Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for automatic call completion in a directory assistance system in concert with the public switched telephone network (PSTN). In accordance with the present invention, a method for automatic call completion in a directory assistance system can include receiving and processing a directory assistance request from a calling party over the PSTN. An address for the calling party can be retrieved from the PSTN and an address for a telephone number produced by the directory assistance request can be second retrieved from within the directory assistance system. Prospective telephone charges can be computed based upon the retrieved addresses and the calling party can be prompted with the computed prospective charges. Finally, a call can be automatically completed between the calling party and the telephone number.

Abstract: A voice browser configured to process voice markup language documents can include a voice processing application and an integrated communications interface for interacting with a voice processing system. The voice browser can be configured to load the voice processing application independently of a received telephone call. The integrated communications interface can include at least one of an integrated transaction capabilities application part component for receiving a transaction capabilities application part query and an integrated ISUP component for receiving a telephony control signal.

Abstract: Using a portable device, a method of conducting commerce can include executing within the portable device an application configured to communicate with an automated teller machine by displaying graphic symbols. A user input specifying transaction information which can include at least a personal identification code for a transaction can be received. The method further can include generating a graphic symbol specifying the transaction information and displaying the graphic symbol upon a display screen of the portable device. Accordingly, a graphic symbol reader of an automated teller machine can read the graphic symbol and process the transaction.

Abstract: A method of providing identifying information over a voice communications link can include receiving, from a call participant, a personal identification code over the voice communications link, determining identifying information for the call participant using the personal identification code, and encoding the identifying information of the call participant within a voice stream carried by the voice communications link. The voice stream and identifying information can be sent to a subscriber.

Abstract: A method for barging-in a call can include the step of establishing a component as a communication intermediary between at least one speech engine and a telephone gateway. The component can include at least one input media port and at least one output media port, where the input media port and the output media port can interface with selective ones of the speech engines. A barge-in command can be received while an automated prompt is being audibly presented. The signals for the prompt can be conveyed to the component via the output media port. Once the barge-in command has been received, the output media port can be closed to immediately stop the prompt from being presented. A halt command can be conveyed to a prompt generating source so that the source stops generating the prompt.

Abstract: A testing method including the step of identifying multiple hosts located within multiple grids of a grid environment, wherein each host is a software object. A ghost agent can be associated with each identified host. Actions of the host can be replicated within each ghost agent. Data relating to the replicated actions can be recorded. Test input can be generated from the recorded data. Tests can be conducted within the grid environment using the test input.

Abstract: A method for providing voice telephony services can include the step of receiving a call via a telephone gateway. The telephone gateway can convey call identifying data to a resource connector. A media port can be responsively established within a media converter that is communicatively linked to the telephone gateway through a port associated with the call. A call description object can be constructed that includes the call identifying data and an identifier for the media port. The call description object can be conveyed to a telephony application server that provides at least one speech service for the call. The telephony application server can initiate at least one programmatic action of a communicatively linked speech engine. The speech engine can convey results of the programmatic action to the media converter through the media port. The media converter can stream speech signals for the call based upon the results.

Abstract: The present invention can include a method of call processing using a distributed voice browser including allocating a plurality of service processors configured to interpret parsed voice markup language data and allocating a plurality of voice markup language parsers configured to retrieve and parse voice markup language data representing a telephony service. The plurality of service processors and the plurality of markup language parsers can be registered with one or more session managers. Accordingly, components of received telephony service requests can be distributed to the voice markup language parsers and the parsed voice markup language data can be distributed to the service processors.

Abstract: A validation method can include the step of identifying a host within a grid environment, wherein the host is a software object. A ghost agent can be associated with the host, where the ghost agent can move within the grid environment. The actions of the host can be replicated by the ghost agent. Data related to the replicated actions can be compared with validation data. Validation output can be generated based upon the comparison.

Abstract: A method for gathering operational metrics can include the step of identifying a host within a grid environment, wherein the host can be a software object. A ghost agent can be associated with the host. The ghost agent can replicate actions of the host. Operational metrics for at least a portion of the replicated actions can be determined. The operational metrics can be recorded. The host can move within the grid environment. The ghost agent can responsively move in accordance with movement of the host.

Abstract: A method, a system, and an apparatus for permitting a user to remain in contact with at least one other person. The present invention provides a method, a system, and an apparatus that is capable of enabling a user to remain in contact with others through a service that checks contacts set up in a predetermined contact list. The contact list is then contacted and the user is contacted with the results. As such, the present invention permits the user to remain in contact with a significant number of entities while saving time and effort by ensuring the user is only contacted with certain information. The system and method also permits the user to remain in contact even when the user is unavailable.

Abstract: A method for interfacing an application server with a resource can include the step of associating a plurality of Enterprise Java Beans (EJBs) to a plurality of resources, where a one-to-one correspondence exists between EJB and resource. An application server can receive an application request and can determine a resource for handling the request. An EJB associated with the determined resource can interface the application server to the determined resource. The request can be handled with the determined resource.

Abstract: A method of adjusting music length to expected waiting time while a caller is on hold includes choosing one or more media selections based upon their play duration and matching the selection(s) to the expected waiting time.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for activating a credit card held by a telephone subscriber using identifying information provided through the PSTN to a credit card activation authority. In accordance with the present invention, a credit card activation management method can include activating a credit card through an established telephone call with a credit card customer using information derived from outside of the established telephone call without first prompting the credit card customer for identifying information. Also, the method can include the step of transferring the telephone call to a customer service representative responsive to a request for live help by the credit card customer.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for temporarily provisioning a telephone service feature. At the request of a calling or called party, a telephone service feature to be temporarily provisioned can be identified. Once identified, the telephone service feature can be provisioned and activated to handle the telephone service feature. Upon completion of the call, the requested telephone service is deactivated. In order to activate the requested telephone service feature, system resources can be allocated to support the identified telephone service feature. The allocation of system resources can include reserving a pool of resources for activating the identified telephone service feature. For example, a pool of line interface circuits may be reserved specifically for providing temporary provisioning of the telephone service feature for subscribers. An available resource capable of processing the identified telephone service feature can be selected from the pool of resources.

Abstract: The present invention can include a method of call processing using a distributed voice browser including allocating a plurality of service processors configured to interpret parsed voice markup language data and allocating a plurality of voice markup language parsers configured to retrieve and parse voice markup language data representing a telephony service. The plurality of service processors and the plurality of markup language parsers can be registered with one or more session managers. Accordingly, components of received telephony service requests can be distributed to the voice markup language parsers and the parsed voice markup language data can be distributed to the service processors.

Abstract: A method for supporting an application can include the step of receiving a problem indication relating to the application. The method can also identify a host within a grid environment, wherein a host can be a software object used by said application. A ghost agent can be associated with the host. The actions of the host can be replicated for use by the ghost agent. Data relating to the replicated actions can be recorded using the ghost agent. The indicated problem can be responded to, where the response can be based at least in part upon the recorded data.

Abstract: A method of interfacing a telephone application server and a speech engine can include the step of establishing one or more audio sockets in a media converting component of the telephone application server. The audio socket can remain available for approximately a duration of a call. A work unit that requires processing by a speech engine can be detected for the call. An identifier for the audio socket and a data for the work unit can be conveyed to a selected speech engine. Work unit results from the selected speech engine can be received by the media converting component via the previously established audio socket.

Abstract: The present invention can include a method of call processing using a distributed voice browser including allocating a plurality of service processors configured to interpret parsed voice markup language data and allocating a plurality of voice markup language parsers configured to retrieve and parse voice markup language data representing a telephony service. The plurality of service processors and the plurality of markup language parsers can be registered with one or more session managers. Accordingly, components of received telephony service requests can be distributed to the voice markup language parsers and the parsed voice markup language data can be distributed to the service processors.

Abstract: A gateway serving as an interface between a mobile network and a wireless network can be configured to send a signal strength indicator to the mobile network thereby causing the mobile network to recognize the gateway as a valid path for handing off a call. The wireless network can be configured according to one of the 802.11 wireless communications protocols. The gateway can route the call from the mobile network to a wireless access point of the wireless network via a packet-switched network, such that the call is conducted via a wireless communications link with the wireless access point.