Abstract: A system and method for detecting an idle or inactive data port connection on a personal computer (PC) and blocking external access, e.g., Wide Area Network (WAN) access to an end-user PC is presented. The system provides for added security for unattended PCs having broadband connections. The idle time period for detection/blocking logic initiation of a blocking signal to disable communications, e.g., Ethernet port access to the PC, may be for a fixed time period or may be determined by a user of the end-user PC.

Abstract: In one embodiment a method is disclosed for monitoring a multiplicity of set top boxes (STBs) in an internet protocol television (IPTV) network including receiving in an IPTV network server, conditional message data pushed from the multiplicity of set top boxes (STBs); analyzing in the IPTV server, the STB conditional message data to determine network status information data related to a set of STBs selected from the multiplicity of STBs; and pushing network status information data to the set of STBs. In another embodiment a system for monitoring an internet protocol television (IPTV) network is disclosed including an IPTV head-end server processor coupled to a memory in the IPTV server; a computer program embedded in the memory, the computer program including instructions to acquire conditional message data; and a computer program embedded in memory, the computer program including instructions to push the conditional message data to memory when the conditional message data exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A computer readable medium stores a program for enabling access to a wireless local area network (WLAN) from a dual mode device. The program enables the dual mode device to detect presence of a WLAN access point. The program also transmits information about the access point and about the dual mode device via a cellular network to a clearinghouse server. A portion of the program receives the information via the cellular network, the information identifying the dual mode device and an access point of a WLAN provider. The program then determines whether the dual mode device has permission to access the access point. When permission exists, the program informs the WLAN provider. The dual mode device accesses the WLAN access point in response to the clearinghouse server approving access.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system, method and computer-readable medium for providing a network service. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a system for providing a network service that includes a network device for providing the network service over a network loop using Symmetric High Bit Rate Digital Subscriber Loop (G.SHDSL) as a transport mechanism over the network loop; and a network-capable access device that terminates the network loop.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for method and apparatus for distributing signals. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communications interface (CI) (101 having a controller that manages a transceiver (102) coupled to a residential gateway (RG) (118) and one or more set top boxes (STBs) (116). The controller can be programmed to receive (202) a very high bit rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) signal, transmit (204, 208) the VDSL signal to the RG over a select one of a plurality of coaxial interfaces, and receive (210) an IP signal from the RG for distribution to the one or more STBs. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method of delivering calls. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a call at a server within an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) system, where the call is directed to a user premise. The method also includes determining a presence of a user at a set-top box device at the user premise and determining a speed select function associated with the user. The method also includes selectively delivering the call to a communication device in proximity to the set-top box device via a private access network of the IPTV system, based on the speed select function.

Abstract: A system and method of providing selectable video content is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a selection of a first mnemonic input at a set-top box device. The method also includes receiving a plurality of numeric input selections at the set-top box device, where each of the plurality of numeric input selections corresponds to at least one character. The method also includes determining a channel name based on a sequence of the plurality of numeric input selections.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for defining a workflow. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device can have a controller programmed to organize one or more active objects selected from a content source according to a plurality of operational paradigms to construct a workflow, and present a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a hierarchical structure of the workflow. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for configuring a workflow. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device having a controller programmed to identify one or more active objects from a content source, and structure the one or more active objects into a workflow having a networking topology and a plurality of operational paradigms. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for updating a virtual private network (VPN) in a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) having a controller that manages a communications interface coupled to an MPLS network. The controller can be programmed to generate one or more messages conforming to a border gateway protocol (BGP) for updating a VPN operating in the MPLS network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for exchanging content over distinct wireless access technologies. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a multimode access network server (MANS) (102) having a controller that manages operations of a communications interface that communicates with multimode communication devices (MCDs) in a communication system. The controller can be programmed to receive from an MCD status information associated with a plurality of wireless access points (WAPs), each WAP operating according to a disparate wireless access technology, and determine with the MCD a coordination plan for transmitting partitioned content by way of at least two of the WAPs. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for importing content in a user-defined workflow. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device that can have a controller programmed to identify one or more patterns in content, parse the content according to the one or more patterns identified, and organize one or more active objects selected from the parsed content according to a plurality of operational paradigms to construct a workflow. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A preset scheduled event reminder is updated based on geopositional data. The preset scheduled event reminder is provided by a reminding apparatus. A current time is determined and a current location of the reminding apparatus is obtained. The preset scheduled event reminder is updated based on the determined current time and the obtained current location of the reminding apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method (200) are disclosed for managing quality of service for multimedia applications. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) (106) having a controller (107) that manages operations of a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) (109) interfacing to a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem (114) over a digital subscriber line. The controller can be programmed to detect (204) a signal quality violation in the digital subscriber line according to a quality policy associated with a content source, cause (210) the DSLAM to interleave content supplied thereto by the content source; and cause (212) the DSLAM to allocate to the content supplied by the content source a first portion of a data service bandwidth assigned to the digital subscriber line. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for selecting targeted advertising, is disclosed including monitoring subscriber event data from a first and a second access subscriber device, calculating a product interest correlation score in a plurality of product categories for the subscriber based on the subscriber event data, reviewing an advertiser database to select an advertisement in the product categories, and selecting a format to deliver the selected advertisement to a third subscriber access device. In another embodiment, a system is disclosed for selecting an advertisement to send to a subscriber, including an internet profiling module that monitors subscriber event data, an internet profiling database for storing and classifying the event data monitored by the internet profiling module, an advertiser index database for storing advertiser detail information, and an intelligent correlation scoring system (ICSS) processor coupled to the internet profiling database, user profile and the advertiser index database.

Abstract: A system for sending an email through a web based email provider while using a web application includes a web application server and a web based email application server. The web application server displays a web page at a client having at least one selectable link, receives an instruction from the client requesting an email through selection of the selectable link, creates a redirect message for accessing the web based email provider, and sends the redirect message to the client. The web based email application server receives the redirect message, displays an email composition web page at the client, receives a completed email from the client, and sends the completed email to an email server for delivery.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for compressing data in a communications network. The downstream data is compressed at a network element and sent to a customer premises over a data communication link, and is decompressed by a device at the customer end. The upstream data is compressed by the device at the customer end and decompressed by the network element.

Abstract: A system (100) and method (300) are disclosed for allocating ports in a communication network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device (102) having a controller that manages a transceiver coupled to a firewall networking element (104). The controller (206) can enable (316) a communication application operating therein according to port information supplied (314) by a port server (106) having port availability information corresponding to the firewall networking element. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a resilient IP ring protocol. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device using a resilient internet protocol (IP) ring protocol, including a controller (602) that manages operations of a transceiver (620) for exchanging messages in a communication system with adjacent ring nodes in a communication ring architecture (300). The controller can be programmed to use sub-second level signaling between adjacent ring nodes to determine when adjacent ring nodes have failed and enable failure options upon detection of an adjacent ring-node failure. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A computerized system and method for distributing video conference data over an internet protocol television (IPTV) system are disclosed including structures and methods for allocating an IPTV video conference channel to groups of video conference participants' set top boxes (STBs), accessing STB data at the server indicating a group of video conference participants' STBs in the groups of video conference participants' STBs, the group of STBs being associated with one video conference data, mapping at the server, the video conference channel to the group of video conference participants' STBs and to one IP address for the one of the video conferences data, and delivering from the server over the video conference channel from a first one of the of IP addresses, the first one of the video conferences data to the first group of video conference participants' STBs.