Abstract: A content recommendation system includes first and second communication devices which are connected to each other and in which content recommendation information is transmitted and received between both devices. The first communication device includes a storage section for storing pieces of content recommendation information to be transmitted, a selecting section for selecting a piece of content recommendation information to be transmitted from the storage section, and a transmitting section for transmitting the selected piece of content recommendation information. The second communication device includes a receiving section for receiving the piece of content recommendation information transmitted from the first communication device, and a storage section for storing the received piece of content recommendation information.

Abstract: This invention provides a network access system that permits communication device users to access a network such as the Internet, a cable network, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network or a broadband network (which may include cable and DSL networks). A network access device receives commands from users and executes the commands such as send e-mail, search the network, log on to pages supported by other parties on the network, download information from the network, request information such as movies from the network, bidding in an auction, etc. A user profile saves preferences of a user for interacting with the network. The network access device may supply primitive commands for the user to use individually or to construct complex command macros so that by a single command, more complex functions may be performed using the network.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a high reliability network. Context servers store information about calls in a telecommunications system. Network control elements can obtain call information from the context servers to help make call control and reporting decisions.

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.

Abstract: A communication device capable of participating in a conversation over a network. The communication device includes an encoder to receive and encode media locally created using the communication device and associated with the conversation and a transmitter to transmit over the network the locally created media to one or more participants of the conversation. The communication device also includes a receiver to receive media from the one or more participants of the conversation over the network and a time-shifting buffer to store in a time-based format both the media received over the communication network and the locally created media. The time-shifting buffer enables the communication device to either (i) render the media received over the network in a near real-time mode or (ii) render both the media received over the network and the locally created media in a time-shifted mode by retrieving the stored media from the time-shifting buffer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved media communication device for communicating over a communication network. The communication device includes an encoder, a time-shifting buffer and a transmitter to progressively encode, store in a time-based format, and transmit over the network locally created media created using the communication device. The communication device also includes a receiver and a rendering element to receive and progressively render media received over the network from a remote source. The received media is also stored in the time-based format in the time-shifting buffer. By storing media in the time-based format in the time-shifting buffer, the received media may be rendered in a near real-time mode and the received and locally created media may be rendered in a time-shifted mode. In various embodiments, the locally created and received media may be streaming media.

Abstract: In one aspect, a device is provided. The device comprises at least one detection unit which generates an output signal in accordance with a status of a transmission path. Accordingly, switching of a telephone between two transmission paths is controlled in a simple manner in accordance with the output signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a node for transmitting data over a network. The node includes a first ascertaining element configured to ascertain the need to transmit one or more data streams from the node to a second node over the network, the one or more data streams including time-based media that is generated either locally or remotely on the network. The node also includes a second ascertaining element configured to ascertain a timeliness preference for reviewing the one or more data streams by one or more recipients respectively. The ascertained timeliness preference for each one of the data streams is either (a) time-sensitive where at least one recipient of the one data stream has indicated an intent to review the one data stream in a near real-time mode as received by the recipient over the network while the time-based media of the one data stream is being generated or (b) less-than time-sensitive.

Abstract: A participant managing system which identifies potential invitees to a conference. A storage means maintains storing records of associations of persons at least to one or more keywords. During the preparation of the conference the system responds to the user's input of key words by identifying persons. The user is not obliged to make any selection of persons, only a selection of subjects by key words.

Abstract: A hand held device, much like a cell phone or PDA, contains both a data server and a data client along with the voice messaging of a cell phone. The data server communicates through a TCP/IP stack with a local computing system via IR, short distance wireless, a serial bus or Ethernet. The data client communicates with a remote server via a voice network or wireless to the Internet also via a TCP/IP stack and a wide are network. Spare network bandwidth may be used for transferring information. The information may include emails that are received and stored for later review for ultimately transferring to a local computer. Status may include knowing available memory and message sizes. Message that are too large may be noted for later retrieval. On-board memory includes RAM. ROM, and removable modules that may be physically removed and run at a local computing system.

Abstract: A communication device for consecutively rendering one or more conversations. The device includes a receiver configured to receive at the communication device media associated with the one or more conversations over a network. The one or more conversations include a defined set of conversations to be consecutively rendered in accordance with a defined priority hierarchy. The device also includes a sequencing element, which sequences the received media associated with the defined set of conversations into a sequence order at least partially based on the defined priority hierarchy. A rendering element consecutively renders the received media associated with the defined set of conversations in the sequence order.

Abstract: Method of using a computerized smart phone to navigate remote auto attendant telephony systems with a menu structure. The auto attendant's menu structure is put into an online computer database. When the caller uses the smart phone to call and establish a voice channel with remote auto attendant telephony system (using the telephone number of that system), software applications running on the caller's smart phone communication device intercept the telephone number and along with the voice channel, also establish a data channel with the online computer accessible database. The caller's smart phone can then retrieve at least some of the menu structure of the auto attendant telephony system through this data channel. This application software can then display at least some of the menu structure of the remote auto attendant telephony system on the graphical user interface of the user's smart phone synchronized with the audio delivery of the menu structure, facilitating interactions with the auto attendant system.

Abstract: A facsimile apparatus is disclosed that includes a register unit that registers transmission destination information in an internal address book. The register unit receives a number input at least a first time and a second time, and upon determining that a number input the first time and a number input the second time correspond to a same input number, registers the same input number as a valid facsimile number.

Abstract: A communication terminal having an email message sending-and-receiving function includes an email-message history information storing unit configured to store email-message information of at least a sent email message as email-message history information, an intended-to-be-sent email message storing unit configured to store email-message information of an intended-to-be-sent email message, the intended-to-be-sent email message being an email message which is going to be sent, as intended-to-be-sent email message information, a destination-address right/wrong determining unit configured to determine whether a destination address of the intended-to-be-sent email message is right or wrong by comparing the email-message history information with the intended-to-be-sent email message information, and a unit configured to send, if the destination address is determined to be wrong, a notification of the wrong destination address to a user and to request the user to check the destination address.

Abstract: A communication device includes a call unit, a transmitter, a network transmission unit and a display unit. The call unit can generate a call request based on a phone number of a phone device of a called party. The transmitter can send the call request to the phone device. The network transmission unit is responsive to the call request for acquiring current status information of the called party from at least one social network server through Internet. The display unit can render the current status information.

Abstract: A network method for using a network telephone voice-mail service, by which a caller may leave a voice-message that includes the identification of an attachment, which may include, as examples only, audio, video, text, programs, spreadsheets and graphic attachments. A video, text, spreadsheet or graphic attachment may be converted to an audible attachment to the voice-mail at the caller's or the voice-mail subscriber's request. Such entries may be made, after receiving an automated prompt for leaving an attachment identifier or conversion request, audibly or by using a keypad entry. A network method is also provided for using a network telephone voice-mail service, by which the voice-mail service may detect an attachment to a voice-mail message and provide access to the attachment to the voice-mail message.

Abstract: A VoIP adapter for POTS a phone comprises: a POTS phone connector, an IP network interface, two sets of signaling senders, signaling receivers, media senders and media receivers for the POTS phone and the IP network respectively, and a controller for controlling the operations of above components. The VoIP adapter enables the user to carry out VoIP communications using a normal POTS phone and further enables use of advanced VoIP functions via the normal POTS phone, such as Call Hold, Call Transfer, Ad Hoc Conference, etc.

Abstract: In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a method using presence information to manage network access includes maintaining presence information for an end user. When a remote access request is received from the end user at a remote endpoint, the presence information for the end user is updated to identify the presence of the end user at one or more network endpoints associated with a private network. An access point to the private network is then automatically configured to allow any communications addressed to an IP address associated with the one or more network endpoints to pass through the access point.

Abstract: A method and system for organizing and sharing digital images over a communication network wherein an image server at a service provider stores digital images for a customer which may have more two more electronic addresses which may receive e-mail. The server automatically forwarding all electronic mail having an address from one of the registered two or more electronic addresses to the primary electronic address that is received over a communication network. The e-mail includes a link to the share images and/or images folder.

Abstract: Various aspects relate to using structured messages within one or more systems that implement instant messaging function in a distributed computing environment. In particular, structured information may be encoded and embedded in unstructured instant messages and communicated among one or more computer systems, networks, applications or other entities. In one aspect, instant messaging may be leveraged as middleware for application integration. Other aspects relate to using structured message information to perform functions in a distributed instant messaging system. For example, structured message information may be used to control the display of instant message information to a user, or may be used to control how the instant message information is distributed, processed, or otherwise handled by a receiving system, application or process. Other aspects relate to an interface for displaying information relating to a number of instant messaging conversations to a user.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, system and a computer program product provide improved delivery of short messages. The method includes the steps of receiving a message to be delivered to user equipment, negotiating a timer value with a short message service routing element, forwarding the short message to the short message service routing element together with the negotiated timer value and starting a timer according to the negotiated timer value.

Abstract: A method for providing text messaging services to subscribers in a telecommunications network is presented. Each of the subscribers has subscriber equipment that includes a telephone and television equipment. The method includes receiving first key stroke data corresponding to at least one text character associated with a text message, the first key stroke data having been input by the subscriber on a telephone, and providing first text prediction data, obtained from a lookup of the first key stroke data in a text prediction database, for display via the television equipment, the first text prediction data including predicted text for the text character in the text message being created.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods, and computer readable media for interfacing with a phone system in an on-demand service environment. In one embodiment, a client machine is in communication with a data provider and the phone system. The phone system is operated by a phone provider separate from the data provider. A message is received at the client machine from the phone system. The message includes information regarding a phone event in relation to a phone call. The phone event information is provided in a first part of a user interface in a web browser on the client machine. A second part of the user interface is capable of displaying information received at the client machine from the data provider. The first part of the user interface and the second part of the user interface are adapted to communicate with one another. For example, the first part of the user interface is adapted to send a message including the phone event information to the second part of the user interface.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of computer telephony integration. In particular the invention relates to displaying and producing computer based documents seamlessly to users that relate to their telephone calls. The best mode of the invention is considered to be the use of the invention with social media, such as Facebook, where the mobile station (30) searches for the social media page of the caller based on the Caller ID and displays it to the recipient of the call on the mobile station screen, possibly with other Internet search results. The methods and arrangements of the invention allow the user to obtain the newest public information about the person who calls him or he decides to call, or any documents that might be intermittent between the people. In other words the Desktop or screen of the invention automatically arranges itself to a state in which it is easiest to work during the call, using searches made based on call parameters, such as caller ID. The invention adds “bandwidth”, i.e.

Abstract: System and methods for providing multimedia message service (MMS) interoperability between an initiating carrier and a destination carrier. A transcoding facility receives an MMS message from an initiating carrier and accesses a number portability database to determine an identity of a destination carrier to which the MMS message is intended to be sent and a carrier profile repository to obtain a carrier profile for the destination carrier, the carrier profile including information regarding an MMS format acceptable to the destination carrier.

Abstract: In one implementation a computer-implemented method includes generating a group of telephone contacts for a first user, wherein the generating includes identifying a second user as a contact of the first user based upon a determination that the second user has at least a threshold email-based association with the first user; and adding the identified second user to the group of telephone contacts for the first user. The method further includes receiving a first request to connect a first telephone device associated with the first user to a second telephone device associated with the second user. The method also includes identifying a contact identifier of the second telephone device using the generated group of telephone contacts for the first user, and initiating a connection between the first telephone device and the second telephone device using the identified contact identifier.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for auto play of a status in a telephone conference is provided. The method includes receiving, at an e-mail server, a status message of a party to a telephone conference, and determining from the status message whether the party will be able to attend the telephone conference. When it is determined that the party cannot attend the telephone conference, the method further includes forwarding the status message to a voice box for conversion of the status message into audio that is saved in an audio file. The method may also include notifying a teleconference bridge that the party associated with the status message will not be able to attend the telephone conference. The teleconference bridge creates an entry in a repository indicating that the party will need a voice proxy from the audio file, and, during the telephone conference, the status of the party is provided to other parties to the telephone conference by playing the audio file.

Abstract: A method and a system which provide means to enable terminal equipment that relies on network based retrieval of data objects and terminal equipment that comprises data object retrieval capability, to coexist and interact with each other on the same communication network. This is accomplished by a filtering server on the network that at least knows which terminals require network based retrieval and only gives these terminals network based data object retrieval.

Abstract: Presented is a method of managing the operation of a system including a processing subsystem configured to run a multimedia application and a telecommunication subsystem. The method includes determining telecom environment conditions, and selecting a working point from a plurality of predetermined working points. The selecting is based at least in part on the determined environmental conditions. The method also includes setting control parameters in the multimedia application and/or the telecommunication subsystem to configure the system to operate at the selected working point, and operating the system at the selected working point.

Abstract: A telephone call processor for processing telephone calls comprising voice signals and data signals, the call processor comprising a first telephone interface and a second telephone interface, the call processor being operable in a first mode and in a second mode. In the first mode, the call processor is adapted to receive voice signals and data signals at the first telephone interface and to transmit voice signals and data signals via the second telephone interface. In the second mode, the call processor is adapted to receive voice signals and data signals at the first telephone interface, to block data signals from being transmitted via the second telephone interface and optionally to transmit voice signals via the second telephone interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for retrieving information from household appliances are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request from a user of an appliance. The method then receives stored information from the appliance as one or more Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signals.

Abstract: Call-handling rules may be provided. A user interface may access a plurality of information associated with a user and provide functionality for creating a plurality of rules based on the information. An incoming call intended for the user may be received and processed according to the created rules.

Abstract: Transaction data is entered by the user in response to prompts in a template. The template and entered data are accumulated into data transactions which are exploded and sent to an external database servers for processing and storage. Each database server may explode the data transaction to produce ancillary records which are then stored, and/or forwards the data transaction or some or all of the ancillary records to other database servers for updating other databases associated with those database servers. The database server(s) may also return data streams for use in completing the fields in the data transaction.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing online advertisements to consumers. A method disclosed herein allows a consumer to provide contact information to a business in response to a search request submitted to a search engine. Subsequently, the business may initiate a communication to the consumer at the contact information provided by the consumer. As a result, the business has better assurance that the advertisement fees provided to the search engine is in fact generating better consumer contacts for the business. In an embodiment of the system disclosed herein a telecommunications service provider may receive the contact information from the consumer and establish a line of communication between the consumer and the business.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for defending against telephone-based robotic attacks An interactive voice response method is provided for presenting a menu having one or more menu options to a caller. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a script to present to the caller, the script including the one or more menu options; permuting one or more characteristics of at least one of the one or more menu options; and presenting the permuted menu to the caller. The permutation may comprise, for example, adding one or more additional menu options to the menu; varying a selection number associated with the at least one menu option; varying an order of at least a plurality of the menu options; or varying a wording or pronunciation of one or more menu options.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided fox defending against telephone-based robotic attacks. An interactive voice response method is provided for presenting a menu having one or more menu options to a caller associated with a call. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a script to present to the caller, the script including the one or more menu options; combining at least one of the one or more menu options with a background audio signal, wherein the background audio signal is selected based on a context of the call; and presenting the combination of the at least one of the one or more menu options and the background audio signal to the caller. The context of the call includes comprises one or more of an identity of a called party associated with the call and a time period of the call. The background audio signal can optionally be obtained from a library of background signals.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing to a destination a notification of a topic being discussed by two participants of a voice call. Terms are extracted from an audio stream generated during the voice call. A topic is determined based on the extracted terms. A topic notification identifying the topic and at least one of the two participants is sent to a destination. A recipient of the notification may indicate a desire to join the voice call. Upon approval by one of the participants, the recipient may be joined to the voice call.

Abstract: The present invention is an adaptive communication device with telephonic interface capabilities which allows the device to interface with standard telephony. The adaptive communication device is comprised of a user interface with a digitized user interface and movement transducer.

Abstract: To personalize a voice information delivery service, e.g., directory assistance, a voice email service, stock quotation service and other information assistance services, a user is afforded an option to customize automated voices/speeches to deliver information to him/her. The automated voices/speeches may be customized for different services and functions, and/or in terms of urgency, context, etc. of the information to be voice-delivered. In an illustrative embodiment, the user's voice preferences for voice information deliveries are recorded in a user profile, which are represented by sets of speech characterizing parameters, respectively, based on which a text-to-speech (TTS) engine reads given text information to the user in the corresponding preferred voices/speeches.

Abstract: A method is described of providing validation data associated with a subscriber line of a telecommunication network using a validation system. The method includes obtaining line data of the subscriber line wherein the line data is suitable for interrogating a line identification database (LIDB). The method interrogates the LIDB with the line data to obtain reference subscriber data associated with the line data, and processes the reference subscriber data to obtain validation data associated with the subscriber line. The method includes identifying a local exchange carrier (LEC) associated with the subscriber line to determine if a billing arrangement exists between the validation system and the LEC. The invention extends to a subscriber line validation system to validate a subscriber line of a communication network.

Abstract: A method in a communications system for handling responses to messages includes a step of sending a message from a first party to a second party. A response to the message is sent, with the response including at least one parameter in breach of a policy for a communication between the first party and the second party. A network controller detects that the response includes at least one parameter breaching the policy. The at least one parameter is modified to be consistent with the policy.

Abstract: Methods and Systems are provided for managing one or more communications lines associated with a user of a communications network. A service center may receive from a user line management information regarding one or more of the user's communications lines. This line management information may include a request from the user to handle all calls to the communications line in a particular manner (e.g., forward all calls to a different number). This line management information may also include information regarding scheduling the handling of calls to the communications line (e.g., scheduling call forwarding) or a request to handle calls differently based on information identifying the origination of the call (e.g., caller-ID). The service center may then forward instructions to the communications network such that the components (e.g., SSP or SCP) of the communications network implement the user's modifications.

Abstract: The present publication discloses a method and system for sending messages in a telecommunications network (1, 2, 6, 11, 12), in which method digital messages (40) which contain information on the desired reply address (32) are mass sent (3), and messages, which are sent on the basis of the reply-address information (32) are received (10). According to the invention, the reply-address information of each mass-sent message (40) is converted (3) to correspond to a predefined dialogue, in which the stage of the dialogue defines unequivocally the reply-address information (32), so that the transmission and reception of the messages are implemented in different parts of the telecommunications system (1, 2, 6, 11, 12).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for a called party to provide indication information for a calling party. The method includes the steps of: presetting the indication information to be provided to the calling party at the called party; before the called party answers the call in the connection procedure between the calling party and the called party, the network side obtaining the preset indication information from the called party and sending the indication information to the calling party. Accordingly, the present invention discloses a system for a called party to provide the indication information to a calling party. The present invention makes it possible that the called party flexibly selects the indication information to be provided to the calling party and the problem that only the indication information in the indication information database can be provided is avoided.

Abstract: Voice communications apparatus intervenes between a telephone set and a broad-band transmission path that has a communication band broader than a voice band limited by the transmitter and receiver characteristics of the telephone set. The voice communications apparatus includes a transmitter frequency characteristic corrector circuit for correcting the frequency characteristic of a signal input from the telephone set, and a receiver frequency characteristic corrector circuit for correcting the frequency characteristic of a signal to be input to the telephone set.

Abstract: A method of assisting communication for a user is provided. The method includes receiving an IM message including a request for a voice carry over from the user, and transmitting to the user an invitation to join a first voice connection. The method further includes initiating the first voice connection with the user, and initiating a second voice connection with a recipient. Additionally, the method includes communicating to the recipient a first voice communication from the user over the first and second voice connections, and communicating to the user a response IM message including a transcribed version of a second voice communication from the recipient. An apparatus for assisting communication for a user is provided. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions is provided. The computer-executable instructions cause a processor to perform a method when executed.

Abstract: A communication apparatus including: a communication portion which performs a data communication with a sub-communication apparatus; a transmission-data communicating portion which performs a transmission-data communication with a data processing apparatus; a transmission-data receiving section which receives transmission data from the data processing apparatus; a notifying section which transmits a notification to the sub-communication apparatus, the notification being based on that the transmission-data receiving section has received the transmission data; a relaying section which relays a phone conversation between an external communication apparatus and the sub-communication apparatus; and a transmitting section which transmits the transmission data received by the transmission-data receiving section, to an external communication apparatus as a call opposite party of the phone conversation which is being relayed by the relaying section where a transmission-data transmitting command has been received from

Abstract: A customer premises equipment (CPE) device, such as a telephone, connected to a local communications line existing on the premises is capable of receiving incoming telephone or like communication calls. The device has an interface which connects the device to the local communications line on the premises and enables the device to receive an alternating voltage analog ring signal corresponding to a notification of an incoming telephone call. The device also includes a demodulator for decoding and processing the ring signal including additional media data which is of low amplitude relative to that of the alternating voltage analog ring signal and which is modulated on the alternating voltage analog ring signal. Further, the device includes an input/output (I/O) component providing a means for audible and/or visual output of media from the device. The media output from the device directly corresponds to the media data modulated on the ring signal. CPE telephone systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A modem (10) includes a signal tuner module (101), a signal processing module (103), and a mode switching module (105). The signal tuner module receives a radio frequency (RF) signal in a first operation mode, and converts the RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal according to the first operation mode. The signal processing module processes the IF signal to generate an error rate according to the first operation mode. The mode switching module determines whether the first operation mode is right according to the error rate, and switches from the first operation mode to a second operation mode when the first operation mode is not right. A method for switching operation modes thereof is also provided.

Abstract: A method of connecting phone users telephonically to prerecorded information using text keywords and a keyword database is disclosed. Preferred methods of purchasing text keywords and changing the corresponding number or other attributes by website are also disclosed.