Abstract: A method and system for reduction of quantization-induced block-discontinuities arising from lossy compression and decompression of continuous signals, especially audio signals. One embodiment encompasses a general purpose, ultra-low latency, efficient audio codec algorithm. More particularly, the invention includes a method and apparatus for compression and decompression of audio signals using a novel boundary analysis and synthesis framework to substantially reduce quantization-induced frame or block discontinuity; a novel adaptive cosine packet transform (ACPT) as the transform of choice to effectively capture the input audio characteristics; a signal-residue classifier to separate the strong signal clusters from the noise and weak signal components (collectively called residue); an adaptive sparse vector quantization (ASVQ) algorithm for signal components; a stochastic noise model for the residue; and an associated rate control algorithm.

Abstract: A resident application (RA) in set-top terminals (STTs) is updated by providing an upgrade channel application (UCA) over a network. Those STTs that are selected to receive the UCA are identified. The selected STTs download the UCA from the network. Once the UCA begins to execute on an STT, it retrieves the user parameters stored in the STT, and transmits them to a remote location for storage. A new RA is then installed in the STT. The original user parameters are converted at the remote location to become compatible with the new RA. The converted user parameters are transferred to the STT for use by the new RA.

Abstract: Leveraging an established authenticated session in obtaining authentication to a client application includes receiving a request for access to a client application requiring authentication of a requestor and determining whether there exist characteristics of leverageable authentications corresponding to established sessions having an authenticated state at a time of the determination. When the determination reveals characteristics of at least one leverageable authentication corresponding to an established session, and attempt is made to obtain access for the requester to the client application based on the at least one leverageable authentication, and the requestor is provided with a notification related to the attempt to obtain access for the requester to the client application.

Abstract: The Shared Internet Storage Resource provides Internet-based file storage, retrieval, access, control, and manipulation for a user. Additionally, an easy-to-use user interface is provided both for a browser or stand-alone application. The entire method provides means by which users can establish, use, and maintain files on the Internet in a manner remote from their local computers yet in a manner that is similar to the file manipulation used on their local computers. A high capacity or other storage system is attached to the Internet via an optional internal network that also serves to generate and direct metadata regarding the stored files. A web server using a CGI, Java®-based, or other interface transmits and retrieves TCP/IP packets or other Internet information through a load balancer/firewall by using XML to wrap the data packets. File instructions may be transmitted over the Internet to the Shared Resource System.

Abstract: Providing an electronic notification to an intended recipient includes communicating an electronic notification directed to an intended recipient, determining a lifespan related to a duration of relevance of the electronic notification, and providing the electronic notification to the intended recipient when the lifespan has not expired. The duration of relevance describes a time period during which information of the electronic notification reasonably may be expected usefully to inform an action or interest of the intended recipient. After the lifespan expires, provision of the electronic notification to the intended recipient may be prevented.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for improving the performance of a network system having one or more sending systems and one or more receiving systems may include determining the digital signature of a received digital file, comparing the digital signature against stored digital signatures of digital files accessible to the receiving system, and determining whether to store the received digital file and/or a location identifier for the stored version of the received digital file based on a result of the comparison.

Abstract: An intelligent synchronization tool ensures access to desired content in a manner that automatically keeps the content current on the portable media device. A variation threshold or user-specified degree of content variation may be introduced among content downloaded to a user's mobile device to prevent the user from becoming bored. Furthermore, intelligent synchronization may automatically populate the portable media device with popular content to save a user time and/or use passive monitoring techniques to ascertain a user's preferences for subsequent population.

Abstract: The digital content store provides users with an opportunity to purchase authorized usage of digital content, such as single or multiple music tracks, video, movies, and/or video games. The users can also buy license to a desired track for a fixed number of times, e.g. preferably the users can listen on three different machines simultaneously. Users can also burn a play list of X number of times, for example ten. The burn limit preferably applies to the play list, not the song. Mixed media capability is provided that allows the purchase of digital content and/or physical media. The digital content store system comprises a unique digital rights management system and a back-end enabling system that controls these digital rights.

Abstract: Communication applications may include lists of users with which a user of the application communicates. If two users of a communications application each include the other user on their user lists, an implicit trust may be established between the users. For example, if user A includes user B in her list and user B includes user A in his list, then it may be determined that each user knows and/or trusts the other user. As a result, a connection or communications pathway may be automatically created between the client devices of the users to facilitate communications between the users based on the implicit trust.

Abstract: Images are searched to locate faces that are the same as a query face. Images that include a face that is the same as the query face may be presented to a user as search result images. Images also may be sorted by the faces included in the images and presented to the user as sorted search result images. The user may provide explicit or implicit feedback regarding the search result images. Additional feedback may be inferred regarding the search result images based on the user-provided feedback, and the results may be updated based on the user-provided and inferred feedback.

Abstract: Viewing an electronic document in a display window of a display includes detecting a layout of the electronic document and comparing the layout of the electronic document to a width of the display window. The electronic document is reformatted into at least two columns, with each of the columns having a width that does not exceed a width of the display window.

Abstract: Separations or images relating to film or other fields may be registered using a variety of features, such as, for example: (1) correcting one or more film distortions; (2) automatically determining a transformation to reduce a film distortion; (3) applying multiple criteria of merit to a set of features to determine a set of features to use in determining a transformation; (4) determining transformations for areas in an image or a separation in a radial order; (5) comparing areas in images or separations by weighting feature pixels differently than non-feature pixels; (6) determining distortion values for transformations by applying a partial distortion measure and/or using a spiral search configuration; (7) determining transformations by using different sets of features to determine corresponding transformation parameters in an iterative manner; and (8) applying a feathering technique to neighboring areas within an image or separation.

Abstract: Enabling a host system to communicate with and to identify at least one client device that communicates with the host system through a network address translator device includes enabling communications from a first client device through the network address translator device. A data packet is received that includes a payload portion and an attribute portion, where the attribute portion includes a destination address that indicates a destination for the data packet and a nearest source address. A portion of the received data packet other than the nearest source address is examined for a host-assigned identifier that identifies a client device that communicated the received data packet. The received data packet typically is processed in accordance with predetermined host system controls accessible to the host system for the first client device identified, such as host-enabled parental controls.

Abstract: Avatars are used to graphically represent users in a communications session, and the avatars are capable of being animated. An indication of an animation of one of the avatars is received. Another avatar that represents another of the users is animated in response to, and based on, the animation of the avatar in the same communications session.

Abstract: A stand-alone icon (i.e., an icon that is not part of an application interface) is provided to facilitate communications across a network between users of at least one communications program. The icon represents a contact or a set of contacts. Status information regarding the contact or set of contacts is received and displayed using the icon or in response to an operation performed on the icon. The icon additionally may provide an interface for performing actions related to the contact or set of contacts. The actions may generally include, for example, retrieving profile information about the contact, setting an alert to indicate that the contact's network/login status (e.g., login, logout, or idle) has changed, or performing communications with the contact.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of transmitting electronic messages in a computer environment. The preferred embodiment receives an electronic message addressed to a telephone number and determines an instant message identifier associated with the telephone number. In response to the determination that an instant message identifier associates with the telephone number, it is further determined whether an instant message receiver is available to receive messages addressed to the instant message identifier. In response to a determination that an instant message receiver is available to receive instant messages addressed to the instant message identifier, the electronic message is forwarded as an instant message addressed to the instant message identifier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for easily indicating to a user that a communication has been received for him or her. A portable message waiting indication device (MWID) includes a power source (e.g., battery), signal receiver and a visual and/or audible indicator. The indicator is activated in response to receipt of a first wireless signal at the receiver. In response to a second signal the indicator is deactivated. A MWID may also include a user-actuable switch or sensor to deactivate the indicator. In one method of using a MWID to inform a user that a communication has been received, the user registers the MWID and may identify when the MWID indicator should be activated (e.g., for certain types of messages (e.g., voice-mail, electronic mail), certain senders, a category of senders, time of day, message priority). Multiple MWIDs may be configured and employed by a user, and each may be configured similarly or differently.

Abstract: Activating a communications system or device may include receiving a subscription or service advertisement or solicitation response, recording an identifier specified by the responding party, receiving an activation request from a device through which the subscription or service may be rendered, receiving a unique identifier for that device and a screen name of an activation requestor operating the device, and activating the device upon confirmation that the screen name received with the unique identifier for the device relates to the recorded identifier specified by the party responding to the advertisement or solicitation. Furthermore, as described, devices may be distributed without recognizing or pre-configuring a relationship between the device, the service, and/or the recipient, all the while enabling such configuration to be established once the device is received by a valid and recognizable recipient. In this manner, provisioning of devices is simplified.

Abstract: An interface is provided to the user of an e-mail client program. The interface allows the user to organize his or her contacts into categories and may display representations of the user's e-mail contacts in a manner that indicates to which category the contacts belong. The user may use the interface to set customized auto-reply messages on a per-category basis, or otherwise.

Abstract: A browser-based tool is provided that loads a Webpage, accesses the document object model (DOM) of the page, collects information about the page structure and parses the page, determines through the use of heuristics such factors as how much text is found on the page and the like, produces statistical breakdown of the page, and calculates a score based on performance of the page. Key to the operation of the invention is the ability to observe operation of the Webpage as it actually loads in real time, scoring the page for several of various performance factors, and producing a combined score for the various factors.