Abstract: Access devices using billing agents and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises capturing, at an access device, a communication to be transmitted from the access device. The method further comprises determining billing information about the communication and transmitting, from the wireless communications device, the billing information to a billing system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for providing multi-media conferencing. According to one embodiment, a method for providing a multi-media conference can comprise receiving a request to participate in the conference from a first client via a signaling protocol. For example, the signaling protocol comprises Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) or another signaling protocol. The first client and a media server adapted to support the conference can be invited to join the conference via third-party call control of the signaling protocol. The method can also include assigning a conference identifier to the conference. In such a case, inviting the first client and the media server can comprise sending invitation messages to each of the first client and the media server wherein the invitation messages include the conference identifier.

Abstract: A system and method for providing fast and efficient conversation navigation via a hierarchical structure (structure skeleton) which fully describes functions and services supported by a dialog (conversational) system. In one aspect, a conversational system and method is provided to pre-load dialog menus and target addresses to their associated dialog managing procedures in order to handle multiple or complex modes, contexts or applications. For instance, a content server (web site) (106) can download a skeleton or tree structure (109) describing the content (page) (107) or service provided by the server (106) when the client (100) connects to the server (106). The skeleton is hidden (not spoken) to the user but the user can advance to a page of interest, or to a particular dialog service, by uttering a voice command which is recognized by the conversational system reacting appropriately (as per the user's command) using the information contained within the skeleton.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for improving the efficiency of policy enforcement. According to one embodiment, a method for improving efficiency during enforcement of a policy can comprise determining a topology for the policy. A plurality of equivalent topologies for the policy can then be determined. A cost function can be applied to each of the plurality of equivalent topologies and one of the plurality of equivalent topologies can be selected based on the cost function.

Abstract: A system and method for providing conversational (multi-modal) access to information over a communications network from any location, at any time, utilizing any type of client/access, through a conversational (multi-modal) portal. In one aspect, a conversational portal comprises a conversational (multi-modal) browser that is capable of conducting multi-modal dialog with client/access devices having varying input/output (I/O) modalities. The conversational browser retrieves information (such as content pages, applications) from an information source (e.g., content server) in response to a request from a requesting client/access device and then serves the retrieved information to the requesting client/access device in a format that is compatible with the I/O modalities of the requesting client/access device. In another aspect, the conversational portal provides multimedia access on demand.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for orchestrating behavior of network resources while reducing latency. According to one embodiment, a system can comprise a first network resource communicatively coupled with a communications network. The first network resource can have predictable latencies and can be adapted to handle network signaling and transport processes. A first enabler introducing greater latencies than the first network resource can be communicatively coupled with the first network resource and can be adapted to control the first network resource. The system may also include an adapter introducing greater latencies than the first network resource and lower latencies than the first enabler and adapted to react to network events and signaling of the communications network not handled by the network resource. An orchestrator can be communicatively coupled with the first enabler and adapted to orchestrate behavior of the first network resource via the first enabler.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for orchestrating behavior of network resources to provide a content and/or service delivery suite. According to one embodiment, orchestrating behavior of network resources to provide a content and/or service delivery suite can comprise detecting an access of the content or service delivery suite. Orchestration can be applied to the one or more network resources based on the access of the content or service delivery suite. At least one workflow on at least one of the one or more network resources can be executed based on the orchestration. For example, the at least one workflow can comprise a workflow for performing content aggregation, a workflow for performing management of content, a workflow for performing management of a service, a workflow for performing delivery of content or a service, etc.

Abstract: A smart router is used to analyze messages and apply programmable policies to messages based on various diagnostics. Policies can be set by applications or other appropriate entities, such as a service layer. The smart router is able to delegate specific tasks, such as various transport (e.g., firewall, network bandwidth/congestion monitoring), service (e.g., charging, determine quality of service, identify session, filter service level content), and processing (e.g. codec transformation) tasks. Based on the result of the processing, the router can bounce, re-direct, route, or otherwise handle the network traffic.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for initiating communications between entities operating in disparate environments and/or with different base protocols. According to one embodiment, a method for initiating a communication can comprise receiving a request from the first entity to initiate communications. An initiation message can be generated and formatted in a base protocol of the second entity. The base protocol of the second entity can be different from a base protocol of the first entity. The initiation message can be sent to the second entity to cause the second entity to initiate communications with a third entity in the base protocol of the second entity.

Abstract: Information, such as information relating to the configuration and capabilities of mobile devices, can be stored in, and accessed from, a distributed, hierarchical repository system. The repository can be based on a tree structure including a plurality of levels of nodes, wherein each level corresponds to a type or source of information. The nodes also can be distributed among various entities providing the information for that node, whereby entities can retain some level of access control over the information in that node. A party requesting information then can receive information from the distributed repository based on the access conditions for that user or party, which may grant them access to information in various nodes or levels, and/or information provided by certain entities.

Abstract: Device agents and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises monitoring, at an access device, at least a subset of device activity. The method further comprises detecting an activity satisfies at least one condition specified by a policy and executing at least one action in the policy associated with the satisfied condition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-modal messaging that enable a user to compose, send and retrieve messages, such as SMS, MMS, IM or ordinary e-mail messages, for example, using one or more I/O (input/output) modalities (e.g., speech I/O and/or GUI I/O). A method for composing messages combines the advantages of a multi-modal interface (e.g., grammar-based speech and touchscreen or similar input devices) and message templates, which allows a user to construct a message with significantly less effort in a fraction of the time required by conventional methods. The user can dictate his/her messages using speech and/or GUI input, for example, based on a library of message templates which can be personalized by the user to fit his/her social interaction needs.

Abstract: A method for enabling a mobile device to view one or more slides in a presentation is provided. The method comprises: determining when slides for the presentation have been changed; when a slide has been changed, performing the steps of: determining a current slide in the one or more slides being displayed; and sending a message, to the mobile device, indicating that the current slide has been displayed, wherein the message enables the current slide to be displayed on the mobile device.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for passing executable instructions via synchronized data objects. According to one embodiment, passing executable instructions from a first device to a second device during a synchronization operation between the first device and the second device can comprise synchronizing one or more data objects between the first device and the second device. At least one of the one or more data objects can include one or more executable instructions from the first device. The one or more executable instructions can be read from the data objects on the second device. Each of the one or more executable instructions may then be executed on the second device.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed for providing enhanced features to a Internet streaming system. In one embodiment, a method of providing customized enhanced features to a streaming communication system such as provided via, for example, a SIP system can comprise identifying one or more parties to an exchange. A type of communication represented by the exchange over the streaming system can be identified. One or more policies applicable to the exchange can be determined and the policies can be enforced to provide the one or more enhanced features. The one or more enhanced features can include for example, services for authenticating, authorizing, and/or anonymizing one or more of the parties to the exchange, services for logging information related to the exchange, services for billing one or more parties to the exchange, and/or any number of other services.

Abstract: Lower layer traffic such as RTP streams or UDP packets that typically are not allowed through a firewall are permitted through the firewall by correlating the traffic with higher level communications already established, or messages exchanged, at a higher level layer such as for SIP sessions. Communication information and policies can be made available to the firewall, such that the firewall can allow through any packets for an active communication between authorized addresses through an authorized port. Such an approach can allow data such as streamed data and VoIP data to be passed through a firewall without weakening firewall policies.

Abstract: When a communication is received for a user, an appropriate policy can be determined and applied to the communication. For example, a policy can be applied if the user is not present at the appropriate client. A policy can be applied based upon information for the communication, and can include one or more conditions and one or more actions. Depending on the conditions that are satisfied, at least one action is determined and executed for the communication.

Abstract: A method for managing an expense report for an expense report application is provided. The expense report application is configured to update entries in an expense report based on messages received from one or more messaging channels. The method includes receiving a message sent through a messaging channel in the one or more messaging channels. The message includes expense information. An expense report is determined from the expense information. Entry information is then determined from the expense information. The expense report is then updated with the entry information.

Abstract: The presence of a user or device on a network is inferred without requiring permission or exposure from a service provider or network operator. If updates for a user have been pending past a specified amount of time, the user can be inferred to not be present. If the user has requested updates within that specified time, the user can be inferred to be present. If presence cannot be inferred from past activity, a wake-up event can be sent to the user. The wake-up event can be piggy-backed on an existing protocol in order to have easy access to the user. If the user is present on the network, the user will respond to the wake-up event and the user's presence can be determined. If the user does not respond, it can be inferred that the user is not present. This presence can be provided to a third party.

Abstract: A technique for improved score calculation and normalization in a framework of recognition with phonetically structured speaker models. The technique involves determining, for each frame and each level of phonetic detail of a target speaker model, a non-interpolated likelihood value, and then resolving the at least one likelihood value to obtain a likelihood score.