Abstract: A system and accompanying method for Digital Rights Management (DRM) are disclosed that permit arbitrary forms of digital media to be vended in a networked environment. Special purpose renderers are distributed with each particular instance of digital media. Each renderer may include a tailored set of controls allowing the owner of the digital media to restrict the use thereof.

Abstract: A system and accompanying method for Digital Rights Management (DRM) are disclosed that permit arbitrary forms of digital media to be vended in a networked environment. Special purpose renderers are distributed with each particular instance of digital media. Each renderer may include a tailored set of controls allowing the owner of the digital media to restrict the use thereof.

Abstract: A system and accompanying method for Digital Rights Management (DRM) are disclosed that permit arbitrary forms of digital media to be vended in a networked environment. Special purpose renderers are distributed with each particular instance of digital media. Each renderer may include a tailored set of controls allowing the owner of the digital media to restrict the use thereof.

Abstract: A system and accompanying method for Digital Rights Management (DRM) are disclosed that permit arbitrary forms of digital media to be vended in a networked environment. Special purpose renderers are distributed with each particular instance of digital media. Each renderer may include a tailored set of controls allowing the owner of the digital media to restrict the use thereof.

Abstract: A synchronized node control system, which provides an interface between user processors, which originate and receive messages, and a packet switching network that uses a multi-level communications protocol. Clusters of user processors are each associated with a node controller that communicates with a gateway of the switching network. Each node controller is programmed to handle level two protocols for communicating messages between node controllers, and level three protocols for communicating messages between said user processors. Each node controller is further programmed to perform processes associated with these protocols such that all node controllers perform the same schedule of processes during a node control frame period.

Abstract: A synchronized node control system, which provides an interface between user processors, which originate and receive messages, and a packet switching network that uses a multi-level communications protocol. Clusters of user processors are each associated with a node controller that communicates with a gateway of the switching network. Each node controller is programmed to handle level two protocols for communicating messages between node controllers, and level three protocols for communicating messages between said user processors. Each node controller is further programmed to perform processes associated with these protocols such that all node controllers perform the same schedule of processes during a node control frame period.

Abstract: A digital switching network for providing simultaneous connections among user processors of processor-based communications equipment. The user processors act as originators and destinations of data communications packets. Packet data connections are through node controllers, which communicate with gateways, which are connected to a switching network via packet links. Control messages are communicated between node controllers, gateways, and an interchange control subsystem via various control message links. All control message processing and packet data transmissions are synchronized with a packet frame synchronization signal, and processing tasks performed by each of the network subsystems are pipelined so that they occur simultaneously. Service requests are queued in a central queue in the interchange control system. The synchronization and queueing simplify the control messages that are required to set up and release the connections.