Abstract: A system and method for making a VoIP-based and other types of group calls includes a user interface adapted for use by a group call administrator via the Internet, a database manager connected to the user interface, and a database connected to the database manager. In one embodiment, the group call administrator identifier and one or more group call invitee identifiers is a telephone number. The server responds to a group call request by initiating a first group call connection and initiating at least one or more second group call connections to join a group call administrator and at least one group call invitee. A method includes using call information from a database to initiate conference call connections and an administrator call connection to facilitate a conference call in which the administrators call connections and the participants connections are joined to allow communications between the participants and the administrator.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying end-user devices for remote testing are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for identifying end-user devices for remote testing may receiving end-user device profiles from a plurality of end-user devices, receiving a testing plan including device characteristics, comparing the end-user device profiles and testing plan received to produce comparison results, and providing a list of end-user devices and an indication of the comparison results to the remote testing entity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to a mobile telephony device that is roaming outside of its native service area make use of a forwarding termination service. The forwarding termination service causes the native mobile telephony service provider that provides service to the mobile telephony device to forward incoming telephony communications directed the native telephone number of the mobile telephony device to a forwarding access number. The forwarding termination service receives telephony communications directed to the forwarding access number, and then terminates the telephony communication to the mobile telephony device via any one of multiple different methods. The mobile telephony service provider can be instructed to implement and cancel call forwarding instructions by dialing a special character string on the mobile telephony device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of recommending that two parties form a link on a social networking system use activities conducted by the first party on a telephony system and information contained in contact or link lists stored for the second party on the social networking system to determine if the two parties are likely acquainted. If a comparison of this information indicates that the parties are likely acquainted, or at least are acquainted with common third parties, a recommendation that they form a link on the social networking system is issued to one or both parties.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting an aspect ratio of an image during a video call is described herein. Specifically, a method for dynamically adjusting the aspect ratio of an image during a video call may include obtaining at least one display parameter of a display device, performing a comparison of the at least one display parameter to at least one image capture parameter of a capture device, capturing an original image, modifying the original image based on the comparison performed, wherein the modified image has an adjusted aspect ratio different from an aspect ratio of the original image, and sending the modified image to the display device.

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 system and method for provisionable, multi-modal communications, including detecting a provisioning condition, selecting a communications mode based on the provisioning condition from a first usage mode, a second usage mode, and a third usage mode, and displaying an interface corresponding to the selected communications mode. The first usage mode includes a first communications channel supporting a first communication data consisting of instant messages (IM) and in-network voice data. The second usage mode includes a second communications channel supporting a second communication data consisting of IM, in-network voice data and out-of-network voice data. The third usage mode includes a second communications channel supporting a third communication data comprising video data.

Abstract: IP telephony communications are conducted by sending both data produced by a CODEC that represents received spoken audio input, and a textual representation of the spoken audio input. A receiving device utilizes the textual representation of the spoken audio input to help recreate the spoken audio input when a portion of the CODEC data is missing. The textual representation can be generated by a speech-to-text function. Alternatively, the textual representation can be a notation of extracted phonemes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing a telecommunication session request are provided herein. In some embodiments, the method may determining a first set of status attributes of a first device, receiving a request from a second device to establish a telecommunication session with the first device, selecting a route to establish the telecommunication session based on the first set of status attributes of the first device, and establishing the telecommunication session using the selected route.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for call handling control comprises receiving, from a first device, call handling information directed towards a second device, wherein a call is currently established between the first device and the second device and transmitting the call handling information to the second device, wherein the call handling information comprises feature activation instructions for the second device.

Abstract: Systems and methods performed by an IP telephony system allow a user to request that his IP telephony device be set into a conference calling mode for an indefinite period of time. When the user's IP telephony device is in the conference calling mode, all parties that attempt to call the user's IP telephony device are added to a conference bridge tied to the user's IP telephony device. All incoming calls are treated in this fashion until the user cancels the conference calling mode and returns to a normal calling mode.

Abstract: A method and system for routing communications includes building a first user profile for a first user based on a history of communications associated with a first communication identifier to route inbound communications. The first communication identifier is associated with the first user and subsequently, the first communication identifier may be assigned to a second user. A second communication identifier is assigned to the first user such that a received inbound communication is directed towards the first communication identifier. The method routes the inbound communication based on an analysis of the first user profile of the first user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining an interval for the transmission of keep alive messages that will prevent a pinhole of a data network interface device from closing are driven by a software client on a computing device. The software client informs a network server of a first time interval, and the server uses the first time interval to send communications to the computing device that trigger the computing device to send keep alive messages to the server. If the first time interval does not result in the pinhole closing, the software client instructs the network server to send messages to the computing device that trigger the computing device to send keep alive messages to the server according to a second, longer time interval. This process repeats until the pinhole ultimately closes, and then the last interval that did not cause the pinhole to close is selected for use.

Abstract: Methods of addressing problems in a voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) telephony system include collecting data on network events, analyzing the data, and taking corrective action when possible. If an IP telephony device is registering with the VOIP telephony system more frequently than necessary, which can indicate the IP telephony device is unnecessarily jumping between proxy services, the IP telephony device is instructed to re-initialize itself. If an IP telephony device sends two successive stay alive registration messages to a proxy server from different ports of a router, which can indicate that a router pinhole is closing between stay alive messages, then the IP telephony device is instructed to send stay alive registration messages more frequently. If data packet statistics indicate that an IP telephony device is experiencing a jitter problem, the IP telephony device is instructed to increase the size of a data buffer for incoming data packets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for user location registration comprising registering subscriber location information associated with a device with a registration service in a first network, receiving, from a second network, a broadcast location request and sending, in response to the broadcast location request, the subscriber location information to the second network.

Abstract: A method and system for simultaneous display of a multimedia background is disclosed. In some embodiments the system and method includes conducting a video call from a first caller on a first terminal to a second caller on a second terminal and substituting a multimedia content for at least a portion of an original background of the first terminal to create a combined multimedia background. The combined multimedia background is transmitted to the second terminal. Moreover, the combined multimedia background includes an image superimposed over the multimedia content. The combined multimedia background is enabled to be interactively controlled by a movement detection device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detection and notification of called party presence via a telecommunication device associated with a called party are provided herein. In some exemplary embodiments, a method for detection and notification of called party presence may include receiving a request to establish a telecommunication session, obtaining presence information derived from presence detection equipment associated with the telecommunication device responsive to the received request, determining presence of the called party based on the obtained presence information, and sending a notification message including an indication of the determined presence of the called party.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for routing a telecommunication connection request on an internal telecommunication network are provided herein. In some embodiments, the method may receive a request to establish a telecommunication connection, determine a route to an external telecommunication network to facilitate the establishment of the telecommunication connection based on information associated with the external telecommunication network and internal network conditions of the internal telecommunication network, and route telecommunication network traffic over the internal telecommunication network using the determined route to the external telecommunication network.

Abstract: An IP telephony system obtains control over a group of telephone numbers that can be assigned to its customers' telephony devices under a contract with a first local exchange carrier that originally controlled the group of telephone numbers. The first local exchange carrier assigns one or more location routing numbers to the group of telephone numbers, and the one or more location routing numbers are for the exclusive use of the IP telephony system. The one or more location routing numbers are then recorded against the group of telephone numbers in a local number portability database. Other exchange carriers are then caused to route calls directed to the any telephony number associated with the one or more location routing numbers directly to the IP telephony system. As a result, a second local exchange carrier can terminate telephony communications directly to the IP telephony system, bypassing the first local exchange carrier.

Abstract: Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to a mobile telephony device that is roaming outside of its native service area make use of a mobile roaming termination service. The mobile roaming termination service causes the native mobile telephony service provider that provides service to the mobile telephony device to forward incoming telephony communications directed the native telephone number of the mobile telephony device to a forwarding access number. The mobile roaming termination service receives telephony communications directed to the forwarding access number, and then terminates the telephony communication to the mobile telephony device via any one of multiple different methods. The mobile telephony service provider can be instructed to implement and cancel call forwarding instructions by dialing a special character string on the mobile telephony device.