Presentation Format Conversion Patents (Class 379/88.14)
  • Patent number: 8144841
    Abstract: Determining unwanted multimedia message originated from a multimedia call. An interface receives a multimedia message from a telecommunication service operator, and multimedia message is stored on a storage area. A unified communication system manages communication message delivery to at least one of the following access points for the recipient, and the unified communication system includes a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions for identifying a voice portion from content of the received multimedia message. An anti-spam engine is applied to analyze a textual representation of the identified voice portion, and a confidence ranking of the representation is generated in response to the analyzed representation. It is determined whether the multimedia message is an unwanted multimedia message as a function of the confidence ranking and the analyzed representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Russell Rice
  • Patent number: 8144840
    Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosures made herein is a method for facilitating mediated communication. In such an embodiment of the disclosures made herein, a voice-based communication request transmitted from a first communication device is received by a mediation system. The voice based communication request is requesting voice-based communication between the first communication device and a second communication device. In response to receiving the request for voice-based communication, a capability of the first communication device for communicating via a prescribed text messaging protocol is determined. Facilitating presentation of a text messaging follow-through action at the second communication device is performed in response to determining that the first communication device is capable of communicating via the prescribed text messaging protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Openwave Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Uwe Luehrig, Stuart Evans
  • Publication number: 20120069975
    Abstract: A system and method for processing multi-modal communications during a call session are provided. A call is received from a caller and assigned to an agent. A caller identification is assigned to the call. Voice communication from the call is processed and displayed. One or more text messages from the caller are received during the call. The caller identification is assigned to each of the text messages. The text messages are matched to the call using the caller identification and are displayed to the agent for review during the call.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Gilad Odinak, Alastair Sutherland
  • Publication number: 20120069974
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments describe systems and methods which provide for conversion of a text message into multiple voices. An end user is able to select different voices for translating different portions of a text message. The voices can be selected from among the end user's contacts. Translation from text to voice can be performed locally, i.e., in the end user's terminal device, or in the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L M ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Zhongwen Zhu, Basel Ahmad
  • Patent number: 8139726
    Abstract: A method and system for allowing a calling party to send a voicemail message as a text message. A calling party leaves a voicemail message and that message is converted from voice to a text message. If the calling party wishes to confirm the conversion, the text message is then converted to a voicemail message. The converted voicemail message is presented to the calling party so that the calling party can review and edit the message. The calling party can review and edit any portion of the converted voicemail message. The edits of the voicemail message are applied and the voicemail message is converted to a new text message. If the calling party wishes to further review and edit the text message, it is converted to a new voicemail; otherwise the text message is sent to the called party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: Carl Peter Zetterberg
  • Patent number: 8139725
    Abstract: A structured voice interaction system includes logic to communicate one or more voice prompts to a caller via a voice channel, and to communicate navigation information for the structured voice interaction system to the caller via a data channel. Voice prompts communicated to the caller via the voice channel connection are coordinated with the navigation information communicated via the data channel connection. Information not referenced by the voice channel prompts, but related to or associated with actions or options referenced by the voice channel prompts, is accessed, identified, and provided over the data channel connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander J. Cohen, Robert W. Lord, John D. Rinaldo, Jr., Mark A. Malamud, Royce A. Levien, Edward K. Y. Jung
  • Patent number: 8130919
    Abstract: Voicemail systems and methods can provide a user with means for receiving categorized messages from parties. The categories can be independent of the intended recipients of the messages, such that multiple users can receive the same message. A user can subscribe to receive categorized messages within selected categories or from selected parties. A registered party, including a merchant, an organization, a government agency and/or another party, can input messages to selected categories and can input distribution parameters for the messages. Expiration dates can be associated with the messages such that messages can be deleted once expired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Rohit Satish Kalbag
  • Patent number: 8121263
    Abstract: When an electronic message with a voicemail attachment is received, an audio player object and a reply by chat object are displayed simultaneously along with the electronic message. A reply to the electronic message, whether by chat or by email, is associated with the same thread as the electronic message. The electronic message with the voicemail attachment is associated with a conversation thread that may also include chat messages and email messages. In a conversation view of a respective conversation thread, representations of an electronic voicemail message (an electronic message having a voicemail attachment), one or more chat messages and one or more email messages may be displayed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Rose Yao, Ariel L. Rideout, Michael D. Sego
  • Patent number: 8116438
    Abstract: A system to telephonically access information related with items printed on a physical document. Items marked on the physical document or on any other physical surface is touched with a finger. The system includes a touch foil placed over (or under) the document, for reading the coordinates of selected marked items, a telephone set for receiving the coordinates of the items selected by the user and for dialing to an interactive voice response (IVR) service used for accessing and retrieving selected hyperlinked documents from the web through a documents proxy server, for converting retrieved documents to synthesized speech, and for providing to the user through the telephone network, the selected documents that have been converted into speech.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Fernando Incertis Carro
  • Patent number: 8116445
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring an interaction between a caller and an automated voice response (AVR) system is provided. An audio communication from a caller is processed by executing an AVR script, which includes a plurality of instructions. A visual representation of the audio communication is presented substantially simultaneously with the audio communication to an agent based on the AVR script. The visual representation includes at least one field to be populated with information obtained from the caller and the information populated in the field can be updated by the agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Intellisist, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilad Odinak, Alastair Sutherland, William A. Tolhurst
  • Patent number: 8111813
    Abstract: A technique is disclosed that enables a telecommunications user to initially enter a greeting message in a single media format such as either voice or text. Subsequently, this greeting message is used by a server in response to any communication event that arrives for the user, such as a voice call or an email message, regardless of the media format of the arriving communication event. When the server receives arrival notifications of various communication events, it generates a customized greeting message in response to that event and in the same media format as the event itself. In other words, the server represents a previously-prepared outgoing voice or text message i) as a voice message in response to an incoming voice call and ii) as a textual message in response to an email, SMS text message, or instant message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Weber, David S. Mohler
  • Publication number: 20120022950
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a voice message to text system supporting targeted advertisements. Voice messages received from users are converted to raw text messages that are normalized to insert proper punctuation and extract entity information. The normalized text and entity information are processed to extract concepts, such as critical phrases, from the normalized text. Extracted concepts are then matched to advertisements on an advertisement database having user selection criteria. Advertisements having selection criteria matching the extracted concepts are transmitted to the users, and the advertisers that placed the advertisements are charged fees for the advertisements. User profile information and user context information can additionally be used to select advertisements for transmission to users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventors: Mazin Gilbert, Narendra K. Gupta, Dan Melamed
  • Patent number: 8094788
    Abstract: A system and method for the creation and delivery of automated, personal information service gathers news, weather, financial and other data for transmission by telephone or other media. The recipient of a given voice broadcast may be detected and discriminated to adjust the content delivery. For instance, if a machine pick-up is detected, the call may be terminated or the message curtailed. Secondary recipients may be authorized in a subscriber's service profile, and other delivery preferences may be registered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: MicroStrategy, Incorporated
    Inventors: Hannes Eberle, Anurag Patnaik, Michael Zirngibl, Wolf Mosle
  • Publication number: 20120002794
    Abstract: A voicemail platform which provides a voicemail to text conversion service to a user includes a storage system which stores username data for a user of a voicemail to text conversion service, and a processing system. The processing system receives a voicemail message for the user, sends the voicemail message and the username data to a speech engine, receives text from the speech engine which is converted from the voicemail message using the username data to correctly spell all occurrences of the user's name within the voicemail message, and sends the converted text to a device of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC.
    Inventors: Jacqueline JACKSON, Michael ZUBAS
  • Patent number: 8090082
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for providing targeted messages to a person using telephony services by generating user profile information from telephony data and using the user profile information to retrieve targeted messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: iCall, Inc.
    Inventors: Arlo Christopher Gilbert, Andrew Muldowney
  • Patent number: 8090083
    Abstract: A system and/or methodology that unifies a telephonic communication component and/or system with a data (e.g., messaging) server component and/or system. The system can facilitate telephonically accessing rich information in the server (e.g., messaging server). This rich information can include email content, calendar content, contacts information, or the like. Moreover, with access to an application programming interface, the invention can add functionality to initiate email communications as well as to accept or cancel meetings. Furthermore, the invention can synchronize messages of disparate formats. By way of example a user can set an “Out of Office” (OOF) status on both an email systems and telephone voicemail system from one location in one action. In another aspect, it will be appreciated that any message or data component can be analyzed, transformed, matched and/or communicated from one system to another (e.g., server to telephone) in accordance with the subject invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: David T. Fong, David A. Howell
  • Publication number: 20110305325
    Abstract: A unified messaging system enables a subscriber to log into the system remotely and compose and send text messages, such as email messages, using predefined templates and sound input. The sound input may be DTMF or speech. After the subscriber selects an appropriate template, the system confirms the template, and asks the subscriber to provide values for prompted variables, such as dates and times. The system then generates an email message as defined by the selected template and the values of the prompted variables provided by the subscriber. The email message may also include automatic variables, such as the subscriber's name, and company name. The generated email message may be a new message, a reply message, or a forwarding message. The reply and forwarding messages may be generated in response to received email, or in response to other received messages, such as voice mail messages and facsimiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventor: Roger E. Visser
  • Publication number: 20110305327
    Abstract: Voicemail messages are transcribed to text in accordance with a subscriber preference. When a new voicemail message is detected or a request to retrieve a voicemail message is detected, a voicemail to text device may alter its behavior based on the voicemail to text subscriber preference and a mobile device status. Subscriber preferences can comprise location (e.g., GPS, AGPS, roaming, international, or national boundaries), date, time, and network resources. Voicemail to text can automatically be re-enabled/disabled based on subscriber preferences set by a subscriber or network provider. A subscriber or network provider can initiate a state change (enable/disable) of voicemail to text.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventor: Venson Shaw
  • Patent number: 8073113
    Abstract: In response to receiving a voice message, a telephony service creates an e-mail message directed to the intended recipient of the voice message. The e-mail message includes the voice message as an attachment and an embedded image file. Once the e-mail message has been created, a mail system is utilized to transmit the e-mail message to the intended recipient of the voice message. An e-mail client application program may be used to retrieve the e-mail message and to view the message content. In order to render the message content, the e-mail client application program will transmit a request for the image file. In response to receiving the request for the image file, an indication is transmitted to the telephony service indicating that the intended recipient has heard the voice message. In response to receiving the indication, the telephony service marks the voice message as heard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Samarth Sharath Pai
  • Patent number: 8073121
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for caller identification messaging are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a calling party uses a Caller ID Messaging Device that supplants the incoming calling line identification (ICLID) signal with a Caller ID Messaging Signal and transmits the Caller ID Messaging Signal to a destination communications address. An alternate embodiment provides that the calling party may use a conventional telephone to access a communications network, activate Caller ID Messaging Services, compose or retrieve a stored Caller ID Message of the Caller ID Messaging Signal, and transmit the Caller ID Messaging Signal to the destination communications address. The Caller ID Message and Caller ID Messaging Signal may include text, video, voice, and/or digital data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Blake R. Urban, Isaac D. M. White, James E. Dickens, Kevin Forsberg, Charles Sawyer
  • Patent number: 8068588
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates managing an incoming data communication in connection with unified communications. A unified communications component can employ unified communications for a data communication with at least the following data communication modes: an email data communication mode, a voice data communication mode, and a voicemail data communication mode. A unified rules component can automatically redirect the data communication to a delegate for receipt based upon a universal rule, the universal rule is uniformly applicable to at least two of the email data communication mode, the voice data communication mode, or the voicemail data communication mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Rajesh Ramanathan, Eran Shtiegman
  • Patent number: 8068589
    Abstract: Systems and methods of managing announcement messages provide for receiving a first announcement message, where the first announcement message is compatible with a first platform protocol of a first messaging server. The first announcement message is translated into a second announcement message, where the second announcement message is compatible with a second platform of a second messaging server. By enabling announcement messages such as voice mail greetings and email “out-of-office” messages to be created and updated with a single interface, more efficient messaging is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: Umesh Amin
  • Patent number: 8064573
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating appropriate confirmatory prompts in a speech-enabled, interactive computer system. The method can be incorporated in an interactive voice response system that includes receiving an input audio stream over a voice channel from a users, performing keyword recognition on received input audio as subsequent input audio is being received, and prompting the user with an acknowledgement of the keyword or keywords as subsequent input audio is being received. In another aspect of the method, the volume of the speech input can be continuously monitored. In a further aspect of the method, recognition results and associated confidence values can be combined to select different confirmatory prompts, and the volume is tailored to be the same as, louder than or quieter than the volume of the speech input, so that different types of confirmation can be automatically generated to produce a natural speech-enabled interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: George Murdoch Clelland, John Brian Pickering
  • Patent number: 8060364
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the event-driven analysis of media contents derived from customer interactions is disclosed. Content analysis is executed exclusively on those segments of the interaction media that are relevant in a given context. The steps of the analysis are carried out either in a static or dynamic manner where less demanding on resources analysis type is performed prior to more demanding analysis type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Nice Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Aviv Bachar, Shay Gabay
  • Patent number: 8054949
    Abstract: A system for identifying an originator based on an image and a method thereof are disclosed. The method includes: transmitting a session initiate protocol INVITE message by inserting predetermined image information in the session initiate protocol INVITE message at a transmitting terminal; and displaying an image by analyzing image information included in a received session initiate protocol INVITE message transmitted from the transmitting terminal at a receiving terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Soo Lee, Joo Min Kim, Yong Kyoung Shin
  • Patent number: 8054954
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method, device, and system for taking voice memos during a communication session. More specifically, voice memos may be taken using the same communication device that is used in the communication session. This can be accomplished by automatically muting the communication device and establishing a communication channel with another endpoint, such as a recording endpoint, to record audio signals transmitted by the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Cherian Abraham, Simon Boland, Karen El-Azzi, Paul McNamara, Ted Saoumi
  • Patent number: 8054950
    Abstract: A messaging service node sends encoded messages to wireless devices prompting the devices to capture media (e.g., audio and/or image) and send the media file to a network address specified in the message. The service node may be managed by a wireless service provider, and provides this media capture message service for unrelated, independent entities such as insurance companies, health or medial companies, government agencies, etc. The encoded message may take the form of a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message, but other formats are possible. The media is preferably captured by a camera or microphone incorporated into the wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Yat-Sang Hung, Pierre Barbeau
  • Patent number: 8045699
    Abstract: A method for performing automated telemarketing is disclosed. The method includes receiving potential customer data that includes a telephone number; initiating a telephone call to the telephone number using an auto-dialing technology; receiving notification that the potential customer has answered the telephone call; sending a verbal greeting to the potential customer in response to receiving the notification; conversing with the potential customer using speech recognition technology, the conversing including receiving a message from the potential customer; and updating the potential customer data responsive to the message received from the potential customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: David J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8036345
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for providing telecommunications services by receiving a notification forwarded from a wireless device, the notification indicating that a voicemail message intended for a recipient associated with the wireless device was received. The voicemail message associated with the notifications is retrieved and forwarded to an alternate device associated with the recipient and/or converted into a text message representative of the content of the voicemail message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Royce D. Jordan, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110243312
    Abstract: A system and method for speech file processing which provides users with differentially selectable speech file transcripts which can be sent to one or more other users. The speech files may be voicemail messages from which respective voicemail transcripts are created. The voicemail transcripts are provided in a user selectable format from which users may select non-contiguous portions of the transcript.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Julia Hirschberg, Stephen Whittaker
  • Publication number: 20110243311
    Abstract: Methods and systems for automatic phone call tracking and analysis of the content and outcomes of a call are provided. These systems may provide businesses with the ability to track and view analytics of the number and various outcomes of calls, thereby providing up-to-date real-time analysis of the automatically-generated results of client interactions with staff answering the phones. Methods and systems in accordance with the present invention quantitatively and objectively analyze staff performance and marketing return on investment (ROI), and track patient demand across various procedures. This may automatically provide information on the number of calls with various outcomes, e.g., the customer booked an appointment, the customer hung up while on hold, the customer was connected with voicemail, the customer left a message on voicemail, the customer is an existing client, etc. Other automatically-detected aspects of phone call contents are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Grant L. Aldrich
  • Patent number: 8027669
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transmitting formatted text from a streaming server 100 to a mobile client 101 using an RTP protocol in a mobile communication system. The formatted text comprises at least one text sample having an associated text sample format description. Further; the present invention relates to the streaming server 100 transmitting the formatted text, the mobile client 101 receiving a streamed formatted text and to a streaming system. To reduce the transmission overhead of conventional systems when transmitting streamed text in a wireless communication system, such as UMTS, using RTP, the streaming server 100 transmits only text sample format descriptions that are not already provided for a earlier text samples to the mobile client 101 when processing a text sample to be transmitted. The server maintains information on the text sample format descriptions transferred to the client in order to determine which of the text sample format descriptions have already been provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Luis Jose Rey, Rolf Hakenberg
  • Patent number: 8027838
    Abstract: This invention relates to the field of wireless data and instant communication technologies and describes a method and a system for connecting words, phrases, or symbols of any languages or multimedia expressions, within the content of transmitted data, to telecommunication codes. The presented method of the invention selects a group of Telecom Codes, defines Content Names, assigns the Content Names to the Telecom Codes, receives the transmitted content, and redirects the content to the connected Telecom Codes after detecting the existence of the Content Names.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sheng Zhan Information Technology (Shanghai) Ltd.
    Inventors: Junsheng Edward Sang, Yuanzhe Xie
  • Patent number: 8019607
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Creamer, Victor S. Moore, Wendi L. Nusbickel, Ricardo Dos Santos, James J. Sliwa
  • Patent number: 8019054
    Abstract: A system and method for providing dynamically generated information to a caller during the ringing state of a telephone call. In one example, color ringback tones may be used in conjunction with text-to-speech technology and caller ID services to provide personalized audio messages. These messages may be generated in real time and may include information that may be useful to the caller, such as up-to-date status information (e.g., the status of the caller's voicemail inbox), news or other information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Dialogic Corporation
    Inventor: Martyn W. Davies
  • Publication number: 20110202439
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a communication system that provides various automated operations, including searches of public and private resources for third party information, performance of operations to assist a user in response to keyword identification in an audio, text or video stream, and speed dial updates based on calling frequencies to various telephone numbers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Avaya Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Ricci
  • Patent number: 7996228
    Abstract: Embodiments of voice initiated network operations are presented herein. Voice initiation of operations is described which may be utilized to assist a user in performing operations, such as when other input mechanisms are undesirable, inconvenient, or impossible. A user provides speech to a client device. The speech is converted to text. The text is used to perform operations and obtain results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Quentin Miller, John J. Ostlund, Anand Ramakrishna
  • Patent number: 7995742
    Abstract: A dialer for managing outgoing contacts is provided that includes a contact filtration agent 144 operable to retrieve presence information associated with a party to be contacted and determine, based on the presence information, whether or not to contact the party and, if so, when and where to contact the party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventor: Rohan Lenard
  • Patent number: 7995718
    Abstract: A telephone number server (TNS) of a first party maintains telephone numbers of third parties in association with respective Internet information of the third parties. Upon request from a second party, the request including information indicative of a third party's telephone number, the second party searches the TNS and communicates to the second party the Internet information in the TNS that is associated with the third party's telephone number. The Internet information may include only a particular website address of the third party. If the telephone number is a customer service number, the website address may relate to the third party's customer service. Moreover, the website may include real time information, such as the current hold time for speaking with a customer service representative. The website further may provide other contact information for customer service, including web-based email or other direct call numbers for certain inquiries or issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Chad Dustin Tillman
  • Patent number: 7983400
    Abstract: A telephone call is established between a local telephone (110) associated with a local party and a remote telephone (104) associated with a remote party. The local telephone (110) receives a voice signal from the remote telephone (104) responsive to establishing the telephone call. The voice signal represents directory assistance information, a name, a phone number or directions provided by the remote party. The local telephone (110) stores the voice signal in a memory unit (212) in the local telephone (110) responsive to receiving the voice signal. The local telephone (110) converts the voice signal to a text signal responsive to storing the voice signal. The local telephone (110) stores the text signal in the memory unit (214) in the local telephone (110) responsive to converting the voice signal to a text signal. The local telephone (110) edits the stored text signal in the memory unit responsive to storing the text signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Theodore James Myers, Patrick Jay Walsh, Muna Nabilsi, Kevin D. Kaschke
  • Patent number: 7980465
    Abstract: A method, system, and program provides for hands free contact database information entry at a communication device. A recording system at a communication device detects a user initiation to record. Responsive to detecting the user initiation to record, the recording system records the ongoing conversation supported between the communication device and a second remote communication device. The recording system converts the recording of the conversation into text. Next, the recording system extracts contact information from the text. Then, the recording system stores the extracted contact information in an entry of the contact database, such that contact information is added to the contact database of the communication device without manual entry of the contact information by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Nuance Communiccations, Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin Kirkland, Ameet M. Paranjape
  • Publication number: 20110170674
    Abstract: An apparatus and method automatically substitutes personal information in a message with a character string that does not include the personal information. The personal information is stored in a substitution table with relation to the character string. In a response message, sent in response to the message, the character string is automatically substituted with the corresponding personal information stored in the substitution table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenichi EGAMI
  • Publication number: 20110170675
    Abstract: A device, method, and system for routing communications to an output of a communications device, such as a mobile telephone, based on the format of an incoming communication and an output mode of the communications device is disclosed. An incoming speech communication can be delivered to a speaker output or forwarded to a format converter to create a text communication that can be delivered to a display output. An incoming text communication can be delivered to a display output or forwarded to a format converter to create a speech communication for delivery to a speaker output. The output mode of the communication device can be set according to device settings, application settings, or location of the device, or a combination thereof. The invention provides new delivery options for communications which can be inure appropriate for a location or current use of the communication device than those previously available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Jeffrey Mikan, Anastasios Kefalas, Kenneth W. Evans
  • Patent number: 7979065
    Abstract: A system and method are provided with a computing system, capable of binding SMS, voice and other media transactions into a continuous, stateful messaging process that maintains awareness of the communications event over time delays and media transitions. Communications events between two or more communicators over one communications medium are bridged by the system to a second communications medium, according to the needs of the communicators. Various applications of the system permit selective or automated bridging of the communications event based on predetermined events and timeline formulae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: CSG Interactive Messaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Lake, Brian Nelson, Dan Ulrich
  • Patent number: 7978830
    Abstract: A messaging device may include a memory configured to store a first message from a first caller and intended for a called party and to store information identifying a group that includes a number of broadcast parties that include the first caller. The messaging device may include a processor configured to receive a reply message from the called party and to broadcast the reply message to at least a subset of the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC
    Inventor: David J. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 7974392
    Abstract: A communication device and method are provided for audibly outputting a received text message to a user, the text message being received from a sender. A text message to present audibly is received. An output voice to present the text message is retrieved, wherein the output voice is synthesized using predefined voice characteristic information to represent the sender's voice. The output voice is used to audibly present the text message to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Eric Ng
  • Patent number: 7974391
    Abstract: A conversation-based user interface (UI) is described. The presenting of the UI includes receiving communications from numerous people. The communications include media that is electronic. A conversation list is generated that includes conversation information of each of the communications. The conversation information includes information of a sender and the media of each communication. The conversation list is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Orative Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Drewry, Steven D. Schramm, Mike White, Kate Withey
  • Publication number: 20110150191
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method of call handling comprising a first communications device having an acceptor of call purpose from a first party for a call, a communications channel including a conveyor of call purpose and a second communications device coupled to the first communications device via the communications channel and having a presenter of call purpose to a second party.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Trung Trinh, Thomas A. Gray
  • Patent number: 7961851
    Abstract: A system and method to selectively retrieve stored messages are disclosed. The method comprises receiving a voice command from a user, the voice command comprising at least one spoken search identifier, determining at least one stored message that corresponds to the spoken search identifier, and presenting the at least one stored message to the user. The plurality of stored messages may comprise content data for allowing messages with matching content data to be retrieved. The plurality of stored messages may also comprise caller data, for allowing messages with matching caller data to be retrieved. The stored messages may either be voice messages or text messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cary Arnold Bran, Alan D. Gatzke, Jim Kerr
  • Publication number: 20110135071
    Abstract: A system and method for converting a message via a posting converter is provided. At least one incoming message is received from a composition device. Characteristics of the message are determined. The characteristics include a target device to which the message is directed and an application through which the message will be presented. An appropriate template is selected for the message based on at least one of the message characteristics. The message is converted to a different format using the selected template. The converted message is provided for display on the target device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventor: David Milstein