Abstract: A system may include, for example, an Interrogating Call Session Control Function (I-CSCF) device having a processor adapted to receive a request from a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) device communicatively coupled to a first communication device to establish communications with a second communication device responsive to the first communication device initiating a call directed to the second communication device, and to identify a primary S-CSCF device to which the second communication device is registered. The processor can also be adapted to detect a communication fault when attempting to communicate with the primary S-CSCF device, and to identify a secondary S-CSCF device that provides backup communication services to the second communication device responsive to detecting the communication fault. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving initial filter criteria from a home subscriber server, transmitting information obtained from the initial filter criteria to a domain name system, receiving a multicast IP address from the domain name system, and transmitting a message to a plurality of IP multimedia subsystem network elements according to the multicast IP address. The message can be used for configuring the plurality of IP multimedia subsystem network elements. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an application server that includes a memory storing computer instructions, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor responsive to executing the computer instructions can perform operations including transmitting to Home Subscriber Server (HSS) a User Data Request (UDR) command without initiating a third party registration process, where the UDR command includes a request for dynamic device information associated with a communication device, and receiving from the HSS a User Data Answer (UDA) command comprising the dynamic device information associated with the communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving initial filter criteria from a home subscriber server, transmitting information obtained from the initial filter criteria to a domain name system, receiving a multicast IP address from the domain name system, and transmitting a message to a plurality of IP multimedia subsystem network elements according to the multicast IP address. The message can be used for configuring the plurality of IP multimedia subsystem network elements. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of delivering personal video content via a video head-end office is provided that includes receiving a personal video content upload request at a notification server from a first set-top box device. The personal video content upload request relates to personal video content to be uploaded from the first set-top box device. The method also includes receiving a personal video content sharing request at the notification server from the first set-top box device. The personal video content sharing request identifies a second set-top box device designated to receive the uploaded personal video content. In addition, the method includes sending notification information from the notification server to the second set-top box device. The notification information indicates a first option to store the uploaded personal video content at a data storage device and a second option to stream the uploaded personal video content to the second set-top box device upon selection of the second option.

Abstract: A system and method of sending subject line messages is provided. A particular method includes receiving a call setup signaling message. The call setup signaling message includes a message identifier. The method further includes determining a subject line message associated with the message identifier of the call setup signaling message. The message identifier is replaced with the subject line message. The method further includes transmitting the call setup signaling message to a called party.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for reporting an availability status of resources associated with a server in a network in a network are described. According to one aspect, a computer-implemented method of reporting an availability status of resources associated with a server in a network includes determining the availability status of resources associated with the server. The availability status of resources is then inserted into a resource availability status header of a message. The message including the availability status of resources associated with the server is then sent.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for ensuring data integrity during data synchronization are provided. According to one method, a number of originating requests from a plurality of user endpoints are monitored across a network. A determination is made whether the number of originating requests is below a first threshold. Responsive to determining that the number of originating requests is below the first threshold, probe messages are transmitted to at least a portion of the plurality of user endpoints across the network. A number of the user endpoints that return probe replies in response to the probe messages are monitored. A determination is made whether the number of the user endpoints is below a second threshold. Responsive to determining that the number of the user endpoints is below the second threshold, a report is made to a database that the network is unavailable, thereby causing the database to stop updating time stamps.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving initial filter criteria from a home subscriber server, transmitting information obtained from the initial filter criteria to a domain name system, receiving a multicast IP address from the domain name system, and transmitting a message to a plurality of IP multimedia subsystem network elements according to the multicast IP address. The message can be used for configuring the plurality of IP multimedia subsystem network elements. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to communicate media across different networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves determining, with a processor, whether a second network device in a second network has a capability associated with a first descriptor in a first data packet from a first network device in a first network, communicating, with the processor, a second descriptor indicative of whether the second network device has the capability to the first network device via a second data packet, and when the second network device has the capability, receiving, via the second network device, data from a communication source that bypasses the first network device and communicates the data to the second network device.

Abstract: A system may include, for example, an Interrogating Call Session Control Function (I-CSCF) device having a processor adapted to receive a request from a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) device communicatively coupled to a first communication device to establish communications with a second communication device responsive to the first communication device initiating a call directed to the second communication device, and to identify a primary S-CSCF device to which the second communication device is registered. The processor can also be adapted to detect a communication fault when attempting to communicate with the primary S-CSCF device, and to identify a secondary S-CSCF device that provides backup communication services to the second communication device responsive to detecting the communication fault. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to communicate media across different networks are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves storing via a first network device in a first network a first descriptor in a first data packet. The first data packet is then communicated to a second network device in a second network. A second data packet is then received from the second network device, and the first descriptor is compared to a second descriptor from the second data packet. When the first descriptor matches the second descriptor, an internet protocol address of the second network device is communicated to a communication source to cause the communication source to bypass the first network device and to communicate data to the second network device without passing that data to the first network device.

Abstract: System(s) and method(s) are provided for regulating interaction amongst an application layer and a control layer in a packet-based core network. A data structure is provisioned in a centralized repository; the data structure includes (i) at least one procedure for regulating interaction amongst a session control component within the control layer and application server within the application layer, and (ii) an identification (ID) field attribute that uniquely identifies the data structure. To regulate such interaction, the session control component acquires a set of provisioned data structures; acquisition is automatic and can be dictated, in part, by generation of a data structure, or modification of an existing data structure or an ID field attribute. Based at least on an ID field attribute retained in a subscriber service profile, the session control component references a data structure identified by the ID field attribute and implements one or more procedures retained in such data structure.

Abstract: System(s) and method(s) are provided for prioritizing protocol messages received at a server. A client generates a request message and incorporates a data unit therein in order to indicate type of service application that triggered generation of the request message. The client conveys the request message to a server configured to respond to the request message. To supply data in response to the message request, the server prioritizes the request message based at least on the data unit that conveys the type of service application. The server can assign a set of request messages to a group of scheduling queues based at least on ranking of the type of service associated with at least one request message in the set of request messages. Based on performance conditions, the server also can reject one or more request messages according to the ranking.

Abstract: A system and methodology that facilitates improving performance of a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) during overload conditions, by embedding a unique Application Session Identifier (app session ID) within multiple requests associated with a single call processing session is provided. Moreover, the system includes an overload protection component that identifies whether an incoming request is associated with previously processed requests based in part of the app session ID embedded within the incoming request. When the HSS is overloaded, the incoming requests that initiate a new call processing session and are not associated with previously processed requests are rejected/dropped before incoming requests that are associated with requests that have been previously processed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may utilize, for example, a method involving receiving from a first communication device a service request while providing back-up services to an out-of-service network element, detecting a deficiency in call state information to process the service request, transmitting to the first communication device an error message that prevents termination of an active Internet Protocol (IP) communication path between the first communication device and a second communication device, and receiving from the first communication device a request for an alternate IP communication path for communicating between the first and second communication devices which resolves the deficiency in call state information. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for reporting an availability status of resources associated with a server in a network in a network are described. According to one aspect, a computer-implemented method of reporting an availability status of resources associated with a server in a network includes determining the availability status of resources associated with the server. The availability status of resources is then inserted into a resource availability status header of a message. The message including the availability status of resources associated with the server is then sent.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller adapted to determine at least one network element to be designated as being in a probation mode where the network element is operably coupled to an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network and is adapted to utilize Session Initiation Protocol, and determine communication devices to be designated as testing devices where the communication devices are user end point devices, wherein use of the network element for communication between user end points over the IMS network is limited to the testing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network element operably couplable to an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem network where the network element has a controller to receive an SIP request associated with a call, determine whether the SIP request comprises an identifier associated with an Emergency Call Session Control Function (E-CSCF) where the identifier was added to the SIP request by the E-CSCF, and provide the call to an emergency network when the identifier is associated with the E-CSCF. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods to secure authorized access are disclosed. A method includes receiving, an electronic device, a request to generate function-authorization settings including function-access data associated with a particular function of the electronic device to be protected. The method also includes prompting for and receiving function-access data. The received function-access data includes first function-access data that specifies access credentials of a first user to access the particular function and second function-access data that specifies access credentials of a second user to access the particular function. The method also includes associating the received function-access data with the particular function and storing the function-authorization settings including the received function-access data at a memory of the electronic device.