Abstract: According to at least one example embodiment, a transit network is configured to handle signaling messages between service provider networks. Upon receiving, at the transit network, a session control message from a mobile network, a signaling type associated with the session control message is determined. The transit network then routes the session control message based on the signaling type determined. According to at least one aspect, the session control message is routed based on domain routing if the determined signaling type is roaming signaling. According to at least one other aspect, the session control message is routed based on called party number routing if the determined signaling type is non-roaming signaling.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus are provided to detect false answer supervision by determining false answer supervision as either as a function of a number of completed calls of short duration or as a function of a distribution of differences between timestamps of alert signals and timestamps of connect signals used to complete calls, detecting false answer supervision based on the indicator of false answer supervision determined by either functions separately or in combination, and affecting a decision in response to the detecting.

Abstract: In an embodiment, call routing from a customer to a destination is provided by intercepting a call setup message sent from a customer switch intended to signal a switch to perform a call routing function. In response to the call setup message being intercepted, a routing engine is queried with the destination of the call for a specific route over which to carry the call to the destination. The call setup message is modified to include the specific route. The switch is directed with the modified call setup message to use the specific route to carry the call from the customer to the destination.

Abstract: According to at least one example embodiment, a method and corresponding apparatus for managing a data packet flow at an inter-network system include obtaining, by an inter-network device, an identification of the data packet flow, the identification of the data packet flow being determined based on one or more transport protocol fields extracted from control-plane data associated with the data packet flow. Using the obtained identification of the data packet flow, the inter-network device identifies data packets associated with the data packet flow by checking transport layer data of intercepted user-plane data packets for potential match with the one or more transport protocol fields extracted from the control-plane data. If a match is found, the corresponding data packet is then managed by the inter-network device based on one or more management actions associated with the data packet flow.

Abstract: According to at least one example embodiment, a method and corresponding apparatus for triggering management of a data packet flow at an inter-network system include obtaining control-plane data exchanged between a first communications network and a second communications network. An identification of the data packet flow is then determined based on the control-plane data obtained. Once the identification of the data packet flow is known, management of the data packet flow is triggered by providing the identification of data packet flow determined to an inter-network device, e.g., a switch or OpenFlow switch. In triggering management of the data packet flow, a message may be sent to the inter-network device including the identification of data packet flow and one or more indications of management action(s) to be applied to data packets of the data packet flow by the inter-network device.

Abstract: A multi-participant teleconferencing system includes a telecommunication manager that is configured to establish telecommunication connections with participants by instructing and initiating one or more telecommunication devices (e.g., media gateway devices, email servers, web servers, multipoint control units, etc.). Participants can be enabled to provide personal preferences to the telecommunication manager. The personal preferences and other participant information can be stored on one or more storage devices as participant records. The participant records preferably include preferred forms of telecommunication for the participants. Each preferred form of telecommunication can include an indication of a preferred type of telecommunication device and/or an indication of a preferred telecommunication technology. The telecommunication manager can utilize the preferred forms of telecommunication stored on the one or more storage devices to schedule, manage, and initiate multi-participant telecommunication.

Abstract: According to at least one example embodiment, a transit network is configured to handle signaling messages between service provider networks. Upon receiving, at the transit network, a session control message from a mobile network, a signaling type associated with the session control message is determined. The transit network then routes the session control message based on the signaling type determined. According to at least one aspect, the session control message is routed based on domain routing if the determined signaling type is roaming signaling. According to at least one other aspect, the session control message is routed based on called party number routing if the determined signaling type is non-roaming signaling.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method and corresponding apparatus of managing call routing includes sending a first message by a session border controller (SBC) to a routing engine, the first message including event information indicative of an event related to a call, the event being associated with a second message received by the SBC; receiving a response message including call managing information related to the call, the call managing information being determined based on at least part of the event information, the call managing information to be returned to the routing engine in a subsequent message related to the call; and maintaining the call managing information received in the response message, the call managing information to be returned to the routing engine in a subsequent message related to the call.

Abstract: According to at least one example embodiment, hub breakout roaming enables providing data access to a user network device, subscribed with a home network and roaming into a visited network, by a hub breakout system through the visited network. Upon receiving a request for data access from the visited network, the hub breakout system assigns an IP address to the user network device. The hub breakout system then routes data packets, associated with the data access requested by the user network device, to and from at least one corresponding data source, using the assigned IP address. The data source includes the Internet, a private network associated with home network, or any other service provider entity.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for reducing signaling traffic between certain service elements in mobile communication systems includes receiving signaling initiated from one service element at a signaling routing agent where the signaling routing agent determines whether the received signaling needs to be sent to its destined service element. If the signaling is not sent, signaling traffic to the destined service element is reduced.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus are provided to route a call from a customer to a destination. A call setup message sent from a customer switch intended to signal a switch to perform a call routing function or request a call routing function be performed is intercepted. A call release message sent from the switch intended to signal the customer switch of network congestion is intercepted. In response to either the call setup message or the call release message being intercepted, a routing engine is queried with the destination of the call for a specific route over which to carry the call. The call setup message is modified to include the specific route. The call release message is responded to with a re-route call message that includes the specific route. The switch is directed with either the modified call setup message or re-route call message to use the specific route to carry the call from the customer to the destination.

Abstract: A system and method for sending long distance telephone calls over the Internet utilizes cost and quality of service data to optimize system performance and to minimize the cost of completing the calls. The system utilizes a network of gateways connected to the Internet. The gateways receive calls from various service providers and convert the analog calls into data packets which are then placed onto the Internet. Similarly, the gateways take data packets off the Internet, convert the data packets back into analog format, and provide the analog telephone calls to the same or another service provider. Then system periodically checks the quality of communications between each of the gateways, and uses this information, in combination with cost information, to determine how to route the calls over the Internet. Special addressing protocols can be used by a system embodying the invention to reduce or eliminate unnecessary signaling between gateways as call setup procedures are carried out.

Abstract: In a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system for completing telephone calls over the Internet, the system uses a general routing table and client exception routing tables to instruct originating gateways about how to complete calls. When a call request for a particular client is received, the system first looks to that client's exception routing table to see if routing information for the call is available. If so, the system will use the routing information in the client's exception routing table to complete the call. The routing information in the client's exception routing table could include information about preferred destination gateways and/or preferred Internet Service Providers. If the client's exception routing table does not contain information that could be used to route the call, then the system simply uses the routing information in the general routing table. In some situations, the system could utilize multiple general routing tables.

Abstract: A system and method for treating a VoIP call in a special fashion when the call is to be routed from an originating gateway to a destination gateway over the Internet. The system and method make use of a special decline destination gateway which may be configured to return a special cost code to the originating gateway when the originating gateway attempts to establish a telephone call with the decline destination gateway. A routing controller of the system would provide the originating gateway with a list of potential destination gateways, and the decline destination gateway would always be the last entry on the list. This would cause the originating gateway to first attempt to place the call through the other potential destination gateways. However, if none of the other destination gateways can be used, the originating gateway will ultimately attempt to place the call through the decline destination gateway.

Abstract: A decision about provider quality based on a quality metric observed says little about the quality of the provider. Further, the decision may be biased by a variation in customer contributions to the quality metric observed or by a variation in a number of completed calls received by a provider. Accordingly, a method and corresponding apparatus are provided to evaluate quality and to correct bias by determining a standard that accounts for at least one source of bias, comparing an observed measure of a provider against the standard to produce an evaluation of the observed measure of the provider, and affecting a decision about the quality of the provider based on the evaluation. As a result, an unbiased decision, for example, to scrub a provider can be made and in some instances, a provider may be rescued from being scrubbed.

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus are provided to route a call from a customer to a destination by: i) intercepting a call setup message sent from a customer switch intended to signal a switch to perform a call routing function or request a call routing function be performed, the call routing function determines a route for the switch to use to carry the call to the destination, the route so determined is a switch-determined route, ii) intercepting a call release message sent from the switch intended to signal the customer switch of network congestion, iii) in response to either the call setup message or the call release message being intercepted, querying a routing engine with the destination of the call for a specific route over which to carry the call to the destination, the specific route is queried from a set of routes that is different from an other set of routes from which the call routing function determines the switch-determined route, iv) modifying the call setup message to include the specific r

Abstract: A method and corresponding apparatus are provided to detect false answer supervision by determining false answer supervision as either as a function of a number of completed calls of short duration or as a function of a distribution of differences between timestamps of alert signals and timestamps of connect signals used to complete calls, detecting false answer supervision based on the indicator of false answer supervision determined by either functions separately or in combination, and affecting a decision in response to the detecting.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) and facsimile over Internet Protocol (FoIP) calling over the Internet includes compiling information about each call after the call is terminated. By compiling information about each of the calls immediately after they are terminated, the system can quickly generate billing reports. The system can also quickly react to developing problems.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring Voice over the Internet Protocol (VoIP) and facsimile over Internet Protocol (FoIP) calling over the Internet includes compiling information about each call after the call is terminated. By compiling information about each of the calls immediately after they are terminated, the system can quickly generate billing reports. The system can also quickly react to developing problems.

Abstract: A system and method for sending long distance telephone calls over the Internet utilizes cost and quality of service data to optimize system performance and to minimize the cost of completing the calls. The system utilizes a network of gateways connected to the Internet. The gateways receive calls from various service providers and convert the analog calls into data packets which are then placed onto the Internet. Similarly, the gateways take data packets off the Internet, convert the data packets back into analog format, and provide the analog telephone calls to the same or another service provider. Then system periodically checks the quality of communications between each of the gateways, and uses this information, in combination with cost information, to determine how to route the calls over the Internet. Special addressing protocols can be used by a system embodying the invention to reduce or eliminate unnecessary signaling between gateways as call setup procedures are carried out.