Abstract: A method and apparatus for broadening of a communication channel already established between remote networks includes detection of an existing communication channel (15) established between a first local network device (7) on a first LAN (1) and a remote network device (12) on a second LAN (2) remote from the first (1), determination of one or more properties associated with that existing communication channel, establishment of a tunnel (16) between the first local network device (7) on the first LAN (1) and the remote network device (12) on the second LAN (2) based upon the one or more properties associated with the existing communication channel (15), and forwarding traffic from a second local network device (4) on the first LAN (1) via the tunnel (16) to the or a remote network device (10) on the second LAN (2).

Abstract: A network edge telephony device for local audio message insertion comprises a network interface for receiving data from and transmitting data to a network, and a user interface for receiving data from and transmitting data to a user, the data including data representing an audio signal, and processing means coupled to the network and user interfaces, the processing means comprising a mixer adapted to locally mix a call progress tone derived in dependence on an audio signal received from the network or user interfaces with a data stream representing a pre-recorded audio message. Also provided is user event processing means coupled to the user and network interfaces, which is adapted to detect feedback from the user and generate and transmit an event data signal to a remote server via the network interface.

Abstract: A method of self-configuration of a network device having at least one network connection port, comprising the steps of, after booting of the network device, actively probing a network in which the network device is located and analysing data packets received on the port(s), attempting to determine a network configuration for all network connections the device can make according to information extracted from the received data packets, and configuring device settings according to the network configuration determined.