Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing location based services are provided. Embodiments may include storing locations for a plurality of users of a telecommunication environment and contact lists of associated users for the plurality of users. Embodiments may also include providing the locations of the associated users for a first user based on a request from the first user. The request may further include providing locations for associated users who are located within an area of interest. The area of interest may be defined by a particular distance from the first user or by a point of interest of the first user. The locations of the users may be determined based on the locations of communication devices of the users including an identified receiving communication device for each user.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for providing location based searches and other services are provided. Embodiments may include dividing a searchable region into quad regions and populating the search regions with a plurality of listings. The division of quad regions may be dependent on a maximum number of listings per quad region and a minimum size for any one quad region. Embodiments may include assigning unique identifiers to each quad regions and assigning the unique identifiers to each of the listings according to the quad region in which the listings are located as geographical codes. The geographical codes may be used as part a location based search. In some of the embodiments, the listings may be searched by prefixes of the geographical codes rather than the entire geographical codes.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for remotely rebooting Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication devices. In general, the apparatus remotely selects VoIP communication devices connected to a network, reboots the selected devices, and evaluates the status of each device. A processor allows a user to select VoIP communication devices connected to the network and receives inputs pertaining to the reboot operation, including a time input and search criteria. The processor communicates with the designated VoIP communication devices over a packet-switching network to instruct the devices to reboot and monitors each device. In this way, multiple VoIP communication devices may be rebooted from a remote location, and problems or issues that arise during the reboot process may be identified and addressed. An associated method and computer program product are also provided for remotely rebooting VoIP communication devices.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods to receive a logical command, the logical command being associated with a target identifier of a network element, determine connection parameters of the network element based on the target identifier, define a work flow based on the logical command, the work flow including a connection manager work unit, and execute the connection manager work unit to retrieve a connection from a connection pool based on the connection parameters.

Abstract: In an exemplary system, a data store includes at least a subset of media content, media content attribute data associated with the media content, user profile data associated with at least one consumer having access to the media content, advertising content, and content matching data associated with the advertising content. An access module is communicatively coupled to an access device and configured to receive a request sent by the access device, the request being for access to a media content instance included in the media content. A matching module is configured to match at least one advertising content instance included in the advertising content to the media content instance based on the media content attribute data, user profile data, and content matching data. The access module is configured to provide the matched advertising content instance to the access device for user presentation.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for remotely managing various network elements of a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication system. In general, an apparatus is described for communicating with different network elements of a VoIP communication system, receiving data from each network element, and storing the data. The apparatus includes a processor that communicates with different network elements of a VoIP communication system over a packet-switching network and queries the network elements for particular information. The processor receives and stores the data regarding each network element. In this way, data from multiple different network elements of a VoIP communication system may be remotely accessed and stored, and the data may be analyzed or manipulated to address system problems or monitor conditions of the system from the remote location. A method and computer program product are also provided for remotely managing various network elements of a VoIP communication system.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods to maintain a policy within a network management system, receive a command to be executed on one of the one or more network elements, determine whether the command can be executed on the one of the one or more network elements based on the policy maintained within the network management system, and provide an indication that the command can be executed on the one of the one or more network elements based on a determination that the command can be executed on the one of the one or more network elements.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods to receive a logical command associated with a network management system to be executed on a network element, convert the logical command into a physical command associated with the network element, communicate the physical command to the network element.

Abstract: A system includes at least one service switching device in communication with a first calling device and a second calling device. The system further includes at least one service control point in communication with the at least one service switching device and is configured to route incoming and outgoing calls between the first and the second calling devices, wherein the service control point is configured to collect and save biometric keystrokes from a calling party to identify the calling party to a called party.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods to receive a command associated with the network management system, define a work flow based on the command, and execute the work flow on a network element. During execution of the work flow, a network management system determines whether a recovery is necessary and performs a recovery based on a determination that a recovery is necessary.

Abstract: In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to provide at least a portion of a linear program guide to a display for presentation to a user. The linear program guide includes a list of media content carriers and associated media content instances, and an endpoint located at one end of the list. The media content carriers and the endpoint are navigable by the user, and the endpoint is associated with at least one selectable navigation tool for navigating within the linear program guide. In certain embodiments, the selectable navigation tool includes a selectable shortcut to a predefined location within the linear program guide.

Abstract: “Call casting” is the ability to create a broadcasted multimedia file from a telephonic device. A content originator selects an option to create a call cast from the telephonic device, and a processing unit receives a communication utilized in creating an episode file. The episode file is associated with a feed file, which is accessed by an audience. The feed file may be accessible from a user website. Additionally, the communication received by the processing unit may originate from the telephonic device or a voicemail server. The processing unit may comprise a voicemail server. The content originator may be provided with one or more options that affect the creation of the episode file or the association of the episode file to the feed file. These options may be provided over the telephonic device, or through use of an administrative website.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods to receive input from a user, the input including information associated with a change to a network element configuration; process the information associated with the change to a network element configuration, receive an indication from the network element that the network element configuration was successfully changed, and notify a provisioning system of the change to the network element configuration based on the indication from the network element configuration that the network element configuration was successfully changed.

Abstract: A content processing device is provided. Media content is selectively received by the content processing device for display on a media playback device. A software application is included on the content processing device and is configured to perform at least one of (a) receiving message content from a remote computer and providing the message content for display on the media playback device, and (b) receiving, from the media playback device, input for a message and sending the input to the remote computer.

Abstract: A receiving module selectively receives a stream of digital data from a recording device via a network. A data store selectively stores the digital data. A streaming module that selectively streams the stored digital data to a network device via the network.

Abstract: A system and method may include processing a task assignment request comprising a task type corresponding to a task and querying a database based on the task assignment request and on the task type to identify an agent profile and agent status information for the identified agent profile, the agent profile comprising identification information to identify an agent workstation. The system and method may further include determining whether to generate assignment information for assigning the task to the agent workstation based on the agent status information.

Abstract: A content processing device within a customer premises is connected to a first network internal to the customer premises and is also connected to a second network external to the customer premises. The content processing device is configured to download via the second network, and then to execute, instructions to detect a computing device within the first network and then to request selectively specified media content from the computing device, whereby the specified media content is retrieved from the computing device via the first network.

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: Methods, computer program products, and apparatuses are provided for allowing a user to communicate with a set top box and a media content server through a mobile communication device, such as a cellular phone. The user may be able to request and receive a customer specific interactive programming guide through the mobile communication device. The interactive programming guide may allow the user to search and record media programs, including sending recording commands to a set top box to record a particular media program. The interactive programming guide may also allow the user to order and receive media programs to the mobile communication device. Embodiments may provide a personal video recorder proxy server as an interface between the mobile communication device and the set top box and the media content server.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems for providing media sharing services are provided. Embodiments include receiving various media files, such as pictures, videos, and music, for users within a telecommunication environment. The users may send the media files through various communication devices including cellular phones and computing devices. Embodiments allow access to the received media files to the users through the communication devices. Access may be limited to the media files by membership within a group or other access levels associated with a particular media file or a corresponding media folder. Embodiments may also include receiving a media file in a first format from a transferring communication device and converting and sending the media file in a second format that is suitable for a requesting communication device.