Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing voicemail messages in a multi-user setting is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Call Processing System (CPS) having a processing element that receives a redirected call initiated by a calling party attempting to communicate with at least one among a plurality of users sharing one or more terminal devices associated with a targeted communication identifier, presents the calling party an option to select one or more among the plurality of users, and directs the calling party to a voicemail system for storing a voicemail message in one or more voicemail accounts associated with the one or more users selected. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for enhanced multimedia distribution. The method can include displaying a multimedia selection at a display device coupled to a first receiver of a video distribution system, where the multimedia selection is determined by a user of a second receiver. A multimedia device can include a user interface module to receive a command from a first user to accept a channel selection of a second user. An indication of an attribute of multimedia content associated with a channel selected at a multimedia device can be received from a server having a channel content guide and stored to a database.

Abstract: A system and method of security monitoring is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes determining a channel of a television system associated with video content from a security camera. In a particular embodiment, a method includes sending a first alert to a display device and sending a second alert to a remote control device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a cellular zone is disclosed. A communication link connects a cellular base station and a wireless access point. A typical communication link can be a wire-based communication network, such as the Internet, using IP telephony protocol. The wireless access point communicates with a cell phone over a cellular frequency and thereby establishes the cellular zone. Where the area of the cellular zone and the coverage area of the cellular base station overlap, continuous arbitration is performed to select a communications channel. The strength of a first signal received from the cellular base station is compared to the strength of a second signal received from the wireless access point. Selection criteria include signal strength and a time-oriented criteria to maintain continuity of communication channel.

Abstract: The present invention discusses a method and apparatus for providing customer information, such as a physical address etc., to a call destination, such as a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), over an Internet Protocol (IP) communication link. A mediation layer maintains a table tracking information such as IP address, physical location of the customer, and MAC (Media Access Control) Address. When a call is placed, an IP address is sent to the mediation layer. The mediation layer selects appropriate caller information and routes the information to the network, which routes the information to the PSAP. The mediation layer maintains customer information through a Virtual Central Repository (VCR), and IP addresses through a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server on an ongoing basis. The mediation layer can comprise multiple interconnected mediation layers in cooperation.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a policy server is disclosed that includes a network device interface adapted to communicate with a set of wireless access points via a short range wireless network. Each of the wireless access points has a coverage area. The policy server also includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to determine whether at least one wireless device is located within a boundary area, to apply a first policy when the at least one wireless device is located within the boundary area, and to apply a second policy when the at least one wireless device is located outside of the boundary area. The boundary area covers an area that is different from the coverage area of any one wireless access point.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a third party video content database is coupled to an IPTV network. The IPTV network includes a plurality of set top boxes (STBs). The third party video content database is mapped to the IPTV network via an IP address of the third party content database, and it is associated with an assigned channel on the IPTV network. One or more STBs of the IPTV network have access to the assigned channel.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for distributing advertisement in an internet protocol television (IPTV) system. The method includes accepting at an IPTV server, targeted advertisement data from an advertisement client targeting a segment selected from an IPTV subscriber population based on IPTV subscriber profile data; inserting the targeted advertisement data into video data; sending the video data from the IPTV server to client devices associated with members of the selected segment of the IPTV subscriber population; and reporting to the advertisement client a quantity of members of the targeted segment that received the targeted advertisement data. The system includes an IPTV system processor for performing the method.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to enable a service provider to determine capabilities of a communication carrier. An example method disclosed herein includes transmitting a metric information request to at least one of a layer two open standards interconnect (OSI) device or a layer three OSI device, the at least one layer two or layer three OSI device storing metric information indicative of carrier capabilities, and the example method receives the metric information from the at least one layer two or layer three OSI device.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for inserting advertising and content in an internet protocol (IP) network, the method including accepting a request at an IP travel server associated with a travel zone from a traveling client device in the travel zone to receive home advertising content associated with a home zone and receiving the home advertising content from the home server at the IP travel server associated with the travel zone.

Abstract: Techniques for Internet Protocol (IP) video integration within a home viewing network are provided. Locally acquired IP video content is assigned a channel on a television (TV). The assigned channel is associated with a same source input of the TV that includes other channels that present externally acquired TV programming content. The TV programming content and the local IP video content can both be accessed on a TV over the same source input via references to appropriately assigned channels.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of sharing private content. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a designation of a share location from which private content of a first user of an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system can be obtained. The method also includes receiving identifications of a plurality of other users of the IPTV system. The method also includes notifying a video server to include an indicator of the private content with video content sent to a plurality of set-top box devices, where each of the plurality of other users is associated with one of the plurality of set-top box devices.

Abstract: A client enables filing sharing from within an email application. The client includes a receiver that receives an instruction to share at least one file via an email application. The client also includes a transmission system that transfers the at least one file to a web server. The client further includes an email application component that embeds a link to a handle into an email to be sent, the handle identifying the file(s) on the web server.

Abstract: An impedance imbalance connector is provided. The connector comprises a first port connectable to a first section of coaxial cable, the first port having a first impedance and the first port further to receive digital packet-based data from a first device. The connector further comprises a second port connectable to a second section of coaxial cable, the second port having a second impedance which differs from the first impedance so as operationally to create an impedance imbalance between the second port and the second section of the coaxial cable.

Abstract: Methods and tools to mount a cable connector to a coaxial cable are disclosed. An illustrated example tool includes an opening to enable viewing into a cable connector mounted on the tool to determine the position of an inner dielectric insulator of the coaxial cable relative to the connector without removing the connector from the tool.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing integrity of a wired communication link includes receiving a plurality of signals, sent by at least one transmitter over the wired communications link, at corresponding multiple receivers. The signals have corresponding frequencies within a frequency range of the wired communication link, such that the frequencies are representative of the frequency range. A signal loss corresponding to each of the frequencies is measured, and an indication of whether each measured signal loss is within an acceptable range is provided. The wired communication link may be a coaxial cable.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of delivering calls. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a call at a server within an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system, where the call is directed to a user premise. The method also includes determining a presence of a user at a set-top box device at the user premise and determining a speed select function associated with the user. The method also includes selectively delivering the call to a communication device in proximity to the set-top box device via a private access network of the IPTV system, based on the speed select function.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a system including a set of short-range wireless access points and a policy server. The set of short-range wireless access points are configured to provide a short-range wireless network having a coverage area and are configured to communicate with a wireless enabled device within the coverage area. The policy server is communicatively coupled with the set of short-range wireless access points and is configured to determine whether the wireless enabled device is located within a designated region within the coverage area based on data received from the set of short-range wireless access points.

Abstract: External notification methods and apparatus for cellular communications are disclosed. An example external notification apparatus disclosed herein comprises a first interface to receive an incoming call notification in a first format from a cellular device, a second interface to route the incoming call notification in a second format to a multimedia device and receive configuration information from the multimedia device, and a configuration unit to process the configuration information received from the multimedia device.

Abstract: A computerized system and method for distributing video conference data over an internet protocol television (IPTV) system are disclosed including structures and methods for allocating an IPTV video conference channel to groups of video conference participants' set top boxes (STBs), accessing STB data at the server indicating a group of video conference participants' STBs in the groups of video conference participants' STBs, the group of STBs being associated with one video conference data, mapping at the server, the video conference channel to the group of video conference participants' STBs and to one IP address for the one of the video conferences data, and delivering from the server over the video conference channel from a first one of the of IP addresses, the first one of the video conferences data to the first group of video conference participants' STBs.