Abstract: System and method to detect video quality degradation in a video stream received by a telecommunications endpoint, the method including: locating reference features characteristic of content in the received video stream; calculating reduced reference features from the located reference features; receiving reduced reference features of a transmitted video stream, the transmitted video stream corresponding to the received video stream; calculating a distance between the reduced reference features in the received video stream and the reduced reference features of the transmitted video stream; and detecting video quality degradation when the calculated distance exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Method and system to coordinate a virtual environment with a real environment, including: coupling a transceiver to a person; determining a position of the transceiver within the real environment by use of a position-determination module; and rendering the virtual environment to a user by use of a virtual environment server that is configured to determine a position of the transceiver. The method and system may further comprises a wormhole server configured to provide communication services between the user and the person.

Abstract: System and method to locate a person in a multi-level building, including: a portable transmitter coupled to the person, the portable transmitter configured to transmit a signal comprising an identification code; a plurality of receivers located in a multi-level building to receive the signal, substantially each receiver producing a received signal, wherein at least a first receiver is located on a first level and at least a second receiver is located on a second level, wherein the second level is different than the first level; a signal strength estimator coupled to at least one receiver, the signal strength estimator configured to produce a signal strength estimation of the received signal received by the at least one receiver; and a processor configured to receive the signal strength estimations, and from the signal strength estimations calculate a level of the multi-level building on which the person is located.

Abstract: A system evaluates callers, into a contact center, for possible employment. The evaluations occur while the caller waits in a contact center queue and provide a rating of the callers as potential employees. Ratings may be generated or accumulated from one or more interactions with the contact center, where each interaction with the caller can provide information about the caller's suitability as an employee. Good candidates may be interviewed automatically and/or by a manager. Those candidates that receive good ratings/evaluations and are interested in the position may be hired or provided incentives to help the call center respond to calls.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for changing moderators during a e-conference. To change moderators during an e-conference, a system identifies a departure of the original moderator from the e-conference. A moderator can indicate his intention to leave an e-conference through the conferencing system. A participant to replace the original moderator is identified and subsequently promoted to replacement moderator while maintaining the e-conference. Additionally, changing moderators during an e-conference is accomplished by creating a new conference bridge and transferring each participant to the new conference bridge. This method allows for a seamless transfer between moderators during an e-conference without the inconvenience of reconnecting.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for accomplishing a virtual call on hold. A client communication device, such as a telephone, smartphone, or computer, receives a notification of a communication session to which the user is invited, and establishes a relationship with the communication session. Alternatively, a server associated with the communication session can establish the relationship with the client communication device. Then, the communication device can present an indication of the relationship with the communication session for a duration of the communication session, such that the user can join the communication session at will via a communication channel, and such that the communication channel is not occupied by the communication session unless or until the user joins the communication session. The communication session can be a conference call, video conference, a multi-modal chat wherein multiple users communicate via different modalities.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for a communication session identifier. A communication session identifier can act as a virtual relay between conference participants, forwarding emails, phone calls, attachments, messages, and other information from a central address associated with the communications session identifier. In this manner, a user who desires to communicate with other conference participants only needs to send the communication to the communication session identifier, which in turn distributes the communication to the other parties. These communications can include emails, social networking messages, instant messaging, voice messages, and other forms of communication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for network security based on a security status of a device. A security update status of a device is evaluated; and one or more of a plurality of security policies are selected to apply to the device based on the security update status. The available security philosophies may include, for example, a “protect the good” philosophy, an “encourage the busy” philosophy and a “shut off the non-compliant” philosophy. The security update status can evaluate, for example, a version level of one or more security features installed on the device or can be based on a flag indicating whether the device satisfies predefined criteria for maintaining one or more computer security protection features up-to-date.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for grouping e-conference participants. A system identifies participants for an e-conference and identifies groups based on e-conference participant characteristics. Participant characteristics such as job function, skill set, department, business unit or physical location are used to group participants. Each of the e-conference participants is associated with at least one group and the system visually displays participants in groups through an e-conference user interface. Additionally, the system retrieves a stored list of e-conference participants and groups from a previous e-conference and restores the list of participants and groups for a current e-conference.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for changing moderators during a e-conference. To change moderators during an e-conference, a system identifies a departure of the original moderator from the e-conference. A moderator can indicate his intention to leave an e-conference through the conferencing system. A participant to replace the original moderator is identified and subsequently promoted to replacement moderator while maintaining the e-conference. Additionally, changing moderators during an e-conference is accomplished by creating a new conference bridge and transferring each participant to the new conference bridge. This method allows for a seamless transfer between moderators during an e-conference without the inconvenience of reconnecting.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for scheduling an e-conference for participants with partial availability. Initially, a system identifies a group of participants for the e-conference. The system receives a declaration of availability for the e-conference from at least one participant of the group. The declaration contains the partial availability of the participant based on time restrictions and topics of interest to the participant. Next, a schedule is determined for the e-conference based on the availability of the participants. Finally, the declarations of availability are displayed to the group of participants. In one aspect, participants update their declarations of availability during the e-conference and a schedule is updated to reflect the new declaration of availability.

Abstract: Systems and methods that enable migration for state of an application, from a primary machine to a backup machine in platform virtualization systems. The migration employs a hybrid approach, wherein both a hypervisor, and an application itself determine states that are to migrate from the primary machine to the backup machine. Based on a direct communication between the application and the hypervisor—without assistance of local operating system—the hypervisor arranges for migration of the required states over to the backup virtual machine.

Abstract: A system evaluates callers, into a contact center, for possible employment. The evaluations occur while the caller waits in a contact center queue and provide a rating of the callers as potential employees. Ratings may be generated or accumulated from one or more interactions with the contact center, where each interaction with the caller can provide information about the caller's suitability as an employee. Good candidates may be interviewed automatically and/or by a manager. Those candidates that receive good ratings/evaluations and are interested in the position may be hired or provided incentives to help the call center respond to calls.

Abstract: A feature activation system provides a mixed computing environment that includes a server and cloud computing. The hybrid model splits the execution of a communication feature between the cloud and the enterprise server installed at or with the enterprise. Service activation is linked to a portal that can communicate with either an intermediary system or directly with an entity executing computer programs in the cloud. When the customer desires to use a feature, the customer accesses the portal and activates the feature the enterprise desires. In the background, the portal instantiates a virtual machine, on any cloud platform, and then installs the feature with virtual machine on that cloud server. To execute feature, the enterprise server and the virtual machine exchange information between the server and the cloud and allow the feature to access the enterprise server or enterprise data.

Abstract: A method for providing priority access to 802.11 endpoints. The method includes the steps of sending a Clear To Send (CTS) frame from a designated station, without requiring a Request to Send (RTS) frame from a first station. The CTS frame includes a field identifying the first station for commencing transmission, and a field indicating a duration of transmission. A deferring step is also performed for deferring any transmissions of stations other than the first station until after the duration indicated in the CTS frame has passed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for obtaining a signal strength model for an access point at an arbitrary location, q, at a site. Signal strength measurements are obtained for each of n sampling points; the signal strength received at the arbitrary location, q, is computed from each of the sampling points (for example, using reciprocity principles); signal strength estimates corresponding to the signal received at the sampling points from the arbitrary location are computed; and a signal strength model is determined for an access point positioned at the arbitrary location, q.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating a location of a plurality of wireless terminals. Signal strength measurements are obtained for at least one packet transmitted by each of the wireless terminals; and a Bayesian algorithm is applied to the signal strength measurements to estimate the location of each wireless terminal. In an infrastructure-based deployment, signal strength measurements are obtained from one or more signal monitors. In a client-based model, signal strength measurements are obtained from a client associated with a respective wireless terminal.

Abstract: A system for transmitting information over an OFDM channel using phase shift keying encoding employs a bit mapping encoder to reduce the crest factor (ratio of peak voltage to RMS voltage). For a 16 subchannel OFDM system using QPSK encoding, a first set of four symmetrically positioned pairs of subchannels is used to encode two bits of information on each subchannel. A second set of four symmetrically positioned pairs of subchannels is used to encode only one bit of information on each subchannel, with the resultant phasor for each pair of the second set of pairs of subchannels being orthogonal to the resultant phasor for one of the pairs of the first set of subchannels. With this arrangement, the crest factor is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for more efficiently validating high-level specifications of sequential digital systems, and in particular, those represented by hybrid models. According to the present invention, the high-level representation of a system is converted into a direct sum EFSM. An operator or a data file then provides an initial configuration or set of initial configurations of states and variable values. The method of the present invention then determines the set of configuration reachable from the initial configuration through symbolic execution of the direct sum EFSM. By representing the transitional relations of the machine as the and-product of Boolean expressions and arithmetic expressions, each class of expressions may be processed separately. When complete, the symbolic execution produces a cover of the set of reachable states. The results may then be reviewed to determine if the given specification produces unexpected or incompatible results.

Abstract: An arrangement for implementing graph operations, generally, and circuit simulations in particular employing a plurality of substantially identical high speed special purpose processing elements (PE) that are flexibly interconnected through a switch to form a cluster. In addition to the processing element (PE) being programmable, the interconnection switch permits dynamically altered routing of signals between the processing elements. The processing elements include a queue unit which permits high speed asynchronous communication between the elements. Additional advantage is attained with a hierarchical arrangement where a plurality of clusters are interconnected in an n-cube arrangement, and all of the clusters communicate with a host computer.