Abstract: A method and apparatus for encrypting communications between two radio frequency (RF) transceivers selects a level of encryption based on device characteristics of the two RF transceivers. Each RF transceiver generates a common sequence having an integer, M, symbols based on the selected encryption level and on signals received from the other RF transceiver. Each RF transceiver then generates a cryptographic key based upon the common sequence, encrypts a message using the cryptographic key, and sends the encrypted message to the other RF transceiver. In one embodiment, the M symbols are selected from an alphabet where the value M and the size of the alphabet are selected based on the device characteristics of the two RF transceivers.

Abstract: One or more data centers are selected to host an online conference. The selection of the data center is based on a set of metrics that are measured from ‘synthetic’ transactions. These synthetic transactions are sent between candidate data centers and the participants in the conference call in order to measure one or more performance metrics (e.g., link quality metrics such as delay, packet loss, etc.) These measured performance metrics are used to determine a centroid that represents the geometric center or ‘center of mass,’ of the link quality between participants and data centers. This ‘link quality centroid’ is used to select a subset of data centers as candidate data centers. The candidate data center with the best average performance metric(s) is selected as the data center to host the conference.

Abstract: In a device including a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory includes executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the device to perform functions of monitoring a plurality of communication sessions among a plurality of endpoint devices in a network telephony platform; collecting characteristics of the endpoint devices; tracking metrics associated with the endpoint devices with respect to the communication sessions; and generating a map representing the characteristics and metrics associated with the endpoints, wherein the map represents the characteristics of the endpoint devices as relative spatial relationships among the endpoint devices.

Abstract: Online content is served to participant devices using two or more systems. The content served by each system is not the same. Rather, the content streams coming from each system is a partial or lower-quality version of the original high-quality version of the content stream. A single one of the partial data streams can be used by the participant device to output a lower-quality version of the original content stream to the user. Alternately, the received partial content streams can be combined to output, to the user, a high-quality version of the original content stream.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for selecting a host facility for a communications session for a group of devices. In one aspect, a method includes partitioning the devices into multiple clusters. Each cluster is associated with a respective host facility that is estimated to provide each device in the respective cluster a specified quality requirement during the communication session. The method also includes accessing a weighting value for each cluster of the different clusters based on one or more attributes of the devices in each respective cluster of the different clusters, and selecting a group host facility, from the host facilities associated with the clusters based on the weighting value of each respective cluster and a predefined criterion, the group host facility to host the communication session for the devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encrypting communications between two radio frequency (RF) transceivers selects a level of encryption based on device characteristics of the two RF transceivers. Each RF transceiver generates a common sequence having an integer, M, symbols based on the selected encryption level and on signals received from the other RF transceiver. Each RF transceiver then generates a cryptographic key based upon the common sequence, encrypts a message using the cryptographic key, and sends the encrypted message to the other RF transceiver. In one embodiment, the M symbols are selected from an alphabet where the value M and the size of the alphabet are selected based on the device characteristics of the two RF transceivers.

Abstract: Techniques for enhanced error protection for high priority communication sessions are described. Generally, the described techniques enhance error protection for high priority communication sessions, such as emergency calling, such that the high priority communication sessions are essentially error free. According to various implementations, user input to initiate a communication session over a network is received at a communication application. In response to detecting that the communication session corresponds to a high priority communication session, error protection for data of the high priority communication session is enhanced. The data may be enhanced in a variety of different ways, such as by performing forward error correction on the data. The enhanced data of the high priority communication session is then communicated over the network to an endpoint.

Abstract: An initial data center can be selected to host a communication session between multiple participants. This data center can be initially selected based, at least in part, on a first set of effective distances (e.g., representing distances between the initial data center and the first group of participants modified by effective distance factors). For example, the data center closest to the centroid can be selected. The effective distance factor (or weighting) can be based on one or more of the participant's device/driver type, the participant's network type, the participant's connection type, and a participant weighting factor. Then, as the multiple participants on the conference session change or the effective distances change (e.g., based on a change in connectivity), a second data center can be selected to host the communication session.

Abstract: One or more data centers are selected to host an online conference. The selection of the data center is based on a set of metrics that are measured from ‘synthetic’ transactions. These synthetic transactions are sent between candidate data centers and the participants in the conference call in order to measure one or more performance metrics (e.g., link quality metrics such as delay, packet loss, etc.) These measured performance metrics are used to determine a centroid that represents the geometric center or ‘center of mass,’ of the link quality between participants and data centers. This ‘link quality centroid’ is used to select a subset of data centers as candidate data centers. The candidate data center with the best average performance metric(s) is selected as the data center to host the conference.

Abstract: An initial data center can be selected to host a communication session between multiple participants. This data center can be initially selected based, at least in part, on a first set of effective distances (e.g., representing distances between the initial data center and the first group of participants modified by effective distance factors). For example, the data center closest to the centroid can be selected. The effective distance factor (or weighting) can be based on one or more of the participant's device/driver type, the participant's network type, the participant's connection type, and a participant weighting factor. Then, as the multiple participants on the conference session change or the effective distances change (e.g., based on a change in connectivity), a second data center can be selected to host the communication session.

Abstract: One or more data centers are selected to host an online conference. The selection of the data center is based on a set of metrics that are measured from ‘synthetic’ transactions. These synthetic transactions are sent between candidate data centers and the participants in the conference call in order to measure one or more performance metrics (e.g., link quality metrics such as delay, packet loss, etc.) These measured performance metrics are used to determine a centroid that represents the geometric center or ‘center of mass,’ of the link quality between participants and data centers. This ‘link quality centroid’ is used to select a subset of data centers as candidate data centers. The candidate data center with the best average performance metric(s) is selected as the data center to host the conference.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for selecting a host facility for a communications session for a group of devices. In one aspect, a method includes partitioning the devices into multiple clusters. Each cluster is associated with a respective host facility that is estimated to provide each device in the respective cluster a specified quality requirement during the communication session. The method also includes accessing a weighting value for each cluster of the different clusters based on one or more attributes of the devices in each respective cluster of the different clusters, and selecting a group host facility, from the host facilities associated with the clusters based on the weighting value of each respective cluster and a predefined criterion, the group host facility to host the communication session for the devices.

Abstract: System and techniques for sound-based call-quality detector are described herein. An audio sample can be received via a hardware interface from an on-going communication. The audio sample can be processed to produce a transcript. The transcript can be compared to a call-quality dataset to produce a call-quality degradation indication. Here, the call quality dataset includes indicia of communication quality. Network maintenance can then be performed in response to the call-quality degradation indication. The network maintenance can include adjusting a network device setting.

Abstract: Online content is served to participant devices using two or more systems. The content served by each system is not the same. Rather, the content streams coming from each system is a partial or lower-quality version of the original high-quality version of the content stream. A single one of the partial data streams can be used by the participant device to output a lower-quality version of the original content stream to the user. Alternately, the received partial content streams can be combined to output, to the user, a high-quality version of the original content stream.

Abstract: Techniques for enhanced error protection for high priority communication sessions are described. Generally, the described techniques enhance error protection for high priority communication sessions, such as emergency calling, such that the high priority communication sessions are essentially error free. According to various implementations, user input to initiate a communication session over a network is received at a communication application. In response to detecting that the communication session corresponds to a high priority communication session, error protection for data of the high priority communication session is enhanced. The data may be enhanced in a variety of different ways, such as by performing forward error correction on the data. The enhanced data of the high priority communication session is then communicated over the network to an endpoint.

Abstract: An initial data center can be selected to host a communication session between multiple participants. This data center can be initially selected based, at least in part, on a first set of effective distances (e.g., representing distances between the initial data center and the first group of participants modified by effective distance factors). For example, the data center closest to the centroid can be selected. The effective distance factor (or weighting) can be based on one or more of the participant's device/driver type, the participant's network type, the participant's connection type, and a participant weighting factor. Then, as the multiple participants on the conference session change or the effective distances change (e.g., based on a change in connectivity), a second data center can be selected to host the communication session.

Abstract: Techniques for host facility assignment for a conferencing session are described. Generally, a conferencing session refers to an exchange of communication media between communication endpoints. Accordingly to various embodiments, multiple different host facilities are available for hosting a conferencing session. Further to techniques described herein, a host facility from the different available host facilities is selected to perform hosting duties for the conferencing session. In at least some implementations, a host facility that is estimated to provide a highest session quality for the conferencing session is selected to host the conferencing session.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software are disclosed herein to operate a calendar service to optimize infrastructure support for online meetings scheduled in the calendar service. In an implementation, the calendar service identifies an upcoming meeting from the meetings scheduled in the calendar service. The calendar service further identifies an infrastructure optimization to apply to the upcoming meeting. The calendar service requests an infrastructure management service to apply the infrastructure optimization to a resource during the upcoming meeting.

Abstract: Examples discussed herein relate to a system including a first data processing system and a second data processing system. The first data processing system can be configured to receive a first partial media stream of a media stream split into at least the first partial media stream and a second partial media stream and send the first partial media stream to a device. The second data processing system can be configured to receive the second partial media stream and send the second partial media stream to the device.

Abstract: Techniques for call handling between a cellular network and a communication service are described. In at least some embodiments, a call refers to a real-time exchange of communication media between different communication endpoints. According to one or more embodiments, techniques described herein determine whether to route a call over a cellular network or to transfer (e.g., hand over) the call from the cellular network to a communication service. This determination can be made based on various policies that consider different call-related criteria.