All The Claims

1. A method of operating a network node in a network for controlling an access domain switching behavior of a user terminal capable that can switch from a first network access domain to a second network access domain while a service is being provided to the user terminal, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a request message from the user terminal;
sending, in response to the request message, a rule set including one or more access domain switching rules to the user terminal;
receiving access information from the user terminal, the access information relating to at least a first set of network access technologies technically supported by the user terminal; and
determining the rule set depending on the received access information.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request message aims at registering the user terminal in the network.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the access information further relates to a second set of network accesses currently available to the user terminal.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the rule set depending on at least one of a time of the day, a network condition, a location of the user terminal and an identity of the user terminal.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
monitoring if a subscription message is received, from the user terminal, in relation to a network application managing the access domain switching rules; and
sending the rule set in response to receipt of the subscription message.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:
starting a timer in context with receipt of the request message; and
sending the rule set only if the subscription message is received before the timer expires.
7. A method of operating a network node for controlling an access domain switching behavior of a user terminal that can switch from a first network access domain to a second network access domain while a service is being provided to the user terminal, the method comprising the steps of:
maintaining a rule set including one or more access domain switching rules for controlling the access domain switching behavior of the user terminal;
generating an access domain switching instruction for the user terminal based on the one or more access domain switching rules; and
sending the access domain switching instruction to the user terminal;

wherein the rule set is determined depending on access information relating to at least a first set of network access technologies technically supported by the user terminal.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the access information further relates to a second set of network accesses currently available to the user terminal.
9. In a network, a method of controlling a user terminal that can switch from a first network access domain to a second network access domain while a service is being provided to the user terminal, the method comprising the steps of:
sending a request message to the network;
receiving, in response to the request message, a rule set including one or more access domain switching rules controlling an access domain switching behaviour of the user terminal; and
sending access information to the network, the access information relating to at least a first set of network access technologies technically supported by the user terminal.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the access information further relates to a second set of network accesses currently available to the user terminal.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:
evaluating at least one access domain switching parameter, defined in the one or more access domain switching rules; and
autonomously performing an access domain switching decision in accordance with the evaluation of the at least one access domain switching parameter.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one access domain switching parameter is selected from the group including a time of the day, a network condition, a location of the user terminal and an identity of the user terminal.
13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:
receiving an access domain switching instruction from the network, the access domain switching instruction being defined in the one or more access domain switching rules; and
performing access domain switching in accordance with the received access domain switching instruction.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein the access domain switching is performed to initiate a transfer from the first network access domain to the second network access domain while the service is being provided to the user terminal.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein the access domain switching is performed to select either one of the first network access domain and the second network access domain for originating a service request.
16. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:
sending a subscription message for subscribing to a network application in charge of managing the access domain switching rules; and
receiving the rule set in response to the subscription message.
17. The method of claim 9, wherein the first network access domain is a circuit-switched domain and the second network access domain is a packet-switched domain, or the first network access domain is a domain operated according to a first communication standard and the second network access domain is a domain operated according to a second communication standard.
18. The method of claim 9, wherein the rule set specifies the access domain switching behavior behaviour of the user terminal depending on at least one of a time of the day, a network condition, a location of the user terminal, an identity of the user terminal and an access domain switching instruction
19. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more access domain switching rules allow, disallow or trigger an access domain transfer from the first network access domain to the second network access domain depending on the current location of the user terminal.
20.-21. (canceled)
22. A network node for controlling an access domain switching behavior of a user terminal capable of switching from a first network access domain to a second network access domain while a service is being provided to the user terminal, the network node comprising:
a first interface for receiving a request message from the User terminal;
a second interface for receiving, in response to the request message, a rule set including one or more access domain switching rules to the user terminal; and
a processor for determining the rule set based on at least a first set of network access technologies technically supported by the user terminal.
23. The network node of claim 22, wherein the processor for determining the rule set based on at least a first set of network access technologies further comprises determining one of a second set of network accesses currently available to the user terminal, a time of the day, a network condition, a location of the user terminal and an identity of the user terminal.
24. A network node for controlling an access domain switching behavior of a user terminal that can switch from a first network access domain to a second network access domain while a service is being provided to the user terminal, the network node comprising:
a database with a rule set including one or more access domain switching rules for controlling the access domain switching behavior of the user terminal;
a generator for generating an access domain switching instruction for the user terminal based on the one or more access domain switching rules; and
an interface for sending the access domain switching instruction the user terminal, wherein the rule set is determined depending on access information relating to at least a first set of network access technologies technically supported by the user terminal.
25. The network node of claim 24, wherein the access information further relates to a second set of network accesses, currently available to the user terminal.
26. A user terminal in a network for switching from a first network access domain to a second network access domain while a service is being provided to the user terminal, the user terminal comprising:
a first interface for sending a request message to the network; and
a second interface for receiving, in response to the request message, a rule set including one or more access domain switching rules controlling an access domain switching decision of the user terminal, wherein the user terminal is further adapted to send access information to the network, the access information relating to at least a first set of network access technologies technically supported by the user terminal.
27. The user terminal of claim 26, wherein the access information further relates to a second set of network accesses currently available to the user terminal.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An image capturing device, comprising:
a base including a top face, a bottom face, a surrounding wall extending upward from said top face, and an opening formed in said top face and located within said surrounding wall, said bottom face of said base being formed with an access space that is communicated with said opening;
a lens module including an adjusting seat that extends partly through said opening, and that is coupled rotatably to said base, a fixed lens set provided within said adjusting seat, and a liquid lens provided within said adjusting seat, said adjusting seat having spaced-apart first and second through holes, said liquid lens having first and second electrode portions; and
an electrically conducting mechanism including a first conducting member surrounding an outer surface of said surrounding wall, a second conducting member surrounding an inner surface of said surrounding wall, a third conducting member provided within said adjusting seat, abutting against said first electrode portion, and extending partly through said first through hole so as to contact said first conducting member, and a fourth conducting member disposed within said adjusting seat, spaced apart from said third conducting member, abutting against said second electrode portion, and extending partly through said second through hole so as to contact said second conducting member, said first and second electrode portions of said liquid lens being connected electrically and respectively to said first and second conducting members via said third and fourth conducting members when said adjusting seat is rotated relative to said base.
2. The image capturing device according to claim 1, wherein said surrounding wall is annular.
3. The image capturing device according to claim 2, wherein said first conducting member has a first ring portion fitted around said outer surface of said surrounding wall and abutting against said third conducting member, and a first conducting portion extending from said first ring portion to said bottom face of said base.
4. The image capturing device according to claim 3, wherein said third conducting member has a first contact portion fitted around an outer surface of said first electrode portion, and a first resilient tab extending from said first contact portion through said first through hole and abutting against said first ring portion.
5. The image capturing device according to claim 3, wherein said base includes a first limiting groove provided in said top face and located at one side of said opening, and a first post hole extending from said first limiting groove to said bottom face, said first conducting portion including a first limiting tab extending radially outward from said first ring portion and received in said first limiting groove, and a first guide post coupled to said first limiting tab and extending into said first post hole.
6. The image capturing device according to claim 2, wherein said second conducting member has a second ring portion abutting against said inner surface of said surrounding wall and said fourth conducting member, and a second conducting portion extending from said second ring portion to said bottom face of said base.
7. The image capturing device according to claim 6, wherein said fourth conducting member has a second contact portion abutting against said second electrode portion, and a second resilient tab extending from said second contact portion through said second through hole and abutting against said second ring portion.
8. The image capturing device according to claim 6, wherein said base includes a second limiting groove provided in said top face, located at one side of said opening, and extending to said inner surface of said surrounding wall, and a second post hole extending from said second limiting groove to said bottom face, said second conducting portion including a second limiting tab extending radially outward from said second ring portion and received in said second limiting groove, and a second guide post coupled to said second limiting tab and extending into said second post hole.
9. The image capturing device according to claim 2, wherein said adjusting seat has a base wall, a first surrounding wall segment extending upward from said base wall, and a second surrounding wall segment extending downward from said base wall and coupled to said base, said liquid lens being received within said first surrounding wall segment, said fixed lens set being received within said second surrounding wall segment.
10. The image capturing device according to claim 9, wherein said base includes an internally threaded portion, said adjusting seat having an externally threaded portion surrounding an outer surface of said second surrounding wall segment and threadedly engaging said internally threaded portion.
11. The image capturing device according to claim 9, wherein said first and second through holes are formed respectively in said base wall.

1. A computer-implemented method for creating a logical security model based on a physical security model defining user access rights to physical data, the method comprising:
for each of the user access rights defined by the physical security model, creating a logical access right definition for a logical model, wherein the logical model comprises a plurality of logical field definitions each comprising a field name, physical field location information identifying a specific field of the physical data and an access method for accessing the specific field of the physical data according to the physical field location information; wherein the access methods of a first portion of the plurality of logical field definitions are of a first type and the access methods of a second portion of the plurality of logical field definitions are of a second type;
applying the logical access right definitions to the logical model so that the logical model reflects the user access rights to the physical data; and
executing, by operation of one or more computer processors, abstract queries composed on the basis of the logical model.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
allowing one or more users to access the physical data through the logical model, wherein the access to physical data is restricted according to the logical access right definitions.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical field location information comprises an identifier of a database table and an identifier of a column of the table.
4. A computer-implemented method for creating a logical security model based on a physical security model, the method comprising:
automatically, by operation of one or more computer processors executing a data crawler, traversing physical data to identify physical access rights rules;
creating a plurality of views defining logical access rights rules for the identified physical access rights rules of the physical data; and
selectively applying the plurality of views to a logical model comprising a plurality of logical field definitions mapping to corresponding physical fields of the physical data, wherein the plurality of logical field definitions each comprise a field name, physical field location information identifying a specific field of the physical data and an access method for accessing the specific field of the physical data according to the physical field location information; wherein the access methods of a first portion of the plurality of logical field definitions are of a first type and the access methods of a second portion of the plurality of logical field definitions are of a second type; wherein the application of the plurality of views to the logical model operates to make selected logical fields unavailable to a user of the logical model, the selected logical fields being those for which logical access rights rules exist, whereby access to the physical data is restricted on the basis of the applied plurality of views.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of views comprise expressions each defining a physical location of a field of the physical data for which an identified access rights rule exists.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein automatically traversing physical data to identify the physical access rights rules comprises:
accessing a physical database containing the physical data;
identifying all database tables contained in the physical database, the database tables containing the physical data; and
for each database table, retrieving an associated table access rights specification including the physical access rights rules for the database table.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein automatically traversing physical data to identify the physical access rights rules comprises:
iteratively identifying the physical access rights rules for all database tables of the physical database.
8. The method of claim 4, further comprising creating user profiles each defining one or more of the plurality of views to be applied to a given user, and wherein selectively applying the plurality of views comprises applying only those one or more of the plurality of views of a given user profile to the user for which the user profile is defined.
9. The method of claim 4, further comprising defining a given view of the plurality of views to be applied to a given group of users, and wherein selectively applying the plurality of views comprises applying the given view to users of the given group.
10. The method of claim 4, wherein the physical field location information comprises an identifier of a database table and an identifier of a column of the table.
11. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of logical field definitions comprises a field name that is different from a name of the field of the physical data to which the at least one of the plurality of logical field definitions maps to.
12. A computer-implemented method for creating a logical security model based on a physical security model defining user access rights to physical data, the method comprising:
for each of the user access rights defined by the physical security model, creating a logical access right definition for a logical model, wherein the logical model abstractly describes the physical data and is defined for accessing the physical data; wherein the logical model comprises a plurality of logical field definitions that each comprise a field name, physical field location information identifying a specific field of the physical data and an access method for accessing the specific field of the physical data according to the physical field location information, a respective access method being invoked upon execution of a given abstract query containing a field name corresponding to a logical field definition containing the respective access method; and
applying, by operation of one or more computer processors, the logical access right definitions to the logical model so that the logical model reflects the user access rights to the physical data, wherein applying the logical access right definitions to the logical model results in each of the access rights to the physical data being reflected in the logical model.
13. A computer-readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor, performs operations for creating a logical security model based on a physical security model defining user access rights to physical data, the operations comprising:
for each of the user access rights defined by the physical security model, creating a logical access right definition for a logical model, wherein the logical model comprises a plurality of logical field definitions each comprising a field name, physical field location information identifying a specific field of the physical data and an access method for accessing the specific field of the physical data; wherein the access methods of a first portion of the plurality of logical field definitions are of a first type and the access methods of a second portion of the plurality of logical field definitions are of a second type;
applying the logical access right definitions to the logical model so that the logical model reflects the user access rights to the physical data; and
executing, by operation of one or more computer processors, abstract queries composed on the basis of the logical model.
14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:
allowing one or more users to access the physical data through the logical model, wherein the access to physical data is restricted according to the logical access right definitions.
15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein applying the logical access right definitions to the logical model results in each of the access rights to the physical data being reflected in the logical model.
16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the physical field location information comprises an identifier of a database table and an identifier of a column of the table.
17. A computer-readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed by a processor, performs operations for creating a logical security model based on a physical security model, the operations comprising:
traversing, by operation of one or more computer processors executing a data crawler, physical data to identify physical access rights rules;
creating a plurality of views defining logical access rights rules for the identified physical access rights rules of the physical data; and
selectively applying the plurality of views to a logical model comprising a plurality of logical field definitions mapping to corresponding physical fields of the physical data, wherein the plurality of logical field definitions each comprise a field name, physical field location information identifying a specific field of the physical data and an access method for accessing the specific field of the physical data according to the physical field location information; wherein the access methods of a first portion of the plurality of logical field definitions are of a first type and the access methods of a second portion of the plurality of logical field definitions are of a second type; wherein the application of the plurality of views to the logical model operates to make selected logical fields unavailable to a user of the logical model, the selected logical fields being those for which logical access rights rules exist, whereby access to the physical data is restricted on the basis of the applied plurality of views.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of views comprise expressions each defining a physical location of a field of the physical data for which an identified access rights rule exists.
19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein traversing physical data to identify the physical access rights rules comprises:
accessing a physical database containing the physical data;
identifying all database tables contained in the physical database, the database tables containing the physical data; and
for each database table, retrieving an associated table access rights specification including the physical access rights rules for the database table.
20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein traversing physical data to identify the physical access rights rules comprises:
iteratively identifying the physical access rights rules for all database tables of the physical database.
21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:
creating user profiles each defining one or more of the plurality of views to be applied to a given user, and wherein selectively applying the plurality of views comprises applying only those one or more of the plurality of views of a given user profile to the user for which the user profile is defined.
22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:
defining a given view of the plurality of views to be applied to a given group of users, and wherein selectively applying the plurality of views comprises applying the given view to users of the given group.
23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the physical field location information comprises an identifier of a database table and an identifier of a column of the table.
24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of logical field definitions comprises a field name that is different from a name of the field of the physical data to which the at least one of the plurality of logical field definitions maps to.
25. A system, comprising:
one or more computer processors;
a physical security model defining user access rights to physical data and stored on a storage medium; and
a logical model security manager for creating a logical security model based on the physical security model, the logical model security manager being configured to:
for each of the user access rights defined by the physical security model, create a logical access right definition for a logical model, wherein the logical model comprises a plurality of logical field definitions each comprising a field name, physical field location information identifying a specific field of the physical data and an access method for accessing the specific field of the physical data according to the physical field location information; wherein the access methods of a first portion of the plurality of logical field definitions are of a first type and the access methods of a second portion of the plurality of logical field definitions are of a second type; and
apply the logical access right definitions to the logical model so that the logical model reflects the user access rights to the physical data.
26. A system, comprising:
one or more computer processors;
a physical security model defining physical access rights rules and stored on a storage medium;
a logical model security manager for creating a logical security model based on the physical security model, the logical model security manager configuring at least one of the one or more computer processors to:
traverse physical data to identify the physical access rights rules;
create a plurality of views defining logical access rights rules for the identified physical access rights rules of the physical data; and
selectively apply the plurality of views to a logical model comprising a plurality of logical field definitions mapping to corresponding physical fields of the physical data, wherein the plurality of logical field definitions each comprise a field name, physical field location information identifying a specific field of the physical data and an access method for accessing the specific field of the physical data according to the physical field location information; wherein the access methods of a first portion of the plurality of logical field definitions are of a first type and the access methods of a second portion of the plurality of logical field definitions are of a second type; wherein the application of the plurality of views to the logical model operates to make selected logical fields unavailable to a user of the logical model, the selected logical fields being those for which logical access rights rules exist, whereby access to the physical data is restricted on the basis of the applied plurality of views.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method, comprising the step of:
allowing through one or more network controllers a second user agent to communicate with a first user agent through employment of a codec format unsupported by the first user agent, wherein the one or more network controllers support a) selectable mode vocoder, b) G.711, c) adaptive differential pulse code modulation, d) enhanced variable rate codec and e) 13 k codec formats;
translating by one or more of the one or more network controllers one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to one or more media packets of a codec format that is supported by the first user agent;
wherein the one or more network controllers comprise first and second network controllers, and wherein the step of translating by the one or more of the one or more network controllers the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent comprises the steps of:
evaluating by the second network controller one or more characteristics of a signaling message; and
determining based on the one or more characteristics by the second network controller whether to allocate a gateway that serves to translate a subsequent media packet of the one or more media packet of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to a media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent or to send the subsequent media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to the first network controller to be translated to the media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent;
wherein the one or more characteristics of the signaling message comprise the codec format of the subsequent media packet, wherein the step of evaluating by the second network controller the one or more characteristics of the signaling message comprises the steps of:
comparing a first number of bits used to represent the subsequent media packet of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent and a second number of bits used to represent the media packet of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent;
determining to translate by the second network controller the subsequent media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to the media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent if the first number is greater than the second number; and
determining to ignore the subsequent media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
allowing through one or more of the one or more network controllers the first user agent to communicate with the second user agent through employment of a codec format unsupported by the second user agent.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of allowing through the one or more of the one or more network controllers the first user agent to communicate with the second user agent through employment of the codec format unsupported by the second user agent comprises the step of:
translating by one or more of the one or more network controllers one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the second user agent to one or more media packets of a codec format that is supported by the second user agent.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of allowing through the one or more network controllers the second user agent to communicate with the first user agent through employment of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent comprises the steps of:
generating a list of one or more codec formats supported by the first user agent;
appending the list with one or more codec formats supported by the one or more network controllers that are unsupported by the first user agent; and
employing the list to select a codec format unsupported by the first user agent for communication by the second user agent.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of generating the list of one or more codec formats supported by the first user agent comprises the steps of:
arranging an order for the one or more codec formats supported by the first user agent in the list from highest voice quality to lowest voice quality; and
sending the list from the first user agent to one or more of the one or more network controllers.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of employing the list to select the codec format unsupported by the first user agent for communication by the second user agent comprises the steps of:
selecting by the second user agent the codec format from the list of the one or more codec formats supported by the one or more network controllers that are unsupported by the first user agent; and
sending an indication of the codec format selected by the second user agent from the second user agent to one or more of the one or more network controllers.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more network controllers comprise first and second network controllers, and wherein the step of translating by the one or more of the one or more network controllers the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent comprises the steps of:
sending a signaling message from the second user agent to the second network controller;
sending the signaling message from the second network controller to the first network controller; and
translating by the first network controller a subsequent media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to a media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent.
8. A method, comprising the step of:
allowing through one or more network controllers a second user agent to communicate with a first user agent through employment of a codec format unsupported by the first user agent, wherein the one or more network controllers support a) selectable mode vocoder, b) G.711, c) adaptive differential pulse code modulation, d) enhanced variable rate codec and e) 13 k codec formats;
translating by one or more of the one or more network controllers one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to one or more media packets of a codec format that is supported by the first user agent;
wherein the one or more network controllers comprise first and second network controllers, and wherein the step of translating by the one or more of the one or more network controllers the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent comprises the steps of:
evaluating by the second network controller a traffic level or available resources of a network carrying the one or more media packets; and
determining based on the traffic level or the available resources of the network by the second network controller whether to:
allocate a gateway that serves to translate a subsequent media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to a media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent, or
ignore the subsequent media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of:
allowing through one or more of the one or more network controllers the first user agent to communicate with the second user agent through employment of a codec format unsupported by the second user agent.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of allowing through the one or more of the one or more network controllers the first user agent to communicate with the second user agent through employment of the codec format unsupported by the second user agent comprises the step of:
translating by one or more of the one or more network controllers one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the second user agent to one or more media packets of a codec format that is supported by the second user agent.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of allowing through the one or more network controllers the second user agent to communicate with the first user agent through employment of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent comprises the steps of:
generating a list of one or more codec formats supported by the first user agent;
appending the list with one or more codec formats supported by the one or more network controllers that are unsupported by the first user agent; and
employing the list to select a codec format unsupported by the first user agent for communication by the second user agent.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of generating the list of one or more codec formats supported by the first user agent comprises the steps of:
arranging an order for the one or more codec formats supported by the first user agent in the list from highest voice quality to lowest voice quality; and
sending the list from the first user agent to one or more of the one or more network controllers.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of employing the list to select the codec format unsupported by the first user agent for communication by the second user agent comprises the steps of:
selecting by the second user agent the codec format from the list of the one or more codec formats supported by the one or more network controllers that are unsupported by the first user agent; and
sending an indication of the codec format selected by the second user agent from the second user agent to one or more of the one or more network controllers.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more network controllers comprise first and second network controllers, and wherein the step of translating by the one or more of the one or more network controllers the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent comprises the steps of:
sending a signaling message from the second user agent to the second network controller;
sending the signaling message from the second network controller to the first network controller; and
translating by the first network controller a subsequent media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to a media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent.
15. A method, comprising the step of:
allowing through one or more network controllers a second user agent to communicate with a first user agent through employment of a codec format unsupported by the first user agent;
translating by one or more of the one or more network controllers one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to one or more media packets of a codec format that is supported by the first user agent;
wherein the one or more network controllers comprise first and second network controllers, and wherein the step of translating by the one or more of the one or more network controllers the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent comprises the steps of:
evaluating by the second network controller one or more characteristics of a signaling message; and
determining based on the one or more characteristics by the second network controller whether to allocate a gateway that serves to translate a subsequent media packet of the one or more media packet of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to a media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent or to send the subsequent media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to the first network controller to be translated to the media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent;
wherein the one or more characteristics of the signaling message comprise the codec format of the subsequent media packet, wherein the step of evaluating by the second network controller the one or more characteristics of the signaling message comprises the steps of:
comparing a first number of bits used to represent the subsequent media packet of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent and a second number of bits used to represent the media packet of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent;
determining to translate by the second network controller the subsequent media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to the media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent if the first number is greater than the second number; and
determining to ignore the subsequent media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent.
16. A method, comprising the step of:
allowing through one or more network controllers a second user agent to communicate with a first user agent through employment of a codec format unsupported by the first user agent;
translating by one or more of the one or more network controllers one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to one or more media packets of a codec format that is supported by the first user agent;
wherein the one or more network controllers comprise first and second network controllers, and wherein the step of translating by the one or more of the one or more network controllers the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent comprises the steps of:
evaluating by the second network controller a traffic level or available resources of a network carrying the one or more media packets; and
determining based on the traffic level or the available resources of the network by the second network controller whether to:
allocate a gateway that serves to translate a subsequent media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent to a media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format that is supported by the first user agent, or
ignore the subsequent media packet of the one or more media packets of the codec format unsupported by the first user agent.