Abstract: Methods and systems obtain profile information from individuals using automation to select and provide the questions that are given to the individual. The answers the individuals provide to the questions can then be used to generate the profile information. Subsequent questions are selected and presented according to analysis of the previous answers. The exchange of the questions and answers occurs over a communications network and may take the form of emails, web page interfaces, wireless data messages, or verbal communication over a voiced call. The answers are analyzed to determine certain characteristics, such as the personality type, mood, and gender of the individual. The subsequent questions are selected based on the characteristics that are found from the answers to facilitate the information exchange between the automated system and the individual.

Abstract: Methods and systems obtain profile information from individuals using automation to select and provide the questions that are given to the individual. The answers the individuals provide to the questions can then be used to generate the profile information. Subsequent questions are selected and presented according to analysis of the previous answers. The exchange of the questions and answers occurs over a communications network and may take the form of emails, web page interfaces, wireless data messages, or verbal communication over a voiced call. The answers are analyzed to determine certain characteristics, such as the personality type, mood, and gender of the individual. The subsequent questions are selected based on the characteristics that are found from the answers to facilitate the information exchange between the automated system and the individual.

Abstract: Methods and systems obtain profile information from individuals using automation to select and provide the questions that are given to the individual. The answers the individuals provide to the questions can then be used to generate the profile information. Subsequent questions are selected and presented according to analysis of the previous answers. The exchange of the questions and answers occurs over a communications network and may take the form of emails, web page interfaces, wireless data messages, or verbal communication over a voiced call. The answers are analyzed to determine certain characteristics, such as the personality type, mood, and gender of the individual. The subsequent questions are selected based on the characteristics that are found from the answers to facilitate the information exchange between the automated system and the individual.

Abstract: A method of assisting a customer in making purchases includes receiving a voiced call from the customer at an automated voice services node. Voice instructions from the customer are received through the received voiced call at the voice services node. The voice instructions pertain to the purchase to be made for the customer. The voice instructions are interpreted to generate instruction data. A stored customer profile is located. The customer profile provides governing data for purchases for the customer. An automated purchase is initiated over a communications network in accordance with the instruction data and customer profile.

Abstract: Methods and systems obtain profile information from individuals using automation to select and provide the questions that are given to the individual. The answers the individuals provide to the questions can then be used to generate the profile information. Subsequent questions are selected and presented according to analysis of the previous answers. The exchange of the questions and answers occurs over a communications network and may take the form of emails, web page interfaces, wireless data messages, or verbal communication over a voiced call. The answers are analyzed to determine certain characteristics, such as the personality type, mood, and gender of the individual. The subsequent questions are selected based on the characteristics that are found from the answers to facilitate the information exchange between the automated system and the individual.

Abstract: Methods and systems obtain profile information from individuals using automation to select and provide the questions that are given to the individual. The answers the individuals provide to the questions can then be used to generate the profile information. Subsequent questions are selected and presented according to analysis of the previous answers. The exchange of the questions and answers occurs over a communications network and may take the form of emails, web page interfaces, wireless data messages, or verbal communication over a voiced call. The answers are analyzed to determine certain characteristics, such as the personality type, mood, and gender of the individual. The subsequent questions are selected based on the characteristics that are found from the answers to facilitate the information exchange between the automated system and the individual.

Abstract: A method of assisting a customer in making purchases includes receiving a voiced call from the customer at an automated voice services node. Voice instructions from the customer are received through the received voiced call at the voice services node. The voice instructions pertain to the purchase to be made for the customer. The voice instructions are interpreted to generate instruction data. A stored customer profile is located. The customer profile provides governing data for purchases for the customer. An automated purchase is initiated over a communications network in accordance with the instruction data and customer profile.

Abstract: Methods and systems assist customers in making purchases for goods and/or services by automating the purchase process while providing the customer the ability to speak the purchasing instructions. The customer may place a voice call into an automated service and verbally request that a purchase of a general nature be made. The verbal request is converted into instruction data. A customer profile is referenced to determine information such as price and brand requirements that govern purchases to be made on behalf of the customer, and a purchase is initiated according to the instruction data and the customer profile. The automated service may, in addition or in the alternative, perform purchase option searches in accordance with the customer profile. The results of the purchase option search are provided to the customer so that the customer may then provide a verbal instruction that a purchase should be made.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for utilizing calling party personal calendaring and scheduling information to facilitate enhanced directory assistance information. After obtaining a directory number for a called party from a subscriber's address book or from a directory assistance service, a voice services node queries a personal scheduling calendar of the called party to determine whether the called party is currently located at a location other than the location accessible by the obtained directory number. If so, the voice services node may obtain an alternate directory number for the current location of the called party, and the voice services node may automatically place a call to the called party via the alternate directory number or provide the alternate directory number to the subscriber.

Abstract: A system for supporting a plurality of different applications utilizing a next generation network having a network layer includes an application services middleware between the applications and the network layer that includes a plurality of common infrastructure elements usable by the different applications. The common infrastructure elements provide both services associated with use of the network and services that are not associated with use of the network. At least one of the common infrastructure elements is an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) element.

Abstract: A ring tone service is provided to a called party upon receiving a call from a calling party at a device of the called party, where the device annunciates the call according to a particular ring tone as determined by the called party. A network-based call control manager receives a notification that the calling party is calling the called party, and the call control manager queries a network-based ring tone manager to determine the particular ring tone. The ring tone manager notifies the call control manager of the determined ring tone, and the call control manager sets up the call to be annunciated at the device of the called party according to the determined ring tone.

Abstract: Methods and systems obtain profile information from individuals using automation to select and provide the questions that are given to the individual. The answers the individuals provide to the questions can then be used to generate the profile information. Subsequent questions are selected and presented according to analysis of the previous answers. The exchange of the questions and answers occurs over a communications network and may take the form of emails, web page interfaces, wireless data messages, or verbal communication over a voiced call. The answers are analyzed to determine certain characteristics, such as the personality type, mood, and gender of the individual. The subsequent questions are selected based on the characteristics that are found from the answers to facilitate the information exchange between the automated system and the individual.

Abstract: A method of operating a data network may include establishing a data path through the data network between a routing gateway for a subscriber of the data network and a service provider providing a data service. Moreover, the data service may be provided for use at the routing gateway over the data path during a data session. A request may be received from the service provider wherein the request defines a data flow characteristic for the data path between the routing gateway and the service provider providing the data service during the data session. The data flow characteristic may then be transmitted to a node along the data path between the routing gateway and the service provider for enforcement of the data flow characteristic for the data path at the node. More particularly, the data session may be a point-to-point protocol data session. Related methods, data networks, data service providers, routing gateways, and computer program products are also discussed.

Abstract: Methods and systems assist customers in making purchases for goods and/or services by automating the purchase process while providing the customer the ability to speak the purchasing instructions. The customer may place a voice call into an automated service and verbally request that a purchase of a general nature be made. The verbal request is converted into instruction data. A customer profile is referenced to determine information such as price and brand requirements that govern purchases to be made on behalf of the customer, and a purchase is initiated according to the instruction data and the customer profile. The automated service may, in addition or in the alternative, perform purchase option searches in accordance with the customer profile. The results of the purchase option search are provided to the customer so that the customer may then provide a verbal instruction that a purchase should be made.