Abstract: A system for effecting conference calling in a telecommunication network includes: (a) a plurality of subscriber units coupled with the telecommunication network; and (b) a conference control unit coupled with the telecommunication network. The conference control unit responds to a request message from a requesting subscriber unit to effect coupling of a conference-set of subscriber units in a conference calling configuration. The conference control unit controls inclusion in the conference-set by respective subscriber units. The system may provide that the conference control unit provides and controls conferencing services for the conference-set of subscriber units.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for IMS guest registration for non-IMS users are provided. The method may be performed by receiving a registration request from a non-IMS user for access to an IMS network, the registration request indicating a domain name of a non-IMS system; determining whether the domain name indicated by the registration request matches a wildcard identifier, wherein the wildcard identifier may be indicative of a non-IMS system authorized to access the IMS network; and initiating a guest registration process if the domain name matches the wildcard identifier. The non-IMS user is authenticated in the IMS network via a non-IMS authentication entity.

Abstract: The apparatus and method are fast network SIP/SDP (Session Initiation Protocol/Session Description Protocol) procedures for conference operations upon request from end user with optimization of network resources. The apparatus has an SIP/SDP based network controller that, upon a received request, joins first and second calls into a conference call with at least a third call. The SIP/SDP based network controller is structured to negotiate, allocate and re-configure network resources.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a mobile cellular communication device that employs one or more of a plurality of radio technologies to support one or more communication sessions of a user over one or more of a plurality of radio networks. The plurality of radio technologies comprise a first radio technology and a second radio technology, wherein the first radio technology and the second radio technology comprise respective radio technologies that are not directly compatible. The one or more communication sessions comprise an active communication session of the user, wherein the active communication is associated with the mobile cellular communication device. The plurality of radio networks comprise a first radio network and a second radio network, wherein the first radio network employs the first radio technology, wherein the second radio network employs the second radio technology.

Abstract: One or more application server components serve to associate one or more digit strings with one or more numbers available to one party of one or more parties to a call and to impose one or more charges on the one or more numbers available to the one party to the call. Where the one party to the call employs an equipment that fails to support a P-Asserted-Identity header of the call, one application server component of the one or more application server components serves to: remove from the header of the call one digit string of the one or more digit strings available to the one party; insert into the P-Asserted-Identity header one number of the one or more numbers available to the one party associated with the one digit string; and to impose one charge of the one or more charges on the one number associated with the one digit string.

Abstract: Prepaid accounts are replenished during multimedia sessions using the prepaid accounts without interruption of the multimedia sessions. A prepay server monitors and adjusts prepaid account balances based on usage of communications resources as reported by elements of the communications network (100). If a processor determines that an account balance is low, then a user terminal (102) is notified and a new session is intiated to permit the user to increase the account balance without interrupting the ongoing communications session.

Abstract: In a multimedia communications system (100) that supports conference calls that include an audio portion and a video portion, a primary video image is selected from a plurality of video images based on an amount of audio data generated. The amount of audio data is determined by counting a number of audio packets or by counting an amount of audio samples in audio packets (204). A dominant audio participant is selected if the difference in the amount of audio exceeds a predetermined threshold (206). If the difference in the amount of audio does not exceed the predetermined threshold (206), the dominant audio participant may be determined by comparing the loudness or volume for each audio participant (207 212). The primary video image is selected to correspond to the dominant audio participant (208, 214). The primary video image remains constant for a predetermined period of time before the possibility to change (210, 216).

Abstract: In a multimedia communications system (100), a conference establishment server coordinates the scheduling of a conference call. The server receives request for conference calls (202). The request includes a list of participants and may include an indication of the resources necessary and any rules for the conference call. The request may indicate critical resources or participants that are required for the call. Based on the request, the server determines a conference time and notifies participants of the time (204, 206, 210). Prior to conference time, participants are reminded of the time and automatically connected to the call. The server may check the status of users on the telecommunications network to determine availability. If a critical participant or resource is unavailable at conference time, the conference may be cancelled with notification to the participants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and communication system for sending a data message from a called phone to a calling phone while maintaining an active communication between the called phone and a first phone. The calling phone sends a call request to the called phone while the called phone is involved in an active communication with the first phone. The called phone sends a data message to the calling phone in response to the call request. The data message is sent while maintaining an active call with the first phone, so that the first phone is not placed “on hold”.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a mobile cellular communication device that employs one or more of a plurality of radio technologies to support one or more communication sessions of a user over one or more of a plurality of radio networks. The plurality of radio technologies comprise a first radio technology and a second radio technology, wherein the first radio technology and the second radio technology comprise respective radio technologies that are not directly compatible. The one or more communication sessions comprise an active communication session of the user, wherein the active communication is associated with the mobile cellular communication device. The plurality of radio networks comprise a first radio network and a second radio network, wherein the first radio network employs the first radio technology, wherein the second radio network employs the second radio technology.

Abstract: The apparatus and method are fast network SIP/SDP (Session Initiation Protocol/Session Description Protocol) procedures for conference operations upon request from end user with optimization of network resources. The apparatus has an SIP/SDP based network controller that, upon a received request, joins first and second calls into a conference call with at least a third call. The SIP/SDP based network controller is structured to negotiate, allocate and re-configure network resources.

Abstract: One or more application server components serve to associate one or more digit strings with one or more numbers available to one party of one or more parties to a call and to impose one or more charges on the one or more numbers available to the one party to the call. Where the one party to the call employs an equipment that fails to support a P-Asserted-Identity header of the call, one application server component of the one or more application server components serves to: remove from the header of the call one digit string of the one or more digit strings available to the one party; insert into the P-Asserted-Identity header one number of the one or more numbers available to the one party associated with the one digit string; and to impose one charge of the one or more charges on the one number associated with the one digit string.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and communication system for sending a data response from a called phone to a calling phone in response to a call request from the calling phone. The calling phone sends a call request to the called phone. The call request is a request to establish a communication between the called phone and the calling phone on a call path. If the called phone decides not to answer the call request, the called phone can send a data message to the calling phone. If the calling phone is data-capable, the data message is sent directly to the calling phone. If the calling phone is not data-capable, the data message is sent to a server that converts the data message to a voice message and sends the voice message to the calling phone. The calling phone can send a message back to the called phone in response to the data message sent from the called phone.

Abstract: A system for effecting conference calling in a telecommunication network includes: (a) a plurality of subscriber units coupled with the telecommunication network; and (b) a conference control unit coupled with the telecommunication network. The conference control unit responds to a request message from a requesting subscriber unit to effect coupling of a conference-set of subscriber units in a conference calling configuration. The conference control unit controls inclusion in the conference-set by respective subscriber units. The system may provide that the conference control unit provides and controls conferencing services for the conference-set of subscriber units.

Abstract: In a multimedia communications system (100), a conference establishment server coordinates the scheduling of a conference call. The server receives request for conference calls (202). The request includes a list of participants and may include an indication of the resources necessary and any rules for the conference call. The request may indicate critical resources or participants that are required for the call. Based on the request, the server determines a conference time and notifies participants of the time (204, 206, 210). Prior to conference time, participants are reminded of the time and automatically connected to the call. The server may check the status of users on the telecommunications network to determine availability. If a critical participant or resource is unavailable at conference time, the conference may be cancelled with notification to the participants.

Abstract: In a multimedia communications system (100) that supports conference calls that include an audio portion and a video portion, a primary video image is selected from a plurality of video images based on an amount of audio data generated. The amount of audio data is determined by counting a number of audio packets or by counting an amount of audio samples in audio packets (204). A dominant audio participant is selected if the difference in the amount of audio exceeds a predetermined threshold (206). If the difference in the amount of audio does not exceed the predetermined threshold (206), the dominant audio participant may be determined by comparing the loudness or volume for each audio participant (207 212). The primary video image is selected to correspond to the dominant audio participant (208, 214). The primary video image remains constant for a predetermined period of time before the possibility to change (210, 216).

Abstract: Prepaid accounts are replenished during multimedia sessions using the prepaid accounts without interruption of the multimedia sessions. A prepay server monitors and adjusts prepaid account balances based on usage of communications resources as reported by elements of the communications network (100). If a processor determines that an account balance is low, then a user terminal (102) is notified and a new session is intiated to permit the user to increase the account balance without interrupting the ongoing communications session.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and communication system for sending a data message from a called phone to a calling phone while maintaining an active communication between the called phone and a first phone. The calling phone sends a call request to the called phone while the called phone is involved in an active communication with the first phone. The called phone sends a data message to the calling phone in response to the call request. The data message is sent while maintaining an active call with the first phone, so that the first phone is not placed “on hold”.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and communication system for sending a data response from a called phone to a calling phone in response to a call request from the calling phone. The calling phone sends a call request to the called phone. The call request is a request to establish a communication between the called phone and the calling phone on a call path. If the called phone decides not to answer the call request, the called phone can send a data message to the calling phone. If the calling phone is data-capable, the data message is sent directly to the calling phone. If the calling phone is not data-capable, the data message is sent to a server that converts the data message to a voice message and sends the voice message to the calling phone. The calling phone can send a message back to the called phone in response to the data message sent from the called phone.

Abstract: In a multimedia communications system (100) that provides for two-way interactive calls, multimedia data is provided to callers when interactive calls are placed on hold. When a user places a call over the network (202), a determination is made as to whether or not the destination is available. If the destination is not available, the caller is placed on hold (204). While on hold, the user is invited to accept multimedia data, including, for example, a cartoon, interactive game, information, advertisement or the like (206). If the user accepts the invitation (208), bearer channels are set up to send the multimedia data (212). The user may end the multimedia session if the destination becomes available or may continue the multimedia session during and after the voice call to the destination.