Abstract: A system and method to implement callback for unanswered telephone calls in a Distributed Information System (DIS) adapted for telephony. A calling station and a called station are each connected to the DIS through a local and remote service provider, respectively, each provider including a voice gateway and callback server. A telephone call originated at the calling station by a calling party is processed by the local service provider and the local callback server generates a control message which accompanies the telephone call. The remote service provider processes and connects the telephone call if answered by the called party and sends a message to delete the control message from the local callback server. If the telephone call is unanswered the remote callback server stores the control message and waits for the called party to initiate a return call. When the return call is initiated, the remote callback server sends a message to the local callback server to extend the return call to the calling party.

Abstract: An apparatus which allows a user to use any desired combination of keyboard, input device, and display to operate and control either of two computer systems. The switching apparatus is in a computer system comprising a display adapter operable to output a display signal, an input adapter operable to receive a keyboard signal and a pointing device signal, a display device operable to receive a display signal, a keyboard operable to output a keyboard signal, and a pointing device operable to output a pointing device signal.

Abstract: A multimedia search and indexing system automatically selects scenes or events of interest from any media, i.e., video, film, sound for replay, in whole or in part, in other contexts. The entire audio track of a recorded event in video, film, sound, etc., is analyzed to determine audio levels within a set of frequency ranges of interest. Audio clip levels within the selected frequency ranges are chosen as audio cues representative of events of interest in the track. The selection criteria are applied to the audio track of the recorded event. An Edit Decision List (EDL) is generated from the analysis of the audio track. The list is representative of scenes or sounds of interest as clips for reuse. The clips are reviewed and accepted or rejected for reuse. Once selected, the clips are edited using industry standard audio and video editing techniques.

Abstract: A secure end-to-end communications system includes a vault controller based registration application for managing the issuance and administration of digital certificates for use in conducting electronic commerce in the system. The system includes an end user terminal and a registration authority terminal coupled to a vault controller through the system. A registration application executable in the controller utilizes SSL and dedicated vaults to process requests for digital certificates from end users on an automated or manual basis.

Abstract: A client simulator for simulating client behavior in groups or individuals to telephone services in a test system for testing telephone services between subscribers in a PSTN and clients in a distributed information network, for example, the Internet (IP Network), prior to availability of the telephone services to the subscribers and clients. A processor is coupled to a TCP/IP data network linked to the PSTN via a System Control Point (SCP) and the IP Network via an application server. A storage means is coupled to the processor through input/output registers and includes stored instruction for a parent process and a pool of client processes.

Abstract: An information retrieval system finds information in a Distributed Information System (DIS), e.g. the Internet using query learning and meta search for adding documents to resource directories contained in the DIS. A selection means generates training data characterized as positive and negative examples of a particular class of data residing in the DIS. A learning means generates from the training data at least one query that can be submitted to any one of a plurality of search engines for searching the DIS to find “new” items of the particular class. An evaluation means determines and verifies that the new item(s) is a new subset of the particular class and adds or updates the particular class in the resource directory.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide non-intrusive in-service testing of audio/video synchronization testing without using traditional audio marker tones. The network includes an A/V synchronous test signal generator which injects video and audio markers into the video and audio non-intrusively and routes the two signals into a switch where they are switched into a channel for encoding and transmission via the ATM network. At the distant end the signal is decoded and routed by a switch into the A/V test generator and measurement set where the markers are detected and the A/V skew calculated, after which the audio and video are routed to the subscriber. The A/V test set signal generator includes a Video Blanking Interval (VBI) test signal generator and a white noise generator, the former injecting a marker into the video signal and the later injecting an audio marker into the audio signal.

Abstract: A multimedia search and indexing for automatic selection of scenes and/or sounds recorded in a media using audio cues for replay in other contexts. Analyzing means analyze the media for audio levels within a set of frequency ranges. Audio clip level setting means set audio clip levels as audio cues for identifying a scene of interest in the media within the set of selected frequency ranges. Generating means generate a list of candidate scenes matching the audio cues in the selected frequency ranges for replay in the other contexts.

Abstract: A telephone system provides subscribers with access to a service provider's platform logic and data implemented in any runtime environment. In one embodiment, the service logic is embodied in Java applets and Java beans in a JAVA virtual machine for subscriber personalizing and modifying the service logic. The provider provides the subscriber a tool kit or access to a support server for writing service logic modifications as JAVA beans. The service logic modification is achieved in a process in which the service requirements and objectives are set. The service specifications are designed, implemented, tested, and rolled out. Initial service provisioning and support is provided a subscriber, service modification by the subscriber is made to subscriber data provisioning and subscriber service logic provisions. A modified service logic is locally tested by the subscriber, followed by remote testing of the modification on the service provider's premises.

Abstract: A switched, digital high-broadband network provides automated control and in-service and out-of-testing of analog video signals, encoded and decoded real time, into MPEG 2 digitized format with a high level of security and protection of content and without attendant degradation of the analog signal sometimes experienced in satellite transmissions. The switch network, typically an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, has multiple gateways for connection to video signal sources and sinks. Each gateway includes an analog/digital video switch for receiving the video signals and distributing them to an MPEG 2 encoder for conversion into digital packets. A multiplexer is coupled to the encoder and a digital switch for inserting the multiplexed signal into the switched ATM network. The multiplexer and the digital switch encode destination address information into the digital packets to ensure proper routing.

Abstract: A system and method in which a dual image-reject mixer arrangement receives an RF signal having at least one channel. The dual image-reject mixer arrangement generates first and second signals corresponding to each channel of the RF signal. Each first and second signal includes a desired signal, an image frequency signal and an intermodulation signal. A feed-forward arrangement receives the first and second signals corresponding to each channel and outputs a third signal that is formed by constructively combining the desired signals corresponding to each channel and substantially cancelling the intermodulation signals corresponding to each channel. An in-phase and quadrature hybrid network receives the third signal and outputs an in-phase baseband signal and a quadrature baseband signal corresponding to each channel of the RF signal.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product for high-availability multi-agent cryptographic key recovery. The present invention defines a key recovery block that specifies allowable subsets of the total set of key recovery agents that can participate in a key recovery. For each subset, key recovery information is computed and stored after the subset is specified. This key recovery information is only useable by that subset because it is computed using that subset of public keys of the agents. When key recovery is initiated, a trusted processor (a key recovery coordinator) validates the contents of the key recovery block and it uses and is allowed to use any of the subsets of the agents to process the key recovery request. Since many subsets could be specified, the likelihood of key recovery failure is greatly diminished.

Abstract: A system and method prevent unauthorized users and devices, in a dynamic user/device environment, from obtaining access to shared-medium public and semi-public IP networks. A network includes a layered communication system and routers/switches for coupling users and devices to a Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) server and an authentication server. Databases support the servers. The network incorporates Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). Authorized users and devices register for service by providing the DHCP with user identification for log-in, passwords, MAC addresses, etc. When users connect to the network access point, a DHCP exchange is initiated to obtain a valid IP address and other associated parameters. The DHCP client initiates a MAC broadcast for IP addresses which contain in the request the end user's device MAC address. The associated router switch will pick up and forward to a DHCP server the end user's device request.

Abstract: A multimedia search and indexing system automatically selects scenes or events of interest from any media, i.e., video, film, sound for replay, in whole or in part, in other contexts. The entire audio track of a recorded event in video, film, sound, etc., is analyzed to determine audio levels within a set of frequency ranges of interest. Audio clip levels within the selected frequency ranges are chosen as audio cues representative of events of interest in the track. The selection criteria are applied to the audio track of the recorded event. An Edit Decision List (EDL) is generated from the analysis of the audio track. The list is representative of scenes or sounds of interest as clips for reuse. The clips are reviewed and accepted or rejected for reuse. Once selected, the clips are edited using industry standard audio and video editing techniques.

Abstract: An information stream management network server is disclosed that enables distributing articles to a destination in the network at times and in forms that are specified by a user, while also enabling accessing and receiving the articles from sources in the network at times and in forms that are independent of the user. The network server handles both information pull articles and information push articles. The information push articles use declarative addressing to specified groups of users, thereby masking recipient endpoint identities and delivery preferences from sources and enabling broadcast communication to members of such a group.

Abstract: A content-indexing search system and method provides search results consistent with content filtering and blocking policies. The search system comprises a content-indexing search engine including a database coupled to an information network. A user provides search queries to the search engine through a gateway serving as a proxy server and cache and blocking engine. The blocking engine implements content filtering and blocking policies with respect to the search results. Alternative embodiments provide consistency between the results of the user content searches and the content filtering/blocking policies. One embodiment modifies the search engine to implement the same content blocking policy as the caching and filtering engine. Another embodiment modifies the search engine to build an indexing database by searching the caching and engine content. A third embodiment modifies the search engine to go through the cache and filter engine as the search engine builds its indexing database.

Abstract: A method, system, program, and method of doing business are disclosed for electronic commerce that includes the feature of a “thin” consumer's wallet by providing issuers with an active role in each payment. This is achieved by adding an issuer gateway and moving the credit/debit card authorization function from the merchant to the issuer. This enables an issuer to independently choose alternate authentication mechanisms without changing the acquirer gateway. It also results in a significant reduction in complexity, thereby improving the ease of implementation and overall performance.

Abstract: A multi-media search and indexing system for automatic selection of scenes or sounds recorded in media for replay in other context by analyzing the media for a set of frequency ranges of interest for replay. The media is analyzed to select desired frequency ranges of interest within the media, the selected frequency ranges being indicative of a scene or sound of interest. The granularity or length of the selected frequency ranges is selected for analysis. A number of analysis intervals are determined in the selected frequency ranges. The media is filtered for the selected frequency ranges and the audio level is measured for each interval. An audio clip level is established for each frequency range as indicative of a scene or sound of interest. The interval frequency range and audio level are recorded for subsequent replay.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus are disclosed for selectively inserting interactive content into a live TV or recorded broadcasting presentation and tracking the usage of the inserted content by end user viewers of the presentation. The method and apparatus enable operators to watch the live audiovisual programming feed, view and navigate product lists from e-commerce servers, control the insertion of interactive content into the audiovisual programming, monitor the content insertion status, and track the usage by client viewers of the inserted content in real time. It is especially useful for interactive e-commerce applications.

Abstract: A switched digital video broadcast network provides in-service testing of digitized broadcast video signals subject to analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion. The network includes a plurality of gateways, each gateway coupled to video signal sources and sink. Video frames transmitted on the network are subject to analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion and compression in an MPEG 2 encoder/decoder. Each gateway and includes a test pattern generator and test measurement analyzer for in-service testing of the video signals. The test pattern generator inserts a test signal on pre-selected lines (22, 23 or 261,262) in a Video Blanking Interval (VBI) and time periods of a video frame. The test signal may be dynamically placed at any location in the frame using concealment techniques The video lines are not seen by television viewers.