A continual learning process is applied to a class of risk estimate-based algorithms and associated risk thresholds used for deciding when to initiate a handoff between different types of network connections that are available to a mobile device having telephony functionality. The process is implemented as a virtuous loop providing ongoing tuning and adjustment to improve call handoff algorithms and risk thresholds so that handoffs can be performed with the goals of minimizing dropped calls and unacceptable degradation in call quality as well as avoiding premature handoffs. Device characteristics, environmental context, connection measurements, and outcomes of call handoff decisions are crowd-sourced from a population of mobile devices into a cloud-based handoff decision enabling service. The service evaluates potentially usable handoff decision algorithms and risk thresholds against archived crowd-sourced data to determine how they would have performed in real world situations and delivers improved algorithms and risk thresholds to the mobile devices.

Novel tools and techniques for implementing Transparent PSTN Failover. In some embodiments, a VoIP switch might receive a call request for connection between a calling party at a calling telephone number (TN) and a called party at a called TN. Based on a determination that connection via a session border controller (SBC) between the VoIP switch and an Internet Protocol (IP) gateway has been lost, the VoIP switch might route the call request to a PSTN redirect TN through the PSTN. One of the Class 5 switch of the PSTN or the IP gateway might replace the redirect TN with the called TN, based on a determination that the redirect TN represents a PSTN failover. The IP gateway may then route the call request to an IP PBX for terminating (establishing) the call connection between calling party and called party, without interception by an operator, receptionist, or auto attendant.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium can include instructions for performing a method that includes, in response to an activation user input at a mobile device associated with a teleconference event, automatically joining the mobile device to the teleconference event. The mobile device can join the teleconference event by retrieving stored call-in details for the teleconference event, and sending, from the mobile device to a remote proxy, the call-in details for the teleconference event. The method can also include connecting the mobile device to the teleconference event via a call path that is established in response to the sending.

The present invention comprises systems and methods for controlling a connection between and IT infrastructure and a telephony network. In one embodiment, the present invention allows such control through the use of application services adapted for use with a telephony network, a telephony application server that exposes the telephony network to the application services, and a service mediation platform controlling the interaction between the application services and the telephony application server. The service mediation server may comprise a user profile manager for handling the user profiles of a subscriber database, a service level agreement manager for invoking a set of application services, and a resource policy enforcement manager for managing the resources of the telephony network.

The present invention introduces a system (1) for IP telephony that is distinguished by the special interaction between a party (2) calling from a terminal connected to a router and an arbitrary called party (3, 4), which allows the costs for calls from the terminal to mobile radio networks and other networks to be substantially lowered, or even eliminates them completely, or settles the current call costs from the mobile radio network (9). To this end, a mobile radio (6) has a piece of software (7) installed on it that, together with an appropriately configured router (5), allows the IP telephony from terminals (2) connected to this router using a mobile radio network.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium can include instructions for performing a method that includes, in response to an activation user input at a mobile device associated with a teleconference event, automatically joining the mobile device to the teleconference event. The mobile device can join the teleconference event by retrieving stored call-in details for the teleconference event, and sending, from the mobile device to a remote proxy, the call-in details for the teleconference event. The method can also include connecting the mobile device to the teleconference event via a call path that is established in response to the sending.

A continual learning process is applied to a class of risk estimate-based algorithms and associated risk thresholds used for deciding when to initiate a handoff between different types of network connections that are available to a mobile device having telephony functionality. The process is implemented as a virtuous loop providing ongoing tuning and adjustment to improve call handoff algorithms and risk thresholds so that handoffs can be performed with the goals of minimizing dropped calls and unacceptable degradation in call quality as well as avoiding premature handoffs. Device characteristics, environmental context, connection measurements, and outcomes of call handoff decisions are crowd-sourced from a population of mobile devices into a cloud-based handoff decision enabling service. The service evaluates potentially usable handoff decision algorithms and risk thresholds against archived crowd-sourced data to determine how they would have performed in real world situations and delivers improved algorithms and risk thresholds to the mobile devices.

A media appliance comprising: video apparatus for outputting signals to a screen; a control device allowing a user to control the output of signals from the video apparatus to the screen, thereby selecting a viewing activity; a network interface for accessing a packet-based network; a memory storing a communication client application; and processing apparatus, coupled to the memory, network interface and video apparatus, and arranged to execute the communication client application; wherein the client application is configured so as when executed to allow the user to conduct bidirectional communications with other users via the packet-based network, and output notifications to the user of incoming communication events received from other users over the packet-based network; and wherein the client application is further configured to defer one or more of said notifications of incoming communication events received during said viewing activity, determine a delineation in the viewing activity, and automatically output the one or more notifications to the user following said delineation.

A media appliance comprising: video apparatus for outputting signals to a screen; a control device allowing a user to control the output of signals from the video apparatus to the screen, thereby selecting a viewing activity; a network interface for accessing a packet-based network; a memory storing a communication client application; and processing apparatus, coupled to the memory, network interface and video apparatus, and arranged to execute the communication client application; wherein the client application is configured so as when executed to allow the user to conduct bidirectional communications with other users via the packet-based network, and output notifications to the user of incoming communication events received from other users over the packet-based network; and wherein the client application is further configured to defer one or more of said notifications of incoming communication events received during said viewing activity, determine a delineation in the viewing activity, and automatically output the one or more notifications to the user following said delineation.