Abstract: The performance and ease of management of wireless communications environments is improved by a mechanism that enables access points (APs) to perform automatic channel selection. A wireless network can therefore include multiple APs, each of which will automatically choose a channel such that channel usage is optimized. Furthermore, APs can perform automatic power adjustment so that multiple APs can operate on the same channel while minimizing interference with each other. Wireless stations are load balanced across APs so that user bandwidth is optimized. A movement detection scheme provides seamless roaming of stations between APs.

Abstract: A calendar bar utility with a special user interface may be integrated and displayed simultaneously with an electronic mail list inbox. The calendar bar user interface comprises a linear display arranged into multiple, chronologically-arranged, time periods. Upon selection of a specific time period, such as a day, or the current day, subdivisions of the time period, e.g. hours of a day, are displayed in a similar format. The calendar bar also allows multiple calendars, for example the personal calendar of the user, and a team calendar for multiple individuals, to be displayed simultaneously for easy access. Selection of a specific time period causes data associated with any event in that time period to be displayed next to the designated time period, or, alternatively, in a separate window. The data associated with the event may vary in detail and scope depending on the designer preferences, but will typically include the start and end times, the location, topic, type, i.e. call-in, video conference, etc.

Abstract: A diagnostic system monitors the status of other processes over a computer network by collecting status and configuration data, analyzing the data and providing diagnostic recommendations when necessary. The diagnostic system includes a collector module, an analyzer module and an administration client module. The collector module collects statistical data and configuration data from each monitored process and populates a plurality of source data tables or worksheets. The values of the source data are processed by the analyzer module, including component algorithms, which generate a plurality of individual component indexes each associated with a specific aspect of the processes performance. The component indexes are then processed using a weighting algorithm to form a composite index reflecting the overall health of the monitored process.

Abstract: A presence management system is described whereby connections between watching parties and watched parties in a multiple access communications network are managed. When the presence management system receives a contact request from a watching party it determines whether the required watched party is available for contact. The system then provides information about this to the watching party who made the request. The presence management system chooses the best mode of communication (e.g. email or fax) taking into account the watched parties preferences and details about the facilities available to the watching party. If, the presence management system informs the watching party that the watched party is unavailable, the watching party is able to set up a monitor. In determining whether the required watched party is available for contact, the presence management system uses stored information about the watched party, information about the required connection (e.g. size and type) and also rules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus has been described that permits fast re-establishment of secure communications between endpoints in a network through intelligent re-use of existing security associations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring a server/client network architecture. A server network device impresses an optical signal onto an optical link at a specified wavelength, where distinct wavelengths are associated with one or more of a plurality of client devices. Thus, the server addresses a specified client device, thereby polling the specified device for a response. An optical demultiplexer/combiner directs the server optical signal to the specified recipient client device on the basis of the wavelength of the server optical signal, and combines all responses on the client devices for transmission back to the server. Any transmission by the specified client device in response to polling by the server is thus received by the server.

Abstract: Inner layer traces on a multilayer printed wiring board are exposed to enable direct interconnection with another device such as a printed wiring board. The traces may be exposed by removing at least some of the dielectric substrate material around the traces, or by extending the traces beyond the other layers of the printed wiring board. Corresponding conductors associated with the other device are placed in direct physical contact with the exposed inner layer traces, and may be aligned and secured with guide plates, alignment pins and spring members. Such direct connection mitigates the need for vias, and has more favorable electrical characteristics for high frequency signal transmission.

Abstract: A modular test chassis for use in testing wireless devices includes a backplane and a channel emulation module coupled to the backplane. The channel emulation module comprises circuitry for emulating the effects of a dynamic physical environment (including air, interfering signals, interfering structures, movement, etc.) on signals in the transmission channel shared by the first and second device. Different channel emulation modules may be included in the test system depending upon the protocol, network topology or capability under test. A test module may be provided to generate traffic at multiple interfaces of SISO or MIMO DUTs to enable thorough testing of device and system behavior in the presence of emulated network traffic and fault conditions. A latency measurement system and method applies timestamps frames as they are transmit and received at the test module for improved latency measurement accuracy.

Abstract: The performance and ease of management of wireless communications environments is improved by a mechanism that enables access points (APs) to perform automatic channel selection. A wireless network can therefore include multiple APs, each of which will automatically choose a channel such that channel usage is optimized. Furthermore, APs can perform automatic power adjustment so that multiple APs can operate on the same channel while minimizing interference with each other. Wireless stations are load balanced across APs so that user bandwidth is optimized. A movement detection scheme provides seamless roaming of stations between APs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transporting digital audio-related signals over point-to-point, non-circuit-switched, non-packet-based, local area connections. In one example, multiple digital audio-related signals are combined as a time division multiplexed (TDM) serial bit stream. In addition to the one or more multiplexed digital audio-related signals, the TDM serial bit stream also may be encoded with other information that pertains to one or more of the digital audio-related signals being multiplexed (e.g., data rates of the signals, various data type or status information, timing or other synchronization information, etc.). In one aspect, the TDM serial bit stream is transmitted and received via conventional packet-based network physical layer transceivers (e.g., Ethernet transceivers) that are particularly configured and controlled to transmit and receive essentially continuous bit streams rather than data packets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a data signal for transmission to a remote device transmits at least two synchronized copies of the data signal, in optical form, in different directions. To that end, the data signal first is synchronized to a clock signal to produce a composite signal. The composite signal then is converted to an optical signal, which is referred to as an “outgoing signal.” A plurality of copies of the outgoing signal then are transmitted. At least two copies of the outgoing signal are transmitted in different directions.

Abstract: A system for allowing call center agents to initiate text chat, audio and/or video communication, as well as collaborative browsing with potential customers visiting web pages includes a customer monitoring applet that monitors the behavior of the customer via the web browser and sends information to a router process, the information including information identifying the customer, the web page location, status of a transaction, etc. The router process uses the information supplied to it from the customer monitoring applet, as well as information on one or more available agent processes to determine which call agent would be appropriate to initiate contact with the potential customer. The router process transmits the information identifying the customer to the selected agent process for presentation to the agent. The agent can monitor the status of the customer, as well as other customers, and send a request to initiate communication, if appropriate.

Abstract: A single address configuration table entry maps multiple source devices in a source network to a single destination device in a destination network. The single address configuration table entry is used when any of the source devices initiates a connection to the destination device. The single address configuration table entry includes a “wildcard” for matching the source address of connection requests that are originated by any of the multiple source devices and destined for the destination device. When a connection is initiated by a source device, certain address/channel information is dynamically allocated in order to map the source device to the destination device. A dynamic routing table entry is installed in a dynamic routing table in order to map the source device to the destination device using the dynamically allocated address/channel information.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating and receiving notifications regarding accesses to documents in a shared repository, where the notifications are filtered such that they are only generated and/or received for accesses that match a personal interest profile of a local user. The personal interest profile of the local user includes a number of keywords determined to be of interest to the local user, as well as a number of important person identifiers associated with other users determined to be important to the local user. The system is operable to provide notifications in response to accesses by important other users to shared documents, including reading of those documents by the important other users.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for managing connection establishment and related services in an optical communication system uses an optical service agent to manage the connection establishment and related services on behalf of a user. The optical service agent may negotiate various connection and connection-related services, model connections, reserve communication services, establish connections on behalf of the user, and aggregate multiple optical communication paths over a connection, to name but a few. The optical service agent may interact with an optical communication network and/or various peer users in order to obtain and reserve communication services.

Abstract: In a fast optical switch comprising a plurality of star couplers, channel switching, Time Division Multiplex (TDM) switching, or both may be provided. The operation of the fast optical switch is enabled by a fast scheduler comprising at least two scheduler modules. The throughput of the optical switch may be increased through a process of bimodal pipelined connection-packing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system in which a user can login to a World Wide Web server's (Web) application page and get help on the features assigned to an instrument such as a telephone or a service such as a voicemail system that is a configurable asset specifically assigned to that user. The on-line help is preferably kept in text and/or multimedia format on a server. The entity or that is displaying the help information is preferably a different entity than the service provider device that is providing the functionality or service to the asset. A synchronization process occurs so that thew server providing the Web-based help has a database of features assigned to the user as well as other information about the user.

Abstract: A conference server enables collaborative communications among a variety of client processes of varying configurations all operatively coupled over a computer network to each other and to the server. The server receives audio streams from participating client processes in a conference, selects which audio streams are active, and broadcasts one or more of the active audio streams to the client processes participating in the conference depending on the clients receiving capabilities and the conference parameters. The client processes receiving multiple active audio streams perform mixing locally at the client node. Without having to perform mixing at the server, resources are saved and the number of simultaneous participating client processes to the conference may be increased accordingly. The server is further capable of simultaneously accommodating multipoint clients and non-multipoint H.323 clients, as well as operating in multiway and “push to talk” modes.

Abstract: An XML accessible network device is capable of performing functions in response to an XML encoded request transmitted over a network. It includes a network data transfer service, coupled to a network, that is capable of receiving XML encoded requests from a client also connected to the network. An XML engine is capable of understanding and parsing the XML encoded requests according to a corresponding DTD. The XML engine further instantiates a service using parameters provided in the XML encoded request and launches the service for execution on the network device. A set of device APIs interacts with hardware and software on the network device for executing the requested service on the network device. If necessary, a response is further collected from the device and provided to the client in a response message.

Abstract: A method and a network for a universal transfer mode (UTM) of transferring data packets at a regulated bit rate are disclosed. The method defines a protocol that uses an adaptive packet header to simplify packet routing and increase transfer speed. The protocol supports a plurality of data formats. The network includes a plurality of modules that provide interfaces to various data sources. The modules are interconnected by an optic core with adequate inter-module links. The adaptive packet header is used for both signaling and payload transfer. The header is parsed to determine its function. Rate regulation is accomplished using each module control element and egress port controllers to regulate packet transfer. The protocol enables the modules to behave as a single distributed switch capable of multi-terabit transfer rates. The advantage is a high speed distributed switch capable of serving as a transfer backbone for substantially any telecommunications service.