Abstract: A technique for providing multimedia communication services to a subscriber includes receiving a communication query for the subscriber, the communication query having an associated requested communication mode. The technique also includes servicing the communication query for the subscriber using the requested communication mode when the requested communication mode corresponds to one of one or more selected communication modes.

Abstract: A system and method of communication in an IMS network is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a call processing server having a controller element that receives from a terminal device a calling ID for establishing communications with a called party, submits to a telephone number mapping (ENUM) server a query corresponding to the calling ID, receives from the ENUM server a plurality of communication identifiers retrieved from a Naming Authority Pointer record according to a grade of service (GoS) of the called party, and selects according to the GoS of the called party a communication identifier from the plurality of communication identifiers to establish communications with the called party. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A sender is identified based at least in part on originator identification information associated with an incoming communication. A message recipient is then determined based at least in part on the identified sender and one or more databases associated with message recipients by comparing the originator identification information to one or more entries in the one or more databases. The incoming communication is routed to the determined message recipient of a shared mailbox of a unified messaging system. An intended recipient is identified among the owners of the shared unified messaging mailbox owners. Only the determined message recipient is notified of the deposited message, based on the dynamic information derived from each deposited message.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control a flash crowd event in a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving at a VoIP border element a VoIP registration response message having a field representing a priority assigned to a VoIP endpoint, receiving a message from the VoIP endpoint at the VoIP border element, detecting whether a network congestion condition exists, and placing the message received from the VoIP endpoint into one of a plurality of queues based on the priority when the congestion condition is detected.

Abstract: An automatic message escalation system includes attaching an acknowledgement flag to a message after it is received in the message mailbox of an identified message recipient. The status of the acknowledgement flag indicates whether or not the message has been retrieved. After a given or specified period of time, the acknowledgement flag is checked to see if the message was retrieved. If the message was retrieved, the message will not be escalated. If the message was not retrieved, the message will be sent to the next message recipient on an escalation list.

Abstract: A user is identified based at least in part on a user identification designation associated with an incoming communication. A message recipient is then determined based at least in part on the identified user and one or more address books associated with message recipients by comparing the user identification designation to one or more entries in the one or more recipient databases. The incoming communication is routed to the determined message recipient. Escalation procedures are implemented up to a configured level in the recipient organization based on various criteria. As messages are escalated and deposited in mailboxes associated with the determined message recipients, the determined message recipients are notified of the deposited messages.

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: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a proactive scheduler having a controller element to determine a scheduling conflict between a called party and a calling party according to calendar information of the called party and presence information of the called party. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A technique for providing multimedia communication services to a subscriber includes receiving a communication query for the subscriber, the communication query having an associated requested communication mode. The technique also includes servicing the communication query for the subscriber using the requested communication mode when the requested communication mode corresponds to one of one or more selected communication modes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to route a communication session directly to a voicemail mailbox are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a communication session initiation message from a caller at a source telephone number, the communication session initiation message including a destination telephone number and a direct voicemail feature identifier, determining that the direct voicemail feature identifier indicates that the caller requests that the call be sent to a voicemail mailbox associated with the destination telephone number, and forwarding the call directly to the voicemail mailbox associated with the destination telephone number without ringing the destination telephone number.

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 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 user is identified based at least in part on a user identification designation associated with an incoming communication. A message recipient is then determined based at least in part on the identified user and one or more address books associated with message recipients by comparing the user identification designation to one or more entries in the one or more recipient databases. The incoming communication is routed to the determined message recipient. Escalation procedures are implemented up to a configured level in the recipient organization based on various criteria. As messages are escalated and deposited in mailboxes associated with the determined message recipients, the determined message recipients are notified of the deposited messages.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving a session initiation protocol (SIP) subscribe message over a primary call leg requesting outdial event notification on a secondary call leg. Receiving of the call is responsive to a unified messaging system placing a call outside of its local access and transport area. A call is placed on the secondary call leg responsive to receiving outdial information on the primary call leg. Alternative outdial information directed to the calling party is received responsive to the call on the secondary leg being unanswered. Another call is placed on the secondary leg responsive to receiving the alternative outdial information without requiring receipt of another SIP subscribe message over the primary call leg. A calling card server performs SIP messaging associated with one of the SIP notify message or the SIP subscribe message. Other embodiments are disclosed.

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 system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a proactive scheduler having a controller element to determine a scheduling conflict between a called party and a calling party according to calendar information of the called party and presence information of the called party. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a call to a destination associated with multiple group members in a unified messaging system by determining a prioritized order of the group members for presentation to caller and receiving a selection from the caller. The order of the group members can be determined based on call histories, address books, and distribution lists of the calling party and the group members of the destination. A weighted score is computed for each group member, and the group members are sorted based on the weighted scores. The sorted list of group members is then presented to the calling party for selection. Based on the calling party's selection the unified messaging system can further process the call.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for selecting and pushing customized electronic media content are disclosed. An example method includes determining a first capability associated with a first device; determining a second capability associated with a second device; segmenting a piece of media into a first plurality of portions according to the first capability; when the second capability is different from the first capability, segmenting the piece of electronic media into a second plurality of portions according to the second capability, the second plurality of portions to be sized differently than the first plurality of portions; pushing a first one of the first plurality of portions to the first media device prior to the user requesting the first piece of electronic media; and pushing a first one of the second plurality of portion to the second media device prior to the user requesting the first piece of electronic media.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, one or more components for receiving a call request at a first server from a first end user device, transmitting the call request from a first server to an intermediate server for establishing a voice or video call over an IP multimedia subsystem between the first end user device and a second end user device via a second server, and routing the voice or video call request from the first server to the second server using a second IP address when an undesired condition is determined to be associated with the IP multimedia subsystem. The second IP address can be obtained from a group of IP addresses stored in a memory of the first server and the group of IP addresses can be associated with other servers. Other embodiments are disclosed.