Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing a session request in a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives the session request by a Serving-Call Session Control Function (S-CSCF), and sends a query to a tElephone NUmbering Mapping (ENUM) server for the session request. The method determines if a response is received to the query to the ENUM server, and inserts an indication of a component failure in a header of the session request if the response is not received from the ENUM server, wherein the indication of the component failure indicates a non-responsive ENUM server.

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 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 method of determining a telephony network node for routing a call is disclosed. The method includes receiving a call request at a service provider node, the call request including a called number to reach a called party. The method further includes sending a combined telephone number mapping (ENUM) and local number portability (LNP) query from the service provider node to a remote ENUM database, the combined ENUM/LNP query including the called number. The method further includes receiving a response to the combined ENUM/LNP query at the service provider node. The response includes one of an internet protocol address that identifies a node of an internet protocol network, a local routing number (LRN) to be used to route the call to a uniquely identified switching node of a circuit-switched network, or a return of the called number to indicate that the called number can be used to route the call to the called party.

Abstract: A method of routing a call includes sending a second query when a telephone number mapping (ENUM) database does not identify an internet protocol (IP) address associated with a called number in response to a first query. The second query is directed to a local number portability (LNP) database to determine whether the called number includes a ported number having an associated local routing number (LRN).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for intrusion protection in systems that monitor for improper network usage are disclosed. An example method to protect a service platform comprises detecting responses from the service platform indicative of questionable signaling protocol transactions. The example method further comprises storing transaction records corresponding to questionable signaling protocol transaction records with at least one of the transaction records identifying a signaling protocol message including an associated originating device address corresponding to a respective questionable transaction record. Additionally, the method comprises determining whether the originating device address is associated with an improper intrusion of the service platform based on at least one on the transaction records corresponding to the originating device address.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, system having a controller to receive from a set-top box (STB) a request for assistance, identify a subscriber account associated with the STB, identify from the subscriber account a subscription grade, select one of a plurality of subscriber support services according to the subscriber grade, and establish communications between the STB and the selected subscriber support service. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to route a communication session directly to a voicemail mailbox are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a communication session initiation message from a caller at a source telephone number, the communication session initiation message including a destination telephone number and a direct voicemail feature identifier, determining that the direct voicemail feature identifier indicates that the caller requests that the call be sent to a voicemail mailbox associated with the destination telephone number, and forwarding the call directly to the voicemail mailbox associated with the destination telephone number without ringing the destination telephone number.

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: Exercise machines are networked together to provide a user with an indication of the user's performance level compared to the performance levels of other users. Simulated characters corresponding to the users are shown on one or more displays viewable by the users. The simulated characters have a primary movement that may differ in type from the primary movement used in achieving the exercise by the corresponding user. Further, the primary movement used to achieve exercise by one user may differ from the primary movement used to achieve exercise by another user. Exertion transducers provide signals that are used in calculating parameters such as speed and acceleration. Biometric data may be measured from the users during exertion and displayed or uploaded onto the network.

Abstract: Methods and systems for message notification are described. A video message is received from a source access device. A selection of a target user may be received for the video message. A message notification of availability of the video message for a target access device associated with the target user may be provided.

Abstract: A method of determining demand for multimedia content in a multimedia provider network includes receiving a content demand statistics (CDS) request from a client application where the request identifies a subscriber set. Responsive to the CDS request, selected CDS data is retrieved from a CDS subsystem. The CDS data is indicative of demand for multimedia content among subscribers in the subscriber set. The retrieved CDS data is delivered to the client application. The selected data may be selected from past data, present data, and future data. The CDS request indicates a set of buddy subscribers and the messaging server retrieves CDS data associated with the buddy subscribers. A security subsystem may be accessed and to determine, prior to retrieving CDS data for a particular buddy subscriber, whether the particular buddy subscriber has authorized the requesting subscriber.

Abstract: A method of delivering video content is disclosed that includes receiving a request at a video content gifting server from a first set-top box device. The request indicates a selection to purchase video content for a second subscriber associated with a second set-top box device. The method also includes sending notification information to the second set-top box device. The notification information indicates that the video content has been purchased for the second subscriber. Further, the method includes receiving viewing preferences data at the video content gifting server from the second set-top box device. The viewing preferences data indicates a particular time that the second subscriber is to receive the video content. Additionally, the method includes sending video content download data to a particular network entity. The video content download data includes instructions to send the video content to the second set-top box device at the particular time.

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: Methods and apparatus to implement an Internet multimedia sub-system (IMS) terminal are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus comprises a first interface configured to receive a user identification from a user, a second interface configured to receive billing information from the user, and a session manager to identify IMS service provider based on the received user identification, wherein a fee to access the IMS service provider is charged based upon the billing information. A disclosed example method comprises receiving a user identification from an IMS terminal, receiving billing information from the IMS terminal, determining an IMS service provider based upon the user identification, and billing a service charge for use of the IMS terminal based upon the billing information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing signal processing in an IMS network is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an S-CSCF having a controller element that receives an incoming call initiated by a first terminal device directed to a second terminal device, identifies in a registration table a P-CSCF in response to detecting a match between the incoming call and an entry in the registration table, and forwards the incoming call to the P-CSCF to alert the second terminal device of said incoming call. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of determining a telephony network node for routing a call is disclosed. The method includes receiving a call request at a service provider node, the call request including a called number to reach a called party. The method further includes sending a combined telephone number mapping (ENUM) and local number portability (LNP) query from the service provider node to a remote ENUM database, the combined ENUM/LNP query including the called number. The method further includes receiving a response to the combined ENUM/LNP query at the service provider node. The response includes one of an internet protocol address that identifies a node of an internet protocol network, a local routing number (LRN) to be used to route the call to a uniquely identified switching node of a circuit-switched network, or a return of the called number to indicate that the called number can be used to route the call to the called party.