Abstract: A stream manager provides a way of redirecting and managing messaging and information access in a packet network environment. The stream manager is linked to a packet network, such as the Internet. The stream manager receives over the packet network a message from a user's host server initiated by a user and intended for a destination site. The message bears an address for the stream manager which is provided to the host server by the address server for the packet network, such as a server utilized as part of the domain name system. The stream manager determines the availability of at least one destination server at the destination site to receive and process the message. If a destination server at the destination site is available to receive and process the message, the stream manager selects a destination server from those available.

Abstract: A stream manager provides a way of redirecting and managing messaging and information access in a packet network environment. The stream manager can include a computer-based router or server that behaves as if it were a gateway for a sub-network of destination site servers, and the stream manager is linked to a packet network, such as the Internet. The stream manager receives over the packet network a message from a user's host server initiated by a user and intended for a destination site. The message bears an address for the stream manager which is provided to the host server by the address server for the packet network, such as a server utilized as part of the domain name system. The stream manager determines the availability of at least one destination server at the destination site to receive and process the message.

Abstract: Numerous benefits are realized by allowing messaging platforms to receive and act on information packages that include one or more Execution Instruction Sets (EISs), where the EIS is executed as specified. Execution of the included EISs provides vastly enhanced capabilities to the messaging platform, such as controlling when an EIS is executed, from where necessary data is obtained for the execution of the EIS, what kinds of executions are permitted, who will be the recipients of the content portion of platform, what that content will be, etc. Increasing the interaction complexity a step further, the EIS permits creation of an interactive session with the recipient that makes the message more effective. A still additional capability is the establishment of a communication path from the messaging platform. This may be in the form of a message that is sent by the messaging platform, or a connection that is established between the recipient and some other party.

Abstract: A system and a service that collects information about waiting messages and forwards the collected information to a multi-service notifier device. Such a device may be wired or wireless and includes sensory indicators to convey message waiting indications from several messaging services. In accordance with one embodiment, the notifier device and the service cooperate via a wireless paging system. Each message service that a subscriber uses initiates a notification process when a message arrives. The process causes a page to be sent to the multi-service notifier device which informs the subscriber who carries the device that a message is waiting and which messaging service holds the message. In accordance with another embodiment, the notifier device is coupled to the telecommunication network over a channel that is used for other than pager communication, such as a POTS line.

Abstract: A system for creating still image or video collections for guests of amusement parks and the like a) identifies individuals by a unique tag assigned to the individual, b) automatically records the images of the individuals while they are at various attractions, c) collects the images over a communications network, d) arranges the images in a collection, and e) presents a personal set of collected images to the guest. In one embodiment of the invention, cameras are located throughout an amusement park. Each guest is associated with a unique identifier. This identifier may be contained within a readable tag, e.g., a card, badge or pendant. Tag readers identify guest when they are at a particular location and provide identification and location information to a control system. A communications network is used to interconnect the cameras, tag readers, control system and image recording devices. The control system controls the recording and storage of the appropriate image(s) associated with that guest.

Abstract: A method for wide area overlapped ringing is disclosed wherein a primary destination is rung, and, if a no answer condition is encountered after an initial ringing threshold, a secondary destination is rung such that the ringing of the primary and secondary destinations at least partly overlap. Some embodiments involve the ringing of more than one secondary destination, where each secondary destination is rung for a set time and then halted. Other embodiments provide bridging capability for three-way calling. The disclosed method has wide area capability; thus, the secondary destination may comprise any destination accessible by the Publicly-Switched Telephone Network.

Abstract: One communications device (called the "impersonating" device) can selectively impersonate another communications device (called the "impersonated" device) by arranging the impersonating device to take over and/or use the same network identification number (typically stored in an identification number memory and used to control selection of incoming calls to which the device responds) normally associated with the impersonated device. As a result of impersonation, there is a hand-off between the devices, with the impersonated device becoming dormant and the impersonating device becoming active, such that calls normally received by the impersonated device are received by the impersonating device, and such that calls originating in the impersonating device get the identical network treatment as would be accorded to calls originated by the impersonated device, all of this without any need to adjust or update profiles stored in a network database.

Abstract: Techniques for employing a television set and a television set controller as the control interface for devices which themselves do not have display capability and for services provided via the telephone network. The techniques involve control apparatus which is connected to the telephone network and a television set and is responsive to inputs from a hand-held controller for the television set. The control apparatus outputs a screen which contains control selections to the television set and the user employs the controller to make a selection. The control apparatus then performs the control function specified by the selection. One application is a telephone messaging system: integral with the control apparatus is a system which can answer calls and store voice messages, fax messages, character-string messages, and script messages. The control apparatus plays the voice messages on the television set and provide screens to the television set which display the fax and character-string messages.

Abstract: A system for creating still image or video collections for guests of amusement parks and the like a) identifies individuals by a unique tag assigned to the individual, b) automatically records the images of the individuals while they are at various attractions, c) collects the images over a communications network, d) arranges the images in a collection, and e) presents a personal set of collected images to the guest. For example, cameras may be located throughout an amusement park. Each guest is associated with a unique identifier. This identifier may be contained within a readable tag, e.g., a card, badge or pendant. Tag readers identify guest when they are at a particular location and provide identification and location information to a control system. A communications network is used to interconnect the cameras, tag readers, control system and image recording devices. The control system controls the recording and storage of the appropriate image(s) associated with that guest.

Abstract: A folded, magnifying, front projection arrangement for video displays includes a video image source, such as a flat panel display unit out of the user's field of view, projects its image onto a concave mirror also out of the user's field of view. The video image source is maintained off-axis with respect to the optic axis of the concave mirror and at a distance from the concave mirror between one and two times the distance from the concave mirror to its principal focal surface, which would be the principal focal plane if the concave mirror were a spherical or a parabolic mirror. The concave mirror, in turn, reflects and focuses the light from the video image source onto a projection screen, within the user's field of view, resulting in a magnified image. The distortion of the projected image that would otherwise result from off-axis projection is compensated for by maintaining the plane of the video image source at a non-perpendicular angle to the optic axis of the mirror.