Abstract: A system and method for providing packet-switched telephony service. The system provides call control, signaling, and/or delivery of voice, video, and other media in substantially real time. One embodiment of the system includes a call client application on a user device, and a call server located at a packet-switched telephony service provider. The call server is preferably operable to communicate with the call client in a non-native protocol and with the gateway in a native protocol.

Abstract: A system comprising: a first user device and at least a second user device for a same user, at least one of the first and second user devices being a household media appliance, and each being installed with a respective instance of a communication client application for conducting voice or video calls over a packet-based network. Each instance is associated with a same user identifier identifying said same user, a first of said instances is associated with a first sub-identifier, and a second of said instances is associated with a second sub-identifier. The instances are configured so as, during an ongoing call conducted over a first network connection established based on said user identifier and the first sub-identifier, after the call has been answered, to establish a second network connection based on said user identifier and the second sub-identifier and to switch the call to the second network connection.

Abstract: Provided is a method of communicating using a user terminal that comprises: a first interface for exchanging call data with a first interface of a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a second interface for interfacing with a node of a mobile telecommunications network, and wherein the first interface of the mobile communication device is unsuitable for interfacing with a node of a mobile telecommunications network; a second interface for exchanging call data with a second user terminal over a packet-based communication network; and a processor for executing a communications client, which processor is coupled to the first interface of the user terminal and to the second interface of the user terminal and is configured to participate in a call with the second user terminal via the second interface of the user terminal and the packet-based communication network; wherein the method comprises: sending call data via one of the first interface of the user terminal and the s

Abstract: A media appliance comprising: video apparatus for outputting signals to a screen; a control device allowing a user to control the output of signals from the video apparatus to the screen, thereby selecting a viewing activity; a network interface for accessing a packet-based network; a memory storing a communication client application; and processing apparatus, coupled to the memory, network interface and video apparatus, and arranged to execute the communication client application; wherein the client application is configured so as when executed to allow the user to conduct bidirectional communications with other users via the packet-based network, and output notifications to the user of incoming communication events received from other users over the packet-based network; and wherein the client application is further configured to defer one or more of said notifications of incoming communication events received during said viewing activity, determine a delineation in the viewing activity, and automatically o

Abstract: A method of transmitting a communication event from a calling entity to a called entity located in a communication system comprising a first network and a second network, said method comprising determining a first identity associated with the calling entity and a first and second identity associated with the called entity, wherein the first identities are recognizable in the first network and the second identity is recognizable in the second network; associating at a first node located in the second network the first identities with the second identity; establishing a connection between the calling entity and a second node; wherein the connection with second node is established using the first identity associated with the called entity; querying the first node with the first identity associated with the called entity and the first identity associated with the calling entity to determine the second identity associated with the called entity; and transmitting the communication event to the called entity using t

Abstract: There is provided a peer-to-peer telephone system comprising a plurality of end-users and a communication structure through which one or more end-users are couplable for communication purposes. The system is distinguished in that the communication structure is substantially de-centralized with regard to communication route switching therein for connecting the one or more end-users. One or more end-users are operable to establish their own communication routes through the structure based on exchange of one or more authorization certificates, namely User Identity Certificates (UIC), to acquire access to the structure. The structure comprises an administration arrangement for issuing said one or more certificates to said one or more end-users.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling transmission of data transmitted in packets from a transmitter to a receiver via a channel. The method comprises transmitting packets from the transmitter to the receiver; determining if the transmission delay and/or loss of subsequent packets transmitted to the receiver may be reduced beyond a threshold amount; controlling the transmission rate to be dependent on a first target delay if it is determined that the transmission delay and/or loss of subsequent packets transmitted to the receiver may not be reduced beyond a threshold amount; and controlling the transmission rate to be dependent on a second target delay if it is determined that the transmission delay and/or loss of subsequent packets transmitted to the receiver may be reduced beyond a threshold amount, wherein the second target delay is lower relative to the first target delay.

Abstract: A method of providing instant messaging communication between a first user and at least one other user via a communication network.

Abstract: A method of transferring image data from a first terminal to a second terminal connected via a communication network, the method comprising: displaying on a screen of the first terminal a screen image generated by a processor executed application; a processor executing a communication client to: establish a communication event between the first and second terminals and display at the first terminal an interactive selection component; a user at the first terminal actuating the selection component to select at least one object displayed on the screen to be shared with the second terminal, wherein the communication client accesses data defining displayed object dimensions and adjusts the selection component based on those dimensions to cause the at least one object selected by the window selection component to be displayed on a screen of the second terminal by transferring image data over the communication network in the established communication event.

Abstract: A system and method for providing packet-switched telephony service. The system provides call control, signaling, and/or delivery of voice, video, and other media in substantially real time. One embodiment of the system includes a call client application on a user device, and a call server located at a packet-switched telephony service provider. The call server is preferably operable to communicate with the call client in a non-native protocol and with the gateway in a native protocol.

Abstract: A wireless handset for use in a peer-to-peer voice communications system comprising: a display; a keyboard comprising multifunctional keys capable of entering numeric or alphabetic characters depending on a number of key presses, said keyboard being arranged to enter contact information into a user interface displayed on said display, select contacts on the user interface, and initiate a packet data voice call with a contact; a microprocessor arranged to execute embedded client software, wherein the client software is arranged to establish a packet data voice call over the network and encode speech information as individually addressed packets; and a radio communication device arranged to transmit said individually addressed packets as radio signals from said wireless handset to a network.

Abstract: A method, terminal and program for processing a speech signal, in which the speech signal is received over a network from a transmitting device, wherein the frequency components in the received speech signal are limited to a predetermined frequency range and the received speech signal has been filtered using a transmitter frequency response over the predetermined frequency range. The received speech signal is decoded. The decoded speech signal is filtered using a receiver frequency response which is complementary to the transmitter frequency response over the predetermined frequency range to thereby reduce distortion in the speech signal introduced over the predetermined frequency range by using said transmitter frequency response.

Abstract: A method, terminal and program for making a call in a packet switched network between a calling device and a called device. The method comprises receiving at a processor of the calling device samples of a speech signal and an identity of the called device, executing code on the processor to perform the steps of: determining based on the identity of the called device whether a filter should be applied to the samples, when it is determined that a filter should be applied, filtering the samples, and encoding the filtered samples for transmission on the packet switched network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting an audio signal over a communication channel comprising encoding the audio signal with an encoder 204 using a first sampling rate, filtering the audio signal using a first cut off frequency, the first cut off frequency being chosen in dependence upon the first sampling rate, and transmitting the encoded and filtered audio signal over the communication channel. The presence of a condition in which the sampling rate of the encoder 204 is to be switched to a second sampling rate at a switching time is determined and if the condition has been determined to be present, the cut off frequency used in the filtering step is gradually changed from the first cut off frequency to a second cut off frequency, the second cut off frequency being chosen in dependence upon the second sampling rate, such that the audio bandwidth of the transmitted signal changes gradually when the sampling rate is switched to the second sampling rate.

Abstract: A method and product for controlling a rate of transmission from a first, transmitting node to a second, recipient node. The method comprises: transmitting a stream from the first node to the second node over a first network route; transmitting further data from the first node to a third node over a second network route substantially overlapping with the first network route; receiving feedback at the first node from the third node regarding transmission of the further data to the third node over the second network route; and based on the feedback from the third node, controlling a rate of transmission of the stream to the second node over the first network route. The third node may not be a recipient of said stream. The rate of transmission may be controlled without feedback from the second node. The further data may be formed of dummy data.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a first signal from a first terminal to a second terminal via a communication network including: receiving at the first terminal a second signal from the second terminal; outputting the second signal from an output device associated with the first terminal and determining information relating to a characteristic of the second signal. A processing resource of the second terminal used to transmit the second signal is estimated, wherein the estimation is based on the information relating to the characteristic of the second signal. A characteristic of the first signal is adjusted in dependence on the estimated processing resource of the second terminal used to transmit the second signal and the first signal is transmitted to the second terminal.

Abstract: A gateway, program and method for use in a packet-based communication system.

Abstract: A method and computing system for suppressing noise in an audio signal, comprising: receiving the audio signal at signal processing means; determining that another signal is input to the signal processing means, the input signal resulting from an activity which generates noise in the audio signal; and selectively suppressing noise in the audio signal in dependence on the determination that the input signal is input to the signal processing means to thereby suppress the generated noise in the audio signal.

Abstract: A first network comprising: one or more first end-user computer terminals; a gateway to a second, packet-based network comprising one or more second end-user computer terminals installed with a communication client of the second network; one or more telephone units for performing calls with one of the second end-user computer terminals over the second network; wherein each of the one or more first end-user terminals is installed with a communication client for performing calls with the second end-user computer terminals over the second network; and wherein the gateway comprises switching apparatus configured to detect a user selection between a first state in which one of said calls is to be performed using one of said first end-user computer terminals and a second state in which the call is to be performed using one of said telephone units; and on condition of detecting the first state, to route both call set-up signalling and call media to the first end-user computer terminal; and on condition of detecting

Abstract: A method and system for modifying an audio signal, the method comprising: receiving the audio signal at signal processing means; analysing the received audio signal to identify characteristic signal components in the audio signal; determining that another signal is input to the signal processing means, the input signal resulting from an activity which generates noise in the audio signal; and selectively applying an adjusted gain to the audio signal based on the determination that the input signal is input to the signal processing means, wherein the adjusted gain is generated in dependence upon the signal strength of the identified signal components.