Interaction With An External Nontelephone Network (e.g., Internet) Patents (Class 379/88.17)
  • Patent number: 8588397
    Abstract: A communication control system includes accessing a document data recording unit based on the information concerning a document and acquiring characteristic data indicating the characteristic of the document when receiving a call initiation request including at least information identifying a called party terminal and information concerning a document related to the call initiation request; accessing a status data recording unit based on information identifying the called party terminal included in the call initiation request and acquiring status data indicating a status of the called party terminal of the call initiation request; determining whether a call requested by the call initiation request is initiated or not based on the acquired characteristic data and the acquired status data; and executing a call initiation process depending on the determination by the call initiation determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Masahiko Murakami
  • Patent number: 8583431
    Abstract: A communications system includes a first communications device cooperating with a second communications device. The first communications device multiplexes a digital speech message and a corresponding text message into a multiplexed signal, and wirelessly transmits the multiplexed signal. The second communications device wirelessly receives the multiplexed signal, de-multiplexes the multiplexed signal digital into the speech message and the corresponding text message, decodes the speech message for an audio output transducer, and operates a text processor on the corresponding text message for display. The corresponding text message is displayed in synchronization with the speech message output by the audio output transducer. A memory is coupled to the text processor for storing the text message, and the text processor is configured to display the stored text message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: William N. Furman, John W. Nieto, Marcelo De Risio
  • Patent number: 8582728
    Abstract: A web-type audio information system using phone communication lines including a computer based host accessible to phones, supporting multiple indexed stored audio information segments, wherein the content of the segments are substantially selected and supplied by multiple independent subscribers, and the host supports an interactive directory system providing for connecting a phone line with an audio segment in accordance with supplied segment identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Inventor: Freddie B. Ross
  • Patent number: 8583733
    Abstract: The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates enhancing real time unified communications. An interface can receive a portion of data associated with at least one of a client application or an environment that hosts a client application. A real time collaboration (RTC) component can employ an RTC file package to seamlessly initiate a real time collaboration session with the client application, wherein the RTC file package can include a portion of data that relates to at least one of the client application, the host environment, or a modality of the client application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Adil Faisal, Aaron C. Sethi, Ken Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8576992
    Abstract: A system and method for processing a plurality of requests for a plurality of multi-media services received at a Private Service Exchange (PSX) defined on the system from a plurality of IP-communication devices. The system includes a Network Gateway Controller (GSX) coupled to the PSX and to a media sever (MS). The PSX is coupled to at least one IP Service Control Point (IP-SCP), which is operative to process the plurality of requests for the plurality of multi-media services. The IP-SCP further selectively directs the requests to the media server, via the PSX and GSX. The media server operates to form a preliminary multi-media communication path with a calling communication device. The MS further operates to play a plurality of announcements to the calling communication device over the preliminary multi-media communication path, as well as to collect caller-entered data from the calling communication device over the preliminary multi-media communication path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventor: Harish Samarasinghe
  • Patent number: 8578039
    Abstract: A method and apparatus turns a typical home telephone system into a platform for delivery of web based content and services. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a broadband enabled telephone system for the home and a series of web servers that collect, package, and deliver personalized content and services to all of the telephone handsets throughout the home. With this end-to-end solution, any information or services available via the web can be delivered through a broadband enabled telephone system. Through the web, each member of a family can build a profile which defines what information and services they want available through the handset. In addition, each handset can be dynamically personalized for any family member. The color screens on the handsets become windows through which an individual can view and interact with a broad range of content and services. The audio channels thus become an extension of the voice based services, such as messaging and voice chat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: BroadSoft Casabi, LLC
    Inventors: Greg Pounds, Timothy Kusumi, Gary L. Maxwell, Chris Koverman
  • Patent number: 8571187
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the methods and apparatuses detect a message; detect a message term within the message; search for a match between the message term and a stored term; and display a description based on the match wherein the description is utilized for describing the message term and the description corresponds with the stored term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilson Chu, Elena Vitorino, Jimmy Huang, Richard Iijima
  • Patent number: 8565390
    Abstract: The present invention relates to managing connections between one or more data network interfaces and one or more phone interfaces. In one embodiment, a manager process, running on a computer system receives one or more telephone calls from one or more users over one of the phone interfaces and then accesses one or more profiles associated with each of the users. These profiles have one or more service identifiers and one or more interactive response agent (IRA) identifiers associated with the respective user. A menu of the service identifiers is presented to the user. The manager process looks up an agent address of one of the IRAs that is associated with the service identifier selected by the user from the menu and establishes a session with the associated IRA. A two-way communication with the associated IRA occurs during the session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Te-Kai Liu, Kiyoshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8554194
    Abstract: Provided are a method and a system for providing a virtual messenger service between a mobile communication terminal and a computer. The method includes executing a virtual messenger program for controlling a function of a mobile communication terminal, and receiving a telephone directory provided within the mobile communication terminal; displaying a messenger window when receiving a request for activating the messenger window that collectively includes the telephone directory and menus; generating a communication event message related with a selected telephone number of the other party; and transmitting the generated event message to the mobile communication terminal, and displaying a notification of a communication event to an other party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jung-Hun Kim, Jae-Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8553849
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device for assigning a telephone number to a browsing session and for providing physical location information to a public safety answering point in association with a web-based chat or relay session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Roller Michaelis, Roger L. Toennis
  • Patent number: 8543404
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and computer program product for the proactive completion of input fields for automated voice enablement of a Web page. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for proactively completing empty input fields for voice enabling a Web page can be provided. The method can include receiving speech input for an input field in a Web page and inserting a textual equivalent to the speech input into the input field in a Web page. The method further can include locating an empty input field remaining in the Web page and generating a speech grammar for the input field based upon permitted terms in a core attribute of the empty input field and prompting for speech input for the input field. Finally, the method can include posting the received speech input and the grammar to an automatic speech recognition (ASR) engine and inserting a textual equivalent to the speech input provided by the ASR engine into the empty input field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor S. Moore, Wendi L. Nusbickel
  • Patent number: 8542804
    Abstract: A voice and text mail application method and apparatus capable of supporting both synchronous and asynchronous voice communication. The application is configured to (i) simultaneously and progressively store media of an incoming message as the media is received at a communication device over the network and (ii) provides a “catch up” rendering option which enables the rendering of previously received media of the message starting at any previous point of the message and to catch up the rendering to the current point or head of the message as the media of the message is being received. By rendering the previously received media of the incoming message out of storage at a rate faster relative to when the media of the incoming message was originally encoded, eventually the rendering will catch up and seamlessly transition the rendering from an asynchronous time-shifted mode out of storage to a synchronous mode as the media of the message is received over the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Voxer IP LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Katis, James T. Panttaja, Mary G. Panttaja, Matthew J. Ranney
  • Patent number: 8542678
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a scheme is disclosed for managing call continuity in a network environment including a circuit-switched (CS) network and an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) network wherein unique identity (ID) information supplied by a user equipment (UE) device is utilized. A pool of dynamically allocable IP multimedia routing numbers (IMRNs) maintained at an IMS network node are used for associating an IMRN with call information received from the UE device, which can include at least one of a GRUU, Instance ID, and the called party number relating to a call. When the dynamically allocated IMRN is returned by the UE device, the network node utilizes the IMRN mapping to effectuate call continuity with respect to the called party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Adrian Buckley
  • Patent number: 8537979
    Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a method for operating a telephonic voice content system is provided. The method, comprises in a non-live agent mode, interacting with a caller by receiving an utterance from the caller, performing a machine selection of voice content to play to the caller based on the utterance, and playing the machine-selected voice content to the caller; and upon receiving a request to speak to a live agent from the caller, switching to a live agent mode wherein a live agent holds a conversation with the caller, and selects voice content to play to the caller based on the conversation; and switching to the non-live agent mode and playing the live agent-selected voice content to the caller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: West Interactive Corporation II
    Inventor: Steven Samuel Pollock
  • Patent number: 8537984
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for on-demand recording of a voice session by a telephone recording device in a telecommunication network. After establishing a voice session between the telephone recording device and at least one communication device, a user of the telephone recording device may instruct it to store voice data during the voice session so long as the voice session has not been terminated. During the voice session, the telephone recording device processes and transmits the voice data to and saved at a storage server without going through a centrally located exchange device, wherein the saved voice data is available for on-demand replay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: TeleStrat International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kirk Barker, Darrell D. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8537982
    Abstract: A content server delivers video segments to various on-site modules for display at the respective on-site modules according to respective schedules. The on-site modules may, for example, be located in coffee shops, convenience stores, sandwich grottos, and other establishments where customers are known to wait in line. The on-site modules also display call-in instructions, including a telephone number and a code. When a user places a call to a designated number and enters the code, an audio server determines the state of progression of the video, and begins synchronized audio playback over the caller's telephone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: RMG Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Anoop Kumar Sinha, David Wanqian Liu
  • Patent number: 8538475
    Abstract: A web programmable telephone and a method for operating a web programmable telephone are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a voice module of a wireless household telephone is controlled by an internal web module that can retrieve and execute data operations from a remote portal or server thus adding data functionality to the conventional functions of a telephone. The programmable web module controls all functionality of the web programmable telephone so that every function of the telephone can be programmed and customized by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: TP Lab, Inc.
    Inventor: Chi Fai Ho
  • Patent number: 8537985
    Abstract: The subject matter herein relates to computer software and client-server based applications and, more particularly, to a mobile business client. Some embodiments include one or more device-agnostic application interaction models and one or more device specific transformation services. Some such embodiments provide one or more of systems, methods, and software embodied at least in part in a device specific transformation service to transform channel agnostic application interaction models to and from device or device surrogate specific formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventors: Srinivas Reddy, Juergen Hagedorn, Martin Botschek
  • Patent number: 8526456
    Abstract: A telecommunication and multimedia management apparatus and method that supports voice and other media communications and that enables users to: (i) participate in multiple conversation modes, including live phone calls, conference calls, instant voice messaging or tactical communications; (ii) review the messages of conversations in either a live mode or a time-shifted mode and to seamlessly transition back and forth between the two modes; (iii) participate in multiple conversations either concurrently or simultaneously; (iv) archive the messages of conversations for later review or processing; and (v) persistently store media either created or received on the communication devices of users. The latter feature enables users to generate or review media when either disconnected from the network or network conditions are poor and to optimize the delivery of media over the network based on network conditions and the intention of the users participating in conversations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Voxer IP LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Katis, James T. Panttaja, Mary G. Panttaja, Matthew J. Ranney
  • Patent number: 8526577
    Abstract: A method of accessing content at a speech-enabled automated system is disclosed and comprises receiving a verbal input at an interactive voice response system. The interactive voice response system can include one or more table-driven state tables, in which action-objects are embedded. Further, the method can include retrieving content from an information store, wherein the content is associated with the verbal input. The information store is logically external to the interactive voice response system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Julie A. Idler, Robert R. Bushey, Benjamin A. Knott
  • Patent number: 8520810
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for generating, distributing, and using speech recognition models. A shared speech processing facility is used to support speech recognition for a wide variety of devices with limited capabilities including business computer systems, personal data assistants, etc., which are coupled to the speech processing facility via a communications channel, e.g., the Internet. Devices with audio capture capability record and transmit to the speech processing facility, via the Internet, digitized speech and receive speech processing services, e.g., speech recognition model generation and/or speech recognition services, in response. The Internet is used to return speech recognition models and/or information identifying recognized words or phrases. The speech processing facility can be used to provide speech recognition capabilities to devices without such capabilities and/or to augment a device's speech processing capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Craig L Reding, Suzi Levas
  • Patent number: 8521536
    Abstract: A Mobile Voice Self Service (MVSS) mobile device and method thereof. A VoiceXML browser that is implemented directly on the MVSS mobile device may request a VoiceXML application from a VoiceXML application server and process it. A call data manager may also be implemented on the MVSS mobile device and may provide call data that, in conjunction with data from the VoiceXML application server, may authorize access to advanced Media Resource Control Protocol (MRCP) services, such as Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) or Text-To-Speech (TTS). A media resource gateway may then provide the advanced MRCP services to the VoiceXML application processed by the VoiceXML application browser. Hotkey navigations and bookmarked application points to VoiceXML applications may be created and applied through application analysis and state tracking. Therein, VoiceXML document transitions and user input are stored to maintain application state changes until the user requests creation of an application bookmark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: West Corporation
    Inventor: Chad Daniel Fox
  • Patent number: 8520661
    Abstract: The present invention includes both a system and a method for communication over Internet protocol. In its various embodiments, the system and method of the present invention is particularly well suited for communication via VoIP between a user and a recipient, wherein the recipient is a host or a representative of a host. For example, a recipient could be a customer service or client relation's specialist employed by a host company. According to the present invention, the host is responsible for providing communications means to the recipient. In particular, the communications means are embedded within a host web page accessible to the user, such that the user can directly communicate via Internet protocol to a selected recipient or representative of the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Flatwire, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Strunk
  • Patent number: 8515432
    Abstract: Call control for originating and terminating calls in a visited circuit-switched subsystem (CS) or home multimedia subsystem (MS) as well as transferring calls between the visited CS and the home MS may be anchored at a continuity control function (CCF) in the home MS. Call signaling for the call may be passed through the CCF. When the user element is homed to the home MS and served by the visited CS, the bearer path for the call is established based on the relative proximity of the home MS and the visited CS. When a local MS is more proximate to the visited CS, the bearer path may be routed through a gateway in the local MS, instead of through the gateway in the home MS. When the home MS is sufficiently proximate to the visited CS, the bearer path is routed through the gateway in the home MS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventor: Kaniz Mahdi
  • Patent number: 8509416
    Abstract: A system that enables a calling party to communicate with a called party over a communications network comprises: (a) a web page storage device that is operable to send, over the internet, (i) web pages to a calling party device, the web pages including a data entry screen into which a user enters a required telephone number or VoIP user name with which communication is sought and (ii) a call-in number; (b) a conversion device that is operable to receive over the internet, from the calling party device, the telephone number or VoIP user name and can cause the altering of call forwarding settings at a switch, such that a call from the calling party device to a call-in number will be automatically forwarded to a device associated with the telephone number or VoIP user name; (c) a dynamic line assignment module that can dynamically assign the call-in number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Shoo 533 Limited
    Inventors: Jose Luis Merino Gonzalez, Pablo Alberto Sanchez Calvo
  • Patent number: 8509393
    Abstract: A method for signaling an Integrated Messaging System (IMS) on an Internet Protocol (IP) based network to deposit a message, including the steps of sending a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) SIP INVITE request to the IMS indicating a message deposit action; receiving a corresponding SIP message from the IMS agreeing to participate in the message deposit action; and sending an SIP acknowledge message to the IMS confirming receipt of the corresponding SIP message; and depositing the message in a destination mailbox. A method of signaling an IMS on an IP based network to retrieve a deposited message, the method including the steps of sending a SIP INVITE request to the IMS indicating a message retrieval action; receiving a corresponding SIP message from the IMS agreeing to participate in the message retrieval action; sending an SIP acknowledge message to the IMS confirming receipt of the corresponding SIP message; and retrieving the deposited message from a mailbox corresponding to known account information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Tekla Pehr LLC
    Inventor: Steven R. Donovan
  • Patent number: 8503633
    Abstract: A system and method to provide content and call attributes for a destination phone number using a click-to-dial connection includes accepting a query, retrieving links to a document, and searching through cached data using the query to identify relevant or destination number information. If no match is found, the method continues with accessing the document identified by the link for identifying relevant number information and creating a click-to-dial icon to link to the relevant numbers included in the relevant phone number information identified by the query. Next, a popup box for content relevant to the click-to-dial icon and a click feature on the popup box are created to retrieve call destination attributes for viewing by a user. Further, computer instructions create at least one communication connection between two communication devices after viewing call destination attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Di Fabbrizio, Narendra K. Gupta
  • Patent number: 8503622
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements to selectively retrieve Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) messages are contemplated. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to selectively retrieve VoIP messages by storing the VoIP messages, associating one or more descriptors with the VoIP messages, and displaying at least some of the VoIP messages. The display may include one or more of the descriptors associated with the displayed VoIP messages. The embodiments may include receiving a designation of a designated VoIP message from the VoIP messages. The embodiments may include retrieving the designated VoIP message. In some embodiments, the designated VoIP message may be played. In further embodiments, the designated VoIP message may be forwarded. In many embodiments, the descriptors associated with the displayed VoIP messages may consist of values of attributes of the displayed VoIP messages. In several embodiments, the attributes may have been received through a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Viktors Berstis, Randolph M. Forlenza
  • Patent number: 8498289
    Abstract: A unified messaging system, method and user interface is provided for a handheld mobile communication device. The method may include the following steps: (a) receiving a notification signal at the wireless device via the wireless data channel indicating that the unified messaging system received and stored a voice mail message intended for a user of the wireless device; (b) transmitting a command signal from the wireless device to the unified messaging system via the wireless data channel, the command signal including a message retrieval command; (c) receiving via the wireless voice channel a voice call initiated by a voice mail system component of the unified messaging system in response to the message retrieval command transmitted from the wireless device; and (d) receiving the voice mail message from the unified messaging system via the wireless voice channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Research In Motion Limited
    Inventors: William D. Castell, Gary P. Mousseau, Mihal Lazaridis
  • Patent number: 8488751
    Abstract: Systems and methods for unified messaging are described herein. In an embodiment, a repository server includes a message store. According to one method implemented by the repository server, a voice message is sent as part of an email message. In an embodiment, preprocessing is performed before sending the email, including but not limited to inserting information, data, links, voice mail audio files, and voice mail transcriptions in the email. A copy of the preprocessed email is stored in the message store with an authentication key. The authentication key is used, for example by a recipient of the email, to access voice mail audio files that may not be accessible on the recipient's device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Jens Ulrik Skakkebaek, Cary W. FitzGerald
  • Patent number: 8488752
    Abstract: A system and method for recording voicemail. The system includes a first phone, a second phone, and a server. A call is placed from the first phone to the second phone. The server is configured to transmit a notification to the first phone to initiate recording of a voicemail at a location local to the first phone, receive a file of the voicemail recorded by the first phone, store the recorded voicemail, and establish a session between the server and the second phone to access the recorded voicemail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Alex Wiesen
  • Patent number: 8483371
    Abstract: A system and method for managing incoming and outgoing communications may include a definition of if, when, and who may communicate with a recipient. The identification of the communication may be concealed in that no actual addresses, phone numbers, or other addressing identifications are required to be exchanged by the communication initiator and recipient. In an example, if the database contains call management settings for a call recipient, the application logic may evaluate the rules to determine if a particular caller is authorized to connect with the call recipient at the current time and date. The application logic may connect the call utilizing the public telephone switch. The caller and call recipient phone numbers may be stored in a database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Crandell, Brian K. Wharton
  • Patent number: 8472590
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a first party to control a browser content of a second party. The first party may non-linearly control the second party's browser content via a data network. The installation of software, beyond the installation of the web browser and any applicable software extensions to the browser, is not required by the second party. Simultaneous automated telephonic connections between the first party and the second party also may be established to enhance the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Now Solutions Integration Group Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Curtis, Stuart Clifford McNeill
  • Patent number: 8472589
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide ways to locally store and deliver voicemail messages on personal communication devices. An illustrative method includes initiating a call to a recipient's device, receiving an indication the call cannot be established, prompting the user to leave a voicemail, storing the voicemail locally on the communications device, and sending the voicemail to the recipient's device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas Green, Arthur D. Townsend
  • Patent number: 8472591
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing a custom ring tone in connection with a call. In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving, at a communication system, an indication to provide a customized ring tone associated with a call to a callee device. The method further includes delivering at least a portion of the customized ring tone to the callee device from the communication system when the callee device is determined to be operable to output the customized ring tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas F. Reynolds, Aaron Bangor, Jeffrey Lewis Brandt
  • Publication number: 20130156167
    Abstract: Methods and systems directed to retrieving voicemails from a voice mailbox server. In particular embodiments, a mailbox server may receive a notification from the voice mailbox server and connect to the voice mailbox server providing the credentials of a client device, and pull new voicemails for storage at the mailbox server. In particular embodiments, mailbox server periodically polls voice mailbox server for new voicemail messages. In particular embodiments, a client device polls or receives notification of new voicemails, and transmits a downloaded message to the mailbox server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: Mohit Talwar, Miladin Pavlicic, Siddharth Murlidhar
  • Patent number: 8467381
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to communication systems and methods that allow a resident of a controlled environment facility to report a past, on-going or threatened crime, such as a rape. The resident is able to make the report using a facility communications system without alerting other residents of the controlled environment facility that the crime has been reported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke Keiser, Adam Christopher Edwards
  • Patent number: 8467502
    Abstract: An interactive assistant for managing telephone communications and services is disclosed. In one of many possible method embodiments, a chat interface is provided to a device associated with an intended recipient of an incoming voice call. A chat message from the intended recipient is received through the chat interface. The chat message is presented to a calling party associated with the incoming call prior to a disposition of the call being determined. In other embodiments, an interface provides controls for individually managing calls on a conference call, without affecting other calls on the conference call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Data Services LLC
    Inventors: Ashutosh K. Sureka, Craig L. Reding, Shuchi R. Patel, Alin L. D'Silva, Paula A. Dromlewicz, Sathish Subramanian
  • Patent number: 8467513
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a method of initiating a call. The method includes receiving, at a network device over a first network, an identifier associated with a called party. The method determines a first security level associated with the first network and identifies a plurality of networks associated with the called party using the identifier. The method queries a database to determine a second security level for each network in the plurality of networks and automatically selects an identified network from the plurality of networks associated with the called party having the second security level at least equal to the first security level. The method completes a call to the called party using the identified network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventor: Carl M. Coppage
  • Publication number: 20130148792
    Abstract: A method may include receiving, by a computing device, a communication session invitation from a user device and determining, by the computing device, whether a communication session, corresponding to the communication session invitation, is to be recorded. The method may also include, when the communication session is to be recorded, identifying, by the computing device, a record mode, corresponding to the communication session, from a group of record modes. The method may further include establishing, by the computing device, recording services corresponding to the record mode, and establishing, by the computing device, the communication session with the user device. The method may also include, when the communication session is not to be recorded, establishing, by the computing device, the communication session with the user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
    Inventors: David E. PHELPS, Brian S. Badger, John Macedo, Gregory J. Bjornberg, John Rivera
  • Patent number: 8462917
    Abstract: A system and method provides a natural language interface to world-wide web content. Either in advance or dynamically, webpage content is parsed using a parsing algorithm. A person using a telephone interface can provide speech information, which is converted to text and used to automatically fill in input fields on a webpage form. The form is then submitted to a database search and a response is generated. Information contained on the responsive webpage is extracted and converted to speech via a text-to-speech engine and communicated to the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Srinivas Bangalore, Mazin G. Rahim, Junlan Feng
  • Patent number: 8462935
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring an automated voice response (AVR) system is provided. An audio communication from a caller is processed by executing an AVR script with a plurality of instructions. A visual representation of the audio communication is presented to an agent substantially simultaneously with the audio communication 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: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Intellisist, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilad Odinak, Alastair Sutherland, William A. Tolhurst
  • Publication number: 20130142318
    Abstract: System and method for recording communication sessions in a peer-to-peer communication networks. A conference call may be established between an external end-device, a target agent end-device of a call center and a recorder over a peer-to-peer communication network. After the conference call is established, the recorder may receive media transferred between the external end-device and the target agent end-device and record that media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: NICE-SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventor: NICE-SYSTEMS LTD.
  • Patent number: 8457604
    Abstract: Various embodiments for providing enhanced content sharing on mobile computing devices are described. In one or more embodiments, a mobile computing device may display content and send messages of different types. The mobile computing device may include a content sharing interface to prompt a selection of a recipient for content. The selected recipient may be associated with at least one transport mechanism. The mobile computing device may format the content according to a transport mechanism associated with the selected recipient, open the formatted content in a compose view for the transport mechanism, and to send the formatted content to the selected recipient. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mindy Pereira, Manisha Parekh, Michael Rizkalla
  • Patent number: 8451822
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a wireless mobile device comprising first and second wireless air interfaces that enable both circuit-switched and packet-switched wireless communications between the wireless mobile device and one or more remote stations that can be computer telephony integration servers, or peer devices such as smart telephones or wireless smart telephones, or wireless mobile devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: RPX Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Morgan Dowling
  • Patent number: 8451990
    Abstract: A method and apparatus, and system for storing voicemail data are provided. Voicemail data is generated at a telephony device engaged in a communication session with a calling telephony device, the voicemail data comprising a voice message. E-mail data is then automatically generating after the voicemail data is generated, the e-mail data comprising data identifying the voicemail data, the e-mail data further comprising the voicemail data. The e-mail data is then transmitted to a network address associated with a remote e-mail server, such that the e-mail data, including the voicemail data, is stored at the remote e-mail server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
    Inventors: John Albert, Jerry Yin, Kavita Jain, Zhou Liang, Thomas A. Gray
  • Patent number: 8451725
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing a distributed control of end-to-end media on packet networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. The method first receives a request from a first media endpoint device for opening at least one media channel to a second media endpoint device wherein said request contains a descriptor of said first media endpoint device. The method then updates one or more slot states and link states in response to said request and records the current state of each slot for supporting said media channel. The method also records the most recently received descriptor of said media endpoint device as a most recent descriptor for said slot supporting said media channel. The method executes one or more link objects in response to said request for controlling said at least one media channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric Cheung, Pamela Zave
  • Patent number: 8442189
    Abstract: A unified communications appliance provides integration of various types of information, regardless of the modality, in a common, centralized interface where the various types of information are grouped based on what they are related to. For example, as is common with most modalities of information exchange, there exists a “subject” that is present in one of the fields of communication. The ability to associate all of the types of communication with a common “subject” (or conversation) and provide an interface that allows access to the various types of information, regardless of the modality is provided by the unified communications interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Avaya Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Roller Michaelis, Jason H. Vick
  • Publication number: 20130114801
    Abstract: A call-recording and retrieval system operates from a computerized server in a contact-center, the server executing software from a machine-readable medium. There is a data repository coupled to the computerized server, and an interface at the server enabled to monitor voice interaction between an agent of the contact center and a customer. The server is enabled to follow one or both of direct input from the customer in a monitored interaction and stored rules associated with the customer to record and playback voice interaction between the agent and the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventor: S. Michael Perlmutter
  • Patent number: 8437340
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for supporting enhanced 911 (E911) emergency services, in a data communications network that includes Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephones. A network system includes a host network communicatively coupled to an E911 database management system, a network access device, and a VoIP telephone communicatively coupled to an input port of the network access device. The network access device is adapted to assign a physical location identifier to an input port, to authenticate the VoIP telephone, wherein the authentication includes receiving a unique device identifier from the VoIP telephone, and to transmit the location identifier and the unique device identifier to the E911 database management system. The E911 database management system is permitted to store the physical location identifier in association with the unique device identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Foundry Networks, LLC
    Inventor: Anthony W. James