Abstract: A method and apparatus dynamically pair a user's communication devices with a personal survivability gateway. The gateway can support the establishment of communication services in case of a network failure between a site where the user's communication devices are located and the site that provides the user's communication services. Preferably, the survivability gateway is configured so that if a network failure occurs, the user does not experience service degradation, or at least significant service degradation. For instance, the user's inbound and outbound communications during such an outage may be routed through his personal survivability gateway and a survivability proxy to limit, if not eliminate such service degradation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus dynamically pair a user's communication devices with a personal survivability gateway. The gateway can support the establishment of communication services in case of a network failure between a site where the user's communication devices are located and the site that provides the user's communication services. Preferably, the survivability gateway is configured so that if a network failure occurs, the user does not experience service degradation, or at least significant service degradation. For instance, the user's inbound and outbound communications during such an outage may be routed through his personal survivability gateway and a survivability proxy to limit, if not eliminate such service degradation.

Abstract: A telecommunications system, method of managing a telecommunications system and program product therefore. Telecommunications system branches are linked to a network and to each other in a wide area network (WAN). Each branch includes telecommunications devices and a media processor that supports a concurrent port for each local telecommunications device. A controller, e.g., at a data center, selects media processing resources to aggregate system media during conference calls for efficient bandwidth use. The controller may select resources based on user location, Call Admission Control (CAC) policy bandwidth usage, and availability of media resources and media processor ports.

Abstract: A private communications network and method of managing calls in a private communications network. A Session Border Controller (SBC) listens for private network voice communications originating from private communications devices, e.g., Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) devices sending/receiving Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications such as SIP messages. The SBC assigns a unique port to each registering communications device and adds a path header with a single, common SBC port to the SIP register messages. A softswitch responds by adding a route header to identified voice communications. Thereafter, all identified voice communications pass through a single, common SBC port.

Abstract: A data management system with data stored in multiple disparate formats in synchronized stores, method of synchronizing the data and recovering from synchronization failures and program product therefor. Data changes in one data store are cached in a universal format in an active synchronizer and forwarded to a second store from the universal format cache. Standby synchronizers provide failover handling by identifying synchronization failures and self-selecting a replacement synchronizer to serve as the active synchronizer.

Abstract: A method detects an unreachable endpoint in a voice over IP network operating according to standard protocol. The endpoints include a first endpoint as a call originator and a second endpoint as a VoIP destination. The endpoints are connectable via a soft-switch. After each call, a check is performed to determine whether the second endpoint responded to the call. If the second endpoint did not respond to the call, a non-call related message found in the standard protocol is sent from the soft-switch to the second endpoint.

Abstract: A telecommunications system, method of managing a telecommunications system and program product therefore. Telecommunications system branches are linked to a network and to each other in a wide area network (WAN). Each branch includes telecommunications devices and a media processor that supports a concurrent port for each local telecommunications device. A controller, e.g., at a data center, selects media processing resources to aggregate system media during conference calls for efficient bandwidth use. The controller may select resources based on user location, Call Admission Control (CAC) policy bandwidth usage, and availability of media resources and media processor ports.

Abstract: A telecommunications system having a software dispatcher is provided for delivering messages between dispatcher clients, i.e., software subsystems that may be in the same process, a different process, or on a different machine. The dispatcher manages a pool of threads to balance the workload. The dispatcher can process both synchronous and asynchronous messages by dispatching the message to all registered subsystems in order of their registered priority.

Abstract: A private communications network and method of managing calls in a private communications network. A Session Border Controller (SBC) listens for private network voice communications originating from private communications devices, e.g., Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) devices sending/receiving Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications such as SIP messages. The SBC assigns a unique port to each registering communications device and adds a path header with a single, common SBC port to the SIP register messages. A softswitch responds by adding a route header to identified voice communications. Thereafter, all identified voice communications pass through a single, common SBC port.

Abstract: In the event of a non-responsive endpoint, a system can determine network health by querying a network agent located on the same subnet or branch of the network. If a response is received from the network agent, a device failure or absence may be assumed. If no response is received from the network agent, a network failure may be assumed. Statistical reliability may be enhanced by positioning more than one network agent on a subnet.

Abstract: A data management system with data stored in multiple disparate formats in synchronized stores, method of synchronizing the data and recovering from synchronization failures and program product therefor. Data changes in one data store are cached in a universal format in an active synchronizer and forwarded to a second store from the universal format cache. Standby synchronizers provide failover handling by identifying synchronization failures and self-selecting a replacement synchronizer to serve as the active synchronizer.

Abstract: A method to ascertain a network topology, wherein a request message is transmitted from a first network node to at least one second network node connected to the first network node, a second network node enters its associated node number in the network into the request message and forwards the request message to at least one third network node connected to the second network node, the request message is forwarded until all the network nodes arranged in the network and all connecting lines connecting the network nodes have been passed through, the request message is transmitted back to the first network node, and the network topology information, available in the form of the node numbers entered in the request message, is stored.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing Instant Messaging (IM) capability in digital telephone sets is disclosed. The invention allows telephone users to compose and display Instant Messages and to exchange contact lists with other telephone users or users of an Internet-based messaging system. The method of the invention in one embodiment allows digital telephones, with limited keys and display space, to support the full functionality of Instant Messaging. Quick compose and quick reply mechanisms allow sending common messages with minimum keypad button pushes. The invention also allows Computer Supported Telephony Application (CSTA) based messages to interface with the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) messages, thus permitting IM exchanges between digital telephone set users and Window Messenger clients.

Abstract: A method to ascertain a network topology, wherein a request message is transmitted from a first network node to at least one second network node connected to the first network node, a second network node enters its associated node number in the network into the request message and forwards the request message to at least one third network node connected to the second network node, the request message is forwarded until all the network nodes arranged in the network and all connecting lines connecting the network nodes have been passed through, the request message is transmitted back to the first network node, and the network topology information, available in the form of the node numbers entered in the request message, is stored.

Abstract: A method and system for assigning node numbers to network nodes in a network, the network being connected to a central device performing administration of the node numbers available for the network, wherein cases in which a request message is received at the central device, the central device ascertains a free node number from the available node numbers and transmits the ascertained node number to an appropriate network node.

Abstract: A telecommunications system having a software dispatcher is provided for delivering messages between dispatcher clients, i.e., software subsystems that may be in the same process, a different process, or on a different machine. The dispatcher manages a pool of threads to balance the workload. The dispatcher can process both synchronous and asynchronous messages by dispatching the message to all registered subsystems in order of their registered priority.