A media appliance comprising: video apparatus for outputting signals to a screen; a control device allowing a user to control the output of signals from the video apparatus to the screen, thereby selecting a viewing activity; a network interface for accessing a packet-based network; a memory storing a communication client application; and processing apparatus, coupled to the memory, network interface and video apparatus, and arranged to execute the communication client application; wherein the client application is configured so as when executed to allow the user to conduct bidirectional communications with other users via the packet-based network, and output notifications to the user of incoming communication events received from other users over the packet-based network; and wherein the client application is further configured to defer one or more of said notifications of incoming communication events received during said viewing activity, determine a delineation in the viewing activity, and automatically output the one or more notifications to the user following said delineation.

A media appliance comprising: video apparatus for outputting signals to a screen; a control device allowing a user to control the output of signals from the video apparatus to the screen, thereby selecting a viewing activity; a network interface for accessing a packet-based network; a memory storing a communication client application; and processing apparatus, coupled to the memory, network interface and video apparatus, and arranged to execute the communication client application; wherein the client application is configured so as when executed to allow the user to conduct bidirectional communications with other users via the packet-based network, and output notifications to the user of incoming communication events received from other users over the packet-based network; and wherein the client application is further configured to defer one or more of said notifications of incoming communication events received during said viewing activity, determine a delineation in the viewing activity, and automatically output the one or more notifications to the user following said delineation.

System and procedure for real-time hybrid VoIP connections between a web page or a mobile application that has implemented a Front-end and a Back-end connected via a communication channel or interface, and at least one automatic private branch exchange (PBX), with DDI (Direct Dialing Inward) functionality and connection to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) in charge of orchestrating the communication and enabling access through at least the PSTN and VoIP protocols.

[Problem] Provided is a relaying device that can track and record a communicated voice of a specific communication terminal using a mixing function of the relaying device. [Solution] When a communication terminal has sent a call packet to call another at least one communication terminal, a communication session in which this communication terminal that has made a call and a communication terminal that has been called are participating terminals is established. In the communication session, voice communication is relayed by transferring a voice signal which is transmitted from the participating terminals to another at least one communication terminal. A virtual device is registered as a participating terminal of the communication session and the voice signal which is transmitted from the communication session to the virtual device is recorded in the relaying device.

[Problem] Provided is a relaying device that can track and record a communicated voice of a specific communication terminal using a mixing function of the relaying device.

[Solution] When a communication terminal has sent a call packet to call another at least one communication terminal, a communication session in which this communication terminal that has made a call and a communication terminal that has been called are participating terminals is established. In the communication session, voice communication is relayed by transferring a voice signal which is transmitted from the participating terminals to another at least one communication terminal. A virtual device is registered as a participating terminal of the communication session and the voice signal which is transmitted from the communication session to the virtual device is recorded in the relaying device.

A method and apparatus for reducing the cost of long distance phone calls is disclosed. Accordingly, an originating phone network is operatively connected to a first intermediate point, and a receiving phone network is operatively connected to a second intermediate point. Each intermediate point is operatively connected to communicate via a data network. Users on the originating and destination phone networks may communicate based on virtual numbers. The virtual number is preferably within the local calling area of the originating phone network. The first and second intermediate points route calls to any geographic location, regardless of distance, over the data network based on the virtual number. This provides the advantage of allowing a user on the originating phone network to access a user at a distant location for a price that is substantially similar to the price of a local call.

A media appliance comprising: video apparatus for outputting signals to a screen; a control device allowing a user to control the output of signals from the video apparatus to the screen, thereby selecting a viewing activity; a network interface for accessing a packet-based network; a memory storing a communication client application; and processing apparatus, coupled to the memory, network interface and video apparatus, and arranged to execute the communication client application; wherein the client application is configured so as when executed to allow the user to conduct bidirectional communications with other users via the packet-based network, and output notifications to the user of incoming communication events received from other users over the packet-based network; and wherein the client application is further configured to defer one or more of said notifications of incoming communication events received during said viewing activity, determine a delineation in the viewing activity, and automatically output the one or more notifications to the user following said delineation.

A media appliance comprising: video apparatus for outputting signals to a screen; a control device allowing a user to control the output of signals from the video apparatus to the screen, thereby selecting a viewing activity; a network interface for accessing a packet-based network; a memory storing a communication client application; and processing apparatus, coupled to the memory, network interface and video apparatus, and arranged to execute the communication client application; wherein the client application is configured so as when executed to allow the user to conduct bidirectional communications with other users via the packet-based network, and output notifications to the user of incoming communication events received from other users over the packet-based network; and wherein the client application is further configured to defer one or more of said notifications of incoming communication events received during said viewing activity, determine a delineation in the viewing activity, and automatically output the one or more notifications to the user following said delineation.

The present invention comprises systems and methods for controlling a connection between and IT infrastructure and a telephony network. In one embodiment, the present invention allows such control through the use of application services adapted for use with a telephony network, a telephony application server that exposes the telephony network to the application services, and a service mediation platform controlling the interaction between the application services and the telephony application server. The service mediation server may comprise a user profile manager for handling the user profiles of a subscriber database, a service level agreement manager for invoking a set of application services, and a resource policy enforcement manager for managing the resources of the telephony network.

Data switching means (6.070, 6.072) for directing messages from a plurality of sources (6.040, 6.042, 6.044, 6,045) and having a common destination (6.108) to a link (6.078) to the common destination, including a first multiplexer (6.070) having a data link (6.074) adapted to receive upstream messages from a plurality of sources, and one or more upstream ports (12.410.1, 12.410.2) each upstream port having a specific port identity, wherein each upstream message includes address information (16.602) identifying the multiplexer and a selected one of the upstream port identities, the transmission means being adapted to link upstream message to the selected upstream port, the selected upstream port being linked to message delivery means (6.072) adapted to address the upstream message to a destination address associated with the message delivery means. Format conversion means can be included to convert the messages from a first format to a second format.