adequately test the functionality of the VRS, as the VRS itself can provide the necessary test data to the test system.

Abstract: A method for receiving and presenting interactive voice response data can include sending a telephony connectivity request for establishing a voice channel connection between an originating device and a interactive voice response system. Prior to establishing the voice channel connection, an interactive voice response menu associated with said interactive voice response system can be received via a ringback channel. At least a portion the interactive voice response menu can be presented to a user of the originating device.

Abstract: A system and method for processing caller information across heterogeneous networks is provided. An enterprise application receives a message from a name resolution adapter over a computer network. The message includes caller attributes and port location information. The enterprise application uses the caller attributes to retrieve a caller profile. The enterprise application determines whether to accept the call using the caller profile and whether a call exists on a telephone port corresponding to the port location information. Once enterprise application decides to accept the call, the enterprise application retrieves service subscriptions corresponding to the caller and processes the call using the caller's service subscriptions.

Abstract: A method of deriving audio content from visual content can include modifying a visual markup language document requested by a client computer system to specify a control for generating an audio markup language document version of the visual markup language document. The modified visual markup language document can be provided to the client computer system. Responsive to a selection of the control, an audio markup language document version of the visual markup language document can be generated. The audio markup language document can be saved for subsequent presentation through an audio interface.

Abstract: A method of communication among telephony services using an event context cache can include, in a messaging telephony service, receiving a telephony event from a node in the public switched telephony network specifying a called directory number, a calling directory number, and service context data. The service context data can be stored as an entry within the event context cache. The event context cache can be accessible by at least one other telephony service. The entry can be associated with a key for the event context cache. The key can be specified by the called directory number and the calling directory number.

Abstract: A method for conveying digital information can include initiating a telephone connection to a receiving device. Prior to establishing a voice channel connection with the receiving device, supplemental data can be digitally encoded into a CNG transmission. The CNG transmission can be conveyed via a CNG channel, wherein the CNG channel is capable of transporting a facsimile calling tone signal.

Abstract: A call conferencing method using a voice browser can include establishing a voice browsing session between a calling party and the voice browser. An inbound call from an additional party can be received and the additional party can be conferenced into the voice browsing session. The conference can provide a voice communications link between the calling party and the additional party.

Abstract: A method for providing dynamic ringback services can include receiving a connection signal from an originating device and determining a receiving device specified by the connection signal. The method can access receiving device specific information and can dynamically generate a ringback transmission responsive to at least a portion of the receiving device specific information. The method can send this ringback transmission to the originating device before a connection is established between the originating device and the receiving device.

Abstract: A method of determining the accuracy of a speech recognition system can include identifying from a log of the speech recognition system a text result and attributes associated with the text result. An audio representation from which the text result was derived can be accessed. The audio representation can be processed with a reference speech recognition engine to determine a second text result. The text result can be compared with the second text result to determine an accuracy of the speech recognition system.

Abstract: A method of aggregating interactive voice response services from a plurality of interactive voice response systems can include, for at least one caller, storing service information for a plurality of services within an interactive voice response system. Each service can be accessible through a corresponding one of the plurality of interactive voice response systems. The method further can include receiving a call from the caller and receiving an input from the caller over the call, wherein the input identifies at least one of the plurality of services and corresponding interactive voice response systems. The method also can include accessing the interactive voice response system corresponding to the identified service on behalf of the caller, retrieving information from the interactive voice response system, and providing the retrieved information to the caller.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for managing subscriber services. The system can include a service renewal system configured to renew service subscriptions based upon identifying information associated with the service subscriptions. The system also can include one or more subscribers calling a service renewal system over a PSTN to renew respective service subscriptions. Finally, the system can include logic disposed within the PSTN to obtain the identifying information and to provide the obtained identifying information to the service renewal system.

Abstract: A system and method for providing caller information across heterogeneous networks is provided. A Name Resolution Adapter (NRA) receives a message from a destination central office which includes a caller's telephone number and a call recipient's telephone number. The NRA retrieves a call recipient contract and caller authorization entries, and identifies caller fields that the call recipient is authorized to receive. The NRA includes the identified caller fields in a message to a Service Control Point (SCP), whereby the SCP retrieves caller attributes corresponding to the caller fields from a Line Information Database (LIDB). The SCP forwards the caller attributes to the NRA. In turn, the NRA includes the caller attributes in a message and forwards the message to the call recipient over a computer network. The call recipient processes a corresponding telephone call using the caller attributes that are included in the message.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for managing delivery service instructions. A method for managing delivery service instructions can include receiving a telephone call from a customer through a PSTN linkage. Identifying information for the customer can be retrieved through a data communications network linkage without identifying said customer using data derived from the telephone call. As such, the retrieved identifying information can be correlated with the telephone call. Finally, access to apply delivery service management instructions received over the PSTN linkage can be authenticated based upon the identifying information.

Abstract: Within an interactive voice response system, a method of aggregating conference calls can include registering a caller with the interactive voice response system, accessing a calendar system used by the registered caller to determine teleconference data specifying at least a telephone number for a scheduled conference call, and, at approximately a time of the conference call, automatically calling the telephone number for the conference call. The method also can include establishing contact with the registered caller and joining the registered caller with the conference call.

Abstract: A method for enhancing chat sessions to include a server based mute capability. The method can include the step of a chat server receiving a mute indicator from at least one client participating in a chat session established by the chat server. The chat server can determine from the mute indicator at least one designated participant that is to be muted. The chat server can mute communications between the designated participant and the indicator conveying participant without affecting chat server actions related to other participants of the chat session.

Abstract: A communication method can include the step of establishing a communication session between two endpoints based upon the real-time transport protocol (RTP). During the communication session, discrete packets containing digitally encoded audio can be exchanged between the two endpoints resulting in a continuous audio flow being established in real-time between the two endpoints. During the communication session, one or more of the two endpoints can convey RTP data to a remotely located RTP audio processor. The RTP data can include information necessary for the RTP audio processor to establish an audio stream with the one of the two endpoints that did not convey the RTP data to the RTP audio processor. The RTP audio processor can establish the audio stream without terminating the communication session between the two endpoints.

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 for providing call authorization within a telephony network can include receiving a telephony connectivity request for establishing a telephony voice channel between the originating device and a receiving device. The specified receiving device can be determined and receiving device specific information that includes an authorization requirement can be accessed. A connection between the originating device and the receiving device can be established responsive to whether the authorization code satisfies the authorization requirement.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for name-alias based delivery of services through the public switched telephone network (PSTN). A method for resolving caller identity in a PSTN can include detecting an attempt to establish a telephone call between a calling party and a called party and prompting the calling party from within the PSTN for clarifying information. An alias for the calling party can be resolved based upon the clarifying information. Subsequently, the alias can be forwarded to the called party for use by the called party in identifying the calling party at the time of the telephone call.

Abstract: A method and machine readable storage for facilitating communications between a user and an interactive voice response (IVR) application. The method includes the step of configuring to be displayed on a wireless communications device having a graphical user interface (GUI) at least one menu which includes user selectable options correlating to available IVR options. Responsive to a communications link being established between the wireless communications device and the IVR application, the menu is forwarded to the wireless communications device for presentation to the user on the GUI. A user selection is received via the GUI and an IVR operation is performed corresponding to the menu selection.