Abstract: Commands relating to a conference session being handled by a first conference server are logged, where the commands are exchanged between an application server and the first conference server. Failure of the first conference server is detected. In response to detecting the failure, the logged commands are used to transfer the conference session to a second conference server.

Abstract: Commands relating to a conference session being handled by a first conference server are logged, where the commands are exchanged between an application server and the first conference server. Failure of the first conference server is detected. In response to detecting the failure, the logged commands are used to transfer the conference session to a second conference server.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method, in a network having access to a billing system, of debiting a subscribers account for a charge-incurring use made by the subscriber of the network, comprising: in response to receiving a request to make a charge-incurring use of the network, requesting authorization from the billing system for the requested use; supplying to the billing system a billing rate identifier indicating a billing rate to be applied for the chargeable use; and indicating to the billing system an amount of time for which the subscribers account is to be debited at the indicated billing rate thereby causing the subscribers account to be debited a corresponding amount, wherein the period between requesting the authorization and indicating an amount of time is less than the indicated amount of time.

Abstract: To provide a specialized resource function within the telephone network, server apparatus is described having a first interface for communication with a signalling network of a telephone network and a second interface for communication with a media gateway that has at least one bearer channel to the telephone network. The apparatus has a control arrangement for enabling the apparatus to provide, through the second interface, a document, such as a VoiceXML document, for rendering by the media gateway, the document being provided at least partly under the control of information received from a service control subsystem of the telephone network in an interaction through the first interface. An associated media gateway and method are also described.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method, in a network having access to a billing system, of debiting a subscribers account for a charge-incurring use made by the subscriber of the network, comprising: in response to receiving a request to make a charge-incurring use of the network, requesting authorization from the billing system for the requested use; supplying to the billing system a billing rate identifier indicating a billing rate to be applied for the chargeable use; and indicating to the billing system an amount of time for which the subscribers account is to be debited at the indicated billing rate thereby causing the subscribers account to be debited a corresponding amount, wherein the period between requesting the authorization and indicating an amount of time is less than the indicated amount of time.

Abstract: To provide a specialized resource function within the telephone network, server apparatus is described having a first interface for communication with a signalling network of a telephone network and a second interface for communication with a media gateway that has at least one bearer channel to the telephone network. The apparatus has a control arrangement for enabling the apparatus to provide, through the second interface, a document, such as a VoiceXML document, for rendering by the media gateway, the document being provided at least partly under the control of information received from a service control subsystem of the telephone network in an interaction through the first interface. An associated media gateway and method are also described.