Abstract: A method for managing MAC messages is provided which supports dynamic resource reservation for upstream data traffic in a broadband cable system. Three specialized MAC management messages of Dynamic Session Addition, Dynamic Session Deletion, and Dynamic Session Acknowledgment are used to control setting of a filter spec parameter in a cable modem. The present invention provides upstream bandwidth resource reservation which allows packet scheduling to occur at a CMTS, and packet classification to occur at a cable modem. Such an arrangement allows the RSVP protocol to be adapted for use at the OSI protocol layer of a typical cable modem, thereby improving efficiency of network bandwidth/resource allocation.

Abstract: A method and system for testing real-time delivery of packets of data in an application utilized in a computer network includes a first host computer, a second host computer, and a simulator all configured on a local area network segment of a second computer network. A first address is assigned to the first host computer and a second address is assigned to the second host computer. The simulator is configured as a router through which the first and second host computers communicate with each other. Any combination of possible network conditions associated with the computer network are entered into the simulator. The packets of data are formed and transmitted from one of the first and second host computers to the simulator and processed according to the entered network conditions to obtain simulation data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of powering a cable telephony service platform (CTSP) in a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) network are provided which utilizes a combination of power from a local AC driven power source having a back-up battery for powering the CTSP within a network interface unit (NIU) during interruptions in normal AC power, and a network generated charging current which maintains the battery at full float voltage charge irrespective of the duration of any such interruptions in AC power delivery. Thus, the present invention minimizes power required to be delivered by the network while still ensuring support of reliable lifeline telephony service for cable telephony on an HFC network.

Abstract: A system and method for improving clarity of an audio signal to be transmitted over a limited bandwidth communication channel selects predetermined frequencies of the audio signal for processing and adds even harmonic distortion to the selected frequencies such that the distortion is added within the limited bandwidth of the transmission channel. The system and method are particularly suited for telephony applications and may be utilized in hearing aids due to the effectiveness of clarifying voice signals. In addition, the system and method may be applied to other very low bandwidth signals, such as data compressed audio signals, computer voice files, computer audio files, and numerous other technologies which have an audio response less than normal human perception. The technique also applies to the use of perceptually coded audio.

Abstract: A system and method for provisioning a user terminal for accessing a wideband cable data distribution network, such as an Internet-over-cable system, utilizes an auto-provisioning web server to allow provisioning of a user cable modem without need for a field technician to separately input associated modem identification information via a telephone. A LDAP directory is used to store all provisioning information, and is accessible by a DHCP server to selectively allocate network IP addresses to only provisioned terminals.

Abstract: A technique for providing a networked, distributed tutorial application having a direct manipulation graphical user interface displayable on an Internet client node is disclosed. The application has a first portion on an Internet server node and a second portion on the Internet client node, the first portion performing application specific subject matter processing and the second portion being substantially application independent in that this second portion is applicable in a wide variety of tutoring applications for generating and maintaining an appropriate user interface during user interactions. The second portion includes an Internet browser (e.g., a hypertext mark-up language browser) that is utilized for communicating with the server node to perform application subject matter specific processing.

Abstract: A partitioned communication system includes a shared switch network system in communication with an Intelligent Network Processor (INP). A terminating intelligent communication device (ICD) located outside the management and control of the shared network operates as an Originating Communication System (OCS) to negotiate 2-way call holding with a Called Communication System (CCS).

Abstract: A method and system for regulating the flow of calls in a communications network. At least one calling area is assigned to each call response center of each service provider. Call regulating functionality is provided in communication with each call response center of each service provider and includes a set of parameters assigned to each calling area served by the call response center as well as a corresponding call regulating algorithm for the assigned calling areas. The call regulating functionality is operative to detect a call from a calling party to a service provider, determine the assigned calling area of the calling party for that service provider, determine the call response center and determine the current values of the assigned parameters for the calling areas assigned to the call response center.

Abstract: An electronic calendar system is disclosed wherein the calendar system can interact with a user entirely auditorially, e.g. via speech based interactions, entirely visually, or a combination of both. Moreover, the present invention utilizes context information regarding the state or configuration of the calendar system so that substantially at any time a user may query the calendar system for informing the user of the current state of the calendar system. Accordingly, the present invention is particularly useful for users who communicate with the calendar system substantially or entirely auditorially. The user may contact a processing module in the calendar system through a telecommunications network such as a telephone network, a cable network or through the worldwide web. The system includes an apparatus for converting speech to text streams and vice versa.

Abstract: In a broadband cable data network, a method and system for automatically allocating network resources such as IP addresses to control access to the network utilizes at least one DHCP server, and a common network database formed from a LDAP directory for storing respective user configuration parameters, hardware address registration, and current binding information. A DHCP server can add new hardware address registrations to the LDAP using an "unregistered" service class. The DHCP server sends a DHCP reply tailored for unregistered devices, such as by allocating a privately-allocated IP address with no Internet access, or an IP address for a self-provisioning web server. A DHCP server views IP address allocation as indefinite, while a user will view an IP address allocation as having a short duration. Thus, if the IP network configuration does not change, the user terminal will continue to receive the same allocated IP address due to the DHCP server's perception of an indefinite lease.

Abstract: A method and system for processing an incoming call during a call-in-progress utilizes a communication station for detecting the incoming call from a new caller to a subscriber telephony device. The communication station determines whether the subscriber telephony device is busy on a call with a first telephony device. An adjunct processor then determines interruption information about the first telephony device which identifies whether or not the call-in-progress with the first telephony device can be interrupted. The adjunct processor then generates a corresponding signal for receipt by the communication station based on whether or not the call-in-progress with the first telephony device can be interrupted by the new caller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a telephone network apparatus for performing speech recognition services in a telephone system in substantially real time. The apparatus uses a telephone channel signal to determine the echo delay of a telephone channel and then uses this delay to configure an echo cancellation filter for use in performing speech recognition. Use of echo delay in configuring the filter allows the echo cancellation function to be done using much less computational time than would be needed without its use, thereby granting a speech recognition unit greater access to a resident microprocessor to perform its function in substantially real time.

Abstract: A computer-based method and apparatus for classifying statement types using intonation analysis. The method and apparatus identify a user's potential query when the user responds to information during dialog with an automated dialog system. Pitch information is extracted, via a cepstrum, from the speech signal. In one embodiment, the pitch intonation is processed to form a smoothed pitch or intonation contour. Then the smoothed pitch contour is processed by a set of shape detectors and this output, together with statistical information, is sent to a rule-based algorithm which attempts to classify the statement type. In another embodiment, the smoothed pitch contour is processed by a pattern recognition system such as a neural network trained with a back-propagation learning algorithm.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for transmitting audio and video data to a remote viewing station. The method includes the steps of receiving a signal at a control station representing a request for the audio and video data. The method further includes determining whether the requested data is stored at a mass storage facility or at an active line storage unit. If the requested data is stored at the mass storage facility, the method includes downloading and storing the data at the active line storage unit. Finally, the method includes the step of transmitting the stored data from the active line storage unit to the remote viewing station.

Abstract: A method, system and product are provided for direct rendering of video images to a compressed video data stream. The method includes generating encoded video data directly from an electronic graphic system, the encoded video data representing a full frame image, and generating update encoded video data directly from the electronic graphic system, the update encoded video data representing changes in the full frame image. The method also includes generating movement vector encoded video data directly from the electronic graphic system, the movement vector encoded video data representing movement in the full frame image, and decoding the encoded video data, the update encoded video data, and the movement vector encoded video data for playback at a destination. The system includes control logic for performing the method. The product includes a storage medium having computer readable programmed instructions recorded thereon for performing the method.

Abstract: An information retrieval system is disclosed, wherein the system includes a plurality of text search engines based on substantially different computational searching techniques. By activating each search engine with input from a user information request, the output from each of the search engines is combined into a single list of information items. A ranking process ranks the information items in the combined list by utilizing information item ordering data also received from each of the search engines as to the relevance of the information items output by the search engine to the user's request. Thus, by providing higher rankings to those information items determined to be most relevant to the user's request by each of (or a majority of) the search engines, these information items have been found to be highly consistent in satisfying the user's request for information.

Abstract: A user interface for a fax mail system. The invention is a method and instructions for improving interaction with a fax mail system. The sequence of instructions is improved to allow easier interaction. The system allows the subscriber to print all new fax documents which have been received without reviewing them. In addition, the review menu is organized to allow the subscriber to easily print, erase or skip various fax mail messages.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a control system which interfaces a plurality of telephones, referred to as extensions, to a central office telephone line. The control system includes a ring detector, a ring generator, a controller and a telephone extension bus. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the control system is programmable to: (i) control the ringing function of a plurality of extensions when an incoming call is received; (ii) control the staging of the ringing function of a plurality of extensions when an incoming call is received; (iii) control the use of one or more of a plurality of extensions to initiate an outgoing call; (iv) control the use of one or more of a plurality of extensions when another extension is in-use, i.e. presently being used to engage in an ongoing telephone call; (v) control the use of one or more of a plurality of extensions when another extension is being used for a data call, i.e.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting unauthorized access to a CATV system at a site, including inserting a cable fraud detection unit into the site drop, periodically obtaining a first sample of a content signal from the site with the detection unit so as to determine if the site is accessing the content signal, storing the first sample in the detection unit, periodically obtaining a second sample of the content signal from the CATV system with the detection unit to serve as a reference for the first sample, and storing the second sample in the detection unit. The stored samples may be transmitted to the CATV system in response to a control signal or may be transmitted to a portable unit.

Abstract: A method and system for planning a future telecommunications network from an existing telecommunications network interconnecting a plurality of users utilizes an input device for determining future demands for the future telecommunications network. A processor then determines future characteristics of a plurality of loops connecting each of the users to a central office based on the future demands. Future characteristics of a plurality of transports connecting each of the central offices is determined based on the future demands. The processor then determines future characteristics of switches disposed in each of the central offices based on the future characteristics of the plurality of loops and the plurality of transports. Future characteristics of common systems disposed within each of the central offices is determined based on the future characteristics of the switches.