Abstract: An approach is provided for enabling advertisers to correlate a communication session with an amount of consumption of the advertisement by a viewer. A correlation platform tracks an amount of consumption of an advertisement presented via a set-top box associated with a user. The amount of consumption of the advertisement is then correlated to a communication session initiated by the user in response to the presentation of the advertisement.

Abstract: A network device receives a message that identifies a relationship between a first user device and a second user device, the relationship permitting status information of the first user device to be sent to the second user device when the first user device is communicating with a third user device. The network device receives the status information relating to a communication involving the first user device. The network device determines to send the status information to the second user device, based on the information identifying the relationship stored by the network device; and the network device sends the status information for presentation on the second user device.

Abstract: An approach is provided for network quality assurance. The approach includes identifying a node in a calling path associated with a call between a calling party and a called party. The approach also includes querying call record information associated with the call from the node. The approach further includes analyzing the call record information to determine a successful state or a failure state of the call. The approach further includes recursively querying and analyzing other call record information associated with the call from one or more subsequent nodes based on the successful state, the failure state, or a combination thereof determined for the node, the one or more subsequent nodes, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A system for and method of for detecting a non-functional battery back-up unit (BBU) of an optical network terminal is presented. The system and method may include receiving power outage data associated with a plurality of customer sites, receiving, from each of the plurality of customer sites, discharge time data associated with a battery via a network, calculating a mean discharge time based on the discharge time data, comparing the discharge time data associated with each battery to the mean discharge time, determining that each battery that is associated with discharge time data that indicates a discharge time value that is less than the mean discharge time is faulty, and outputting a data signal that indicates that a battery is faulty.

Abstract: An approach is provided for network quality assurance. The approach includes identifying a node in a calling path associated with a call between a calling party and a called party. The approach also includes querying call record information associated with the call from the node. The approach further includes analyzing the call record information to determine a successful state or a failure state of the call. The approach further includes recursively querying and analyzing other call record information associated with the call from one or more subsequent nodes based on the successful state, the failure state, or a combination thereof determined for the node, the one or more subsequent nodes, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An approach for configuring a mobile device to enable accident detection and notification functionality for use within a vehicle is described. An emergency notification platform receives position information and acceleration information associated with a mobile device. The emergency notification platform applies a rule to the position information and the acceleration information to determine an alert condition. A notification message is then generated for presentation on the mobile device based on the application of the rule, wherein the notification message specifies information relating to the alert condition.

Abstract: Group based multicast streaming systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a group based multicast streaming system defines a media multicast streaming event, determines that a group of users satisfies a minimum participation level associated with the media multicast streaming event, and executes, based on the determined satisfaction of the minimum participation level by the group of users, the media multicast streaming event by multicast streaming a media program to the group of users during a timeslot, and provides an incentive to the group of users for participation in the multicast streaming of the media program during the timeslot. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by at least one processor, the instructions to cause the at least one processor to bill a subscriber, enrolled in a multi-tiered pricing plan, a plan fee associated with the multi-tiered pricing plan, for each billing cycle of a plurality of billing cycles, for services associated with a subscriber device; track, for each billing cycle, an amount of usage of the services; determine, for each billing cycle, a pricing tier corresponding to the tracked usage; and bill the subscriber, for each billing cycle, a fee associated with the corresponding pricing tier, wherein at least two of the corresponding pricing tiers differ.

Abstract: A network device receives a message that identifies a relationship between a first user device and a second user device, the relationship permitting status information of the first user device to be sent to the second user device when the first user device is communicating with a third user device. The network device receives the status information relating to a communication involving the first user device. The network device determines to send the status information to the second user device, based on the information identifying the relationship stored by the network device; and the network device sends the status information for presentation on the second user device.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and storage media for tracking communications between a user and a user-selected party; obtaining communication tracking information based on the tracking, wherein the communication tracking information includes a time associated with each communication; calculating a communication gap pertaining to the user-selected party based on the communication tracking information, wherein the communication gap is a period of time that elapsed from a last communication with the other party to a current time; and providing the user with communication gap information in response to receiving a user request.

Abstract: Group based multicast streaming systems and methods are disclosed. An exemplary method includes a group based multicast streaming system defines a media multicast streaming event, determines that a group of users satisfies a minimum participation level associated with the media multicast streaming event, and executes, based on the determined satisfaction of the minimum participation level by the group of users, the media multicast streaming event by multicast streaming a media program to the group of users during a timeslot, and provides an incentive to the group of users for participation in the multicast streaming of the media program during the timeslot. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An approach is provided for transmitting supplemental visual content to a user. A command is received to retrieve visual content associated with a transaction conducted with a user over a source device. In response to the command, the visual content is retrieved for presentation to the user via a target device.

Abstract: A content processing device is configured to receive a media stream via a network. The media stream may be analyzed to detect whether an anomaly is present in the media stream indicative of a potential quality defect in playback of the media stream. Data relating to a detected anomaly may be provided to a destination via the network.

Abstract: A method may include enrolling a subscriber device in an adaptive pricing service plan for providing telecommunication service to the subscriber device; associating, with the telecommunication service, a first pricing scheme including a first number of allotted minutes within a current billing cycle; tracking, for the subscriber device within the current billing cycle, cumulative used minutes of the telecommunication service; determining, using a forecasting model and the cumulative used minutes, prospective minutes usage with respect to the first number of allotted minutes for an entirety of the current billing cycle; generating, based on the prospective minutes usage, a recommendation related to a second pricing scheme including a second number of allotted minutes; and sending, within the current billing cycle, the recommendation to the subscriber device.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and storage media for tracking communications between a user and a user-selected party; obtaining communication tracking information based on the tracking, wherein the communication tracking information includes a time associated with each communication; calculating a communication gap pertaining to the user-selected party based on the communication tracking information, wherein the communication gap is a period of time that elapsed from a last communication with the other party to a current time; and providing the user with communication gap information in response to receiving a user request.

Abstract: A method may include enrolling a subscriber device in an adaptive pricing service plan for providing telecommunication service to the subscriber device; associating, with the telecommunication service, a first pricing scheme including a first number of allotted minutes within a current billing cycle; tracking, for the subscriber device within the current billing cycle, cumulative used minutes of the telecommunication service; determining, using a forecasting model and the cumulative used minutes, prospective minutes usage with respect to the first number of allotted minutes for an entirety of the current billing cycle; generating, based on the prospective minutes usage, a recommendation related to a second pricing scheme including a second number of allotted minutes; and sending, within the current billing cycle, the recommendation to the subscriber device.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by at least one processor, the instructions to cause the at least one processor to bill a subscriber, enrolled in a multi-tiered pricing plan, a plan fee associated with the multi-tiered pricing plan, for each billing cycle of a plurality of billing cycles, for services associated with a subscriber device; track, for each billing cycle, an amount of usage of the services; determine, for each billing cycle, a pricing tier corresponding to the tracked usage; and bill the subscriber, for each billing cycle, a fee associated with the corresponding pricing tier, wherein at least two of the corresponding pricing tiers differ.

Abstract: A system for and method of for detecting a non-functional battery back-up unit (BBU) of an optical network terminal is presented. The system and method may include receiving power outage data associated with a plurality of customer sites, receiving, from each of the plurality of customer sites, discharge time data associated with a battery via a network, calculating a mean discharge time based on the discharge time data, comparing the discharge time data associated with each battery to the mean discharge time, determining that each battery that is associated with discharge time data that indicates a discharge time value that is less than the mean discharge time is faulty, and outputting a data signal that indicates that a battery is faulty.

Abstract: An approach is provided for enabling advertisers to correlate a communication session with an amount of consumption of the advertisement by a viewer. A correlation platform tracks an amount of consumption of an advertisement presented via a set-top box associated with a user. The amount of consumption of the advertisement is then correlated to a communication session initiated by the user in response to the presentation of the advertisement.

Abstract: An approach is provided for monitoring utility usage and generating notifications. A platform collects utility data from a utility meter of a subscriber and determines whether the utility data satisfies a usage threshold. The platform generates a notification based on the determination and presents the notification.