Cox Communications, Inc.

Radhakrishnan Gopinath

Douglas David Gravino

Michael Lee Poffenberger

Lalit Tulsidas Bhatia

Catalina Gard

Deborah Miller

Pujan K Roka

Keith Lawrence Davis

Mark H Spaulding

David Darrell Nesbitt

Initiating actions for mobile devices prior to a mobile user entering problem zones. A position and a route of a user are identified. A database is accessed to retrieve data identifying problem zones in a communications network. The position and route of the user are compared to the retrieve data identifying problem zones. A determination is made to identify when the user is approaching a problem zones. An action is performed to compensate for unfavorable network conditions of the problem zone when the user enters the problem zone.

System, method and device for initiating actions for mobile devices prior to a mobile user entering problem zones

An alternative route solution includes consideration of network coverage provided by a navigation application. A device is knowledgeable of coverage areas of a carrier including problem zones. An alternate route to a desired destination is computed so that the alternative route is completely within the coverage areas of the carrier while avoiding the problem zones. The alternative route may be presented to the user on a display device, such as a smart phone, a GPS device, laptop, etc.

System, method and device for providing navigation information based on coverage area assessment

A cable television system with integrated social streaming. The cable television system with integrated social streaming includes a set-top box in communication with a camera and/or a microphone that allows video and/or audio communication over a social streaming channel offered by the cable provider. The cable television system with integrated social streaming provides an interactive experience for a set-top box user by allowing the user to participate in video and/or audio conversations with friends on supported social streaming services.

Cable television system with integrated social streaming

Location-based person and object monitoring are provided. The location of a person or object may be monitored by associating a device with the person or object that is operative to send location information for the monitored person or object to a receiving station for establishing precise geo-location data for the monitored person or object. The geo-location information for the monitored person or object may be passed to a television services system for generating and displaying on a viewable television channel mapping information showing the location of the monitored person or object. A television channel may be designated for each monitored person or object. If the monitored person or object moves out of a prescribed monitoring range, a television channel showing the mapping information may be automatically displayed to replace a presently viewed television channel for alerting a monitoring person as to the whereabouts of the monitored person or object.

Location-based person and object monitoring

Real-time customer feedback of call information is determined by a carrier network. Databases are used to map individual phone numbers to the carrier currently servicing that number and to lookup the carrier information for the other party during each call. This information may be displayed on the customer's handset device. Furthermore, this called party network carrier information could be used in conjunction with information about the calling party's rate plan to display the actual cost status of the call on the customer's handset.

Carrier network determination for providing real-time customer feedback of call information

An indication of an activated call forwarding feature is provided for a mobile telephone/computing device. When a call forwarding feature is activated, an indication may be presented on the device to indicate the call forwarding feature is currently active. The indication may be visual, audible or tactile. The indication serves as a reminder to the user of the device that the call forwarding feature is active. The indication may be presented on the device continuously until the user deactivates the feature, or the indication may be presented only when incoming calls are actually forwarded. Selectable functions may be enabled on the device for changing the call forwarding activation state and for overriding call forwarding for an in-progress forwarding call.

Mobile telephone call forwarding management

Processing communications to and from multiple communications systems based on user preferences and based on presence information for one or more users of the communications systems is provided. A user who operates multiple communications systems may set preferences with each of the systems individually or through a centralized communications management system to control call processing to each of the systems based on prescribed user preferences and based on presence information for the user. In addition, communications applications associated with one or more communications systems may be automatically activated or functionally modified based on user preferences and/or user presence information.

Multiple system and presence-based call processing

Allowing a user of a communication device to have real-time control as a voicemail is being generated is provided. An incoming call to a communication device may be sent to voicemail; however, rather than waiting for the message to be deposited into the voicemail system followed by subsequent retrieval, a user of the called communication device/called party may have an option to listen to the message as it is being created and stored. During the process of listening in on the message being deposited in the voicemail system, the user/called party may have options in real-time to take the call, ignore the call, listen to the call, and the like. Alternatively, the user/called party may take the call (answer) as the voicemail is being deposited without listening in on the voicemail as it is being deposited.

Call screening for voicemail

Automatically created and dynamically updated lists of a user's frequently called contacts and favorite calling numbers may be provided via a frequently called contacts and favorite calling numbers application. If a call usage count associated with a particular phone number meets a prescribed threshold, the phone number may be added to a frequently called contacts list. Given a user's call frequency and type, the frequently called contacts list may be updated dynamically. A favorite calling numbers list may be generated manually or automatically based on various criteria for adding contact numbers to the list. Both the frequently called contacts list and the favorite calling numbers list may be tied in with a service provider's billing system, wherein special rates or discounts may be applied to calls made to or received from phone numbers in the frequently called contacts list or favorite calling numbers list.

Integration of contact information across multiple communication devices

Hybrid communications voicemail systems and methods are disclosed. A wireline telephone number may be operatively associated with a wireless telephone voicemail box such that calls placed to the wireline telephone number and subsequently routed to voicemail may be routed to the wireless telephone voicemail box. Thus, the user of both wireline and wireless telephones may check voicemail messages at a single wireless voicemail box. Parents or supervisors may check voicemail messages or converted text messages deposited for children or employees at the single wireless voicemail box. A wireless telephone user may allow calls to be routed to his/her wireless telephone from his/her wireline telephone if he/she cannot be reached at the wireline telephone or as designated by the user.

Hybrid communications mailbox

Notification of missed voice calls directed to non-responsive called party devices in a communication network is provided. An incoming call directed to a called party device, when the called party device is in a non-responsive state, are received at a messaging platform. Call data associated with the call is stored at the messaging platform. The stored call data is utilized to generate a notification of the call. The notification of the call is sent from the messaging platform to the called party device or another device associated with the called party. The notification may include an identification of the calling party and a date and time when the call was made.

Intelligent call notification in a communication network

Device-to-device call disposition is provided. When a call is received at a first telecommunications device, a determination may be made as to whether a second device has been designated to receive a notification of the inbound call and to allow for call disposition at the second device. At the second device, the user may be notified of the incoming call at the first device, and the user may be provided with a number of options for disposing of the incoming call. While the user is positioned at a location having a wireline or wireless communications device associated with the location, and the user receives a call on his/her personal wireless device, a call to the personal wireless device may be automatically routed to the wireline or wireless device associated with the user's location (e.g., home or office).

Device-to-device call disposition

An improved visual voicemail system is provided. When a call is made to a wireless telephone device and a voicemail message is deposited for the called party, the voicemail message is transcribed to generate a text version of the deposited voicemail message. The transcribed voicemail message is sent to the called mobile telephone device to allow the user to read the text version of the voicemail message. Embedded with transcribed text voicemail message is a link that maps to a unique telephone number that is assigned to the original audio voicemail message from the text voicemail message was transcribed. If the called party selects the link, the called party's mobile telephone device or other receiving computing device places a call to the storage location of the original audio version of the voicemail message to listen to the audio version of the voicemail message.

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Alpharetta, GA, United States of America

Radhakrishnan Gopinath