Abstract: VoIP networks and methods are disclosed for distributing media resources in a VoIP network for providing services. VoIP endpoints, media gateways, and/or other network nodes in the VoIP network report available media resources (i.e., available processing capacity) that are able to provide services, such as providing announcements, DTMF digit collection, etc, to a distributed resource server. The distributed resource server then assigns the available media resources among the VoIP endpoints and/or media gateways to perform services for calls in the VoIP network in order to distribute the tasks of performing services among different nodes of the VoIP network.

Abstract: VoIP networks and methods are disclosed for configuring SIP endpoints of VoIP networks. An application server of a VoIP network identifies an endpoint configuration for the SIP endpoints, and generates a configuration command based on the endpoint configuration. The application server formats a SIP message to include the configuration command, and transmits the SIP message to the SIP endpoints. Responsive to receiving the SIP message, the SIP endpoints process the SIP message to identify the configuration command, and set local configuration parameters based on the configuration command.

Abstract: Call transfer techniques between multiple application servers in a SIP-based network or other type of communication network are disclosed. In accordance with one example technique of the invention, it is assumed that a first call is established between a first user device and a second user device via a first server, and the second user device, wishing to initiate a call transfer to a third user device, establishes a second call between itself and the third user device via a second server. Thus, the technique includes the following steps. Upon the first server receiving a call transfer request from the second user device such that the first user device and the third user device can communicate, it is determined whether the first server has information that matches the second call.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for electronic message expiration processing, in which a message originator or recipient can set an expiration time/date attribute for individual emails, short messages, or other electronic messages, and the messages are automatically deleted from the recipient's system or handled according to other user-selected processing rules when the expiration time/date has past.

Abstract: A system and method enables Voice over IP (VoIP) session peering via Internet. A converged enterprise web server can receive a request from a caller to initiate a session, associate a Service Level Agreement (SLA) and address information of the caller with the request, and then provide the request to a receiver using a first communication protocol. After accepting from the receiver a response to the request if the caller is an allowed partner of the receiver based on the SLA, wherein the response is associated with address information of the receiver, the converged enterprise web server can establish the session between the caller and the receiver using a second communication protocol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for bridging traffic in analogue channel into digital channel using Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line, said method comprises: step of PSTN network connecting, in which caller and callee ADSLs establish PSTN network connection using PSTN signaling in the analogue channel; step of discovering Internet call, in which the caller ADSL sends Internet call setup message to Internet call server, the caller ADSL and the callee ADSL make Internet call discovery procedure on the Internet and determine successful Internet call discovery; step of setting up Internet connection, in which the caller and callee ADSLs set up Internet connection in the digital channel by means of the successful Internet call discovery; step of bridging the PSTN network connection to the Internet, in which the caller and the callee ADSLs bridge the PSTN network connection to the Internet via the Internet connection which has been set up, and release the analogue channel.

Abstract: A communication network is described that allows legacy devices to access an IMS network. The communication network includes a switching system, an IMS network, and a non-IMS network. The switching system includes a subscriber database that is pre-provisioned with identities of IMS subscribers using legacy devices. When in operation, a calling party places a call through a legacy device. The switching system receives the call and accesses the subscriber database based on a calling party identifier (e.g., a phone number, URL, etc) to determine if the calling party is an IMS subscriber. If the calling party is an IMS subscriber, then the switching system routes the call to the IMS network. If the calling party is not an IMS subscriber, then the switching system routes the call to the non-IMS network.

Abstract: The invention provides method for publishing, querying, subscribing to information by a SIP terminal in a VoIP network system, a SIP terminal, a SIP application server, a SIP information center and the VoIP network system. Wherein the VoIP network system is deployed with SIP information center for storing and providing at least the information. The method for publishing information by a SIP terminal in a VoIP network system comprises: creating a publishing request with the information to be published embedded in at the SIP terminal; sending the publishing request from the SIP terminal to the SIP information center via the SIP application server; recording the information in the SIP information center's database; and notifying the new information update to the subscribed SIP terminals.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for electronic message expiration processing, in which a message originator or recipient can set an expiration time/date attribute for individual emails, short messages, or other electronic messages, and the messages are automatically deleted from the recipient's system or handled according to other user-selected processing rules when the expiration time/date has past.

Abstract: Methods and Apparatus for implementing a prepayment service in a NGN environment are provided. At a terminal, authentication information of a user is collected at one time and stored locally, such that all the required authentication information can be extracted from a local storage device. Accordingly, at an application server, all the authentication information can be received in a single message, without need for several interactions. As such, the authentication process required for the prepayment service can be perform in one interaction, which greatly facilitates user operation, and provides improved system efficiency and reduced cost.

Abstract: A system and method enables Voice over IP (VoIP) session peering via Internet. A converged enterprise web server can receive a request from a caller to initiate a session, associate a Service Level Agreement (SLA) and address information of the caller with the request, and then provide the request to a receiver using a first communication protocol. After accepting from the receiver a response to the request if the caller is an allowed partner of the receiver based on the SLA, wherein the response is associated with address information of the receiver, the converged enterprise web server can establish the session between the caller and the receiver using a second communication protocol.

Abstract: Call transfer techniques between multiple application servers in a SIP-based network or other type of communication network are disclosed. In accordance with one example technique of the invention, it is assumed that a first call is established between a first user device and a second user device via a first server, and the second user device, wishing to initiate a call transfer to a third user device, establishes a second call between itself and the third user device via a second server. Thus, the technique includes the following steps. Upon the first server receiving a call transfer request from the second user device such that the first user device and the third user device can communicate, it is determined whether the first server has information that matches the second call.

Abstract: VoIP networks and methods are disclosed for distributing media resources in a VoIP network for providing services. VoIP endpoints, media gateways, and/or other network nodes in the VoIP network report available media resources (i.e., available processing capacity) that are able to provide services, such as providing announcements, DTMF digit collection, etc, to a distributed resource server. The distributed resource server then assigns the available media resources among the VoIP endpoints and/or media gateways to perform services for calls in the VoIP network in order to distribute the tasks of performing services among different nodes of the VoIP network.

Abstract: VoIP networks and methods are disclosed for configuring SIP endpoints of VoIP networks. An application server of a VoIP network identifies an endpoint configuration for the SIP endpoints, and generates a configuration command based on the endpoint configuration. The application server formats a SIP message to include the configuration command, and transmits the SIP message to the SIP endpoints. Responsive to receiving the SIP message, the SIP endpoints process the SIP message to identify the configuration command, and set local configuration parameters based on the configuration command.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for excluding one or more electronic message addresses associated with a group alias address from receiving an electronic message. A method of the invention comprises receiving exclusion criteria associated with the electronic message. The exclusion criteria identify a type of group member to be excluded from receiving the electronic message. The method further comprises identifying group members associated with the group alias address. The method further comprises processing the exclusion criteria to identify one or more excluded group members to exclude from receiving the electronic message and one or more included group members to receive the electronic message. The method further comprises blocking the excluded group members from receiving the electronic message.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling access to a Voice over Internet Protocol network are provided. One embodiment of the method includes enabling an interface for an interactive control of at least one of a television channel and a video service over the Voice over Internet Protocol network from a video phone having a dial pad.

Abstract: Online conferencing systems and methods are disclosed that provide for sharing of documents in a more efficient manner during an online conference. A document to be shared is transmitted to each of the participants of an online conference through a conference server. If one of the participants navigates through the document using an application, then a client conferencing system installed on the device of the participant detects navigation instructions in the application and reports the navigation instructions to the conference server. The conference server then reports the navigation instructions to the other participants of the online conference. The corresponding application on the devices of the other participants receives the navigation instructions and operates according to the instructions to synchronize viewing of the document among the participants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for managing service data over an air interface. The method includes receiving, from a mobile unit, a request associated with information indicative of service data associated with the mobile unit and providing the request associated with the information indicative of the service data associated with the mobile unit to a server that is configured to store the information indicative of the service data.