Abstract: A method and apparatus for authenticating a communication device is disclosed. An system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an authentication system having a controller element that receives from a communication device over a packet-switched network a terminal ID and a request to authenticate said communication device, generates a first registration ID, stores the first registration ID and a first communication identifier, transmits the first registration ID to the communication device, receives from an interactive response system a second communication identifier and a second registration ID that the interactive response system received during a communication session with the communication device over a circuit-switched network, and authenticates the communication device in response to detecting a match between the first and second communication identifiers and the first and second registration IDs. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

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: 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: 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 system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for a method for transmitting, by a first system including at least one first processor, to a second system including at least one second processor, a tag retrieved by the first system from a stream associated with a media program that is received by the first system, identifying, by the second system, a plurality of records associated with the tag, determining, by the second system, a temporal characteristic of the tag according to a comparison of a scheduled presentation time of the media program and a time of receipt of the tag, selecting, by the second system, a record from the plurality of records according to the temporal characteristic, and transmitting, by the second system, content information retrieved from the record selected from the plurality of records. Other embodiments are disclosed.

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 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: Ring tones and other 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 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 gateway and a second ID of the communication device. The 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 gateway when the 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 and apparatus for notifying an end user of a messaging event in a multi-user setting is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in a communication device which includes computer instructions at least for matching a caller identifier associated with a messaging event and entries in a plurality of contact books corresponding to a plurality of users, and identifying a plurality of parties to whom the messaging event is potentially directed based on the matching. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Pre-delivery authentication may be required prior to routing and delivery of electronic content. A sender of the electronic content, for example, may require that a recipient authenticate to ensure legitimate use or identity. Should pre-delivery authentication be required, the electronic content is held at any networked device while the recipient authenticates. If the recipient correctly authenticates, then the electronic content is released for delivery.

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 gateway and a second ID of the communication device. The 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 gateway when the 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: 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: A method and apparatus for notifying an end user of a messaging event in a multi-user setting is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in a communication device which includes computer instructions at least for matching a caller identifier associated with a messaging event and entries in a plurality of contact books corresponding to a plurality of users, and identifying a plurality of parties to whom the messaging event is potentially directed based on the matching. 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: In embodiments of the disclosed technology, a plurality of ratings of websites is received, wherein each rating is associated with a category and a rater and each rater is associated with at least one group. A selection of a category is received from the user, wherein the user is associated with at least one group. One website location (or a plurality of website locations) is provided in the category to the user based on at least one rating of the plurality of ratings provided by at least one of the raters, wherein at least one group associated with the rater and at least one the group associated with the user are the same group.

Abstract: Pre-delivery authentication may be required prior to routing and delivery of electronic content. A sender of the electronic content, for example, may require that a recipient authenticate to ensure legitimate use or identity. Should pre-delivery authentication be required, the electronic content is held at any networked device while the recipient authenticates. If the recipient correctly authenticates, then the electronic content is released for delivery.

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: In embodiments of the disclosed technology, a plurality of ratings of websites is received, wherein each rating is associated with a category and a rater and each rater is associated with at least one group. A selection of a category is received from the user, wherein the user is associated with at least one group. One website location (or a plurality of website locations) is provided in the category to the user based on at least one rating of the plurality of ratings provided by at least one of the raters, wherein at least one group associated with the rater and at least one the group associated with the user are the same group.

Abstract: Ring tones and other 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.