Abstract: The present invention provides a redundancy mechanism for packet-based communication environments without requiring localized redundancy of session control entities. These session control entities are generally referred to as service nodes, which may act as proxies on behalf of the communication terminals being served. Instead of having a dedicated backup service node, other active service nodes, which primarily serve different groups of communication terminals, are configured to provide backup support when another service node fails. In operation, a communication terminal will periodically attempt to communicate with its primary service node. When the communication terminal detects that the attempts to communicate with the service node are unsuccessful, the communication terminal will attempt to register with a selected alternate service node, the alternate service node being a currently active service node primarily supporting another group of communication terminals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a local agent operating in association with a communication client. The local agent acts on behalf of the communication client to enable capabilities the communication client is not capable of providing, by serving as a liaison between the communication client and the remainder of the communication network. By enabling additional capabilities and functionality, the local agent makes the communication client compatible with other communication clients and intermediate devices and systems through which communications are established. The local agent may process both messages and media streams to ensure compatibility, as well as facilitate interaction with other applications or a user to gather information sufficient to respond to requests from the other communication devices and systems.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a service node will recognize an attempt to initiate a call from a first terminal to a second terminal, and automatically provide information to media clients associated with the first and second terminals such that a media session can be readily established between the media clients in association with the call. The service node may be configured to interact with telephony switches that support the first or second terminals, directly or indirectly via a signaling adaptor. In a second embodiment, the service node will recognize an attempt to initiate a call and will route the call to a gateway, which is controllable by the service node. Once the call is sent to the gateway, the service node may provide instructions to the gateway for routing or otherwise processing the call.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a service node will recognize an attempt to initiate a call from a first terminal to a second terminal, and automatically provide information to media clients associated with the first and second terminals such that a media session can be readily established between the media clients in association with the call. The service node may be configured to interact with telephony switches that support the first or second terminals, directly or indirectly via a signaling adaptor. In a second embodiment, the service node will recognize an attempt to initiate a call and will route the call to a gateway, which is controllable by the service node. Once the call is sent to the gateway, the service node may provide instructions to the gateway for routing or otherwise processing the call.

Abstract: A server provides media and telephony services in a telecommunications network. The server has a distributed, object-oriented software architecture, allowing client applications to access resources located anywhere in the network. The server provides interfaces to media and telephony resources so that client applications, which may access the server through an IP data network, can access the resources. The software architecture framework is provided by Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a service node will recognize an attempt to initiate a call from a first terminal to a second terminal, and automatically provide information to media clients associated with the first and second terminals such that a media session can be readily established between the media clients in association with the call. The service node may be configured to interact with telephony switches that support the first or second terminals, directly or indirectly via a signaling adaptor. In a second embodiment, the service node will recognize an attempt to initiate a call and will route the call to a gateway, which is controllable by the service node. Once the call is sent to the gateway, the service node may provide instructions to the gateway for routing or otherwise processing the call.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a service node will recognize an attempt to initiate a call from a first terminal to a second terminal, and automatically provide information to media clients associated with the first and second terminals such that a media session can be readily established between the media clients in association with the call. The service node may be configured to interact with telephony switches that support the first or second terminals, directly or indirectly via a signaling adaptor. In a second embodiment, the service node will recognize an attempt to initiate a call and will route the call to a gateway, which is controllable by the service node. Once the call is sent to the gateway, the service node may provide instructions to the gateway for routing or otherwise processing the call.

Abstract: To provide resource management in a distributed object-oriented client/server computer system, resources allocated on a server on behalf of processes running on a client are recovered when the processes on the client no longer need to access the resource or when they terminate normally or abnormally. Reference counting is used on the server in combination with the use of smart proxies on the client so that resources on the server can be recovered.

Abstract: A server provides media and telephony services in a telecommunications network. The server has a distributed, object-oriented software architecture, allowing client applications to access resources located anywhere in the network. The server provides interfaces to media and telephony resources so that client applications, which may access the server through an IP data network, can access the resources. The software architecture framework is provided by Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). The interfaces provided by the server are Interface Definition Language (IDL) application program interfaces (APIs) implemented using a distributed object model such as CORBA.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus transform a state-based application into an executable program. A script representing a state-table application is exported from a development environment for a state-based system. The script is translated into a specifically structured, compilable code sequence. e.g., in the Java or C++ programming language. The code is compiled with a library, allowing the executable program to interface with a hardware platform. In order for the executable program to interface with a different hardware platform, only the library needs to be modified.