Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, detecting, over a network, a call originating from a call originator and intended for a user of a user equipment, responsive to the detecting the call, determining whether to challenge the call originator, based on a determination to challenge the call originator, transmitting a request to the call originator, wherein the request prompts the call originator to specify an identity of the call originator and a purpose for the call, obtaining information from a call originator input responsive to the transmitting the request, deriving enhanced Caller Name or Caller ID data that includes the information, and causing the enhanced Caller Name or Caller ID data to be provided to the user equipment, thereby enabling the user of the user equipment to determine whether to answer the call. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, detecting, over a network, a call originating from a call originator and intended for a user of a user equipment, responsive to the detecting the call, determining whether to challenge the call originator, based on a determination to challenge the call originator, transmitting a request to the call originator, wherein the request prompts the call originator to specify an identity of the call originator and a purpose for the call, obtaining information from a call originator input responsive to the transmitting the request, deriving enhanced Caller Name or Caller ID data that includes the information, and causing the enhanced Caller Name or Caller ID data to be provided to the user equipment, thereby enabling the user of the user equipment to determine whether to answer the call. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system receives, at a conference platform, a communication from a communications device of a requester requesting to host an audio conference. The system determines whether an access code provided by the requester is a valid access code associated with a provider communications address specified by the requester. A processor identifies a country from which the communication of the requester originated and determines whether the country from which the communication of the requester originated is a pre-authorized country, associated with a host account, from which to host the global audio conference. An audio conference is established when the access code specified by the requester is determined to be a valid access code associated with the provider communications address specified by the requester and when the country from which the communication of the requester originated is determined to be a pre-authorized country from which to host the audio conference.

Abstract: A system receives, at a conference platform, a communication from a communications device of a requester requesting to host an audio conference. The system determines whether an access code provided by the requester is a valid access code associated with a provider communications address specified by the requester. A processor identifies a country from which the communication of the requester originated and determines whether the country from which the communication of the requester originated is a pre-authorized country, associated with a host account, from which to host the global audio conference. An audio conference is established when the access code specified by the requester is determined to be a valid access code associated with the provider communications address specified by the requester and when the country from which the communication of the requester originated is determined to be a pre-authorized country from which to host the audio conference.

Abstract: Methods of managing media server resources that may be used for VoIP calls are disclosed. In an embodiment, a media server resource broker receives a request for a set of media server resources from an application server. The media server resource broker determines the service request should be handled by a first media server based on the type of request and the availability of the first media server and provides the address of the first media server to the application server. The media server resource broker updates records regarding an assignment level of the first media servers to reflect the most recent request. When the call is complete and the resources become idle, the media server resource broker can update the assignment level to reflect the increase in availability of resources in the first media server.

Abstract: Methods of controlling media server resources in a VoIP network are disclosed. In an embodiment, an IP node provides a service request. An application server receives the service request and sends a request for media server resources to a media server resource broker. The media server resource broker determines that the request should be handled by a first media server. The media server resource broker queries the first media server to obtain an IP address and port number for use in establishing a call between the IP node and the first media server. The media server resource broker then provides a signal to the IP Node so that it can establishing the call with the appropriate port on the media server. In an embodiment, the media server resource broker updates a database module that tracks assignment levels of the first media server so as to reflect the most recent request, thus decreasing the number of ports available for the first media server.

Abstract: Methods of controlling media server resources in a VoIP network are disclosed. In an embodiment, an IP node provides a service request. An application server receives the service request and sends a request for media server resources to a media server resource broker. The media server resource broker determines that the request should be handled by a first media server. The media server resource broker queries the first media server to obtain an IP address and port number for use in establishing a call between the IP node and the first media server. The media server resource broker then provides a signal to the IP Node so that it can establishing the call with the appropriate port on the media server. In an embodiment, the media server resource broker updates a database module that tracks assignment levels of the first media server so as to reflect the most recent request, thus decreasing the number of ports available for the first media server.

Abstract: Methods of managing media server resources that may be used for VoIP calls are disclosed. In an embodiment, a media server resource broker receives a request for a set of media server resources from an application server. The media server resource broker determines the service request should be handled by a first media server based on the type of request and the availability of the first media server and provides the address of the first media server to the application server. The media server resource broker updates records regarding an assignment level of the first media servers to reflect the most recent request. When the call is complete and the resources become idle, the media server resource broker can update the assignment level to reflect the increase in availability of resources in the first media server.