Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a call volume for an office that serves as a protecting site for another office in a packet network are disclosed. For example, the method collects one or more customer registration counts from one or more session border controllers located in a first office, determines if the one or more customer registration counts have reached or exceeded a threshold. The method directs all of said one or more session border controllers located in said first office to enact one or more throttling rules if the one or more customer registration counts have reached or exceeded the threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a call volume for an office that serves as a protecting site for another office in a packet network are disclosed. For example, the method collects one or more customer registration counts from one or more session border controllers located in a first office, determines if the one or more customer registration counts have reached or exceeded a threshold. The method directs all of said one or more session border controllers located in said first office to enact one or more throttling rules if the one or more customer registration counts have reached or exceeded the threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a call volume for an office that serves as a protecting site for another office in a packet network are disclosed. For example, the method collects one or more customer registration counts from one or more session border controllers located in a first office, determines if the one or more customer registration counts have reached or exceeded a threshold. The method directs all of said one or more session border controllers located in said first office to enact one or more throttling rules if the one or more customer registration counts have reached or exceeded the threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a call volume for an office that serves as a protecting site for another office in a packet network are disclosed. For example, the method collects one or more customer registration counts from one or more session border controllers located in a first office, determines if the one or more customer registration counts have reached or exceeded a threshold. The method directs all of said one or more session border controllers located in said first office to enact one or more throttling rules if the one or more customer registration counts have reached or exceeded the threshold.

Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving and granting, by a first session border controller, registration requests from a plurality of communication devices, where the plurality of communication devices are assigned to a second session border controller as a primary source for communication services, and where the registration requests are received responsive to the second session border controller being unable to provide services to the plurality of communication devices. The method can further include receiving, by the first session border controller, a re-registration request from one of the plurality of communication devices, and transmitting, by the first session border controller, a message to the one of the plurality of communication devices responsive to receiving the re-registration request to cause the one of the plurality of communication device to register with the second session border controller. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a call volume for an office that serves as a protecting site for another office in a packet network are disclosed. For example, the method collects one or more customer registration counts from one or more session border controllers located in a first office, determines if the one or more customer registration counts have reached or exceeded a threshold. The method directs all of said one or more session border controllers located in said first office to enact one or more throttling rules if the one or more customer registration counts have reached or exceeded the threshold.

Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving and granting, by a first session border controller, registration requests from a plurality of communication devices, where the plurality of communication devices are assigned to a second session border controller as a primary source for communication services, and where the registration requests are received responsive to the second session border controller being unable to provide services to the plurality of communication devices. The method can further include receiving, by the first session border controller, a re-registration request from one of the plurality of communication devices, and transmitting, by the first session border controller, a message to the one of the plurality of communication devices responsive to receiving the re-registration request to cause the one of the plurality of communication device to register with the second session border controller. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an edge device having a controller to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message from a user endpoint device (UE) requesting communication services, forward the SIP message to a network element of a Server Office, receive from the network element a first error message indicating communication services at the Server Office are unavailable, replace the first error message with a second error message, the second error message indicating a temporary unavailability of communication services, and transmit the second error message to the UE. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method, a system and a computer readable medium for routing packets across disparate networks are disclosed. For example, the method receives, via a media gateway controller (MGC), an external request from an external requestor for a reservation of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) trunk on a media gateway (MGW) for a communication session between a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network and a PSTN network, sends, via the MGC, a H.248 request to the MGW to make the reservation, establishes via the MGW, a communication path and sending a message to the MGC, retrieves, via the MGC, an assigned Internet protocol (IP) address and IP port on the MGW from the message from the MGW, sends, via the MGC, an allocation request to a media terminating session border controller (SBC) and allocates, via the media terminating SBC, a public IP address and a public IP port from an available pool of IP addresses and IP ports at the media terminating SBC.

Abstract: Fault tolerant VoIP systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving a registration request at an edge device of a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) system from a user device, selecting at the edge device a communication service providing device from a list of devices configured to provide communication services, sending the registration request to the selected communication service providing device, and receiving a registration response from the selected communication service providing device.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an edge device having a controller to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message from a user endpoint device (UE) requesting communication services, forward the SIP message to a network element of a Server Office, receive from the network element a first error message indicating communication services at the Server Office are unavailable, replace the first error message with a second error message, the second error message indicating a temporary unavailability of communication services, and transmit the second error message to the UE. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that relate to the display of network availability and quality of service (QoS) to a user of a multiple mode communication device are disclosed. An example method includes measuring, at a communication device, a quality of service metric from a call registration response message for a call, the call registration response message being a response to a call registration message routed through a first communication provider to a second communication provider, comparing the quality of service metric to a time interval in which the call registration response message is to expire, and selectively displaying a representation of the quality of service metric for the first communication provider to a user at the communication device based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an edge device having a controller to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message from a user endpoint device (UE) requesting communication services, forward the SIP message to a network element of a Server Office, receive from the network element a first error message indicating communication services at the Server Office are unavailable, replace the first error message with a second error message, the second error message indicating a temporary unavailability of communication services, and transmit the second error message to the UE. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that relate to the display of network availability and quality of service (QoS) to a user of a multiple mode communication device are disclosed. An example method includes measuring, at a communication device, a quality of service metric from a call registration response message for a call, the call registration response message being a response to a call registration message routed through a first communication provider to a second communication provider, comparing the quality of service metric to a time interval in which the call registration response message is to expire, and selectively displaying a representation of the quality of service metric for the first communication provider to a user at the communication device based on the comparison.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an edge device having a controller to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message from a user endpoint device (UE) requesting communication services, forward the SIP message to a network element of a Server Office, receive from the network element a first error message indicating communication services at the Server Office are unavailable, replace the first error message with a second error message, the second error message indicating a temporary unavailability of communication services, and transmit the second error message to the UE. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that relate to the display of network availability and quality of service (QoS) to a user of a multiple mode communication device are disclosed. An example method, obtains a quality of service QoS metric for a call routed through a first communication provider to a second communication provider, wherein the QoS metric represents a service quality provided by the first communication provider. Further, the representation of the QoS metric for the first communication provider is provided to a user. Additionally, the user can select a mode of communication for a communication device once the QoS metric has been established.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an edge device having a controller to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message from a user endpoint device (UE) requesting communication services, forward the SIP message to a network element of a Server Office, receive from the network element a first error message indicating communication services at the Server Office are unavailable, replace the first error message with a second error message, the second error message indicating a temporary unavailability of communication services, and transmit the second error message to the UE. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of collecting information includes sending a text markup programming language query script, using a session initiation protocol message, to a communications device. The query script includes at least one location query to determine a location of the communications device. The method of collecting information also includes receiving a response to the query script including at least one response to the at least one location query from the communications device. The at least one response to the at least one location query is automatically generated by the communications device.

Abstract: A method, a system and a computer readable medium for routing packets across disparate networks are disclosed. For example, the method receives, via a media gateway controller (MGC), an external request from an external requestor for a reservation of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) trunk on a media gateway (MGW) for a communication session between a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network and a PSTN network, sends, via the MGC, a H.248 request to the MGW to make the reservation, establishes via the MGW, a communication path and sending a message to the MGC, retrieves, via the MGC, an assigned Internet protocol (IP) address and IP port on the MGW from the message from the MGW, sends, via the MGC, an allocation request to a media terminating session border controller (SBC) and allocates, via the media terminating SBC, a public IP address and a public IP port from an available pool of IP addresses and IP ports at the media terminating SBC.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for presenting quality information in a communication system is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a terminal device having a controlling element for processing Voice over IP (VoIP) data exchanged with a communication system, and a display element that presents one or more quality indicators adjusted according to quality information retrieved from the VoIP data. Additional embodiments are disclosed.