Abstract: Systems and methods performed by an IP telephony device or an element of an IP telephony system mask the data contained in data packets bearing the media of an IP telephony communication to prevent an Internet service provider from identifying the data packets as carrying the media of an IP telephony communication. The systems and methods can also modify the size of data packets and/or modify the data transfer rate of a stream of data packets bearing the media of an IP telephony communication to prevent an Internet service provider from identifying the stream of data packets as bearing the media of an IP telephony communication.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communication history reconciliation amongst linked devices are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for communication history reconciliation amongst linked devices may include receiving an incoming communication request directed to a communication identifier associated with a user account, transmitting the communication request to at least a first device and a second device associated with the user account, receiving, responsive to the communication request, a message from the first device indicating that the first device has accepted the communication request to establish a call, and transmitting, to the second device, an indication that the communication request was accepted by the first device.

Abstract: A method of operating an internet-based telephony system comprises (1) determining that a telephony device associated with a customer of the internet-based telephony system has access to service of the internet-based telephony system; (2) sending a first location update signal to a public land mobile network associated with the customer; (3) receiving an indication that the public land mobile network associated with the customer no longer considers the internet-based telephony system as being the network visited by the telephony device associated with the customer; (4) determining the telephony device associated with the customer and the internet-based telephony system are in data communication, and (5) sending a second location update signal to the public land mobile network associated with the customer to register again the internet-based telephony system as the network visited by the telephony device associated with the customer.

Abstract: A method of operating an internet-based telephony system (20) comprises determining that a telephony device (30) associated with a customer has access to service to the internet-based telephony system (20); and sending a location update signal to a public land mobile network (32) associated with the customer. The location update signal is configured to include an identification of the internet-based telephony system (20) as a network visited by the telephony device (30) associated with the customer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forwarding data packets containing media of an Internet protocol (IP) communication are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for forwarding data packets containing media of an IP communication may include receiving IP communication setup signaling that includes an indication of a first originating IP address for data packets that are to be forwarded to a destination address; setting the first originating IP address as an authorized originating IP address; receiving a data packet from a second originating IP address directed to the destination address; and determining whether to forward the data packet from the second originating IP address to the destination address based on whether a first pre-defined time interval has elapsed since a last data packet was received from the first originating IP address.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forwarding data packets to facilitate an IP telephony communication make use of a media relay to accomplish the forwarding actions. The media relay is configured receive setup signaling indicating a first acceptable originating IP address for received data packets. The media relay also allows the acceptable originating IP address to change once after the initial call setup has occurred. Also, if a REINVITE action occurs during a call, the media relay will allow the acceptable originating IP address to change once after the REINVITE signaling has been completed.

Abstract: A first telephony device sets up a first communication channel through an Internet protocol (IP) network for conducting an IP based telephony communication with a second telephony device. The first communication channel includes one or more media relays. The first telephony device then begins to conduct the telephony communication with the second telephony device over the first communication channel. While the initial stages of the telephony communication are ongoing, the first telephony device sets up a second communication channel with the second telephony device that does not utilize media relays. The telephony communication is then switched to the second communication channel. Proceeding in this fashion ensures that a communication channel can be rapidly established between the first and second telephony devices so that the telephony communication can quickly commence.

Abstract: Systems and methods for terminating telephony communications to a mobile telephony device associated with a first native telephone number are disclosed. The method comprises: receiving, from a native mobile telephony provider network associated with the first native telephone number, a telephony communication that was originally directed to the first native telephone number but which has been forwarded to a forwarding access number, where the telephony communication includes a header comprising the first native telephone number; retrieving the native telephone number from the header; mapping the native telephone number to a mobile telephony device of a subscriber; and terminating the received telephony communication to the mobile telephony device associated with the native telephone number.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communication history reconciliation amongst linked devices are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for communication history reconciliation amongst linked devices may include receiving an incoming communication request directed to a communication identifier associated with a user account, transmitting the communication request to at least a first device and a second device associated with the user account, receiving, responsive to the communication request, a message from the first device indicating that the first device has accepted the communication request to establish a call, and transmitting, to the second device, an indication that the communication request was accepted by the first device.

Abstract: Methods and system for integrating a media file within a text message on a user device are provided herein. In some embodiment, a method for integrating a media file within a text message may include sending a request to determine whether one or more text message terms included in a text message matches a predetermined list of terms, wherein each term in the predetermined list is associated with at least one media file, and receiving an indication of a match between the one or more text message terms and at least one term in the predetermined list, and tagging each of the matched text message terms with the at least one media file associated with the corresponding matched term in the predetermined list.

Abstract: A first telephony device sets up a first communication channel through an Internet protocol (IP) network for conducting an IP based telephony communication with a second telephony device. The first communication channel includes one or more media relays. The first telephony device then begins to conduct the telephony communication with the second telephony device over the first communication channel. While the initial stages of the telephony communication are ongoing, the first telephony device sets up a second communication channel with the second telephony device that does not utilize media relays. The telephony communication is then switched to the second communication channel. Proceeding in this fashion ensures that a communication channel can be rapidly established between the first and second telephony devices so that the telephony communication can quickly commence.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for verifying authenticity of device information of an end-user device are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for verifying authenticity of device information of an end-user device may include sending a request to verify device information of an end-user device receiving, responsive to the request, verification information regarding the device information sent, and performing a verification analysis on the verification information received.

Abstract: A method of operating an internet-based telephony system (20) comprises determining that a telephony device (30) associated with a customer has access to service to the internet-based telephony system (20); and sending a location update signal to a public land mobile network (32) associated with the customer. The location update signal is configured to include an identification of the internet-based telephony system (20) as a network visited by the telephony device (30) associated with the customer.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing dropped call operations are provided here. In some embodiments a method for managing dropped call operations may include receiving a first notification of a change in network connectivity during a communication session between a first user device and a second user device; receiving a second notification of a change in network connectivity; generating communication data for the communication session based on a time that the first notification of a change in network connectivity was received; and transmitting the communication data to a service provider.

Abstract: A method of operating an internet-based telephony system comprises (1) determining that a telephony device associated with a customer of the internet-based telephony system has access to service of the internet-based telephony system; (2) sending a first location update signal to a public land mobile network associated with the customer; (3) receiving an indication that the public land mobile network associated with the customer no longer considers the internet-based telephony system as being the network visited by the telephony device associated with the customer; (4) determining the telephony device associated with the customer and the internet-based telephony system are in data communication, and (5) sending a second location update signal to the public land mobile network associated with the customer to register again the internet-based telephony system as the network visited by the telephony device associated with the customer.

Abstract: A system and method for charging a prepaid account for telephony services reserves portions of a balance of the prepaid account to pay for telephony services that have been requested by a user. Once the final charges for providing the telephony services are known, the balance is reduced by the amount of the actual charges, and any portion of the reserved amount is released.

Abstract: A telephony system (20) comprises a computer-implemented call forwarding verification system (60) configured to initiate a test call to a telephony device (30) in conjunction with a request for a call forwarding operation. The request for the call forwarding operation is configured to instruct that a subsequent call to the telephony device be directed to a forwarding number. Preferably the forwarding number is a number associated with the telephony system (20).

Abstract: An Off Net scenario may occur during primary communications between a first and second caller, in which the second caller is connected to a network over a data channel and receives a second call over a voice channel resulting in an interruption of the primary communications between the original callers. In the Off Net scenario, a message indicating the original communication has been interrupted is received by a carrier. The carrier substitutes another communication device in place of the second caller's communication device to establish a secondary communication between the first caller's communication device and the third communication device. The secondary communication may inform the first caller of the interruption of the primary communication and may provide options regarding the primary communication to the first caller.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for verifying authenticity of device information of an end-user device are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for verifying authenticity of device information of an end-user device may include sending a request to verify device information of an end-user device receiving, responsive to the request, verification information regarding the device information sent, and performing a verification analysis on the verification information received.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forwarding data packets to facilitate an IP telephony communication make use of a media relay to accomplish the forwarding actions. The media relay is configured receive setup signaling indicating a first acceptable originating IP address for received data packets. The media relay also allows the acceptable originating IP address to change once after the initial call setup has occurred. Also, if a REINVITE action occurs during a call, the media relay will allow the acceptable originating IP address to change once after the REINVITE signaling has been completed.