Abstract: System(s) and method(s) are provided for regulating interaction amongst an application layer and a control layer in a packet-based core network. A data structure is provisioned in a centralized repository; the data structure includes (i) at least one procedure for regulating interaction amongst a session control component within the control layer and application server within the application layer, and (ii) an identification (ID) field attribute that uniquely identifies the data structure. To regulate such interaction, the session control component acquires a set of provisioned data structures; acquisition is automatic and can be dictated, in part, by generation of a data structure, or modification of an existing data structure or an ID field attribute. Based at least on an ID field attribute retained in a subscriber service profile, the session control component references a data structure identified by the ID field attribute and implements one or more procedures retained in such data structure.

Abstract: System(s) and method(s) are provided for prioritizing protocol messages received at a server. A client generates a request message and incorporates a data unit therein in order to indicate type of service application that triggered generation of the request message. The client conveys the request message to a server configured to respond to the request message. To supply data in response to the message request, the server prioritizes the request message based at least on the data unit that conveys the type of service application. The server can assign a set of request messages to a group of scheduling queues based at least on ranking of the type of service associated with at least one request message in the set of request messages. Based on performance conditions, the server also can reject one or more request messages according to the ranking.

Abstract: A system and methodology that facilitates improving performance of a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) during overload conditions, by embedding a unique Application Session Identifier (app session ID) within multiple requests associated with a single call processing session is provided. Moreover, the system includes an overload protection component that identifies whether an incoming request is associated with previously processed requests based in part of the app session ID embedded within the incoming request. When the HSS is overloaded, the incoming requests that initiate a new call processing session and are not associated with previously processed requests are rejected/dropped before incoming requests that are associated with requests that have been previously processed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing an overload condition in a network are disclosed. For example, the method monitors the network for a traffic overload condition, and determines whether a more severe traffic overload condition or a less severe traffic overload condition is detected by using a network monitor and controller. The method then selects using a network monitor and controller agent in response to a command from the network monitor and controller, a different bandwidth preservation scheme if the more severe traffic overload condition or the less severe traffic overload condition is detected, wherein the different bandwidth preservation scheme is based on a selection of a codec type and is applied to a portion of the traffic.

Abstract: In general, a method includes determining metric values associated with data quality for one or more child nodes. Metric values are determined for a parent node based on the metric values of at least some of the child nodes, and relationships between one or more parent nodes and one or more child nodes define a hierarchy. The determination of the metric value for the parent node is repeated for multiple instances.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for optimization of media flows within a provider network. The provider network comprises a plurality of sites, each site having one or more media servers capable of supporting a media session with a user endpoint device. The provider network further includes a media server director (MSD) that receives registration information identifying one or more user endpoint devices that have registered with a particular site. Using this registration information, as well as predetermined preference policies, the MSD prepares a preference order for the media servers of the provider network for user endpoint devices associated with the site. When an application server signals an intent to establish a media session with a user endpoint device of the site, the MSD selects a media server based on the preference order and provides an indicator of the selected media server.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may utilize, for example, a method involving receiving from a first communication device a service request while providing back-up services to an out-of-service network element, detecting a deficiency in call state information to process the service request, transmitting to the first communication device an error message that prevents termination of an active Internet Protocol (IP) communication path between the first communication device and a second communication device, and receiving from the first communication device a request for an alternate IP communication path for communicating between the first and second communication devices which resolves the deficiency in call state information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for growing a next generation network (NGN) using a modular design are disclosed. For example, the method defines a growth core module to support a specific number of subscribers, wherein the growth core module is assigned a module identifier (ID). The method upgrades existing network entities that will be impacted by an installation of the growth core module in the existing IMS network, and installs the growth core module in the IMS network.

Abstract: A method, a system and a computer readable medium for routing packets across disparate networks are disclosed. For example, the method receives, via a media gateway controller (MGC), an external request from an external requestor for a reservation of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) trunk on a media gateway (MGW) for a communication session between a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network and a PSTN network, sends, via the MGC, a H.248 request to the MGW to make the reservation, establishes via the MGW, a communication path and sending a message to the MGC, retrieves, via the MGC, an assigned Internet protocol (IP) address and IP port on the MGW from the message from the MGW, sends, via the MGC, an allocation request to a media terminating session border controller (SBC) and allocates, via the media terminating SBC, a public IP address and a public IP port from an available pool of IP addresses and IP ports at the media terminating SBC.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for reporting an availability status of resources associated with a server in a network in a network are described. According to one aspect, a computer-implemented method of reporting an availability status of resources associated with a server in a network includes determining the availability status of resources associated with the server. The availability status of resources is then inserted into a resource availability status header of a message. The message including the availability status of resources associated with the server is then sent.

Abstract: A method and a system for creating or updating a plurality of user profiles in an IMS network are disclosed. For example, the method generates a service profile, wherein the service profile comprises a new service profile or an updated service profile having a service profile type identifier. The method sends, via an update message, the service profile to at least one network element that is used to support at least one service defined by the service profile for updating a plurality of user profiles maintained by the at least one network element.

Abstract: According to one method for preserving stable calls during failover, during a dialog between two user endpoints, a determination is made whether a standby call processor has become operational, such as when a corresponding primary call processor is in fault. Responsive to determining that the standby call processor has become operational, a signaling protocol message is received from a requester. A determination is made whether the message includes an in-dialog signaling protocol request. Responsive to determining that the message includes the in-dialog request, a determination is made whether a call state associated with the dialog is found in memory. Responsive to determining that the call state associated with the dialog is not found in memory, a non-call terminating error response is made responding to the in-dialog request. The non-call terminating error response may cause the requester to terminate the in-dialog request but not terminate the dialog.

Abstract: According to one method for preserving stable calls during failover, during a dialog between two user endpoints, a determination is made whether a standby call processor has become operational, such as when a corresponding primary call processor is in fault. Responsive to determining that the standby call processor has become operational, a signaling protocol message is received from a requester. A determination is made whether the message includes an in-dialog signaling protocol request. Responsive to determining that the message includes the in-dialog request, a determination is made whether a call state associated with the dialog is found in memory. Responsive to determining that the call state associated with the dialog is not found in memory, a non-call terminating error response is made responding to the in-dialog request. The non-call terminating error response may cause the requester to terminate the in-dialog request but not terminate the dialog.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller adapted to determine at least one network element to be designated as being in a probation mode where the network element is operably coupled to an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network and is adapted to utilize Session Initiation Protocol, and determine communication devices to be designated as testing devices where the communication devices are user end point devices, wherein use of the network element for communication between user end points over the IMS network is limited to the testing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network element operably couplable to an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem network where the network element has a controller to receive an SIP request associated with a call, determine whether the SIP request comprises an identifier associated with an Emergency Call Session Control Function (E-CSCF) where the identifier was added to the SIP request by the E-CSCF, and provide the call to an emergency network when the identifier is associated with the E-CSCF. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for optimization of media flows within a provider network. The provider network comprises a plurality of sites, each site having one or more media servers capable of supporting a media session with a user endpoint device. The provider network further includes a media server director (MSD) that receives registration information identifying one or more user endpoint devices that have registered with a particular site. Using this registration information, as well as predetermined preference policies, the MSD prepares a preference order for the media servers of the provider network for user endpoint devices associated with the site. When an application server signals an intent to establish a media session with a user endpoint device of the site, the MSD selects a media server based on the preference order and provides an indicator of the selected media server.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing a session request in a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives the session request by a Serving-Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF), and sends a query to a tElephone NUmbering Mapping (ENUM) server for the session request. The method determines if a response is received to the query to the ENUM server, and inserts an indication of a component failure in a header of the session request if the response is not received from the ENUM server, wherein the indication of the component failure indicates a non-responsive ENUM server.

Abstract: According to one method for preserving stable calls during failover, during a dialog between two user endpoints, a determination is made whether a standby call processor has become operational, such as when a corresponding primary call processor is in fault. Responsive to determining that the standby call processor has become operational, a signaling protocol message is received from a requester. A determination is made whether the message includes an in-dialog signaling protocol request. Responsive to determining that the message includes the in-dialog request, a determination is made whether a call state associated with the dialog is found in memory. Responsive to determining that the call state associated with the dialog is not found in memory, a non-call terminating error response is made responding to the in-dialog request. The non-call terminating error response may cause the requester to terminate the in-dialog request but not terminate the dialog.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for ensuring data integrity during data synchronization are provided. According to one method, a number of originating requests from a plurality of user endpoints are monitored across a network. A determination is made whether the number of originating requests is below a first threshold. Responsive to determining that the number of originating requests is below the first threshold, probe messages are transmitted to at least a portion of the plurality of user endpoints across the network. A number of the user endpoints that return probe replies in response to the probe messages are monitored. A determination is made whether the number of the user endpoints is below a second threshold. Responsive to determining that the number of the user endpoints is below the second threshold, a report is made to a database that the network is unavailable, thereby causing the database to stop updating time stamps.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a call volume for an office that serves as a protecting site for another office in a packet network are disclosed. For example, the method collects one or more customer registration counts from one or more session border controllers located in a first office, determines if the one or more customer registration counts have reached or exceeded a threshold. The method directs all of said one or more session border controllers located in said first office to enact one or more throttling rules if the one or more customer registration counts have reached or exceeded the threshold.