Broadband communications devices and methods operate with at least two separate communication paths between the devices and the network, such as the Internet. The broadband devices and methods receive data concurrently over the communication paths or separately. The bandwidth is increased when the separate communication paths are combined. The broadband devices employ packetized data with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies combined with RF communications technologies.

An example method of assigning a telephone number to a user account in a communications system is provided. The method includes obtaining a mnemonic seed and obtaining a subset of telephone numbers filtered from a global telephone number pool based on the mnemonic seed. The alphanumeric representation of each telephone number in the subset is within a threshold Hamming distance of the mnemonic seed. The method further includes receiving an indication of a selected telephone number from the subset and assigning the selected telephone number to the user account.

A communication server detects a first communication request from a first caller device to a second caller device. The communication server detects a second communication request from the second caller device to the first caller device. The first communication request and the second communication request both occur within a threshold time period. The communication server establishes, without additional input from the first caller device and the second caller device, an active session in response to the first communication request. The active session is established between the first caller device and the second caller device. The communication server dismisses the second communication request.

A system and method for enabling two-way communication between a residents of a secure facility (inmate, patient, suspect, etc.) and outside parties shares a limited number of telephone numbers (ANIs) by creating distinct communication channels using other data in addition to the shared ANIs.

The present invention suppresses the number of connections from another network, and reduces the load on call processing apparatuses in a local network. An ENUM server 30 includes: a congestion detection unit 322 that collects traffic information regarding calls that include call destination numbers from call processing apparatuses in the local network, calculates a call amount per unit time for each call destination number, and stores the call amounts per unit time as calculated call amount information 331, and also extracts a call destination number included in an ENUM query received from the other network, references the calculated call amount information 331, and determines that calls to the call destination number are in a congested state if the call amount regarding the call destination number exceeds a predetermined threshold value; a limit processing unit 323 that, if it was determined that the call destination number included in the ENUM query is in the congested state, determine whether or not the ENUM query is to be a limit target based on predetermined limit processing; and a signal response unit 325 that, if it was determined that the ENUM query is a limit target, generates an ENUM answer that indicates connection unavailability, and transmits the ENUM answer to the other network.

An example method of assigning a telephone number to a user account in a communications system is provided. The method includes obtaining a mnemonic seed and obtaining a subset of telephone numbers filtered from a global telephone number pool based on the mnemonic seed. The alphanumeric representation of each telephone number in the subset is within a threshold Hamming distance of the mnemonic seed. The method further includes receiving an indication of a selected telephone number from the subset and assigning the selected telephone number to the user account.

A communication server detects a first communication request from a first caller device to a second caller device. The communication server detects a second communication request from the second caller device to the first caller device. The first communication request and the second communication request both occur within a threshold time period. The communication server establishes, without additional input from the first caller device and the second caller device, an active session in response to the first communication request. The active session is established between the first caller device and the second caller device. The communication server dismisses the second communication request.

Broadband communications devices and methods operate with at least two separate communication paths between the devices and the network, such as the Internet. The broadband devices and methods receive data concurrently over the communication paths or separately. The bandwidth is increased when the separate communication paths are combined. The broadband devices employ packetized data with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies combined with RF communications technologies.

Broadband communications devices and methods operate with at least two separate communication paths between the devices and the network, such as the Internet. The broadband devices and methods receive data concurrently over the communication paths or separately. The bandwidth is increased when the separate communication paths are combined. The broadband devices employ packetized data with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies combined with RF communications technologies.

Broadband communications devices and methods operate with at least two separate communication paths between the devices and the network, such as the Internet. The broadband devices and methods receive data concurrently over the communication paths or separately. The bandwidth is increased when the separate communication paths are combined. The broadband devices employ packetized data with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies combined with RF communications technologies.