Abstract: The Quality of Service (QoS) level/service level within a wired network associated with a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) is controlled by assigning to each incoming information frame a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) number in accordance with the QoS level/service level determined for that frame. The frame is then routed in the network in accordance with the VLAN number to assure that the path(s) carrying the frame have the requisite characteristics, such as bandwidth, to satisfy the determined QoS level/service level.

Abstract: A method for delivering content to at least two terminals for synchronous playback is described. The method includes providing a first association of content to a preamble sequence, providing a second association of content to an ending sequence, providing estimations of data delivery duration from a server to at least two terminals and a playback duration of the preamble sequence in at least one of the first and second association, delivering the first and second association to the terminals wherein the playback duration of the preamble sequence is greater than or equal to the largest difference between the estimations, and wherein the estimations of data delivery duration allows each of the at least two terminals to evaluate a local temporization duration for playing-back synchronous content.

Abstract: Method for multicast transmission between a server and at least one of a plurality of clients using a unicast protocol, said method comprising a step of providing by the server to the client information permitting to said client to communicate with the server over a multicast path, in order to enable a joint operation of multicast and unicast paths between the server and the client.

Abstract: The invention relates to data reception, comprising: a step of reception of a file description table, a step of a request for transmission of at least a part of an object which has not been correctly received or has not been received, referred to as the fragment to be retransmitted, said transmission request comprising an identifier of the object to which said fragment to be retransmitted belongs and an identifier of said fragment to be retransmitted. In order to optimize the repair of an object (for example a file) which has not been correctly received, the transmission request furthermore contains an identifier of the version of the object.

Abstract: A method for evaluating an available bitrate over a path among one of at least two paths linking a first endpoint and a second endpoint, the path being called an evaluation path, is disclosed. The first endpoint is configured for sending data packets to the second endpoint, the second endpoint is being configured for sending at each data packet reception an acknowledgment message to the first endpoint through one of the at least two path selected at each data packet reception.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing of multimedia flows provided by different sources or transmitted via different transport protocols to a single receiving device or are designed to be rendered by different rendering devices. According to the invention, a reference datum representative of a datum of the first multimedia flow is provided in the second multimedia flow and associated with a datum of this second multimedia flow to synchronise the two flows. This reference datum constitutes a timing reference for the datum of the second multimedia flow with which it is associated. It is used to synchronize the two multimedia flows.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an adaptive streaming method, at a client device, for receiving content split into chunks corresponding to a content duration, the chunks being encoded at a server into at least a first and a second formats, the first format corresponding to a better content rendering quality level than the second format, a chunk being received during a chunk reception period. According to the invention, the method comprises the steps of measuring the available bandwidth between the client and the server for the next chunk reception period, requesting the server to send a chunk encoded at a format so that the chunk can be received during the next chunk reception period, and if some bandwidth is available for the next chunk reception period, requesting the server to send a part of a chunk encoded at a second format, the chunk having been received encoded at the first format.

Abstract: Disclosed are a repair control device and a method at the repair control device for selecting a repair server among a plurality of repair servers, in a system where at least one terminal and the plurality of repair servers listen to at least one file delivery session distributed in a push mode from at least one file server. The method includes the steps of receiving from at least one terminal a request for repairing a packet of the at least one file delivery session, selecting a repair server among a plurality of repair servers for repairing the packet to the at least one terminal and redirecting the request to the at least one terminal with the address of the selected repair server or forwarding the request to the selected repair server.

Abstract: A method for controlling a packet transfer through a multipath session is disclosed. The method comprises a number of n paths linking a first endpoint to a second endpoint, n being an integer greater or equal to 2, i being an integer and 1?i?n; each path Pi being defined by a couple of addresses of a communication interface of the first and second endpoint; the first endpoint being configured for sending the packet to the second endpoint through anyone of the paths; the second endpoint being configured for sending an acknowledgment message through anyone of the paths when the second endpoint received a packet.

Abstract: A method for delivering content via adaptive streaming technique over multiple communication paths and a device implementing the method are disclosed. The method for providing a content to be rendered at a client device comprises at least a first past being identified by the address of a first interface and the address of a first server interface, and a second path being identified by the address of a second interface and and the address of a second server interface, the content being available under at least two versions having an encoding quality corresponding to a supported bit rate constraint, each of the at least two versions being temporally split into chunks corresponding to an identical rendered duration of the content, a chunk being identified by a time index i and by one of the supported bit rate.

Abstract: A method is described for receiving a multicast in user devices in a network issuing a request to join a multicast group, identifying multicast data packets associated with the multicast group, monitoring transmissions of the multicast data packets to determine whether the identified multicast data packets are being transmitted in an already established unicast session and establishing a unicast session and processing multicast data packets if an already established unicast session does not exist A method is described for receiving a multicast transmission in user devices in a network establishing a unicast session with a dedicated terminal, identifying multicast data packets associated with a multicast group, monitoring transmissions of the multicast data packets and processing the multicast data packets by the dedicated terminal.

Abstract: The invention enables the different access links between a local network and a remote network to be used in a common and transparent manner. The invention is based on the use of various IP tunnels using the different access links between an appliance on the local network of the user and an appliance on the remote network. Said tunnels are embodied as a single link providing access to the remote network.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a transmitting device adapted to send content in bursts in a channel, the channel comprising a plurality of bursts, wherein a burst comprises at least one time slot. The transmitting device comprises first communicating means for receiving content from a first network, second communicating means for sending the content to a second network, the content being successively sent over at least one time slot of the bursts of the channel, time slot means for assigning a channel, and at least one unfilled time slot in the bursts of the channel to at least one second transmitting device located on the second network and signaling means for indicating the channel and the unfilled time slots to the at least one second transmitting device.

Abstract: A method for communicating between a cellular system and a client terminal such as a mobile terminal by way of a standard wireless LAN and the Internet allows data communications to traverse the core of the cellular network, thereby allowing monitoring of the time and volume usage by the subscriber for billing purposes. The mobile terminal has a communication protocol for communicating with the wireless LAN, over which is a EAP/EAPOL protocol. A Radio Adaptation Layer protocol overlies the EAP/EAPOL protocol. At the cellular system, a Serving GPRS Support Node establishes initial control contact with the mobile terminal by way of EAP/EAPOL. During authentication, the Support Node gives the mobile terminal parameters for an alternative tunnel connection. Once authorization is complete, the mobile terminal closes the EAP/EAPOL connection and opens a new connection tunnel to the Support Node using the parameters.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device and a method for inserting an interactive mark in a streaming content, said method comprising the steps of receiving a streaming content in a first format, receiving the same streaming content in a second format, receiving an interactive mark, corresponding to a first frame of said content in a first format and sending said interactive mark synchronized to a second frame of the content received in the second format, the content in said second frame corresponding to the content in said first frame.

Abstract: A communications system includes a wireless telephony network and a wireless Local Area Network (LAN), both accessible by a mobile communications device (16). To facilitate transitioning of the mobile communications device to the wireless LAN from the wireless telephony network, the wireless LAN includes a beacon transmitter, which generates a synchronization channel having a pattern unique to the wireless LAN. The Wireless LAN synchronization channel is received at a first receiver in the mobile communications device together with a synchronization channel from the wireless telephony. The wireless LAN synchronization channel enables the mobile communication device to synchronize with, for transitioning to, the wireless LAN.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method at a file server for sending more than one file to more than one receiver, comprising the steps of aggregating the files into a container, splitting the container into more than one packet, and transmitting the more than one packet to the more than one receiver, wherein, the reception of at least one packet of the container enables a receiver to request the reception of lost packets of the container. To this end, the method comprises the steps of receiving an indication of the number of consecutive lost packets of the container per the more than one receiver and adapting the size of the container, in function of the number of consecutive lost packets at the receivers.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for broadcasting digital video services including a step of transmitting digital video broadcasting services in radio frames addresses to at least one terminal having a standby mode and a sleep mode. In order that the terminal may stay in standby mode to receive data the modified content of the radio frames, at least a part of the radio frames comprises information representative of a change in the content of the radio frames. The invention also concerns a reception method implemented in the terminal as well as the corresponding devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for measuring multimedia demand and for maximizing broadcast channel utilization. A first, two way communications channel or channels, from a customer to a broadcaster are provided, as well as a second broadcast channel, which may be, in some embodiments, combined with the two way channel. A bid cycle is established for available programs, whereby one or more programs is listed as available on said two way channel, whereupon one or more customers may bid on those programs in order to view those programs. If the aggregated bids reached a threshold value, the broadcaster will then broadcast the program to the bidding customers, thus closing the bid cycle. If the threshold is not reached, the bid cycle is unsatisfied.

Abstract: A wireless Local Area Network provides data service through a data LAN and also provides video broadcast service through a video LAN. A wireless LAN subscriber accesses the video LAN through one of a plurality of Video Access Points (VAPs) that broadcast multiple video programs on a channel having a frequency different than the frequency over which the subscriber accesses the data LAN. Each VAP maintains the video channel in a one-way broadcast-only mode to prevent a wireless LAN subscriber from seeking to uplink information on that channel. In this way, the wireless LAN can employ a common protocol for both data and video transmission, and deliver the video streams at the maximum permissible downlink transmission rate.