Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises determining whether a non-unicast message is to be transmitted by a transmitting device, which may involve a setting a Delivery Traffic Indicator Map (DTIM) Interval value to reflect a longer periodicity than associated with a Listen Interval. After such determination, the non-unicast message may be converted into one or more unicast messages for transmission.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for providing VLAN mobility that comprises at least two operations. A first operation involves determining whether a unique identifier of the second network device is within an Association listing. The Association listing includes unique identifiers of networks devices associated with the first network device and virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers for the network devices associated with the first network device. A second operation involves determining if the unique identifier of the second network device is within a Bridge listing if the unique identifier of the second network device is not located within the Association listing.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method and apparatus to provide a network-attached media plug-in. A network interface interfaces with a client and a server. The network interface receives an input from the client requesting content from the server. The client has a network plug-in interface. A network processor extracts a media stream from the requested content. A multimedia processor dynamically modifies the media stream according to the input from the client.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method is devised for tailoring downloaded content to the requesting user by upon receiving a message requesting content. The message includes information that provides information about a user requesting the content. Before receipt by the requesting user, the content is modified by inserting user-targeted information directly within the content. The user-targeted information is retrieved using the information. Thereafter, the modified content is transmitted to a device controlled by the requesting user.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method is devised for tailoring downloaded content to the requesting device by receiving attribute parameters associated with a device that initiates a request for downloaded content. The attribute parameters are values that identify specific characteristics of the device. Thereafter, the content is modified according to the attributes parameters, and thereafter, the modified content is transmitted to the device.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method and apparatus to process video frames. An entropy decoder performs entropy decoding on a bitstream of a video frame extracted from a network frame. The entropy decoder generates discrete cosine transform (DCT) coefficients representing a picture block in the video frame. The entropy decoder is configured for serial operations. A graphics processing unit (GPU) performs image decoding using the DCT coefficients. The GPU is configured for parallel operations. One disclosed feature of the embodiments is a technique to decode a video frame. A GPU performs image encoding of a video frame computing quantized DCT coefficients representing a picture block in the video frame. The GPU is configured for parallel operations. An entropy encoder performs entropy encoding on the quantized DCT coefficients. The entropy encoder is configured for serial operations.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to one or more time and attendance systems specifically designed for use in the gaming (gambling) and hospitality (hotels and restaurants) industries, but may additionally be utilized advantageously in a wide range of other fields or industries. The disclosed time and attendance system can be easily integrated into existing human resource software systems so as to eliminate duplication of employee records and duplication of servers. The disclosed time and attendance system combines a time clock apparatus that allows employees and supervisors to clock in and clock out, view records of their accumulated time, etc., with a behind the clock software system that allows persons with proper authorization to configure the time clock apparatus and to review, approve, disapprove and/or edit employee time clock records in a simple and organized manner.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to one or more time and attendance systems specifically designed for use in the gaming (gambling) and hospitality (hotels and restaurants) industries, but may additionally be utilized advantageously in a wide range of other fields or industries. The disclosed time and attendance system can be easily integrated into existing human resource software systems so as to eliminate duplication of employee records and duplication of servers. The disclosed time and attendance system combines a time clock apparatus that allows employees and supervisors to clock in and clock out, view records of their accumulated time, etc., with a behind the clock software system that allows persons with proper authorization to configure the time clock apparatus and to review, approve, disapprove and/or edit employee time clock records in a simple and organized manner.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to one or more time and attendance systems specifically designed for use in the gaming (gambling) and hospitality (hotels and restaurants) industries, but may additionally be utilized advantageously in a wide range of other fields or industries. The disclosed time and attendance system can be easily integrated into existing human resource software systems so as to eliminate duplication of employee records and duplication of servers. The disclosed time and attendance system combines a time clock apparatus that allows employees and supervisors to clock in and clock out, view records of their accumulated time, etc., with a behind the clock software system that allows persons with proper authorization to configure the time clock apparatus and to review, approve, disapprove and/or edit employee time clock records in a simple and organized manner.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises determining whether a non-unicast message is to be transmitted by a transmitting device, which may involve a setting a Delivery Traffic Indicator Map (DTIM) Interval value to reflect a longer periodicity than associated with a Listen Interval. After such determination, the non-unicast message may be converted into one or more unicast messages for transmission.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for securely extending a private network to include one or more remote access points (APs) comprises a first operation of establishing a secure communication path with a destination device. Then, the information received from a source device is prepared for transmission to the destination device. This involves the received information undergoing Layer 3 (L3) encryption prior to encapsulation into a message for transmission to the destination device if the received information constitutes control information. If the received information constitutes data, the received information optionally undergoes L3 encryption, since the payload data might be already L2 encrypted by the source device, prior to encapsulation into the message.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus, such as an accessing head magnetic disk file, includes at least one data disk surface and a servo disk surface. In operation, a continuous position signal having high frequency components is derived from the servo surface, which has a quadature type servo signal prerecorded thereon. A circuit means modifies the derived position signal so that a substantially linear signal representing the displacement of the servo head from the servo track is obtained. A second position signal having a low frequency component is obtained from servo sector information registered on the data disk surface and together with the first position signal forms a hybrid position signal. This hybrid signal is used to control the movement of the data heads relative to the data tracks to ensure optimum transducing operation.

Abstract: A positioning system for data storage apparatus in which a magnetic transducer is positioned relative to data tracks on a moving record member by means of a closed loop servo system. Improved velocity control information is provided to the servo system by pre-recorded servo tracks read by a single servo head forming part of the closed loop system. Each servo track consists of a plurality of servo cells, alternate ones of which are laterally displaced by half a track width. A position reference signal is prerecorded in each cell at a point which is predetermined to permit the signal to be sensed by the single servo head independently of any other detectable signal. Accordingly, a position error signal derived from displaced cells is always 90.degree. out of phase with the position error signal derived from undisplaced cells.

Abstract: In a phase locked oscillator (PLO), the frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is changed in response to error signals indicating the phase error between the individual pulses of a stream of input pulses and the output pulses of the PLO. The running of the PLO is temporarily interrupted whenever the phase error exceeds a predetermined amount, and is restarted in phase with the next input pulse from the stream of pulses. A residual part of the error signal causing the interruption is accumulated so that after each interruption the frequency of the oscillator is closer to the frequency of the input stream of pulses. The process is repeated as required until phase lock is achieved.