Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating performance indicators and improving performance based on metrics is disclosed. During work on a user story (project) for completion, teams and individuals perform work. This work on the user story is tracked and based on the tracking of the work, the system generates or receives metrics that define the team and individual actions. These metrics are used to calculate performance indicators which are provided to a manager, the team, or an individual. The calculation may include use of a weighting value and comparison of the performance indicator to a threshold. Responsive to the performance indicators various actions may occur including: providing training, moving an individual from the team to a different team, changing one or more physical processes by which work on a user story occurs, and terminating employment of an individual on a team.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically registering a communication device are disclosed. As one example, a communication network architecture is disclosed that includes multiple feature servers, multiple registration redirect servers (RRSs), and multiple communication devices. The feature servers provide services to the communication devices. The RRSs each service a shared virtual Internet Protocol (IP) address and perform load balancing of registration requests on behalf of multiple feature servers located geographically proximate to the RRS. The communication devices are configured to issue initial registration requests intended for any of the feature servers to the shared virtual IP address, whereby upon issuing an initial registration request, a communication device is directed to a particular feature server that is associated with a RRS that is closest to the communication device, and where the particular feature server is selected by a load balancing routine executing on the RRS.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining and/or providing call origin location information. In one particular case, a method is provided for identifying communication origin location in relation to an emergency response system. The method includes providing a communication device stability module and receiving a network access request associated with a communication device. A location status of the communication device is determined, and based at least in part on the location status of the communication device, a query is issued requesting a location of the communication device.

Abstract: A method of one way transmission of information is provided. Preferably, the method steps include analyzing customer supplied information to determine a format to be selected, transmission priority, available transmission resources, and transmission destination. The preferred steps also include, determining a media transport method based on the transmission priority, transmission destination, and available transmission resources, and scheduling transmission of an information payload portion of the customer supplied information as a pre-emptible data reservation, based on a determined media transport method. The steps further preferably include, transforming the information payload into a selected format, storing the information payload in its formatted form on a non-volatile storage medium, encapsulating the information payload in its selected format within a media transport format, and transmitting the encapsulated information payload to the transmission destination.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for servicing emergency calls are disclosed. One such method includes providing a location database that includes physical location information about a communication device. This location information can be accessed either directly or indirectly by an emergency service answering system, while concealing the information from a network responsible for terminating the call.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for performing alternate routing of communications in a network. The system initiates a communication from an origination endpoint in a packet-switched network, such as a VOIP network, to a destination endpoint, and determining, according to selection criteria, whether to route the communication to the destination endpoint using at least a second circuit-switched network, such as the PSTN.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use in the playback of media assets is disclosed. Preferably, the apparatus includes at least a processor programmed with media request software, a network interface device communicating information between the processor and a network, and a non-volatile information storage medium loaded with media player program logic responsive to and interacting with the media request software, and a media player object library supporting a plurality of media player decoder modules responsive to and interactive with the media player program logic. Preferably, the non-volatile information storage medium communicates with the processor, and upon receipt by the network interface device of media requested from the network, the media player program logic analyzes the received media to determine in which format the media was received, and then automatically selects a media player decoder module from the plurality of media player decoder modules for playback of the received media.

Abstract: A method includes determining all telephone numbers to which a selected CLLI can terminate calls, wherein the CLLI is associated with one or more major trading areas (MTAs), creating a FROM-TO relationship between at least a subset of TNs in the one or more MTAs and the TNs to which the selected CLLI can terminate calls, and provisioning the FROM-TO relationship on a core routing engine accessible to a switch. A system includes a local route manager (LRM) configured to receive input designating a CLLI as available for intra-MTA routing, the CLLI being associated with one or more MTAs, a cluster generator configured to create a first set of all telephone numbers (TNs) handled by the CLLI, a second set of selected TNs in the one or more MTAs, and an association between the first set and the second set, and a provisioning module configured to provision the association between the first set and the second set on a core routing engine to identify calls between TNs of the sets as local in jurisdiction.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for performing inbound call screening in a packet-based network, such as an H.323 Voice over IP (VoIP) network. The inbound gateways on the network are registered with inbound gatekeepers, and standard messages are used between an inbound gateway, an inbound gatekeeper and an inbound screening database to decide: whether an inbound call to a particular called number (DID) is to be allowed into the network; whether the called number should be translated into a different called number; and whether a routing index should be included in the called number to indicate the destination of the call.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for intercepting transmissions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a media gateway communicably coupled to a soft switch and an acquisition facility. A first processor and a first computer readable medium is associated with the soft switch. The computer readable medium includes instructions executable by the processor to receive a transmission originating from a first communicator and indicating at least a second communicator, and to direct the transmission to the acquisition facility via the media gateway. A second processor and second computer readable medium are included, and the second computer readable medium includes instructions executable by the second processor to direct the transmission from the media gateway to the second communicator such that direction of the transmission to an acquisition facility is obscured from at least the second communicator. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for intercepting transmissions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes an internet protocol media gateway. The internet protocol media gateway is communicably coupled to a soft switch, an acquisition facility, and a communicator. The internet protocol media gateway is associated with a processor and a computer readable medium, and the computer readable medium includes instructions executable by the processor to receive a transmission identified with the communicator, and to direct the transmission to the acquisition facility. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for dynamically registering a communication device with a network are disclosed. As one example, a system is disclosed that includes a home feature server, a central feature server, and a floating feature server. The floating feature server is communicably coupled to at least the home and central feature servers, and the home feature server is communicably coupled to at least the central feature server. The home feature server is associated with a communication device. The floating feature server is communicably coupled to a computer readable medium that includes instructions executable by the floating feature server to: receive an access request from the communication device; issue a services request to the home feature server; and service the access request. In some cases, the computer readable medium further includes instructions executable to determine that the first services access request failed, and to issue a second services access request to the central feature server.

Abstract: A method for optimizing a network configuration of network resources includes receiving service attribute data associated with network resources and the traffic demand, based at least in part on the service attribute data, determining one or more network resources for providing communication between end user devices and a carrier network, i.e., one or more metro and/or backbone networks, and determining an optimal configuration of the one or more network resources within the network, wherein the optimal configuration optimizes one or more predetermined criteria.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods include an access point onboard a vehicle configured to communicatively connect one or more computers on the vehicle to a path-based communication line. The communication line is adjacent to, or on, a defined path, and connects the vehicle to a connection point to a metropolitan or backbone network. Signals sent to and from the vehicle-based computers may be in one format or protocol. Signals sent over the communication line may be in another format or protocol. Signals sent over the metropolitan network may be in yet another format or protocol. One or more devices onboard the vehicle and/or at the metropolitan network connection point can convert between signal formats and/or protocols.

Abstract: A method for determining potential relocation of an IP-enabled telephony device involves subscribing to a registration events package of a VoIP network, receiving one or more notifications indicating a registration state of the IP-enabled telephony device, and determining that the IP-enabled telephony device has potentially relocated, based on the registration state changes. A system for determining potential relocation of a user of a VoIP-enabled device includes an application server that includes a user relocation determination application that subscribes to a VoIP registration events package and determines whether the user has potentially relocated based on a change in registration state of the user's VoIP-enabled device.

Abstract: An open architecture platform bypasses data from the facilities of a telecommunications carrier, e.g. an incumbent local exchange carrier, by distinguishing between voice and data traffic, and handling voice and data traffic separately. An SS7 gateway receives and transmits SS7 signaling messages with the platform. When signaling for a call arrives, the SS7 gateway informs a control server on the platform. The control server manages the platform resources, including the SS7 gateway, tandem network access servers (NASs) and modem NASs. A tandem NAS receives the call over bearer channels. The control server determines whether the incoming call is voice traffic or data traffic, by the dialed number, and instructs the tandem NAS how to handle the call. Voiced traffic is transmitted to a switch for transmission from the platform. Data traffic is terminated at a modem NAS, where it is converted into a form suitable for a data network, such as a private data network or an Internet services provider (ISP).

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating software data structures are provided. In one embodiment, lock-free dual queues with conditional synchronization and time-outs are described. The lock-free dual queues of various embodiments of the present invention are accessible by one or more consumer threads and one or more producing threads. The consuming threads are able to access and remove elements from the queue while the producing threads are able to access and add elements to the queue. In some cases, a thread may be both a consuming thread and a producing thread. The add and remove operations of various embodiments of the present invention, generally operate by using conditional synchronization primitives which modifies a value in shared memory to a specified value if the previous value is what was expected.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing telecommunications systems and services are provided. More specifically, embodiments relate to systems and methods for distributing traffic within a telecommunications network. According to various embodiments, systems and methods for establishing a communication session are described which provide for determining information descriptive of an originator of the communication session. Using this information related to the originating communicator, a prioritized list of processing servers and interface modules pairs may be determined. The accessing modules, may then attempt to route the communication session through the communication network based on the devices returned in the prioritized list until the session is successfully routed.

Abstract: A multiservice network for delivering enhanced communication services to customer devices attached to either the PSTN, such as telephones and fax machines, or devices attached to the Internet or private data networks, such as PCs or other IP devices, is presented. Enhanced services include IP-based faxing, IP-based telephony, IP-based conferencing, Internet call waiting, messaging services, such as unified messaging, and other advanced services such as find-me-follow-me, and desktop telephony. The multiservice network may be managed by a configuration manager for Internet telephony (COMIT).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for increasing the security of computer networks through the use of an Intrusion and Misuse Deterrence System (IMDS) operating on the network. The IMDS is a system that creates a synthetic network complete with synthetic hosts and routers. It is comprised of a network server with associated application software that appears to be a legitimate portion of a real network to a network intruder. The IMDS consequently invites inquiry and entices the intruder away from the real network. Simulated services are configured to appear to be running on virtual clients with globally unique, class “C” IP addresses. Since there are no legitimate users of the virtual network simulated by the IMDS, all such activity must be inappropriate and can be treated as such. Consequently, the entire set of transactions by an intruder can be collected and identified rather than just those transactions that meet a predefined attack profile.