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: Interacting call appearances are realized by enabling voice input/output to be simultaneously available on any combination of call appearances at a given time on a given terminal. Consequently, a user may, for example, listen to the voice output of one or more call appearances that are active at the terminal at a given time. Additionally, the user may direct voice input to one or more call appearances that are active at the terminal at a given time. Thus, the user, at any given time, may listen or speak to one or more parties on unrelated calls. Additionally, a user can employ more than one voice input/output device at his/her terminal. Specifically, the ability to simultaneously use more than one call appearance at a terminal at a given time is realized by separating call control from media routing and input/output control. Thus, the appearance of a call at a terminal is separated from the voice input/output that is required for the call.

Abstract: An e-mail message or other communication received over a computer network is processed so as to be directed to a user-designated host server. An Internet service provider or other organization assigns host names to a particular user for each network service provided to that user. Each of the host names specifies a user, a service, e.g., e-mail, homepage and network telephony, and a domain name of the assigning organization. A mapping stored for each host name correlates the host name with an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the user-designated host server for the corresponding service. When an address request for an incoming communication directed to a particular user arrives in a Domain Name System (DNS) server associated with the organization domain, the stored mapping for the corresponding user and service is processed to obtain the appropriate IP address.

Abstract: Interacting call appearances are realized by enabling voice input/output to be simultaneously available on any combination of call appearances at a given time on a given terminal. Consequently, a user may, for example, listen to the voice output of one or more call appearances that are active at the terminal at a given time. Additionally, the user may direct voice input to one or more call appearances that are active at the terminal at a given time. Thus, the user, at any given time, may listen or speak to one or more parties on unrelated calls. Additionally, a user can employ more than one voice input/output device at his/her terminal. Specifically, the ability to simultaneously use more than one call appearance at a terminal at a given time is realized by separating call control from media routing and input/output control. Thus, the appearance of a call at a terminal is separated from the voice input/output that is required for the call.

Abstract: An e-mail message or other communication received over a computer network is processed so as to be directed to a user-designated host server. An Internet service provider or other organization assigns host names to a particular user for each network service provided to that user. Each of the host names specifies a user, a service, e.g., e-mail, homepage and network telephony, and a domain name of the assigning organization. A mapping stored for each host name correlates the host name with an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the user-designated host server for the corresponding service. When an address request for an incoming communication directed to a particular user arrives in a Domain Name System (DNS) server associated with the organization domain, the stored mapping for the corresponding user and service is processed to obtain the appropriate IP address.

Abstract: Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) or other network information identifiers are transmitted with television signals in order to permit web content to be displayed in synchronization with television programming. In an illustrative embodiment, URLs are embedded in a closed caption portion of a transmitted television signal, and delimited from the closed caption text using predetermined delimiting characters. A decoder extracts the URLs from the television signal, and supplies the URLs to a retrieval device which automatically retrieves corresponding web pages or other similar information over a network. The retrieved web pages are then displayed to a viewer in synchronization with related programming in the television signal. The retrieval device may be a set-top box associated with a television set that displays both a retrieved web page and the corresponding television picture portion of the television signal.

Abstract: A multimedia system includes a plurality of components. Each component has a set of hardware resources which are used to perform basic functions. Each component further contains knowledge regarding the properties, limitations and behavior of the resources. A backplane receives each of the components. The backplane includes a plurality of programmable interfaces. Each interface interfaces with a different component. A control thread is associated with each component which manages the resources contained in the component. The combination of the backplane, control thread and component form a basic service which operates independently from other basic services created by the system.