Abstract:
A method is provided in which a message board server receives a message that is posted by a first user and transmits a link to another user of the message board. When the link is activated, a communications session is established between the user who activated the link and a telecommunications session recipient.
Abstract:
A method for informing a caller of the availability of a call-center agent who can assist the caller without some of the disadvantages of the prior art is disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, when a caller accesses the address book in the memory of his or her telecommunications terminal (such as a telephone) the caller will see both the contact information for the call center and the availability of a call-center agent.
Abstract:
A method for identifying a person who possesses the expertise in a specific subject matter, wherein the method comprises receiving a query and criteria from a first user and, transmitting a request to a server. Upon receiving the request, the server selects a second user from the first user's contacts based on the request. Similarly, the server selects a third user from the second user's contacts, wherein the third user is not in the first user's contacts. After the users are selected, the server transmits the request to the second user and the third user's terminal. If the second user and the third user do not respond to the request, the server selects a fourth user from the third user's contacts, wherein the fourth user is not in the first user and the second user's contacts. This process is performed by the server until an “expert” responds to the request.
Abstract:
A method is provided in which determines user availability on the basis of the manner in which a person uses a computing device that is associated with a telecommunications terminal. Specifically, the present invention is for a method in which a telecommunications terminal determines whether its user is available to accept an incoming invitation to participate in a telecommunications session based on: (1) a characteristic of the use of a software application, (2) a characteristic of the use of a resource of a terminal, (3) a sensor input, (4) a characteristic of the incoming invitation or (5) any combination of (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5).
Abstract:
A mechanism is disclosed that enables the invocation of methods of object instances that have persistent data and a mutable key. A mutable key capability is advantageous in a variety of applications, such as monitoring a set of users and their login status on a plurality of media servers (e.g., an email server, an instant messaging server, a voice mail server, a video server, an audio-conferencing server, etc.). The methods that can be invoked include get methods, set methods, unset methods, finder methods, destructors, and business methods. Implementations based on the Enterprise JavaBean specification are disclosed for three illustrative embodiments of the present invention. The illustrative embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented in accordance with object persistence mechanisms other than Enterprise JavaBeans.
Abstract:
A mechanism is disclosed that enables garbage collection of object instances that have persistent data and a mutable key. A mutable key capability is advantageous in a variety of applications, such as monitoring a set of users and their login status on a plurality of media servers (e.g., an email server, an instant messaging server, a voice mail server, a video server, an audio-conferencing server, etc.). Implementations based on the Enterprise JavaBean specification are disclosed for three illustrative embodiments of the present invention. The illustrative embodiments of the present invention can also be implemented in accordance with object persistence mechanisms other than Enterprise JavaBeans.
Abstract:
A method is provided for the sharing of information in which a request for information is transmitted along with an indication of a reason for which the information is sought and, in response to the request, a subset of the information available is provided on the basis of a characteristic of the event.
Abstract:
A method is provided for the sharing of information in which a request for information is transmitted along with an indication of a reason for which the information is sought and, in response to the request, a subset of the information available is provided on the basis of a characteristic of the event.
Abstract:
A method is provided for determining user availability on the basis of the manner in which a person uses (1) a communication terminal or (2) a computing device that is associated with the communication terminal or (3) any combination of (1) and (2). User availability is determined based on: (1) a characteristic of the use of a software application that is running on a computing device, or (2) a characteristic of the use of a feature of software that is running on a communication terminal, or (3) a characteristic of the use of a resource of a computing device, or (4) a characteristic of the use of a resource of a terminal, or (5) a sensor input, or (6) a characteristic of the incoming invitation, or (7) any combination of (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6).
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for enabling a user of a telecommunications terminal to specify desired characteristics for the recipient of a call in lieu of a contact identifier are disclosed. The illustrative embodiment enables a user to specify one or more of the following criteria for a recipient: (i) a role requirement that specifies a role (e.g., a nurse, a doctor, etc.); (ii) a capability requirement that specifies one or more capabilities (e.g., able to speak Spanish, etc.); (iii) a location requirement (e.g., on the third floor of Building A, etc.); and (iv) a cardinality descriptor for the number of recipients (e.g., one recipient, at least three recipients, etc.). The illustrative embodiment also employs availability data (e.g., a schedule, etc.) and rules to determine whether a particular person is available to receive a call.