Abstract: Method and apparatus for busy override in an internet protocol-based telephone system are described. In some examples, a first communication attempt of a third party to a first party is received, the first party being in an established communication session with a second party. A busy operation is performed with respect to the third party in response to the first communication attempt. At least one additional communication attempt by the third party is received. A busy override operation is performed with respect to the first party in response to the first communication attempt and the at least one additional communication attempt satisfying at least a threshold pattern of communication attempts.

Abstract: A method and system for providing unified management of communication events. The method comprises receiving a communication message in a first format, converting the communication message to a generic message, determining one or more message destinations based on a set of routing rules, determining one or more message formats based on the determined destinations, converting the generic message into a converted message, and transmitting the converted message to the one or more determined destinations. The generic message is stored in a destination agnostic format. The converted message is stored in the one or more message formats associated with the one or more determined destinations.

Abstract: When a mobile telephony device is conducting a voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) telephone call via a data network, and the mobile telephone device transitions from a first wireless data connection to a second wireless data connection, signaling between the mobile telephone device and a media relay inform the media relay how to address data packets bearing the media of the call after the transition has occurred. In some embodiments, the mobile telephone device establishes multiple simultaneous wireless data connections, and the mobile telephony device switches the media of the call between the wireless data connections depending on the quality of the wireless data connections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the cost of long distance phone calls is disclosed. Accordingly, an originating phone network is operatively connected to a first intermediate point, and a receiving phone network is operatively connected to a second intermediate point. Each intermediate point is operatively connected to communicate via a data network. Users on the originating and destination phone networks may communicate based on virtual numbers. The virtual number is preferably within the local calling area of the originating phone network. The first and second intermediate points route calls to any geographic location, regardless of distance, over the data network based on the virtual number. This provides the advantage of allowing a user on the originating phone network to access a user at a distant location for a price that is substantially similar to the price of a local call.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for busy override in an internet protocol-based telephone system are described. In some examples, a first communication attempt of a third party is received by a first party, the first party being in an established communication session with a second party over a communication network. A timer is initiated in response to the first communication attempt. A busy operation is performed with respect to the third party in response to the first communication attempt. At least one additional communication attempt by the third party is received during the established communication session. A busy override operation is performed with respect to the first party in response to the first communication attempt and the at least one additional communication attempt satisfying a threshold pattern of communication attempts, the threshold pattern being based on elapsed time of the timer.

Abstract: Method for automatically managing a telecommunication service. In one embodiments, the method comprises collecting data associated with use of the telecommunication service by a user; determining, based on the data, an activation state associated with the use of the telecommunication service by the user; and executing, based on the activation state, a management process to automatically enable the use of the telecommunication service by the user, wherein the steps of collecting, determining, and executing are automatically performed by a processor of a controller associated with the telecommunication service.

Abstract: Method, system, and computer readable medium for providing an identifier for a caller identifier (ID) function when processing a communication request between a calling party and a called party in a communication network is described. In some examples, an initial identifier for the caller ID function associated with the calling party is received. A determination is made if the calling party has a virtual identifier configured in the communication network. A determination is made if the called party has a predefined identifier associated with the calling party configured in the communication network. The initial identifier is replaced with a terminating identifier based on configuration of the virtual identifier and the predefined identifier in the communication network.

Abstract: Information, such as advertising, is presented to VoIP users (12) via a combination of telephone and data streams during session initiation via an IP phone or a personal computer (18). A proxy server (20) that receives the call request coordinates with a media server (30) to transmit targeted advertising to the caller during the post dial delay interval. After the advertisement concludes, the call continues normally.

Abstract: Method for automatically managing a telecommunication service for telecommunication service user includes detecting a telecommunication device associated with the telecommunication service user on a network, determining an activation state of the telecommunication service based on data regarding the detected telecommunication device, determining an account/device state based on data regarding the detected telecommunication device and executing a management process between the telecommunication device and the telecommunication service to alter either the device state or the user account status based on the data regarding the detected device. The executing step includes automatically invoking an action that minimizes the necessary user interaction to initialize, update or access the service. Such service can be VoIP, instant messaging, and combination of these services or others.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing data using an N-leg search tree. The method comprises determining a tree identifier using a computer, traversing an N-leg search tree associated with the tree identifier, and accessing a data structure. The N-leg search tree is stored on a computer and traversed to a given node within the tree. The accessed data structure is associated with a deepest valid traversed node. The given node corresponds to a given element of a structured identifier. The apparatus comprises means for determining a tree identifier, one or more N-leg search trees for storing a given set of data and means for traversing the N-leg search tree.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for providing an identifier for a caller identifier (ID) function when processing a communication request between a calling party and a called party in a communication network is described. In some examples, an initial identifier for the caller ID function associated with the calling party is received. A determination is made if the calling party has a virtual identifier configured in the communication network. A determination is made if the called party has a predefined identifier associated with the calling party configured in the communication network. The initial identifier is replaced with a terminating identifier based on configuration of the virtual identifier and the predefined identifier in the communication network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for avoiding roaming or communications charges when a mobile communications device such as a cellular telephone receives an incoming telephone call use a non-native communications provider, such as a VOIP service provider to redirect the call. A subscriber's mobile communications device establishes a data connection to the VOIP service provider through a data network, and call forwarding instructions are issued to the subscriber's telephony service provider to cause calls directed to the subscriber's mobile communications device to be redirected to a forwarding telephone number associated with the VOIP service provider. When a call is placed to the subscriber's normal telephone number, the call is forwarded to the VOIP service provider.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for discovering devices on a local area network. The method comprises sending a DNS request from a host networking element, receiving the DNS request at one or more devices, and responding to the host networking element with one or more DNS responses. The DNS request comprises one or more particular domain names. The one or more DNS responses comprise local network address information for the one or more VoIP devices. The apparatus comprises means for filtering a set of network traffic for a DNS request, means for responding to a DNS request with a local network address, and means for forwarding the DNS request to another device. The system comprises a computer for generating a DNS request for a particular domain, and one or more VoIP devices for receiving the DNS request and sending a DNS response to the computer with a local network address for the VoIP device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for directing the installation of a VoIP system. The method comprises performing one or more connectivity tests using a VoIP device to determine if the VoIP system is functional, receiving one or more inputs, determining a system status, and providing one or more instructional prompts. The inputs indicate the results of the one or more connectivity tests. The status is determined from the one or more results using the VoIP device. The instructional prompts are displayed in accordance with the determined status. The apparatus comprises means for performing one or more connectivity tests using a VoIP device, means for receiving input indicating one or more results for the one or more connectivity tests, means for determining a status for the VoIP system from the one or more results using the VoIP device, and means for providing instructional prompts for display depending upon the determined system status.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhanced Internet telephony ensures that communication between a source and destination is not interrupted by common network address translation. According to one aspect of the invention, communication may continue through a router that employs network address translation.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for providing an identifier for a caller identifier (ID) function when processing a communication request between a calling party and a called party in a communication network is described. In some examples, an initial identifier for the caller ID function associated with the calling party is received. A determination is made if the calling party has a virtual identifier configured in the communication network. A determination is made if the called party has a predefined identifier associated with the calling party configured in the communication network. The initial identifier is replaced with a terminating identifier based on configuration of the virtual identifier and the predefined identifier in the communication network.

Abstract: Packet telephony devices with encryption keys are configured to enable authentication systems and methods for increasing the security of online account access and transactions. The instant disclosure leverages the security in customer equipment hardware such as a terminal adaptor (TA) or router to authenticate a web transaction. A packet telephony device has an encoded encryption key. The encryption key may be used with a display, a user actuable trigger or in a secure connection with a web-enabled device to authenticate a user or a website.

Abstract: Authentication systems and methods for increasing the security of online account access and transactions by leveraging the use of customer equipment provided by VoIP service providers. A method includes registering a packet telephony device with a packet telephony service provider for subsequent packet telephony communication, where the registration is based at least on an encoded encryption key. On a subsequent request to access an account, instructions are transmitted which require physical access to the packet telephony device to perform. Upon receipt of an indication that the instructions were successfully performed, the request is authenticated and access to the account is granted. Authentication may require a secure connection be automatically established between a web-enabled device and a packet telephony device. The instant disclosure leverages the security in the customer equipment hardware such as a Terminal adaptor (TA) or router so that a compromised account may be recovered.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gaining access to communication services includes receiving an initial inquiry for communication service access, collecting equipment information based upon the initial inquiry, sending a non-voice communication to said equipment and receiving a request from said equipment to obtain communication service access. The apparatus includes a system having one or more controllers for performing communication service access.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for busy override in an internet protocol-based telephone system are described. In some examples, a first communication attempt of a third party is received by a first party, the first party being in an established communication session with a second party over a communication network. A timer is initiated in response to the first communication attempt. A busy operation is performed with respect to the third party in response to the first communication attempt. At least one additional communication attempt by the third party is received during the established communication session. A busy override operation is performed with respect to the first party in response to the first communication attempt and the at least one additional communication attempt satisfying a threshold pattern of communication attempts, the threshold pattern being based on elapsed time of the timer.