Abstract: A client-side signaling mechanism that allows a client to control how a telephone call is handled on a call server. The client user can create call routing rules on the client device using a client control component that manages session protocol messages. Once created, the call routing rule(s) created on the client are transmitted to the call server where a call routing component of the call server processes the rule(s) for a call related to the client. When the server receives the rule(s) and determines that the rule(s) are related to an existing call (incoming or currently in-process), the server halts current normal server rules processing for that call and executes the client-created rule(s). In one example, SIP session messages are employed for client control of server-side call forwarding.

Abstract: Consultation architecture that allows a call assistant to use modes of consultation with the call recipient other than voice calls or vocal contact. The receptionist can place the incoming call (or message) on hold and send an instant message (IM) to the call recipient that informs the recipient about the call and/or who is calling. The recipient can then acknowledge and respond via the IM or another mode, and agree to accept the call, refuse the call, or request the call be routed to another destination, for example. Other non-voice consultation modes include paging technology by sending a short page to the call recipient, sending an SMS (short message service) or MMS (multimedia messaging service) message to the call recipient, and/or sending an e-mail message to the call recipient that provides information about the call and/or the caller.

Abstract: A system controls forwarding of an incoming call. The system receives the incoming call directed to an original recipient. Forwarding settings are processed for routing the incoming call. In some embodiments, the forwarding settings may include a listing of at least one group having more than one member and at least one forwarding instruction based on the at least one group. In these embodiments, the incoming call is forwarded according to the at least one forwarding instruction to at least one first member and at least one second member of the at least one group. The forwarding settings may be based on a user's presence settings, subject to categorization rules, and/or utilize protocol extensions. In some embodiments, the system can map communication routing scenarios to a markup document, such as an XML document, that the system can use to implement team or forwarding call rules. In some embodiments, client devices can set preamble routing independent from the communication server.

Abstract: This document describes tools capable of enabling participants in a real-time, text-messaging conference to access text messages that they have missed, whether that be because they joined the conference late, were disconnected, or did not receive a message due to some sort of failure. Assume, for example, that a conference participant on a wireless laptop does not receive a text message because of a wireless connection failure. The tools, in one embodiment, enable the participant's laptop to notice that the text message was not received, ask for the missing text message, and receive the missing text message. The participant's laptop may then display the missing text message thereby allowing the participant to catch up with the conference and so not lose the context of the ongoing text-messaging conversation.

Abstract: A hierarchical address book for an organization is implemented where employees are represented by user objects and departments are represented by department objects. Computer-readable media include executable instructions for displaying and navigating the hierarchical address book. Computer-readable media also include executable instructions for ordering a list of recipients of an electronic mail message as a function of the seniority rating of an object in the hierarchical address book.

Abstract: A user of a client computer submits a directory request to a server executing a server email application. The server email application is responsive to the directory request to identify a custom directory containing contact data for one or more individuals. The server email application determines whether to transfer a written form of the contact data, or whether to transfer both written and phonetic forms of the contact data to the client computer. The server email application indexes the contact data, prior to transfer, based on the written form when only the written form of contact data is being transferred to the client computer, and indexes the contact data based on both the phonetic and written forms when the written and phonetic forms of the contact data are both being transferred to the client computer.

Abstract: Users from one forest can share PIM data with users from another forest by replicating user account information from one forest into the other forest, including SIDs for each user account (referred to herein as a synchronization process). Using this replicated information, the sharing user wishing to share PIM data across a forest boundary can set a permission to allow the cross-forest user to access the PIM data. The sharing user adds the SID of the cross-forest user to the ACL of the sharing user's mailbox. When the cross-forest user wishes to access the PIM data from the sharing user, the cross-forest user's PIM application obtains the mailbox identifier information of the sharing user from the user's forest. With this mailbox information, the cross-forest user's PIM application can then send a request to the sharing user's mailbox server to access the PIM data.

Abstract: Graphical visual representations of electronic business cards may be generated from associated contact file information. Electronic business cards may be sent and received over digital media. Contacts information associated with received electronic business cards may be used for adding to or updating information contained in a recipient's electronic contact files.

Abstract: Graphical visual representations of electronic business cards may be generated from associated contact file information. Electronic business cards may be sent and received over digital media. Contacts information associated with received electronic business cards may be used for adding to or updating information contained in a recipient's electronic contact files.

Abstract: Graphical visual representations of electronic business cards may be generated from associated contact file information. Electronic business cards may be sent and received over digital media. Contacts information associated with received electronic business cards may be used for adding to or updating information contained in a recipient's electronic contact files.