Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to synthetic call status updates. In some implementations, a method includes determining, by a task manager module, that a triggering event has occurred to provide a current status of a user call request. The method may then determine, by the task manager module, the current status of the user call request. A representation of the current status of the user call request is generated. Then, the generated representation of the current status of the user call request is provided to the user.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to synthetic call status updates. In some implementations, a method includes determining, by a task manager module, that a triggering event has occurred to provide a current status of a user call request. The method may then determine, by the task manager module, the current status of the user call request. A representation of the current status of the user call request is generated. Then, the generated representation of the current status of the user call request is provided to the user.

A method and a call manager node (200) for handling calls directed to a group of subscribers. When receiving (2:3) a request from a caller (202) for access to a first group of subscribers (204) having at least one common characteristic, the call manager node assigns (2:4) first caller-specific temporary group number (A1) for the caller, wherein the first group number can be used exclusively by the caller for calling the subscribers in the first group. The call manager node further sends (2:5) the first group number to the caller in response to the request. The caller is then connected (2:7, 2:9, 2:11) to a subscriber in the first group sequentially or according to a scheme each time the caller dials (2:6, 2:8, 2:10) the first group number. The group is created according to a criteria and the anonymity of the called parties is kept. Call hunting.

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.

The system allows a consumer to shortcut through a call queue to reach a human agent faster. For phone or voice-based calls that require a consumer wait on hold, the system can give that consumer an accurate estimate of the wait time and allow them to skip all or some of it. It does this by using automated processes to proactively dial and wait in those call queues, measuring their time in queue. A new consumer making an incoming call can then join the call queue occupied by of those automated processes, shortcutting the consumer past all or some of the wait time.

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to synthetic call status updates. In some implementations, a method includes determining, by a task manager module, that a triggering event has occurred to provide a current status of a user call request. The method may then determine, by the task manager module, the current status of the user call request. A representation of the current status of the user call request is generated. Then, the generated representation of the current status of the user call request is provided to the user.

A device may generate a call plan for a set of testing calls. The device may initiate a testing call to a communication device associated with a target, of the set of targets, using a user profile of the set of user profiles. The device may initiate monitoring for the testing call to identify information associated with the target during the testing call. The device may generate one or more responses to one or more queries based on the user profile. The device may transmit the one or more responses to the one or more queries based on generating the one or more responses to the one or more queries. The device may process stored data regarding testing calls to generate a recommendation relating to the set of targets for the set of testing calls. The device may communicate with one or more other devices to implement the recommendation.

An automated method for determining the validity of an incoming phone call including receiving an incoming phone call, activating a controller in response to receipt of the incoming phone call, wherein the controller generates a multi-digit code in response to the receipt of the incoming call, outputs an audible version of the multi-digit code to a caller for the incoming call, requests the caller to input the multi-digit code, compares the multi-digit code with a caller input, determines the call is invalid in response to a mismatch between the multi-digit code and the caller input, and terminates the phone call.

A system is provided for thwarting the undesired incoming calls and eliminating the impact of robocalls, tollfree pumping, political spam, data collection bots, and other phone fraud forms. The system has a spam detection unit with a plurality of spam type modules and each spam type module is configured to detect a different type of spam.

The present invention is directed to a system and method of providing ringless voicemail, where a voicemail service provider can deliver a message to a telephone service user in the most unobtrusive manner available. The present invention overcomes limitations of traditional automatic calling, by utilizing carrier service provider abilities to provide access to the voicemail services directly, without actually calling and ringing the telephone service user's telephone. The access can be implemented on any carrier service. The method includes retrieving a voicemail access number of a carrier service provider; accessing a voicemail system of the carrier service provider using the voicemail access number; navigating an interactive voice response system of the carrier service provider to reach a prompt for leaving a voicemail message in a voicemail box of a telephone user; and leaving the voicemail message in the voicemail box without initiating ringing of a phone of the telephone user.