Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for improving operation of a device based upon user interaction. A method may include receiving user input. The method may further include determining a user state value based at least in part on the received user input, wherein the user state value corresponds to a patience level of the user with the current rate of operation of the device. The method may further include causing modification in the operation of the device based at least in part on comparison of the user state value to a threshold user state value. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for improving operation of a device based upon user interaction. A method may include receiving user input. The method may further include determining a user state value based at least in part on the received user input, wherein the user state value corresponds to a patience level of the user with the current rate of operation of the device. The method may further include causing modification in the operation of the device based at least in part on comparison of the user state value to a threshold user state value. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatuses, computer program products, and methods for authenticating digital signals are provided in which copies of a watermark are extracted from a digital signal with at least some of the copies potentially having distorted values. The original values of the watermark may be reconstructed exclusively based on the extracted copies of the watermark. The method includes estimating one or more bit error rates without training or reference information. The bit error rates are modeled as being equivalent to transmitting the copies through binary symmetric channels. The estimated bit error rates and the distorted values are combined to reconstruct the original values of the watermark. The reconstructed watermark may be compared to an original watermark for authenticating the received digital signal. Also, the estimated bit error rates may be compared to a random sequence of bits for verifying the presence of the watermark without knowing the original values of the watermark.

Abstract: A method of adaptive error correction coding includes processing data during a connection between a transmitting entity and a receiving entity, where the data is processed in accordance with a predetermined coding scheme. More particularly, processing data includes encoding one or more sequences received by an error correction encoder of the transmitting entity, or decoding one or more block codes received by an error correction decoder of the receiving entity. During the connection, then, the method includes selecting or receiving a selection of feedback code information. Thus, during at least a portion of the connection, the data processing is switched to processing data in accordance with a parity-check coding technique based upon the feedback code information.

Abstract: Apparatuses, and methods for inserting user data into digital multimedia signals are provided in which user data is inserted into the digital multimedia signals in a substantially imperceptible fashion. In one embodiment of the invention, digital watermarking techniques are used to embed user data into the digital multimedia signal, such that user data is later helpful in indexing the digital multimedia signal. User data can be in any generic form such as text, audio or video signals. In another embodiment of the invention, user data is superimposed on the digital multimedia signal at a location which contains the least amount of information. In yet another embodiment of the invention, user data is inserted at a location chosen by the user. The color in which user data is superimposed can also be chosen by the user by using either a color palette or by pointing to an area in the digital image or video.

Abstract: A method of adaptive error correction coding includes processing data during a connection between a transmitting entity and a receiving entity, where the data is processed in accordance with a predetermined coding scheme. More particularly, processing data can include encoding one or more sequences received by an error correction encoder of the transmitting entity, or decoding one or more block codes received by an error correction decoder of the receiving entity. During the connection, then, the method can include selecting or receiving a selection of feedback code information. Thus, during at least a portion of the connection, the data processing can be switched to processing data in accordance with a parity-check coding technique based upon the feedback code information.

Abstract: Apparatuses, computer program products, and methods for authenticating digital signals are provided in which copies of a watermark are extracted from a digital signal with at least some of the copies potentially having distorted values. The original values of the watermark may be reconstructed exclusively based on the extracted copies of the watermark. The method includes estimating one or more bit error rates without training or reference information. The bit error rates are modeled as being equivalent to transmitting the copies through binary symmetric channels. The estimated bit error rates and the distorted values are combined to reconstruct the original values of the watermark. The reconstructed watermark may be compared to an original watermark for authenticating the received digital signal. Also, the estimated bit error rates may be compared to a random sequence of bits for verifying the presence of the watermark without knowing the original values of the watermark.

Abstract: A transmitter for a communications network, the transmitter comprising: receiving means for receiving data; accessing means for accessing a parity check code; generating means for generating encoded data including an error correction codeword using the data and the parity check code; and transmitting means for transmitting the encoded data and the error correction codeword, wherein the parity check code comprises a parity check matrix which, in expanded form, can be represented by the matrix H having the general structure ( A B T C D E ) ? ` wherein A, B, T, C, D and E represent sub-matrices, ET?1B being equal to the null matrix, the generating means comprising summing circuitry arranged to receive matrix elements ET?1A and C to generate a sum, and matrix multiplication circuitry for receiving the sum, a matrix element D?1 and a matrix sT comprising the data, the matrix multiplication circuitry being operable to generate a parity part p1T of the error correction codeword according