Abstract: The present invention relates to communications methods and apparatus for distributing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messages among SIP processing entities including during periods of failure recovery. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of: establishing a first connection oriented protocol connection between a first Session Initiation Protocol Load Balancer (SLB) of a plurality of SLBs and a client device; receiving via the first connection oriented protocol connection at the first SLB a first SIP REGISTER request message from the first client device; determining, by the first SLB, based on information received from the client device, a first Session Border Controller (SBC) from a plurality of SBCs to send the first SIP REGISTER request message, said information uniquely identifying the first SBC from other SBCs in the plurality of SBCs; and sending, by the first SLB, the first SIP REGISTER request message to the first SBC.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to communications methods and apparatus for efficiently distributing traffic to processing entities. An exemplary method includes the steps of: receiving, at a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) load balancer (SLB), a first SIP INVITE message; selecting, at the first SLB, which Session Border Controller (SBC) in a first cluster of SBCs to send the first SIP invite message based on a message allocation weight determined based on message loss information corresponding to different SBCs in the first cluster of SBCs, the selecting including allocating a portion of incoming received SIP INVITE messages to an individual SBC based on a message loss rate corresponding to the individual SBC and the message allocation rate, said selecting including selecting a first SBC from the first cluster of SBCs to send said first SIP INVITE message, and sending the first SIP INVITE message to the first SBC.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to communications methods and apparatus for efficiently distributing traffic to processing entities. An exemplary method includes the steps of: receiving, at a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) load balancer (SLB), a first SIP INVITE message; selecting, at the first SLB, which Session Border Controller (SBC) in a first cluster of SBCs to send the first SIP invite message based on a message allocation weight determined based on message loss information corresponding to different SBCs in the first cluster of SBCs, the selecting including allocating a portion of incoming received SIP INVITE messages to an individual SBC based on a message loss rate corresponding to the individual SBC and the message allocation rate, said selecting including selecting a first SBC from the first cluster of SBCs to send said first SIP INVITE message, and sending the first SIP INVITE message to the first SBC.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communications methods and apparatus for distributing Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messages among SIP processing entities including during periods of failure recovery. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of: establishing a first connection oriented protocol connection between a first Session Initiation Protocol Load Balancer (SLB) of a plurality of SLBs and a client device; receiving via the first connection oriented protocol connection at the first SLB a first SIP REGISTER request message from the first client device; determining, by the first SLB, based on information received from the client device, a first Session Border Controller (SBC) from a plurality of SBCs to send the first SIP REGISTER request message, said information uniquely identifying the first SBC from other SBCs in the plurality of SBCs; and sending, by the first SLB, the first SIP REGISTER request message to the first SBC.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to communications methods and apparatus for efficiently distributing traffic to processing entities. An exemplary method includes the steps of: receiving, at a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) load balancer (SLB), a first SIP INVITE message; selecting, at the first SLB, which Session Border Controller (SBC) in a first cluster of SBCs to send the first SIP invite message based on a message allocation weight determined based on message loss information corresponding to different SBCs in the first cluster of SBCs, the selecting including allocating a portion of incoming received SIP INVITE messages to an individual SBC based on a message loss rate corresponding to the individual SBC and the message allocation rate, said selecting including selecting a first SBC from the first cluster of SBCs to send said first SIP INVITE message, and sending the first SIP INVITE message to the first SBC.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to communications methods and apparatus for efficiently distributing traffic to processing entities. An exemplary method includes the steps of: receiving, at a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) load balancer (SLB), a first SIP INVITE message; selecting, at the first SLB, which Session Border Controller (SBC) in a first cluster of SBCs to send the first SIP invite message based on a message allocation weight determined based on message loss information corresponding to different SBCs in the first cluster of SBCs, the selecting including allocating a portion of incoming received SIP INVITE messages to an individual SBC based on a message loss rate corresponding to the individual SBC and the message allocation rate, said selecting including selecting a first SBC from the first cluster of SBCs to send said first SIP INVITE message, and sending the first SIP INVITE message to the first SBC.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for load balancing Session Initiation Protocol session transactions among a self-organized cluster of SIP processing devices. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of dynamically forming a load balancing cluster of SIP processing devices from a plurality of SIP processing devices, said cluster of SIP processing devices being self-organized; dynamically building a communications network, by said cluster of SIP processing devices, for distributing session transaction load state information among the SIP processing devices in the cluster; and each of the SIP processing devices of the cluster asynchronously determining session transaction load state information on a recurring basis reflecting its current session transaction load state. In some embodiments, the SIP processing devices are session border controllers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to communications methods and apparatus for efficiently distributing traffic to processing entities. An exemplary method includes the steps of: receiving, at a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) load balancer (SLB), a first SIP INVITE message; selecting, at the first SLB, which Session Border Controller (SBC) in a first cluster of SBCs to send the first SIP invite message based on a message allocation weight determined based on message loss information corresponding to different SBCs in the first cluster of SBCs, the selecting including allocating a portion of incoming received SIP INVITE messages to an individual SBC based on a message loss rate corresponding to the individual SBC and the message allocation rate, said selecting including selecting a first SBC from the first cluster of SBCs to send said first SIP INVITE message, and sending the first SIP INVITE message to the first SBC.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for load balancing Session Initiation Protocol session transactions among a self-organized cluster of SIP processing devices. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of dynamically forming a load balancing cluster of SIP processing devices from a plurality of SIP processing devices, said cluster of SIP processing devices being self-organized; dynamically building a communications network, by said cluster of SIP processing devices, for distributing session transaction load state information among the SIP processing devices in the cluster; and each of the SIP processing devices of the cluster asynchronously determining session transaction load state information on a recurring basis reflecting its current session transaction load state. In some embodiments, the SIP processing devices are session border controllers.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for load balancing Session Initiation Protocol session transactions among a self-organized cluster of SIP processing devices. An exemplary method embodiment includes the steps of dynamically forming a load balancing cluster of SIP processing devices from a plurality of SIP processing devices, said cluster of SIP processing devices being self-organized; dynamically building a communications network, by said cluster of SIP processing devices, for distributing session transaction load state information among the SIP processing devices in the cluster; and each of the SIP processing devices of the cluster asynchronously determining session transaction load state information on a recurring basis reflecting its current session transaction load state. In some embodiments, the SIP processing devices are session border controllers.

Abstract: Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for loosely-coupled encryption functionality for operating systems. A data packet is processed through one or more internet protocol stack layers to generate a processed data packet. Modified encryption information is determined that does not comprise a desired security policy for the data packet and comprises null parameter(s) and is based on encryption information that comprises the desired security policy. A message comprising data indicative of the encryption information is transmitted. An operating system is unaware of a security nature of the transmission. A null-encryption routine is executed to generate an unencrypted data packet, wherein the null-encryption routine does not encrypt the processed data packet. The unencrypted data packet is transmitted to the second computing device.