Methods and apparatus for managing TLS connections in a large soft switch

1. A method for establishing TLS connections in a soft switch coupled to one or more communication devices, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting the presence of a user in proximity to the communication device; and

establishing a TLS connection between the soft switch and the communication device where and when the presence of a user is detected, wherein the soft switch includes a maximum number of unique TCP sockets and, further, hosts a number of communication devices, detects user presences and establishes TLS connections such that a delay for establishing one unique TCP socket for said communication device is not experienced when the communication device is taken off hook.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting is performed via Bluetooth.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting is performed by monitoring a light switch.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting is performed with a badge detector.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting is performed with a noise detector.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting is performed by monitoring keyboard input.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of detecting is performed with a location service.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the number of communication devices is greater than said maximum number, presences said method further comprising:

after the step of detecting the presence of a user and prior to the step of establishing the TLS connection, publishing the presence over a network.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the maximum number of unique TCP sockets is 64,000 and the step of publishing is performed with a PDA.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of publishing is performed with a telephone.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the step of publishing is performed with a computer.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein prior to establishing said TLS connection a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) socket is not established for said communication device, and establishing said TLS connection establishes a unique TCP socket for said communication device prior to any off hook condition for said communication device.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the number of communication devices is greater than said maximum number and the step of detecting is performed with a motion detector.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of detecting is performed via RFID.

15. A system for establishing TLS connections in a soft switch, said system comprising:

means for detecting the presence of a user in proximity to at least one communication device of a plurality of communication devices coupled to the soft switch, the soft switch including a maximum number of unique Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) sockets; and

means for establishing a TLS connection between the soft switch and each at least one of the communication device where the presence of a user is detected and establishing said TLS connection establishes one of the unique TCP sockets for said communication device,

wherein prior to establishing said TLS connection no TCP socket is established for said communication device such that a delay for establishing the one unique TCP socket is not experienced when the communication device is taken off hook and the means for establishing the TLS connection is being responsive to the means for detecting the presence of the user.

16. The system according to claim 15 , further comprising a means for publishing the detected presence of a user over a network, wherein the means for publishing the detected presence of a user is coupled to the means for detecting, and wherein the means for establishing a TLS connection is being responsive to the means for publishing the presence of a user.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the number of said plurality of communication devices is greater than said maximum number, and the means for publishing the detected presence of a user includes one or more of a computer and a PDA.

18. The system according to claim 16 , wherein said maximum number is 64,000 and is less than the number of said plurality of communication devices, and the means for publishing the detected presence of a user includes a telephone.

19. A system for establishing TLS connections in a soft switch, said system comprising:

a soft switch including a maximum number of unique Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) sockets and coupled to a second number of communication devices;

a plurality of detectors for detecting the presence of a user in proximity to the communication devices, said communication devices not having an established TCP socket where the presence of a user is not detected in proximity; and

a presence server coupled to the detectors, wherein the soft switch subscribes to the presence server and establishes a unique TCP socket for and, a TLS connection between, the soft switch and the communication device where the presence of a user is detected, wherein a delay for establishing said TCP socket is not experienced when the communication device is taken off hook.

20. The system according to claim 19 , wherein the maximum number is less than the number of said plurality of communication devices.