Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing cross-platform presence are described. In some implementations, a cross-platform presence server can be provided that allows a caller to accurately assess the availability and other similar status of a callee by evaluating a device status of a plurality of communication devices associated with the callee. The cross-platform presence server can then determine, based on these device statuses, whether a callee is available. The availability of the callee can subsequently be displayed to the caller (e.g., on the caller's phone), or any other individuals who have been granted permission by the callee to be notified of the callee's availability.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computing devices and systems, as well as software, computer programs, applications, and user interfaces, and more particularly, to provisioning electronic fax messages in a communication network including packetized and/or synchronous communications. According to one embodiment, a messaging can receive data representing an electronic document in a file format into a messaging system, convert fax components to a fax compatible format including the electronic document in the file format to form converted fax components, determine whether to generate an electronic facsimile to include the fax components as a pre-rendered electronic facsimile, and transmit the electronic facsimile as the pre-rendered electronic facsimile.

Abstract: Systems and methods for routing an incoming service request to one of a plurality of pod units are described. A communication system can be provided that includes a plurality of pods each having a first pod serving a first subset of user accounts associated with a hosted PBX system. The first pod can include a first pod unit in a first data center and a second pod unit in a second data center. A global user directory (GUD) can be used to store a plurality of user keys that are mapped to the plurality of pods. A router can be provided to identify a user key from an incoming service request, query the GUD to identify the first pod as being associated with the user key, and route the incoming service request to one of the first and second pod units.

Abstract: A fax document can be either uploaded to a fax server in a vPBX network or generated dynamically. For dynamic generation, pre-configured templates can be stored either on a mobile device or on a fax server. A user can use a mobile device connected to a vPBX network as a controlling device to direct generation of faxes on a fax server. The generation of faxes can be customized based on a geographic location of the mobile device. The generated fax can be downloaded onto a mobile device. The user can digitally sign the fax using a touch-screen input device on the mobile device. The digitally signed fax can be transmitted to a destination device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computing devices and systems, as well as software, computer programs, applications, and user interfaces, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods to facilitate message preview control. For example, the method may include generating representations for messages to present on an interface, and detecting selection of the representation for the message. Further, the method can include presenting preview information for the message, which can be an electronic facsimile. The representations for the messages can include a representation for an electronic facsimile, as well as a voice message and an email.

Abstract: A context aware help system generates context data for web sessions. The context data may be used either by a human operator or by an automated response system to help resolve user web session problems. For example, a user may initiate a telephone call to the context aware help during a web session. The context data may be displayed to a telephone operator in response to the telephone call. The telephone operator may use the context data to determine what web pages and user inputs were previously entered during the web session. This allows the telephone operator to quickly analyze web session problems and provide more effective and efficient web session support. The help system may alternatively, or in addition, provide other types of automated audio or data support.

Abstract: A positioning system (e.g., GPS) integrated in, or coupled to, a mobile device determines the position of the mobile device. An availability status manager (ASM) in a vPBX acquires the position of the mobile device. The ASM can contain rules on how to route or otherwise control incoming phone calls based on availability status of one or more mobile devices in the vPBX network. When a call is received by the vPBX, the ASM determines the availability status of the receiving mobile device based on the geographic location of the receiving mobile device. The ASM then routes the call to the receiving mobile device, to another mobile device, or to a landline based on the availability status of the receiving mobile device and the availability status based rules.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for enabling access to messages on a message service system via user interfaces of receiving client devices. The message service system comprises a message storage system and a message access system. The message storage system receives messages from sending client devices and stores message data. The message access system comprises a message server and UI server. A receiving client device is connected with the UI server through a first HTTP connection for receiving UI data for building webpages of the user interface and is connected with the message server through a second non-HTTP connection for receiving message data for populating the webpages. The UI data does not comprise any message data. A client protocol engine on the receiving client device and a server protocol engine on the message server define and provide the non-HTTP protocol for receiving and transmitting message data.

Abstract: Techniques for bypassing call screening in a call messaging system. In one embodiment, for example, a method performed by one or more computing devices comprises: receiving an incoming call from a device of a caller; determining whether a bypass condition exists for the incoming call; and in response to determining that the bypass condition exists, causing the incoming call to be connected to a device of a callee without performing a call screening action of a call screening rule that, based at least in part on one or more conditions of the call screening rule, applies to the incoming call.

Abstract: A method that allows users of telecommunications terminals to have relevant contact information presented to them without some of the disadvantages of the prior art is disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a telecommunications terminal sends a query to a data-processing system requesting contact information, and that data-processing system aggregates contact information from itself and other sources. It then sorts that contact information and sends the sorted contact information back to the telecommunications terminal.

Abstract: High availability mechanisms are described for cloud-based services such as voice-over-IP (VoIP) services.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable media for bypassing call screening in a call messaging system includes storing a call screening rule for a callee specifying one or more conditions under which the call screening rule applies to an incoming call to the callee and specifying one or more call screening actions to take when an incoming call to the callee is received under the one or more conditions. When an incoming call from the caller's device to the callee's device is received under the one or more conditions of the call screening rule, a determination is made whether a bypass condition exists, and if a bypass condition exists, the incoming call is connected to the callee's device without taking the one or more call screening actions.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for providing a message UI engine for accessing messages on a message system. The message system may comprise a message storage system (that store messages of varying types and formats, such as fax, text, voice/audio, video, and picture messages) and a message access system. The message UI engine is configured by a Flash media UI file for accessing messages and associated message information by interacting with the message access system. The Flash media UI file does not comprise any markup language and comprises only Flash® instructions. The Flash media UI file also comprises a plurality of embedded applications for presenting the plurality of different message types, each embedded application comprising only Flash instructions. The associated message information may be stored and transmitted in a non-markup language format, such as comma-delimited format. The messages and message information may be transmitted using a non-HTTP protocol.

Abstract: A context aware help system generates context data for web sessions. The context data may be used either by a human operator or by an automated response system to help resolve user web session problems. For example, a user may initiate a telephone call to the context aware help during a web session. The context data may be displayed to a telephone operator in response to the telephone call. The telephone operator may use the context data to determine what web pages and user inputs were previously entered during the web session. This allows the telephone operator to quickly analyze web session problems and provide more effective and efficient web session support. The help system may alternatively, or in addition, provide other types of automated audio or data support.

Abstract: Examples of inbound call identification and management are described including a call management system that includes one or more repositories that can include data representing call action policies and data representing attributes associated with the caller devices and the callee devices. Further, the call management system can include one or more computing devices that include a call identifier (“IDer”) configured to characterize the attributes of the caller devices to form characterized attributes, a call management system controller configured to match the characterized attributes against routing criteria specified in the data representing the call action policies, and a call management system router configured to route calls from the caller devices to the callee devices responsive to a match between the characterized attributes and the routing criteria.

Abstract: Techniques for synchronization of fax and/or voice messages in a client-server arrangement are disclosed. In one embodiment, for example, a synchronization method in a phone includes: initiating synchronization of a set of fax and/or voice messages on the phone with a set of fax and/or voice messages on a server; sending a request to the server to receive state of the set of messages on the server; identifying state of the set of messages on the phone; performing a discrepancy assessment between the state of the set of messages on the server and the state of the set of messages on the phone; based on results of the discrepancy assessment, creating a list of synchronization actions to perform for synchronizing the set of messages on the phone with the set of messages on the server; and performing the synchronization actions in the list.

Abstract: A vPBX server manages calls in a bridged line appearance (BLA) group. A BLA group can include extensions for location-aware mobile devices. The vPBX server contains location based forwarding rules that can be applied together with BLA redirection rules in managing incoming calls. A single extension can appear as a user interface element (e.g., an icon or button) on multiple mobile devices. Using the user interface element, a primary user can view a secondary user's status, including the secondary user's location information. The vPBX server allows the primary user to redirect the incoming calls to devices in accordance with the forwarding rules and the redirection rules.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for managing a call are described. In some implementations, an intelligent softswitch can be used to communicate with a provider system that can relay or switch one or more outbound calls initiated by a caller and intended for a subscriber to the intelligent softswitch. Upon receiving the relayed call, the intelligent softswitch can process the relayed call using one or more call handling rules that have been specified by the subscriber. After processing, the relayed call is routed back to the provider system for completing the call.

Abstract: System, apparatus, computer program products and methods for preventing fraud attacks (e.g., on a virtual PBX service provider) are disclosed. In some implementations, a set of fraud evaluation processes are performed, an overall fraud evaluation score is incremented as each of the set of fraud evaluation processes are performed and a step result is obtained. A user request (e.g., account activation) can be denied or accepted based on the overall fraud evaluation score. In some implementations, the set of fraud evaluation processes can include one or more of: an internal fraud evaluation process, a process for checking multiple trial accounts associated with a common account parameter, a process for geolocation verification of multiple account parameters, a process for device type verification for a contact phone number, a process for credit card verification, and a process for placing a contact number verification call.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for enabling access to messages on a message service system via user interfaces of receiving client devices. The message service system comprises a message storage system and a message access system. The message storage system receives messages from sending client devices and stores message data. The message access system comprises a message server and UI server. A receiving client device is connected with the UI server through a first HTTP connection for receiving UI data for building webpages of the user interface and is connected with the message server through a second non-HTTP connection for receiving message data for populating the webpages. The UI data does not comprise any message data. A client protocol engine on the receiving client device and a server protocol engine on the message server define and provide the non-HTTP protocol for receiving and transmitting message data.