Abstract: A method for communication employs a plurality of gatekeepers and involves receiving at a first gatekeeper a request for information. If the information is not known by the first gatekeeper, a request is sent via a second gatekeeper to a third gatekeeper for the information. If the information is known by the third gatekeeper, it is returned to the first gatekeeper, illustratively via the second gatekeeper. The gatekeepers are at a single gatekeeper hierarchical level.

Abstract: A framework of a common mobility management protocol for Q.5/16 (Mobility for Multimedia Systems/Applications and Services) comprises a high level protocol for performing the functions of address resolution, routing, location update and authentication. The common mobility management protocol can be used by all existent and future multimedia applications (MA's) to support mobility management for messaging among mobility management authentication function (AuF), home location function (HLF) and visitor location function (VLF) databases/servers, and the corresponding multimedia application functional entities (MAFEs) of the multimedia applications (MA's). The common mobility management protocol may replace, act in concert with or in sequence with existent interworking protocols for the various multimedia applications. Reference point architectures, functional characteristics, features, and capabilities of the protocol are described including call flows and message syntax. In addition, the scope of Q.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for assuring H.323 alias address portability to an H.323 user in real-time H.323 multimedia communications where the H.323 user is registered with a home gatekeeper for the home zone of the H.323 user. Alias address portability may be obtained using a central database that is known to the administrative zones and is used for alias address mapping, or alternatively, may be obtained by using a distributed database. The method may be implemented by: sending, by the H.323 user, a message with a called H.323 entity's alias address, to the home gatekeeper to originate a call to the called H.323 entity; confirming that the alias address, services, and service providers are portable; converting the alias address to a called routable alias address for the called H.323 entity and sending the alias address to the H.323 user; and placing the call to the called H.323 entity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for assuring H.323 alias address portability to an H.323 user in real-time H.323 multimedia communications where the H.323 user is registered with a home gatekeeper for the home zone of the H.323 user. Alias address portability may be obtained using a central database that is known to the administrative zones and is used for alias address mapping, or alternatively, may be obtained by using a distributed database. The method may be implemented by: sending, by the H.323 user, a message with a called H.323 entity's alias address, to the home gatekeeper to originate a call to the called H.323 entity; confirming that the alias address, services, and service providers are portable; converting the alias address to a called routable alias address for the called H.323 entity and sending the alias address to the H.323 user; and placing the call to the called H.323 entity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for assuring H.323 alias address portability to an H.323 user in real-time H.323 multimedia communications where the H.323 user is registered with a home gatekeeper for the home zone of the H.323 user. Alias address portability may be obtained using a central database that is known to the administrative zones and is used for alias address mapping, or alternatively, may be obtained by using a distributed database. The method may be implemented by: sending, by the H.323 user, a message with a called H.323 entity's alias address, to the home gatekeeper to originate a call to the called H.323 entity; confirming that the alias address, services, and service providers are portable; converting the alias address to a called routable alias address for the called H.323 entity and sending the alias address to the H.323 user; and placing the call to the called H.323 entity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for assuring H.323 alias address portability to an H.323 user in real-time H.323 multimedia communications where the H.323 user is registered with a home gatekeeper for the home zone of the H.323 user. Alias address portability may be obtained using a central database that is known to the administrative zones and is used for alias address mapping, or alternatively, may be obtained by using a distributed database. The method may be implemented by: sending, by the H.323 user, a message with a called H.323 entity's alias address, to the home gatekeeper to originate a call to the called H.323 entity; confirming that the alias address, services, and service providers are portable; converting the alias address to a called routable alias address for the called H.323 entity and sending the alias address to the H.323 user; and placing the call to the called H.323 entity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for assuring H.323 alias address portability to an H.323 user in real-time H.323 multimedia communications where the H.323 user is registered with a home gatekeeper for the home zone of the H.323 user. Alias address portability may be obtained using a central database that is known to the administrative zones and is used for alias address mapping, or alternatively, may be obtained by using a distributed database. The method may be implemented by: sending, by the H.323 user, a message with a called H.323 entity's alias address, to the home gatekeeper to originate a call to the called H.323 entity; confirming that the alias address, services, and service providers are portable; converting the alias address to a called routable alias address for the called H.323 entity and sending the alias address to the H.323 user; and placing the call to the called H.323 entity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for assuring H.323 alias address portability to an H.323 user in real-time H.323 multimedia communications where the H.323 user is registered with a home gatekeeper for the home zone of the H.323 user. Alias address portability may be obtained using a central database that is known to the administrative zones and is used for alias address mapping, or alternatively, may be obtained by using a distributed database. The method may be implemented by: sending, by the H.323 user, a message with a called H.323 entity's alias address, to the home gatekeeper to originate a call to the called H.323 entity; confirming that the alias address, services, and service providers are portable; converting the alias address to a called routable alias address for the called H.323 entity and sending the alias address to the H.323 user; and placing the call to the called H.323 entity.

Abstract: A novel method of and system for providing common value-added services for two-way point-to-point, multi-point-to-multi-point, point-to-multi-point, and/or multi-point-to-point real-time communications using various communication protocols. The present invention provides common value-added service protocols for receiving a request from a first of a multiple of communication protocol sources for a first value-added service using the first common value-added service protocol, and providing the requested first value-added service to the first communication protocol source using the first common value-added service protocol. The present invention further includes receiving a request from a second of the multiple communication protocol sources for the first value-added service using the first common value-added service protocol, and providing the requested first value-added service to the second communication protocol source using the first common value-added service protocol.

Abstract: A technique for providing real-time multimedia conferencing services with guaranteed performance, in a hybrid networking environment, by interconnecting cable modem-based premises networks via hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) access networks and an ATM wide area network is disclosed. The ATM wide area network may be divided into a plurality of access network domains and one backbone network domain to provide efficient and intelligent multimedia conferencing services. Each ATM access network domain has one cable modem server as well as access multimedia bridge server. There is only one central network server and one central multimedia bridge server within the backbone network domain. Each cable modem server located in an ATM access network domain maintains necessary information of how the cable network bandwidth is used by existing calls, and will be allocated when new multimedia conference calls are initiated, in accordance with desired priority and performance levels.

Abstract: An interworking function (IWF) for a first and second protocol based network, for example, an H.323 protocol based network and an SIP protocol based network comprises an interworking gateway server including a state machine for defining each call processing state and a translation table for use in translating addresses formatted in each protocol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for inter-domain mobility management for a telephony network. The present invention also relates generally to the H.323 standard for transmitting audio and video data streams, and more particularly to extending the H.323 standard to support mobility in a multimedia communication system with services over packet-based networks.

Abstract: A method for communication employs a plurality of gatekeepers and involves receiving at a first gatekeeper a request for information. If the information is not known by the first gatekeeper, a request is sent via a gatekeeper-level path to a second gatekeeper for the information. If the information is known by the second gatekeeper, it is returned along the original path to the first gatekeeper.

Abstract: Back-end services such as authentication and mobile H.323 entity location update services include providing an authentication function within the control of a home gatekeeper and a distributed visitor location function (VLF) under the same control. In inter-zone communications, several embodiments are described for providing a home location functionality (HLF). The several HLF architectures include a distributed HLF, a centralized HLF, and a centralized HLF with communications via VLF only. Message flows can be smoothed by utilizing parallel message transmission where, for example, both a home and a visited location database may be signaled simultaneously and by utilizing direct messaging, for example, whereby a VLF communicates directly with a centralized HLF rather than via its associated gatekeeper function.

Abstract: A framework of a common mobility management protocol for Q.5/16 (Mobility for Multimedia Systems/Applications and Services) comprises a high level protocol for performing the functions of address resolution, routing, location update and authentication. The common mobility management protocol can be used by all existent and future multimedia applications (MA's) to support mobility management for messaging among mobility management authentication function (AuF), home location function (HLF) and visitor location function (VLF) databases/servers, and the corresponding multimedia application functional entities (MAFEs) of the multimedia applications (MA's). The common mobility management protocol may replace, act in concert with or in sequence with existent interworking protocols for the various multimedia applications. Reference point architectures, functional characteristics, features, and capabilities of the protocol are described including call flows and message syntax. In addition, the scope of Q.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method that allows the operator of each user device participating in a multimedia conference to selectively receive information services during the multimedia conference. The apparatus includes a controller for receiving start-up signals from a user device, sending start-up requests to destination user devices, and receiving start-up signals from the destination user devices. The start-up signals may include information as to whether each user device requests information services to be provided during the multimedia conference. The controller establishes the multimedia conference and selectively provides the information services to the respective user devices. The information services are provided continuously or non-continuously at the preference of the user devices. The information services may also be provided in various formats at the preference of the user devices.

Abstract: The H.323 standard is extended to support mobility in a multimedia communication system with services over packet-based networks. Such mobility is supported in a transport independent way. New H.323 messages and/or message elements have been created, and extensions to existing messages provided to accommodate mobility. Messages are provided to facilitate mobility binding as the mobile entity moves from one place to another. The mobile entity periodically registers with different gatekeepers to obtain support for an H.323 communication that includes at least one of audio, video and data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and audio-video conferencing system for efficiently utilizing a Home Network system with a controller and having home audio and video devices coupled by IEEE 1394 standard compliant connections in one of: point-to-point and multipoint arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for assuring H.323 alias address portability to an H.323 user in real-time H.323 multimedia communications where the H.323 user is registered with a home gatekeeper for the home zone of the H.323 user. Alias address portability may be obtained using a central database that is known to the administrative zones and is used for alias address mapping, or alternatively, may be obtained by using a distributed database. The method may be implemented by: sending, by the H.323 user, a message with a called H.323 entity's alias address, to the home gatekeeper to originate a call to the called H.323 entity; confirming that the alias address, services, and service providers are portable; converting the alias address to a called routable alias address for the called H.323 entity and sending the alias address to the H.323 user; and placing the call to the called H.323 entity.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method that allows the operator of each user device participating in a multimedia conference to selectively receive information services during the multimedia conference. The apparatus includes a controller for receiving start-up signals from a user device, sending start-up requests to destination user devices, and receiving start-up signals from the destination user devices. The start-up signals may include information as to whether each user device requests information services to be provided during the multimedia conference. The controller establishes the multimedia conference and selectively provides the information services to the respective user devices. The information services are provided continuously or non-continuously at the preference of the user devices. The information services may also be provided in various formats at the preference of the user devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides curable gel compositions and also cured gel compositions which possess unexpectedly superior combinations of physical properties and aging resistance. These compositions are particularly useful for environmentally protecting substrates especially electrical conductors, connectors and splices and for sealing around jacketed cables, for example, where they enter splice cases.