AT&T Labs Research — Leading Invention, Driving Innovation

A trust propagation system is disclosed that propagates trust data based on established trust relationships. The trust system may automatically propagate trust data between parties A and C based on trust relationships with a common party B. Trust data may include authentication data such as biometric data, encryption data, passwords, etc. that may be used to conduct exclusive communications.

Systems and methods for providing synthesized speech in a manner that takes into account the environment where the speech is presented. A method embodiment includes, based on a listening environment and at least one other parameter associated with at least one other parameter, selecting an approach from the plurality of approaches for presenting synthesized speech in a listening environment, presenting synthesized speech according to the selected approach and based on natural language input received from a user indicating that an inability to understand the presented synthesized speech, selecting a second approach from the plurality of approaches and presenting subsequent synthesized speech using the second approach.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining traffic conditions using wireless devices. A number of signals from the vehicles traveling in selected routes are received by several wireless communication networks via the wireless devices. The total number of signals received are used to compare if there are sufficient number of vehicles traveling on the selected routes. If so, then the location information of the moving vehicles at various times is determined by the wireless communication network and forwarded to a central computer. The central computer coordinates with the wireless communications network for information needed to compute traffic data. The central computer computes the velocity of the moving vehicles and a traffic profile is created based on the velocity and location information of the moving vehicles. Furthermore, the traffic profile is sent to the moving vehicles.

Embodiments of the present invention are related to a method and apparatus for determining whether each mobile station in a pre-defined group of two or more mobile stations is in compliance with acceptable location criteria. A group tracking server receives mobile station tracking information including a mobile station identifier for each mobile station. The server also receives current location coordinates corresponding to the mobile station identifier for each mobile station from a locator device. A relative location of each mobile station relative to one or more predetermined targets the calculated. The acceptable location criteria for each mobile station relative to the one or more pre-determined targets is retrieved from a location criteria database. The calculated relative location of each mobile station relative to the one or more pre-determined targets compared with the retrieved location criteria to determine whether the calculated relative location is in compliance with the acceptable location criteria. A subscriber is then notified if the calculated relative location is in compliance with the acceptable location criteria.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining traffic conditions using wireless devices. A number of signals from the vehicles traveling in selected routes are received by several wireless communication networks via the wireless devices. The total number of signals received are used to compare if there are sufficient number of vehicles traveling on the selected routes. If so, then the location information of the moving vehicles at various times is determined by the wireless communication network and forwarded to a central computer. The central computer coordinates with the wireless communications network for information needed to compute traffic data. The central computer computes the velocity of the moving vehicles and a traffic profile is created based on the velocity and location information of the moving vehicles. Furthermore, the traffic profile is sent to the moving vehicles.

Systems and methods for providing synthesized speech in a manner that may take into account the environment where the speech is presented. In certain cases, the manner in which speech is presented can take into consideration ambient noise and/or can seek to optimize speech audibility.

A system and a method are provided for an online address directory that may be updated by the address owner in real time, via the Internet, the telephone, wireless web, or otherwise. The address entry may contain an address for the address owner, together with beginning and ending effective dates for the address to ensure that the address information is current for any given date. The address owner may select a level of security for the address entry, to permit open or restricted access to the address entry, and may specify those persons who may view the entry. A person seeking address information for the address owner may obtain that information by entering an identifier correlating to the address owner, the dates of interest, and if required, a key, into a query in the directory, thereby obtaining accurate address information for the date of interest.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining traffic conditions using wireless devices. A number of signals from the vehicles traveling in selected routes are received by several wireless communication networks via the wireless devices. The total number of signals received are used to compare if there are sufficient number of vehicles traveling on the selected routes. If so, then the location information of the moving vehicles at various times is determined by the wireless communication network and forwarded to a central computer. The central computer coordinates with the wireless communications network for information needed to compute traffic data. The central computer computes the velocity of the moving vehicles and a traffic profile is created based on the velocity and location information of the moving vehicles. Furthermore, the traffic profile is sent to the moving vehicles.

Embodiments of the present invention are related to a method and apparatus for determining whether each mobile station in a pre-defined group of two or more mobile stations is in compliance with acceptable location criteria. A group tracking server receives mobile station tracking information including a mobile station identifier for each mobile station. The server also receives current location coordinates corresponding to the mobile station identifier for each mobile station from a locator device. A relative location of each mobile station relative to one or more pre-determined targets the calculated. The acceptable location criteria for each mobile station relative to the one or more pre-determined targets is retrieved from a location criteria database. The calculated relative location of each mobile station relative to the one or more pre-determined targets compared with the retrieved location criteria to determine whether the calculated relative location is in compliance with the acceptable location criteria. A subscriber is then notified if the calculated relative location is in compliance with the acceptable location criteria.

A method and apparatus provide an advanced scheduling and messaging system in which information about an appointment is received from a user. Information about an attendee associated with the appointment, including attendee notification information, is also received. When it is determined that the user will be late for the appointment, an attendee notification message is automatically generated using the attendee notification information. Appointment time information and appointment location information can also be received by the scheduling system along with user location information. It can then be determined if the user will be late for the appointment based on the user location information, the appointment location information, the appointment time information and a time associated with the user location information.

A method and apparatus for delivering a greeting from a group of individuals to an individual or another group of individuals is disclosed. Recipient information, contributor information, billing information, and an input from each contributor are received by the system. The system composes the greeting using the contributor inputs and delivers the greeting to the recipient in the form of an audio or multimedia greeting. All the contributors can simultaneously provide their input to the greeting or individual contributors can connect to the system (at any time before a pre-determined time limit) and add an input to the greeting after reviewing the prior inputs of other contributors.

At least one method is disclosed for transferring a chat session involving a mobile information device from a first chat server to a second chat server. The method includes receiving at the second chat server a transfer request. The method also includes establishing connectivity between the mobile information device and the second chat server, and releasing connectivity between the mobile information device and the first chat server.

A method and apparatus for sending messages to a portable device. The apparatus broadcasts query signals and receives an identification code from a portable device as a reply. The identification code can identify a portable device user, user preferences and portable device capabilities. Messages of various formats are retrieved from local and/or remote messaging systems based on the identification code. The apparatus can send the retrieved messages to the portable device and receive messages from the portable device.

A prize awarding device and method that awards a prize over a communications network. The prize award device generates a prize code for a contest prize winning call which is based on the call information of the contest prize winning call. The call information may include the location of the winning caller, the location of the party being called, a duration of the winning call, and time of day the winning call is placed and the like. The prize code may further be based on demographic information of the calling and/or called party. Based on the prize code, the prize award device selects a prize.

A method and apparatus can enter a call into a lottery, if the call is eligible. A group of individuals or other entities associated with the call for purposes of the lottery is identified; and if the call has won the lottery, at least one member of group is advised of the group's winning status. The odds of winning a lottery for the call can be adjusted based on a participation history for at least one member of the group. The participation history can include a past number of calls made or total call time logged by the caller, etc. Thus, for example, groups of frequent users of a communication service can be rewarded with increased odds of winning a lottery each time a request for communication services is made and communication services are provided.

A method and apparatus for rewarding communication service users can enter a call into a lottery, if the call is eligible. A party associated with the call for purposes of the lottery is identified; and if the call has won the lottery, the lottery winner is advised of the winning status. The odds of winning a lottery for the call can be adjusted based on a participation history for the associated party including a history of past lottery prizes won and refused. Thus, a lottery winner can be given the opportunity to refuse a lottery prize won in return for a chance to win a better prize in a future lottery. Prizes won by the lottery winner can also be matched to the lottery winner's preferences and/or the lottery winning call.