Abstract: Profile information and other information about users are received from information sources into a unified messaging platform. Multimedia messages and files for users are converted to text using approximation algorithms. Text and multimedia messages and files for users are analyzed using confidence scores and thresholds. Profile information, file keyword information and message keyword information are used to identify and transmit a limited amount of information about users to information consumers and content service providers. Information consumers and content service providers can customize their content that is presented to users.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for social networking in a dynamic environment. In one embodiment, a method for social networking in a network includes broadcasting a first set of one or more keywords representing one or more interests of a first user in the network, receiving a response from a second user in the network indicating interest in at least one of the interests of the first user, and connecting to a server in the network, where the server hosts a group for supporting communications between at least the first network user and the second network user.

Abstract: A secure payment method includes receiving, by a payment recipient, a transaction request from a party in a transaction. The payment recipient requests a payment that is in a specified form and that is uniquely identified by a unique identification. The method includes receiving, on behalf of the payment recipient and at a payment recipient computer, the payment that is in the specified form. The payment is uniquely identified by the unique identification. The payment recipient authorizes the transaction in response to receiving the payment that is in the specified form and that is uniquely identified by the unique identification. The specified form is issued by a private third party.

Abstract: Calls placed to a call recipient bypass the terminating messaging system, creating an enhanced message in the call originator's messaging system and delivering the enhanced message using alternate routing information. A caller creates enhanced messages for a call recipient even when the call recipient's messaging system does not support such functionality. The caller also embeds stored content and/or use links in the enhanced messages to allow the message to be modified and/or deleted before it is accessed by the call recipient.

Abstract: A mechanism controls global synchronization, or registration floods, that may result when a large number of endpoints in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network such as an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) come online simultaneously after a catastrophic failure. The mechanism allows the Domain Name System (DNS) infrastructure to efficiently control the overload condition by registering user end points with backup border elements, and by staggering and by randomizing the time-to-live (TTL) parameter in registrations with backup border elements.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for recovering from a catastrophic failure that results in a large number of user endpoints attempting to come on line simultaneously after an NGN is restored. In an enhanced DNS load balancer, DNS queries from the user end points relating to a particular NGN edge device are selectively dropped if a rate of queries for the particular edge device suddenly increases or exceeds a threshold. The query dropping may also be based in part on the class of service assigned to the user endpoint.

Abstract: A secure payment method includes receiving, by a merchant, a purchase request from a purchaser in a transaction. The merchant requests a payment that is in a specified medium and that is uniquely identified by a unique identification. A merchant computer controlled by the merchant receives the payment that is in the specified medium and that is uniquely identified by the unique identification. The transaction is authorized by the merchant in response to receiving the payment that is in the specified medium and that is uniquely identified by the unique identification. The specified medium is issued by a private third party.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving a request for a voice call at a mobile switching center server, transmitting a mapping query from the mobile switching center server to a database in response to the request for the voice call, route the request from the mobile switching center server to an internet protocol multimedia subsystem for facilitating establishing the voice call when the mapping query is successful in obtaining an internet protocol address for establishing the voice call with a recipient communication device, and routing the request from the mobile switching center server to a second server for facilitating establishing the voice call without routing the request to the internet protocol multimedia subsystem when the mapping query is not successful in obtaining the internet protocol address. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for communicating information about transcription progress from a unified messaging (UM) server to a UM client. In one embodiment, the transcription progress describes speech to text transcription of speech messages such as voicemail. The UM server authenticates and establishes a session with a UM client, then receives a get message list request from a UM client as of a first time, responds to the get message list request with a view of a state of messages and available transcriptions for transcribable messages in a list of messages associated with the get message list call at the first time, and, at a second time subsequent to the first time, transmits to the UM client a notification that provides an indication of progress for at least one transcription not yet complete in the list of messages. The messages can include video.

Abstract: Calls placed to a call recipient bypass the terminating messaging system, creating an enhanced message in the call originator's messaging system and delivering the enhanced message using alternate routing information. A caller creates enhanced messages for a call recipient even when the call recipient's messaging system does not support such functionality. The caller also embeds stored content and/or use links in the enhanced messages to allow the message to be modified and/or deleted before it is accessed by the call recipient.

Abstract: Systems and methods to select peered border elements for a communication session based on Quality-of-Service (QoS) are disclosed. An example method includes selecting a peered border element to handle a communication session based on a list of peered border elements (PBEs) and a composite QoS parameter of the communication session, the list of PBEs being prioritized based on respective statuses of PBEs in the list, the first composite QoS parameter being based on weighted QoS parameters of the communication session including a grade of service (GoS) parameter of the communication session and a preferred mode of communication for a VoIP device of a called party in the communication session, the GoS parameter including an attempted performance range and an expected performance range of the communication session; and controlling a second server to generate a QoS authorization token to reserve network resources associated with the selected PBE.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for social networking in a dynamic environment. In one embodiment, a method for social networking in a network includes broadcasting a first set of one or more keywords representing one or more interests of a first user in the network, receiving a response from a second user in the network indicating interest in at least one of the interests of the first user, and connecting to a server in the network, where the server hosts a group for supporting communications between at least the first network user and the second network user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to select a dynamically peered voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) border element are disclosed. An example method comprises collecting data representative of a dynamic performance of a voice over Internet protocol network, prioritizing a selection of a peered border element based on the collected data, and modifying a telephone number mapping (ENUM) database based on the prioritized selection.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to select a dynamically peered voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) border element are disclosed. An example method comprises collecting data representative of a dynamic performance of a voice over Internet protocol network, prioritizing a selection of a peered border element based on the collected data, and modifying a telephone number mapping (ENUM) database based on the prioritized selection.

Abstract: Systems and methods to select peered border elements for a communication session based on Quality-of-Service (QoS) are disclosed. In particular, an example method includes determining a composite QoS parameter of a communication session based on weighting QoS parameters of the session, the QoS parameters including a grade of service parameter of the session and a preferred mode of communication for a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device of a called party; querying a telephone number mapping server for a status of each of the peered border elements; assigning the session to be handled by a selected peered border element of the peered border elements based on the composite QoS parameter and the status of each of the peered border elements; and generating a QoS authorization token to reserve network resources associated with the selected peered border element.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving a request for a voice call at a mobile switching center server, transmitting a mapping query from the mobile switching center server to a database in response to the request for the voice call, route the request from the mobile switching center server to an internet protocol multimedia subsystem for facilitating establishing the voice call when the mapping query is successful in obtaining an internet protocol address for establishing the voice call with a recipient communication device, and routing the request from the mobile switching center server to a second server for facilitating establishing the voice call without routing the request to the internet protocol multimedia subsystem when the mapping query is not successful in obtaining the internet protocol address. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving an assignment to provide communication services to a communication device, supplying a first telephone number mapping system of a first internet protocol multimedia subsystem communication system with contact information of the communication device and a serving call session control function operating in the first internet protocol multimedia subsystem communication system, supplying a second telephone number mapping system of a second internet protocol multimedia subsystem communication system with contact information of the communication device and the serving call session control function, and receiving a session initiation protocol INVITE from an originating serving call session control function of the second internet protocol multimedia subsystem communication system for establishing communications with the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for selectively transcribing messages. Five general approaches are disclosed herein. The first approach is directed to checking for a transcription capable client, which transcribes messages when a client device is capable of receiving transcriptions. The second and third approaches are platform-controlled and user-controlled predefined selective transcription. One aspect of this approach is driven by transcription rules. The fourth approach is user-controlled on-demand selective transcription before the message is stored or deposited for transcription. An example of this is a user transferring an incoming caller to voicemail and indicating that the voicemail be transcribed. The fifth approach is user-controlled on-demand selective transcription after the message is stored. In one embodiment of this approach, a user must specifically request that a stored message be transcribed.

Abstract: A mechanism controls global synchronization, or registration floods, that may result when a large number of endpoints in a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network such as an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) come online simultaneously after a catastrophic failure. The mechanism allows the Domain Name System (DNS) infrastructure to efficiently control the overload condition by registering user end points with backup border elements, and by staggering and by randomizing the time-to-live (TTL) parameter in registrations with backup border elements.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for communicating information about transcription progress from a unified messaging (UM) server to a UM client. In one embodiment, the transcription progress describes speech to text transcription of speech messages such as voicemail. The UM server authenticates and establishes a session with a UM client, then receives a get message list request from a UM client as of a first time, responds to the get message list request with a view of a state of messages and available transcriptions for transcribable messages in a list of messages associated with the get message list call at the first time, and, at a second time subsequent to the first time, transmits to the UM client a notification that provides an indication of progress for at least one transcription not yet complete in the list of messages. The messages can include video.