Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a network based call processing manager are disclosed. For example, the method receives a call by a call processing manager deployed in a communication network, wherein the call is for a customer that subscribes to a network based call processing service. The method obtains one or more routing instructions for handling the call from an automatic call distribution system, wherein the automatic call distribution system is deployed external to the communication network. The method then forwards the one or more routing instructions to an application server that routes the call in accordance with the one or more routing instructions.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a multi-media communication path between at least first, second and third communication devices coupled to a multi-media provider system during post answer call redirecting and/or teleconferencing. The method includes receiving and processing a first call request at a circuit-based portion of the multi-media provider system for forming a first communication link between the first and second communication devices. Thereafter, predetermined attributes of the first communication link may be sent to an IP-based portion of the multi-media provider system for configuring the IP-based portion of the multi-media provider system to process a subsequent request to execute post answer call redirecting and/or teleconferencing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and prioritizing applications and application servers in a Voice over IP network is disclosed. In a first embodiment, elements of signaling information are extracted from a call and are mapped to parameters associated with the call. These mapped parameters are then used by a service broker in a VoIP network to identify one or more application servers adapted to process the values of the respective parameter. The service broker may illustratively identify the application servers by a pointer to permit flexible reassignment of processing of a given parameter. The matched pointer/parameter combinations are then mapped to a precedence index. Then, according to this precedence index, the aforementioned pointers are mapped to specific addresses of application servers and the elements of signaling information are forwarded to those addresses for processing of applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a network provider, in concert with IP technology and protocols, to provide the ability to offer a simple pre-answer or post-answer call redirection, such as call transfer, to customers with IP endpoints is disclosed. The present invention allows call transfers to be initiated from an IP endpoint but processed in the packet network, e.g., the VoIP network instead of being processed by the endpoint. When a redirecting party (RP) receives a call from a calling party (CP), the RP simply sends a VoIP signaling message to the network to initiate a call transfer to redirect the call from the CP to a TP instead and the network will complete the call transfer on behalf of the RP.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing routing of calls in a packet network, e.g., a Voice over Internet Protocol (IP) network, using one or more criteria extracted from signaling information to determine the routing for the calls are disclosed. In one embodiment, the routing criteria extracted from signaling messages comprises at least one of: an access Uniform Resource Identifier, a destination phone number, a destination URI host, a calling party number, a calling party URI host, an incoming IP address, or a requested codec. An access URI and the egress URI are used to enhance routing decisions in a VoIP network. For instance, the egress URI can be used to specify egress route selections from the egress point of a VoIP network. The access URI can be used to influence the routing decisions within the VoIP network as well as the routing decisions with regard to egress routes from the egress point of the VoIP network.

Abstract: Methods of managing media server resources that may be used for VoIP calls are disclosed. In an embodiment, a media server resource broker receives a request for a set of media server resources from an application server. The media server resource broker determines the service request should be handled by a first media server based on the type of request and the availability of the first media server and provides the address of the first media server to the application server. The media server resource broker updates records regarding an assignment level of the first media servers to reflect the most recent request. When the call is complete and the resources become idle, the media server resource broker can update the assignment level to reflect the increase in availability of resources in the first media server.

Abstract: Upon detection of an overload condition at a network element, the network element sends two messages to those other network elements which may potentially send request messages to the overloaded network element. If the network utilizes the SIP signaling protocol, then the messages sent by an overloaded network element are SIP INVITE and SIP CANCEL. The CANCEL message comprises an indication that the sending network element is unavailable and an amount of time which the recipient network elements are to wait before sending any requests to the overloaded network node. Upon receipt of these messages, the receiving network elements wait for a delay time period before sending any additional request messages to the overloaded network element. During the waiting period, the waiting network elements may send request messages to network elements other than the overloaded network element which provide functionality similar to that of the overloaded network element.

Abstract: A method for supporting advanced features in a core SIP network when the calling party is in a network operating with the H.323 protocol is disclosed. Specifically, after processing the calls by collecting information associated with the advanced features, a REFER message is sent by an application server to an ingress border element associated with the calling party. The ingress border element then sends an H.450.2 FACILITY message containing the information in the SIP REFER message to an application gateway associated with the calling party. Upon receiving a SETUP message from the application gateway, the ingress border element then translates that SETUP message into a SIP INVITE message to establish the call.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a network based call processing manager are disclosed. For example, the method receives a call by a call processing manager deployed in a communication network, wherein the call is for a customer that subscribes to a network based call processing service. The method obtains one or more routing instructions for handling the call from an automatic call distribution system, wherein the automatic call distribution system is deployed external to the communication network. The method then forwards the one or more routing instructions to an application server that routes the call in accordance with the one or more routing instructions.

Abstract: Methods of controlling media server resources in a VoIP network are disclosed. In an embodiment, an IP node provides a service request. An application server receives the service request and sends a request for media server resources to a media server resource broker. The media server resource broker determines that the request should be handled by a first media server. The media server resource broker queries the first media server to obtain an IP address and port number for use in establishing a call between the IP node and the first media server. The media server resource broker then provides a signal to the IP Node so that it can establishing the call with the appropriate port on the media server. In an embodiment, the media server resource broker updates a database module that tracks assignment levels of the first media server so as to reflect the most recent request, thus decreasing the number of ports available for the first media server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and prioritizing applications and application servers in a Voice over IP network is disclosed. In a first embodiment, elements of signaling information are extracted from a call and are mapped to parameters associated with the call. These mapped parameters are then used by a service broker in a VoIP network to identify one or more application servers adapted to process the values of the respective parameter. The service broker may illustratively identify the application servers by a pointer to permit flexible reassignment of processing of a given parameter. The matched pointer/parameter combinations are then mapped to a precedence index. Then, according to this precedence index, the aforementioned pointers are mapped to specific addresses of application servers and the elements of signaling information are forwarded to those addresses for processing of applications.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing routing of calls in a packet network, e.g., a Voice over Internet Protocol (IP) network, using one or more criteria extracted from signaling information to determine the routing for the calls are disclosed. In one embodiment, the routing criteria extracted from signaling messages comprises at least one of: an access Uniform Resource Identifier, a destination phone number, a destination URI host, a calling party number, a calling party URI host, an incoming IP address, or a requested codec. An access URI and the egress URI are used to enhance routing decisions in a VoIP network. For instance, the egress URI can be used to specify egress route selections from the egress point of a VoIP network. The access URI can be used to influence the routing decisions within the VoIP network as well as the routing decisions with regard to egress routes from the egress point of the VoIP network.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a multi-media communication path between at least first, second and third communication devices coupled to a multi-media provider system during post answer call redirecting and/or teleconferencing. The method includes receiving and processing a first call request at a circuit-based portion of the multi-media provider system for forming a first communication link between the first and second communication devices. Thereafter, predetermined attributes of the first communication link may be sent to an IP-based portion of the multi-media provider system for configuring the IP-based portion of the multi-media provider system to process a subsequent request to execute post answer call redirecting and/or teleconferencing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and prioritizing applications and application servers in a Voice over IP network is disclosed. In a first embodiment, elements of signaling information are extracted from a call and are mapped to parameters associated with the call. These mapped parameters are then used by a service broker in a VoIP network to identify one or more application servers adapted to process the values of the respective parameter. The service broker may illustratively identify the application servers by a pointer to permit flexible reassignment of processing of a given parameter. The matched pointer/parameter combinations are then mapped to a precedence index. Then, according to this precedence index, the aforementioned pointers are mapped to specific addresses of application servers and the elements of signaling information are forwarded to those addresses for processing of applications.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a multi-media communication path between at least first, second and third communication devices coupled to a multi-media provider system during post answer call redirecting and/or teleconferencing. The method includes receiving and processing a first call request at a circuit-based portion of the multi-media provider system for forming a first communication link between the first and second communication devices. Thereafter, predetermined attributes of the first communication link may be sent to an IP-based portion of the multi-media provider system for configuring the IP-based portion of the multi-media provider system to process a subsequent request to execute post answer call redirecting and/or teleconferencing.

Abstract: Upon detection of an overload condition at a network element, the network element sends two messages to those other network elements which may potentially send request messages to the overloaded network element. If the network utilizes the SIP signaling protocol, then the messages sent by an overloaded network element are SIP INVITE and SIP CANCEL. The CANCEL message comprises an indication that the sending network element is unavailable and an amount of time which the recipient network elements are to wait before sending any requests to the overloaded network node. Upon receipt of these messages, the receiving network elements wait for a delay time period before sending any additional request messages to the overloaded network element. During the waiting period, the waiting network elements may send request messages to network elements other than the overloaded network element which provide functionality similar to that of the overloaded network element.

Abstract: Upon detection of an overload condition at a network element, the network element sends two messages to those other network elements which may potentially send request messages to the overloaded network element. If the network utilizes the SIP signaling protocol, then the messages sent by an overloaded network element are SIP INVITE and SIP CANCEL. The CANCEL message comprises an indication that the sending network element is unavailable and an amount of time which the recipient network elements are to wait before sending any requests to the overloaded network node. Upon receipt of these messages, the receiving network elements wait for a delay time period before sending any additional request messages to the overloaded network element. During the waiting period, the waiting network elements may send request messages to network elements other than the overloaded network element which provide functionality similar to that of the overloaded network element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a network provider, in concert with IP technology and protocols, to provide the ability to offer a simple pre-answer or post-answer call redirection, such as call transfer, to customers with IP endpoints is disclosed. The present invention allows call transfers to be initiated from an IP endpoint but processed in the packet network, e.g., the VoIP network instead of being processed by the endpoint. When a redirecting party (RP) receives a call from a calling party (CP), the RP simply sends a VoIP signaling message to the network to initiate a call transfer to redirect the call from the CP to a TP instead and the network will complete the call transfer on behalf of the RP.

Abstract: A method for supporting advanced features in a core SIP network when the calling party is in a network operating with the H.323 protocol is disclosed. Specifically, after processing the calls by collecting information associated with the advanced features, a REFER message is sent by an application server to an ingress border element associated with the calling party. The ingress border element then sends an H.450.2 FACILITY message containing the information in the SIP REFER message to an application gateway associated with the calling party. Upon receiving a SETUP message from the application gateway, the ingress border element then translates that SETUP message into a SIP INVITE message to establish the call.

Abstract: Methods of managing media server resources that may be used for VoIP calls are disclosed. In an embodiment, a media server resource broker receives a request for a set of media server resources from an application server. The media server resource broker determines the service request should be handled by a first media server based on the type of request and the availability of the first media server and provides the address of the first media server to the application server. The media server resource broker updates records regarding an assignment level of the first media servers to reflect the most recent request. When the call is complete and the resources become idle, the media server resource broker can update the assignment level to reflect the increase in availability of resources in the first media server.