Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to detect a media device operating externally to the communication device actively engaged in presenting media content, detect an incoming communication session initiated by another communication device, present a notice identifying the media device and the media content being presented by the media device, detect a directive to modify an operation of the media device to mitigate interrupting a communication session with the other communication device, and instruct the media device to modify its operation according to the directive. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box having a controller to present media content at a presentation device as directed by a user, monitor the media content consumed by the user, detect a first behavioral pattern based on the media content consumed by the user, transmit the detected first behavioral pattern to a communication device of the user, receive from the communication device a second behavioral pattern, and identify media content correlating to the second behavioral pattern. The communication device can be adapted to adjust communication operations according to the detected first behavioral pattern. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a tablet with a touch-sensitive display. The tablet can be adapted to present a user interface (UI), receive a UI policy from a service provider of a communication system communicatively couplable to the tablet to manage operations of the UI, detect a request from a user of the tablet to adapt the UI, and manage the adaptation of the UI according to the UI policy. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to present a new contact book entry of a contact book, detect an entry of a communication identifier of a party in one of a plurality of fields of the new contact book entry, search for contact information associated with the party in a reverse directory lookup database operating externally to the communication device using the communication identifier of the party, detect an entry in the reverse directory lookup database with additional contact information of the party, receive from the reverse directory lookup database the additional contact information of the party, and populate one or more additional fields of the new contact book entry with one or more portions of additional contact information according to their corresponding one or more tags. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to detect by way of an input device an entry of a communication identifier without contact information of a party associated with the communication identifier, retrieve from a database operating externally to the communication device contact information of the party according to the communication identifier, initiate a communication session according to the communication identifier, present at least a portion of the retrieved contact information and the communication identifier, and store the communication identifier in a communication log with the retrieved contact information. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a cordless phone operating in an establishment with a plurality of cordless phone handsets having a controller adapted to monitor a source for weather alerts, detect a weather alert, determine from the weather alert a weather alert type, retrieve a user profile, identify from the user profile and the weather alert type one or more of the plurality of cordless phone handsets to be notified of the weather alert, select from the user profile a ringtone type for each of the identified cordless phone handsets, wherein the ringtone type identifies the weather alert type, and transmit a message to cause each of the indentified cordless phone handsets to assert the ringtone type identified therefor. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to retrieve from an address book a communication identifier for each of a plurality of participants, determine from the address book a conferencing type for each of the plurality of participants, and initiate according to the conference type and the communication identifier of each participant a Voice over Internet Protocol conference call directed to communication devices of the plurality of participants. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to receive a grocery list from a communication device of a user, identify a location in a store for each item in the grocery list, determine a selection order for the items in the grocery list based on the identified location of each item, adjust the grocery list according to the selection order and the location of each item, and transmit the adjusted grocery list to a device in the store for conducting grocery shopping according to the adjusted grocery list. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to receive from a first communication device (CD) a telephone number of a second CD, submit a verification code to the second CD, submit a request to the first CD for the verification code, receive the verification code from the first CD, provide the first CD access to update in whole or in part a second contact book of the second CD stored in a contact book account, receive from the first CD one or more entries of a first contact book of the first CD, merge the one or more entries of the first contact book with one or more entries of the second contact book, thereby generating an updated second contact book, and store the updated second contact book in the contact book account. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication system having a battery-operated communication device (BOCD) operating according to a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) access protocol, or a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) wireless access protocol, one or more battery-operated handsets (BOHs) operating according to the DECT wireless access protocol, and a base unit with a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) port and an Ethernet port. The base unit can be adapted to provide voice or data services to the BOCD by way of the PSTN port or the Ethernet port while communicatively coupled thereto according to the DECT wireless access protocol, or the WiFi access protocol, and provide voice services to each of the one or more BOHs by way of the PSTN port while communicatively coupled thereto according to the DECT wireless access protocol. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to retrieve a targeted party telephone number, retrieve a telephone number assigned to the communication device, submit to a system at least a portion of the targeted party telephone number and at least a portion of the telephone number assigned to the communication device, receive from the system information indicating a dialing format for the targeted party telephone number, and initiate communications according to the information supplied by the system. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to retrieve a telephone number having an area code, an exchange code, and an extension code, generate from the telephone number at least one additional dialing format, present a plurality of dialing formats comprising the telephone number in its original dialing format and the at least one additional dialing format, detect a selection from the plurality of dialing formats, and initiate communications according to the selected dialing format. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for video call processing is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first communication device having a controller element to establish by way of a PSTN port of the first communication device a Public Switched Telephone Network communication session with a second communication device, submit by way of a broadband port of the first communication device a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message to determine whether the second communication device has video capability, receive a second SIP message indicating the second communication device is video capable, present a notice indicating the second communication device is video capable, receive a request to establish video communications with the second communication device, and submit a third SIP message to establish a video communication session with the second communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for managing contact information is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to perform a web-based search for contact information based on a request, present search results obtained from the web-based search, monitor for a selection to populate an address book of the communication device with a target portion of the contact information for an entry of the search results, parse the entry of the search results to obtain the target portion of the contact information, and populate the address book with the target portion of the contact information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to present a graphical user interface (GUI) with a plurality of toolbars, detect a selection of a web-based toolbar, present the GUI with a hierarchical listing of content associated with the selected web-based toolbar, detect a selection of content from the hierarchical listing of content, create a new toolbar associated with the selected content with at least one selectable GUI element, present the GUI with the new toolbar intermixed with at least a portion of the plurality of toolbars, poll a web service for content updates, wherein the web service is associated with the selected content, and present the GUI with content updates supplied by the web service displayed in a portion of the new toolbar. Additional embodiments are disclosed.