Abstract: A security system with call management functionality is disclosed and includes a security controller having at least one first interface to at least one user identification device and a second interface to a call management controller. The security controller also includes logic to determine a security status of a user based on identification information received from the at least one user identification device and to communicate the security status of the user to the call management controller, where the call management controller enables, disables, or modifies a communication service based on the security status of the user.

Abstract: A method includes provisioning a mobile user with usage minutes for usage calls. The method includes determining whether the mobile user and a telephone user either belong to the same provider or different providers after a call between the users is initiated. The call is designated as a usage call if the users belong to different providers. If the call is a usage call, then the mobile user is advised that the call is a usage call and the number of usage minutes remaining and an affirmation from the mobile user is required to complete the call.

Abstract: The present application discloses an automated digital subscriber line performance control system comprising a computer system including a logic module to evaluate performance of a plurality of DSL lines and to automatically select a set of DSL lines from the plurality of DSL lines, a line profile database responsive to the computer system, the line profile database providing a plurality of line profiles in response to a request from the computer system, and a digital subscriber line access multiplexer coupled to the computer system.

Abstract: A computer system comprises a memory and a processor. The memory provides an empirical model for estimating data rates of local loops having one or more bridged taps. The processor uses the empirical model to estimate and output a data rate of a local loop that includes a bridged tap. The processor estimates the data rate using the empirical model based on an equivalent working length (EWL) for the local loop, a tap length value that is based on a length of the bridged tap, and a tap location value that is based on a location of the bridged tap.

Abstract: In a first embodiment a method for distributing video data from an originating device in a communication network is disclosed including storing metadata at the originating device describing the video data; selecting at the originating device, a plurality of candidate devices to receive the video data based on a correlation between the metadata and subscriber profiles for the plurality of candidate devices; and distributing the video data to a first set selected from the plurality of candidate devices in the communication network based on the correlation.

Abstract: A spool assembly includes a spool supported on a mount. The mount has an adhesive covered by a cover capable of being peeled off from the adhesive. The adhesive is attached to a structure such as a trough or a panel in order to attach the spool to the structure such that the spool stores slack of jumpers adjacent to the structure upon the jumpers being wrapped around the spool.

Abstract: A broadcast overlay network has a ring topology to carry broadcast traffic from a head-end network. A digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) has a network interface in communication with the broadcast overlay network. The DSLAM is to receive a request for a particular video channel from a customer premise via a line interface and to deliver the particular video channel from the network interface to the line interface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems to deliver electronic mail using payments are disclosed. An example method involves receiving an electronic mail message at a server. It is then determined whether the electronic mail message includes information indicative that a sending entity has posted an electronic mail delivery payment to enable delivery of the electronic mail message. When the electronic mail message includes the information indicative that the sending entity has pasted the electronic mail delivery payment, a funds account of an intended recipient of the electronic mail message is polled to determine whether the electronic mail delivery payment has been deposited in the funds account. The electronic mail message is not sent to a mailbox of the intended recipient unless the electronic mail delivery payment has been deposited in the funds account regardless of whether the sending entity is on a permissions list.

Abstract: A dial tone generator outputs a particular dial tone to a party to indicate that a call block feature is enabled for the party. The call block feature is disabled for the party in response to a number of incoming calls for the party being greater than or equal to a threshold.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to an integration service. The integration service includes an interface layer, a logic layer, an object layer, and a resource layer. The interface layer includes a plurality of communications adapters. The logic layer includes a first interface and has access to a rules engine. The object layer includes a second interface, a transformation service, and an object. The resource layer includes a plurality of resource interface modules. The resource interface modules have access to a plurality of diverse resource systems. The resource interface modules may acquire a first data from the plurality of diverse resource systems. The transformation service transforms the data into the object. The logic layer accesses the object and provides a second data through one of the plurality of interface layer communications adapters.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing integrity of a wired communication link includes receiving a plurality of signals, sent by at least one transmitter over the wired communications link, at corresponding multiple receivers. The signals have corresponding frequencies within a frequency range of the wired communication link, such that the frequencies are representative of the frequency range. A signal loss corresponding to each of the frequencies is measured, and an indication of whether each measured signal loss is within an acceptable range is provided. The wired communication link may be a coaxial cable.

Abstract: In one particular embodiment, a method includes receiving at a set-top box a call signal including a caller identifier from a network, where the caller identifier includes a calling number and a billing name associated with the calling number. An alias (or display name) associated with the calling number is retrieved from a personal address book stored in a memory of the set-top box. A modified caller identifier including the calling number and the alias is provided to a display device.

Abstract: A content management system including an audience profile is disclosed. The content management system includes a database having a plurality of records. At least one record of the plurality of records includes a plurality of fields storing a plurality of grammatical syntax elements associated with a content subject. Each of the plurality of grammatical syntax elements has a rhetorical structure to facilitate selective assembly into at least one sentence. The content management system also includes a server responsive to the database and an audience profile relating to a desired presentation of the content subject. The server is configured to selectively retrieve at least one grammatical syntax element of the plurality of grammatical syntax elements and to provide a data file including at least one grammatical syntax element. At least a portion of the data file is constructed based upon the audience profile.

Abstract: A method of routing telephone calls is disclosed that includes receiving Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) packets at an integrated access device (IAD) from a VoIP remote worker feature server. The IAD communicates with a first private branch exchange (PBX) located at a first location. The VoIP packets are related to a VoIP call intended for a telephone number assigned by a second PBX at a second location.

Abstract: A database stores a plurality of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) profiles for a plurality of different potential usage patterns for a digital subscriber line (DSL) service. The database associates each of the ATM profiles with a respective buffer size for a network element that is to communicate ATM traffic associated with the DSL service. A data collector collects application layer traffic data for usage of the DSL service by a DSL user. An ATM buffer manager selects an ATM profile, from the plurality of ATM profiles in the database, based on its similarity to the application layer traffic data. The ATM buffer manager allocates to the DSL user a first buffer size in the network element based on the buffer size being associated with the ATM profile in the database.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting an idle or inactive data port connection on a personal computer (PC) and blocking external access, e.g., Wide Area Network (WAN) access to an end-user PC is presented. The system provides for added security for unattended PCs having broadband connections. The idle time period for detection/blocking logic initiation of a blocking signal to disable communications, e.g., Ethernet port access to the PC, may be for a fixed time period or may be determined by a user of the end-user PC.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method is disclosed for monitoring a multiplicity of set top boxes (STBs) in an internet protocol television (IPTV) network including receiving in an IPTV network server, conditional message data pushed from the multiplicity of set top boxes (STBs); analyzing in the IPTV server, the STB conditional message data to determine network status information data related to a set of STBs selected from the multiplicity of STBs; and pushing network status information data to the set of STBs. In another embodiment a system for monitoring an internet protocol television (IPTV) network is disclosed including an IPTV head-end server processor coupled to a memory in the IPTV server; a computer program embedded in the memory, the computer program including instructions to acquire conditional message data; and a computer program embedded in memory, the computer program including instructions to push the conditional message data to memory when the conditional message data exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A computer readable medium stores a program for enabling access to a wireless local area network (WLAN) from a dual mode device. The program enables the dual mode device to detect presence of a WLAN access point. The program also transmits information about the access point and about the dual mode device via a cellular network to a clearinghouse server. A portion of the program receives the information via the cellular network, the information identifying the dual mode device and an access point of a WLAN provider. The program then determines whether the dual mode device has permission to access the access point. When permission exists, the program informs the WLAN provider. The dual mode device accesses the WLAN access point in response to the clearinghouse server approving access.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system, method and computer-readable medium for providing a network service. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a system for providing a network service that includes a network device for providing the network service over a network loop using Symmetric High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Loop (G.SHDSL) as a transport mechanism over the network loop; and a network-capable access device that terminates the network loop.

Abstract: A system and method of providing selectable video content is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a selection of a first mnemonic input at a set-top box device. The method also includes receiving a plurality of numeric input selections at the set-top box device, where each of the plurality of numeric input selections corresponds to at least one character. The method also includes determining a channel name based on a sequence of the plurality of numeric input selections.