Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for obtaining contact-related information associated with a party using an identifier. The identifier may include a calling party number, a previously-dialed number, and/or a number specified by a user. The identifier could also include an e-mail address, an instant messenger address, a photograph, etc. A request for contact-related information may be initiated by a user and/or a device associated with the user. The request may include an identifier associated with a party. Methods and systems may retrieve contact-related information associated with the party using the identifier. Methods and systems may leverage one or more networks to retrieve the contact-related information. Contact information may be retrieved in order to add a contact to a user’s address book.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for automatically providing conference calls are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, methods and systems detect a conference call event (705) that was previously configured by a subscriber user and identify participant users associated with the conference call event. Once identified, each participant user is contacted and a response is received from each of the users. Based on the received responses, a conference call is established between the participant users and the subscriber user (750). In one aspect of the invention, at least one of the detecting and identifying steps are performed without user intervention.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for managing a call in real-time are disclosed. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention manage a call in real-time based on input from a user. A service center receives information pertaining to a call to the user from a service control point and sends a notification of the call to a device associated with the user. The service center receives a response to the notification from the user. Thereafter, the service center instructs the service control point to connect the call based on the response.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for providing a call notification, voice mail message notification, or SMS message for a wireless device to a user's preferred device (112). When a wireless device receives an incoming call, a voice mail message, or a SMS message, the wireless device connects to a network and sends a notification to the user's preferred device. If the preferred device is not available, the notification is stored in a database (106).
Abstract:
Methods and systems for routing a communication to a preferred device are disclosed. A service center consistent with the present invention is operable to receive information pertaining to a communication to a user from a calling party, and retrieve data corresponding to the user using the received information.The service center also determines a preferred device of the user based on the retrieved data, wherein the preferred device is one of a plurality of devices associated with the user. Thereafter, the service center ascertains whether the preferred device of the user requires a new mode of delivery, and routes the communication to the preferred device of the user based on the ascertaining.
Abstract:
Methods and systems are provided for managing a communications line associated with two or more users. These methods and systems include receiving first user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a first address book associated with the first user. Further, these methods and systems include receiving second user line management information regarding handling of calls to the communications line from one or more contacts in a second address book associated with the second user. Additionally, the methods and systems are capable of receiving from the communications network information regarding a call received on the communications line associated with the two or more users (S810), determining handling of the call based on the received first user and second user line management information (S816), and forwarding to the communications network instructions regarding the handling of the call (S818).
Abstract:
Methods and systems for providing a user's preferred device with a notification of an incoming communication for one of a plurality of a user's devices. Notification of an incoming communication is provided to the user's preferred device via a communications service. The communications service receives, from a data or voice network, information representing an incoming communication intended for one of a plurality of a user's devices. The service then provides a notification of the incoming communication to the user's preferred device.
Abstract:
Methods and systems are provided for managing one or more communications lines associated with a user of a communications network [104]. A service center [106] may receive from a user [101] 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) [314] of the communications network implement the user’s modifications.
Abstract:
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention screening calls. A first server receives information pertaining to a call to a user (110) from a calling party (120). The first server then determines whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user and determines whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid when the real-time call management function is not enabled. A call screening function is performed when the calling party number is invalid. The first server provides a notification of the call to a device (114, 116, and 118) associated with the user when the real-time call management function is enabled. A second server initiates the call screening function when the user selects a call screening option included in the notification.
Abstract:
A call log associated with outgoing calls originating from calling devices may be established and maintained. Filter parameters may be set to specify which outgoing calls to log. Outgoing call information associated with calls originating from a user's calling devices may be obtained and transmitted to a service center. A server in the service center may determine whether or not to log the outgoing call information based on the filter settings. The outgoing call information may be stored in the call log, which may reside in a database in the service center. The user may access the call log from a user terminal and/or the calling devices. The call log may be used to add contacts to a contact list and facilitate data analyses.