Abstract: A method for communicating information to a caller on a telephone network is herein proposed. The method includes the steps of (a) generating a signal suitable for producing an audible dial tone, (b) transmitting the signal to the receiver of a telephone set, when the caller initially takes the receiver off-hook, to thereby produce the audible dial tone, and (c) superimposing an audible information message over the audible dial tone while the audible dial tone is produced. The audible information message may, for example, be a branding-type message that identifies a provider of local telephone service to a caller. The audible information message may be superimposed over the audible dial tone in a whisper-like or low-decibel manner to avoid interfering with modems that operate on a “wait for dial tone” (WFDT) basis.

Abstract: A computer program for routing a service call from a calling party to a service network having a plurality of service network locations, the program stored in a computer-readable medium. The program includes receiving a service call request to connect the calling party to one of the service network locations, determining a location of the calling party by searching a Number Plan Area (NPA) table to determine an NPA of the calling number of the calling party, identifying one of the service network locations for receiving the service call request, and identifying routing information for routing the service call request to the receiving service network location, and completing the service call request to the receiving service network location.

Abstract: A scene of an image sequence is compressed using a number of foveation zones, each foveation zone being weighted based on a probability of a viewer looking at a corresponding portion of the first scene. Each foveation zone in the scene has a corresponding resolution to ensure that at least one object therein is viewer-recognizable. Another scene of the image sequence is compressed using a different number of foveation zones, each foveation zone being weighted based on a probability of a viewer looking at a corresponding portion of the second scene. Each foveation zone in the other scene has a corresponding resolution to ensure that at least one object therein is viewer-recognizable.

Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable medium are disclosed for using filters signal processing. The system includes a module that calculates a filter for each of a plurality of frequency bands, a module that groups the filters into a plurality of groups, a module that determines a representative filter for each group of the plurality of groups and a module that uses the representative filter of each group for frequency bands of the each group. The filters are temporal noise shaping filters (TNS) filters.

Abstract: A method and system are described to multicast with an adaptive dual state. The system receives multicast traffic over a membership tree including a first plurality of nodes connected in a first topology destined for a plurality of multicast members of a first multicast group. Next, the system determines a rate of multicast traffic that exceeds a predetermined threshold based on the receiving the multicast traffic. Next, the system generates a dissemination tree including a second plurality of nodes connected in a second topology to reduce a number of hops to communicate the multicast traffic to the plurality of multicast members of the first multicast group. Finally, the system forwards the multicast traffic to the plurality of multicast members of the first multicast group over the dissemination tree.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a system includes a messaging system configured to provide a messaging service. The messaging system includes a centralized Internet Protocol switching network, an Internet access subsystem, a voice access subsystem, a mail subsystem and a storage subsystem. One or more of the subsystems may be coupled to the centralized Internet Protocol switching network via one or more communication links integrated with and internal to the messaging system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described to store state used to forward multicast traffic. The system includes a receiving module to receive request to add a first node to a membership tree. The membership tree includes a first plurality of nodes associated with a multicast group. The system further includes a processing module to identify a second node in the first plurality of nodes and to communicate a node identifier that identifies the first node over a network to the second node. The node identifier is to be stored at the second node to add the first node to the membership tree. The node identifier is further to be stored in the membership tree exclusively at the second node to enable the second node to forward the multicast traffic to the first node.

Abstract: An automated telephone assistant device and associated methods including a base unit in communication with a telephone network, wherein the base unit is operable for executing a first algorithm disposed within the base unit and selectively allowing a telephone call received from the telephone network to be transmitted to a telephone handset belonging to a user and selectively preventing the telephone call received from the telephone network from being transmitted to the telephone handset belonging to the user.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method of providing broadband telecommunication services over a packet-switched network enable enhanced personalization. A mobile terminal is registered in a first remote environment, where the mobile terminal has a home environment and a home service capability. The telecommunication services are provided to the mobile terminal in the first remote environment in accordance with the home service capability.

Abstract: Multiple network-enabled devices each having a respective agent module are associated with a user. Each agent module is to determine if its associated network-enabled device is capable of rendering content associated with a notification message received thereby, to advertise its services and capabilities to at least one other respective agent module, to discover at least one other respective agent module, and to communicate information with at least one other respective agent module. A notification service node is to receive notification messages from at least one Instant Messaging network and to forward each of the notification messages to a current device of the network-enabled devices. For each notification message, the respective agent module for the current device directs the current device to render content associated therewith if capable of same, and if incapable, negotiates with another one of the network-enabled devices to render the content.

Abstract: A system and method for interference cancellation is provided to cancel/greatly reduce the interference of a wireless network. The interferers are separated from a desired signal using independent component analysis by hypothesizing the transmitting sequence. An optional whitening filter is used after the signal separation to improve the signal conditioning. The separated signal is processed by a second pass channel estimation to improve the signal channel estimation and is fed to a Maximum Likelihood Sequence Estimation (MLSE) algorithm, such as a Viterbi algorithm, for signal detection.

Abstract: Recognizing a stream of speech received as speech vectors over a lossy communications link includes constructing for a speech recognizer a series of speech vectors from packets received over a lossy packetized transmission link, wherein some of the packets associated with each speech vector are lost or corrupted during transmission. Each constructed speech vector is multi-dimensional and includes associated features. After waiting for a predetermined time, speech vectors are generated and potentially corrupted features within the speech vector are indicated to the speech recognizer when present. Speech recognition is attempted at the speech recognizer on the speech vectors when corrupted features are present. This recognition may be based only on certain or valid features within each speech vector. Retransmission of a missing or corrupted packet is requested when corrupted values are indicated by the indicating step and when the attempted recognition step fails.

Abstract: A method and system for providing call forwarding in an IP telephone network is disclosed. First, when a telephone number for a first telephone from a second telephone is dialed, the call is routing to a call manager. Call setup procedures with a BRG responsible for the first telephone are then initiated. The BRG then checks stored call forwarding profiles to determine whether there is an active call forwarding profile for the first telephone. The call is connected to the first telephone if an active call forwarding profile is not found. However, if an active call forwarding profile is found, the call forwarding information is sent to the call manager. The call is routed to at least a third telephone based on the call forwarding information.

Abstract: An efficient method for providing both dedicated and simulcast services over a common wireless infrastructure is described. The services can be available to a single terminal as well as to a multiplicity of terminals simultaneously. The method uses time division multiplexing and orthogonal frequency division multiple access for simulcasting information and transmitting dedicated message information from a plurality of base stations forming a cellular pattern over the same wireless frequency channel. The method comprises the steps of constructing frames for transmission by the plurality of base stations comprising control information, simulcast information and dedicated message information within predetermined time slots of the frames and allocating the simulcast information and the dedicated message information to time slots of the same frame predetermined by the control information of the frame. The underlying modulation technology used is OFDM and thereby the channel delay-dispersion is minimized.

Abstract: A synergistic flame retardant combination includes (a) a phosphorus salt having the formula wherein Md+ is a metal ion or an onium ion; d is 1, 2, 3, or 4 according to the identity of M and its oxidation state; each occurrence of R1 and R2 is independently C1-C18 hydrocarbyl; and each occurrence of m and n is independently 0 or 1; and (b) a phosphine compound selected from trihydrocarbylphosphines, trihydrocarbylphosphine oxides, and combinations thereof. Polymer compositions utilizing the flame retardant combination are described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for image alteration. A video signal having a plurality of images may be accessed. An alteration request may be received from a user. A portion of the plurality of images of the video signal may be altered to blur the video signal. The blurred video signal may be provided for presentation.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media content processor having a controller adapted to transmit to a web server one or more configurations of said media content processor. The web server can record said one or more configurations to perform one among re-provisioning of the media content processor after it experiences a loss of configuration information and provisioning of another media content processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media content processor having a controller element to compare a first portion of metadata associated with media content under presentation with a second portion of metadata of each of one or more media content sources to present one or more alternative sources of related media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for compressing data communicated in an electronic message. Files attached to an electronic communication are compressed based on an examination of the file type; and an identification of an alternative compressed file type. Accordingly, the first (original) file type is compressed into a second preferred, compressed file type for the purpose of streamlining the package to be delivered in the communication.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a slave Set-Top Box (STB) receiver having a controller adapted to transmit a request for presentation to a master STB receiver to present one or more media content items stored in the master media STB receiver, select one among the one or more media content items presented by the master STB receiver, transmit to the master STB receiver a request for transmission of a select one of the one or more media content items, and receive from the master STB receiver the requested media content item in a progressive download format so that a portion of the requested media content item can be presented by the slave STB receiver while the remainder of the requested media content item is transmitted. Other embodiments are disclosed.