Abstract: A method of automatically providing information from a portable computing device to a bar code reader can include, within the portable computing device, automatically detecting a scan from the bar code reader. Responsive to the automatic detection of the scan, one or more segments of a visual image can be presented on a display screen of the portable computing device.

Abstract: A method of providing caller information can include receiving a voice signal, detecting portions of the voice signal that are inaudible using a perceptual audio processor, replacing the inaudible portions of the voice signal with digital caller information, and transmitting the resulting voice signal specifying the digital caller information.

Abstract: A service logic execution environment (SLEE) for telecommunications services. The SLEE can include a class loader for loading service components in the SLEE, and an event routing bus for receiving events from the protocol layer and other service components. The SLEE can register each loaded service component to receive events directed to particular registered service components. Subsequently, the event routing bus can route received events to the particular registered service components executing in the SLEE. The event routing bus can be further configured to receive events from application components which are external to the SLEE and the protocol layer. The SLEE also can include a thread pool; and, a thread pool management component for allocating threads in the thread pool for use by the loaded service components.

Abstract: A method of establishing a third party call can include, responsive to a call initiated by a third party to a directory number of a called party, determining that the called party is engaged in an existing telephone call with one or more parties. The telephone call can be processed in a telephony application, wherein the telephony application can determine whether the third party has authority to join the existing call with the called party. If so, the third party can be connected with the existing call.

Abstract: An advanced intelligent network for use with a telecommunication service can include a service logic execution environment (SLEE), at least one service application executing in the SLEE, and at least one message formatting generic service component communicatively linked to the service application. The message formatting generic service component can include an interface to an application which is external to the SLEE.

Abstract: An advanced intelligent network for use with a call model can include a service logic execution environment (SLEE), at least one service application executing in the SLEE, and at least one voice processing generic service component communicatively linked to the service application. The voice processing generic service component can include an interface to a second service application which is external to the SLEE.

Abstract: A method or system (40 or 50) for voice-to-text reduction for real-time messaging can use a microphone (12 or 52) for receiving a calling party's speech input, a text-to-speech converter (22 or 54) for converting the calling party's speech input to a text message, a transmitter for transmitting the text message as a text stream (23 or 60) to a called party, a receiver for receiving another text message as a text stream (31 or 70) from the called party, and a rendering device such as a speaker (36) or a display (68) for rendering text messages substantially in real-time. If a speaker is used, the system can further include a text-to-speech synthesizer or converter (24). A system (80) can further include a translator (82) for translating the text message into another language.

Abstract: A method of deriving audio content from visual content can include modifying a visual markup language document requested by a client computer system to specify a control for generating an audio markup language document version of the visual markup language document. The modified visual markup language document can be provided to the client computer system. Responsive to a selection of the control, an audio markup language document version of the visual markup language document can be generated. The audio markup language document can be saved for subsequent presentation through an audio interface.

Abstract: Within an interactive voice response system, a method of automatically disambiguating results presented to a user can include determining the identity of a user within an interactive voice response session, receiving user inputs specifying selections in an interactive voice response menu hierarchy, and storing historical information specifying the user selections within a profile associated with the identity of the user. For at least one subsequent input from the user, identifying the historical information associated with the identity of the user and using the historical information to reduce a number of possible selections in the interactive voice response menu hierarchy which are presented to the user.

Abstract: A method of conducting commerce within a portable, wireless computing device can include storing an identifier specifying a cellular communications channel and receiving a user input specifying financial transaction information. The identifier and the financial transaction information can be provided to a receiving device over a short range, wireless communications link to initiate the financial transaction. An authorization code can be received via the cellular communications channel specified by the identifier. The authorization code can indicate whether the financial transaction was approved.

Abstract: Within a wireless computing device, a method of conducting commerce can include receiving a user input in the wireless computing device specifying an account to which a proposed transaction is to be billed and identifying contact information for a billing entity according to the user specified account. The billing entity can manage the account. An authorization can be requested from the billing entity via a wireless communications link established using the contact information. The method also can include receiving the authorization from the billing entity via the wireless communications link, generating a visual image which identifies the billing entity and represents the authorization received from the billing entity, and presenting the visual image upon the display screen of the wireless computing device. Accordingly, a visual image reader can read the displayed visual image.

Abstract: A method for implementing a remote receiver connected to a telephony network can include a call authorizer that can access remote receiver specific information, wherein the remote receiver specific information can include an authorization requirement. The call authorizer can receive a digitally encoded signal specifying an authorization code. Prior to a telephony connection being established between the remote receiver and an originating device, the call authorizer can determine whether the authorization code satisfies the authorization requirement. Responsive to this determination, the call authorizer can send a ringing signal via the telephone line to the remote receiver. The remote receiver can power an actuator within the remote receiver with a voltage from the ringing signal. The actuator can activate a device controlled by the remote receiver.

Abstract: A method for providing call authorization within a telephony network can include receiving a telephony connectivity request for establishing a telephony voice channel between the originating device and a receiving device. The specified receiving device can be determined and receiving device specific information that includes an authorization requirement can be accessed. A connection between the originating device and the receiving device can be established responsive to whether the authorization code satisfies the authorization requirement.

Abstract: A method of linking call control functions of a telephony server with voice processing functions of a voice server using a common server side program can include receiving a call in the voice server, invoking the server side program to generate a voice processing script, executing the voice processing script in the voice server to process the call, and sending the call to the telephony server to perform a call control function on the call. The call control function can be indicated by the server side program.

Abstract: A method for conveying digital information can include initiating a telephone connection to a receiving device. Prior to establishing a voice channel connection with the receiving device, supplemental data can be digitally encoded into a CNG transmission. The CNG transmission can be conveyed via a CNG channel, wherein the CNG channel is capable of transporting a facsimile calling tone signal.

Abstract: Using a wireless computing device, a method of conducting commerce can include storing a secure code and an associated balance amount within an electronic wallet application executing within the wireless computing device. The secure code can specify a financial institution and an account managed by the financial institution. The method further can include receiving within the electronic computing device an amount of a potential transaction and a personal identification code from a user, correlating the personal identification code with the secure code, and providing the personal identification code, the amount of the potential transaction, and the secure code to a merchant transaction processing system. The amount of the potential transaction can be deducted from the balance amount stored within the electronic wallet.

Abstract: A method for providing customized interactive voice response menus can include monitoring user interactions with an interactive voice response system. Data concerning the user interactions can be stored. A request to initiate an interactive voice response session can be received. The interactive voice response system can determine an identity for a user making the request. The interactive voice response system can generate a customized menu for the user. At least a portion of the customized menu can be based upon the usage data. The customized menu can be presented to the user.

Abstract: A method for providing dynamic ringback services can include receiving a connection signal from an originating device and determining a receiving device specified by the connection signal. The method can access receiving device specific information and can dynamically generate a ringback transmission responsive to at least a portion of the receiving device specific information. The method can send this ringback transmission to the originating device before a connection is established between the originating device and the receiving device.

Abstract: A method of providing wireless local area network providers with subscriber administration services can include receiving from a processing node in a wireless local area network a request through a gateway interface for approval for a subscriber to access the wireless local area network. The request can specify subscriber identifying information. A determination can be made as to whether the subscriber is approved to access the wireless local area network using the subscriber identifying information by querying a telecommunications subscriber data store. The processing node of the wireless local area network can be notified of the determination results through the gateway interface. If the subscriber is approved, a record of the wireless session can be stored in a session data store.

Abstract: A method for receiving and presenting interactive voice response data can include sending a telephony connectivity request for establishing a voice channel connection between an originating device and a interactive voice response system. Prior to establishing the voice channel connection, an interactive voice response menu associated with said interactive voice response system can be received via a ringback channel. At least a portion the interactive voice response menu can be presented to a user of the originating device.