Abstract: An enhanced captioning module suitable for use in a multimedia reception and display system includes an interface to receive a set of multimedia elements representative of at least a portion of multimedia content, a detection unit to determine a type of at least a portion of the multimedia elements and to assert a trigger signal when the multimedia element has a selected type, and a hash unit to generate a hash value corresponding to the “triggering” multimedia element. The module may further include a message unit to generate an enhanced captioning message that is deliverable to an enhanced captioning database. The enhanced captioning message may include information indicative of the hash value and the enhanced captioning database may include enhanced captioning data corresponding to the multimedia content. The enhanced captioning database may be configured to be indexed by the hash value.

Abstract: A set top box includes a processor. The processor is configured to receive a digital video stream and identify an I-Frame within the digital video stream. The processor is further configured to receive rating information for the I-Frame and to block playback a portion of the digital video stream in response to the rating information.

Abstract: A set top box includes a processor. The processor is configured to receive a digital video stream, calculate a hash of an I-Frame within the digital video stream, and submit the hash to a server. The processor is further configured to receive location information in response to submitting the hash to the server.

Abstract: A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call from a first provider to a destination telephone number served by a second provider comprises sending a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message from an originating switch to a first SIP server of the first provider. The first SIP server queries a telephone number mapping (ENUM) server of either the first, second or a third provider, and receives a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) associated with the destination telephone number. The ENUM server may be internal or external to the first provider. The first provider queries a Domain Name Service (DNS) server based on the URI, and receives an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a second SIP server of the second provider. The first SIP server and the second SIP server are used to set up a bearer path for the VoIP call between the originating switch and a destination switch.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a client terminal having a controller to transmit a request for a communication identifier of each of a plurality of network elements in a proximity to the client terminal, receive the communication identifier of each of the plurality of network elements, initiate a quality assurance test with a quality assurance client of each of the plurality of network elements according to the communication identifier of the respective network element, compare telemetry information derived from the quality assurance test for each of the plurality of network elements to a desired operational criterion, select one of the plurality of network elements according to said comparison, and consume one or more services provided by the selected network element. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for call surveillance in Internet protocol communication networks are disclosed. An example method to perform call surveillance in a communication network disclosed herein comprises determining an overall path delay measurement associated with using a first media server to perform surveillance of a call between a first user device and a second user device in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem network, and determining whether to perform surveillance of the call with one of the first media server or a second media server based on the overall path delay measurement.

Abstract: At least one telephone network element receives an attempt by a caller to place a telephone call to a telephone number of a callee. The telephone number is registered in a telephone number mapping (ENUM) database to receive incoming telephone calls via a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network. The at least one telephone network element determines a preference to carry the telephone call via a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a public land mobile network (PLMN) instead of the VoIP network. Based on the preference, the telephone call is forwarded to a gateway to carry the telephone call to the callee via the PSTN or the PLMN instead of the VoIP network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing ENUM records is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a broker having a detection element that detects a Resource Record (RR) submission made by an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), and a comparison element that retrieves from an object-oriented data storage element a zone associated with the RR, identifies a Domain Name Server (DNS) responsible for processing said zone, compares the zone with a volatile memory of the DNS, and updates the volatile memory according to one or more differences detected. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing network origination calls in a hybrid network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) having a detection module to detect at a first terminal a network origination call directed to a second terminal, a search module to search a terminal type for each of the first and second terminals according to information supplied in the network origination call, and an enablement module to enable at least one media gateway to provide communication services to each of the first and second terminals identified as a circuit-switched terminal by its corresponding terminal type. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call from a first provider to a destination telephone number served by a second provider comprises sending a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message from an originating switch to a first SIP server of the first provider. The first SIP server queries a telephone number mapping (ENUM) server of either the first, second or a third provider, and receives a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) associated with the destination telephone number. The ENUM server may be internal or external to the first provider. The first provider queries a Domain Name Service (DNS) server based on the URI, and receives an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a second SIP server of the second provider. The first SIP server and the second SIP server are used to set up a bearer path for the VoIP call between the originating switch and a destination switch.