A system receives, at a conference platform, a communication from a communications device of a requester requesting to host an audio conference. The system determines whether an access code provided by the requester is a valid access code associated with a provider communications address specified by the requester. A processor identifies a country from which the communication of the requester originated and determines whether the country from which the communication of the requester originated is a pre-authorized country, associated with a host account, from which to host the global audio conference. An audio conference is established when the access code specified by the requester is determined to be a valid access code associated with the provider communications address specified by the requester and when the country from which the communication of the requester originated is determined to be a pre-authorized country from which to host the audio conference.

A method and a system for allocating vehicles to passengers in a ride-sharing system is provided. A passenger utilizes a passenger device to initiate a first phone call for booking a ride. The first phone call is initiated on a phone number associated with a pick-up location of the passenger. The first phone call is automatically disconnected, and a second phone call is established with the passenger device for providing a set of options selectable by the passenger. Based on an option selected by the passenger, a share-ride fare of the ride is communicated to the passenger during the second phone call. Based on the communicated share-ride fare, the passenger confirms the booking for the ride. In response to the confirmation of the booking for the ride, a vehicle is allocated to the passenger.

A cloud-based real-time crime center with dispatch directed digital media payloads configured to support both emergency dispatchers and emergency responders responding to an incident requiring assistance. The new dispatch system is “cloud-based” in that it provides a central hub or repository for gathering live video streams and data streams that are processed to fuse them together to provide a map-based interface for the dispatcher to access via a desktop or other computing station at a central agency location and for the responders in the field to access via vehicle-mounted or portable client devices. The dispatch system processes the video and data streams to generate a dispatch directed payload that includes data and video relevant to the identified incident and that can be readily communicated (due to its reduced or controlled size) to field responders to make their response more effective and to increase both the safety of the responders and those involved in the incident.

A mobile device having a position determination device and a mobile application configured, in response to the location of the mobile device determined by the position determination device, to: predict a transaction based at least in part on the location of the mobile device; select, based at least in part on the location of the mobile device, a first account for the transaction from a plurality of accounts identified by the identification information; and provide, via the user interface, an alert identifying the first account, before a user of the mobile device begins to make the transaction. The prediction can be made based on a location pattern relative to the location of a transaction terminal and/or the detection of short-range wireless signals of the transaction terminal.

An availability-based telephonic transmission/reception calling service method is provided for communicating with a person who has a different lifestyle or who may not be available at a specific call time. When a receiver inputs the receiver's characteristic information and reception/communication availability information into a server, the server acquires and sets the reception/communication availability information. An originator fetches contact information in a memory medium within a device or contact information to be displayed in a separate service on the Internet and selects a receiver. When the contact information of the selected receiver is stored on the server, the server acquires the receiver's reception/communication availability information and displays whether the receiver can receive a call on a screen of an originator's communication device. Thus, the originator can be notified of whether a receiver can receive a call before the originator makes a telephone call via a cellular phone network or the Internet.

A mobile device having a position determination device and a mobile application configured, in response to the location of the mobile device determined by the position determination device, to: predict a transaction based at least in part on the location of the mobile device; select, based at least in part on the location of the mobile device, a first account for the transaction from a plurality of accounts identified by the identification information; and provide, via the user interface, an alert identifying the first account, before a user of the mobile device begins to make the transaction. The prediction can be made based on a location pattern relative to the location of a transaction terminal and/or the detection of short-range wireless signals of the transaction terminal.

An incoming communication processing system and method is disclosed for providing communication and data services to residents of a controlled facility. Specifically, the incoming communication processing system allows outside parties to initiate communications to residents of a controlled facility. The incoming communication processing system may work in conjunction with or separately from an outgoing communication processing system. Many restrictions and safeguards may be implemented within the incoming communication system in order to prevent improper use.

Enhancements of and to cell phone operations are based in whole or in part on determining the location of the cell phone. Systems and methods select and determine locations or areas of importance or relevance, and based on that information and other programmed factors affect or alter the operations of the cell phone. While the systems and methods are illustrated by use of cell phone embodiments and applications, they are equally applicable to virtually any portable or mobile communication device, including for example, wireless laptop computers and PDAs.

A system for publishing digital content is described which, in one embodiment, includes a beacon device associated with a first user configured to transmit identification information and information indicating its current position. A browsing device includes a display configured and adapted to display to a second user a representation of a local geographical area, and to selectively display to the second user content information associated with the first user, based at least in part on whether the location of the beacon device is within the local geographical area.

A method and system are disclosed for determining the geographic location of a user communicating on a communications network such as the Internet. In one embodiment, a provider of a product or service: (a) receives the user's phone number (or other identification for contacting the user's station), and (b) supplies the user's station with a distinctive identifier. The provider then supplies a location determining service with the user's phone number (or other identification). A phone call is made to the phone number by the location determining service for retrieving the distinctive identifier from the network station having the phone number. If the distinctive identifier is retrieved and the location determining service determines that the user's station is within an appropriate geographical area (or not within an inappropriate area), then the provider can provide the requested product or service to the user.