Cary FitzGerald

Systems and methods for unified messaging are described herein. In an embodiment, a repository server includes a message store. According to one method implemented by the repository server, a voice message is sent as part of an email message. In an embodiment, preprocessing is performed before sending the email, including but not limited to inserting information, data, links, voice mail audio files, and voice mail transcriptions in the email. A copy of the preprocessed email is stored in the… Show more

Systems and methods for unified messaging are described herein. In an embodiment, a repository server includes a message store. According to one method implemented by the repository server, a voice message is sent as part of an email message. In an embodiment, preprocessing is performed before sending the email, including but not limited to inserting information, data, links, voice mail audio files, and voice mail transcriptions in the email. A copy of the preprocessed email is stored in the message store with an authentication key. The authentication key is used, for example by a recipient of the email, to access voice mail audio files that may not be accessible on the recipient's device. Show less

Systems and methods for voicemail filtering and transcription are described herein. According to various embodiments, an integrated communication system performs filtering and transcription of voicemail messages ("voicemails"​) and forwards the voicemails via email to a user's email-capable device. Filtering includes generating a priority flag based on a word search of the voicemail. The integrated communication system further performs a rough transcription of the voicemail, either… Show more

Systems and methods for voicemail filtering and transcription are described herein. According to various embodiments, an integrated communication system performs filtering and transcription of voicemail messages ("voicemails"​) and forwards the voicemails via email to a user's email-capable device. Filtering includes generating a priority flag based on a word search of the voicemail. The integrated communication system further performs a rough transcription of the voicemail, either automatically or on demand as specified by the user. According to embodiments, the rough transcription is entered as text in an email that is sent to the user. In an embodiment, a user may request a refined transcription of the voicemail by pressing a button on the user's device. In an embodiment, the rough transcription is replaced by the refined transcription in the original email and the original is marked "unread"​ in the user's email inbox on the user's device. Show less

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a method using Quality of Service (QoS) information to influence a user's presence state is provided that includes the establishment of a virtual communication session between a first network device and a second network device. The virtual communication session emulates a communication session that may be established in the future. At least one QoS parameter associated with the virtual connection is monitored. Presence… Show more

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a method using Quality of Service (QoS) information to influence a user's presence state is provided that includes the establishment of a virtual communication session between a first network device and a second network device. The virtual communication session emulates a communication session that may be established in the future. At least one QoS parameter associated with the virtual connection is monitored. Presence information is then provided to a first user that includes the QoS parameter. Show less

A communication system quarantines text and then automatically transmits the text across a network at the end of a quarantine time period. This text quarantine period gives a user the chance to edit or delete text for a brief amount of time after the text has been entered. This allows editing or deletion of spelling errors, and inadvertent or indiscriminate text responses before the text is sent to a remote user. Since the text characters are automatically transmitted after the quarantine… Show more

A communication system quarantines text and then automatically transmits the text across a network at the end of a quarantine time period. This text quarantine period gives a user the chance to edit or delete text for a brief amount of time after the text has been entered. This allows editing or deletion of spelling errors, and inadvertent or indiscriminate text responses before the text is sent to a remote user. Since the text characters are automatically transmitted after the quarantine period, normal human communications and interactions are maintained allowing a receiver to interject or interrupt with text comments in the middle of a received text message. Thus, the communication system maintains the interactive advantages of TTY/TDD systems while also providing the editing flexibility of instant messaging systems. In another aspect of the text system, characters are buffered until they form a complete expression. Upon detection of the completed expression, the buffered characters are sent to the destination endpoint. Show less

Systems and methods for voicemail filtering and transcription are described herein. According to various embodiments, an integrated communication system performs filtering and transcription of voicemail messages ("voicemails"​) and forwards the voicemails via email to a user's email-capable device. Filtering includes generating a priority flag based on a word search of the voicemail. The integrated communication system further performs a rough transcription of the voicemail, either… Show more

Systems and methods for voicemail filtering and transcription are described herein. According to various embodiments, an integrated communication system performs filtering and transcription of voicemail messages ("voicemails"​) and forwards the voicemails via email to a user's email-capable device. Filtering includes generating a priority flag based on a word search of the voicemail. The integrated communication system further performs a rough transcription of the voicemail, either automatically or on demand as specified by the user. According to embodiments, the rough transcription is entered as text in an email that is sent to the user. In an embodiment, a user may request a refined transcription of the voicemail by pressing a button on the user's device. In an embodiment, the rough transcription is replaced by the refined transcription in the original email and the original is marked "unread"​ in the user's email inbox on the user's device. Show less

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… Show more

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. Show less

Systems and methods for voicemail filtering and transcription are described herein. According to various embodiments, an integrated communication system performs filtering and transcription of voicemail messages ("voicemails"​) and forwards the voicemails via email to a user's email-capable device. Filtering includes generating a priority flag based on a word search of the voicemail. The integrated communication system further performs a rough transcription of the voicemail, either… Show more

Systems and methods for voicemail filtering and transcription are described herein. According to various embodiments, an integrated communication system performs filtering and transcription of voicemail messages ("voicemails"​) and forwards the voicemails via email to a user's email-capable device. Filtering includes generating a priority flag based on a word search of the voicemail. The integrated communication system further performs a rough transcription of the voicemail, either automatically or on demand as specified by the user. According to embodiments, the rough transcription is entered as text in an email that is sent to the user. In an embodiment, a user may request a refined transcription of the voicemail by pressing a button on the user's device. In an embodiment, the rough transcription is replaced by the refined transcription in the original email and the original is marked "unread"​ in the user's email inbox on the user's device. Show less

Devices, softwares and methods enable SIP devices to operate in H.323 networks, and devices, softwares and methods enable H.323 devices to operate in SIP networks. Messages that initiate communication from a first protocol are translated into the appropriate messages of the second, responded to, and the replies are translated back into the first. Routing by the legacy network is thus seamlessly exploited.

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing security information associated with a prospective communication session to a user includes providing at least one communication network for the establishment of a prospective communication session between a first network device and a second network device. A security rating is assigned to the prospective communication session, and security information is provided to a user associated with the first… Show more

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing security information associated with a prospective communication session to a user includes providing at least one communication network for the establishment of a prospective communication session between a first network device and a second network device. A security rating is assigned to the prospective communication session, and security information is provided to a user associated with the first network device that includes the security rating. Show less

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing privacy protection to network users includes receiving a subscription request from a first end user. The subscription request identifies a second end user for whom the first end user would like to become a registered presence watcher. A cost to be assessed to become the registered presence watcher of the second end user is determined, and the first user is registered as the registered presence watcher of… Show more

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing privacy protection to network users includes receiving a subscription request from a first end user. The subscription request identifies a second end user for whom the first end user would like to become a registered presence watcher. A cost to be assessed to become the registered presence watcher of the second end user is determined, and the first user is registered as the registered presence watcher of the second end user. Show less

In one embodiment, a carrier-managed system such as the cellular network or the Global Positioning System (GPS), is leveraged to directly determine or triangulate geographic locations of the dual mode device and then the access point. Advantageously, a service provider may constantly and automatically update its database with the geolocation of APs and associated devices to thereby provide accurate information and improved emergency services.

A communication system quarantines text and then automatically transmits the text across a network at the end of a quarantine time period. This text quarantine period gives a user the chance to edit or delete text for a brief amount of time after the text has been entered. This allows editing or deletion of spelling errors, and inadvertent or indiscriminate text responses before the text is sent to a remote user. Since the text characters are automatically transmitted after the quarantine… Show more

A communication system quarantines text and then automatically transmits the text across a network at the end of a quarantine time period. This text quarantine period gives a user the chance to edit or delete text for a brief amount of time after the text has been entered. This allows editing or deletion of spelling errors, and inadvertent or indiscriminate text responses before the text is sent to a remote user. Since the text characters are automatically transmitted after the quarantine period, normal human communications and interactions are maintained allowing a receiver to interject or interrupt with text comments in the middle of a received text message. Thus, the communication system maintains the interactive advantages of TTY/TDD systems while also providing the editing flexibility of instant messaging systems. In another aspect of the text system, characters are buffered until they form a complete expression. Upon detection of the completed expression, the buffered characters are sent to the destination endpoint. Show less

Media that is normally packetized into many separate individual packets and then queued for individual transmission during a transmit window is combined together into one, or a few, packets. The larger packets more efficiently carry media over a time slotted communication media since only one, or a few, packet headers are used for carrying a larger amount of media. Since packets cannot be transmitted until the start of a new transmit window, the larger packets do not substantially add to the… Show more

Media that is normally packetized into many separate individual packets and then queued for individual transmission during a transmit window is combined together into one, or a few, packets. The larger packets more efficiently carry media over a time slotted communication media since only one, or a few, packet headers are used for carrying a larger amount of media. Since packets cannot be transmitted until the start of a new transmit window, the larger packets do not substantially add to the overall packet delay that normally occurs when larger packets are formatted and transmitted in non-time slotted networks. In another aspect of the system, probe packets are used to identify the start of the transmit window. The transmit window start time is inferred from the round trip times for the probe packets and media packetization is then synchronized with the identified transmit windows. Show less

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a method using shared configuration information to manage network access for externally generated communications includes maintaining association information for a first end user of a private network and maintaining configuration information for a first endpoint associated with the first end user. When an externally generated communication that is addressed for delivery to a second endpoint associated with a second end user is… Show more

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a method using shared configuration information to manage network access for externally generated communications includes maintaining association information for a first end user of a private network and maintaining configuration information for a first endpoint associated with the first end user. When an externally generated communication that is addressed for delivery to a second endpoint associated with a second end user is received at an access point to the private network, the association information is used to determine an association between the first end user and the second end user. The configuration information for the first end user is used to configure the access point to allow the communication to be delivered to the second endpoint. Show less

The present invention relates generally to a system and method of managing a Push To Talk (PTT) conversation while the recipient is watching television. PTT messages may be conveyed by an initiator to a recipient through the use of a telephone connected to a network. The network is also connected to either a set top box (STB) or a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). Within the network resides a presence state machine, which determines if a PTT conversation may be initiated. Upon initiation of a PTT… Show more

The present invention relates generally to a system and method of managing a Push To Talk (PTT) conversation while the recipient is watching television. PTT messages may be conveyed by an initiator to a recipient through the use of a telephone connected to a network. The network is also connected to either a set top box (STB) or a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). Within the network resides a presence state machine, which determines if a PTT conversation may be initiated. Upon initiation of a PTT conversation the presence state machine may pause the television by a command to the STB or DVR. If the television has been paused, upon termination of the PTT conversation, the presence state machine instructs the STB or DVR to resume television display. Show less

A call authorization system moves state maintenance for authorization based phone calls from a central authorization server to different gateways in a packet switched network. A simple authorization session protocol is used between the authorization server and the gateways to minimize network traffic. The authorization session protocol releases the authorization server from having to maintain states for open authorization based phone calls.

A service grammar can be defined in Backus Naur Form for a protocol. The service grammar can be compiled into a service analyzer, which can identify services from a trace of messages sent using the protocol. Similarly, a workflow grammar can be defined for services implemented using the protocol (a meta-grammar). The workflow grammar can be compiled into a workflow analyzer, which can identify workflows from the services (and therefore, indirectly from the trace). This workflow information can… Show more

A service grammar can be defined in Backus Naur Form for a protocol. The service grammar can be compiled into a service analyzer, which can identify services from a trace of messages sent using the protocol. Similarly, a workflow grammar can be defined for services implemented using the protocol (a meta-grammar). The workflow grammar can be compiled into a workflow analyzer, which can identify workflows from the services (and therefore, indirectly from the trace). This workflow information can be used to define actions for a User Agent (UA) that can act on behalf of a person. The UA can be validated using the service analyzer and workflow analyzer to verify that the UA is acting correctly. Show less

A system and method provide for managing presentation delay for presenting media or control information to participants in a multimedia experience. Embodiments provide for determining whether a presentation timing for presenting information to the participants is calculated to correspond with a predetermined presentation timing relationship, and if the presentation timing is calculated to conflict with the predetermined presentation timing relationship, determining one or more delay… Show more

A system and method provide for managing presentation delay for presenting media or control information to participants in a multimedia experience. Embodiments provide for determining whether a presentation timing for presenting information to the participants is calculated to correspond with a predetermined presentation timing relationship, and if the presentation timing is calculated to conflict with the predetermined presentation timing relationship, determining one or more delay modifications that are calculated to cause a presentation timing to the participant to correspond with the predetermined presentation timing relationship, and causing the modification to be implemented. Show less

An apparatus for providing storage is provided that includes a jitter buffer element. The jitter buffer element includes a primary jitter buffer storage that includes a primary low water mark and a primary high water mark. The jitter buffer element also includes a secondary jitter buffer storage that includes a secondary low water mark and a secondary high water mark. A first data segment within the primary jitter buffer storage is held for a processor. A playout point may advance from a bottom… Show more

An apparatus for providing storage is provided that includes a jitter buffer element. The jitter buffer element includes a primary jitter buffer storage that includes a primary low water mark and a primary high water mark. The jitter buffer element also includes a secondary jitter buffer storage that includes a secondary low water mark and a secondary high water mark. A first data segment within the primary jitter buffer storage is held for a processor. A playout point may advance from a bottom of the primary jitter buffer storage to the primary low water mark. When the playout point reaches the primary low water mark, the processor communicates a message for the secondary jitter buffer storage to request a second data segment up to the secondary high water mark associated with the secondary jitter buffer storage. Show less

A system and method provide for managing presentation delay for presenting media or control information to participants in a multimedia experience. Embodiments provide for determining whether a presentation timing for presenting information to the participants is calculated to correspond with a predetermined presentation timing relationship, and if the presentation timing is calculated to conflict with the predetermined presentation timing relationship, determining one or more delay… Show more

A system and method provide for managing presentation delay for presenting media or control information to participants in a multimedia experience. Embodiments provide for determining whether a presentation timing for presenting information to the participants is calculated to correspond with a predetermined presentation timing relationship, and if the presentation timing is calculated to conflict with the predetermined presentation timing relationship, determining one or more delay modifications that are calculated to cause a presentation timing to the participant to correspond with the predetermined presentation timing relationship, and causing the modification to be implemented. Show less

Loopback interfaces are put into routers in a packet switched network. When an end to end Quality of Service (QoS) path is not performing adequately, the delay and jitter characteristics are measured for individual network subsystems. An audio signal is converted into a stream of audio packets and sent hop by hop to the different routers in the network having the loopback interface. QoS is determined by looping back the stream of audio packets from the different routers. If necessary, the… Show more

Loopback interfaces are put into routers in a packet switched network. When an end to end Quality of Service (QoS) path is not performing adequately, the delay and jitter characteristics are measured for individual network subsystems. An audio signal is converted into a stream of audio packets and sent hop by hop to the different routers in the network having the loopback interface. QoS is determined by looping back the stream of audio packets from the different routers. If necessary, the network is reconfigured according to loopback delay in the individual network subsystems. Reconfiguration can comprise routing telephone calls through different paths in the network or adding additional equipment to increase capacity. Show less

A call authorization system moves state maintenance for authorization based phone calls from a central authorization server to different gateways in a packet switched network. A simple authorization session protocol is used between the authorization server and the gateways to minimize network traffic. The authorization session protocol releases the authorization server from having to maintain states for open authorization based phone calls.

The size of packet payloads are varied according to the amount of congestion in a packet network. More data is put in packet payloads when more congestion exits in the packet network. When network congestion is high, less network bandwidth is available for transmitting packets. Accordingly, the packet payloads are transmitted with larger payloads to reduce the percentage of overhead in each packet. When there is little or no network congestion smaller packet payloads are transmitted. The… Show more

The size of packet payloads are varied according to the amount of congestion in a packet network. More data is put in packet payloads when more congestion exits in the packet network. When network congestion is high, less network bandwidth is available for transmitting packets. Accordingly, the packet payloads are transmitted with larger payloads to reduce the percentage of overhead in each packet. When there is little or no network congestion smaller packet payloads are transmitted. The additional overhead created in transmitting smaller packets is acceptable when there is little or no network congestion because the network currently has excess bandwidth. Thus, the packet payloads are dynamically adjusted to use network resources more effectively. Show less

A network processing device is signaled to establish a media path with another network processing device in a packet switched network with Session Initiated Protocol (SIP), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standard H.323, MGCP, Megaco, or some other signaling protocol. The network processing device receives a request to send information to an observer device that is not directly in the media path. The network processing device then sends information about the media path to the… Show more

A network processing device is signaled to establish a media path with another network processing device in a packet switched network with Session Initiated Protocol (SIP), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standard H.323, MGCP, Megaco, or some other signaling protocol. The network processing device receives a request to send information to an observer device that is not directly in the media path. The network processing device then sends information about the media path to the observer device. Show less

Devices, softwares and methods enable SIP devices to operate in H.323 networks, and devices, softwares and methods enable H.323 devices to operate in SIP networks. Messages that initiate communication from a first protocol are translated into the appropriate messages of the second, responded to, and the replies are translated back into the first. Routing by the legacy network is thus seamlessly exploited.

Devices, softwares and methods for network telephony sense if a party that has been placed on hold is talking. If it does, transmitting on hold music or other characteristic sound is discontinued. Accordingly, the other party is not annoyed, such as in a conference call scenario.

A distributed packet-based audio conferencing system, method for packet-based audio conferencing, and a transceiver for use in such conferencing are disclosed. The system uses a collection of transceivers, with each conference participant connected to a local transceiver. When a participant speaks, the local transceiver is responsible for relaying the speaker's voice over a packet network by multicast transmission to transceivers local to each other conference participant. If multiple… Show more

A distributed packet-based audio conferencing system, method for packet-based audio conferencing, and a transceiver for use in such conferencing are disclosed. The system uses a collection of transceivers, with each conference participant connected to a local transceiver. When a participant speaks, the local transceiver is responsible for relaying the speaker's voice over a packet network by multicast transmission to transceivers local to each other conference participant. If multiple participants speak simultaneously, a multicast talk stream may originate from each speaker's local transceiver. The total number of simultaneous speakers, however, is limited by an arbitration function resident in each transceiver. The system reduces the costs associated with an always-up communication system. Compared to a data network solution employing a centralized bridge, the present conferencing system enjoys lower delay, lower bandwidth requirements, the ability to utilize voice compression throughout, and ease of reconfiguration. Show less

Voice and data streams transmitted from a conventional DSVD modem are interfaced directly to a network access server through a modified DSVD modem according to the invention. The voice and data is formatted into network data packets that are then routed directly to different endpoints through the network access server. The modified DSVD modem includes a packet framer that removes conventionally transmitted V.76 DSVD framing formats and stuffs bytes into the voice and data to form network… Show more

Voice and data streams transmitted from a conventional DSVD modem are interfaced directly to a network access server through a modified DSVD modem according to the invention. The voice and data is formatted into network data packets that are then routed directly to different endpoints through the network access server. The modified DSVD modem includes a packet framer that removes conventionally transmitted V.76 DSVD framing formats and stuffs bytes into the voice and data to form network packets. The network access server then routes the voice and data packets to the different endpoints identified in a packet header. Since the voice and data are output from the DSVD modem in data packets, the voice and data can be routed more efficiently to different network endpoints. Show less

Loopback interfaces are put into routers in a packet switched network. When an end to end Quality of Service (QoS) path is not performing adequately, the delay and jitter characteristics are measured for individual network subsystems. An audio signal is converted into a stream of audio packets and sent hop by hop to the different routers in the network having the loopback interface. QoS is determined by looping back the stream of audio packets from the different routers. If necessary, the… Show more

Loopback interfaces are put into routers in a packet switched network. When an end to end Quality of Service (QoS) path is not performing adequately, the delay and jitter characteristics are measured for individual network subsystems. An audio signal is converted into a stream of audio packets and sent hop by hop to the different routers in the network having the loopback interface. QoS is determined by looping back the stream of audio packets from the different routers. If necessary, the network is reconfigured according to loopback delay in the individual network subsystems. Reconfiguration can comprise routing telephone calls through different paths in the network or adding additional equipment to increase capacity. Show less

The size of packet payloads are varied according to the amount of congestion in a packet network. More data is put in packet payloads when more congestion exits in the packet network. When network congestion is high, less network bandwidth is available for transmitting packets. Accordingly, the packet payloads are transmitted with larger payloads to reduce the percentage of overhead in each packet. When there is little or no network congestion smaller packet payloads are transmitted. The… Show more

The size of packet payloads are varied according to the amount of congestion in a packet network. More data is put in packet payloads when more congestion exits in the packet network. When network congestion is high, less network bandwidth is available for transmitting packets. Accordingly, the packet payloads are transmitted with larger payloads to reduce the percentage of overhead in each packet. When there is little or no network congestion smaller packet payloads are transmitted. The additional overhead created in transmitting smaller packets is acceptable when there is little or no network congestion because the network currently has excess bandwidth. Thus, the packet payloads are dynamically adjusted to use network resources more effectively. Show less

A PC-based server platform includes a first backplane bus used for transferring data and commands to various PC peripheral devices. A network router and a telephony endpoint card are coupled to the backplane bus and separately coupled through a second Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) bus. The router includes interfaces to various packet switched networks such as a Wide Area Network (WAN) and a Local Area Network (LAN). The TDM bus is used to route telephony data between the different Internet… Show more

A PC-based server platform includes a first backplane bus used for transferring data and commands to various PC peripheral devices. A network router and a telephony endpoint card are coupled to the backplane bus and separately coupled through a second Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) bus. The router includes interfaces to various packet switched networks such as a Wide Area Network (WAN) and a Local Area Network (LAN). The TDM bus is used to route telephony data between the different Internet Protocol (IP)-based networks and the telephony card independently of the host system. The PC host processor also uses the router as a standard LAN interface for transferring data packets. A DSP voice processing card is coupled between the backplane bus and the TDM bus to compress and decompress the telephony data transferred on the TDM bus. Show less

In one embodiment, a method and system are provided that receive, during a selected time period, a plurality of different media streams exchanged, over a communications network, in one or more communications between a plurality of parties; and generate a multimedia presentation of the plurality of different media streams, wherein, in the multimedia presentation, the different media streams are referenced according to a common time scale.

In one embodiment, a method for enhanced call pickup includes accessing data indicating a current status of each of one or more users in a call pickup group (CPG) with respect to an incoming phone call to a phone number corresponding to the CPG and communicating the data to one or more endpoints of one or more users in the CPG for display to one or more users in the CPG. A display of the data to a first user in the CPG facilitates the first user determining a current status of each of one or… Show more

In one embodiment, a method for enhanced call pickup includes accessing data indicating a current status of each of one or more users in a call pickup group (CPG) with respect to an incoming phone call to a phone number corresponding to the CPG and communicating the data to one or more endpoints of one or more users in the CPG for display to one or more users in the CPG. A display of the data to a first user in the CPG facilitates the first user determining a current status of each of one or more second users in the CPG to facilitate a decision by the first user regarding whether to pick up the incoming phone call. Show less