Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided that evaluate a number of different sources of presence information to determine a presence status of a user. The presence status of a user is determined by obtaining presence information from a plurality of presence data stores; translating the obtained presence information from at least one of the presence data stores into a standard format; and determining the presence status of the user based on the obtained presence information. Presence information can also be based on user-specified rules. Presence information is obtained from a number of presence data stores and the presence status of a user is determined based on one or more rules that are applied to the obtained presence information. The rules may include, for example, aggregation rules that determines the presence status based on one or more of the obtained presence information or filter rules that determine who may receive the presence status.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivering voice mail messages to one or more intended recipients with an indication of the presence of the sender. A message recipient can automatically respond to a voice mail message using a desired form of communication. The presence server can provide presence information across domains so that a user in one domain can automatically obtain presence information and respond to a user in another domain. A client-side presence enabled voice mail application process (i) retrieves voice mail messages from a voice mail server of a user, (ii) queries a presence server to determine the presence of the sender of each retrieved message, and (iii) presents the retrieved voice mail message(s) to the recipient with an indication of the presence of the sender.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided that evaluate a number of different sources of presence information to determine a presence status of a user. The presence status of a user is determined by obtaining presence information from a plurality of presence data stores; translating the obtained presence information from at least one of the presence data stores into a standard format; and determining the presence status of the user based on the obtained presence information. Presence information can also be based on user-specified rules. Presence information is obtained from a number of presence data stores and the presence status of a user is determined based on one or more rules that are applied to the obtained presence information. The rules may include, for example, aggregation rules that determines the presence status based on one or more of the obtained presence information or filter rules that determine who may receive the presence status.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided that evaluate a number of different sources of presence information to determine a presence status of a user. The presence status of a user is determined by obtaining presence information from a plurality of presence data stores; translating the obtained presence information from at least one of the presence data stores into a standard format; and determining the presence status of the user based on the obtained presence information. Presence information can also be based on user-specified rules. Presence information is obtained from a number of presence data stores and the presence status of a user is determined based on one or more rules that are applied to the obtained presence information. The rules may include, for example, aggregation rules that determines the presence status based on one or more of the obtained presence information or filter rules that determine who may receive the presence status.

Abstract: A process for authenticating a user by certificate using an out-of-band message exchange is provided. The authentication of the user may be performed in addition to initial authentication procedures. The certificate-based authentication of the user may provide for a more secure mechanism for confirming the identity of the user and may be used for specific applications requiring such higher security provisions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided that evaluate a number of different sources of presence information to determine a presence status of a user. The presence status of a user is determined by obtaining presence information from a plurality of presence data stores; translating the obtained presence information from at least one of said presence data stores into a standard format; and determining the presence status of the user based on the obtained presence information. Presence information can also be based on user-specified rules. Presence information is obtained from a number of presence data stores and the presence status of a user is determined based on one or more rules that are applied to the obtained presence information. The rules may include, for example, aggregation rules that determines the presence status based on one or more of the obtained presence information or filter rules that determine who may receive the presence status.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivering enhanced messages to a calling party. A message document address is provided to the calling party that is a pointer or hyperlink to a message document containing a message for the calling party, such as a uniform resource locator (URL) identifying an Internet document. The calling party may receive a message, e.g., when the called party is not available or containing a list of user-specific menu options in an IVR system. The message document can be (i) a static document created; (ii) a default document created; or (iii) a dynamically generated document based on one or more rules that alter the content of the document based on various characteristics of the calling party or the call (or both). The presentation of the message document address to the user can be conditioned upon the satisfaction of one or more rules, such as when the called party is unavailable or based on one or more predefined characteristics of the calling party or the call (or both).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for user authentication and authorization for accessing resources on data servers coupled to an application server. A system authenticator is used to validate user authorization information, and an authenticator of a respective data server issued to validate user authentication information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided that evaluate a number of different sources of presence information to determine a presence status of a user. The presence status of a user is determined by obtaining presence information from a plurality of presence data stores; translating the obtained presence information from at least one of said presence data stores into a standard format; and determining the presence status of the user based on the obtained presence information. Presence information can also be based on user-specified rules. Presence information is obtained from a number of presence data stores and the presence status of a user is determined based on one or more rules that are applied to the obtained presence information. The rules may include, for example, aggregation rules that determines the presence status based on one or more of the obtained presence information or filter rules that determine who may receive the presence status.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivering voice mail messages to one or more intended recipients with an indication of the presence of the sender. A message recipient can automatically respond to a voice mail message using a desired form of communication. The presence server can provide presence information across domains so that a user in one domain can automatically obtain presence information and respond to a user in another domain. A client-side presence enabled voice mail application process (i) retrieves voice mail messages from a voice mail server of a user, (ii) queries a presence server to determine the presence of the sender of each retrieved message, and (iii) presents the retrieved voice mail message(s) to the recipient with an indication of the presence of the sender.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivering electronic mail messages to one or more intended recipients with an indication of the presence of the sender. A message recipient can automatically respond to a text-based email message using a non-textual form of communication The presence server can provide presence information across domains so that a user in one domain can automatically obtain presence information and respond to a user in another domain. A client-side presence enabled email application process (i) retrieves email messages from an email server of a user, (ii) queries a presence server to determine the presence of the sender of each retrieved email message, and (iii) presents the retrieved email message(s) to the recipient with an indication of the presence of the sender.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivering messages to one or more intended recipients based on the presence, preferences or location of the recipient(s). Text-based messages, such as instant messages, can be delivered to one or more intended recipients by means of (i) a voice call to a voice-capable device associated with the recipients; (ii) a voice mail message to a voice mail box associated with the recipients; or (iii) a text or voice message, as appropriate, that is delivered upon the availability of one or more intended recipients. An instant message originating as a text message is converted to speech, if necessary, before being delivered to the intended recipient. The speech corresponding to the text of the message is played out once the call is answered or once the voice mail message is retrieved. The invention thus enables the delivery of messages to be routed and scheduled based on the location and availability of the intended recipient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivering enhanced caller identification services to a called party. Caller ID information is extended to include a user document address that is a pointer or hyperlink to a user document containing additional information about the calling party. The user document address may be, for example, a uniform resource locator (URL) identifying an Internet document or a database address identifying a database document or entry. The user document generally contains information that the calling party would like to be presented to the called party and may be stored by the called party or accessed over a network. The user document can be (i) a static document; (ii) a document created in accordance with predefined default document content rules; or (iii) a dynamically generated document based on one or more rules that alter the content of the document.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivering enhanced messages to a calling party. A message document address is provided to the calling party that is a pointer or hyperlink to a message document containing a message for the calling party, such as a uniform resource locator (URL) identifying an Internet document. The calling party may receive a message, e.g., when the called party is not available or containing a list of user-specific menu options in an IVR system. The message document can be (i) a static document created; (ii) a default document created; or (iii) a dynamically generated document based on one or more rules that alter the content of the document based on various characteristics of the calling party or the call (or both). The presentation of the message document address to the user can be conditioned upon the satisfaction of one or more rules, such as when the called party is unavailable or based on one or more predefined characteristics of the calling party or the call (or both).