A method and apparatus for screening access to personal contact information in an electronic or telephonic database is provided. The embodiments include a querying party generating a query signal to obtain personal contact information. The query signal is received by a bridge website server and the bridge website server sends a query notification signal to a listing party so as to inform him or her of the existence of a query for personal contact information and the identity of the querying party. The listing party generates a consent/no-consent signal that is sent to the bridge website server, wherein the consent/no-consent signal indicates the personal contact information that is to be revealed to the querying party. A personal contact information signal is then generated by the server, wherein the personal contact information signal provides the querying party the revealed personal contact information of the listing party.

Approaches presented herein enable determining whether to allow a communication to a recipient using a communication device based on one or more classifications of nearby individuals. Specifically, location awareness technology is leveraged to identify individuals near an intended recipient of a communication. Through review and analysis of information related to the individuals gathered from social networking outlets (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) and/or gathered from the recipient's communication device, a classification is assigned to each individual. Based on the classifications, a determination is made as to whether the intended communication mode is to be allowed.

Concepts and technologies for handling and screening incoming calls are provided. A processor executing instructions associated with a call handling service can detect that a call from a calling party is being routed, via a communication interface, to a called party device associated with a customer. The processor can obtain caller identification data that specifies an identity that is generated by the calling party and intended to be representative of the calling party when presented to the customer by the called party device. The processor can determine an interface identifier associated with the communication interface, and retrieve a call authentication scenario based on the interface identifier. The call authentication scenario can specify a storage location of data. The processor can obtain the data from the storage location, determine a call handling action, prepare a call handling command, and provide the call handling command to a network.

A method and apparatus for detecting a stale number. A stale number detection device obtains a call number, a call number contact creation date, and a call number issue date for the call number. The stale number detection device determines that a stale number state exists when the call number issue date is later than the call number contact creation date. The stale number detection device generates a stale number notification based on the stale number state.

Systems, devices, and techniques for multiple device and multiple line enabled computing devices and computing appliances are described herein. A device number can be assigned to a computing device and can be unique to the computing device. A plurality of alias numbers can be provided to the computing device and enabled for use by the computing device. Alias numbers can be enabled on multiple computing appliances, such that a user can transfer voice or video calls between devices using the alias numbers. Further, monitoring components in a home environment, for example, can be associated with one or more alias number so that security alerts can be provided to the various computing devices and computing appliances associated with the alias numbers.

One embodiment of the invention provides a method of operating a computer-telephony system. The method comprises providing computer-telephony support for a plurality of customers. Each customer maintains customer relationship management (CRM) data. The CRM data is uploaded from the plurality of customers into a computer-telephony database. The uploading includes transforming the CRM data from an original format maintained by the respective customer into a standardized format for the computer-telephony database. Telephone calls can then be handled using the transformed CRM data in the computer-telephony database.

Systems, devices, and techniques for multiple device and multiple line enabled computing devices and computing appliances are described herein. A device number can be assigned to a computing device and can be unique to the computing device. A plurality of alias numbers can be provided to the computing device and enabled for use by the computing device. Alias numbers can be enabled on multiple computing appliances, such that a user can transfer voice or video calls between devices using the alias numbers. Further, monitoring components in a home environment, for example, can be associated with one or more alias number so that security alerts can be provided to the various computing devices and computing appliances associated with the alias numbers.

A method and apparatus for detecting a stale number. A stale number detection device obtains a call number, a call number contact creation date, and a call number issue date for the call number. The stale number detection device determines that a stale number state exists when the call number issue date is later than the call number contact creation date. The stale number detection device generates a stale number notification based on the stale number state.

One embodiment of the invention provides a method of operating a computer-telephony system. The method comprises providing computer-telephony support for a plurality of customers. Each customer maintains customer relationship management (CRM) data. The CRM data is uploaded from the plurality of customers into a computer-telephony database. The uploading includes transforming the CRM data from an original format maintained by the respective customer into a standardized format for the computer-telephony database. Telephone calls can then be handled using the transformed CRM data in the computer-telephony database.

A method of providing 911 service to a private branch exchange, includes grouping a plurality of private telephone numbers into a set. An outgoing telephone line for a 911 call is assigned to the set. Location information for the outgoing telephone line is input into a location database.