Abstract: Examples are disclosed for screening an inbound telephony call to a called party. At a communications server, an inbound telephony call intended for a called party's telephone number is received and checked against a whitelist database and a blacklist database. When the caller ID of the inbound call matches a telephone number contained in the blacklist database, the communications server automatically routes the call to a voicemail system or spam folder associated with the called party's telephone number. When the caller ID of the inbound call matches a telephone number contained in the whitelist database, the communications server determines whether the called party is available to receive the call. Otherwise, when the caller ID of the inbound call does not match a telephone number contained in either the whitelist database or the blacklist database, the communications server prompts the caller for additional information.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for verifying that a consumer seeking to conduct a transaction with a merchant is authorized to use an associated account. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatus may include a voice response unit, a storage medium, and a voice print comparator. The voice response unit may obtain a test voice print. The storage medium may store information associated with the consumer, and a control voice print associated with the information. The voice print comparator may receive the control voice print from the storage medium, compare the test voice print to the control voice print, determine a match level signal indicating a degree of match between the test voice print and the control voice print, compare the match level signal and a predefined threshold, and determine an approval for a transaction based on the comparison of the match level signal and the predefined threshold.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device for speech recognition includes a conversion candidate setting unit that receives text data indicating words or sentences together with a command and sets the text data in a conversion list in accordance with the command; a standard pattern extracting unit that extracts, from a speech recognition database, a standard pattern corresponding to at least a part of the words or sentences indicated by the text data that is set in the conversion list; a signal processing unit that extracts frequency components of an input speech signal and generates a feature pattern indicating distribution of the frequency components; and a match detecting unit that detects a match between the feature pattern generated from at least a part of the speech signal and the standard pattern and outputs a speech recognition result.

Abstract: Electronic communications are managed across multiple identities. A user is able to create an account as well as any desired, required, or appropriate number of profiles under the account. Text messages are exchanged between users using specific profiles. For example, some text messages can be exchanged using a personal profile while other text messages need to be exchanged using a professional profile. In some instances, exchanged text messages are saved to a centralized archive. As such, one or both of the users involved in an exchange can request to retrieve some or all of the exchanged messages at a later time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of maintaining time information for a multi-tasking customer service agent is disclosed. One example method of operation may include maintaining time information allocated to a plurality of tasks. The method may include receiving a first task and starting a first timer at a computing device corresponding to the beginning of work performed on the first task. The method may also include receiving a second task and starting a second timer different from the first timer, which corresponds to the beginning of work performed on the second task. The method may further include transferring a total time allocation record representing a total time counted by the first timer and a total time counted by the second timer to a data record stored in memory, wherein the data record associates the total time counted by the first timer with a corresponding task, and associates the total time counted by the second timer with a different corresponding task.

Abstract: A method in a call system connects and blocks a call in a portable terminal. A call blocking time period is set. An elapsed time period is measured from a time point when the call blocking time period is set. A determination is made as to whether the measured time period exceeds the set call blocking time period if the portable terminal receives a call connection request from an external terminal. If the measured time period does not exceed the set call blocking time period, the call connection is blocked and information regarding time period, calculated by subtracting the measured time period from the set call blocking time period, is transmitted to the external terminal that requested the call connection.

Abstract: A Mobile Voice Self Service (MVSS) system that may include an MVSS mobile device and a client system. The system may be used to provide passive outdial support for a mobile device via WAP Push of an MVSS URL. The MVSS mobile device may have various local applications such as a bootstrap application and an outdial application. The client system may include an application server to deliver an MVSS file to the MVSS mobile device.

Abstract: In an approach for preventing the modification of an email by the recipients of the email, a processor receives an indication that an email message is composed. A processor receives an indication that modification of contents of the email message, by one or more recipients of the email message, is to be prevented. A processor converts the contents of the email message from editable text to a non-editable format. A processor sends the converted email message to a recipient.

Abstract: System and computer-based method for automatically distributing information upon the occurrence of predefined events is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a tool that provides an intuitive interface that allows users to easily create content to be stored and delivered to a recipient upon the occurrence of a predefined event related to the location of the recipient. Location data may be retrieved from the recipient's mobile device, or social media websites. The system provides a valuable location-based information delivery system that allows for shared experience capability across time.

Abstract: A sender telephone receives a text message to send to a receiver telephone. The sender telephone determines the transmission delay time by sending a predetermined message to receiver telephone, based on the time it receives an address complete message and a release message. The sender telephone determines a constant value that is greater than the transmission delay time and in response to the determining the constant value, ringing the receiver telephone to transmit the received inputted text message. A receiver telephone receives a predetermined message from a caller telephone to determine a transmission delay time, based on the time it receives the address complete message and a release message. The receiver telephone determines a constant value that is greater than the transmission delay time. The receiver telephone receives incoming rings from the caller telephone and converts the received rings into a text message to be displayed.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described wherein an initiating device sends a communication requesting a voice call session with a recipient device. In response, the initiating device receives a communication indicating that the initiating device can provide a text message instead of establishing the voice call session. In some cases, the communication may refuse the request voice call session, while in other cases the communication may simply indicate that the recipient device supports text messaging as an alternative to voice mail. As a result of the received communication, the initiating device outputs a text input prompt. After receiving text input in response to the prompt, the initiating device sends a text message containing the received text input.

Abstract: A scheduling method includes acquiring first information, second information, and third information from a first terminal located in a service area of a first base station; determining based on the first information, the second information, and the third information, whether a first process assigned to the first terminal is to be collected; and assigning the first process to a second terminal located in the service area of the first base station, when at the determining the first process is determined to be collected.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for imparting a communications delay. A delay is dynamically determined for sending an outgoing communication. The determining includes using information derived from a determination of a prevailing activity level of a sender, and the determined delay is applied to the outgoing communication.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments, implemented in one or more computing devices, for filtering objectionable content from messages prior to transmission of the messages to recipients. A message is obtained for which a sender seeks to transmit, via a network, to one or more recipients. An examination is determined that is to be performed upon the message, where the examination is selected from among a set of available examinations. An action is initiated for the message, where the action is determined based upon a result of the examination. The action includes at least one of: transmitting the message to the recipients, requesting the sender to review the message, modifying the message, and deleting the message.

Abstract: A method for enterprise application integration that uses “connectors” that can be instantiated via downloading (e.g., using Java® or other such technologies) to provide interfaces to respective disparate database systems. The databases systems may comprise any variety of now or heretofore known systems, e.g. SAP, Oracle, and so forth. The connectors can, for example, translate between a native language (or API) of the respective database systems and an internal language/protocol of the enterprise application integration system. To this end, the connectors can utilize a scripting language to access the respective database systems. Data retrieved from the database systems can be stored in a central data store in the form of RDF triplets, from which directed graphs can be generated for to generate presentations consolidated from the multiple database systems.

Abstract: A method, computer program and apparatus are disclosed that include accessing client data records, such as, medical records. The method for may include, for example, receiving a data file at a file server comprising client records information. The method may also include forwarding the file to a database and adding the file to a record in the database, creating a database file and storing the database file on the file server, and scheduling a call to at least one client, the call including a portion of the information included in the received data file. The method may further provide performing the call, monitoring the call, and may also include updating the client records information stored in the database based on the additional information provided by the at least one client.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for verifying that a consumer seeking to conduct a transaction with a merchant is authorized to use an associated account. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatus may include a voice response unit, a storage medium, and a voice print comparator The voice response unit may be configured to obtain a test voice print during a transaction between the consumer and the merchant. The storage medium may be configured to store information associated with the consumer, and a control voice print associated with the information. Also, the voice print comparator may be configured to receive the control voice print, compare the test voice print to the control voice print, and to return a match level signal indicating a degree of match therebetween.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for allowing smart phone users to “capture the moment” by allowing easy access to a camera application when a mobile device is in an above-lock (or locked) mode, while also preventing unauthorized access to other smart phone functionality. According to one embodiment of the disclosed technology, a method of operating a mobile device having an above-lock state and a below-lock state comprises receiving input data requesting invocation of an camera application when the mobile device is in the above-lock state and invoking the requested camera application on the device, where one or more functions of the requested application are unavailable as a result of the mobile device being in the above-lock state.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums for providing message services from a server are described. In some embodiments, a server stores an attachment associated with a communication. The server sends the communication to a client device, with a representation of the attachment type that includes an indication of the attachment's native file type. The server receives a request from the client device to view the attachment in the client device. The server retrieves the attachment in response to the request and transcodes the attachment from the attachment's native file type to a viewable file type configured to display in the client device. The viewable file type is determined by the server based on metadata received from the client device. The server transmits at least a portion of the attachment in the viewable file type to the client device for display. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for requesting a transport policy for a bearer of a session in a communications system (100) A transport policy requesting node (500) according to the invention comprises an event handling mechanism (505) adapted to detect a triggering event triggering the selection of a transport policy for the bearer of a service; a transport policy selection mechanism (525) adapted to select a transport policy and transmit a policy request indicative of the transport policy to a policy decision function, and a context information handling mechanism (515, 520) adapted to receive information relating to a context relevant to the service. The context information can be used as a trigger for the selection of a transport policy, and/or as a basis for the selection of a transport policy.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for routing a communication through monitoring one or more of words and voice characteristics of a communicant during an interaction. A communication may be handled based on a score. A score may be calculated based on several factors that are analyzed during an interaction, such as, amplitude, word usage, call metrics, etc. Previous interactions of communicants may also be factored into a score. Such handling may include specialized routing of the communication to a designated handler, for example. A communication may be continually evaluated during its occurrence and said evaluation data stored for future use.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with automatically connecting a participant to a conference are described. In one embodiment, a method includes generating a code that is provided to the participant of a conference. Generating the code includes storing metadata associated with both the conference and the participant based, at least in part, on a mapping between the code and the metadata. The example method may also include initiating access to the conference for the participant in response to receiving the code from the participant. Initiating access includes initiating a connection to the conference with a device associated with the participant.

Abstract: A system and method for user modification of metadata in a shell browser. A group of items and associated metadata values are displayed in a window of the shell browser. An edit control permits user modification of metadata values displayed in the window. The user can modify metadata associated with a welcome pane, a selected item, or multiple selected items. A data structure stored on one or more computer-readable media contains metadata associated with items displayed in a shell browser, including user modifiable metadata which is also displayed in the shell browser.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for effective broadcasting of emergency messages. An emergency indicator that indicates that an emergency condition exists can be received. A geographic area affected by the emergency condition can be determined and a plurality of devices and a user device located at the geographic area can be identified. The user device can be selected to broadcast an alert to the plurality of devices, and an alert trigger can be sent to the user device. The alert trigger can cause the user device to activate a wireless hotspot at the user device, the wireless hotspot being associated with a dedicated service set identifier, and to broadcast, via the wireless hotspot, an alert indicating the emergency condition.

Abstract: A method, computer program and apparatus are disclosed that include accessing client data records, such as, medical records. The method for may include, for example, receiving a data file at a file server comprising client records information. The method may also include forwarding the file to a database and adding the file to a record in the database, creating a database file and storing the database file on the file server, and scheduling a call to at least one client, the call including a portion of the information included in the received data file. The method may further provide performing the call, monitoring the call, and may also include updating the client records information stored in the database based on the additional information provided by the at least one client.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of scheduling batch processing of a batch processing system based on subscriber usage patterns. The method includes steps of recording a last job commencement event for a subscriber when the batch processing system starts processing a batch process for the subscriber; recording a last usage event for the subscriber when the subscriber uses the batch processing system; in an event that a time period elapsed since the last usage event for the subscriber is less than a time period elapsed since the last job commencement event for the subscriber, placing a next batch process of the subscriber into a recently used queue; identifying the next batch process of the subscriber as the oldest batch process from the recently used queue; and start processing the identified batch process for the subscriber.

Abstract: A method for processing a voice message in a computerized system. The method receives and records a speech utterance including a message portion and a communication portion. The method proceeds to parse the input to identify and separate the message portion and the communication portion. It then identifies communication parameters, including one or more destination mailboxes, from the communication portion, and it transmits the message portion to the destination mailbox as a voice message.

Abstract: A call from a caller to an interactive voice response (IVR) system may be serviced based on behavior by the caller in one or more prior calls to the IVR system. The call may be serviced by predicting information to be used in servicing the call. Predicting such information may include analyzing data reflecting behavior by the caller in one or more prior calls to the IVR system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products adapt gaming applications to participants. Should one of the participants be a minor, for example, the gaming application may adapt to scenarios that are appropriate for minors. Similarly, the gaming application may adapt to customs associated with a country of a participant.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for call recording, e.g. in a VoIP system. At least one endpoint may be configured to terminate a call. A recording system may be configured to record call content data from multiple endpointsA the controller may receive, from a call exchange, interaction metadata relating to calls starting and terminating at the endpoint; receive notifications relating to call content from the recording system; and match the interaction metadata to the notifications.

Abstract: An interactive response system that enables a user to engage in an interaction with the response system that is representative of an interaction between the user and a server connected to the Internet is described. During a telephone call between a user and an interactive response system, the user uses only his voice or key presses on a keypad of his telephone to interactively specify information that can be used to control delivery of content to a visual display of, or a storage medium accessible by, a target device. A separate interaction on behalf of the user is conducted by the interactive response system with the server. Information is received that can be used to identify the user and the target. Based on the received information, user authentication information is transmitted to the user, authentication information is received from the user, and the user is allowed to access a service.

Abstract: A questionnaire is presented to a user in a more efficient manner in which the user is more likely to participate. The questionnaire is sent electronically to the user's vehicle and presented audibly to the user. The user responds audibly to the questions in the questionnaire. The user's responses are converted to text and sent back to the provider server for tallying.

Abstract: A system and method of triggering and executing active content on a recipient device, the system comprising a sender device configured to send a trigger message to the recipient device, wherein the trigger message specifies at least one executable file, the executable file comprising active content to be executed by the recipient device, is disclosed.

Abstract: A node in a telephone network such as a switch stores associations between called and calling parties and colored ringback media played by the called party. Later, when the same calling party calls the called party, the node retrieves the stored ringback media and forwards the media to the calling party on behalf of the called party. In one embodiment, the node comprises a switch. In other embodiments, the node is a central server caching called/calling party combinations and associated ringback media and provides the ringback media forwarding function for a distributed population of called parties. Such called parties may comprise wireless phones.

Abstract: A method and system for processing application logs describing transactions in a computer telephony integration (CTI) environment is disclosed. The CTI environment includes a plurality of CTI servers configured to execute CTI applications. Numerous instances or types of CTI applications may be executed. A user may request information for a transaction performed in the CTI environment. The relevant application logs indicating the transaction may be determined and output. Information indicating the relevant application logs may be output to the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for unified calling are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method may include (1) using a soft phone application executed by a computer processor, communicating, to a telephony server, an agent status indicating a readiness of the agent to manually make a telephone call; (2) receiving, on a computer terminal, an indication of a telephone number to call; and (3) manually dialing the telephone number using a telephone. The soft phone application emulates an analog connection with the telephony server.

Abstract: Various methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for determining relevance of a promotional message based on caller feedback. The method may include receiving at least one phone call, the at least one phone call indicating a phone number that was called to make the at least one phone call. The method may include associating the at least one phone call with a promotional message or promotional message group via the phone number, the promotional message group comprising one or more promotional messages. The method may include receiving feedback that indicates a user experience associated with the at least one phone call. The method may include determining a relevance of the promotional message or promotional message group based on the received feedback.

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.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for providing voice response unit (VRU) harvesting. A system is provided that includes: an account management system for allowing a user to identify a set of VRUs and associated data desired from each VRU; a navigation system for automatically navigating each VRU and collecting the desired data from each VRU; and an output system for outputting the desired data for the user.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for operating a wireless communication system are provided herein. In one example, method of operating a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes processing a voice call directed to a user device and alerting the user device of the voice call, determining that the user device has not answered the voice call, and determining a status of the wireless communication system. When the status of the wireless communication system indicates a first condition, then the method includes initiating a first connection for the voice call to a voicemail service for the wireless communication system. When the status of the wireless communication system indicates a second condition, then the method includes initiating a second connection for the voice call to a voicemail service on the user device.

Abstract: A system and method for playing pre-call messages. User input is received to record a pre-call message for one or more intended recipients in anticipation of an incoming call from the one or more intended recipient. The pre-call message is associated with an identifier of the one or more intended recipients. The pre-call message is played to the one or more intended recipients during the ring back period in response to determining the incoming call is from the one or more intended recipients using the identifier. The pre-call message is deleted in response to determining the one or more intended recipients have received the entire pre-call message.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a physical asset using a mobile computing device is disclosed. Data regarding the asset and its condition is collected on the mobile device by a user, and may include photographs, audio or video recordings, text or other types of data. The data is automatically annotated with the current time and the geo-location of the device. The data is transmitted to a server and saved in a manner such that it may not be modified. This allows for auditing, as well as tracking of the asset over time by comparing data entered at one time with data entered at another time. Reports may be automatically generated from the saved data when desired. Pre-defined fields for data entry may be presented for ease of use. In some embodiments, the asset being inspected is a building, house or apartment.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interactive voice response (IVR) system supplying functions and resources to services encompassing interactive voice response or output of announcements and three methods for dealing with resource bottlenecks of the IVR system. The IVR system supplies a pool of resources to several switching systems. Virtual, individually assigned IVR systems are created from the perspective of the switching systems by allocating the control interfaces and user data interfaces of the IVR system in an exclusive, disjunctive manner to the switching systems. Resource bottlenecks can be prevented when several switching systems access the IVR system by rejecting jobs for which the required resources cannot be reserved or by aborting jobs creating too substantial delays during processing due to the wait for resources. The invention has the advantage of efficiently utilizing the resources supplied by the IVR system.

Abstract: A network device may include a memory to store a database including voicemail message information associated with a voicemail mailbox, a transmitter, and a receiver. The transmitter may send a notification to each of a plurality of communication devices, the notification including an indication of a number of new voicemail messages in the voicemail mailbox, an indication of a total number of voicemail messages in the voicemail mailbox, and an identifier of a most recent voicemail message in the voicemail mailbox, where each of the plurality of communication devices uses the notification signal to determine whether to request a list of voicemail messages. The receiver may receive, from one of the communication devices in response to the notification, a request for the list of voicemail messages associated with voicemail message information stored in the database. The transmitter may sends, to the one of the plurality of communications devices, the list of voicemail messages.

Abstract: A method for removing voice messages in a voicemail system queue. The method includes acquiring data associated with a first call, including a voice message provided during the first call and a unique identifier assigned to the voice message of the first call. The method also includes receiving a second call and acquiring data for the second call, the data including information indicating whether the second call relates to a voice message previously provided to the voicemail system. The method also includes determining if the second call is related to the first call based on a comparison of at least a portion of the data for the second call and at least a portion of the data for the first call. The method also includes modifying the stored data associated with the first call if the second call is determined to be related to the first call.

Abstract: A method for allowing a calling party to leave a message for a called party. The method comprises: receiving a command provided by the calling party and indicative of a desire of the calling party to leave a message for the called party; obtaining message destination information associated with the called party; receiving a voice message provided by the calling party; generating an electronic message representative of the voice message; and causing transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information. An apparatus for implementing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method of selecting a distribution list for a voice mail message. The steps include identifying a group of recipients with whom to share the voice mail message, creating a user profile which includes voice mail preferences of a subscriber and the group of recipients, the preferences including an indication as whether to share the voice mail message with the group of recipients and distributing the voice mail message based on the preferences.

Abstract: A telephony user device capable of establishing a communications session for communication of data in a data communications network, the telephony user device including a processing system configured to provide a reconfigurable graphical user interface, establish a telephone call with a voicemail system, establish a separate communications session, separate from the telephone call, for the transfer of data to/from the telephony user device, on the basis of one or more call party details associated with the telephone call, and reconfigure at least a part of the graphical user interface in accordance with configuration data received via the separate communication session, the configuration data relating to and/or being derived from the voicemail system.

Abstract: A system for managing voice communications provides voice prompts in one or more particular languages or language variants. High level grammatical rules are defined for the set of voice prompts in the particular language. The grammatical rules for the set of voice prompts are stored in the system. A set of audio tiles are developed in the particular language. The audio files in the particular language are stored in the system. A request is received from a user, and the system initiates a request for a voice prompt. A sequential list of audio files is developed, and when the sequential list of audio files is played by the system, the requested voice prompt is played to the user in the particular language. The sequential list of audio files is produced based on the grammatical rules and voice communications are managed in the system.

Abstract: A provisioning system configured to retrieve a voicemail password and/or a pilot number for a voicemail account, create a first service request directed to an over-the-air system, and send the first service request to the over-the-air system, if the provisioning system determines that the voicemail account has been initialized. The first service request instructs the over-the-air system to format a first message including the voicemail password and/or the pilot number for delivery to a mobile device. The provisioning system is further configured to create a second service request directed to the over-the-air system and send the second service request to the over-the-air system, if the provisioning system determines that the voicemail account has not been initialized. The second service request instructs the over-the-air system to format a second message including a default voicemail password and/or a default pilot number for delivery to the mobile device.