Abstract: A method, terminal and program, the method comprising: at a second terminal, receiving a first signal transmitted from a first terminal via a communication network; transmitting a second signal from the second terminal to the first terminal; outputting the first signal from an output device associated with the second terminal; determining a balance between a characteristic of the first signal and a characteristic of the second signal, wherein the characteristics affect a processing resource required to process the first and second signals, the determined balance comprising a decision concerning the characteristic of the first signal; and sending the decision to the first terminal so as to advise the first terminal to adjust the characteristic of the first signal as transmitted from the first terminal.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for transmitting high quality multimedia data from a mobile device for live and on-demand viewing. The mobile device adjusts the quality of a single multimedia data stream based on one or more factors, such as the available bandwidth of a wireless link with a server, whether there are any “live” subscribers of the multimedia data stream, whether any “live” subscribers are interacting with the mobile device, and a change in the privacy settings of the user of the mobile device. Any data that was removed from the multimedia data stream before it was transmitted to a server is subsequently sent to the server. The server generates multiple versions of the multimedia data stream that vary in terms of quality. The server selects which version of the multimedia data stream to transmit to a subscriber of the multimedia data stream based on one or more criteria.

Abstract: A method of providing instant messaging communication between a first user and at least one other user via a communication network.

Abstract: A mobile device, and a method and computer program product for displaying a streaming video image at the mobile device during a packet based video call via a channel established over a wireless communication network, the method includes receiving a speed indication of the mobile device and sending said indication to a communication client application; and responsive to receiving said indication, the communication client application is configured to limit the amount of information in the streaming video image that is supplied for display on a display of the mobile device during the video.

Abstract: A computer system for receiving user data comprising a user access component having a display and a processor arranged to execute a data receiving application, wherein the data receiving application provides on the display at least one address field; and a geographical location device in communication with a location network and arranged to identify a geographical location of the device using information from the location network, the geographical location device located at a user address, the geographical location device operable to provide location data from which address data of the user address is derived and supplied to the data receiving application to automatically populate the address field on the display.

Abstract: A method and system for modifying an audio signal, the method comprising: receiving the audio signal at signal processing means; analysing the received audio signal to identify characteristic signal components in the audio signal; determining that another signal is input to the signal processing means, the input signal resulting from an activity which generates noise in the audio signal; and selectively applying an adjusted gain to the audio signal based on the determination that the input signal is input to the signal processing means, wherein the adjusted gain is generated in dependence upon the signal strength of the identified signal components.

Abstract: A first user terminal, host terminal, method and program. The first terminal comprises: a transceiver for communicating with a plurality of other user terminals over a communication network; and communications processing apparatus, coupled to the transceiver, and arranged to participate in a call with a selected number of the other user terminals via the transceiver and communication network, the call including transmission of a voice signal from the first user terminal. The communications processing apparatus is operable in a mode whereby it temporarily discontinues transmission of the voice signal in response to detecting less than a predetermined level of activity on said voice signal, and the communications processing apparatus is further configured to selectively enable that mode in dependence on the selected number of other user terminals in the call.

Abstract: A system and method for providing packet-switched telephony service. The system provides call control, signaling, and/or delivery of voice, video, and other media in substantially real time. One embodiment of the system includes a call client application on a user device, and a call server located at a packet-switched telephony service provider. The call server is preferably operable to communicate with the call client in a non-native protocol and with the gateway in a native protocol.

Abstract: Various embodiments process updates of an image transmitted between a first terminal and second terminal for screen sharing, wherein updates to the image at the first terminal are also displayed at the second terminal. The image is divided into an array of contiguous sub-tiles, each sub-tile comprising more than one picture element of the image. When a plurality of sub-tiles of the image have changed at the first terminal, at least one of said changed sub-tiles and at least one contiguous sub-tile are selected to form a tile. The tile is encoded for transmission to the second terminal, and includes sub-tile data identifying which sub-tiles are included in the tile to enable updating the image at the second terminal in accordance with the changes to said changed sub-tiles. The configuration of the tile is flexible such that the number of contiguous sub-tiles encoded in the tile can be varied.

Abstract: A method of receiving at a terminal a first signal transmitted via a communication network, said method comprising the steps of; receiving at the terminal the first signal comprising a plurality of data elements; analyzing characteristics of the first signal; receiving from a user of the terminal a second signal to be transmitted from the terminal; analyzing characteristics of the second signal to detect audio activity in the second signal; and applying a delay between receiving at the terminal and outputting from the terminal at least one of said plurality of data elements; and adjusting the delay based on the analyzed characteristics of the first signal and on the detection of audio activity in the second signal.

Abstract: A method and computing system for suppressing noise in an audio signal, comprising: receiving the audio signal at signal processing means; determining that another signal is input to the signal processing means, the input signal resulting from an activity which generates noise in the audio signal; and selectively suppressing noise in the audio signal in dependence on the determination that the input signal is input to the signal processing means to thereby suppress the generated noise in the audio signal.

Abstract: A method of determining information on network resources in a packet-based internetwork comprising multiple routing nodes, the method comprising: distributing user software to each of multiple end-user terminals connected to the internetwork, the user software having a primary user function other than the collection of network data; in association with the user software, distributing secondary code configured to participate in the collection of data by probing different routes from the respective end-user terminal to a destination terminal over the internetwork, each route passing via a plurality of said routing nodes; receiving data resulting from the probing performed by the secondary code on the multiple end-user terminals, including data resulting from routes involving the routing nodes of different network service providers; and determining estimates of network resources based on the received data.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for transmitting high quality multimedia data from a mobile device for live and on-demand viewing. The mobile device adjusts the quality of a single multimedia data stream based on one or more factors, such as the available bandwidth of a wireless link with a server, whether there are any “live” subscribers of the multimedia data stream, whether any “live” subscribers are interacting with the mobile device, and a change in the privacy settings of the user of the mobile device. Any data that was removed from the multimedia data stream before it was transmitted to a server is subsequently sent to the server. The server generates multiple versions of the multimedia data stream that vary in terms of quality. The server selects which version of the multimedia data stream to transmit to a subscriber of the multimedia data stream based on one or more criteria.

Abstract: Embodiments describe transmitting authentication data from an application to a communication system. The communication system verifies the authentication data transmitted from the application, and on the basis that the authentication data is verified, the communication system authenticates the application for accessing the communication system on behalf of a user. Prior to the transmitting step the authentication data is provided from the communication system to the client, and then from the client to the application. The verifying step comprises determining that the authentication data transmitted from the application corresponds to the authentication data provided from the communication system to the client, such that the application is authenticated for accessing the communication system on behalf of the user on the basis of the client's authentication with the communication system.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for including a plurality of users in a conversation over a communication network. A conversation is initiated when a text message is received requesting the conversation. A conversation is established using conversation gateways currently unused by users to be included in the conversation. Communication may occur across gateways in order to conserve conversation gateway resources.

Abstract: A method of determining an overall presence state for a user of a communication system in which the user is connected to the communication system using a plurality of devices. The method includes each of the plurality of devices storing in a device memory a presence state for that device; detecting a change in the presence state in at least one of the plurality of devices; each of the plurality of devices transmitting a message via the communication system to the remainder of the plurality of devices, the message comprising the presence state; receiving the messages at the remainder of the plurality of devices; and executing a decision-making code sequence in a processor at each of the remainder of the plurality of devices to determine whether to synchronize the presence state of that device with the presence state from one of the messages based on the origin of an event causing the change in presence state at the at least one of the plurality of devices.

Abstract: Method, system, device, server and computer program product for analyzing a communication event occurring over a network, wherein a network service provider provides access to the network for a communication client executed at the device to engage in the communication event. The communication client detects a problem with the communication event. Communication metric data relating to the communication event is determined. It is determined, using the determined communication metric data, whether the detected problem is caused by a reason (i) of a poor network condition in the network, or a reason (ii) of the network service provider discriminating against transmission over the network of a type of data used in the communication event. In the event that it is determined that the detected problem is caused by reason (ii), a notification is provided to a user of the device.

Abstract: A system and method for providing packet-switched telephony service. The system provides call control, signaling, and/or delivery of voice, video, and other media in substantially real time. One embodiment of the system includes a call client application on a user device, and a call server located at a packet-switched telephony service provider. The call server is preferably operable to communicate with the call client in a non-native protocol and with the gateway in a native protocol.

Abstract: A method of performing a rate-distortion optimization process comprising, for each of a plurality of target image portions to be encoded in each of a plurality of frames, selecting a preferred one of a set of encoding modes by optimizing a function comprising an estimate of distortion for the target image portion and a measure of bit rate required to encode the target image portion, wherein the estimate of distortion is based on source coding distortion and an estimate of a distortion that would be experienced due to possible loss over the channel; encoding the target image portion into the encoded video stream using the selected encoding mode; and transmitting the encoded video stream over the channel. The rate-distortion optimization process for a current one of the frames is performed in dependence on feedback received from the receiving terminal based on an earlier one of the frames.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data from a first terminal to a second terminal in a communication network comprising: receiving at the first terminal an data signal determining an identity of the peripheral device; supplying to a data store the identity of the peripheral device; selecting from the data store at least one parameter for processing the data signal based on the identity of the peripheral device; transmitting the data signal from the first terminal to the second terminal; and processing the data signal, wherein the data signal is processed based on the selected parameter.