Abstract: Examples of the present invention present a method of determining the network connectivity technology being used in a network link. The method sends test packets from the router to an end device, such as a set-top box, and measures the latency in the received packets at the end device. The packets are gradually increased in size. The increasing packet size effectively results in increasing the load on the network link between the router and the end device. The latency characteristics vary as a function of packet size (representing increasing network load), and result in a signature or “fingerprint” for the network connectivity technology being used for the link, across the load cycle. The signature can be compared to predetermined models to identify the specific technology used. The technique can be enabled using software modules installed at the gateway/router and at the end-point, such as a set-top box.

Abstract: A service session resource manager (72) for use in a router (18) capable of routing a plurality of at least partially contemporaneous service sessions over a communications line is described which mediates between services competing for bandwidth. The service session manager (72) updates its internal state based on both mediation enabled (22b) and mediation non-enabled (22a) devices.

Abstract: A method of determining the speech content of a packet carrying speech encoded data missing from speech segment communicated by in a packetized data stream communicated using at least one VOIP link between a server platform and a client platform, the method comprising at the client platform: receiving a plurality of packets carrying speech encoded data forming said packetized data stream; processing each received packet to determine a unique message segment identifier associated with a speech segment of the received packet; processing each received packet to determine if it contains another unique message segment identifier associated with a previously received packet carrying encoded speech data; determining if the unique message segment identifier for the received packet exists in storage means provided on the client platform, and if not, storing the received packet in association with its unique message segment identifier; processing each received packet to determine a sequence identifier; checking if the

Abstract: An method and corresponding apparatus for detecting a change in an aspect of performance of a data processing system and for adjusting operation of a system so as to counter the detected change. The method generating a value representative of an aspect of performance of a data processing system relative to operation of the system in a first sub-period of each in a plurality of first time periods; in which each first sub-period is located with the same degree of offset within the respective first time period. The generated value may represent a norm or typical value for the aspect of behaviour in the sub-period.

Abstract: A telecommunications server (2) controlling a plurality of telecommunications terminals (4) connected to a packet switched telecommunications system (40, 41), responds to call events (20) by transmitting an alert (251, 252) to each of the terminals. If the server is not capable of processing all the required event alerts in parallel, it processes the event alerts to the terminals in a predetermined sequence, according to stored prioritisation rules (60). The priority accorded to an individual terminal may be set according to the alert mode (visual-only, or audible) currently set for that terminal (or the user currently using the terminal) for that call type or calling party.

Abstract: A computer (1) is provided with an emulation processor to generate a high volume of simulated data traffic, addressed to a predetermined network address. The emulation programme causes the computer to modify its address routing table so as to open a port (3) to a dummy network address. This address allows the test data to be forwarded to the exchange (7). As the IP address is a dummy IP address, it does not appear in Internet routing tables and so the DSLAM (7) cannot forward the traffic beyond the local exchange (5). Instead, an interception gateway (8) recognises this address as requiring to be diverted to the performance testing platform (9), which measures characteristics such as packet loss rate, to allow analysis to determine the performance of the local loop (4) in isolation, without passing through the rest of the network (6), and without needing to take account of any effects from the rest of the network.

Abstract: An electronic document repository system comprises a storage arrangement (30-36) for storing a plurality of electronic documents; tagging means (132) for permitting users of the repository to apply tags to the documents; automatic tag processing means (134) for generating a lattice representation and assigning stored documents to nodes of the lattice representation based upon the tags applied to the documents; wherein, the repository further comprises a lattice representation difference determiner (138) which is operable to compare two lattice representations of the type generated by the automatic tag processing means (134) and to generate a difference value indicating an extent by which the compared lattice representations differ from one another according to an edit distance measure.

Abstract: A PON in which parallel optical fiber paths are provided between dual OLTs and the ONTs, one of the optical fiber paths providing an active connection and the other optical fiber path providing a standby connection. Respective VLANs may be formed over the parallel optical fiber paths. If performance indicators, for example Ethernet continuity check messages, indicate that an ONT is no longer in communication with the OLT then data may be sent via the VLAN associated with the standby connection.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system that predicts network events and triggers a pre-emptive response. An example implementation predicts network link failures and creates a change in the network before the failure actually happens by instigating policy-based adjustment of routing parameters. In particular, an embodiment of the invention operates in two phases. In the first phase the historical operation of a network is observed (B.4.2), to determine observed relationships between link or cluster failures that have occurred, and subsequent failures of different links or clusters. From these observed relationships failure rules can be derived (B.4.4) that are then applied to control routing in the network during a second, control, phase.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a correction factor for use in monitoring network traffic, said network traffic comprising a plurality of flows of data units, each flow having associated therewith a flow identifier, said data units having associated therewith a path characterization metric; the method comprising the steps of: selecting a subset of flow identifiers from the overall set of flow identifiers; determining, in respect of flows having associated therewith flow identifiers from said selected subset of flow identifiers, which flows if any are persistently irregular flows; determining a first measure of the total of the accumulated path characterization metrics associated with data units of said selected subset of flows; determining a second measure indicative of the proportion of said total measure contributed by said persistently irregular flows; and determining a correction factor in dependence on the first and second measures.

Abstract: A computer natural language translation system inputs source language text and outputs target language text. The target language text is generated from the source language text using stored translation data generated from examples of source and corresponding target language texts. The stored translation data includes a plurality of translation components, each having surface data representative of the order of occurrence of language units in the component; dependency data related to the semantic relationship between language units in the component; and link data linking dependency data of language components of the source language with corresponding dependency data of language components of the target language. The surface data of the source language is used in analyzing the source language text, and the surface date of the target language is used in generating the target language text.

Abstract: A computer database amendment tool provide a graphical user interface which enables a user to easily copy each of a selected subset of a group of data items in the database to one or more selected destinations. A representation of a notepad is displayed overlying screens which display information stored in the database. By positioning the notepad representation over a representation of an item stored in the database, and issuing a transfer command, the user is able to copy that item to a storage location in the computer's memory. After the underlying display has been changed, another command may be used to transfer data from the storage location to another database location.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of detecting the growth and development of clusters in a data set. The data set is divided into a number of slices and an algorithm is applied to the data held in each data slice set. Each slice can be compared with the subsequent slice to determine which clusters persist from slice to slice. Random data agglomerations in a single slice may give the appearance of a cluster but their random nature means that they are unlikely to persist so those clusters that persist across a number of slices, or that show the strongest measure of persistence, are most likely to represent a data cluster that represents a situation of interest.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating a rate model (115) for use in determining a rate to be applied with respect to an instance of a product or service, system or process. The rate may relate for example to utilisation of a resource, for example to a charging rate to be applied with respect to use of a product or service. The rate model comprises: (i) data (205, 210) defining a rating space having at least one dimension defined by an attribute of the system, process, product or service; (ii) a rating vector definition comprising at least one rate parameter; and (iii) data (225, 230) which defines distinct regions in the rating space over which the defined rating vector is invariant, and which defines the respective invariant rating vector (235) for each distinct region (225, 230).

Abstract: Data is transferred between mobile or fixed end devices connected to respective base stations. A first session identifier (session ID) is selected from a first array for sessions originating from an initiating end device. Data is transferred as a plurality of packets each of which contains the first session ID to a remote end device connected to a remote base station, the remote base station being configured to: allocate a second session ID from a second array, map to one another the said first and second session IDs, and, a forward the said second session ID to the remote end device. In this way, the mapping between session IDs need not be stored in the end devices, allowing for a session to be handed over from one end device to another end device where both end devices are connected to the same base station.

Abstract: Apparatus for assisting a user to add a new node to an ontology stored in an ontological database especially for use in a just in time information retrieval system. The apparatus comprises analysing means for analysing one or more documents and/or groups of documents associated, by the user, with the new node to be added to the ontology, to generate a characteristic vector for the or each associated document or group of documents, preferably using a latent semantic indexing method. The apparatus further includes a classifier for performing a classification step using the or each characteristic vector to obtain one or more indications of possibly closely related nodes and thereby to identify the parent node or nodes of at least one or more of the possibly closely related nodes.

Abstract: A fault management system is operated for an access network which forms part of a communications network. In the access network, terminating lines in the form of pairs of copper wires extend from a local switch through a series of nodes to terminal equipment provided for users of the network. The fault management system includes a test head and an access network system. Each night, the test head performs a series of tests on each of the terminating lines. The results of the tests are transmitted to the access network management. The test results are then analyzed with respect to a set of parameters to identify characteristics that would indicate that a fault is likely to occur on the associated circuit within a predetermined period e.g. 1 year. Further analysis can then be carried out to establish the probability of the fault actually occurring and/or whether the potential fault analyzed is going to occur in either the underground or the over-ground part of the network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for locating the position, preferably in three dimensions, of a sensor by generating magnetic fields which are detected at the sensor. The magnetic fields are generated from a plurality of locations and, in one embodiment of the invention, enable both the orientation and location of a single coil sensor to be determined. The present invention thus finds application in many areas where the use of prior art sensors comprising two or more mutually perpendicular coils is inappropriate.

Abstract: A multi user display system having a plurality of individual user terminals and a communal display screen has a server which recovers respective pages for display on the user terminals. The server is also responsive to a command from the user terminals which, when receives, causes the current display on the requesting terminal to be output to the communal display. The server is also responsive to a further command from the user terminals which, when received, causes the current display on the communal browser to become the current display on the requesting terminal.

Abstract: Packets in a packet switching network are routed along a routing path defined by data held in packet switching nodes. One or more network addresses are assigned to a first access node as home addresses. A first home address is allocated to a first mobile node with at least one routing path being directed to a first access node for that first home address. Routing in the packet switched infrastructure is altered when the first mobile node receives service from a second access node by transmitting routing update messages to a limited subset of localized packet switching nodes such that at least one routing path in the infrastructure is directed to the second access node for the first home address. Routing in the infrastructure is subsequently altered such that at least one routing path is directed to the first access node for the first home address, and the first home address is allocated to a second mobile node served by the first access node.