A system for storing and exchanging contacts information uses a central server having a contacts database. At least one client device has at least one of its own contacts databases. The system includes at least one client interface. The contacts database from each of the at least one client device is linked to the central contacts data store and wherein client devices share contact information using exchanges of data with the central data store.

A technique for selecting a network node from a plurality of nodes employing anycast addressing based on a priority. The plurality of nodes is configured with an anycast address. At each node, the anycast address is associated with a unique priority value that represents a priority associated with the node. Traffic destined for the anycast address is forwarded to the node whose priority value indicates the highest priority. If the node becomes unavailable, traffic destined for the anycast address is forwarded to a node whose priority value indicates the next highest priority, and so on.

In some embodiments, a method stores domain name system (DNS) resolution mappings from a domain name to an address in a first table. The DNS resolution mappings are intercepted from DNS responses being sent by a DNS server. The first table is sent to a manager for validation of the DNS resolution mappings. Then, a second table is received from the manager that contains validated DNS resolution mappings. The method intercepts a DNS response that includes a domain name to address resolution mapping from the DNS server and validates the domain name to address resolution mapping using a validated DNS resolution mapping in the second table.

In some embodiments, a method stores domain name system (DNS) resolution mappings from a domain name to an address in a first table. The DNS resolution mappings are intercepted from DNS responses being sent by a DNS server. The first table is sent to a manager for validation of the DNS resolution mappings. Then, a second table is received from the manager that contains validated DNS resolution mappings. The method intercepts a DNS response that includes a domain name to address resolution mapping from the DNS server and validates the domain name to address resolution mapping using a validated DNS resolution mapping in the second table.

Methods and apparatus to decrease DNS lookup times for mobile clients are disclosed. An example DNS cache peering system includes a mobile DNS cache; a mobile DNS server configured to, when an IP address for a URL is not found in the DNS cache, send a DNS lookup request for the URL; a ground-based DNS server to receive the DNS lookup request from the mobile DNS server, and send, in response, a DNS lookup response including the IP address for the URL to the mobile DNS server; and a ground-based DNS peer engine server configured to capture the DNS lookup response, and multicast DNS information from the DNS lookup response to a plurality of mobile DNS peer engine clients, wherein the plurality of mobile DNS peer engine clients are configured to store the DNS information in respective ones of a plurality of mobile DNS caches.

Methods and apparatus to decrease DNS lookup times for mobile clients are disclosed. An example DNS cache peering system includes a mobile DNS cache; a mobile DNS server configured to, when an IP address for a URL is not found in the DNS cache, send a DNS lookup request for the URL; a ground-based DNS server to receive the DNS lookup request from the mobile DNS server, and send, in response, a DNS lookup response including the IP address for the URL to the mobile DNS server; and a ground-based DNS peer engine server configured to capture the DNS lookup response, and multicast DNS information from the DNS lookup response to a plurality of mobile DNS peer engine clients, wherein the plurality of mobile DNS peer engine clients are configured to store the DNS information in respective ones of a plurality of mobile DNS caches.

Determining a resolved DNS response based on one or more resolutions for a received APN DNS query is disclosed. A resolved DNS response can be based on real-time analysis of a first query and/or on historical resolution of a second query that is sufficiently similar to the first query. In an aspect, training queries can be employed to populate a data store with preferred DNS responses correlated to the training queries and associated network conditions. The data store can then be employed to evaluate a received query, and where sufficiently similar to a training query, corresponding resolution from the training query can be provided as a resolution for the received query. Moreover, as stored query information is determined to become stale, refreshment techniques are disclosed. Additionally, training queries can comprise anticipated queries and historical queries.

A method for a multichannel geophysical data acquisition system is provided in the field of electrical resistivity tomography. Individual and autonomous node operating systems are provided. Separate communication channels for upstream and downstream data transfer, high voltage transfer and synchronization signals are provided. A novel use of high voltage isolation barriers is also provided. A direct memory access data transfer process is provided.

A method for a multichannel geophysical data acquisition system is provided in the field of electrical resistivity tomography. Individual and autonomous node operating systems are provided. Separate communication channels for upstream and downstream data transfer, high voltage transfer and synchronization signals are provided. A novel use of high voltage isolation barriers is also provided. A direct memory access data transfer process is provided.

A service management system communicates via wide area network with gateway devices located at respective user premises. The service management system remotely manages delivery of application services, which can be voice controlled, by a gateway, e.g. by selectively activating/deactivating service logic modules in the gateway. The service management system also may selectively provide secure communications and exchange of information among gateway devices and among associated endpoint devices. An exemplary service management system includes a router connected to the network and one or more computer platforms, for implementing management functions. Examples of the functions include a connection manager for controlling system communications with the gateway devices, an authentication manager for authenticating each gateway device and controlling the connection manager and a subscription manager for managing applications services and/or features offered by the gateway devices. A service manager, controlled by the subscription manager, distributes service specific configuration data to authenticated gateway devices.