At&t Intellectual Property I, LP

Asurion Corporation

Xiaolian Bi

Haifeng Bi

Hisao M Chang

Jason Unrein

A communications system and method is provided for facilitating access to a service center resource. A request is received from a mobile device of a user to access a service center associated with a destination specific application on the mobile device. The request includes information entered by the user and associated with the request. An identification of a service center resource of the service center that matches needs of the user based upon the information entered by the user and a determination of an availability of the service center resource is made. A first communication is launched to a communications address associated with the mobile device and a second communication is launched to a communications address associated with the service center resource. The first communication and the second communication are bridged.

Graphical interactive visual response system and method

A method includes receiving search criteria associated with a user account, sending a first query identifying a first media content item from the server to a device associated with the user account in response to identifying the first media content item that satisfies the search criteria and that is scheduled to be available to a media device associated with the user account and distinct from the device, and sending a second query that identifies a second media content item that satisfies the search criteria from the server to the device in response to lapse of a time period and a determination that a first title associated with the first media content item matches a second title associated with the second media content item and that a first time associated with the first media content item does not match a second time associated with the second media content item.

Notification of media content of interest

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device that receives, from a particular user, identification of selected users from which recommendations are sought. Those users that have made recommendations are determined, and a recommendation is provided to equipment of the particular user for presentation in a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface item is associated with a recommending user and a media content item. A selection of the recommendation graphical user interface item is received, and information is provided for presentation, responsive to a determination that viewing of the information has been authorized. Other embodiments are disclosed.

System and method for providing recommendation icons on an electronic programming guide

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to receive a call request from a set top box that is remote from the server where the call request identifies a telephone number that is presented from video content presented by the set top box where the telephone number is detected based on a combination of image pattern recognition and speech recognition and where the telephone number is associated with a marketing entity, establish a voice communication with a first telephone device associated with the set top box, and establish the voice communication with a second telephone device associated with the telephone number and the marketing entity if the first telephone device accepts the voice communication. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus and method for managing voice communications

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device that receives, from a particular user, identification of selected users from which recommendations are sought. Those users that have made recommendations are determined, and a recommendation graphical user interface is provided to equipment of the particular user. The graphical user interface item is associated with a recommending user and a television program. A selection of the recommendation graphical user interface item is received, and information is provided for presentation, responsive to a determination that viewing of the information has been authorized. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A method includes receiving search criteria from a media device associated with a user account. The method includes performing a first search of media content information. The method includes in response to identifying particular media content that satisfies the search criteria, sending a first notification identifying a first occurrence of the particular media content to a device associated with the user account. The method includes, at a time indicated by the search criteria, performing a second search of updated media content information. The method includes in response to the second search identifying a second occurrence of the particular media content, determining whether the second occurrence matches the first occurrence. The method also includes sending a second notification when the second occurrence does not match the first occurrence and refraining from sending the second notification when the second occurrence matches the first occurrence.

Notification of upcoming media content of interest

Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for automatically transcribing voicemail. The method includes receiving a plurality of voicemail messages from callers, identifying for each voicemail message in the plurality of voicemail messages a first frequency with which the respective caller leaves voicemails, identifying for each voicemail message in the plurality of voicemail messages a second frequency with which a user requests transcription of each voicemail, assigning a priority ranking to each voicemail message in the plurality of voicemail messages based on the respective first frequency and the respective second frequency, and transcribing untranscribed voicemail messages with a highest priority ranking. The method can include establishing a priority ranking threshold and repeatedly transcribing a next highest ranking untranscribed voicemail message until no further untranscribed voicemail messages remain above the priority ranking threshold.

System and method for automatically transcribing voicemail

A method for providing recommendation icons associated with a television program on an electronic program guide is disclosed. A selection is received of a television program listed in the electronic programming guide. A recommendation graphical user interface associated with the selected television program is provided. A selection is received of a recommendation soft button displayed on the recommendation graphical user interface. The electronic programming guide is displayed with the recommendation icons. A selection is received of one of the recommendation icons in the electronic programming guide. Information associated with the selected one of the recommendation icons is displayed.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to receive a call request from a set top box that is remote from the server where the call request identifies a telephone number that is displayed in video content presented by the set top box where the telephone number was detected based on at least one of image pattern recognition and voice recognition and where the telephone number is associated with a marketing entity of the video content, establish a voice communication with a first telephone device associated with the set top box, and establish the voice communication with a second telephone device associated with the telephone number and the marketing entity if the first telephone device accepts the voice communication. Other embodiments are disclosed.

A graphical interactive visual response system and method is provided in which a graphical user interface provides such interactivity and visual response. A user can initiate contact with a representative using an application residing on a personal device, such as a mobile telephone or computer. The application (graphical interface) allows the user to interactively select options on a displayed menu, arrive at the appropriate service and initiate a connection with the representative. The connection is established when the user and representative are available, thereby avoiding hold and wait times typically associated with conventional interactive voice response system.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying a first user initiating control of a media processor device, determining a startup media program according to one or more startup media preferences associated with the identified first user and one or more characteristics corresponding to the first user initiating control, and transmitting to a display device the startup media program derived from a media stream. Other embodiments are disclosed.

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San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Xiaolian Bi