Abstract: A method of transmitting a communication event from a calling entity to a called entity located in a communication system comprising a first network and a second network, said method comprising determining a first identity associated with the calling entity and a first and second identity associated with the called entity, wherein the first identities are recognizable in the first network and the second identity is recognizable in the second network; associating at a first node located in the second network the first identities with the second identity; establishing a connection between the calling entity and a second node; wherein the connection with second node is established using the first identity associated with the called entity; querying the first node with the first identity associated with the called entity and the first identity associated with the calling entity to determine the second identity associated with the called entity; and transmitting the communication event to the called entity using t

Abstract: A gateway, program and method for use in a packet-based communication system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of identifying the presence of matching information items in a network includes using a hashing scheme to generate a set of first hash values from a respective set of first information items stored at a first node and transmitting the set of first hash values over the network to a second node. The set of first hash values is compared at the second node with a set of second hash values generated, using the hashing scheme, from a respective set of second information items stored in the network, to thereby determine at least one matching hash value between the set of first hash values and the set of second hash values. The determined matching hash value is used to identify the presence of at least one matching information item between the set of first information items and the set of second information items.

Abstract: A first network comprising: one or more first end-user computer terminals; a gateway to a second, packet-based network comprising one or more second end-user computer terminals installed with a communication client of the second network; one or more telephone units for performing calls with one of the second end-user computer terminals over the second network; wherein each of the one or more first end-user terminals is installed with a communication client for performing calls with the second end-user computer terminals over the second network; and wherein the gateway comprises switching apparatus configured to detect a user selection between a first state in which one of said calls is to be performed using one of said first end-user computer terminals and a second state in which the call is to be performed using one of said telephone units; and on condition of detecting the first state, to route both call set-up signalling and call media to the first end-user computer terminal; and on condition of detecting

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of transmitting contact data in a peer to peer communications network includes transmitting a list of contacts from a first contact store to a first compare means. At the first compare means, the list of contacts from the first contact store is compared with a list of contacts from a second contact store to identify common contacts between the lists of contacts from the first and second contact stores, the first compare means outputting a contacts result based on the identification of the common contacts. At a second compare means, the contacts result output from the first compare means is compared with a list of contacts from a third contact store. An output of the second compare means is used to identify at least one contact to recommend as a new contact to a recommendee user in the network.

Abstract: A communication system, method and program, the system comprising: one or more wireless access nodes of a first communication service provider and at least one server associated with a second communication service provider, interconnected via a packet-based network; and a wireless user terminal operable to establish a session with one of the wireless access nodes of the first communication service provider, the wireless user terminal is installed with an application of the second communication service provider. The application is configured so as to: in event of failure to establish a session via one of the wireless access nodes of the first communication service provider, store information regarding the failed session at the wireless user terminal; and in event of subsequent access to the packet-based network, transmit the information regarding the failed session to the server associated with the second communication service provider over the packet-based network.

Abstract: A method of authenticating a user terminal with an access node providing restricted access to a communication network is provided. The method comprises the user terminal transmitting a request for an authentication token to a trusted network node via an unrestricted channel on the access node, the request comprising a network identity for a user of the user terminal. The network node verifies the identity of the user using the network identity, generates an authentication token and transmits the authentication token to the user terminal via the unrestricted channel. The user terminal derives login information from the authentication token and provides the login information to the access node. The access node authenticates the login information and removes the restricted access such that the communication network can be accessed by the user terminal.

Abstract: A method of controlling a connection between a user terminal and an access node connected to a communication network is provided. The user terminal establishes a data connection with the access node, periodically generates a message at predetermined intervals and transmits the periodic message to at least one network node via the access node over the communication network. Responses to the periodic messages are received from the at least one network node. The responses are analysed to determine whether to terminate the connection to the access node, and in the case that the connection to the access node should be terminated, a disconnect message is transmitted to the access node from the user terminal.

Abstract: A method of initiating a communication event via a packet-based communication network in a media appliance having a processor executing a communication client, comprising: retrieving a stored list comprising a plurality of contacts associated with a user of the communication client; generating a first two-dimensional contact grid comprising a first arrangement of entries; displaying the first contact grid on a display means such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, wherein the graphical representations are sized so as to fit in the entries of the first contact grid; receiving a selection of a subset of the graphical representations in the first contact grid from a user of the communication client; generating a second contact grid comprising a second arrangement of entries corresponding to the selected subset; displaying the second contact grid on the display means in replacement of the first contact grid, such that each

Abstract: A television receiver system, comprising: a television receiver operable to receive broadcast video signals; a memory storing a communication client application; a processor, coupled to the memory and operable to execute the communication client application, wherein the communication client application is programmed so as when executed to allow a user to establish a video call with one or more other users via a packet-based communication network; a video buffer operable to buffer video data for display on a television screen; and selection means having a first input arranged to receive broadcast video data from the television receiver, a second input arranged to receive video call data from the communication client, an output connected to the video buffer, and a control input connected to the communication client, wherein the selection means is arranged to output the broadcast video data to the video buffer in the absence of a selection signal at the control input, and wherein the communication client is arra

Abstract: A remote control unit for controlling a media device, comprising: a first wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a first power source; a second wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a second power source; a processor coupled to the first and second wireless transmitters, wherein the processor is configured to control the first and second wireless transmitters and is arranged to be powered from the first power; and monitoring means arranged to monitor power levels of the second power source and provide power level information to the processor.

Abstract: A media device comprising: a memory storing a communication client application; a processor, coupled to the memory and operable to execute the communication client application, wherein the client application is programmed so as when executed to allow a user to establish a call with one or more other users via a packet-based communication network; and a remote control unit comprising wireless communication means arranged to transmit data to the processor, a control means coupled to the wireless communication means and configured to control the wireless communication means, user input means coupled to the control means and arranged to receive input commands from the user and provide the input commands to the control means, and a microphone coupled to the control means and arranged to receive audio signals from a user, wherein, responsive to the control means receiving a command to establish a call from the user input means, the control means is arranged to activate the wireless communication means from a deacti

Abstract: A television receiver system and corresponding method, the television receiver system comprising: a television receiver for receiving broadcast television signals, signal processing apparatus operable to process the received television signals for output to a television screen, and a control device allowing a user to select a viewing activity by controlling the output to the television screen. The television receiver further comprises a memory storing a communication client application; and communications processing apparatus operable to execute the communication client application. The client application is programmed so as when executed to allow the user to establish bidirectional communications with one or more other users via a packet-based communication network, and to provide notifications to the user of incoming communication events from other users.

Abstract: A method of initiating a call from a device executing a client program via an access network is provided. The method comprises providing a network node with information associated with the device, receiving from the network node an indication of whether at least one access number for accessing the access network is available, wherein the availability of the access number is based on the information associated with the device, and selectively enabling an input means to receive a selection signal from a user of said device to initiate the call using the access number, wherein the input means is only enabled if it is indicated that the access number is available.

Abstract: A method of establishing a communication event in a communication system from an initiator device to one of a plurality of entities associated with the initiator device comprising assigning a calling identity to at least one of said entities at a first network node associated with a packet switched network; providing the assigned identity to the initiator device; storing associated contact information for the entity together with the calling identity assigned to the entity at a second network node associated with the packet switched network, initiating a communication event from the initiator device to the entity via a circuit switched network by transmitting the identity assigned to the entity to a gateway node; sending a message to the second network node with the identity assigned to the entity to determine the contact information for the entity; and routing the communication event from the gateway node to the entity using the determined contact information via one of the circuit switched and packet switch

Abstract: A method of transmitting messages from a network node in a communication network to a first user device wherein the network node transmits to a second user device a message-waiting notification, identifying the first user device and optionally identifying a node holding the message, and in response to that notification, the second user device transmits a connection request to the first user device, said connection request being acted on by said first user device to establish a connection, optionally with the identified node, whereby said message can be transmitted to said first user device.

Abstract: A method of receiving a communication event from a calling entity located in a communication network comprising a first network and a second network, at a receiving device associated with a user located in the communication system, said method comprising associating a first identity recognisable in the first network with a second identity recognisable in the second network for both the user and the calling entity at a data store located in the second network; providing the first and second identities for the calling entity to the receiving device via the second network; receiving at a node in the second network associated with the user, the communication event together with the second identity for the calling entity via the second network, wherein the communication event is addressed with the second identity of the user; querying the data store with the second identity of the calling entity and the second identity of the user to determine the first identity of the calling entity and the first identity of the

Abstract: A method of controlling a communication session between a user of a communication network and a communication system wherein the communication network comprises a first network and a second network, and wherein the communication system operates on the first network said method comprising: transmitting a session request packet from a device associated with the user to a first node located in the first network; initiating the session for the user with the communication system at the first node in response to receiving the session request, wherein during the session the method comprises the steps of: providing from the first node to the device a calling identity for use by the device during a communication event between the user and an entity via the communication system, wherein the calling identity may be used to establish a connection between the device and a second node located in the second network determining an address of the entity; and associating the calling identity with the address of the entity; whe

Abstract: A method of transmitting data from a node, such as a session node including any network node, located in a first network to one of a plurality of devices located in a second network, said method comprising; determining that another device connected to the node is located in the second network; transmitting from the node to the other device located in the second network a message addressed to the one of said plurality of devices via the connection between the node and the other device; and forwarding the message from the other device to the one of said plurality of devices via a connection established within the second network.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a communication event from a calling entity to a called entity located in a communication system comprising a first network and a second network, said method comprising determining a first identity associated with the calling entity and a first and second identity associated with the called entity, wherein the first identities are recognizable in the first network and the second identity is recognizable in the second network; associating at a first node located in the second network the first identities with the second identity; establishing a connection between the calling entity and a second node; wherein the connection with second node is established using the first identity associated with the called entity; querying the first node with the first identity associated with the called entity and the first identity associated with the calling entity to determine the second identity associated with the called entity; and transmitting the communication event to the called entity using t