Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for discovering devices on a local area network. The method comprises sending a DNS request from a host networking element, receiving the DNS request at one or more devices, and responding to the host networking element with one or more DNS responses. The DNS request comprises one or more particular domain names. The one or more DNS responses comprise local network address information for the one or more VoIP devices. The apparatus comprises means for filtering a set of network traffic for a DNS request, means for responding to a DNS request with a local network address, and means for forwarding the DNS request to another device. The system comprises a computer for generating a DNS request for a particular domain, and one or more VoIP devices for receiving the DNS request and sending a DNS response to the computer with a local network address for the VoIP device.

Abstract: A IP telephony service allows customers to form user groups. Each user group can include multiple members, each of whom have their own telephony device. When a member of a user group sends a messages to another member of the user group, the message is posted to a group message board so that all members of the group can view the message. This could include sending information to each of the telephony devices for all members of the group so that each telephony device could display the message on a display screen. The displayed messages could also indicate who sent each message and to whom each message was directed. As a result, each member of the group can view messages passing back and forth between all members of the group.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for discovering devices on a local area network. The method comprises sending a DNS request from a host networking element, receiving the DNS request at one or more devices, and responding to the host networking element with one or more DNS responses. The DNS request comprises one or more particular domain names. The one or more DNS responses comprise local network address information for the one or more VoIP devices. The apparatus comprises means for filtering a set of network traffic for a DNS request, means for responding to a DNS request with a local network address, and means for forwarding the DNS request to another device. The system comprises a computer for generating a DNS request for a particular domain, and one or more VoIP devices for receiving the DNS request and sending a DNS response to the computer with a local network address for the VoIP device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for directing the installation of a VoIP system. The method comprises performing one or more connectivity tests using a VoIP device to determine if the VoIP system is functional, receiving one or more inputs, determining a system status, and providing one or more instructional prompts. The inputs indicate the results of the one or more connectivity tests. The status is determined from the one or more results using the VoIP device. The instructional prompts are displayed in accordance with the determined status. The apparatus comprises means for performing one or more connectivity tests using a VoIP device, means for receiving input indicating one or more results for the one or more connectivity tests, means for determining a status for the VoIP system from the one or more results using the VoIP device, and means for providing instructional prompts for display depending upon the determined system status.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for voice traffic management in a data network includes establishing a default maximum bandwidth setting at a LAN egress port when voice-type traffic is not present in a LAN portion of the data network, detecting voice-type traffic, reducing the bandwidth setting at the LAN egress port to effect a change in a rate of non voice type traffic and monitoring non voice type traffic and voice quality statistics to determine if the rate of non voice type traffic entering the data network has changed. Once the desired change has occurred, performing a linear increase of the bandwidth setting at the LAN egress port to a first value while monitoring voice quality statistics, determining if voice quality has degraded during increase of the bandwidth setting and repeating the last two steps if voice quality has not degraded.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing in a communication network is described. One example of the invention relates to a method of testing in a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) network. At least one test script is obtained from the VOIP network at an enhanced terminal adapter. The enhanced terminal adapter is configured to couple at least one communication device to the VOIP network. The at least one test script is executed within a scripting framework of the enhanced terminal adapter to interact with at least one component coupled to the VOIP network. Results of the execution of the at least one test script are transmitted from the enhanced terminal adapter to the VOIP network.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for information conveyance in an end user device of a packet-based communication service where the end user device is connected to a PSTN-based communication device includes detecting a power up condition of the end user device connected to the PSTN-based communication device, detecting a packet-based network connection, retrieving an end user profile from the packet-based communication service attempting a communication registration operation and displaying one or more non-binary type messages at the end user device regarding the status of the communication service. The apparatus for enhanced information conveyance includes a main body having a local area packet network connection means, a wide area packet network connection means and a non-packet network connection means for connection of a PSTN-based communication device and a display panel body adapted to display information regarding the status of the communication service in a non-binary manner.