Abstract: An enterprise network is provided that includes a plurality of internal terminals 108, 112 corresponding to a plurality of subscribers and a network reconfiguration agent 212 operable to (a) determine that at least one of a requested connection to a first terminal 112-1 associated with a subscriber and a connected communication with the first terminal 112-1 will have and/or has an undesirable grade of service and (b) in response thereto, perform at least one of the following operations: (i) direct the requested connection or connected communication to a second terminal 108, 140 associated with the subscriber; and (ii) change the communication path for the requested connection or connected communication from a first communication path comprising a first network 110 but not a second network 404 to a second communication path comprising the second network 404 but not the first network 110.

Abstract: In one configuration, the present invention is directed to an enterprise network that includes geographically dislocated first and second network regions 202 and 206 communicating with one another through first and second networks 252 and 248 and respectively comprising first and second gateways 220 and 224 and first and second groupings of trunks. A common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of trunks. A media server 200 is positioned in the first network region 202 that includes an inter-gateway routing agent 260. The first network region transmits, as part of the establishment of a real-time or near real-time communication between first and second subscribers respectively in the first and second network regions, the common address to the second gateway 224. After the outgoing communication is answered by the second gateway 224, the first network region transmits in band to the second gateway 224 a user identifier associated with the second subscriber and/or a phantom user.

Abstract: In one configuration, the present invention is directed to an enterprise network that includes geographically dislocated first and second network regions 202 and 206 communicating with one another through first and second networks 252 and 248 and respectively comprising first and second gateways 220 and 224 and first and second groupings of trunks. A common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of trunks. A media server 200 is positioned in the first network region 202 that includes an inter-gateway routing agent 260. The first network region transmits, as part of the establishment of a real-time or near real-time communication between first and second subscribers respectively in the first and second network regions, the common address to the second gateway 224. After the outgoing communication is answered by the second gateway 224, the first network region transmits in band to the second gateway 224 a user identifier associated with the second subscriber and/or a phantom user.

Abstract: A system for call conferencing a plurality of participants is provided that includes (a) an input operable to receive, from a conference call participant A-E, at least one of (i) a selective listening request and (ii) a request to remove selective listening, wherein the communication devices 416a-e of the conference call participants A-E are connected to a plurality of gateways 408, 424; and (b) a conference configuration agent 346 operable, in response thereto and during the conference call, to change from a first conference topology to a second conference topology, wherein the first and second conference topologies have a different number of inter-gateway connections.

Abstract: In one configuration, an enterprise network is provided that includes geographically dislocated first and second network regions 202 and 206, the first and second network regions being in communication with one another through first and second networks 252 and 248 and respectively comprising first and second gateways 220 and 224 and first and second groupings of links connected to the second network 248. A common electronic address is associated with the second grouping of links. In response to a request from a first subscriber to initiate a communication session with a second subscriber in the other network region, a media server 200 determines that the first network 252 is currently incapable of supporting the bearer channel for the session. In response, the first gateway 220 transmits the common electronic address to the second gateway 224.

Abstract: In an integrated voice and multimedia communications system (FIG. 1), an end-user is given explicit control over which audio access mechanism he wishes to use regardless of whether a call is a multimedia or a voice call. The end-user's voice terminal (101) is equipped with a PC-Audio control button (127). When the user originates or receives a call, a multimedia PBX (102) automatically connects audio to the voice terminal's handset (124) regardless of whether the call is a multimedia or a voice call. If the user then presses the PC-Audio button, the PBX transfers audio to the audio subsystem (112-114) of the multimedia terminal (100), an LED (128) associated with the button is lit, and the user may cradle the handset without disconnecting the call. If the handset is subsequently lifted, audio is reconnected to the handset and the LED is extinguished. If the button is pressed while its LED is lit, the call is disconnected.