Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Other

Linda Criddle

David Milstein

Scott C Forbes

Michael D Malueg

Kuansan Wang

David Andrew Howell

Philip Andrew Chou

Lon-Chan Chu

Timothy Mark Moore

Gursharan Singh Sidhu

Leonard Smith, Jr

A method and system for collecting and verifying the location information of a calling party and a device of the calling party is provided. More specifically, a method and system is provided for determining whether the identity of the calling party can be confirmed, via evaluating location information, with an acceptable degree of certainty. The location information may be provided by the calling party or obtained from various sources over a digital communication channel. Some of the provided location information which can be accidentally or intentionally altered is identified and evaluated to determine its accuracy as part of the verification process of the caller's identity.

Secured communication via location awareness

Generally described, the present invention provides the ability to process digital voice conversations to identify data packets containing content of interest and to further process the identified data packets. More specifically, mining profiles may be developed identifying particular types of content that is to be mined and further identifying what is to be done when data packets containing such content is located. A system may search a digital voice conversation for the data packets containing the content and perform processing on the data packets once identified.

Mining data for services

Embodiments of content safety upload techniques are presented herein. In an implementation, outbound communications of client are monitored to detect personal identifying information (PII) in the content being communicated. Upon detection of PII one or more actions may be taken to manage the PII, for example warning a user, providing options to send or delete the communication, seeking approval and so on. Further, released PII may be tracked to permit reporting and subsequent management of PII released in outbound communications.

Content upload safety tool

Aspects of the present invention are directed at sending a data item from a sending client to a receiving client. In accordance with one embodiment, a method provides controls for generating an audio-based command to send a data item from a sending client to a receiving client. More specifically, the method includes receiving an audio stream at the sending client from a sending party. As the audio stream is being received, a determination is made regarding whether a command to send a data item to the receiving client was received. If a command to send a data item is included in the audio stream, the method identifies the data item that is the object of the command and then transmits the data item to the receiving client over the network.

Transmitting packet-based data items

A method and system for communicating a variable set of contextual information relating to a conversation over a communication channel is provided. When the contextual information is exchanged, any authorized sending party of the contextual information can change the scope, content, or amount of the contextual information that is transmitted to a next receiving party in a determined communication channel path. Before transmitting the contextual information, a desirable scope of the contextual information may be determined based on the next receiving party, in conjunction with the sending party's rules. The contextual information may be updated by adding new contextual information and/or deleting part of the contextual information which is outside of the scope. No contextual information may be transmitted if the next destination desires no contextual information or does not have capabilities to receive any contextual information.

VoIP variable metadata

A method and system provides the ability to use VoIP devices to generate and/or propagate a broadcast message to other devices. A device transmits a broadcast message to a recipient device over a peer-to-peer communication channel. Such a device can be an originator or a propagator designated by a third party. Upon receipt of a request to broadcast a message, or upon detecting any triggering event to broadcast, the device processes the request or the triggering event to compose content of the message. Subsequently, a group of recipient devices are identified and located. The device may transmit the broadcast message over existing communications channels without disturbing a conversation with the recipient device. Further, a peer-to-peer communication channel may be established to transmit the broadcast message. Alternatively, the device may request the recipient device to broadcast the message to devices outside of its current peer-to-peer communication connections.

Peer-to-peer broadcasting in a VoIP system

The present invention generally relates to a method and system for providing VoIP clients with the ability to confirm accuracy in conversation data over a digital communication channel. More specifically, a method and system is provided for verifying, via a visual representation whether a receiving client captures accurate information from a particular portion of the digital voice conversation. In response to a triggering event, a visual representation, including information extracted from the particular portion of the digital voice conversation, may be generated for verifying the accuracy. Based on the needs of the clients engaging in the conversation, one or more visual representations and corresponding verifications can be exchanged. In this manner, a multi-tiered oral agreement with authentication may be generated over a digital communication channel.

Conversation data accuracy confirmation

The present invention is directed to a method and system for broadcasting a message to selected devices. More specifically, the method and system identifies appropriate VoIP devices of a recipient client suitable for a broadcast message and transmits the broadcast message to the identified appropriate VoIP devices over a digital communication channel. The appropriate VoIP devices are selected in accordance with various constraints of broadcasting such as recipient client's preference, functionality and capability of the recipient VoIP device, broadcaster's bandwidth, a set of broadcasting rules, or the like. In order to identify appropriate VoIP devices or a recipient client, the information relating to the recipient client and VoIP devices may be exchanged using the digital communication channel.

Device selection for broadcast messages

A method for adjusting sound data that is transmitted between a first client and a second client is disclosed. The sound data may adjusted or an adjustment indicator that indicates how to adjust the sound data may accompany the sound data. The method comprises determining a proximity between the clients; adjusting the sound data based on the determined proximity; and transmitting the adjusted sound data. The determined proximity may be the physical proximity between the clients or a virtual proximity between virtual representations of the clients. Rules for adjusting sound data based on proximity indicate how to adjust sound characteristics, such as, but not limited to volume and frequency. The rules may also take into account environmental factors such as atmospheric and aquatic environmental factors.

Proximity filtering of multiparty VoIP communications

Aspects of the present invention are directed at obtaining contextual information with a voicemail message. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that obtains additional contextual information that is not obtained automatically when a voicemail message is received. More specifically, the method includes automatically obtaining a first set of contextual information from a client associated with the caller when the caller is transferred to a voicemail system. Then a determination is made regarding whether the callee requests that additional contextual information be obtained. If the callee requests that additional contextual information be obtained, the requested information is obtained from a third-party service or by prompting the caller.

Providing contextual information with a voicemail message

A method and system for prioritizing data packets relating to a conversation over a VoIP communication channel is provided. An individual client or a service provider may specify priority information corresponding to incoming conversations. When several calling clients send data packets to one called client, the predefine priority information of the called client may be exchanged as part of contextual information. Based on the predefined priority information, priority levels are assigned to the received data packets. Subsequently, an existing communication channel may be terminated, interrupted, altered, and/or suspended in order to transmit data packets with higher priority than other data packets. A new communication channel may be established for a two-way communication, or a one-way communication between two clients. In this manner, the highest priority conversation among several incoming conversations, such as an emergency broadcast message or communication, can be ensured to reach to a client without a delay.

VoIP packet prioritization

Aspects of the present invention are directed to software that allows a callee to access and filter data related to a voicemail message. In accordance with one embodiment, searchable index key(s) are identified that are associated with a selected voicemail message. Then, a search is performed to identify data that is related to the selected voicemail message using the index key(s). Once the search is performed, a user interface is presented that references data identified as being related to the voicemail message. As a result, a callee may easily access and review data related to a voicemail message without being required to use multiple software applications.

Voicemail filtering software

Aspects of the present invention are directed at software for processing a received voicemail message to provide enhanced features in a voicemail system. In one embodiment, a user interface is provided where a callee may generate events to modify audio attributes of a received voicemail message. When an event to modify the audio attributes of the received voicemail message is received, aspects of the present invention obtain a set of event data that describes input generated by the callee. Then, a media player program is used to modify attributes of the data packets in the voicemail message in accordance with the input received from the callee.

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Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Linda Criddle