Abstract: A system and method of accessing digital subscriber line data is provided. The system includes a first server having an input to receive a telephone number from a web browser interface and having an output to provide performance analysis data associated with at least one of a plurality of network elements that form a distributed and geographically diverse data communication system. The system also includes a second server including logic to convert telephone numbers to port addresses for network elements of the communication system. The system also includes a plurality of regional servers, each of the plurality of regional servers responsive to the second server and a plurality of network element management systems respectively coupled to each of the plurality of regional servers. The second server includes logic to convert telephone numbers to port addresses for network elements of the communication system.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing access to an interactive service offering. A method incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include receiving a first communication in a format that complies with a first protocol. The first communication may be associated with a desired interaction between a first device and a voice activated service (VAS) platform. The method may also include receiving a second communication in a different format that complies with a different protocol, and the second communication may also be associated with a desired interaction between a different device and the VAS platform. A system implementing the method may recognize that the VAS platform does not support the first protocol, and translate the first communication to a platform-supported format to facilitate the desired interaction.

Abstract: A voice over IP (VoIP) softphone access module (VSAM) comprises a softphone client installed on a portable memory device (PMD). The softphone client is installed in its own read-only partition. The softphone client is adapted to autorun from the PMD when the PMD is connected to a computing device and to load an instance of the softphone client in the volatile memory of the computing device. When used with a computing device comprising a duplex audio system with analog-to-digital conversion and an Internet connection, the VSAM permits a VoIP service subscriber to send and receive VoIP telephone calls through a VoIP service provider gateway. The VSAM may be associated with an activation code that when sent to the VoIP service provider gateway associates a user with pre-paid softphone usage credits. Alternatively, the softphone client is installed on CD.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed generally to a method of content management. The method includes receiving a user input entered in a plurality of grammatical structured text entry elements associated with a content subject, each of the plurality of grammatical structured text entry elements having a rhetorical structure to facilitate selective assembly into at least one sentence, storing the plurality of grammatical structured text entry elements in a data record associated with the content subject, converting at least a portion of the data record into a structured format file supporting rhetorical elements, and rendering an electronically displayable document using the structured format file. The electronically displayable document includes the at least one grammatical structured text entry element integrated into at least one sentence. The structured format file includes at least one grammatical structured text entry element of the plurality of grammatical structured text entry elements.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for facilitating local video distribution. A method incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include linking a plurality of users with associated carrier frequencies. The associated frequencies may be given approximately six MHz slices of the radio frequency spectrum that correspond to portions of the very high frequency (VHF) ranges assigned to television channels. A user may input a command identifying a desired video stream, which may be encoded in an MPEG format. In response to the command, the desired video stream may be decoded and modulated on the carrier frequency associated with the user. The modulated signal may be output to a premise network such that the user can access the modulated stream by tuning a premise network connected television to the appropriate carrier frequency.

Abstract: A printing system comprising a set of nozzles for applying a color component, wherein each of the nozzles in the set is configured to apply a different effective color intensity; and a raster associated with the set of nozzles, the raster comprising a plurality of cells wherein each cell in the plurality of cells comprises at least one element which represents the effective color intensity to be applied to an area by the set of nozzles, wherein the number of elements in a cell is less than the range of different effective color intensities.

Abstract: A system and method for prioritized interface design are disclosed. In one embodiment of a system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure, a wireless-enabled device may include a display, a user input mechanism, and a housing component that at least partially defines an internal cavity. The device may have several engines including a display engine that can initiate presentation of a menu that has several selectable items displayed in respective menu positions. The device may also include a metric engine that tracks some selection metric for the selectable items and a priority engine that determines a prioritization level for the selectable items. In some embodiments, the prioritization level may be related to a selection metric. The device may also have a mapping engine that modifies assigned menu positions for the selectable items in response to changes in the prioritization level of the items.

Abstract: A system provides an audible signal to the user of the system before a control or function is activated by the user. In one embodiment, a remote control can be used with an apparatus, such as a set-top box. When the user places an object near a control of the remote control, a control or function associated with the control may be announced to the user before activating the control. The system can include an apparatus configured to be operated at least in part from a remote control that includes a plurality of controls including a first control. The apparatus includes a control module configured to receive an identification signal from the remote control, wherein the identification signal corresponds to the control, determine a state of the apparatus, determine a function to which the control corresponds, and send another identification signal to an audio system.

Abstract: A broadcast overlay network has a ring topology to carry broadcast traffic from a head-end network. A digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) has a network interface in communication with the broadcast overlay network. The DSLAM is to receive a request for a particular video channel from a customer premise via a line interface and to deliver the particular video channel from the network interface to the line interface.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, the disclosure is directed to an integration service. The integration service includes an interface layer, a logic layer, an object layer, and a resource layer. The interface layer includes a plurality of communications adapters. The logic layer includes a first interface and has access to a rules engine. The object layer includes a second interface, a transformation service, and an object. The resource layer includes a plurality of resource interface modules. The resource interface modules have access to a plurality of diverse resource systems. The resource interface modules may acquire a first data from the plurality of diverse resource systems. The transformation service transforms the data into the object. The logic layer accesses the object and provides a second data through one of the plurality of interface layer communications adapters.

Abstract: A content management system including an audience profile is disclosed. The content management system includes a database having a plurality of records. At least one record of the plurality of records includes a plurality of fields storing a plurality of grammatical syntax elements associated with a content subject. Each of the plurality of grammatical syntax elements has a rhetorical structure to facilitate selective assembly into at least one sentence. The content management system also includes a server responsive to the database and an audience profile relating to a desired presentation of the content subject. The server is configured to selectively retrieve at least one grammatical syntax element of the plurality of grammatical syntax elements and to provide a data file including at least one grammatical syntax element. At least a portion of the data file is constructed based upon the audience profile.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting an idle or inactive data port connection on a personal computer (PC) and blocking external access, e.g., Wide Area Network (WAN) access to an end-user PC is presented. The system provides for added security for unattended PCs having broadband connections. The idle time period for detection/blocking logic initiation of a blocking signal to disable communications, e.g., Ethernet port access to the PC, may be for a fixed time period or may be determined by a user of the end-user PC.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a system including a set of short-range wireless access points and a policy server. The set of short-range wireless access points are configured to provide a short-range wireless network having a coverage area and are configured to communicate with a wireless enabled device within the coverage area. The policy server is communicatively coupled with the set of short-range wireless access points and is configured to determine whether the wireless enabled device is located within a designated region within the coverage area based on data received from the set of short-range wireless access points.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for memory bus assignment for a plurality of functional devices. According to a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a system comprising a plurality of functional devices accessing a memory bus wherein the memory bus allows access by one of the functional devices for one cycle of period of time, a plurality of request agents corresponding to the functional devices, a control register respectively storing access priority grades for the request agents, a plurality of counter timers respectively loading the access priority grades; and a bus elector coupled with the counter timers wherein the bus elector respectively compares the loaded access priority grades and elects one out of the request agents according to the compared access priority grades. The memory bus accordingly allows access by one of the functional devices corresponding to the elected request agent for one cycle of period of time.

Abstract: A video processing system is presented that interleaves video data. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, data from a first field is placed in a frame and is augmented with pixel values in adjacent alternate rows of the frame with pixel values determined from the pixel values in the first field data and pixel values from the second field data.

Abstract: A method of forming a disc pack for use in a disc drive is provided. The method includes forming at least one alignment feature between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of each of a plurality of discs. The at least one alignment feature of a first disc of the plurality of discs and the at least one alignment feature of a second disc of the plurality of discs are utilized to substantially vertically align servo patterns on the first disc with servo patterns on the second disc. A disc pack having discs that include alignment features for aligning servo patterns on the discs is also provided.

Abstract: An optical fiber for information transmission contains a glass tube core wrapped in a sheath of conductive material attachable to a power source such as a battery or generator to transmit power via the conductive sheath of the fiber. Methods to transmit power via an optical fiber, together with fiber optic networks are described.

Abstract: The present application discloses an automated digital subscriber line performance control system comprising a computer system including a logic module to evaluate performance of a plurality of DSL lines and to automatically select a set of DSL lines from the plurality of DSL lines, a line profile database responsive to the computer system, the line profile database providing a plurality of line profiles in response to a request from the computer system, and a digital subscriber line access multiplexer coupled to the computer system. The digital subscriber line access multiplexer is configured to measure a performance parameter of a plurality of physical DSL lines and to change a profile for at least one of the plurality of DSL lines. The set of DSL lines has degraded performance characteristics based on historical performance data.

Abstract: A method and five pin integrated protector and splitter module are provided for use at a protector panel of a facility for housing telephone-related equipment, where the module is capable of being used in conjunction with at least a broadband MODEM separate from a digital loop carrier. The module includes a first pair of module pins for receiving a signal including voice and data, and a protection circuit coupled with the first pair of module pins. The protection circuit includes a ground contact for coupling with a ground potential at the protector panel, for protecting telephone-related equipment from at least one of an overvoltage and overcurrent condition present at the first pair of module pins. The module further includes a splitter circuit coupled with the protection circuit, for splitting the voice from the received signal as a voice signal, and a second pair of module pins coupled with the splitter circuit, for providing the voice signal from the five pin module to the digital loop carrier.