Abstract: A highly scalable Internet Protocol (IP) based communications system which provides voice and other communication services to end-users. The instant system incorporates a unique architecture which simplifies scaling of services to hundreds of thousands and even millions of subscribers. The instant system architecture includes a means for directly connecting a plurality of peered service providers thereby obviating the need to move the communications across the PSTN. By bypassing the PSTN, the instant system can leverage the advantages of IP-based networks in meeting subscriber communications needs such as, without limitation, quality of service, service up-time, and advanced feature sets. Bypassing the PSTN also allows the peered partners to negotiate communications rates between themselves, without incurring PSTN carrier fees.

Abstract: A highly scalable Internet Protocol (IP) based communications system which provides voice and other communication services to end-users. The instant system incorporates a unique architecture which simplifies scaling of services to hundreds of thousands and even millions of subscribers. The instant system architecture includes a means for directly connecting a plurality of peered service providers thereby obviating the need to move the communications across the PSTN. By bypassing the PSTN, the instant system can leverage the advantages of IP-based networks in meeting subscriber communications needs such as, without limitation, quality of service, service up-time, and advanced feature sets. Bypassing the PSTN also allows the peered partners to negotiate communications rates between themselves, without incurring PSTN carrier fees.

Abstract: A highly scalable Internet Protocol (IP) based communications system which provides voice and other communication services to end-users. The instant system incorporates a unique architecture which simplifies scaling of services to hundreds of thousands and even millions of subscribers. The instant system architecture includes a means for directly connecting a plurality of peered service providers thereby obviating the need to move the communications across the PSTN. By bypassing the PSTN, the instant system can leverage the advantages of IP-based networks in meeting subscriber communications needs such as, without limitation, quality of service, service up-time, and advanced feature sets. Bypassing the PSTN also allows the peered partners to negotiate communications rates between themselves, without incurring PSTN carrier fees.

Abstract: A distributed computing platform using the idle computational processing power of a plurality of provider computers is disclosed. At least one networked server collects tasks from client computers, schedules and distributes the tasks to networked provider computers, and collects and returns results to client computers. A client API forms tasks and collects results. A compute engine operates on the provider computers to communicate with the server and execute tasks using idle computational power.