Abstract: A computer implemented method provides remote access to a plurality of sessions at a computer. The method includes initiating a master process in a context independent from the sessions, establishing a first slave process in a context of a first session, and maintaining communication between the master process and the first slave process. The master process provides access to the computer's display while the display is under control of the first session, detects a second session, having a respective second slave process, communicates with the second slave process, and provides access to the computer's display while the display is under control of the second user session.

Abstract: A method (50) and apparatus (40) for reducing noise in a video signal calculates (53) a discrimination value of a filter based on a magnitude difference between a current frame and a prior frame of a sequence of frames and modifies (54) the current frame using the modified discrimination value. The output of the filter is calculated as follows: g(i,j,k)=f(i,j,k)±? wherein: f(i, j, k) is the current frame input to the filter; g(i, j, k) is the current frame output from the filter; and ? is the discrimination value of the filter, which is calculated as follows: ? = { ?? ? + ? , ? ? = max ? { ? , ? 0 } , ? < ? 1 0 , ? ? ? 1 in which: ? and ? are constants less than one; ? is a magnitude difference between the current frame and the prior frame; and ?0 and ?1 are constants that satisfy ?0??1.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for optimizing home networking interface selection in home networking applications. One embodiment of a method for selecting, at a set top box in a network, an active home networking interface from among a plurality of home networking interfaces includes activating the best performing home networking interface and deactivating the remainder of the home networking interfaces.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for defining and enforcing rules of transition between two security domains, e.g., a transport domain and a persistent security domain. In turn, a border guard, e.g., a security device, is provided between these two domains that enforce rules for transition between the two security domains. This novel approach of defining a transport domain and a persistent security domain simplifies the classification of the digital content and its movement through the system. Namely, the border guard once established between the two systems can enforce DRM rules associated with how contents are moved between the two domains.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for avoiding underflow of a caption buffer in a digital video encoding device. The method receives a sequence of digital video frames, and captions that correspond to the digital video frames in the sequence. The method receives first captions in a first caption carriage, and encodes the first captions, and the corresponding digital video frames, in a compressed video format. The method detects a switch from the first caption carriage to a second caption carriage, and stores second captions in the capture buffer, where each second caption is received in the second caption carriage and corresponds to one of the digital video frames in the sequence. The method examines the capture buffer and the second captions to determine whether underflow of the capture buffer is present or absent. When underflow is absent, the method encodes the second captions, and the corresponding digital video frames, in the compressed video format.

Abstract: A system includes multiple input ports that forward received data (e.g., data packets) to each of multiple queues. Data received at the input ports of the system can be somewhat random or “bursty” at times. That is, the input ports can receive data at a variable bit rate or unspecified bit rate from an internal system source or an external source such as an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server or SCSI disk array. The queues output data at a constant bit rate. A two-dimensional scheduler associated with the system forces random inbound server traffic from the input ports to adhere to a QoS (Quality of Service) agreement such that the random nature of the inbound traffic does not negatively affect the deterministic guarantees of existing server traffic output from the queues. In other words, techniques herein ensure adherence to QoS requirements among the data flows, without overflowing the queues.

Abstract: A single data bus to a memory device can be split up into a number of data bus portions, each of which is managed by a different respective controller chip of multiple controller chips. During a memory access to a respective memory device, each of the multiple controller chips controls a different corresponding portion of the data bus to retrieve data from or store data to the memory device depending on whether the access is a read or write. To perform the data access, a synchronizer circuit (internal and/or external to the memory controller chips) synchronizes the multiple memory controller chips such that one of the memory controller chips drives the address bus and/or control signals to the memory device. After setting the address to the memory device, the memory controller chips either read data from or write data to the memory device based on the address.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for enabling digital rights management in file transfers. One embodiment of a method for transferring digital content from a first user to a second user, includes transferring ownership of an instance of the digital content to the second user, where the instance of the digital content resides on a first device belonging to the first user. Copies of the digital content are then deleted from one or more additional devices belonging to the first user (including at least one offline device).

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for hand-off of a mobile User Equipment (UE) across a femto cellular network. The method includes dynamically clustering a plurality of neighboring femto cells in a vicinity of a first femto cell to which a mobile UE is currently attached. The dynamic cluster of neighboring femto cells is moved across the femto cellular network in accordance with movement of the mobile UE across the femto cellular network.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing interlace artifacts during trick mode playback of pre-encoded content. The system and method operate a decoder to receive a video signal, configured as frames, with each frame having a plurality of interlaced fields, and to provide a video output in interlaced format or trick mode format. When operating in a normal mode, the decoder provides the video output in the interlaced format. When operating in trick mode, the decoder is instructed to use one of the fields of a frame as a reference field, and outputs a video output frame in the trick mode format where both fields of the video output frame are the same as the reference field. The video signal can be a streaming video or read from a medium.

Abstract: A method and system for managing information using a gateway (130) is disclosed. The network includes a gateway (130) and at least one wireless device (110, 115). The method includes (304) downloading information from a predefined source to a gateway via a broadband link in response to a real time request received from a wireless device. Further, the method includes (306) storing the information within the gateway. Moreover, the method includes (308) transmitting the stored information from the gateway to the wireless device.

Abstract: A first video signal processor (103) receives a first encoded video signal from which a video unit (201) generates a second encoded video signal, where the second encoded video signal is a reduced data rate version of the first encoded video signal. An error encoder (203) generates error redundancy data for the second encoded video signal and a multiplexer (207) generates output video data comprising the first encoded video signal and the error correcting data but not comprising the second encoded video signal. A second video processor (105) receives the output video data and a video unit (303) regenerates the second video signal from the first video signal. An error unit (305) detects errors for at least a first segment of the second video signal in response to the error redundancy data. A combiner (307) then generates combined video data by combining corresponding segments of the first encoded video signal and the second encoded video signal.

Abstract: A method is provided for enabling an over the top (OTT) service over a broadband network. The method includes receiving a registration request from a mobile User Equipment (UE) over a femto cell to register with a cellular operator of a cellular network. The registration request is forwarded to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server associated with the cellular operator to register the mobile UE therewith. A rendition of the registration request is forwarded to an AAA server associated with a broadband operator of a broadband network to register the mobile UE therewith.

Abstract: Methods are described for identifying a dominant impairment on a communication channel impaired by an interference issue. The methods include systematic examination of total power loading, systematic examination of signal power reduction, statistical examination of communication channel noise power, and systematic examination of interleaver effectiveness. Each relates to automatically diagnosing and characterizing distortion-based interference issues by monitoring the performance of a communication channel during a testing procedure. These methods enable a technician or engineer to remotely diagnose distortion-based interference issues relatively quickly without having to use external test equipment and without having to deploy technicians to various locations within the cable plant. A system by which these methods can be implemented is also disclosed.

Abstract: Field order in a sequence of video frames is determined based on magnitude or relative motion of a motion vector between a bottom field of a current frame and a top field of a next frame, and magnitude or relative motion of a motion vector between a top field of the current frame and a bottom field of the next frame. Field order of two interlaced frames of a video sequence is determined by assembling two new frames from the two interlaced frames by combining a bottom field of the first frame with a top field of the second frame and by combining a top field of the first frame with a bottom field of the second frame. The field order is top field first if the number of zipper points in the first new frame is smaller than the number of zipper points in the second new frame.

Abstract: Two or more set-top boxes are installed in a household. A communications link, preferably a physical link, is provided between or among the set-top boxes. One of the boxes is designated as a “master” box while the other box or boxes are “slaves.” The slave box will use the communications link to communicate in a secured and encrypted manner with the master box. If that communication is severed, e.g., if an attempt is made to move the slave box to another household to provide unauthorized service in that household, the slave box will stop working when it can no longer communicate with the master box.

Abstract: A method of operating a multi-processor video encoder by determining a target size corresponding to a preferred number of bits to be used when creating an encoded version of a picture in a group of sequential pictures making up a video sequence. The method includes the steps of calculating a first degree of fullness of a coded picture buffer at a first time, operating on the first degree of fullness to return an estimated second degree of fullness of the coded picture buffer at a second time, and operating on the second degree of fullness to return an initial target sized for the picture. The first time corresponds to the most recent time an accurate degree of fullness of the coded picture buffer can be calculated and the second time occurs after the first time.

Abstract: A method and a system for presenting customized caller options via a communication device (104) are disclosed. The method includes receiving (404) an incoming call from a calling party at the second communication device. The method further includes comparing (406) a caller Identification (ID) information associated with the incoming call to a pre-defined stored list of caller ID information. Further, the method includes presenting (408) the calling party with customized caller options. The customized caller options are presented as a function of the comparison between the incoming call caller ID information and the pre-defined stored list of caller ID information.

Abstract: A system, device and method for allowing protected content to be transferred to end user communication devices that support different digital rights management (DRM) formats or schemes than the DRM format of the content provider. The method includes providing a Limited Rights Issuer (LRI) that issues content and associated digital rights to one or more of the end user devices within a domain defined by a Domain Authority with which the LRI has registered. The Limited Rights Issuer also translates content and associated digital rights information from the DRM format of an upstream DRM system to the DRM format of a downstream DRM system, which includes the end user devices within the defined domain. The system allows select end user devices to enjoy interoperability of content protected under different DRM schemes, while allowing content providers to still maintain a suitable level of DRM protection for their content.

Abstract: A transparent routing device disposed within an access network configured in accordance with one or more lower-layer protocols is disclosed herein. The device includes a set of subscriber-side ports. Each of the subscriber-side ports is associated with a plurality of virtual subscriber-side interfaces disposed to effectively terminate a corresponding plurality of subscriber-side connections with subscriber host devices served by the access network. The device further includes at least one network-side port through which communication occurs with an external network in accordance with a higher-layer protocol. A routing table is configured to establish a correspondence between network addresses of the subscriber host devices and the plurality of virtual subscriber-side interfaces. During operation of the device, packets received through the at least one network-side port are forwarded to corresponding ones of the virtual subscriber-side interfaces based upon network addresses of the packets.