A method for providing help includes providing a plurality of data records, each data record having medical information regarding a user and one or more contacts associated with the user. After receiving a call for help at a call center computer system, determining the user based upon an identifier of the call for help and assigning an agent computer of the call center computer system to the call for help then transferring at least part of the data record to the agent computer. The data record of the user is then accessed at the agent computer and after determining a nature of the need for the help, a second call is made to one contact from the data record of the user after selecting the one contact selected based upon the need for help.

A system for providing help includes a smartphone having a cellular transceiver and a global positioning subsystem. A call center server computer system has a plurality of agent computers. Software running on the smartphone is configured to recognize a preprogrammed specific utterance and to connect with the call center server computer system. After the preprogrammed specific utterance is detected, the software running on the smartphone initiates a call to the call center server computer system. When the call center server computer system receives the call, the call center server computer system retrieves a data record associated with the smartphone using a caller-id of the call and the call center server computer system assigns an agent computer. At least part of the data record is displayed on a display of that agent computer and an audio connection is made between that agent computer and the smartphone.

Systems, methods, and computer program products for provisioning a temporary disposable number are described. A user can be provided with a pool of available temporary disposable numbers that have a limited shelf life. The user can select one of the available temporary disposable numbers while submitting a permanent phone number associated with a communications device (e.g., mobile phone, home phone, business phone, etc.). Prior to activating the selected temporary disposable number, the temporary disposable number is linked to the permanent phone number. After activation, when an incoming call to the temporary disposable number is received, the permanent phone number is identified to be associated with the temporary disposable number being called. The incoming call is then forwarded to the communications device on which the permanent phone number is established.

Systems and methods of the present disclosure are directed to a telecommunications management system (TMS) that receives an indication from a first user to participate in a telecommunication. The TMS can identify a characteristic of the first user and compare the characteristic with one or more characteristics of each user of a pool of users. The TMS can select, based on the comparison, a second user of the pool of users that matches the first user. The TMS can initiate, responsive to selecting the matching second user, an anonymous telecommunications channel between the first user and the second user.

The disclosed techniques enable selective forwarding and blocking of text messages directed to an alias phone number based on a whitelist, as well as email alerts triggered by text messages from unauthorized originating numbers. More generally, the disclosed techniques enable an enterprise system to store contact phone numbers (i.e., alias phone numbers) for users while avoiding storing and managing personal phone numbers for the user. For example, the enterprise system may forward personal phone numbers to an aliasing server configured to generate alias phone numbers based on the personal phone number. The aliasing server may operate as a middle man that receives text messages directed to the alias phone number and that forwards the text messages to the personal phone number when appropriate. The enterprise system may store and maintain the alias phone numbers in lieu of the personal phone numbers.

Systems, applications and methods for anonymous temporary communication between a consumer user and a provider user. For instance, the system receives, from a consumer application instance, match criteria specified by the consumer user for selecting a provider user based on provider traits. The system selects the provider user from a pool of provider users using the match criteria, wherein the selected provider user comprises matching provider traits that satisfy at least some of the match criteria specified by the consumer user. The system provides an anonymous temporary connection between the consumer application instance of the consumer user and a provider application instance of the provider user.

The present disclosure provides a method of sending vertical SMS messages comprising a lead administrator contacting a first server with a request to create a group and providing certain identifying information to the first server; assigning an identification number to the group; creating and assigning at least one access code to the group; sharing the access code to desired members of the group and adding members to the group that send the access code to the identification number; and sending a SMS message to members of the group from the lead administrator, wherein the SMS messages are only shared vertically within the group.

A communication method includes receiving a query request sent by a basic communication server, the query request including at least one of a current calling number or an intermediate communication number; finding target binding information corresponding to a communication number included in the query request from stored binding information according to the query request, the target binding information including a calling number and a called number that are bound to the intermediate communication number; setting up number information, the number information including at least the called number included in the target binding information; and sending the number information to the basic communication server. The communication method can effectively protect the privacy of users.

In some implementations, a determination that a first party has spoken a query for a voice-enabled virtual assistant during a voice call between the first party and a second party is made, in response to the determination that the first party has spoken the query for the voice-enabled virtual assistant during the voice call between the first party and the second party, the voice call between the first party and the second party is placed on hold, a determination that the voice-enabled virtual assistant has resolved the query is made, and in response to the determination that the voice-enabled virtual assistant has handled the query, the voice call between the first party and the second party is resumed from hold.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include methods and systems for providing a speech-based service for the control of room control elements in buildings. Speech instructions are received by means of an audio device. The audio device is configured to analyze the received speech instructions, to convert them into corresponding operating commands for room control elements for the control of, in particular, HVAC devices (e.g. field devices) in a building and to pass them on to the corresponding room control elements. Before the receipt of the speech instructions by the audio device, the identity of the sender (user) of the speech instructions is anonymized by means of an anonymization service.