Abstract: The disclosure relates to a system for dynamic association of a computational device, which includes at least one communication interface and a control system coupled to the at least one communication interface with a communication device. A request to authenticate an association between a computational device and a communication device is received by the control system and a communication connection is established with the communication device. A request for authentication information is sent via the communication connection to the communication device. A response is received from the communication device and information determined from the response is forwarded.

Abstract: The present invention allows for dynamic association of a computational device, such as a personal computer or personal digital assistant, with a telephone terminal. A computer-telephone adaptor or like function implemented in a telephony switch or other telephony device will receive authentication indicia. The authentication indicia may be provided by the computational device that is to be associated with the telephone terminal, or through other means. The authentication indicia may be provided by a user or generated by the computational device or by other means. To confirm the association, the user must enter confirmatory authentication indicia corresponding to the original authentication indicia through the telephone terminal.

Abstract: A source conference function is provided for each source device, and a destination conference function is provided for each destination device. Any given user terminal may act as both a destination device when receiving media content and a source device when sending media content to facilitate bidirectional conferencing. The source device generates media content, which is sent to the associated source conference function. In general, the source conference function identifies destination conference functions to which the media content should be delivered, and delivers the media content to the identified destination conference functions. Any given destination conference function receives the media content from this and other source conference functions. The media content received from all or select of the source conference functions may be processed by the destination conference function as desired, and then mixed together to form destination media content, which is delivered to the destination device.

Abstract: When a damaged packet has been forwarded to or towards a destination terminal, a forwarding device or a destination terminal will determine if the packet is damaged, and if it is damaged, determine whether the content of the packet is time-sensitive. If the content is time-sensitive, the damage to the packet is assessed, and if possible, an attempt to repair the damage is made. Repair may include correcting the damaged data or packet, deciding to use the damaged data because the damage is minimal, or replacing all or a part of the damaged data with a normalized set of data. If repair is not possible and replacement of the damaged portion is not available or desirable, the packet is discarded.

Abstract: A method and system for concurrently monitoring contact center agents. A user interface executes on a supervisor station and displays multiple agent identifiers, including a first agent identifier and a second agent identifier, on a display device. The supervisor station provides to a three-dimensional spatial audio engine (3DSAE) first audio attribute data identifying a location of the first agent identifier in the user interface with respect to a supervisor reference position, the first audio attribute data including first audio direction data and first audio distance data. The supervisor station receives from the 3DSAE first voice signals corresponding to the first agent identifier, wherein the first voice signals include aural characteristics based on the first audio attribute data, and presents the first voice signals to an output port.

Abstract: A source conference function is provided for each source device, and a destination conference function is provided for each destination device. Any given user terminal may act as both a destination device when receiving media content and a source device when sending media content to facilitate bidirectional conferencing. The source device generates media content, which is sent to the associated source conference function. In general, the source conference function identifies destination conference functions to which the media content should be delivered, and delivers the media content to the identified destination conference functions. Any given destination conference function receives the media content from this and other source conference functions. The media content received from all or select of the source conference functions may be processed by the destination conference function as desired, and then mixed together to form destination media content, which is delivered to the destination device.

Abstract: When a damaged packet has been forwarded to or towards a destination terminal, a forwarding device or a destination terminal will determine if the packet is damaged, and if it is damaged, determine whether the content of the packet is time-sensitive. If the content is time-sensitive, the damage to the packet is assessed, and if possible, an attempt to repair the damage is made. Repair may include correcting the damaged data or packet, deciding to use the damaged data because the damage is minimal, or replacing all or a part of the damaged data with a normalized set of data. If repair is not possible and replacement of the damaged portion is not available or desirable, the packet is discarded.

Abstract: A source conference function is provided for each source device, and a destination conference function is provided for each destination device. Any given user terminal may act as both a destination device when receiving media content and a source device when sending media content to facilitate bidirectional conferencing. The source device generates media content, which is sent to the associated source conference function. In general, the source conference function identifies destination conference functions to which the media content should be delivered, and delivers the media content to the identified destination conference functions. Any given destination conference function receives the media content from this and other source conference functions. The media content received from all or select of the source conference functions may be processed by the destination conference function as desired, and then mixed together to form destination media content, which is delivered to the destination device.

Abstract: A method and device for presenting contextual data to a participant in a collaboration. A first computing device determines that a first participant associated with the first computing device is participating in a communications session with a second participant associated with a second computing device. The first computing device determines a first plurality of contextual keys. The first computing device receives a second plurality of contextual keys from the second computing device. The first computing device identifies a plurality of contextual items based on the first plurality of contextual keys and the second plurality of contextual keys, and presents a user interface depicting a plurality of contextual item references, wherein each contextual item reference corresponds to one of the plurality of contextual items.

Abstract: The present invention allows a communication client to send a session request to initiate a session with a receiving communication client, wherein the session request includes additional information configured to allow the receiving communication client to take an action in association with the communication session. The additional information may include context indicia, which may identify an association related to the subject matter of the session, or a specific instruction to take the action in association with the communication session.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for providing at least one availability metaphor representing communications availability of at least one entity in an interactive map are disclosed. In one embodiment, a request to provide a map comprising at least one availability metaphor representing an availability state of an entity for communications may be received. For the at least one availability metaphor, an availability state of the entity associated with the at least one availability metaphor may be determined. A modified instance of the map comprised of the at least one availability metaphor may be generated based on the determined availability state of the entity associated with the at least one availability metaphor. The at least one availability metaphor of the modified instance of the map may represent the availability state of the associated entity. The modified instance of the map may be transmitted for rendering.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for providing at least one availability metaphor of at least one real world entity in a virtual world are disclosed. In one embodiment, a request to provide a virtual world model comprising at least one availability metaphor may be received. For each at least one availability metaphor, an availability state of a real world entity associated with the availability metaphor may be determined. A modified instance of the virtual world model comprised of the at least one availability metaphor may be generated based on the determined at least one availability state of the at least one real world entity associated with the at least one availability metaphor. Each availability metaphor of the modified instance of the virtual world model may represent the availability state of the associated real world entity. The modified instance of the virtual world model may be transmitted for rendering.

Abstract: The present invention allows a communication client to send a session request to initiate a session with a receiving communication client, wherein the session request includes additional information configured to allow the receiving communication client to take an action in association with the communication session. The additional information may include context indicia, which may identify an association related to the subject matter of the session, or a specific instruction to take the action in association with the communication session.

Abstract: A method and device for presenting contextual data to a participant in a collaboration. A first computing device determines that a first participant associated with the first computing device is participating in a communications session with a second participant associated with a second computing device. The first computing device determines a first plurality of contextual keys. The first computing device receives a second plurality of contextual keys from the second computing device. The first computing device identifies a plurality of contextual items based on the first plurality of contextual keys and the second plurality of contextual keys, and presents a user interface depicting a plurality of contextual item references, wherein each contextual item reference corresponds to one of the plurality of contextual items.

Abstract: The present invention allows for dynamic association of a computational device, such as a personal computer or personal digital assistant, with a telephone terminal. A computer-telephone adaptor or like function implemented in a telephony switch or other telephony device will receive authentication indicia. The authentication indicia may be provided by the computational device that is to be associated with the telephone terminal, or through other means. The authentication indicia may be provided by a user or generated by the computational device or by other means. To confirm the association, the user must enter confirmatory authentication indicia corresponding to the original authentication indicia through the telephone terminal.

Abstract: A method and system for concurrently monitoring contact center agents. A user interface executes on a supervisor station and displays multiple agent identifiers, including a first agent identifier and a second agent identifier, on a display device. The supervisor station provides to a three-dimensional spatial audio engine (3DSAE) first audio attribute data identifying a location of the first agent identifier in the user interface with respect to a supervisor reference position, the first audio attribute data including first audio direction data and first audio distance data. The supervisor station receives from the 3DSAE first voice signals corresponding to the first agent identifier, wherein the first voice signals include aural characteristics based on the first audio attribute data, and presents the first voice signals to an output port.

Abstract: The present invention allows for dynamic association of a computational device, such as a personal computer or personal digital assistant, with a telephone terminal. A computer-telephone adaptor or like function implemented in a telephony switch or other telephony device will receive authentication indicia. The authentication indicia may be provided by the computational device that is to be associated with the telephone terminal, or through other means. The authentication indicia may be provided by a user or generated by the computational device or by other means. To confirm the association, the user must enter confirmatory authentication indicia corresponding to the original authentication indicia through the telephone terminal.

Abstract: The present invention creates a buddy list in association with an information vehicle, such as a word processing document, presentation document, or email. The buddy list is created from contacts associated with the information vehicle, and includes communication information such as directory numbers or communication addresses, which are sufficient to establish communications with the contacts. Accordingly, the buddy list may be displayed to a user, and upon the selection of one or more contacts, communication sessions may be established with the selected contact or contacts. Presence information bearing on the relative availability of the contacts may be supported in the buddy list, such that the user can readily determine whether a particular contact is available or determine the best way in which to communicate with the particular contact by viewing the buddy list. The presence information may be periodically updated or may be updated when a particular contact is selected.

Abstract: The present invention allows a first communication client, which is initiating a communication session, to include admission information in a session request used to establish the communication session in a regular call or conference scenario. The session request is intended to trigger a communication session between the first communication client and another communication client, which is associated with a telephony endpoint or a conferencing system having a communication client. The receiving communication client will use the admission information provided in the session request to determine whether the session is authorized. If authorized, the receiving communication client will either establish the communication session or allow the communication session to be established, as the situation dictates.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates the forwarding of damaged packets, when the packets are carrying a certain type of content such as streaming media or other time-sensitive information where data integrity is less important than timely delivery. Once a packet is received, a determination is made as to whether the packet has been damaged. If the packet is damaged, an attempt is made to determine the type of content being carried by the packet and then a decision is made as to whether to forward the packet toward its destination or discard the packet, based on the type of content and potentially the integrity of the packet. Once a damaged packet has been discovered and a decision has been made to route the packet toward the destination terminal, the packet may be forwarded along a normal path or sent over an alternative path that is better suited for handling damaged packets.