Methods and apparatus for deriving and/or generating, user presence information from communication signals monitored by a SBC or PRI Gateway and aggregating and/or distributing the user presence information. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of storing a plurality of user profile records, each of the user profile records mapping contact information for a user to one or more user identifiers corresponding to the user; receiving first signaling information; determining a first user corresponding to the first signaling information by comparing at least a first portion of the information contained in the first signaling information to at least a first portion of the information contained in the plurality of user profiles; and generating presence status information for the first user and communicating the first presence status information to a presence server as presence status information corresponding to a first user identifier, said first user identifier corresponding to said first user.

A distributed voice applications system includes a voice application rendering agent and at least one voice applications agent that is configured to provide voice applications to an individual user. A management system may control and direct the voice applications rendering agent to create voice applications that are personalized for individual users based on user characteristics, information about the environment in which the voice applications will be performed, prior user interactions and other information. The voice applications agent and components of customized voice applications may be resident on a local user device which includes a voice browser and speech recognition capabilities. The local device, voice applications rendering agent and management system may be interconnected via a communications network.

Information apparatus (e.g., a smart phone) for outputting digital content to an output device is herein disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus includes wireless communication circuitry for wirelessly discovering one or more output devices based, at least in part, on physical proximity and using short range wireless communication. Subsequent to having wirelessly discovered the output devices, the information apparatus receives device dependent attributes from the discovered output devices and provides, on a touch sensitive screen interface, at least an item related to the discovered output devices for selection. The device dependent attributes include information related to the discovered output devices. After the output device is selected, the information apparatus: generates output data from the digital content based, at least in part, on the device dependent attributes, and wirelessly transmits the generated output data to the selected output device for rendering at least part of the digital content.

A mobile information apparatus for making mobile payments associated with a credit card or bank card, via a near distance radio frequency wireless communication, is herein disclosed and enabled. At least part of payment information and part of a device identification number associated with the mobile information apparatus are stored in the mobile information apparatus with an encryption technique. To make a payment, a user moves the mobile information apparatus to within a limited local physical distance from a wireless output controller. The user authorizes the payment by providing, via an interface, an input such as a password, a pin code, a button, biometrics or an ID number. Subsequent to the user authorization, the mobile information apparatus releases the payment information and the device identification number, over a short range radio frequency communication link, directly from the mobile information apparatus to the wireless output controller for payment and transaction processing.

A mobile information apparatus for making mobile payments associated with a credit card, via a near distance radio frequency wireless communication unit, is herein disclosed and enabled. At least part of the payment information is stored in the mobile information apparatus with an encryption technique. To make a payment, the user approximates the mobile information apparatus to within a limited local physical distance of a wireless output controller, and the biometrics of the user is obtained by the mobile information apparatus as a security measure. The user authorizes the payment by using an interface on the mobile information apparatus, and subsequent to having received the biometric authentication and user authorization, the mobile information apparatus releases the payment information that includes encrypted data associated with a transaction over a short range radio frequency communication link to the wireless output controller for payment and transaction processing.

An improved apparatus for audio and/or video communication includes first input means for calling another apparatus for audio and/or video communication, and second input means for terminating a call. The apparatus is configured to assign a first functionality to the second input means and a second functionality different from the first functionality to the second input means Activation of the first and second functionality is dependent upon a status of the audio and/or video communication.

As a user interacts with a voice application, a history of the prompts played to the user and the users responses are displayed to the user. The displayed prompts and displayed responses could be summaries of the prompts and responses, or they could be full transcriptions of the prompts and responses. A user may be able to select a prompt or response in the history to return to a certain point in the voice application. It may be possible for a user to save a history of the interactions that occurred when a voice application was performed, and to recall the history to continue on from a selected location in the history.

A device permits a conventional, analog telephone to connect to a smart phone to provide access to various smart phone features from the analog telephone. For example, the analog telephone can receive or initiate calls and send or receive texts and may provide a secure access point to home automation devices, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or the like. The device may be a stand-alone device that connects to an analog telephone or may be integrated into a telephone of any desired design or style. A smart phone application may be used to connect the smart phone to one or more devices to selectively activate features of select ones of the analog telephones. In some embodiments, the device can have its own subscriber identity module (SIM) and its own telephone number to directly send and receive calls or text messages.

A method and system receive and forward a text message received at a landline phone number to a user associated with that landline phone number, wherein the receipt and forwarding includes forwarding the text message to a computer and/or mobile device associated with the user, wherein the text message is forwarded automatically in response to receipt of the text message at the landline phone number, receiving a response to the forwarded text message, wherein the response is formulated by the user on the computer or the mobile device and sent from the computer or the mobile device, and forwarding the received response as a text message to a phone number that sent the text message to the landline phone number, wherein the forwarded response text message indicates the landline phone number as a number sending the response text message.

An information apparatus that supports a touch sensitive screen for managing e-mails is disclosed and enabled. The information apparatus may include a graphical user interface, an e-mail application, an Internet browsing application, and applications for playing audio/video content. The information apparatus includes an operating system software and support for installation of new applications. In one example, a user of the information apparatus may reply to an e-mail by selecting an item over the touch sensitive screen. The user may scroll down or up an email using the touch sensitive screen. In other examples, the user may further select an item or functional control via the touch sensitive screen to output, synchronize, stream, transmit, play, print, display, or mirror at least part of digital content from the information apparatus to one or more output devices over air.