Abstract:
A presence aware communications system, comprising a messaging system configured to perform at least one of the following operations: (a) provide a subscriber's communication device with information regarding an incoming contact during a messaging session between the subscriber's communication device and the messaging system; (b) provide the subscriber's communication device with a text message containing information regarding one or more messages when a notification is received that the subscriber's communication device is available; (c) provide the subscriber's communication device with a text message relating to a voice message from a different first party received by the messaging system; (d) in response to the subscriber's communication device requesting a connection with at least one of an inputted telephone number and address, provide the subscriber's communication device with a notification respecting at least one eligible message from a second party associated with the at least one of an inputted telephone number and address; (e) while a contact between the subscriber and a different third party is in progress, provide the subscriber's communication device with information respecting the at least one eligible message from the third party; (f) transform an audio messaging session between the messaging system and the communication device of a contacting party into a graphical user interface-based audio session; and (g) transform the audio messaging session into a session having a video channel or both audio and video channels.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for providing continuous presence video stream in a cascading video conference, i.e., a video conference that is conducted over more than one MCU. A cascading continuous presence composition controller (CCCC) selects which endpoints from among all of the endpoints participating in the conference should be displayed in the layout, regardless of which endpoints are associated with which MCU. The CCCC can be resident on one of the MCUs, resident on a cascading conference server, or can be distributed among all of the MCUs involved in a cascading conference.
Abstract:
The user interface to a video based telecommunications system is enriched by the provision of multi-media user interfaces. The user interface may include active video portions along with instructional audio or may be icons or thumbnails representing available video information. Menu structures can be animated by changing the color or characteristics of the menu items in synchronization with the audio information and responsive to actions taken by the user.
Abstract:
A connection device that does not require complicated operation by a user an interconnects a single-display conference terminal and the multi-display conference terminal includes an address holding unit (103) configured which holds address information indicating an address of the single-display conference terminal and address information indicating an address of the connection device, a media information obtaining unit (105) which obtains information related to media that each of the single-display conference terminals can process, and holds the entire obtained information as first media information, a session control unit (104) which establishes a session with the multi-display conference terminal using the address information of the connection device and the first media information obtained by the media information obtaining unit (105), while obtaining second media information related to media that the multi-display conference terminal can process, and a media control unit (106) which establishes a session with the single-display conference terminals using the second media information obtained by the session control unit (104) and controls the single-display conference terminals to transmit and receive data.
Abstract:
A telecommunications system that supports the provision of video messaging, yet maintains compatibility and operation with user equipment that is not capable of processing, receiving or rendering video content. Based on the type of user equipment, as well as user selected options, network configurations and status, and class-of-service characteristics, the telecommunications systems can revise the manner in which content is provided to the user equipment. Variations in the content provision include providing synchronized audio and video content, audio content only, video content only, video content with closed-captioning and closed-captioning only.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for providing remote assistance to a user are disclosed. A remote assistance system may communicate with a mobile device operated by the user and may manipulate devices configured on the mobile device, such as a camera, an illumination device, a projection device, or any other types of devices. Images may be captured with a camera of the mobile phone and transmitted by the mobile phone to the remote assistance system. A remote assistant may transmit images or other visual data to the mobile phone that are then overlaid upon images presented on the mobile phone. Various image manipulation and stabilization means and methods are disclosed, as well as various ways of obtaining and providing remote assistance.
Abstract:
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for utilizing the camera or video capability of particular communication devices, such as cell phones, to enhance handling of calls, such as emergency calls. In one implementation, when a call is made to an emergency response center (ERC) using an image/video capable communication device is queued until an agent is available for handling the call, one or more images or video may be collected from such caller by utilizing the image/video capability of the caller's communication device. The images collected from a plurality of different callers may then be sorted into different event groups. For instance, all the images/video that relate to a same emergency event, such as a traffic accident, are grouped together into a same event group. The different groups can then be prioritized for handling by an available agent. Additionally, the individual callers for each group may also be prioritized based on the collected images/video, e.g., the caller that is closest to the emergency event may be called first.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for displaying visual content to a user corresponding to sound captured at a user terminal are disclosed. After receiving over a network from a user terminal a request to convert sound into a visual content representing the sound, wherein the sound comprises one or more words, a translation server may retrieve text corresponding to the one or more words from a database. The translation server may then convert the text into one or more content phrases, wherein the content phrases represent the meaning of the one or more words, and convert each of the one or more content phrases into a new language. Finally, the translation server may send visual content to the user terminal representing the new language.
Abstract:
A home gateway includes a WAN interface portion, a LAN interface portion and an analog interface portion, and a LAN controller, an analog controller and a central controller. The WAN interface portion communicates with an external telephone set. The LAN interface portion communicates with a plurality of telephone sets configuring an IP telephone system. The LAN controller and the analog controller control the LAN interface portion and the analog interface portion such that type information is transmitted to a destination telephone set. The central controller generates the type information in accordance with a type of information to be communicated to the external telephone set, based on the information received by the WAN interface portion. Thus, a user can readily determine which telephone set is to be used to receive a call when a plurality of telephone sets can receive a call from a calling party.
Abstract:
Voicemail systems (24, 26, 28) can include at least one memory and at least one processor. A memory can store data relating to one or more users. An incoming communication can be handled by the voicemail system (24, 26, 28), forwarded to another voicemail system (24, 26, 28), provided with functionality based upon a user's preferences, and the like. The voicemail systems (24, 26, 28) can include functionality to allow a user to consolidate voicemail messages and/or calls at one or more designated destinations, for example, a voicemail system (24, 26, 28) and/or a mobile device (18).