Abstract: In accordance with the invention, digital content is able to be better promoted on mobile phones and other electronic devices. The digital content and/or references to the digital content are stored on a server device which is accessible by the mobile phones or electronic devices. In operation, a user of a mobile device acquires digital content. When the user obtains a second mobile device, to facilitate and promote the same or similar digital content on the second mobile device, the digital content or references stored on a server device are able to be used to present the possibility of acquisition of the digital content for the second mobile device.

Abstract: A method for operational support for remote network systems which allows for the rapid replacement of one server with another, in such instances as server malfunctions, routine maintenance, or upgrades. The method generally comprises providing a program storage device containing a machine identifier associated with a first, original server, transferring the program storage device and machine identifier to a second, spare server, and remotely configuring the second, spare server, according to the program storage device and machine identifier associated with the first, original server, such that the second, spare server becomes an identical replacement for the first, original server. Thus, if the first, original server malfunctions, the spare or replacement server can be remotely configured to replace the original server according to the information in the machine identifier stored on the program storage device.

Abstract: A system and method of advanced identification information to be created and distributed to users of wireless communication devices, such as mobile phones. Subscribers can define their own personas as collections of information which define the users. Subscribers can then publish their persona(s) to their friends' and associates' mobile phones, and update the others' address books with the subscriber's contact information. Users can specify different personas to be presented to different users.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously improving the performance of semantic classifiers in the scope of spoken dialog systems are disclosed. Rule-based or statistical classifiers are replaced with better performing rule-based or statistical classifiers and/or certain parameters of existing classifiers are modified. The replacement classifiers or new parameters are trained and tested on a collection of transcriptions and annotations of utterances which are generated manually or in a partially automated fashion. Automated quality assurance leads to more accurate training and testing data, higher classification performance, and feedback into the design of the spoken dialog system by suggesting changes to improve system behavior.

Abstract: A single, subjective numerical rating to evaluate the performance of a telephone-based spoken dialog system. This CE rating is provided by expert human listeners who have knowledge of the design of the dialog system. Different human raters can be trained to achieve a satisfactory level of agreement. Furthermore, a classifier trained on ratings by human experts can reproduce the human ratings with the same degree of consistency. More calls can be given a CE rating than would be possible with limited human resources. More information can be provided about individual calls, e.g., to help decide between two disparate ratings by different human experts.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing devices which can couple to the Internet, or any network. In one aspect a system for synchronizing data between a first system and a second system is provided. The system includes a first sync engine on the first system interfacing with data on the first system to provide difference information. A data store is coupled to the network and in communication with the first and second systems. A second sync engine is provided on the second system coupled to receive the difference information from the data store via the network, and interface with data on the second system to update said data on the second system with said difference information. Difference information is transmitted to the data store by the first sync engine and received from the data store from the second sync engine.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed that may provide a graphical user interface (GUI) within a web page on a display device forming part of a computer system, that may include defining attributes of user interface fields for use within the graphical user interface for display on the display device with program code; searching at least one image file for image data fields corresponding to one or more of the user interface fields; recording layout data of selected ones of the image data fields within the image file; and generating the GUI using information from the user interface field attributes and the recorded data.

Abstract: A data transmission system is disclosed which optimizes transfer and updates of information between systems by providing difference information between the systems. The system transmits data packages having instructions for manipulating user data. The data packages include a header identifying the respective packages, as well as transaction objects for effecting a change to user data on a device having object instructions.

Abstract: The delay in provisioning telecommunication services and equipment via a network is reduced significantly by performing substantially all of the provisioning processes sequentially on a single server. That is, through the counterintuitive approach of using sequential processing on a single server rather than parallel processing on a plurality of servers, the time required to provision telecommunication services and equipment is reduced. Preferably, telecommunication services and equipment are provisioned through a network by classifying the orders to be provisioned as two types. When the order is of a first type, the provisioning processes are performed on a set of servers (shared), and when the order is of a second type, substantially all of the provisioning processes are performed on a single server.

Abstract: The system and method for providing social context to digital activity combines mobile device contact information with user-provided website information to aid users when browsing the Internet. Users of mobile devices define identifications of themselves for websites, so that when another user in their contact list is browsing the Internet, an indicator is able to indicate that he is a known contact. The determination of whether the person is a known contact based on the identification definitions is able to be implemented either by direct interfacing between the host website and a server which stores the identification definitions, a browser plugin which communicates with the server or an API provided by the server or a mobile device.

Abstract: A data transmission system and method which optimizes transfer and updates of information between systems by providing difference information between the systems is disclosed. A system includes a differencing transmitter transmitting at least one set of difference transactions and a differencing receiver receiving said at least one set of difference transactions A method for synchronizing at least a first file and a second file resident on a first and a second systems, respectively, is provided. The method comprises the steps of: determining difference data resulting from changes to a first file on the first system; transmitting the difference information to a second system; applying the difference information to generate change data for the second file; and updating the second file on the second system with the difference data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which provides for remote and secure access to a host computer, and which further provides an open application standard for client access to the host computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for allowing the updating and overriding of software parameters used by one or more software programs. The parameters are preferably in cache. When the system needs any such parameter, it first checks cache, then a preferably remotely located database, and then, preferably a flat file on the same computer as the cache. The checking is done in the foregoing order, and the parameter is used upon locating a current version of it. If the current version is obtained from anywhere other than the cache, it is put into cache.