Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for managing proficiency information about a degree holder. An active degree in a degree field is issued to a degree holder. The active degree includes a certification that the degree holder has completed at least one degree process, a strength value associated with the certification indicating a proficiency in the degree field, and a strength evaluator configured to adjust the strength value such that the strength value reflects the degree holder's proficiency in the degree field over time.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for interacting with team members of a virtual team. Persistent storage is configured to store collective qualifications of the virtual team based on the individual qualifications of the team members, while a team broker is configured to present the collective qualifications to third parties. Thus, the broker provides a dynamic representation of the collective knowledge, skills and experience of a virtual team. The broker further enables an entity, such as a team employer or teacher, to interact with the virtual team as if that team were a single entity, rather than a collection of individual members.

Abstract: The authenticity of a website is tested with software that runs on a personal computing device and a service that is provided via the Internet. The software on the personal computing device is in the form of a proxy, or transparent component in the Internet Protocol implementation. The proxy receives all outbound messages, analyzes them and forwards or modifies them without the user's intervention. The service tests the IP address and/or the behavior of the target website.

Abstract: A system and method for providing real-time, dynamic switching between first and second service providers each capable of providing a service for users over a communications network. The method includes steps of: establishing switching criterion for deciding when to switch service provision between the first service provider and second service provider; maintaining state information associated with a user's use of the service provided by a first service provider; switching between the first and second service provided over the communications network based on satisfaction of the switching criterion; and, migrating any state information maintained up to the time of switching to the second service. Preferably, the dynamic switching occurs in a manner substantially transparent to the user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer product for masking speech. The system includes a signal acquiring apparatus for generating an electrical signal representative of the speech; a processing apparatus for using the electrical signal to provide an audio signal which cancels the speech; and a signal generator, also referred to as a babble generator, for providing a speech masking signal to mask any speech not canceled. The masking signal is generated by processing the speech in one of several ways so that its content is not intelligible.

Abstract: This invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for object management, employing agents for all personal computer objects. Personal objects survive in direct proportion to the degree to which they possess attributes that give them a competitive advantage in the use of the computing systems storage and name spaces. It employs an important competitive attribute of future utility. Since it is not always possible to accurately predict future utility, assessment of competitive advantage is based on secondary attributes that can be computed and that correlate with future utility, to a greater or lesser degree. It uses a ‘coordinating mechanic’ that monitors and controls relationships between personal objects and their agents.

Abstract: In a connection arrangement including two or more electronic devices, wherein information can be exchanged among the electronic devices through a plurality of communication links between the electronic devices, at least one of the electronic devices being configurable for communicating with a data source, a method for presenting a multi-channel message originating from the data source, the multi-channel message including a two or more components, includes the steps of allocating each of at least a portion of the components in the multi-channel message to at least one electronic device and, for each allocated component, determining possible communication paths between the data source and the at least one electronic device allocated to the corresponding component.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system (106), base stations (118, 120) are connected to a backbone network (116) such as a wired LAN and act as access points and relays for remote stations (128, 132, 136). A remote station registers and performs bidirectional communication with one of the base stations designated as its home base station. Base stations have overlapping coverage areas where a remote station is within reception range of several base stations. Such communication system may for instance be a multicell radio LAN using frequency hopping signaling. The method allows to reuse a limited number of network resources such as frequency hopping patterns and assign the same resource to several active base stations.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system (106), base stations (118, 120) are connected to a backbone network (116) such as a wired LAN and act as access points and relays for remote stations (128, 132, 136). A remote station registers and performs bidirectional communication with one of the base stations designated as its home base station. Base stations have overlapping coverage areas where a remote station is within reception range of several base stations. Such communication system may for instance be a multicell radio LAN using frequency hopping signaling. The method allows reuse of a limited number of network resources such as frequency hopping patterns and assign the same resource to several active base stations.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system (106), base stations (118, 120) are connected to a backbone network (116) such as a wired LAN and act as access points and relays for remote stations (128, 132, 136). A remote station registers and performs bidirectional communication with one of the base stations designated as its home base station. Base stations have overlapping coverage areas where a remote station is within reception range of several base stations. Such communication system may for instance be a multicell radioLAN using frequency hopping signaling. The method allows reuse of a limited number of network resources such as frequency hopping patterns and assign the same resource to several active base stations.

Abstract: In a communications system comprising a number of base stations, each base station communicating over a shared communication channel with a plurality of registered stations and controlling the network cell formed by said plurality of registered stations, a method is described for dynamically registering and deregistering mobile stations. Each station owns a unique address and is allocated a local identifier at registration time. Each network cell owns a unique cell identifier known to all registered stations belonging to this network cell. Base stations manage cell members data uniquely associating the unique address and the local identifier corresponding to each one of the mobile stations belonging to their network cell.

Abstract: In a communications system, a method is described allowing two users having established a communication session identified by a unique session freshness proof, to transmit and validate a new value of a variable by using an exchange certificate which combines the following elements: the new value of the variable, a common secret key known by both users, an exchange counter representative of the number of values of said variable transmitted between the two users during the current communication session and a session freshness proof. Protection against potential eavesdroppers and intruders is provided by combining cryptographically the elements of the exchange certificate.