Abstract: Novel “loss rate” metrics are presented that can be used to indicate the quality of a video stream. These metrics may be determined using a simplified method or by a more sophisticated method, the latter method applying different “weights” (i.e., adjustments) to error computations based on the type of frame involved (i.e., I, P, B). Both methods may produce a video quality score within a given range (e.g., in the range of 0 to 1) where one end of the range indicates a video stream of high quality (i.e., no frames are affected), and the other end indicates a video stream of low quality (i.e., all frames are affected).

Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising a wireless network. In one aspect, a mobile user device sends a trigger message to a server over a wireless link of the network. The server in response to the trigger message sends an update message to the mobile user device over the wireless link. The update message is sent within a period of time after the trigger message that is less than a dormancy time of the wireless link. The update message may specify, for example, a defined area around a location identified in the trigger message, one or more stationary fences associated with the mobile user device that overlap with the defined area and that are active or become active within a designated time frame, and a projected time frame within which a proximity-crossing event is likely to occur for at least one user device pair that includes the mobile user device.

Abstract: Method, system, and programs for balancing work load in a distributed system. A plurality of multi-dimensional load metrics are received from a plurality of resource units in the distributed system. Based on the received plurality of multi-dimensional load metrics and a global statistical load model, a load deviance for each resource unit is computed. The plurality of resource units in the distributed system are then ranked based on the load deviance of each resource unit. At least one load balancing action is further determined based on the ranked resource units and at least one load balancing policy.

Abstract: Method, system, and programs for balancing work load in a distributed system. A plurality of multi-dimensional load metrics are received from a plurality of resource units in the distributed system. Based on the received plurality of multi-dimensional load metrics and a global statistical load model, a load deviance for each resource unit is computed. The plurality of resource units in the distributed system are then ranked based on the load deviance of each resource unit. At least one load balancing action is further determined based on the ranked resource units and at least one load balancing policy.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for mapping XML source documents to target documents using schema embeddings. According to one aspect of the invention, one or more edges in the one or more source schemas are mapped to one or more paths in at least one target schema. The disclosed mapping techniques ensure that (i) one or more source documents that conform to one or more of the source schemas can be recovered from one or more target documents that conform to the at least one target schema, if a mapping exists between the one or more of the source schemas and the at least one target schema; (ii) queries on one or more source documents that conform to one or more of the source schemas in a given query language can be answered on one or more target documents that conform to the at least one target schema; and (iii) the one or more target documents conform to a target schema.

Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. One aspect of the invention relates to generation of user movement statistics that may be utilized to facilitate the development of targeted marketing campaigns or other types of message delivery. In this aspect, the user movement statistics are generated based on location and profile information for mobile user devices, and delivery of at least one message to a given one of the mobile user devices is controlled based on the user movement statistics. The user movement statistics may comprise, for example, information sufficient to determine approximately how many users having particular designated characteristics are likely to be in a given location at a given time, and may be utilized to determine prices charged for delivery of messages to the mobile user devices.

Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising a wireless network. In one aspect, a mobile user device sends a trigger message to a server over a wireless link of the network. The server in response to the trigger message sends an update message to the mobile user device over the wireless link. The update message is sent within a period of time after the trigger message that is less than a dormancy time of the wireless link. The update message may specify, for example, a defined area around a location identified in the trigger message, one or more stationary fences associated with the mobile user device that overlap with the defined area and that are active or become active within a designated time frame, and a projected time frame within which a proximity-crossing event is likely to occur for at least one user device pair that includes the mobile user device.

Abstract: A LBS (location-based service) in which users equipped with a localizable mobile communication terminal advantageously receive “alert” messages when they have an opportunity to meet someone located in their geographic vicinity and having a profile matching their own profile. In particular, users, who may be associated with a given group of users, can be alerted via their mobile communication terminal when another user with a matching profile, and who may also be associated with the same group of users, is located in the same predetermined geographical area. The alert message may, for example, include the mobile phone number of the other user located in the same geographical area.

Abstract: Novel “loss rate” metrics are presented that can be used to indicate the quality of a video stream. These metrics may be determined using a simplified method or by a more sophisticated method, the latter method applying different “weights” (i.e., adjustments) to error computations based on the type of frame involved (i.e., I,P, B). Both methods may produce a video quality score within a given range (e.g., in the range of 0 to 1) where one end of the range indicates a video stream of high quality (i.e., no frames are affected), and the other end indicates a video stream of low quality (i.e., all frames are affected).

Abstract: Location-based services are provided in a communication system comprising at least a portion of at least one wireless network. One aspect of the invention relates to generation of user movement statistics that may be utilized to facilitate the development of targeted marketing campaigns or other types of message delivery. In this aspect, the user movement statistics are generated based on location and profile information for mobile user devices, and delivery of at least one message to a given one of the mobile user devices is controlled based on the user movement statistics. The user movement statistics may comprise, for example, information sufficient to determine approximately how many users having particular designated characteristics are likely to be in a given location at a given time, and may be utilized to determine prices charged for delivery of messages to the mobile user devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for mapping XML source documents to target documents using schema embeddings. According to one aspect of the invention, one or more edges in the one or more source schemas are mapped to one or more paths in at least one target schema. The disclosed mapping techniques ensure that (i) one or more source documents that conform to one or more of the source schemas can be recovered from one or more target documents that conform to the at least one target schema, if a mapping exists between the one or more of the source schemas and the at least one target schema; (ii) queries on one or more source documents that conform to one or more of the source schemas in a given query language can be answered on one or more target documents that conform to the at least one target schema; and (iii) the one or more target documents conform to a target schema.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for updating XML views of relational data. The present invention translates an update to an XML view of a relational database into update operations to be performed on the underlying relational database itself. The disclosed XML view update manager can perform updates in the context of an underlying relational database that serves the XML-based application, as well as traditional relational database management system (RDBMS) applications. Given a pre-existing underlying relational database schema and an XML view defined on it, the present invention provides a framework for generating update plans to perform an update without introducing side-effects to other parts of the view.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for composing XSL transformations with XML publishing views. XSL transformations are performed on XML documents defined as views of relational databases. A portion of a relational database can be exported to an XML document. An initial view query defines an XML view on the relational database and an XSLT stylesheet specifies at least one transformation. The initial view query is modified to account for an effect of the transformation and the modified view query is applied to the relational database to obtain the XML document. When the modified view query is evaluated on a relational database instance, the same XML document is obtained as would be obtained by evaluating the XSLT stylesheet on the original XML view.