Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for communicating between dissimilar radio voice communication devices across a wireless or wireline interface. The apparatus comprises a voice over Internet protocol (voIP) terminal connected to a computer network and an analog radio transceiver. The voIP terminal is comprised of at least one microprocessor for providing master control to a data acquisition (DAQ) board to create a system which is fully integrated in terms of the interface capability it provides to end users. In operation, the voIP terminal receives analog data from the analog radio transceiver, converts the data into a format recognizable by the computer network, and transmits the data to a desired location on the network. It also receives digital data from the computer network and transmits it into a format recognizable by the attached analog voice transceiver.

Abstract: A system assures quality of service provided by a distributed network having at least one object. The system creates a contract that stores levels of quality of service offered by the network, determines a quality of service required by the object, and evaluates the contract to select a level of quality of service that corresponds to a current quality of service provided by the network. The system then compares the current quality of service to the required quality of service, and adjusts the current quality of service to obtain the required quality of service when the current quality of service fails to satisfy the required quality of service.

Abstract: A system facilitates two-way messaging in a network that includes at least one paging device. The system includes a paging service provider and a server. The paging device generates a message intended for a called party and transmits the message to the paging service provider. The paging service provider forwards the message to the server. The server translates the message to a form used by the called party and sends the translated message to the called party.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the present invention analyze control parameters of evolutionary algorithms. To this end, the system determines the value of a control parameter that controls the operation of the evolutionary algorithm. The system then executes the evolutionary algorithm according to the determined value of the control parameter to obtain a response value. Finally, the system determines an effect vector describing how a change in the value of the control parameter affects the response value. Systems and methods consistent with the present invention may also predict how changing the levels of a control parameter will affect the response value of the evolutionary algorithm. The system may also normalize an objective function of the evolutionary algorithm such that control parameters of the objective function have a relatively equal effect on the overall objective function.

Abstract: A delegate assures quality of service in a distributed system while performing a remote object invocation. The delegate receives a request for the remote object invocation from a client object, identifies a current quality of service provided by the distributed system, and determines whether the current quality of service is acceptable. The delegate then performs the requested remote object invocation when the current quality of service is acceptable.

Abstract: A voice activated and operated Internet web browser where voiced utterances are digitized and the digitized representation is input to a speech recognition program is disclosed. The speech recognition program determines the most likely set of words from a stored vocabulary making up the utterances. The words are analyzed and searched against a database of topics or micro-domain areas. If a match occurs the words are analyzed by a subprogram associated with the specific topic area and key words are identified and other words discarded. The key words are input to a search engine or the equivalent. The search engine returns information associated with the topic. If no topic match is found a general search on the recognized words is performed. The recognized words are fed to a identification module where key words are extracted that are associated with names of people, organizations, locations, and companies; times; money amounts; percentages; dates; and not-a-name.

Abstract: In accordance with methods and systems consistent with the present invention, an improved fact recognition system is provided that automatically learns from syntactic language examples and semantic language examples, thus facilitating development of the system. The language examples are rather simplistic and can be provided by a lay person with little training, thus relieving the need for knowledge engineers. Furthermore, the learning performed by the improved fact recognition system results in a collection of probabilities that is used by the system to recognize facts in a typically more accurate manner than conventional systems.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and technique for obtaining calling party information where existing “caller-id” techniques do not provide calling party information. Described is a service for a subscriber of a communication medium service for handling incoming calls when the subscriber is connected to the Internet. The techniques give a calling party a chance to provide information to the called party in the form of a voice recording in described circumstances, such as where caller identification information is unavailable if there is an unlisted phone number of a calling party.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for managing the resources of a network so that a data signal can be carried more efficiently over the network. Generally, the methods of the invention include the steps of identifying a link in the network over which the data signal can be carried, determining whether the data signal can be carried over the link as a part of a multiplexed signal, comparing network resource requirements for delivering the data signal as part of a multiplexed signal with network resource requirements for delivering the data signal directly, and allocating network resources for the data signal as a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A communication service with a computer application is presented. The application provides an advertising dashboard to a subscriber engaged in a session of a service. The advertising dashboard includes an advertisement. The advertising dashboard may also include personalized information such as hotlinks to customized web pages.

Abstract: A cell relay switch includes an output port for transmitting cells to multiple destinations. The output port further includes a queuing buffer, a controller, and an output processor. The buffer receives a plurality of cells of a packet from a source. The buffer temporarily stores the cells before transmission by the output processor. The controller controls the storing of the received cells in the buffer by determining a total number of the cells in the packet and a number of cells to be received from different packets, deciding whether the buffer contains sufficient space to store the received cells based on the total number of cells in the packet, the number of cells to be received from the different packets, and the rates at which cells are received and drained from the buffer. The buffer is commanded by the controller to store the received cells when the buffer contains sufficient space and discard the received cells when the buffer contains insufficient space.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for optimizing the mapping of processes within a parallelized software program among individual processors in a high performance, scalable computing system. The resulting mapping enhances the usage of the available inter-processor communications bandwidth and balances the computational processing load among the processors of the system, improving upon mappings generated by skilled programmers.

Abstract: A computer system for transmitting packets includes a manager and scheduling elements for managing the transmission of the packets over one or more logical channels. The computer system can prioritize the transmission of packets based on the type of traffic and maintain quality of service (QoS) characteristics associated with a logical channel. In addition, the computer system can execute a threading process to ensure the efficient and timely transmission of certain types of packets without using any complex mathematical operations.

Abstract: A server facilitates communication between a calling party and a called party. The server includes a communications interface for enabling communications with the calling party. The server also includes a processing device that receives a telephone call from the calling party and identifies the calling party. The processing device then determines whether the calling party is a predetermined party and transmits a notification to the called party when the calling party is the predetermined party.

Abstract: A system subsidizes telephone calls over a network. The system includes a service provider 120 that establishes a telephone call between a calling party terminal 130 and a called party terminal 140 over the network 110. During the telephone call, the service provider causes at least one advertisement 312 to be displayed at the calling, or called party terminal. At any time during, or after, the telephone call, the service provider generates a bill based on a subsidized billing rate related to the display of the at least one advertisement.

Abstract: A method for managing the transmission of packet objects distinguishes between packet objects having and not having quality of service (QoS) requirements for transmission over a logical channel. Packet objects for a logical channel having QoS requirements are placed in a sorted tree queue based on its scheduled departure time and on a weighting system related to the QoS requirements. Packet objects for a logical channel only requiring best effort transmission are place in a FIFO queue. Each logical channel is associated with either a sorted tree queue or a FIFO queue.

Abstract: A distributed system provides a quality of service by generating at least one system condition object storing a value, monitoring at least one resource in real time using the system condition object, and setting the value of the system condition object in response to the monitoring of the resource. The system determines a current quality of service based on the value stored in the system condition object. The system then regulates activity within the distributed system based on the determined quality of service.

Abstract: A system for performing packet based data communications over a parallel set of sublinks is provided. A transmitter unit separates the sublinks into an available set of sublinks and a busy set of sublinks. This transmitter avoids processing delays by utilizing sublinks in the available sublink set and not waiting for sublinks in the busy sublink set to be released. To receive the packets, a receiver unit utilizes a sequence number associated with each packet. Accordingly, the receiver extracts the one or more packets of data received in parallel over the set of sublinks in sequential order. A packet window buffer is used to store packets in sequence if they are initially received out of order. The receiver utilizes a sliding window to provide packets in continuous sequential order and transmits the packets serially over a single communication link.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide an improved IR system that performs information retrieval by using probabilities. When performing information retrieval, the improved IR system utilizes both the prior probability that a document is relevant independent of the query as well as the probability that the query was generated by a particular document given that the particular document is relevant. By using these probabilities, the improved IR system retrieves documents in a more accurate manner than conventional systems which are based on an ad hoc approach.

Abstract: An expandable tool for laying out and marking predetermined angular layout lines on a work surface. The tool is comprised of a first leg (202), second leg (204), and hypotenuse leg (206) which are assembled by the user such that the intersection of the first and second leg form the desired angle as defined by the hypotenuse (206). The general shape of the assembled tool will normally be a triangle. Each leg of the tool can consist of a single leg portion (or member), or alternatively, each leg can be made up of more than one leg portion. The ends of each leg are fitted with a fastening mechanism (214) for connecting the leg portions together. The tool can be made to various sizes by the addition and deletion of leg portions. Additionally, the tool can be disassembled to facilitate compact transport to subsequent work sites.