Abstract: Scalable presence distribution system and method are described. In one embodiment, a presence distribution system comprises a plurality of presence servers and a centralized management function for coordinating registration of a presentity with one or more of the plurality of presence servers.

Abstract: A communications system provides customized messages based on presence and preference information by collecting presence information and preference information on a plurality of subscribers. The presence information includes information on the availability of a subscriber, while the preference information includes policies for different priority levels of callers. In response to unavailability of a called subscriber for a communication session, the communications manager transmits a customized response to the caller that is generated based on the presence information and the preference information of the called subscriber.

Abstract: A multi-functional communications log maintains communication session information pertaining to attempted communication sessions with a user. The multi-functional communications log interfaces with a communications manager to detect a user-initiated communications log event and automatically and temporarily subscribe the user to receive presence information of presentities associated with the attempted communication sessions. The attempted communication sessions include voice communication sessions, text communication sessions and multimedia communication sessions.

Abstract: Automatic subscription to presence services is achieved using a communications manager within a presence system. The communications manager is capable of detecting the occurrence of an event associated with at least one of a presentity and a watcher. The communications manager automatically subscribes or unsubscribes the watcher to receive presence information of the presentity in response to detection of the event.

Abstract: A presence server is described herein that implements a method which processes and integrates a presence watcher's communication preferences and a presentity's communication preferences and then distributes the integrated communication preferences along with the presentity's presence information so that the presence watcher can use this information to make a decision on how to contact the presentity. In this way, the presence watcher can achieve promoted communication satisfaction because they know now if they can contact the presentity using their preferred language/device (media type)/security mode (protocol). This enhancement of the communication satisfaction is possible because the integrated communication preferences provided to a presence watcher reflects not only the presentity's communication preferences but also the presence watcher's communication preferences.

Abstract: A system and method are described herein that includes a presence server which is capable of notifying a watcher about a location of a person using a rich presence element in accordance with security and privacy rules specified by the person. In the preferred embodiment, the system uses a read/write RFID tag and RFID reader as well as a presence server to collect, store and distribute location information as a presence element to the watcher. To accomplish this, the user data and program carrying capability of the read/write RFID tag is used to push to the presence server not only location information but also policies and rules established by the user to control the distribution of the location information as a presence element to watchers. The location policy rules can be made and controlled by the user and/or a third party.

Abstract: System and method for indicating network quality of service capability as a presence attribute of an end-user are described. One embodiment is an access network for providing quality of service (“QoS”) information of the access network. The access network comprises an Application Quality of Service (“AQS”) device that controls QoS parameters for the access network; a presence server that develops a QoS attribute of an end-user of the access network by collecting QoS attributes of the access network from the AQS device and collecting QoS attributes of an end-user device; and a Session Initiation Protocol (“SIP”) server that communicates with the presence server to collect the QoS attribute of the end-user and communicates the QoS attribute to an edge router of another access network.

Abstract: A communication device is described herein that is capable of enabling a user to select whether they want to use voice communications, text communications or voice/text communications to communicate with a remote communication device used by a person or an automated phone service. Also described herein are methods for making and using the communication device.

Abstract: Method and system for implementing an inter-domain constraint-based shortest path first (“IrD-CSPF”) technique for supporting hierarchical routing in interconnected multi-domain OTNs are described. In one embodiment, the invention is a method for calculating a network path in an interconnected multi-domain network. The method comprises receiving a path setup request message for a new traffic flow in the network identifying a source node in one domain of the network and a destination node in a second domain of the network; determining a common ancestor hierarchical routing domain that includes ancestor nodes of both the source and destination nodes; calculating an inter-domain path from one ancestor node to the other ancestor node that determines, for each lower-level domain, border nodes in the domain from the source node to the destination node; and for each bottom-level domain, calculating an intra-domain path between the border nodes that were determined for the domain.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for implementing a constraint-based shortest path first (“CSPF”) technique for dynamically switched optical transport networks are described. One embodiment comprises a traffic network element (“TNE”) in a network comprising a traffic engineering network database (“TEND”) that stores network topology information for the network and bandwidth availability information for links in the network; and a routing engine that receives a request for a label switched path (“LSP”) with specified constraints, processes network topology information from the TEND to create a network graph comprising links meeting the specified constraints, and computes a primary path through the network, wherein the primary path comprises links selected from the network graph.