Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for inserting advertising and content in an internet protocol (IP) network, the method including accepting a request at an IP travel server associated with a travel zone from a traveling client device in the travel zone to receive home advertising content associated with a home zone and receiving the home advertising content from the home server at the IP travel server associated with the travel zone.

Abstract: A first interface is connected to a first network element having a first Internet Protocol (IP) address. A second interface is connected to a second network element having a second IP address. Traffic is passed between the first interface and the second interface, and performance data is measured based on the traffic. A packet, that is addressed to the second IP address and includes a predetermined port identifier, is received by the first interface. In response to determining that the packet is addressed to the second IP address and includes the predetermined port identifier, the packet is inhibited from being passed to the second interface, and a response that includes the performance data is outputted via the first interface.

Abstract: A method for near real time data communication is disclosed. The method includes discovering a first device associated with a first location, determining available data from the first discovered device, and inserting a listing for the first discovered device into an electronic program guide (EPG). A data structure in memory is disclosed that includes a device identifier field for containing data indicating an identifier for a discovered device, a name field for containing data indicating a name associated with the discovered device, a receiver available field for containing data indicating a data receiver is available for the discovered device location, an electronic program guide (EPG) field for containing data indicating an EPG and an EPG2 field for inserting listings for discovered device data into the EPG for display to a user at an STB. A system is disclosed for near real time data communication is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting notification messages is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a storage element that stores contact information for one or more messaging devices of one or more parties associated with an end user, a detection element that detects an emergency call initiated by the end user, and a transmission element that transmits a notice associated with the detected emergency call to at least one among the one or more messaging devices. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to a telecommunications billing system that includes an interface, a customer database, a usage database and a billing module. The interface is configured to receive subscription data associated with a subscription and a first set of telecommunications service usage data. The subscription data identifies a pricing plan that includes an allotment of shared telecommunications units for use in connection with at least one of the first telecommunications service and a second telecommunications service. The usage database is configured to store the first set of telecommunications service usage data and a second set of telecommunications service usage data. The billing module is configured to access the usage database and the customer database.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring a network topology with alternative communication paths. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) having a network identification element that identifies a tree topology of network elements in a communication system comprising a root node and a plurality of leaf nodes, a network configuration element that specifies a desired number of alternative communication paths between each of the plurality of leaf nodes and the root node, and a network restructuring element that determines a configuration of additional lateral and vertical communication paths superimposed on a portion of the plurality of leaf nodes that achieves a desired cost objective according to the desired number of alternative paths and associated cost attributes. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system monitors signaling data transmitted between routers. The system includes at least one router that communicates signaling data via a session with at least one other router. The system also includes a network element that receives a copy of the signaling data via a control session established with the at least one router. The sessions, including the control session, can be border gateway protocol (BGP) sessions. The network element can also operate as a BGP control server or a centralized policy manager.

Abstract: A client enables filing sharing from within an email application. The client includes a receiver that receives an instruction to share at least one file via an email application. The client also includes a transmission system that transfers the at least one file to a web server. The client further includes an email application component that embeds a link to a handle into an email to be sent, the handle identifying the file(s) on the web server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing network origination calls in a hybrid network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) having a detection module to detect at a first terminal a network origination call directed to a second terminal, a search module to search a terminal type for each of the first and second terminals according to information supplied in the network origination call, and an enablement module to enable at least one media gateway to provide communication services to each of the first and second terminals identified as a circuit-switched terminal by its corresponding terminal type. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for method and apparatus for maintaining network performance in a communication system. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) that manages operations of a communication system including a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) coupled to a plurality of wireless base terminals (WBTs) by way of a corresponding plurality of network elements, having a network configuration element that identifies for each of the plurality of WBTs a plurality of resultant communication paths to the MTSO according to a plurality of differential delays calculated from alternative communication paths connecting combinations of the WBTs to the MTSO for each of a plurality of change scenarios affecting the plurality of network elements. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An identification tag includes a microchip to store identification information. The identification information includes a model number of an item associated with the identification tag and location information associated with a manufacturer of the item. The identification tag also includes an antenna adapted to communicate with a receiver via radio frequencies.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for proximity-based call management that includes sensing a proximity event between a first device associated with a first network and a second device associated with a second network, sending a first communication address for the first device from the first device to the second device over a wireless communication path between the first device and the second device, and signaling the second network from the second device to establish a conference call between the first device and the second device. A proximity based call management apparatus is disclosed including a processor coupled to a memory, a proximity sensor in data communication with the processor, a network interface in data communication with the processor, and a computer program stored in the memory for execution by the processor, the computer program comprising instructions proximity-based call management.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for improving network performance in a communication system. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) that manages operations of a communication system including a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) coupled to a plurality of wireless base terminals (WBTs) by way of a corresponding plurality of network elements, having a network configuration element that identifies for each of the plurality of WBTs a resultant communication path to the MTSO according to a plurality of performance characteristics calculated from alternative communication paths connecting combinations of the WBTs to the MTSO. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for backup communication services. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a wireless interface having a detection module to detect an interruption in a portion of communication services supplied to a plurality of residences by a central office over communication lines coupled to a cross-connect operating in a service area interface (SAI), and a controller module to direct a wireless transceiver to establish communications with a wireless station in response to the interruption, and to direct the cross-connect to provide communication services to a portion of the plurality of residences affected by the interruption by way of the wireless transceiver. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus to activate or deactivate a web interface to a voicemail system through a telephone user interface to the voicemail system. During a setup procedure that runs on the first use of the telephone user interface, the method and apparatus asks the subscriber if the subscriber wants the web interface activated. The method and apparatus then activates the web interface and allows the subscriber to specify a sequence of both digits and letters as the subscriber's initial web password and username. The present invention also provides the capability to activate or deactivate the web interface via the telephone user interface at any time after the initialization. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting computer port inactivity are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a router that has a first interface to communicate with a first connection at an end-user computer and a second interface to communicate with a second connection at a distributed computer network. The system includes detection logic responsive to the first interface to detect inactivity at the end-user computer and further includes blocking logic responsive to the detection logic. The blocking logic is operable to selectively initiate a blocking signal to disable communicating data received at the second interface to the end-user computer via the first interface. The detection logic and the blocking logic are embedded within a port of the router.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for transporting deterministic traffic in a gigabit passive optical network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Optical Line Termination (OLT) for exchanging data traffic in a Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) having a controller programmed to generate a timeslot schedule for transport of a desired bandwidth of CBR data traffic by selecting one or more timeslots from periodic frame clusters operating according to a GPON Transmission Convergence (GTC) protocol. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying echo sources in a communication path. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an echo measurement device (EMD) having a transmit module to transmit an echo canceller deactivation signal in a communication path of the communication system, wherein the echo canceller deactivation signal deactivates one or more echo cancellers in said communication path. The transmit module can also transmit a test signal in the communication path which is looped back at an end point identified as having an echo problem, wherein the test signal is transmitted at a remote location from the end point. The EMD can further include a detection module to detect one or more echo signals associated with the test signal. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for flexibly transferring data from one or more data sources to one or more data destinations within an information network where each of the one or more data sources have data in a particular source format and each of the one or more data destinations have data in the same or another particular destination format using a parameter database that includes parameters to control the transfer of data, a scheduler that initiates the transfer of data, and a data loader in communications with the parameter database and scheduler that, upon initiation by the scheduler, extracts data from the one or more data sources, manipulates the extracted source data into one or more destination formats associated with the one or more data destinations, and inserts the data into one or more data destinations according to the parameters within the parameter database.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed generally to a method of content management. The method includes receiving a user input entered in a plurality of grammatical structured text entry elements associated with a content subject, each of the plurality of grammatical structured text entry elements having a rhetorical structure to facilitate selective assembly into at least one sentence, storing the plurality of grammatical structured text entry elements in a data record associated with the content subject, converting at least a portion of the data record into a structured format file supporting rhetorical elements, and rendering an electronically displayable document using the structured format file. The electronically displayable document includes the at least one grammatical structured text entry element integrated into at least one sentence. The structured format file includes at least one grammatical structured text entry element of the plurality of grammatical structured text entry elements.