Abstract:
An apparatus and methods are disclosed that provide a plurality of telecommunications management features to a telecommunications terminal that is associated with a corresponding terminal through a private branch exchange. In particular, the illustrative embodiment enables a user to manage the simultaneous use of and interaction between associated telecommunications terminals. This capability can be particularly advantageous when on-premises telecommunications terminals are associated with off-premises telecommunications terminals.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed that enables a data-processing system, such as a private branch exchange, to detect and disconnect looping communication channels, without some of the costs, disadvantages, and limitations of techniques in the prior art. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides detection of looping communication channels at the point where the loop begins. By detecting at the beginning point of the loop, the illustrative embodiment has the advantage of de-allocating call resources sooner than some techniques in the prior art. This enables the call resources to be reused faster for subsequent incoming and outgoing calls. Faster reuse is advantageous because it can lower the call blocking characteristic, which is related to the probability of a new call not being set up due to lack of communication channel resources.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is provided to update information within a first network (103) via a second network (102) when communication no longer exists with the first network. During operation the first network is accessed via a PSTN (108) message that is never answered by the first network. Based on the called number and caller-identification information, the first network updates its system information.
Abstract:
A system and method create an interconnection among users of different social networks. Each user can provide information about the social networks they use (e.g., username, passwords, etc.). An application may register with the social network and can inter-dispose the application between the user and the social network. Then, the system can interconnect the users into a “virtual private network” (VPN) where communications between the users and the social networks can be replicated to other social networks for the other users. As such, different users using different social networks can communicate.
Abstract:
It would be beneficial to allow one or more of information, applications, desktops, and in general any information to be shared between a computer and a communications device. For example, it would be useful to be able to move a presentation from a computer to a mobile communications device. Some solutions attempt to address this by requiring a user to load the information on a laptop, USB key, burn it to an optical disk or the like, and then “open” the information on another device located at the remote destination. In one embodiment, through the use of one or more of virtualization and content translation, any information and/or applications can be exchanged between a computer and a communications device. More specifically, one embodiment utilizes metadata in conjunction with a virtualization environment to allow the exchange of information and/or applications between a personal computer and a communications device, or vice versa.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable a user who is on a call using a call appearance at a first terminal to continue the call on a call appearance at a second terminal, wherein the second terminal has been excluded from the call. In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a private branch exchange that handles both telecommunications terminals receives a first signal that indicates that the first terminal has disconnected from the call. The private branch exchange then receives a second signal that indicates that the second terminal has gone off-hook or otherwise indicates a request to be added to the call. If the private branch exchange has received the second signal within a predetermined time interval after having received the first signal, then it adds the second terminal to the call.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable: (i) applications that are external to a telecommunications terminal, rather than the user, to initiate the delivery of content to the terminal, and (ii) the terminal to determine, based on the state of the terminal, whether or not to provide the content to a user. The “state” of the terminal is determined by one or more of (i) user-driven states, (ii) data states, and (iii) call states. When the terminal's state is considered, as in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the readiness of the user and terminal to accept and process the content are accounted for, and as a result the content does not interfere.
Abstract:
A system allows a user to send alias information or receive alias information during a communication between two communication devices. Alias information is identity information for a user that identifies the user on a social media site or network (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.). The alias information can be stored in a contacts program or other data store. During a web-based telephone call between two IP-enabled phones, the alias information may be retrieved. The alias information can then be sent to the other IP-enabled phone or to another device associated with the calling party. In response to receiving the alias information, the calling party can automatically retrieve information associated with the called party and the alias from one or more social media sites.
Abstract:
A system allows a user to drag content from one application and drop the content into a separate application. In response to the user interface functions of dragging and dropping the content, an importation system can create a data object. The object can have fields that are defined based on the application or data being dragged. The object fields may be automatically populated using a search function that searches for data in the application that may be highlighted during the drag function. The drop is intercepted the information is formatted for the receiving application. The information is formatted to meet the specifications of the receiving application to optimize the storage and use of the information. Thus, the system can translate the information from its native format into a format understandable by the receiving application.
Abstract:
An apparatus and a method are disclosed for handling multiple display modes, such as column-first and row-first display modes. In particular, a telecommunications terminal receives a computer file (e.g., an HTML-encoded file, etc.) from a content server. The computer file comprises a data-ordering tag, in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, along with one or more displayable data items. Based on the data-ordering tag, the terminal with its browser first maps the data items into an N-row by M-column array of display cells in accordance with the illustrative embodiment, wherein N and M are positive integers. The terminal then displays the mapped data items in the array of display cells. The telecommunications terminal further comprises a two-dimensional array of buttons. Each cell in the array of display cells is associated with one or more buttons in the array of buttons.