Abstract: A telephony communication setup request sent from a telephony device to an element of an IP telephony system includes a first encrypted code that is generated using one or more data items that are specific to the telephony device. The element of the IP telephony system receiving the setup request obtains the same data items locally and creates a second encrypted code. If the second code matches the first encrypted code, the telephony device and/or the setup request are authenticated, and the element of the IP telephony system proceeds to setup the requested telephony communication.

Abstract: A telephony communication setup request sent from a telephony device to an element of an IP telephony system includes a first encrypted code that is generated using one or more data items that are specific to the telephony device. The element of the IP telephony system receiving the setup request obtains the same data items locally and creates a second encrypted code. If the second code matches the first encrypted code, the telephony device and/or the setup request are authenticated, and the element of the IP telephony system proceeds to setup the requested telephony communication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing objects. In one embodiment, the method comprises computing a modulus operand based on a number of objects to be distributed and a number of objects pertaining to a first category; computing a modulus operation based on a number of distributed objects and the modulus operand; and distributing a first object or a second object based on a result of computing the modulus operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing objects. In one embodiment, the method comprises computing a modulus operand based on a number of objects to be distributed and a number of objects pertaining to a first category; computing a modulus operation based on a number of distributed objects and the modulus operand; and distributing a first object or a second object based on a result of computing the modulus operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing data using an N-leg search tree including determining a tree identifier using a computer, traversing an N-leg search tree associated with the tree identifier, and accessing a data structure. The N-leg search tree is stored on a computer and traversed to a given node within the tree. The accessed data structure is associated with a deepest valid traversed node. The given node corresponds to a given element of a structured identifier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accessing data using an N-leg search tree. The method comprises determining a tree identifier using a computer, traversing an N-leg search tree associated with the tree identifier, and accessing a data structure. The N-leg search tree is stored on a computer and traversed to a given node within the tree. The accessed data structure is associated with a deepest valid traversed node. The given node corresponds to a given element of a structured identifier. The apparatus comprises means for determining a tree identifier, one or more N-leg search trees for storing a given set of data and means for traversing the N-leg search tree.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for fulfilling information requests (such as information retrieval or consolidation and name address translation) that adapts to a highly scalable server and/or network architecture. Used for determining the location of a server and/or services based on an account number, a phone number, a service identifier or any other identifier or a combination of such identifiers. The services could be voice mail, email, speech to text, conference calling, video and/or some other type of customer based feature service such as sending commands to customer specified devices located on their LAN/WAN or some other accessible LAN/WAN. Use of a directory name server (DNS) or any other address translation service (e.g., a DB service) is not required. The name translation is done autonomously within a process by a modulus operation of identifiers and network components associated with the information request.

Abstract: Ordinary alarm conditions are escalated into a critical alarm condition by first accumulating the ordinary alarm conditions. Upon each ordinary alarm condition, a number of previously accumulated alarm conditions are deleted in accordance with the elapsed time since the last alarm condition. When the number of accumulated alarm conditions (less those deleted) exceeds a threshold, a critical alarm condition is then generated.