Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided to prevent VoIP spam. The system may store call data that is associated with a call to a phone number made over a Public Switched Telephone Network. Subsequently, the system may accept an Internet Protocol telephony connection in response to verification of a demonstrated knowledge of the call. The demonstrated knowledge of the call may be verified based on the call data.

Abstract: A method for granting access to secure information includes receiving from a caller a call for connection with one of a plurality of agents, distributing the call to the agent of the plurality of agents, initiating an active communication session between the caller and the agent for handling the call, and granting to the agent access to the secure caller information using a plurality of access authentication information that includes an active communication session between the caller and the agent.

Abstract: A method for retrieving data in a data source is provided. The method includes receiving a search term; identifying an active tag associated with the search term; correlating the active tag to dynamic data that is operative to adapt to a mining context in which data is stored; and retrieving the data using the dynamic data.

Abstract: A system for verifying VoIP call routing information. In particular implementations, a method includes verifying one or more Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) call agents for respective destination telephone numbers based on demonstrated knowledge of previous public switched telephone network (PSTN) calls to the respective destination telephone numbers; receiving a call initiation message identifying a destination telephone number; and conditionally initiating a call over a VoIP network to a target VoIP call agent, or over a circuit switched network, based on whether the target VoIP call agent has been verified for the destination telephone number identified in the call initiation message.

Abstract: An authentication agent may cryptographically identify a remote endpoint that sent a media initialization message even though intermediate devices may modify certain fields in the message after a signature is inserted. The originating endpoint's agent may create the signature over some fields of the message using an enterprise network's private key. The agent may insert the signature into the message and send the message to a recipient endpoint's authentication agent. The recipient agent may verify the signature, receive a certificate including a second public key, and challenge the identity of the originating endpoint in order to confirm that identity. This challenge may request a confirmation that the originating endpoint knows the private key corresponding to the second public key and may occur while running encrypted media at the endpoints. After the originating endpoint is authenticated, the endpoints may exchange encrypted and/or unencrypted media.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and techniques for escalating an instant messaging (IM) session between two or more users to an audio session so that a communication device (by one or more users) that will optimize the audio session is selectively and intelligently utilized. In one embodiment, if an IP (Internet Protocol) phone is connected to the computer on which an IM session is being escalated, the IP telephone may be used instead of the computer device's own soft telephone so as to maximize audio clarity and quality. In another embodiment, a user's cell phone may be utilized for a mobile user who is using a laptop that is not coupled to an IP telephone or who is communicating from a hotel room in which a telephone call is typically more expensive than a cell phone call. Numerous embodiments for optimizing such audio sessions are described herein.

Abstract: Techniques are described for the use of a cryptographic token to authorize a firewall to open a pinhole which permits certain network traffic to traverse firewalls. An initiating endpoint requests a token from a call controller, which authorizes a pinhole though the firewall. In response, the call controller may generate a cryptographic authorization token (CAT) sent towards the destination endpoint. The call controller may generate the token based on an authorization ID associated with the call controller, a shared secret known to both the call controller and the firewall, and data specific to the media flow for which authorization is requested.

Abstract: A system may generate from a first value, based on rounding information, a first security key that matches a second security key whenever the first value and a second value from which the second security key is generated differ by less than a non-zero predetermined amount. The second security key may be generated from the second value rounded to a multiple of a rounding interval that is nearest to the second value. The rounding information may include a rounding direction indication. The rounding direction indication may indicate the direction in which the second value is rounded to the multiple of the rounding interval nearest to the second value.

Abstract: A system may protect against Sybil attacks on a peer-to-peer (P2P) network based on each one the nodes in the P2P network being identified by a corresponding certificate. In particular, a node may receive a license key, where the license key is evidence of a purchased product license. The node may transmit a message included in the license key to a certificate authority. The node may receive a certificate from the certificate authority in response to authentication of the message. The node may be identified in the P2P network with a node identifier included in the certificate.

Abstract: A system for verifying VoIP call routing information. In particular implementations, a method includes verifying one or more Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) call agents for respective destination telephone numbers based on demonstrated knowledge of previous public switched telephone network (PSTN) calls to the respective destination telephone numbers; receiving a call initiation message identifying a destination telephone number; and conditionally initiating a call over a VoIP network to a target VoIP call agent, or over a circuit switched network, based on whether the target VoIP call agent has been verified for the destination telephone number identified in the call initiation message.

Abstract: An authentication agent may cryptographically identify a remote endpoint that sent a media initialization message even though intermediate devices may modify certain fields in the message after a signature is inserted. The originating endpoint's agent may create the signature over some fields of the message using an enterprise network's private key. The agent may insert the signature into the message and send the message to a recipient endpoint's authentication agent. The recipient agent may verify the signature, receive a certificate including a second public key, and challenge the identity of the originating endpoint in order to confirm that identity. This challenge may request a confirmation that the originating endpoint knows the private key corresponding to the second public key and may occur while running encrypted media at the endpoints. After the originating endpoint is authenticated, the endpoints may exchange encrypted and/or unencrypted media.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided to restrict VoIP communication. The system may validate a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call initiation message based on demonstrated knowledge of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) call.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus may receive at least one call attribute of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) call initiated to a destination telephone number. The apparatus may verify a destination Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) call agent for the destination telephone number based on demonstrated knowledge of the PSTN call. The apparatus may transmit an indication the destination VoIP call agent is verified for the destination telephone number.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus may verify an identity of a destination Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) call agent for a destination telephone number based on demonstrated knowledge of at least one public switched telephone network (PSTN) call initiated to the destination telephone number. The apparatus may also receive the identity of the destination VoIP call agent based on the demonstrated knowledge of the at least one PSTN call initiated to the destination telephone number.

Abstract: A system for verifying VoIP call routing information. The system may include an apparatus integrated with a private branch exchange (PBX). The apparatus may store at least one call attribute of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) call initiated to a destination telephone number. The apparatus may verify a destination Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) call agent for the destination telephone number based on demonstrated knowledge of the PSTN call. The apparatus may route a new call either over a VoIP network to the destination VoIP call agent or over a circuit switched network based on whether the destination VoIP call agent is verified for the destination telephone number.

Abstract: A system may provide trust relationship information for a telephone number, where the trust relationship information may indicate whether one or more nodes consider a target node as including or as being associated with a VoIP call agent for the telephone number based on demonstrated knowledge of a PSTN call. The system may determine a target trust relationship to the target node based on the trust relationship information, where the target trust relationship indicates a level of trust a validating node has in the target node being associated with or including the VoIP call agent for the telephone number, and where validating node and the one or more nodes may be in different respective administrative domains of a network.

Abstract: A system for verifying caller ID information in received VoIP calls. In particular implementations, a method includes receiving a caller identification (ID) identifying a calling party telephone number in a call initiation message transmitted from a VoIP call agent; determining the identity of the VoIP call agent; verifying that a public switched telephone network (PSTN) call to the calling party telephone number would arrive at a VoIP call agent having the determined identity; and applying, responsive to the call initiation message, one or more rules based at least in part on the verifying step.

Abstract: An authentication agent may cryptographically identify a remote endpoint that sent a media initialization message even though intermediate devices may modify certain fields in the message after a signature is inserted. The originating endpoint's agent may create the signature over some fields of the message using an enterprise network's private key. The agent may insert the signature into the message and send the message to a recipient endpoint's authentication agent. The recipient agent may verify the signature, receive a certificate including a second public key, and challenge the identity of the originating endpoint in order to confirm that identity. This challenge may request a confirmation that the originating endpoint knows the private key corresponding to the second public key and may occur while running encrypted media at the endpoints. After the originating endpoint is authenticated, the endpoints may exchange encrypted and/or unencrypted media.

Abstract: A system for verifying VoIP call routing information. In particular implementations, a method includes verifying one or more Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) call agents for respective destination telephone numbers based on demonstrated knowledge of previous public switched telephone network (PSTN) calls to the respective destination telephone numbers; receiving a call initiation message identifying a destination telephone number; and conditionally initiating a call over a VoIP network to a target VoIP call agent, or over a circuit switched network, based on whether the target VoIP call agent has been verified for the destination telephone number identified in the call initiation message.

Abstract: A technique for displaying information ancillary to an entity's location. A request for information ancillary to the location of a communication unit in a communication network is generated by the communication unit wherein the request contains a location of the communication unit as well as specifies the information ancillary to the communication unit's location that is sought. The request is forwarded to an information server in the communication network which may be a “trusted source” meaning that the communication unit considers the information server a reliable (trustworthy) source of information. The information server receives the request and identifies the requested information using the location information contained in the request. A response (notification) containing the identified information is then generated by the information server and forwarded to the communication unit.