A method of forming unique, private, personal, virtual social networks on a social network system that includes a database storing data relating to corresponding user entities. The method includes: a first user entity sending an invitation to a second user entity, recording in the database the second user entity as a direct contact of the first user entity and determining that third user entities, directly connected to the second user entity, are indirect contacts. A unique, personal, social network formed from direct and indirect contacts is thereby created for each user entity. Each user entity is able to control privacy of its data with respect to other user entities depending on the connection factor to that other entity and/or that other entity's attributes. Each user entity is able to take the role of provider or participant in applications where the provider provides an item or service to the participant.

Methods and systems for using and/or storing identity data associated with a device to direct communications to another device are described herein. A server may store identity data, such as subscriber identity module (SIM) data, associated with a device or user. The SIM data may be used to authenticate and/or register the device or user with a mobile network. Using the SIM data, other devices may use the capabilities of the first device. The server may receive, from another device, a request to access one or more capabilities of the first device. Based on the request, the server may send a request to register the SIM data with a mobile network. After registration of the SIM data with the mobile network, the server may be used to direct communications to the other device.

To optimize audio quality of playback with other audio in calls established using an audio-visual conferencing service, at least two audio profiles for one or more audio playback devices connectable to the apparatus are maintained for the audio-visual conferencing service. The at least two audio profiles comprise a first audio profile for at least transmitting audio of a first quality for playback and a second audio profile for at least transmitting audio of a second quality for playback. It is allowed to change an active audio profile during a call established using the audio-visual conferencing service by switching the active audio profile between at least the first audio profile and the second audio profile. The received audio in the call is delivered to the audio playback device according to the active audio profile.

A system and corresponding method is provided to receiving a phone number for a mobile device as part of a process of associating the phone number with a communication profile. A communication system commands a device connected to the communication system and to a mobile device to cause the mobile device to call a verification phone number assigned to the communication system. The communication system receives the phone number of the mobile device via the verification phone number. The communication system also retrieves phonebook data from the mobile device for storage and subsequent use. Receiving phone number, the phonebook data can be performed with minimal efforts on part of the user beyond connecting the mobile device to the device.

A method of forming unique, private, personal, virtual social networks on a social network system that includes a database storing data relating to corresponding user entities. The method includes: a first user entity sending an invitation to a second user entity, recording in the database the second user entity as a direct contact of the first user entity and determining that third user entities, directly connected to the second user entity, are indirect contacts. A unique, personal, social network formed from direct and indirect contacts is thereby created for each user entity. Each user entity is able to control privacy of its data with respect to other user entities depending on the connection factor to that other entity and/or that other entity's attributes. Each user entity is able to take the role of provider or participant in applications where the provider provides an item or service to the participant.

A method of forming unique, private, personal, virtual social networks on a social network system that includes a database storing data relating to corresponding user entities. The method includes: a first user entity sending an invitation to a second user entity, recording in the database the second user entity as a direct contact of the first user entity and determining that third user entities, directly connected to the second user entity, are indirect contacts. A unique, personal, social network formed from direct and indirect contacts is thereby created for each user entity. Each user entity is able to control privacy of its data with respect to other user entities depending on the connection factor to that other entity and/or that other entity's attributes. Each user entity is able to take the role of provider or participant in applications where the provider provides an item or service to the participant.

A method of managing personal security allows a portable computing device to provide a user with a variety of automated security detection and responses. The portable computing device uses integrated hardware to assess an emergency situation from spoken distress cues, audible danger cues, medical distress cues, physical trauma cues, and manually-inputted cues. The portable computing device also provides the user with a variety of responses to the emergency situation, which include a contacting-help response, a supplemental-help response, a communal-help response, an immediate alarm response, a delayed alarm response, an informing response, an increasing-visibility response, and a decreasing-visibility response.

A system for providing management of contact records includes a single record that is primarily indexed by phone number. The contact records are network accessed through any of various cellular and data networks by various devices and cached locally on such devices by way of permission from the owner of each record. In this way, the owner of each record has the ability to later deny access for any other user to some or all of the information stored in the contact record. As changes are made to a contact record, all others users having access to that contact record receive updated information. Duplicates are eliminated as no two individuals or establishments share the same phone number.

A method of routing a communication of a customer to an appropriate service representative includes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, identifying, within a database stored to a server, a customer account associated with the customer. The method also includes analyzing a data fingerprint saved to the customer account, where the data fingerprint comprises data indicative of a plurality of life events associated with the customer. The method also includes determining, via a switch, the appropriate service representative based on the analyzing of the data fingerprint.

A method of provisioning a plurality of applications from different application developer systems to a network provider system comprises establishing a plurality of service accounts for a corresponding plurality of application service provider systems, receiving a plurality of API interfaces from the plurality of application service provider systems, integrating, by the processor system, each of the plurality of API interfaces with a unified services platform API interface, receiving a provider API interfaces for a network provider system, and integrating the provider API interface with the unified services platform API interface. The plurality of application service provider systems provide services for use in association with a telephone number of a subscriber of telecommunication services. At least two of the API interfaces are different, and at least one of the plurality of API interfaces from the plurality of application service provider systems is not compatible with the provider API interface.