Abstract: The invention includes a method for predicting a scheduled downtime associated with a system. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a system model associated with the system according to a system type of the system, determining at least one scheduled system downtime event type associated with the system using the system model, selecting at least one scheduled system downtime event model according to the at least one scheduled system downtime event type, and predicting the scheduled system downtime using the at least one scheduled system downtime event model.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for assessing an available version of a sourced element. The method includes obtaining a description of an available version of the sourced element, identifying a plurality of evaluation items for the sourced element by evaluating the description using at least one evaluation category including a plurality of evaluation parameters, and determining an overall assessment of the available version of the sourced element using the identified evaluation items for the sourced element. The overall assessment is indicative of a value associated with the available version of the sourced element. The method may further include generating overall assessments of other available versions of a sourced element or generating overall assessments of available versions of other sourced elements, and prioritizing the available versions of the sourced elements using the overall assessments of the available versions of the sourced elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus adapted to determine when an end of service life (EOSL) condition exists with respect to a unit under investigation (UUI) is provided. In one embodiment, for example, a method includes receiving data associated with a UUI. determining that the UUI has reached an EOSL condition in response to data indicative of an increasing rate of non-random failures, and invoking an EOSL process in response to the existence of an EOSL condition. The UUI may be any unit under investigation, such as a mechanical, electromechanical, or electrical component, sub-system, or system within, for example, a network.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for assessing an available version of a sourced element. The method includes obtaining a description of an available version of the sourced element, identifying a plurality of evaluation items for the sourced element by evaluating the description using at least one evaluation category including a plurality of evaluation parameters, and determining an overall assessment of the available version of the sourced element using the identified evaluation items for the sourced element. The overall assessment is indicative of a value associated with the available version of the sourced element. The method may further include generating overall assessments of other available versions of a sourced element or generating overall assessments of available versions of other sourced elements, and prioritizing the available versions of the sourced elements using the overall assessments of the available versions of the sourced elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for congestion management in a multi-branch Internet Protocol-based private branch exchange switch. The multi-branch Internet Protocol-based private branch exchange switch is interconnected through (i) a packet network referred to as the primary network, such as a wide area network, and (ii) an alternate network, such as the public switched telephone network. Packet phone adapters associated with each packet telephone unit monitor packet telephone calls and report delay information to communication servers. The communication server can reroute the packet telephony calls through the secondary network upon detection of congestion in the underlying primary network, thereby preserving voice quality. The packet phone adapter will discard records collected from calls whose duration is below a minimum value, to ensure reliable congestion information. Each communication server records reported voice quality of service information in a congestion control database.

Abstract: A network monitoring agent is disclosed that monitors network conditions, such as traffic volume, and determines when to dynamically adjust the encoding scheme for one or more connections. The network monitoring agent can select an encoding standard based on, for example, current network traffic volume, network error characteristics, time of day or day of week. In the illustrative network traffic implementation, an encoding standard that provides a lower degree of compression and a higher quality level is selected at times of lighter network traffic. Likewise, as network traffic increases, an encoding standard that provides a higher degree of compression, although at a lower quality level, is selected in order to maximize the network utilization. The network monitoring agent notifies one or both of the devices associated with each connection of changes in the encoding scheme. Generally, both devices must change the compression algorithm at the same time, to ensure proper decoding of received packets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for notifying a far-end calling party when a near-end calling party utilizes a hold or mute feature. The present invention reduces bandwidth utilization by suppressing the transmission of packets during periods of extended silence. Each packet telephony device includes a packet suppression system that monitors local terminal activity and notifies the far-end party that the near-end device is discarding the “listen” stream. In addition, the disclosed packet suppression system monitors the incoming packets and processes such notifications from the far-end party that the far-end device is discarding the “listen” stream. In response, the packet suppression system can suppress the transmission of further packets and optionally activate a music-on-hold feature for the held party.

Abstract: A media exchange monitor is disclosed that selectively (i) introduces a mixer into a two-party call when the two-party call becomes a conference call (ad-hoc conference), and (ii) removes the mixer when one or more conference call participants drop out, leaving only two participants behind. When a party to a two-party call requests to convert the call into a conference call, the packet telephony system responds to the conference call request by connecting a mixer to service the conference call between the parties. When parties drops out of a conference call, leaving only two parties behind, the mixer is removed from the conference call. In one implementation, the mixer is removed from the conference call only if the two remaining parties can exchange media directly. When the media connection among the parties must be changed to introduce or remove the mixer, the media exchange monitor achieves the desired connectivity by initially querying the parties for their capabilities.

Abstract: A network monitoring agent is disclosed that monitors network conditions, such as traffic volume, and determines when to dynamically adjust the encoding scheme for one or more connections. The network monitoring agent can select an encoding standard based on, for example, current network traffic volume, network error characteristics, time of day or day of week. In the illustrative network traffic implementation, an encoding standard that provides a lower degree of compression and a higher quality level is selected at times of lighter network traffic. Likewise, as network traffic increases, an encoding standard that provides a higher degree of compression, although at a lower quality level, is selected in order to maximize the network utilization. The network monitoring agent notifies one or both of the devices associated with each connection of changes in the encoding scheme. Generally, both devices must change the compression algorithm at the same time, to ensure proper decoding of received packets.

Abstract: A method for authorizing the allocation of a resource of a computing system to a user on a network-wide basis using network-wide quotas. When a resource consumption request is received by an authority, a network-wide maximum-use quota amount of the resource that is associated with the user is compared to a network-wide resource amount that is in-use by the user. The requested amount of the resource is allocated on a network-wide basis based on when the requested amount of the resource and the network-wide resource amount in-use by the user together do not exceed the network-wide maximum-use quota amount of the resource associated with the user.