Abstract: Digital pre-downloading of high bandwidth digital data is performed through a system gateway based on selective filtering, scheduling, and end user device requirements. Digital broadcasting systems are used to push large bandwidth data during non-peak periods (e.g., in the early AM hours) or during times of other relative network or end user device inactivity. Digital data, such as background images, song compilations, artist compilations, newspapers, e-books, digital purchases of other data, maps of local areas based on, for example, GPS based location detection, etc., are pre-downloaded and stored in the end user (client) device, e.g., a car digital radio or other consumer electronic device with display flag turned off. The device is subscriber preconfigured to selectively filter and retain (e.g., in local cache memory) a desired portion of the data broadcast. Later, a command is sent to activate the contents for subscriber presentation. Delta updates, if received, are pushed in real-time.

Abstract: An embodiment relates generally to a method of communicating among multiple users. The method includes establishing a first push-to-talk over cellular (“POC”) connection between a first terminal device having a client port and a second terminal device. The first terminal device then receives a second POC connection attempt notification at the client port from a third terminal device. The method also includes selecting one of: (1) establishing a second POC connection with the third terminal device at the client port; or (2) putting the second terminal device on hold at the client port of the first terminal device.

Abstract: Pluralarity of network controlled retail display receiver is attached to the shelf carrying items whose information such as price and other attributes need to be displayed. The display receiver wakes up to see the information change bit indicator and its addresssed group. If detected, receiver captures the packet, decodes it and rrefresh its man machine interface. The receiver gets command from the controller either placed in the store or through digital terrestrial/satellite broadcast networks. The invention allows consistant management of similar items information placed in retail stores of same franchise, geographically apart.

Abstract: Current radio broadcast stations have limited geographic coverage. We provide system and method to access real-time world broadcast radio transmission. The system is capable of creating a simplex conference bridge with the desired destination radio station either upon demand by the subscriber or auto scheduled by the system as programmed by the subscriber. The concept is expanded to retrieve commercial promotional multimedia clips of advertisers either upon demand by the subscriber or as if pre-initialized by the subscriber, the system sends alert when such promotion occurs. We find good use of these features during free allocated time by carrier access operators.

Abstract: An addressable embedded transceiver lock (ETL) is proposed. The ETL is equipped with a network access interface (wired or wireless), subscriber serial data interface (wired or wireless), man machine interface and a command decoder. The network access interface is used to communicate with the remote service gateway the subscriber serial data interface is used to communicate with the subscriber home loop and a command decoder is used to take actions as constructed by the remote gateway. When ETL is powered, it first registers with the remote service gateway (a call center or owner of the unit) over a wide area network (wired or wireless). The service gateway maintains profile of the installed ETL and it's communicating capabilities. Upon demand by the remote attendant, the ETL performs operations such as lock open, lock close, lock status. ETL may also alert the service gateway of activities as predefined. Various derivatives of ETL may include Motion Sensor, Camera.

Abstract: Real Estate properties for sell show are vulnerable to misuse, especially if key is placed in a mechanical lock box. System and method is proposed to validate the caller as being a real estate sales associate. The proposed system is always updated with active agent's roster identities. Some scenarios of updates are: when real-estate commission issues a license, when a licensee joins a broker office, and when a licensee changes sub-broker office, when he becomes a referral source or if his license is suspended, revoked. Methods are discussed in which access is made available to an agent sitting in the broker allocated call centers. When a caller calls, to the broker (sub-broker) call center for inquiring about sell show, the proposed system from the calling number identification data makes a search in the agent roster repository. Actions are taken based on yah nay.

Abstract: A receiver is described for receiving digital data broadcasts from a Push-Pull gateway. The receiver is equipped with a demodulator, deinterleaver and turbo broadcast decoder for parsing and rendering the received broadcast data. Additionally, the receiver is also equipped with a GPS module and an uplink module for communicating with the Push-Pull gateway or a content provider center. The GPS module can also be used to assist in filtering broadcast data specific to the receiver's location. The uplink module is used to transmit profile information defining the client's desired broadcast format. The uplink module is also used to dynamically update private keys that are provided to clients for authentication and decoding purposes. The uplink together with the turbo broadcast layer module is also used for “buy” activities.

Abstract: Datacasting bandwidth enhancements are accomplished using a perceptual audio coder (PAC) that indicates, to a push-pull gateway (PPG), the availability of deterministic and opportunistic bandwidth. In case of real-time programs, data is pulled from a pre-managed datacasting service queue, and the deterministic bandwidth is used for real-time low bit-rate program related information and the opportunistic bandwidth is used for transmission of encoded non-real-time data content. For recorded content, further enhancement is achieved by preprocessing the audio song. The PAC identifies data rate (e.g., in kbps) and the deterministic and opportunistic deterministic bandwidth available (with delay variance). This information is conveyed to a push-pull gateway which performs management of data content destined for the deterministic opportunistic queue.

Abstract: “VCR Manipulation of Broadcast Digital Content” Including start of content and end of content indicators in the broadcast data provides for early identification and clean storage and manipulation of broadcast digital content. Thus, a receiver is able to identity a state change (e.g., start of a song or end of a song) and use this information for storing the broadcast content in its entirety. Furthermore, a user is also able to perform VCR-like functions (e.g., like rewind, fast-forward, pause, play) on the broadcast data.

Abstract: Digital pre-downloading of high bandwidth digital data is performed through a system gateway based on selective filtering, scheduling, and end user device requirements. Digital broadcasting systems are used to push large bandwidth data during non-peak periods (e.g., in the early AM hours) or during times of other relative network or end user device inactivity. Digital data, such as background images, song compilations, artist compilations, newspapers, e-books, digital purchases of other data, maps of local areas based on, for example, GPS based location detection, etc., are pre-downloaded and stored in the end user (client) device, e.g., a car digital radio or other consumer electronic device with display flag turned off. The device is subscriber preconfigured to selectively filter and retain (e.g., in local cache memory) a desired portion of the data broadcast. Later, a command is sent to activate the contents for subscriber presentation. Delta updates, if received, are pushed in real-time.

Abstract: A receiver is described for receiving digital data broadcasts from a Push-Pull gateway. The receiver is equipped with a demodulator, deinterleaver and turbo broadcast decoder for parsing and rendering the received broadcast data. Additionally, the receiver is also equipped with a GPS module and an uplink module for communicating with the Push-Pull gateway or a content provider center. The GPS module can also be used to assist in filtering broadcast data specific to the receiver's location. The uplink module is used to transmit profile information defining the client's desired broadcast format. The uplink module is also used to dynamically update private keys that are provided to clients for authentication and decoding purposes. The uplink together with the turbo broadcast layer module is also used for “buy” activities.

Abstract: A system and method for intelligently scheduling, through multilevel arbitration, broadcast digital radio content and advertising using a sophisticated communication protocol. Arbitration of broadcast time slots is based on classifications, prioritization, level of service required, bit rate and QoS (quality of service) requirements, best acceptable effort, and type of data (e.g., audio, video, graphics, text) broken into real-time or non-real-time determinations. A hierarchical gateway system is used to arbitrate and schedule the broadcasted content for each broadcast station (exciter). The broadcasted content includes material from national and local content providers to include music, video, graphics, text, and partial content downloads. A central gateway receives requests from national content providers to fill broadcast slots.

Abstract: One or more broadcast servers transmit information (advertisement content and multimedia data content) to one or more digital audio broadcast (iDAB) receivers over a network such as an in-band on-channel (IBOC) network. A client with an iDAB receiver is able to purchase multimedia content by a simple action through a man-machine interface (MMI). Furthermore, a mechanism is described for setting thresholds, wherein the thresholds define when actual broadcasting of the content should begin. The thresholding mechanism is implemented either in the iDAB receiver or in a Push-Pull gateway broadcasting the multimedia content. Bulk purchases are described, where such purchases are done via: direct order placement, indirect order placement, or via a B-server (over iBOC) download to receivers. Additionally, bulk purchase allows for the spreading of uplink traffic from consumer devices.

Abstract: An efficient Push-Pull data gateway is described for use by remote content provider centers or content sponsors to Push data content or have it pulled from remote networks. The data content is then broadcast through an existing in-band on-channel (IBOC) network to consumer devices equipped with iBOC receiver. Examples of data content include digital audio and data broadcasts and examples of consumer devices include consumer electronics device for receiving such broadcasts. The gateway particularly serves as a data concentration and management center with several data processing features for facilitation of data transmission. The described protocol utilized by the Push-Pull gateway supports handling of transmissions errors, various addressing schemes, multiple transmission speeds, prioritization of content, and other scheduling features.