Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for group messaging are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a group messaging system receiving a broadcast message from an originating user, imposing a limit on a number of text characters included in the broadcast message, identifying a group of intended recipients of the broadcast message, determining contact information for an intended recipient included in the group, determining at least one broadcast message sending method for the intended recipient, and sending the broadcast message to the intended recipient using the at least one broadcast message sending method.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, an exemplary system includes a test management subsystem configured to provide a user portal to a user of a circuit provided by a service provider, the user portal including a tool enabling the user to select a signal loop for testing at least a section of the circuit, the signal loop being selected from a plurality of signal loop options. The system also includes a network management subsystem communicatively coupled to the test management subsystem, the network management subsystem being configured to receive data representative of the selection from the test management subsystem and instruct, based on the selection, a network device along the circuit to execute a loop-back mode. In certain embodiments, the selected signal loop defines a test pattern signal flow for testing a subsection of the circuit.

Abstract: Methods and systems providing access to integrated communications services are disclosed. A notification of a call to a user is received at a device associated with the user, the device being connected to a data network and including a base unit, a handset, and a user interface, wherein the device is determined based on retrieved data corresponding to the user, and the retrieved data was retrieved using information pertaining to the call. Input from the user indicative of a response to the notification is also received at the device. Response information reflective of the response to the notification is then sent to the server, wherein the server instructs a service control point to connect the call based on the response to the notification.

Abstract: In an exemplary method, at least one telephony attribute associated with a voice call directed from a client communication subsystem to a voice network identifier is detected. Visual content that has been predefined as being associated with the at least one telephony attribute is identified. A request for the visual content is initiated in response to the detecting step. The visual content is received, in response to the initiating step, for display at the client communication subsystem.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes an element server in a video hub office configured to provide a media signal to a content processing device located at a customer premises and at least one computing device remote from the video hub office and the customer premises. The computing device comprises a first data store that includes a plurality of presentation elements, a second data store that includes information concerning associations of the presentation elements with a chunk that is a logical grouping of the presentation elements, and an element management subsystem that provides the presentation elements associated with the chunk to the element server in the video hub office, the element server configured to cache the presentation elements for use by the element server in fulfilling a request from the content processing device, wherein the computing device provides a user interface that presents information about the presentation elements associated with the chunk.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide a video messaging service for transmitting video messages between network terminals over a network. After a caller's video-messaging terminal receives a notification that a receiver failed to respond to a communication request, the caller's video-messaging terminal may enable the caller to record a video message and store it for viewing on-demand by a receiver's video-messaging terminal. After recording, the caller's video-messaging terminal transmits a stored message notification terminal to a network server which, in turn, transmits a stored message notification, including an identifier of the caller's video-messaging terminal, to the receiver. Based on the identifier, the receiver's video-messaging terminal may request access to the video message from the callers video-messaging terminal. In response to the request, the caller's video-messaging terminal retrieves the video message from storage and provides it to the receiver's video-messaging terminal over the network.

Abstract: A system obtains a key and first and second plaintext, where the first plaintext is identical to the second plaintext. The system uses the key to encrypt the first plaintext to a first ciphertext and the second plaintext to a second ciphertext using a same encryption algorithm, where the first ciphertext is different than the second ciphertext.

Abstract: Methods and Systems are provided for managing one or more communications lines associated with a user of a communications network. A service center may receive from a user line management information regarding one or more of the user's communications lines. This line management information may include a request from the user to handle all calls to the communications line in a particular manner (e.g., forward all calls to a different number). This line management information may also include information regarding scheduling the handling of calls to the communications line (e.g., scheduling call forwarding) or a request to handle calls differently based on information identifying the origination of the call (e.g., caller-ID). The service center may then forward instructions to the communications network such that the components (e.g., SSP or SCP) of the communications network implement the user's modifications.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to display an interactive search graphical user interface having at least a first viewing pane and a second viewing pane. A user may input a sequence of at least one character into the first viewing pane. A search results list including at least one entry based the character sequence and corresponding to at least one media content instance may then be displayed within the second viewing pane. When an entry within the search results list is selected by the user, the media content processing subsystem is configured to transfer the display of the search results list to the first viewing pane and display information corresponding to the selected entry within the second viewing pane.

Abstract: A system including a location server configured to receive registration data from an IP device and a location database configured to store location information of the IP device, wherein the location server queries the location database to determine whether the registration data matches the location information stored at the location database.

Abstract: A system including a first network configured to receive IP device data from an IP device and to provide one or more IP addresses of the IP device based on the IP device data; a second network comprising: a second network location database configured to store physical location information, and a second network location server configured to receive the one or more IP addresses of the IP device from the first network, and query the second network location database to determine physical location information of the IP device based on the one or more IP addresses.

Abstract: A method is provided for synchronizing data sources. The method includes receiving at least first and second data tables. The data tables have one or more mutually similar fields and one or more dissimilar fields from one another. First normalized, second normalized, and intermediate data tables are stored, each including respective first normalized, second normalized, and intermediate data table fields that each correspond to the mutually similar fields of the first and second data tables. The first normalized data table is at least partially populated with corresponding entries from the first data table and the second normalized data table is at least partially populated with corresponding entries in the second data table. Intermediate data table entries are respectively replaced with corresponding inconsistent data entries of the first and second normalized data tables. An apparatus and a computer program product for accomplishing the above method are also provided.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and a computer program product for providing web service testing are provided. The apparatus may include a processor that is configured to provide a user interface for a testing tool accessible in a distributed network architecture. The processor may also be configured to receive selections of an application(s) to be tested that is accessible in a distributed network architecture, a function(s) that is associated with the selected application and a method(s) that is associated with the selected function(s). Additionally, the processor may be configured to receive selections of a test case(s) that is associated with the selected method(s). Moreover, the processor may be configured to automatically conduct the selected test case(s).

Abstract: An approach for tagging media content (e.g., audio/video content) such that the tag call be used to access or manipulate the media content associated with the tag at a later time. A command is received from a user to request marking of the media content. A tag is automatically inserted therein based on predetermined criteria in response to the command. The media content can be accessed at a point specified by the tag.

Abstract: An approach is provided for presenting, via a set-top box, a displayable application providing content (e.g., community content) that is generated based on information corresponding to a user of the set-top box. The displayable application is overlay on video content of the set-top box.

Abstract: The method and system for SMS/MMS messaging to a connected device may be realized as a system comprising at least one server module. The at least one server module may be adapted to receive from a connected device an outbound messaging message through a packet-based network. The at least one server module may also be adapted to send the outbound messaging message to an external messaging network. The connected device may be communicatively coupled to the packet-based network. The outbound messaging message may be associated with a user account. The user account may be associated with a telephone number.

Abstract: An approach is provided for presenting, via a set-top box, a widget. The widget includes content retrieved over a data network and augmented content.

Abstract: A device receives, from a customer, a request for an end-to-end path through a network, determines parameters of a query based on the request and path criteria, and executes the query on a database of network elements capable of being included in the end-to-end path. The device also selects one or more of the network elements provided in the database based on results of the query, and reserves, in the database, the one or more selected network elements for the end-to-end path.

Abstract: An approach is provided for presenting, via a set-top box, audio and/or video transmission to a user. An input is received from the user specifying media content that is accessible over a data network. The media content is retrieved over the data network, and presented via the set-top box.

Abstract: A system and method can include entering targeted advertisements for multiple types of targeted consumer devices, managing associated targeted advertisement campaigns, sending a targeted advertisement to a targeted consumer device over a network, and receiving receptivity data associated with the targeted advertisement from the targeted consumer device. The targeted advertisement can be associated with a targeted advertisement campaign and can be based on a profile associated with a targeted consumer device and rules associated with the targeted advertisement campaign.