Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to generate a software agent that is initiated to continue the business process flow during a conference. Upon initiating a teleconference in response to a selection associated with the business process or predefined rule associated with the business process that requires a conference, an instance of a software agent is instantiated and associated with the teleconference. The software agent may be a sub-process of the conference bridge that conducts the teleconference or a separate process that interacts with the conference bridge as another party to the teleconference. The software agent is initiated with information about the business process step that requires an action or a decision. During the teleconference, the software agent listens for a command from one of the parties and acts on any command given. The commands can send another event or action back to a business process application to continue or complete the business process.

Abstract: A system for contacting a first user using a packet-switched communication is provided that includes: (a) a network server 176 operable to receive, by means of a packet switched network, a request from a second user for graphical information associated with the first user; and (b) a resource manager 184 operable (i) to provide the second user with the graphical information, wherein the graphical information comprises one or more fields for receiving an inputted text message for the first user and a plurality of communication options for transmission of the inputted text message to the first user, the plurality of communication options being a plurality of an email, a facsimile, a voice mail, an instant message, a pager, and a telephone call and (ii), when the second user selects one or more of the plurality of communication options, provide the text message to the first user by means of the selected one or more communication options.