Abstract: A method, system and product are provided for selectively modifying an encoded audio signal. The method includes receiving the encoded audio signal, the encoded audio signal having a first frequency bandwidth, and identifying a delivery point for the encoded audio signal, the delivery point having a second frequency bandwidth. The method also includes selecting a plurality of subbands from the first frequency bandwidth based on the second frequency bandwidth, and modifying the encoded audio signal based on the plurality of subbands selected. The system includes control logic for performing the method. The product includes a storage medium having computer readable programmed instructions for performing the method.

Abstract: A method of routing a telephone call from a Caller to a Subscriber telephone line in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) equipped with Terminating Attempt Trigger (TAT) and Terminating Next Event List (NEL) functionality and having at least one Central Office Switch (COS) and a Service Control Point (SCP) in electrical communication with a plurality of Subscriber switches via a signalling method and system. The system includes an intelligent peripheral in electrical communication with the COS and the SCP and which is equipped with queuing functionality for each of the Subscribers and operative to place a call to the COS for receipt by a Subscriber having a call placed in queue in response to a determination that the Subscriber's line is idle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing a page to include orphan lines on a subsequent page which includes determining whether a spatial reduction of the first page will create sufficient space for the orphan lines, selecting one of the spatial reduction methods if the spatial reduction method creates sufficient space for the orphan lines, given the maximum reduction capable for the first page and reducing and moving the set of lines according to the spatial reduction method selected.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for preloading prefetch data of a multimedia application at a client station in an interactive network. The method begins with the step of transmitting a first signal from a server to the client station representing a composite description. The method next includes the step of storing the composite description in the client memory. The client station the identifies prefetch data based on the composite description. The client station then transmits a signal to the server requesting the identified prefetch data. Finally, the server transmits the prefetch data to the client station where it is stored. A system is also disclosed for implementing the steps of the method.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing display of data relating to a predetermined application between an interactive terminal and at least one mobile interface device having a display. The at least one mobile interface device receives a user input signal and transmits the user input signal for synchronization with the interactive terminal. A set-top transceiver device is operatively coupled to the interactive terminal and receives the user input signal from the at least one mobile interface device. The set-top transceiver device also transmits a synchronization signal to the at least one mobile interface device and the interactive terminal. A central processing unit having a database is operatively coupled to the set-top transceiver device for receiving and processing the user input signal based on the database to obtain the synchronization signal for receipt by the set-top transceiver device.

Abstract: A method for call back messaging is disclosed. The method allows a calling party to provide name and number information for automatic delivery to a called party in instances where the called party does not answer the incoming call, or where the line of the called party is busy. The method of the present invention may include the steps of processing an exception for an incoming call from the calling party to the called party, playing at least a first announcement to the calling party to provide the calling party an opportunity to provide information to the called party, processing information provided by the calling party, placing at least a first call to the called party to attempt to deliver the information provided by the calling party and playing at least a first message to the called party, the first messaging containing the information provided by the calling party.

Abstract: A method for providing a user with the facility to linguistically direct a computer system to present desired audio/video programming is provided. The method is intended to be used in conjunction with a computer system having an input device, an audio interface, a controller, and a monitor. The method begins with the step of presenting to a user a menu of options at the monitor. The method continues with the step of identifying a set of key phonemes including phonemes associated with the menu of options. The method next includes the step of receiving at the audio interface a command signal representing a linguistic audio command. The command signal is then converted into a command phoneme which is matched with a phoneme of the set of key phonemes. Finally, the controller performs a task associated with the matched phoneme.

Abstract: A method and system for broadcasting at least one of a plurality of digitally encoded signals transmitted by a network provider to a plurality of user programmable devices disposed in a single environment. A remote interface unit is coupled to each of the user programmable devices for receiving a user programming from one of the plurality of user programmable devices. The user programming selects one of the plurality of compressed, digitally encoded signals. A common set-top transceiver is operatively connected to each of the remote interface units and the network provider including a first receiver for receiving the user programming from each of the remote interface units and a transmitter for transmitting the user programming to the network provider.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a working window on a video monitor in a computer system is provided. The method comprises the steps of determining if a user has performed a first predetermined input stroke along at least a portion of a display screen. Upon determining that the user has drawn the predetermined input stroke, a plurality of icons are displayed. A user selects one of the plurality of icons via a second predetermined input stroke and a working window is scrolled onto the video monitor. A computer program that corresponds to the selected icon is then executed in the working window. The user can remove the working window from the screen by clicking and performing a third predetermined input stroke.

Abstract: A system for providing backup power for a communications system is disclosed. The backup power system of the present invention includes a device for supplying capacitively stored power and a device for monitoring a power level in the communications system. When the monitoring device detects that the power level in the telecommunications system has decreased below a predetermined level, the monitoring device directs the device for supplying capacitively stored power to deliver power to the communications system such that no interruption in power is experienced by the system.

Abstract: A method and system for interacting with a database via multiple types of media where the database includes data lacking a format for use with each of the media. The method includes selecting data to be accessed, selecting one of the media for providing access to the data selected, automatically formatting the data selected for use with the media selected, and transmitting the formatted data for output via the media selected. The system includes a processor, memory, software and media required for performing the method.

Abstract: A method for handling incoming callers to a call processing system such as a directory assistance facility, and associated system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of recording a greeting message from an operator, recording information provided by an incoming caller, replaying the recorded information provided by the incoming caller to the operator to enable the operator to conduct a search and replaying the recorded greeting from the operator to the incoming caller during a replay interval, which is defined as the period in which the recorded information provided by the incoming caller is played back to the operator. The method may further include the step of modifying at least one of the recorded incoming caller information and the recorded message from the operator such that the duration of the recorded message from the operator is less than or substantially equal to the duration of the recorded incoming caller information.

Abstract: Pixels in a low bit-rate encoded image are categorized into two or more categories. In one embodiment three pixel categories are used: 1) pixels belonging to quasi-constant (QC) regions where the pixel intensity values vary slowly (e.g., pictorial portions), 2) pixels belonging to textured regions which are characterized by many small edges and thin-line signals (e.g., text portions), and 3) pixels belonging to dominant-edge (DE) regions which are characterized by few sharp and dominant edges (e.g., edge portions). In one embodiment DE pixels are categorized first, then QC and textural pixels are distinguished from the remaining pixels using the number of zero-crossings among the pixels and a threshold. Conventional spatial filters that are well suited for each pixel category type are then used to enhance each region of the image. In one embodiment, various combinations of spatial filters are used to enhance the image.

Abstract: A method and system for adaptively filtering a speech signal. The method includes decomposing the signal into subbands, which may include performing a discrete Fourier transform on the signal to provide approximately orthogonal components. The method also includes determining a speech quality indicator for each subband, which may include estimating a signal-to-noise ratio for each subband. The method also includes selecting a filter for filtering each subband depending on the speech quality indicator, which may include estimating parameters for the filter based on a clean speech signal. The method further includes determining an overall average error for the filtered subbands, which may include calculating a mean-squared error.

Abstract: An addressing scheme is disclosed for a network wherein addresses of the scheme not only uniquely identify addressable process interfaces or nodes communicating with the network, but also each such address encodes information related to a communication channel utilized by the node to which the address is assigned in communicating with the network. Thus for each node communicating on a wide area network wherein the node resides on a local area network at a location having one or more local area networks, the address assigned to the node encodes information related to the node's location, the local area network through which the node communicates. Further, if the node communicates with the local area network through an intermediary device, then the address may also encode information related to communication channel characteristics between the node and the intermediary device. The addressing scheme is particularly applicable to internet protocol addressed networks.

Abstract: An automatic method and system for testing an audiotex system. The method includes generating an input signal for receipt by the audiotex system, identifying a failure if the audiotex system fails to generate an output signal in response to the input signal, and transmitting a failure notification signal, the signal having a failure type associated therewith based on the input signal and the failure to generate an output signal. The method may also include identifying a failure if the audiotex system generates an output signal in response to the input signal indicating that the audiotex system is not fully operational, and transmitting a failure notification signal, the signal having a failure type associated therewith based on the input signal and the output signal generated in response thereto. The system includes input and output devices, a processor, memory and software for performing the method.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for communicating a datagram in a wireless communication network. The network includes a transmitter and a receiver. The method begins with the step of identifying a transmitting signal shape code. The next step of the method uses signal shape code to transmit a signal representing a datagram. The method continues with the steps of identifying a receiving signal shape code and receiving at the receiver the transmitted signal. Once received, the signal is filtering based on the receiving signal shape code. The method concludes with the step of processing the filtered signal. A system is disclosed for carrying out the above described method.

Abstract: A method and system for providing secured access to a server connected to a private computer network protected by a router acting as a firewall is provided. The method includes establishing a bypass communication route around the firewall router, exchanging information between a client and the server via the bypass communication route, and closing the bypass communication route. The system includes an external machine, an external communication channel, an internal machine, an internal communication channel, and a dedicated private communication channel. Each of these components in combination form a bypass communication route around the firewall router.

Abstract: A method for determining and reporting the position of a mobile unit to a third party via a video dial tone (VDT) network is described. The method is directed for use in a wireless communication system having at least one registration area including at least one control unit and at least one base station having a corresponding coverage area. For each of the base stations in a registration area, a plurality of analog and/or TDMA RF measurements are determined, including its link budget, for a predetermined plurality of distances and directions. These measurements are modeled as scaled contoured shapes having minimum and maximum boundaries which are used to define a bounding polygon area to describe the position of a mobile station in terms of minimum and maximum error estimate. The video dial tone network includes an interactive video delivery system, a set top terminal and a video monitor.