Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an edge device having a controller to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message from a user endpoint device (UE) requesting communication services, forward the SIP message to a network element of a Server Office, receive from the network element a first error message indicating communication services at the Server Office are unavailable, replace the first error message with a second error message, the second error message indicating a temporary unavailability of communication services, and transmit the second error message to the UE. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: System(s) and method(s) are provided for regulating interaction amongst an application layer and a control layer in a packet-based core network. A data structure is provisioned in a centralized repository; the data structure includes (i) at least one procedure for regulating interaction amongst a session control component within the control layer and application server within the application layer, and (ii) an identification (ID) field attribute that uniquely identifies the data structure. To regulate such interaction, the session control component acquires a set of provisioned data structures; acquisition is automatic and can be dictated, in part, by generation of a data structure, or modification of an existing data structure or an ID field attribute. Based at least on an ID field attribute retained in a subscriber service profile, the session control component references a data structure identified by the ID field attribute and implements one or more procedures retained in such data structure.

Abstract: A method, a system and a computer readable medium for routing packets across disparate networks are disclosed. For example, the method receives, via a media gateway controller (MGC), an external request from an external requestor for a reservation of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) trunk on a media gateway (MGW) for a communication session between a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network and a PSTN network, sends, via the MGC, a H.248 request to the MGW to make the reservation, establishes via the MGW, a communication path and sending a message to the MGC, retrieves, via the MGC, an assigned Internet protocol (IP) address and IP port on the MGW from the message from the MGW, sends, via the MGC, an allocation request to a media terminating session border controller (SBC) and allocates, via the media terminating SBC, a public IP address and a public IP port from an available pool of IP addresses and IP ports at the media terminating SBC.

Abstract: An example method stores a nomadic service designator and an operating mode designator in association with a public user identifier. The nomadic service designator indicates whether an IP device is allowed to access VoIP services from different network locations. The public user identifier facilitates establishing a call with the IP device. The operating mode designator indicates when the IP device is in a suspended operating mode and an unrestricted mode. The suspended operating mode restricts the IP device to a subset of communication services associated with a service subscription of the IP device, and to a 911 service. The unrestricted operating mode is based on a registered geographic location associated with the IP device being a current geographic location of the IP device, and is based on a service provider being able to provide an E911 service including a location-identification service at the current geographic location of the IP device.

Abstract: A system may include, for example, an Interrogating Call Session Control Function (I-CSCF) device having a processor adapted to receive a request from a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) device communicatively coupled to a first communication device to establish communications with a second communication device responsive to the first communication device initiating a call directed to the second communication device, and to identify a primary S-CSCF device to which the second communication device is registered. The processor can also be adapted to detect a communication fault when attempting to communicate with the primary S-CSCF device, and to identify a secondary S-CSCF device that provides backup communication services to the second communication device responsive to detecting the communication fault. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving initial filter criteria from a home subscriber server, transmitting information obtained from the initial filter criteria to a domain name system, receiving a multicast IP address from the domain name system, and transmitting a message to a plurality of IP multimedia subsystem network elements according to the multicast IP address. The message can be used for configuring the plurality of IP multimedia subsystem network elements. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A disclosed application docking module (ADM) for use in a communication network includes a message monitor, an application monitor, and an anomaly handler. The message monitor monitors messages exchanged between a monitored application server and a session control layer resource of the network and the application monitor monitors a heartbeat of the application server. Based on the monitoring, the module determines when the application server is in an anomaly state. The anomaly state may indicate abnormal or otherwise unexpected application server messaging activity and/or an unexpected heartbeat status. The ADM processes application server messages on behalf of the application server when the application server is operating in an anomaly state. The ADM may, for example, block messages outgoing from the application server and process messages incoming to the application server by redirecting messages, returning messages to their sender, or generating an error code.

Abstract: A system and method of communication in an IMS network is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing server having a controller element that receives from a terminal device a calling ID for establishing communications with a called party, submits to a telephone number mapping (ENUM) server a query corresponding to the calling ID, receives from the ENUM server a plurality of communication identifiers retrieved from a Naming Authority Pointer record according to a grade of service (GoS) of the called party, and selects according to the GoS of the called party a communication identifier from the plurality of communication identifiers to establish communications with the called party. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing an overload condition in a network are disclosed. For example, the method monitors the network for a traffic overload condition, and determines whether a more severe traffic overload condition or a less severe traffic overload condition is detected by using a network monitor and controller. The method then selects using a network monitor and controller agent in response to a command from the network monitor and controller, a different bandwidth preservation scheme if the more severe traffic overload condition or the less severe traffic overload condition is detected, wherein the different bandwidth preservation scheme is based on a selection of a codec type and is applied to a portion of the traffic.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an application server that includes a memory storing computer instructions, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor responsive to executing the computer instructions can perform operations including transmitting to Home Subscriber Server (HSS) a User Data Request (UDR) command without initiating a third party registration process, where the UDR command includes a request for dynamic device information associated with a communication device, and receiving from the HSS a User Data Answer (UDA) command comprising the dynamic device information associated with the communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Home Subscriber Server having a processor adapted to receive from a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) device a request for a subscription profile of a communication device to register the communication device, to detect from the request that the communication device is registered with a primary communication resource and that the communication device is to be registered with the S-CSCF device as a secondary communication resource, and to provide the S-CSCF device the subscription profile without de-registering the communication device from the primary communication resource and without directing the S-CSCF device to the primary communication resource. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an edge device having a controller to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message from a user endpoint device (UE) requesting communication services, forward the SIP message to a network element of a Server Office, receive from the network element a first error message indicating communication services at the Server Office are unavailable, replace the first error message with a second error message, the second error message indicating a temporary unavailability of communication services, and transmit the second error message to the UE. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: According to one method for preserving stable calls during failover, during a dialog between two user endpoints, a determination is made whether a standby call processor has become operational, such as when a corresponding primary call processor is in fault. Responsive to determining that the standby call processor has become operational, a signaling protocol message is received from a requester. A determination is made whether the message includes an in-dialog signaling protocol request. Responsive to determining that the message includes the in-dialog request, a determination is made whether a call state associated with the dialog is found in memory. Responsive to determining that the call state associated with the dialog is not found in memory, a non-call terminating error response is made responding to the in-dialog request. The non-call terminating error response may cause the requester to terminate the in-dialog request but not terminate the dialog.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving initial filter criteria from a home subscriber server, transmitting information obtained from the initial filter criteria to a domain name system, receiving a multicast IP address from the domain name system, and transmitting a message to a plurality of IP multimedia subsystem network elements according to the multicast IP address. The message can be used for configuring the plurality of IP multimedia subsystem network elements. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a user endpoint device having a controller to submit a query to a Domain Name System (DNS) for information associated with a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) assigned to at least one of a Local Access Transport Area (LATA) or rate center of the user endpoint device, and receive from the DNS one or more descriptors of one or more session border controllers, wherein the one or more descriptors are associated with the FQDN of the user endpoint device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of communication in an IMS network is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing server having a controller element that receives from a terminal device a calling ID for establishing communications with a called party, submits to a telephone number mapping (ENUM) server a query corresponding to the calling ID, receives from the ENUM server a plurality of communication identifiers retrieved from a Naming Authority Pointer record according to a grade of service (GoS) of the called party, and selects according to the GoS of the called party a communication identifier from the plurality of communication identifiers to establish communications with the called party. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a home subscriber server having a memory coupled to a processor. The processor can be configured to store a first identity of a first communication device registered with a primary communication resource and a secondary communication resource, receive a request associated with a registration request initiated by a second communication device, detect that a second identity of the second communication device matches the first identity of the first communication device, and direct a registration of the second communication device with at least one of the primary communication resource or the secondary communication resource responsive to the detected match. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Example systems and methods to manage location information for emergency services support of an internet protocol (“IP”) communication device are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves determining a geographic location change status associated with the IP device. A message is then forwarded to the IP device based on the geographic location change status requesting a user to confirm whether a registered geographic location associated with the IP device is a current geographic location of the IP device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing an overload condition in a network are disclosed. For example, the method monitors the network for a traffic overload condition, and determines whether a more severe traffic overload condition or a less severe traffic overload condition is detected by using a network monitor and controller. The method then selects using a network monitor and controller agent in response to a command from the network monitor and controller, a different bandwidth preservation scheme if the more severe traffic overload condition or the less severe traffic overload condition is detected, wherein the different bandwidth preservation scheme is based on a selection of a codec type and is applied to a portion of the traffic.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an edge device having a controller to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message from a user endpoint device (UE) requesting communication services, forward the SIP message to a network element of a Server Office, receive from the network element a first error message indicating communication services at the Server Office are unavailable, replace the first error message with a second error message, the second error message indicating a temporary unavailability of communication services, and transmit the second error message to the UE. Additional embodiments are disclosed.