Abstract: Software Defined Networking (SDN) is used in IMS in order to provide a mechanism to forward (Internet Protocol) IP packets and provide a simplified solution to the complex signaling path of IMS according to directives from an SDN Controller. SDN is used in at least three particular scenarios. In the first scenario, communications are simplified using SDN directed signaling disaggregation. In the second scenario, SDN is used to direct media function chaining. In the third scenario, the system can be used as an SDN based media relay.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for end-to-end validation of virtual machines. A control system including a processor can detect a validation request that can include a request to create an end-to-end validation function to perform end-to-end validation of a service. The processor can analyze a policy to determine components of the end-to-end validation function and a virtual machine that will host the end-to-end validation function. The components can include a generator function and a receiver function that can encompass the service. The processor can load, or trigger loading of, an image to the virtual machine and instantiation of the virtual machine. The image can include the end-to-end validation function. The processor also can validate the service using the end-to-end validation function based upon a test scenario stored in a test library of the end-to-end validation function.

Abstract: Software Defined Networking (SDN) is used in IMS in order to provide a mechanism to forward (Internet Protocol) IP packets and provide a simplified solution to the complex signaling path of IMS according to directives from an SDN Controller. SDN is used in at least three particular scenarios. In the first scenario, communications are simplified using SDN directed signaling disaggregation. In the second scenario, SDN is used to direct media function chaining. In the third scenario, the system can be used as an SDN based media relay.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for end-to-end validation of virtual machines. A control system including a processor can detect a validation request that can include a request to create an end-to-end validation function to perform end-to-end validation of a service. The processor can analyze a policy to determine components of the end-to-end validation function and a virtual machine that will host the end-to-end validation function. The components can include a generator function and a receiver function that can encompass the service. The processor can load, or trigger loading of, an image to the virtual machine and instantiation of the virtual machine. The image can include the end-to-end validation function. The processor also can validate the service using the end-to-end validation function based upon a test scenario stored in a test library of the end-to-end validation function.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for end-to-end validation of virtual machines. A control system including a processor can detect a validation request that can include a request to create an end-to-end validation function to perform end-to-end validation of a service. The processor can analyze a policy to determine components of the end-to-end validation function and a virtual machine that will host the end-to-end validation function. The components can include a generator function and a receiver function that can encompass the service. The processor can load, or trigger loading of, an image to the virtual machine and instantiation of the virtual machine. The image can include the end-to-end validation function. The processor also can validate the service using the end-to-end validation function based upon a test scenario stored in a test library of the end-to-end validation function.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for providing network address translation in a software defined networking environment. A control system can detect a request to create a network address translation function. The control system can analyze a recipe to identify a network address translation switch and a network address translation virtual function that are to provide functionality of the network address translation function, trigger instantiation of the network address translation switch via a network control function, and trigger instantiation of the network address translation virtual function via a service control function. The control system can validate the network address translation function and chain the network address translation function to a host. The network address translation function can provide address translation for the host using the network address translation switch.

Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for providing network address translation in a software defined networking environment. A control system can detect a request to create a network address translation function. The control system can analyze a recipe to identify a network address translation switch and a network address translation virtual function that are to provide functionality of the network address translation function, trigger instantiation of the network address translation switch via a network control function, and trigger instantiation of the network address translation virtual function via a service control function. The control system can validate the network address translation function and chain the network address translation function to a host. The network address translation function can provide address translation for the host using the network address translation switch.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, at a base station, communicating with a mobile phone where the base station comprises a premises wireless access point, at the base station, communicating with a mobile communication system by way of a broadband connection, and instructing a landline phone communicatively coupled to the base station to communicate with a remote end user device via the mobile communication system utilizing identification information of the mobile phone and responsive to communications between the base station and the mobile phone. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Software Defined Networking (SDN) is used in IMS in order to provide a mechanism to forward (Internet Protocol) IP packets and provide a simplified solution to the complex signaling path of IMS according to directives from an SDN Controller. SDN is used in at least three particular scenarios. In the first scenario, communications are simplified using SDN directed signaling disaggregation. In the second scenario, SDN is used to direct media function chaining. In the third scenario, the system can be used as an SDN based media relay.

Abstract: Software Defined Networking (SDN) is used in IMS in order to provide a mechanism to forward (Internet Protocol) IP packets and provide a simplified solution to the complex signaling path of IMS according to directives from an SDN Controller. SDN is used in at least three particular scenarios. In the first scenario, communications are simplified using SDN directed signaling disaggregation. In the second scenario, SDN is used to direct media function chaining. In the third scenario, the system can be used as an SDN based media relay.

Abstract: Alerts are processed based on social networks. A person's contact information, as an example, may be associated with a social network. Each different social network may also have its own custom ringtone or other alert. Calls, texts, and other electronic messages may thus processed with the alert of the social network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for abstracting telephony functions is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device having a User Interface (UI) element that presents a plurality of Graphical User Interface (GUI) elements that abstract a corresponding plurality of telephony functions, and a telephony element that initiates a telephony process in response to a selection by an end user of the terminal device of two or more of the plurality of GUI elements to form a combined telephony function. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for abstracting Internet content is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device having a user interface element that links a graphical user interface element to each internet resource identifier of one or more subject matters of interest defined in a profile by an end user, and presents the one or more graphical user interface elements in a graphical user interface window without association to an Internet browser. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A network for delivering application level multimedia services includes simple, application-level switches and rules managers. Each application-level switch includes rules defining message edits and selections of message destinations. The rules managers operate to manage the rules. Network functions process messages on the application level, and include operation of one or more rules managers and operation of an application-level switch. The network function is performed by the switch application by performing application level message processing according to rules managed by the at least one of the plurality of rules managers. The application level switches together resolve a requested identity to one or more routable addresses, enabling the network to route a message.

Abstract: A system and method for authentication of a communication device is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an authentication system can have a controller element that receives from a communication device by way of a packet-switched network an authentication request comprising a first identification (ID) of a virtual gateway and a second ID of the communication device. The virtual gateway and at least one network element of the packet-switched network can be provisioned to have a physical association with each other such that other network elements of the packet-switched network deny services to the virtual gateway when the virtual gateway attempts to operate outside of said physical association. From said physical association and the aforementioned IDs the controller element can authenticate the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes sending, from a base unit, provisioning information to a first device. The provisioning information is associated with the first device establishing a connection with a network device. The method includes identifying a source of interference with the connection. The method also includes sending, to the first device, information indicating an operation state of the source of the interference.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to detect a selection of an image from a graphical user interface, identify an entry in a contact book responsive to the detected selection of the image, and retrieve one or more communication identifiers associated with the party from the entry of the contact book for initiating a communication session. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A particular method includes extracting, at a computing device, uniform resource locator data from closed-captioning content. The method further includes receiving, at the computing device, user settings via a network interface. The user settings include an organizational preference corresponding to the uniform resource locator data. The method also includes generating, at the computing device, a web page that includes a portion of the uniform resource locator data as selectable links. The selectable links are organized according to the organizational preference.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device including a base station communicatively coupled to a communication system, and a communicative device communicatively coupled to the base station for providing voice communication services to a user, wherein the communicative device serves as a proxy to make telephone calls on behalf of a set-top box presenting media services to a presentation device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a device, a notification of a call from an application server and displaying, at the device, a pop-up view based on the notification, where the pop-up view includes a screen call option. The method also includes receiving, at the device, a selection of the screen call option and, in response to the selection of the screen call option, displaying a call screening view, where the call screening view includes a plurality of call screening action options. The method further includes receiving a second selection of a particular call screening action option of the plurality of call screening action options and handling the call based on the particular call screening action option.