Abstract: An apparatus 100, comprising an optical component 105 having a stack 180 of layers 182 of electrically conductive flexible polymers, the stack being a metamaterial.

Abstract: A method is provided for distributing multicast channels from a multicast/predictive multicast cache located in at least one selected network device of a multicast network. The network device upon receiving a channel request from an end-user transmits the requested channel from the multicast cache if the requested channel is available in the multicast cache. Else, the network device requests the multicast source for the requested channel along with a group of one or more multicast channels centered at the requested channel. The network device transmits only the requested channel and other channels are cached in the multicast cache on the network device. Upon receiving a request for removing a channel the network device caches the channel for a prescribed duration before evicting the channel.

Abstract: A geometrically-structured coaxial cable may prevent infiltration of water vapor and other contaminants by using a closed cell structure. The cable may be fabricated by wrapping bubble tape around its central conductor. Alternatively, plastic may be extruded through channels to create a plurality of layers. In either case, these layers are staggered in a zig-zag pattern to ensure that no radial spokes connect the inner and outer conductors of the coaxial cable without passing through a plurality of dielectric layers.

Abstract: An architecture and procedures by which an NGN can provide the following capabilities to an NGCN user: basic terminating service in the peering model; enhanced terminating services in the peering model; enhanced originating services in the peering model; and roaming service in the subscription and peering models. All capabilities are provided in an easily scalable manner via provisioned subscriber data and small modifications to existing IMS procedures. In the first case, an NGN is configured among the external networks to receive all SIP requests intended for the NGCN users of an NGCN interconnected to the NGN via the peering model (this NGN is the trunking home NGN), and the NGN forwards these requests to the NGCN for handling using request retargeting.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a dual-polarized antenna array constructed from first and second instances of a planar antenna that are co-located and orthogonal to one another. The planar antenna comprises three conducting elements and a transmission line. The first conducting element comprises a straight segment and two arms of equal length. The proximal ends of the two arms are attached to opposite ends of the straight segment. The arms extend away from the second and third conducting elements and towards one another. The second and third conducting elements are separated by a gap and together form a mirror image of the first conducting element. The transmission line has first and second conductors that are coupled to the second and third conducting elements, respectively. In another embodiment, the present invention is a tri-polarized antenna array constructed from three orthogonal co-located instances of the planar antenna.

Abstract: A hearing aid and a method of enhancing sound. In one embodiment, the hearing aid includes: (1) a direction sensor configured to produce data for determining a direction in which attention of a user is directed, (2) microphones to provide output signals indicative of sound received at the user from a plurality of directions, (3) a speaker for converting an electrical signal into enhanced sound and (4) an acoustic processor configured to be coupled to the direction sensor, the microphones, and the speaker, the acoustic processor being configured to superpose the output signals based on the determined direction to yield an enhanced signal based on the received sound, the enhanced signal having a higher content of sound received from the direction than sound received at the user.

Abstract: A videoconferencing terminal, a method of videoconferencing and a videoconferencing infrastructure. In one embodiment, the terminal includes: (1) a flat panel display and (2) a camera associated with the flat panel display and configured to receive light from an object through the flat panel display and acquire an image of the object.

Abstract: As discussed herein, there is presented a visual communication system, a method of conducting two-way visual communication and an apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: (1) a lens substrate having a first array of micro lenses on one side thereof, (2) an optical output substrate having a second array of display pixels and (3) an optical input substrate having a third array of image sensors laterally inter-dispersed with respect to display pixels of the first array and positioned to receive light from the micro lenses of the first array.

Abstract: A cache management system and method and a content distribution system. In one embodiment, the cache management system includes: (1) a content request receiver configured to receive content requests, (2) a popularity lifetime prediction modeler coupled to the content request receiver and configured to generate popularity lifetime prediction models for content that can be cached based on at least some of the content requests, (3) a database coupled to the popularity lifetime prediction modeler and configured to contain the popularity lifetime prediction models and (4) a popularity lifetime prediction model matcher coupled to the content request receiver and the database and configured to match at least one content request to the popularity lifetime prediction models and control a cache based thereon.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless-resource broker employs a self-enforcing spectrum-sharing policy, e.g., the expected utility (e.g., rate) a user obtains by following the policy provided by the broker is not less than the expected utility that the user obtains by switching to some other strategy. Each user is associated with one or more transmitter-receiver pairs, e.g., a transmitter of a wireless device and a receiver of a base station in communication via a wireless channel. The broker receives, as input, user parameters characterizing one or more of the transmitters and/or receivers and resource parameters characterizing one or more available spectrum blocks. The broker solves a linear-programming problem to generate and transmit a recommended policy for one or more users. The policy for each user includes information such as the spectrum block(s) to which the user is assigned, the transmission power for the user, and the transmission rate for the user.

Abstract: A system is provided for maintaining a balanced interior air pressure in a building (10) having a plurality of different localized areas (20). The system includes: a main fan or set of main fans (12) that is selectively controlled to support a desired overall interior air pressure inside the building (10); a plurality of interior sensors (22), each interior sensor (22) arranged to detect a localized air pressure at one of the areas (20) in the building; a plurality of auxiliary fans (26), each auxiliary fan (26) being provisioned to selectively modify the localized air pressure at one of the areas (20) in the building (10); and, a control unit (11) that is in operative communication with the plurality of sensors (22) to obtain air pressure readings therefrom, in operative communication with the plurality of auxiliary fans (26) to control operation thereof, and in operative communication with the main fan or set of main fans (12) to control operation thereof.

Abstract: A wireless remote control and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the wireless remote control includes: (1) a body, (2) an orientation detector located in the body, (3) a processor located in the body and coupled to the orientation detector and configured to receive an orientation signal from the orientation detector, (4) a memory located in the body and coupled to the processor and containing software configured to cause the processor to generate a media playback control signal based on the orientation signal and (5) wireless communication circuitry located in the body and coupled to the processor and configured to receive and wirelessly transmit the media playback control signal.

Abstract: System including signal processor in communication with sound detector and with sound-emitting device. Sound detector and sound-emitting device are in audio communication with occupant compartment. Signal processor is configured for receiving input signal from sound detector being indicative of background audio noise in occupant compartment, and for causing sound-emitting device to emit output sound that partially cancels background audio noise in manner responsive to received input signal. Another system, including array of sound detectors and array of sound-emitting devices. Method includes providing signal processor in communication with sound detector and sound-emitting device, where sound detector and sound-emitting device are in communication with occupant compartment. Further in method, signal processor is caused to receive input signal from sound detector being indicative of background audio noise in occupant compartment.

Abstract: A network configuration that supports latency-equalization (LEQ) routing by effectively “storing” packets on communication links, rather than at end points. A suitable network configuration is found by (i) identifying a candidate pool of routers through which the participating client terminals and application servers can exchange packets intended for LEQ routing and (ii) analyzing the delay inventory corresponding to the network paths connecting the client terminals and application servers, through those routers. Based on the analysis, M routers from the candidate pool are selected to serve as hub nodes. Each participating client terminal is assigned m of these M hub nodes and, thereafter, directs and receives its packets intended for LEQ routing through one of these m hub nodes.

Abstract: A delivery method for IPTV which combines forward error correction (FEC) with retransmission techniques for handling packet loss and/or corruption. Packet loss or corruption of popular channels is handled through the use of FEC while packet loss of less popular channels is handled by retransmission.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a planar optical structure that includes an input coupler, first and second planar waveguides and an output coupler, all on a planar substrate. The input coupler is configured to divide an incoming light into two input light beams. Each of the first and second waveguides is configured to receive one of the two input light beams. The first waveguide has a first core with a width that is greater than a width of a second core of the second waveguide. At least one of the first or second planar waveguides is birefringent. The output coupler is configured to receive the light beams after passage through the first and second waveguides. A first output light beam from the output coupler is substantially TE polarized light and a second output light beam from the output coupler is substantially TM polarized light.

Abstract: In one embodiment, IP lookup into a routing table having prefixes of different prefix lengths is performed using a Bloom filter that was programmed with the prefixes corresponding to all of the different prefix lengths without having to expand any of the prefixes programmed into the Bloom filter. Membership probes are performed into the Bloom filter using candidate prefix values of a given network address. The Bloom filter can be implemented in a distributed manner using Bloom sub-filters, where each Bloom sub-filter is hashed based on a set of hash functions, where each different hash function in the set corresponds to a different prefix length in the routing table. Each Bloom sub-filter can in turn be implemented using a plurality of practically realizable multi-port memory devices controlled by a port scheduler. False-positive matches can be detected and next-hop information for true-positive matches retrieved using an off-chip, hash-based prefix table.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, a method and related system for configuration file management in a network element comprise one or more of the following: upon initialization of the network element, reading a first configuration file that is in a character-encoded format; for each application process, translating the first configuration file into a plurality of non-character-encoded configuration files; configuring each application process based on the respective plurality of non-character-encoded configuration files; modifying, in real-time, at least one of the non-character-encoded configuration files; and merging each of the non-character-encoded configuration files into a second configuration file that is in a character-encoded format.

Abstract: In one embodiment, IP lookup into a routing table having prefixes of different prefix lengths is performed by hashing a candidate prefix value to generate a plurality of hash values, where m seed hash values are generated by applying m seed hash functions and one or more additional hash values are generated by combining two or more of the seed hash values in different ways, e.g., using a bit-wise XOR function. The hash values are used to perform membership probes into a Bloom filter programmed with the prefixes corresponding to all of the different prefix lengths in the routing table without having to expand any of the prefixes programmed into the Bloom filter.

Abstract: Platform and/or application software on all online, machine/servers in a cluster is updated without manually taking each machine/server offline. Initially, platform and/or application software for updating is stored in respective directories in an APPLY phase. Next, the new platform and/or application software is activated with or without a trial/test phase in an ACTIVATE phase. Where the new platform and/or application software is activated with a trial/test phase, a ROLLBACK phase is either automatically or manually invoked by the application in the event of a failure of the new software for backing out the new platform and/or application software and reactivating the previous platform and/or application software. An OFFICLAL phase then transitions the new platform and/or application software to the official state followed by a REACTIVATE phase for reactivating the backup copy of the previous/old platform and/or application software after the new software has been made official.