Abstract: A universal personal data portability capability is disclosed. The universal personal data portability supports automated porting of personal data of a user from a plurality of environments to a personal data store of the user.

Abstract: A secure communication mechanism is disclosed. The secure communication mechanism may utilize one or more secure communication capabilities to secure communications of various types of users in various types of networks. The secure communication capabilities may include one or more of a user pattern hiding capability (e.g., a user behavior pattern hiding capability, a user communication pattern hiding capability, a user browsing pattern hiding capability, or the like), a gateway hopping capability, or the like, as well as various combinations thereof. The users may include corporate users (e.g., for communications related to corporate matters or for communications related to personal matters), user associated with non-corporate entities, individuals not associated with a corporation or other type of entity (e.g., individual users, groups of users, or the like), or the like.

Abstract: A device (34) facilitates communications on behalf of users from various public service agencies (22-32). An example device (34) is implemented at a core layer such that it is capable of interfacing with a plurality of wireless communication network elements. An example device (34) includes a database portion (36) that includes information regarding how wireless communications should be managed on behalf of individuals associated with one or more public service agencies. A communication portion (38) interfaces with one or more network elements to provide information from the database portion (36) to achieve the desired control over wireless communications on behalf of end users from the public service agencies. Control portions (40) provide information and management capabilities to agencies utilizing the device (34).

Abstract: An illustrative example communication system designed according to an embodiment of this invention includes a controller and a data storage accessible by the controller. The data storage includes information indicating possible communication links among communication devices within a selected region. At least one node communicates with user devices. The at least one node has an intelligence gathering module that detects at least one signal from at least one other network device capable of communicating with user devices, and processes information regarding the at least one other network device based on the at least one detected signal. The at least one node communicates the information regarding the at least one other network device to the controller and the controller includes the information regarding the at least one other network device in the stored information of the data storage.

Abstract: A method and system for providing call forwarding in an IP telephone network is disclosed. First, when a telephone number for a first telephone from a second telephone is dialed, the call is routing to a call manager. Call setup procedures with a BRG responsible for the first telephone are then initiated. The BRG then checks stored call forwarding profiles to determine whether there is an active call forwarding profile for the first telephone. The call is connected to the first telephone if an active call forwarding profile is not found. However, if an active call forwarding profile is found, the call forwarding information is sent to the call manager. The call is routed to at least a third telephone based on the call forwarding information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide multiple telephone lines using a single directory number. A method and apparatus associate multiple directory numbers with multiple telephone lines. A broadband residential gateway (BRG) is a user interface to a broadband communication system providing packetized telephone service and other media services. The BRG can provide greeting and message features. A greeting may instruct a caller to select a name or extension which is associated with a party the caller is attempting to reach. Also, a message, played after the greeting, may further instruct the caller.

Abstract: A distributed cloud storage system includes a cloud storage broker logically residing between a client platform and a plurality of remote cloud storage platforms. The cloud storage broker mediates execution of a cloud storage process that involves dividing a data item into multiple portions and allocating the portions to multiple selected cloud storage platforms according to first and second rules defining a key known only to the cloud storage broker or to the client. At some later time when it is desired to retrieve the data item, the key is retrieved from storage and the rules are executed in a reverse fashion to retrieve and reassemble the data item.

Abstract: A scalable voice signature authentication capability is provided herein. The scalable voice signature authentication capability enables authentication of varied services such as speaker identification (e.g. private banking and access to healthcare account records), voice signature as a password (e.g. secure access for remote services and document retrieval) and the Internet and its various services (e.g., online shopping), and the like.

Abstract: A device (34) facilitates communications on behalf of users from various public service agencies (22-32). An example device (34) is implemented at a core layer such that it is capable of interfacing with a plurality of wireless communication network elements. An example device (34) includes a database portion (36) that includes information regarding how wireless communications should be managed on behalf of individuals associated with one or more public service agencies. A communication portion (38) interfaces with one or more network elements to provide information from the database portion (36) to achieve the desired control over wireless communications on behalf of end users from the public service agencies. Control portions (40) provide information and management capabilities to agencies utilizing the device (34).

Abstract: A content tagging and management capability is provided for enabling automatic tagging of content and management of tagged content. A method includes receiving content including an object, and automatically associating an information structure with the object included within the content to form thereby tagged content. The content may be received locally at a content capture device, and the information structure may be automatically associated with the object by the content capture device. The automatic tagging may be performed at the content capture device when the content is captured by the content capture device. The content may be received at a computer, and the information structure may be automatically associated with the object by the computer. The information structure may be available locally or retrieved from one or more remote devices.

Abstract: A method and system for providing call forwarding in an IP telephone network is disclosed. First, when a telephone number for a first telephone from a second telephone is dialed, the call is routing to a call manager. Call setup procedures with a BRG responsible for the first telephone are then initiated. The BRG then checks stored call forwarding profiles to determine whether there is an active call forwarding profile for the first telephone. The call is connected to the first telephone if an active call forwarding profile is not found. However, if an active call forwarding profile is found, the call forwarding information is sent to the call manager. The call is routed to at least a third telephone based on the call forwarding information.

Abstract: In an internet telephony system, toll-free service and the calls that are accepted and paid for can be specified by the IP telephony system user to be limited according to the calling party's identity, time of day, day of week or other criteria. Data that is used to screen or filter incoming calls is programmed into a call manager by the IP telephone system user's broadband residential gateway. Using such a system the user can carefully screen calls that are paid for and more closely control telecommunications service costs. More generally, the user has the ability to store predefined call handling criteria, which may be executed by the broadband residential gateway and/or the call manager.

Abstract: A method and system for providing call forwarding in an IP telephone network is disclosed. First, when a telephone number for a first telephone from a second telephone is dialed, the call is routing to a call manager. Call setup procedures with a BRG responsible for the first telephone are then initiated. The BRG then checks stored call forwarding profiles to determine whether there is an active call forwarding profile for the first telephone. The call is connected to the first telephone if an active call forwarding profile is not found. However, if an active call forwarding profile is found, the call forwarding information is sent to the call manager. The call is routed to at least a third telephone based on the call forwarding information.

Abstract: A content tagging and management capability is provided for enabling automatic tagging of content and management of tagged content. A registration capability is provided for enabling creation of a user account and association of information with the user account where the information is adapted for supporting automatic content tagging and management of tagged content. An object information management capability is provided for enabling access to object information which may be used when automatically tagging content. A tagged content access capability is provided for enabling access to an information structure by an end user viewing tagged content. A tagged content ownership management and remuneration capability is provided for enabling management of content ownership for tagged content of end users and for managing associated remuneration which may be provided to end user when tagged content is accessed.

Abstract: A content tagging and management capability is provided for enabling automatic tagging of content and management of tagged content. A method includes receiving content including an object, and automatically associating an information structure with the object included within the content to form thereby tagged content. The content may be received locally at a content capture device, and the information structure may be automatically associated with the object by the content capture device. The automatic tagging may be performed at the content capture device when the content is captured by the content capture device. The content may be received at a computer, and the information structure may be automatically associated with the object by the computer. The information structure may be available locally or retrieved from one or more remote devices.

Abstract: A content tagging and management capability is provided for enabling automatic tagging of content and management of tagged content. A method includes receiving content including an object, and automatically associating an information structure with the object included within the content to form thereby tagged content. The content may be received locally at a content capture device, and the information structure may be automatically associated with the object by the content capture device. The automatic tagging may be performed at the content capture device when the content is captured by the content capture device. The content may be received at a computer, and the information structure may be automatically associated with the object by the computer. The information structure may be available locally or retrieved from one or more remote devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide multiple telephone lines using a single directory number. A method and apparatus associate multiple directory numbers with multiple telephone lines. A broadband residential gateway (BRG) is a user interface to a broadband communication system providing packetized telephone service and other media services. The BRG can provide greeting and message features. A greeting may instruct a caller to select a name or extension which is associated with a party the caller is attempting to reach. Also, a message, played after the greeting, may further instruct the caller.

Abstract: A universal personal data portability capability is disclosed. The universal personal data portability supports automated porting of personal data of a user from a plurality of environments to a personal data store of the user.

Abstract: A universal personal data portability capability is disclosed. The universal personal data portability supports automated porting of personal data of a user from a plurality of environments to a personal data store of the user.

Abstract: A secure communication capability is disclosed. The secure communication capability is adapted to assure communications by or otherwise associated with a corporate user. The communications by or associated with the corporate user may be supported using a corporate user device(s) and/or a personal user device(s). The communications by or associated with the corporate user may be assured regardless of various elements or factors (e.g., regardless of one or more of a user device used for the communication, a communication channel used for the communication, a communication medium used for the communication, a communication mode used for the communication, and the like). In this manner, a secure blanket is imposed over all communication mechanisms used to support communication by or otherwise associated with the corporate user regarding corporate matters and/or personal matters.