Abstract: A residential gateway connects an Internet connection to an in-home network that has at least one residential device connected to the residential gateway. The residential gateway has software that receives control parameters from a control server via the Internet connection. The control server determines the control parameters from operational information of the residential device and relevant control information accessed from an information server on the Internet. The software causes the residential gateway to communicate with the residential device to provide control of the residential device based on the received control parameters. In a particular implementation, the residential device is a home irrigation system connected to the residential gateway via a wireless interface and the information server is a weather station server storing climatic information from a plurality of weather stations.

Abstract: Customer communications can be controlled in accordance with customized rules. An initial menu includes options to modify an existing rule or create a new rule for controlling customer communications. An initial selection criteria menu includes options to indicate whether the new customized rule will be built using a preexisting template or starting from initial blank rule criteria. A list of preexisting templates for creating new customized rules can be provided, and input to populate a selected template can be accepted. Initial blank rule criteria for creating new customized rules can also be provided, including initial criteria and rule conditions for selected initial criteria. Communications are processed in accordance with the stored new customized rule.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for maintaining connectivity with an Internet protocol (IP) phone operating behind a firewall are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein comprises registering the IP phone in response to receiving a first registration request from the IP phone, the first registration request including first registration information, the first registration information including a first public IP address associated with the firewall, storing the first registration information, reregistering the IP phone in response to receiving a second registration request from the IP phone, the second registration request including second registration information, the second registration information including a second public IP address associated with the firewall, the second public IP address different from the first public IP address, and reverting to the stored first registration information to process calls associated with the IP phone.

Abstract: Customer communications can be controlled in accordance with customized rules. An entry menu includes options to modify an existing rule or create a new rule for controlling customer communications. An initial selection criteria menu includes options to indicate whether the new customized rule will be built using a preexisting template or starting from initial blank rule criteria. A list of preexisting templates for creating new customized rules can be provided, and input to populate a selected template can be accepted. Initial blank rule criteria for creating new customized rules can also be provided, including initial criteria and rule conditions for selected initial criteria. Communications are processed in accordance with the stored new customized rule.

Abstract: Customer communications can be controlled in accordance with customized rules. An entry menu includes options to modify an existing rule or create a new rule for controlling customer communications. An initial selection criteria menu includes options to indicate whether the new customized rule will be built using a preexisting template or starting from initial blank rule criteria. A list of preexisting templates for creating new customized rules can be provided, and input to populate a selected template can be accepted. Initial blank rule criteria for creating new customized rules can also be provided, including initial criteria and rule conditions for selected initial criteria. Communications are processed in accordance with the stored new customized rule.

Abstract: A method is provided for customizing a call control rule by a subscriber at a graphical user interface. The method includes providing a first display, including multiple conditions relating to identifying calls involving the at least one telephone number, and receiving a first selection of at least one identifying condition. The method further includes providing a second display, including multiple call dispositions relating to processing the calls based on the at least one selected condition, and receiving a second selection of at least one call disposition. The identifying condition and the call disposition are stored as the call control rule in association with the telephone number, and calls involving the telephone number are processed in accordance with the stored call control rule. The method may also include providing a third display describing the call control rule contemporaneously with receiving the first and second selections.

Abstract: A distributed computer system is disclosed and includes a plurality of identity provider servers and a plurality of service provider servers coupled to a data network. Further, an identity provider locator server is coupled to the data network. In response to a request from one of the plurality of service provider servers, the identity provider locator server can provide an identifier of at least one of the plurality of identity provider servers. The identity provider locator server can include a memory that stores a list of active identity provider servers for a particular end-user having access to the data network. Further, one or more of the plurality of identity provider servers is able to add or remove itself from the list of active identity provider servers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for maintaining connectivity with an Internet protocol (IP) phone operating behind a firewall are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein comprises registering the IP phone in response to receiving a first registration request from the IP phone, the first registration request including first registration information, the first registration information including a first public IP address associated with the firewall, storing the first registration information, reregistering the IP phone in response to receiving a second registration request from the IP phone, the second registration request including second registration information, the second registration information including a second public IP address associated with the firewall, the second public IP address different from the first public IP address, and reverting to the stored first registration information to process calls associated with the IP phone.

Abstract: A network node sets up a virtual connection in a network based on a virtual connection request initiated from an access port different from a first location previously associated with an account of a user. The network node includes a receiver for receiving a signaling message from the access port requesting the virtual connection. The signaling message has at least one field modified to include an address of the access port. The network node further includes a profile database and a registration server. The profile database stores a service policy associated with the user account. The registration server stores an address of the first location associated with the user account as a default registration, determines whether the user is authorized to establish the virtual connection based on the service policy, and replaces the first location address with the access port address when the user is authorized.

Abstract: A connection between an external host and a host internal to a network (e.g., VPN or LAN) and located behind a firewall and/or NAT-enabled device is established and maintained. A dynamic DNS server is updated with the remote location (RL) information associated with the internal host. This information includes the dialed number (i.e. the number assigned to the internal host), the physical address of the internal host, the private IP address corresponding to the internal host, the public IP address corresponding to the firewall, and the port on which voice data is to be communicated. Each time the internal host's location changes, a new and updated record is sent to the dynamic DNS server. The call placed by an external host reaches its final destination based on the record information in the DNS server table. Once the connection between the external host and the internal host is established, voice traffic is “cut-through” the firewall on this channel associate with the port designated by the RL record.

Abstract: Call logs are generated based upon calls from a subscriber line and calls to a subscriber line. The call logs are formatted from Generic Data Interface (GDI) messages into an email format (e.g., SMTP) within a call log gateway. The formatted email is then emailed to an email recipient, which can include a messaging service provider or the subscriber himself. The email address to the recipient is determined by the call log gateway based upon the subscriber's identity.

Abstract: A system daemon starts through normal system startup procedures and reads its configuration file to determine which data entities (e.g., directories and files) are to be monitored. The monitoring includes a valid MD5 signature, correct permissions, ownership of the file, and an existence of the file. If any modification are made to the data entities, then the system daemon generates an alarm (intended for the administrator of the host) that an intrusion has taken place. Once an intrusion is detected, then the isolating steps or commands are issued in a real-time continuous manner to protect the host system from attack or intrusion.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method display incoming and outgoing call log data associated with telephone calls to and from a plurality of subscriber telephone numbers from one or more telephone networks. The system includes a switch in one network that receives a telephone call from the subscriber's telephone and launches a query in response to an AIN trigger to a service control point. In response, the service control point forwards associated call data to a call log gateway that translates the message into an asynchronous message containing call log data. The call log gateway forwards the asynchronous message to a unified communication platform where it is placed in subscriber mailbox and made available as a call log to a subscriber via a graphic user interface over the internet. A web server retrieves the call log and displays it to the subscriber at a web client.

Abstract: A communications services network platform has a multi-layered software architecture residing on a host computer. The network platform connects to a communications network and includes a call processing stack, a link layer, and a service support subsystem. The call processing stack implements call processing by processing events associated with a communication path through the communications network and has an application layer, representing each active call being processed by the call processing stack, and a resource layer, including software abstractions of physical resources located outside the host computer. The link layer manages a communications link between physically connected physical resources and the call processing stack. The service support subsystem executes services requested by the call processing stack. The platform manages and controls communications events associated with the communication path to complete a request for services between nodes on the communication network.

Abstract: A system allows switch signaling to be processed in a controller adjunct to a switch, and for the controller to effect the connection by signaling to the switch. This is accomplished by an end unit communicating service information to a controller and the controller instructing the switch to carry out the service transaction. The service information from the end unit is routed through the switch being controlled by the controller.

Abstract: An automobile's maintenance port is wirelessly connected (for example, via an IEEE 802.11-based connection) to a plurality of gateways/routers that forward automobile diagnostic data (such as a series of diagnostic codes) to a server. Each gateway interfaces with two networks—a first wireless network for wireless communications with an automobile and a second network to communicate with the server. The server implements computer readable program code that aids in receiving forwarded automobile diagnostic data and analyzing the data to identify malfunctions. The server sends the analyzed data or a report based on the analyzed data to a subscriber-defined location (e.g., a PC with access to the Internet). Alternatively, the server can render an indication in the automobile to inform a user that the generated report is ready for electronic retrieval.

Abstract: A method and system for associating a switched virtual circuit (SVC) connection request from an access port in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network to a subscriber and optionally registering an address of the access port in relation to the subscriber. The method and system include receiving a signaling protocol message requesting the SVC connection from the access port, determining whether the signaling protocol message contains subscriber authentication data and, when authenticated, establishing the SVC connection. Furthermore, the SVC connection may be established only if service policies corresponding to the subscriber retrieved from a database indicate that the subscriber is entitled to make SVC connections. The method and system further include registering an address of the access port in the ATM network by substituting the address of the access port for an original subscriber address.

Abstract: An automobile's maintenance port is wirelessly connected (for example, via an IEEE 802.11-based connection) to a plurality of gateways/routers that forward automobile diagnostic data (such as a series of diagnostic codes) to a network analyzer server. The network analyzer server offers subscribers a service providing analysis of the received diagnostic data, wherein such analyzed information is transmitted to one or more predetermined locations (such as to a personal computer of the subscriber or a mechanic's diagnostic device at a service station). Thus, homeowners and garages receive the same data and the system eliminates the need for garages to purchase expensive engine analyzers.

Abstract: A connection between an external host and a host internal to a network (e.g., VPN or LAN) and located behind a firewall and/or NAT-enabled device is established and maintained. A dynamic DNS server is updated with the remote location (RL) information associated with the internal host. This information includes the dialed number (i.e. the number assigned to the internal host), the physical address of the internal host, the private IP address corresponding to the internal host, the public IP address corresponding to the firewall, and the port on which voice data is to be communicated. Each time the internal host's location changes, a new and updated record is sent to the dynamic DNS server. The call placed by an external host reaches its final destination based on the record information in the DNS server table.

Abstract: An automobile's maintenance port is wirelessly connected (for example, via an IEEE 802.11-based connection) to a plurality of gateways/routers that forward automobile diagnostic data (such as a series of diagnostic codes) to a network analyzer server. The network analyzer server offers subscribers a service providing analysis of the received diagnostic data, wherein such analyzed information is transmitted to one or more predetermined locations (such as to a personal computer of the subscriber or a mechanic's diagnostic device at a service station). Thus, homeowners and garages receive the same data and the system eliminates the need for garages to purchase expensive engine analyzers.