Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving at a first network a notice of an intended communication to a called party network, wherein the intended communication requires a resource for supporting a streaming data protocol in each network between a calling party network and the called party network; forwarding the notice of an intended communication to a second network and toward the called party network; in parallel with said forwarding, initiating for the intended communication a determination of resource availability for the first network; performing for the intended communication the determination of resource availability for the first network, wherein the determination is for a first resource for the first network; and verifying resource sufficiency for the intended communication. Verification of resource sufficiency is based on resource, (e.g., bandwidth) availability being greater than a threshold for plural network segment of the calling party to calling network required for the intended call.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving at a calling party network a notice of an intended communication between a calling endpoint and a plurality of called endpoints located in a plurality of called party networks, wherein the intended communication requires a resource in each of the calling party network and the called party networks for supporting a streaming data protocol. The notice is forwarded toward the plurality of called party networks and in parallel with said forwarding, a determination of resource availability for the calling party network is initiated for the intended communication. The method further includes determining for the intended communication the determination of resource availability for the calling party network, wherein the determination is for a first resource for the first network; and verifying resource availability for the intended communication based on the determination for the calling party network and a resource availability indicator for each called party network.

Abstract: A method is provided for passing control messages and other information through a SIP network by embedding the information in SIP messages. The information is sent from one SIP agent to another by encrypting the information, embedding the encrypted information in one or more implementation-defined SIP header fields, and transmitting a SIP message that includes the field or fields in which the information is embedded.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for adapting a control plane of a communications network normally using a call session control function (CSCF) in communication with a resource access control function (RACF) by providing a priority service functional element (PS-FE) to handle call admission and priority services.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for management of a communications network are provided. An exemplary method includes receiving at a first network a notice of an intended communication to a called party network, wherein the intended communication requires at least one resource for supporting a streaming data protocol between a calling party network and the called party network; verifying resource availability of at least one resource in the first network; and in parallel with said verifying, forwarding the notice of an intended communication to a second network and toward the called party network prior to receiving an indication of resource availability of the at least one resource in the first network required for the intended communication.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving at a calling party network a notice of an intended communication between a calling endpoint and a plurality of called endpoints located in a plurality of called party networks, wherein the intended communication requires a resource in each of the calling party network and the called party networks for supporting a streaming data protocol. The notice is forwarded toward the plurality of called party networks and in parallel with said forwarding, a determination of resource availability for the calling party network is initiated for the intended communication. The method further includes determining for the intended communication the determination of resource availability for the calling party network, wherein the determination is for a first resource for the first network; and verifying resource availability for the intended communication based on the determination for the calling party network and a resource availability indicator for each called party network.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving at a first network a notice of an intended communication to a called party network, wherein the intended communication requires a resource for supporting a streaming data protocol in each network between a calling party network and the called party network; forwarding the notice of an intended communication to a second network and toward the called party network; in parallel with said forwarding, initiating for the intended communication a determination of resource availability for the first network; performing for the intended communication the determination of resource availability for the first network, wherein the determination is for a first resource for the first network; and verifying resource sufficiency for the intended communication. Verification of resource sufficiency is based on resource, (e.g., bandwidth) availability being greater than a threshold for plural network segment of the calling party to calling network required for the intended call.

Abstract: An exemplary management method includes receiving at a first network a notice of an intended communication to a called party network, the notice including a first priority indicator, the intended communication requiring a resource for supporting a streaming data protocol in each network between a calling party network and the called party network; forwarding the notice to a second network and toward the called party network, the notice including the first priority indicator; in parallel with said forwarding, mapping the first priority indicator to a second priority indicator and initiating for the intended communication a determination of resource availability for the first network based on the second priority indicator; determining the determination of resource availability for the first network based on the second priority indicator, wherein the determination is for a first resource for the first network; and verifying resource availability for the intended communication.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for adapting a control plane of a communications network normally using a call session control function (CSCF) in communication with a resource access control function (RACF) by providing a priority service functional element (PS-FE) to handle call admission and priority services.

Abstract: A method for managing calls of various relative priority levels in an IP network includes polling at least one location in the network to obtain information indicative of a level of utilization said at least one location and computing a status of utilization of said at least one location based on said polled information and assigning a decision policy to said status. A priority level of a new voice call requesting to enter the network is then assessed against relative to priorities of existing calls on the network and the decision policy is invoked on the new voice call according to its relative priority level to the existing calls on the network and the decision policy in effect at the time the new voice call requests entry to the network.