Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for scheduling one or more tasks to be performed by a resource modeled as a mathematical group. One or more tasks to be performed by a resource modeled as a mathematical group are scheduled by selecting a coset representative k of a subgroup of the mathematical group based on predefined criteria for homogenization of the one or more tasks. The one or more tasks may comprise, for example, packets and the resource may be, for example, one or more communications links in a packet network. The predefined criteria for homogenization of the one or more tasks includes, for example, a time-based or a size-based homogenization of the tasks (or both).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for specifying Web service interfaces and for processing Web service messages using protocol multiplexing. A Web service comprised of a plurality of sub-services (or clients of the Web service) are designed in accordance with the present invention by analyzing a plurality of micro-protocols between two or more of the sub-services, the Web service, and one or more clients of the Web service. A composite message is created if a plurality of messages of the micro-protocols have the same sender and receiver and belong to compatible message sequences. The present invention ensures that the execution of two or more message handlers is based on a defined execution order, when one or more collaborations of the micro-protocols are dependent on other collaborations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing converged communication services in a communication system are disclosed. A first endpoint of the system communicates with at least a second endpoint of the system via session initiation protocol (SIP). At least a portion of the SIP communication is controlled utilizing an application layer overlay framework which permits substantially simultaneous operation of the first endpoint in two application layer protocols, the two application layer protocols including SIP and web services protocol. The web services protocol may illustratively comprise an application layer web services transport protocol such as SOAP/HTTP. The application overlay framework comprises a web services interface, with the web services interface being configured to permit access to information associated with the SIP communication by one or more communication service applications of the system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for validating configuration data in a switch. An error is detected if the configuration data fails to comply with one or more rules; and a user is presented with an interface that allows the user to correct the error. The rules may include one or more syntactic rules or conflict rules (or both). In the case of a simple error, the user is presented with an error indication with a smart error link. In the case of a conflict error, the user is presented with an error indication that identifies the conflicting endpoints and optionally allows the user to correct at least one conflicting endpoint. The configuration data is revalidated after a change is made by a user. Changes are propagated to affected data objects. A number of error types may be automatically updated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for managing components of a secret key according to a secret sharing scheme. The disclosed secret sharing scheme divides a secret value, R, into n secret components (R1, R2, . . . , Rn) and one super component, S, in such a way that R can be computed from (i) any k or more Ri components (k<n); or (ii) S and any one component of Ri. The secret components (R1, R2, . . . , Rn) are distributed to a number of authorized users. A multiple threshold secret sharing scheme assigns various users in a group into one of a number of classes. Each user class has a corresponding threshold level that indicates the number of users that must come together with their assigned components to obtain access to the shared secret. The multiple threshold scheme divides the secret into n components each having an assigned threshold level (i.e., the number of such components that are required to obtain the secret).

Abstract: Techniques for performing rapid fault detection and recovery in communication networks are disclosed. For example, in one aspect of the invention, a technique for detecting one or more conditions in a communication network comprises the following steps/operations. One or more keep-alive packets are transmitted from a source node in the communication network to a destination node in the communication network over two or more paths between the source node and the destination node, wherein the two or more paths are at least partially disjoint. Upon receipt of the one or more keep-alive packets at the destination node via the two or more paths, at least one quality measure is computed at the destination node for each of the two or more paths, the at least one quality measure being indicative of one or more conditions in the communication network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically translating the dialed string entered by a calling party to identify a called party into another dialed string. The string translation may be based, for example, on characteristics of the telephone number or telephone terminal of the calling party or characteristics of the call itself. Translation rules translate the dialed string entered by the calling party to another dialed string. Each translation rule contains one or more conditions and a corresponding action item that should be performed to translate the dialed string when the rule is satisfied. The improved abbreviated dialing feature allows a shorter sequence of digits dialed from any telephone connected to a compliant switch to be replaced by a longer dialed string.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring and evaluating access link performance in IP networks that reduce the amount of required test traffic. Performance values supported by access links in a packet network that interconnects regions of an enterprise network are evaluated by (i) obtaining a plurality of test measurements for a set of N access links; (ii) formulating a matrix equation (Ax=D), where A is an invertible matrix, such as a Hadamard matrix, x is a vector of unknown access link performance parameters and D is a vector based on the plurality of test measurements; (iii) assigning one or more numeric values to one or more unproducible equations in the matrix equation based on one or more system properties; and (iv) obtaining a performance parameter value on each directed edge for the set by applying an inverse matrix A?1 to each side of of the matrix equation.

Abstract: A method of self-configuring a network device. The method includes transmitting non-unique structure information of a network device, from the network device to a configuration server, receiving, by the network device from the configuration server, one or more configuration parameter values responsive to the transmitted structure information and configuring the network device with the configuration parameter values.

Abstract: A network monitoring and analysis system is configured to conduct performance analysis on a network using a plurality of endpoint devices. Locations of respective endpoint devices for use in the performance analysis of the network are determined utilizing an algorithm which characterizes the network as a graph having edges and vertices and associates endpoint devices with particular ones of the vertices in an iterative manner based on impact of said vertices on achievement of a specified coverage criterion. The coverage criterion may comprise a links-covered criterion which specifies a percentage of a total number of links of the network that are covered by test communications. As another example, the coverage criterion may comprise a links-estimable criterion which specifies a percentage of a total number of links of the network for which performance is estimable from collected end-to-end path measurement data.

Abstract: A local network is interfaced with one or more external network elements via a gateway that implements an address substitution mechanism for ensuring that communications between devices attached to the local network are not routed through an external network as a result of, e.g., disparity in their remotely-assigned Internet protocol (IP) addresses. In accordance with the invention, the gateway is configured to intercept communications from devices on the local network in order to determine remotely-assigned IP address information for those devices. After such information is determined for a given device, the gateway creates a set of address substitution information that includes sub-network compatible addresses for use by other devices on the local network when communicating with the given device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for authenticating the contents of a device requesting access to a first network, such as an enterprise network. If a device has connected to at least one other network then the content of the device is evaluated prior to obtaining access. The scope of the content evaluation may be based, for example, on properties of the other network or on one or more defined content authentication rules. If a device attempts to access a network, the content of the device is evaluated and the device may be restricted to accessing only one or more restoration services if the content fails to satisfy one or more predefined criteria, such as a content item that is out of date or a determination that the device connected to one or more external networks. The restoration service(s) can update a content item that is out of date, reinstall one or more programs or return configuration settings to default values.

Abstract: A method of accelerating the operation of a load balancer by an accelerator switch. The method includes receiving, by the accelerator switch, packets directed to the load balancer, determining, for at least some of the received packets, whether the packets match an entry of a list of packet groups, by comparing fewer than five parameters of the packets to respective fields of entries of the list, and forwarding, by the accelerator switch, at least some of the received packets, directly to their destination, responsive to the determining.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for delivering enhanced caller information to a called party. A user document associated with a calling party is provided to the called party as part of signaling information associated with the call, such as a SIP invite message. The user document may be, for example, a vCard or vCalendar.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for notifying one or more users of information. One or more users are identified that have entered a subscription that matches the information; and a communication flow expression is generated that contains at least one primitive keyword indicating how a notification to the identified users should be processed. The communication flow expression may be provided, for example, to a third party for delivery. Typically, a request identifier is received back from the third party and forwarded to the application associated with the information. The communication flow expression comprises at least one recipient for the notification. The identified users may be required to have appropriate privileges associated with the information before being added to the communication flow expression.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for reducing echo from a received signal. A suppression gain is applied to an output of an echo canceler that has processed the received signal. The suppression gain includes a region of sloping attenuation about a decision point. The echo canceler optionally estimates an echo path and subtracts then estimate from the received signal. The suppression gain includes a non-zero lower bound, gmin, on a maximum attenuation applied by a suppressor, that is based on operating conditions of the echo canceler. The region of sloping attenuation applies a variable amount of attenuation that depends on the size of an output error ?(n) of the echo canceler relative to the received signal, x(n).

Abstract: Resources associated with a communication system switch are monitored by storing information defining one or more resource groups. Each of the resource groups includes multiple identifiers, with each of the identifiers specifying at least one resource to be monitored. A client external to the switch is permitted to select at least one of the resource groups for monitoring. In response to selection of one of the groups by the client, monitoring of the corresponding resources is established on behalf of the client. The resource monitoring may be established, controlled and maintained by a telephony server coupled between the client and the switch. Such a telephony server can preserve monitoring for a resource group, independent of the requests of clients, in order to reduce the amount of execution time needed to set up and tear down monitors for client applications. This is particularly advantageous in call centers or in other client applications that involve monitoring large numbers of switch resources.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for presenting default content to a caller when a media stream of the specified type is not available. If it is determined that a destination endpoint is not providing a media stream of a first media type to an originating endpoint, a transmission of default media of the first media type to the originating endpoint is initiated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for QoS-based admission control (QBAC). The disclosed QoS-based admission control techniques use QoS parameter measurements. An admission control request for a call on a path in a packet network is processed by obtaining performance data for the path; and predicting a performance of the call on the path using performance data for the path. In one implementation, the predicted performance is based on one or more derivatives of the performance data. Typically, the performance data includes historical performance data and is based on at least one quality of service metric.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for designing a Web service that processes one or more composite messages. The same techniques may be applied to the design of clients of the Web service. The Web service is comprised of service logic and compositional logic. The service logic is comprised of a plurality of message handlers that process micro-messages of one or more composite messages. The compositional logic is comprised of a plurality of protocol demultiplexers that implement Web service functionality for demultiplexing, sequencing, and multiplexing one or more composite messages. The compositional logic is separated from the service logic, such that the service logic does not include operations for demultiplexing, sequencing, or multiplexing the composite messages.