Abstract: A virtualization capability is adapted support virtualization for an individual or an institution. The virtualization for an individual or an institution may be provided using mappings of real information to virtual information. The virtualization for an individual or an institution may be used to support secure communications by the individual or an institution (e.g., electronic communications, non-electronic communications, or the like). The virtualization for an individual or an institution may include various types of E.164 Number Mapping (ENUM) virtualization, such as user ENUM virtualization, infrastructure ENUM virtualization, private ENUM virtualization, enterprise ENUM virtualization, and the like. The virtualization for an individual or an institution may include virtualization for online transactions in a manner that hides real information associated with the individual or an institution (e.g., name, mailing address, or the like) from the online vendor.

Abstract: A secure communication mechanism is disclosed. The secure communication mechanism may utilize one or more secure communication capabilities to secure communications of various types of users in various types of networks. The secure communication capabilities may include one or more of a user pattern hiding capability (e.g., a user behavior pattern hiding capability, a user communication pattern hiding capability, a user browsing pattern hiding capability, or the like), a gateway hopping capability, or the like, as well as various combinations thereof. The users may include corporate users (e.g., for communications related to corporate matters or for communications related to personal matters), user associated with non-corporate entities, individuals not associated with a corporation or other type of entity (e.g., individual users, groups of users, or the like), or the like.

Abstract: A content tagging and management capability is provided for enabling automatic tagging of content and management of tagged content. An apparatus includes a content capture mechanism configured for capturing content including an object, and a processor configured for automatically associating an information structure with the object included within the content to form thereby tagged content. A method for using a user device for automatically tagging content includes capturing content including an object, receiving object information associated with the object when a sensor associated with the object is detected, and automatically associating an information structure with the object included within the content to form thereby tagged content, where the information structure includes at least a portion of the object information associated with the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing multiple telephone lines using a single directory number. A method and apparatus for associating multiple directory numbers with multiple telephone lines. A broadband residential gateway (BRG) is a user interface to a broadband communication system providing packetized telephone service and other media services. The BRG has multiple ports, and each port is connected to one or more telephones. The multiple ports may be mapped to a single directory number, or the multiple ports may be mapped to multiple directory numbers. The BRG can provide greeting and message features. A greeting may instruct a caller to select a port which is associated with a party the caller is attempting to reach. Also, a message, played after the greeting, may further instruct the caller.

Abstract: In an internet telephony system, toll-free service and the calls that are accepted and paid for can be specified by the IP telephony system user to be limited according to the calling party's identity, time of day, day of week or other criteria. Data that is used to screen or filter incoming calls is programmed into a call manager by the IP telephone system user's broadband residential gateway. Using such a system the user can carefully screen calls that are paid for and more closely control telecommunications service costs. More generally, the user has the ability to store predefined call handling criteria, which may be executed by the broadband residential gateway and/or the call manager.

Abstract: A distributed cloud storage system includes a cloud storage broker logically residing between a client platform and a plurality of remote cloud storage platforms. The cloud storage broker mediates execution of a cloud storage process that involves dividing a data item into multiple portions and allocating the portions to multiple selected cloud storage platforms according to first and second rules defining a key known only to the cloud storage broker or to the client. At some later time when it is desired to retrieve the data item, the key is retrieved from storage and the rules are executed in a reverse fashion to retrieve and reassemble the data item.

Abstract: In an internet telephony system, toll-free service and the calls that are accepted and paid for can be specified by the IP telephony system user to be limited according to the calling party's identity, time of day, day of week or other criteria. Data that is used to screen or filter incoming calls is programmed into a call manager by the IP telephone system user's broadband residential gateway. Using such a system the user can carefully screen calls that are paid for and more closely control telecommunications service costs. More generally, the user has the ability to store predefined call handling criteria, which may be executed by the broadband residential gateway and/or the call manager.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enforcing and improving end-to-end service quality, based on end-to-end service performance characterization of network conditions, for a convergence enabled end-user device during a user session for service. The methods and apparatus provide end-to-end network monitoring by implementing a performance monitoring agent in the end user convergence enabled end-user device, as well as in network elements providing and controlling a session communications path for the convergence enabled end-user device, such as base stations, wireline points of presence, data centers, network operations centers, among other network elements (e.g., nodes and facilities).

Abstract: A method and system for providing call forwarding in an IP telephone network is disclosed. First, when a telephone number for a first telephone from a second telephone is dialed, the call is routing to a call manager. Call setup procedures with a BRG responsible for the first telephone are then initiated. The BRG then checks stored call forwarding profiles to determine whether there is an active call forwarding profile for the first telephone. The call is connected to the first telephone if an active call forwarding profile is not found. However, if an active call forwarding profile is found, the call forwarding information is sent to the call manager. The call is routed to at least a third telephone based on the call forwarding information.

Abstract: A scalable voice signature authentication capability is provided herein. The scalable voice signature authentication capability enables authentication of varied services such as speaker identification (e.g. private banking and access to healthcare account records), voice signature as a password (e.g. secure access for remote services and document retrieval) and the Internet and its various services (e.g.

Abstract: A content tagging and management capability is provided for enabling automatic tagging of content and management of tagged content. A registration capability is provided for enabling creation of a user account and association of information with the user account where the information is adapted for supporting automatic content tagging and management of tagged content. An object information management capability is provided for enabling access to object information which may be used when automatically tagging content. A tagged content access capability is provided for enabling access to an information structure by an end user viewing tagged content. A tagged content ownership management and remuneration capability is provided for enabling management of content ownership for tagged content of end users and for managing associated remuneration which may be provided to end user when tagged content is accessed.

Abstract: A content tagging and management capability is provided for enabling automatic tagging of content and management of tagged content. An apparatus includes a content capture mechanism configured for capturing content including an object, and a processor configured for automatically associating an information structure with the object included within the content to form thereby tagged content. A method for using a user device for automatically tagging content includes capturing content including an object, receiving object information associated with the object when a sensor associated with the object is detected, and automatically associating an information structure with the object included within the content to form thereby tagged content, where the information structure includes at least a portion of the object information associated with the object.

Abstract: A content tagging and management capability is provided for enabling automatic tagging of content and management of tagged content. A method includes receiving content including an object, and automatically associating an information structure with the object included within the content to form thereby tagged content. The content may be received locally at a content capture device, and the information structure may be automatically associated with the object by the content capture device. The automatic tagging may be performed at the content capture device when the content is captured by the content capture device. The content may be received at a computer, and the information structure may be automatically associated with the object by the computer. The information structure may be available locally or retrieved from one or more remote devices.

Abstract: A content tagging and management capability is provided for enabling automatic tagging of content and management of tagged content. A sensor is configured for supporting automatic content tagging of content captured by a content capture device. The sensor may be configured for storing object data associated with an object, where at least a portion of the object data is stored securely, and communicating at least a portion of the object data toward the content capture device contemporaneous with a content capture operation by the content capture device. A sensor scanner is configured for supporting automatic content tagging of content where a sensor is used in conjunction with a content capture device. The sensor scanner may include a processor configured for storing object data associated with an object having a sensor associated therewith, and initiating propagation of the object data toward the sensor for storage by the sensor when permission to interface with the sensor is verified.

Abstract: A method and system for providing call forwarding in an IP telephone network is disclosed. First, when a telephone number for a first telephone from a second telephone is dialed, the call is routing to a call manager. Call setup procedures with a BRG responsible for the first telephone are then initiated. The BRG then checks stored call forwarding profiles to determine whether there is an active call forwarding profile for the first telephone. The call is connected to the first telephone if an active call forwarding profile is not found. However, if an active call forwarding profile is found, the call forwarding information is sent to the call manager. The call is routed to at least a third telephone based on the call forwarding information.

Abstract: Surveillance of IP telephony may be performed through the use of conventional telephone equipment, according to principles of the invention while preventing giving indication to the monitored phone by alerting the user of the monitoring phone to such surveillance use prior to pick up by an agent for engagement of the monitoring phone in response to the alert. Such alerts may assume many forms such as ringing, visual indicators, data readouts, activating ancillary equipment, various flags, etc. This alert prior to surveillance is distinct from alerts used for normal non-surveillance calls, which the monitoring phone is capable of receiving.

Abstract: A method of billing a variable bit rate communication between a first terminal and a distant terminal to a broadband subscriber permits changing billing parameters during a call in real time in response to user inputs including user requested changes in quality of service, changes in data rate and changes in preferred service provider. A variable bit rate communication to be billed has a variable quality of service related to the degree of utilization of a plurality of different networks. The billing method comprises the steps of i.) receiving user identification data at a first terminal and data representing a required bit rate and a default quality of service selected by the user, ii.) verifying the user identification data to be associated with the broadband service subscriber, iii.) determining least cost alternative network resources available for achieving the communication at the user selected default quality of service and the required bit rate, iv.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing multiple telephone lines using a single directory number. A method and apparatus for associating multiple directory numbers with multiple telephone lines. A broadband residential gateway (BRG) is a user interface to a broadband communication system providing packetized telephone service and other media services. The BRG has multiple ports, and each port is connected to one or more telephones. The multiple ports may be mapped to a single directory number, or the multiple ports may be mapped to multiple directory numbers. The BRG can provide greeting and message features. A greeting may instruct a caller to select a port which is associated with a party the caller is attempting to reach. Also, a message, played after the greeting, may further instruct the caller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing multiple telephone lines using a single directory number. A method and apparatus for associating multiple directory numbers with multiple telephone lines. A broadband residential gateway (BRG) is a user interface to a broadband communication system providing packetized telephone service and other media services. The BRG has multiple ports, and each port is connected to one or more telephones. The multiple ports may be mapped to a single directory number, or the multiple ports may be mapped to multiple directory numbers. The BRG can provide greeting and message features. A greeting may instruct a caller to select a port which is associated with a party the caller is attempting to reach. Also, a message, played after the greeting, may further instruct the caller.

Abstract: A method and system for providing call forwarding in an IP telephone network is disclosed. First, when a telephone number for a first telephone from a second telephone is dialed, the call is routing to a call manager. Call setup procedures with a BRG responsible for the first telephone are then initiated. The BRG then checks stored call forwarding profiles to determine whether there is an active call forwarding profile for the first telephone. The call is connected to the first telephone if an active call forwarding profile is not found. However, if an active call forwarding profile is found, the call forwarding information is sent to the call manager. The call is routed to at least a third telephone based on the call forwarding information.