Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for providing redirection services, for public networks like the Internet, based upon requests containing both a functional term and a domain name uniquely associated with the address of an enterprise providing the service. An example would be an Internet request directed to “www.*.local.com”, where “*” represents a functional term associated with one or more potential final destinations and “www.local.com” is the domain name of the web site providing the redirection service. In a preferred embodiment, where the functional term is associated with plural possible destinations, redirection is based upon proximity of the selected destination to the requester. Thus, a request to “www.emeraldhills.local.com”, wherein “emeraldhills” is all or part of a business name used by several enterprises, is redirected to the enterprise closest to the request origin. The invention accommodates requests transmitted both by mobile and stationary requesters.

Abstract: A controller, for two display units of a computer system, includes two control elements, VC1 and VC2, having separate connections to the display units. In a dual image (DI) mode of operation, VC1 and VC2 process different data to produce different images at respective display units. In a single Image (SI) mode, VC1 and VC2 process the same data to produce identical images. In DI mode, data applied to each control element represents a portion, less than the whole, of a virtual desktop scene having a display width exceeding width resolution settings of respective displays. In this mode VC1 can be controlled manually to scan the entire virtual scene piecemeal, while VC2 is constrained to process only a fixed portion of that scene. In a preferred embodiment, the virtual scene includes private and public areas. The private area shows notes intended for viewing only by a presenter of images shown in the public area, and the public area shows images viewable both by the presenter and an audience.

Abstract: The disclosed system and method for automated proximity determination and notification is useful to enable a customer or client of a business or other enterprise (e.g. a public library, a government facility, etc) to automatically obtain a predetermined service, on arrival at a destination associated with the business or enterprise, without having to communicate orally with representatives of the business/enterprise. A portable programmable wireless communication device is carried by users of such services. The device, termed a PLAD (pervasive location aware device), receives a program and proximity notification parameters associated with each destination to be visited, when service is reserved relative to the destination.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, the public switched telephone network (PSTN) is provided with a system for enabling radio broadcast service providers operating over public data networks like the Internet to reach customers of the PSTN through ordinary telephone instruments. Subject to contractual understandings, between Internet-based distributors of radio programs originating as conventional radio broadcasts and telephone service providers in the PSTN, radio programs are distributed to PSTN customers subscribing to a new PSTN-based radio program distribution service. Using station identifying information provided by a PSTN user, calling a special telephone number while using a conventional telephone instrument, an intelligent network in the PSTN inter-acts with an Internet-based radio program distributor to link to a radio broadcast originating at the identified station. The radio broadcast is then transmitted to the PSTN caller in a form suited for reception at the caller's telephone.

Abstract: A caller-controlled barge-in telephone service, managed by telephone systems, intercepts telephone calls directed to instantly busy telephone lines predesignated as objects of this service, and: 1) verifies that the called line is a respectively predesignated object of this service and that the caller is entitled to invoke the service relative to that line; and 2) forms a bridging connection between the caller and parties to a telephone call instantly busying the called line. Verification that a caller is entitled to the service can be implemented by playing a voice announcement requesting the caller to speak or key in an authorization code. If the caller fails to respond or returns an invalid code, the caller is either disconnected or transferred to a voice mail service. Disconnection of the caller may be preceded by a voice announcement (e.g. a spoken “goodbye”).

Abstract: The present invention affords a predefined class of authorized users of the PSTN (public switched telephone network) access to extended telephone services through public communication networks external to the PSTN, the latter networks including the web and Internet. Authorized users in the predefined class can receive the extended services at residences, offices, and locations remote from both residences and offices. Authorized users can activate respective extended services through the external networks, and can do so without having to communicate with telephone company, representatives. Resource management intelligence of the PSTN is adapted to link to the external networks for communicating with and delivering extended telephone services to the authorized users. Extended telephone services include variations of presently standard telephone services such as call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding facsimile image transmittal, voice mail, etc.

Abstract: In a reduction process, data in portion buffers are selectively sampled at different sampling rates proportional to their assigned weights. For instance, portions assigned highest weights could be sampled at a reference rate corresponding to the repetition frequency of the originally received frames, portions assigned lowest weights could be sampled at {fraction (1/10)}th the reference rate, and portions assigned weights intermediate the lowest and highest ones could be sampled at rates less than the reference rate but more than {fraction (1/10)}th the reference rate. Accordingly, sampled portions assigned less than highest weights, but containing data representing objects in motion, could be subject to reproduction with less clarity than sampled portions assigned highest weight.

Abstract: For a station in a data communication network having a predefined limit of congestion for handling data immediately undergoing transmission through the station, a system for improving service given to network users requesting new access services to support new transmissions through the same station while the predefined congestion limit is exceeded. This system contains: a first element for determining when the predefined limit is exceeded by existing data transmissions through the station; and a second element, responsive to requests for new access services that are received while the predefined limit is being exceeded for: concurrently processing the request for new service and reducing the quality of service (QoS) to selected users. The reductions in QoS generally have the effects of reducing the speed/priority of handling of data being transmitted to or from the selected users, and of freeing up of sufficient bandwidth to accommodate the requested new access services.

Abstract: The present invention affords a predefined class of authorized users of the PSTN (public switched telephone network) access to extended telephone services through public communication networks external to the PSTN, the latter networks including the web and Internet. Authorized users in the predefined class can receive the extended services at residences, offices, and locations remote from both residences and offices. Authorized users can activate respective extended services through the external networks, and can do so without having to communicate with telephone company representatives. Resource management intelligence of the PSTN is adapted to link to the external networks for communicating with and delivering extended telephone services to the authorized users. Extended telephone services include variations of presently standard telephone services such as call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding facsimile image transmittal, voice mail, etc.

Abstract: The present invention affords a predefined class of authorized users of the PSTN (public switched telephone network) access to extended telephone services through public communication networks external to the PSTN, the latter networks including the web and Internet, in situations wherein the users have only a single telephone line that is shared for receiving both extended telephone services and standard telephone services, and wherein the extended services are deliverable while the shared line is connected to the external network. The shared line can be a line serving a residence or business establishment containing equipment for communicating through the external network(s) and equipment used in standard telephony (e.g. standard telephones, standard facsimile receivers, standard computer fax modems, etc.). The extended services can be activated automatically, by interaction between users and computer intelligence in the PSTN, without assistance from human representatives of the PSTN.

Abstract: Network browser applications are improved by providing visual status indications informing users that currently displayed pages are one of: old (outdated), partly old or new. Conventional browser applications load old or partly old page information from a cache and new information from a (usually remote) server to which the browser links via a network. A user expecting to view only new information (e.g. information that might be useless if out of date) is alerted by present status indications to request the browser to reload the entire page; which the user can do by operating a reload selector/icon conventionally presented by the browser. Various alternative status indications are shown, along with potential associations of such with a reload selector button (or equivalent icon).

Abstract: A presently disclosed radio broadcasting system for a virtual radio program broadcasting station uses a divided regional approach to broadcast digital and analog signals over a large geographic region divided into multiple overlapping but separate areas constituting small portions of the region. The small areas are served by separate transmission sources/towers supplied from a common source central to the station. The system supports reuse of allocated transmission parameters within non-neighboring small areas in the region. The station is "virtual" because its central source need not be in any of the small areas, and because it uses different transmission parameters in neighboring small areas in a manner that previously would be used by plural different stations. System transmissions include information signals sent in both analog and digital forms.

Abstract: A packet router for a data packet transmission network, wherein routers offer priority services of the type required for isochronous handling of data representing real-time voice, includes a Quality of Service (QoS) management system for ensuring that guarantees associated with such priority service can be met with a high degree of certainty. This management system provides prioritized queues including a highest priority queue supporting reservations for the priority service suited to isochronous handling. The highest priority queue and other queues are closely monitored by a QoS manager element for states of near congestion and critical congestion. While neither state exists, filler packet flows are promoted from lower priority queues to the highest priority queue, in order to keep the latter queue optimally utilized. If all lower priority queues are empty at such times, dummy packets are inserted as filler flows.

Abstract: A system/method is disclosed for screening telephone system callers, using speaker-dependent text-independent voice recognition, to either prevent excessive fraudulent use of certain telephone system lines (or radio channels) or to selectively restrict classes of service allowed for different users of a common line. The voice recognition process is configured to provide an extent of mismatch indication, between a voice sample taken from a caller immediately using the protected line (or channel) and a recorded reference voice sample, which indication corresponds to the probability that the instant caller is not the same as the person who provided the reference sample. The extent of mismatch indication is compared to a mismatch limit value which can be set to a different magnitude for each call. Different actions are taken depending upon whether the extent of mismatch indication is or is not larger than the limit value.

Abstract: A record playback system includes a display showing elapsed time of a record playback operation together with symbols indicating occurrences of certain sequences of sound during the playback operation, the symbols positioned to indicate times at which respective sequences of sounds occur. In a preferred application, the records reproduced in the system are audible voice-mail messages, the specific sequences of sounds are numbers or sets of numbers spoken consecutively during the message, and the symbols representing such numbers are printed characters corresponding to respective numbers. In the preferred application, the messages are centrally recorded at a server of a computer network and distributed to individual client computers via the network.

Abstract: A firewall isolates computer and network resources inside the firewall from networks, computers and computer applications outside the firewall. Typically, the inside resources could be privately owned databases and local area networks (LAN's), and outside objects could include individuals and computer applications operating through public communication networks such as the Internet. Usually, a firewall allows for an inside user or object to originate connection to an outside object or network, but does not allow for connections to be generated in the reverse direction; i.e. from outside in. The disclosed invention provides a special "tunneling" mechanism, operating on both sides of a firewall, for establishing such "outside in" connections when they are requested by certain "trusted" individuals or objects or applications outside the firewall.

Abstract: A newly defined facsimile (fax) handling service, to be performed by carriers in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) on calls originating from standard analog fax sending equipment, includes: a) intercepting and recording direct dialed digits, representing final destinations of such calls, at PSTN switching nodes in areas local to respective call origins; b) returning acknowledgements from these nodes to respective callers in the form of fax tones corresponding to those usually returned by standard analog fax receiving equipment; c) locally intercepting and recording signals representing the fax image information intended for delivery to the called destinations; d) returning a completion signal indication to the originating equipment; and e) offline to the originating equipment, managing the delivery of the recorded image information to the final destinations represented by the recorded call digits.

Abstract: The present invention affords a predefined class of authorized users of the PSTN (public switched telephone network) access to extended telephone services through public communication networks external to the PSTN, the latter networks including the web and Internet. Authorized users in the predefined class can receive the extended services at residences, offices, and locations remote from both residences and offices. Authorized users can activate respective extended services through the external networks, and can do so without having to communicate with telephone company representatives. Resource management intelligence of the PSTN is adapted to link to the external networks for communicating with and delivering extended telephone services to the authorized users. Extended telephone services include variations of presently standard telephone services such as call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding facsimile image transmittal, voice mail, etc.

Abstract: A multiprocessor subsystem, for a portion of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) conforming to architectural standards for advanced intelligent networks (AIN), contains processor elements for participating in management of call routing/switching processes, and other processor elements for participating in management of services provided to PSTN users and subscribers. The processors participating in call routing processes are tightly concentrated to ensure reliable control of respective processes, while the processors participating in management of user services are distributed so as to allow for virtually unlimited growth in new type services without potentially disrupting existing call traffic. This subsystem also contains processor elements having interfaces to networks external to the PSTN; e.g. data networks such as the Internet and World Wide Web, and pager networks.

Abstract: A newly developed computer adapter and call routing system allow for cable television networks (or other broadband networks) to offer digital telephony services seamlessly; i.e. in a manner such that a user receiving the service is unaware of any difference between that service and comparable telephone services presently supported by the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The adapter attaches to a computer, one or more telephones, the PSTN, and the broadband network. During utility power outages, switch circuitry in the adapter connects attached devices directly to lines in the PSTN, so that existing power support functions of the PSTN are fully utilizable. At other times, the adapter conditionally routes outgoing telephone calls from the attached devices to either the PSTN or cable network. Conditions determining the routing of outgoing calls can be set by users and also determined automatically (e.g. as logical functions of called numbers).