Abstract: Systems and methods according to preferred embodiments enable a subscriber to participate in fantasy league competitions with other subscribers of the service, and to view other broadcasts simultaneously with fantasy league data on one or more televisions. A service provider enables the creation of a fantasy league related to real activities. One or more teams are associated with the fantasy league and players are then assigned to each of the created teams. In one embodiment, the teams are configured via a television interface and a remote control. Fantasy league data is tracked for each team based on participation of the team's assigned players in the real activities. Television broadcasts are then displayed simultaneously with fantasy league data on the television, a service that is not possible or practical in conventional television systems.

Abstract: Network data transmission systems and methods are described. In one embodiment, a method for transmitting data between two nodes of a network can include transmitting the data using a protection bandwidth of a first transmission path between the two nodes and, based on detecting a failure condition in the first transmission path, using a different second transmission path between the two nodes to transmit the data otherwise transmitted using the protection bandwidth of the first transmission path. In one embodiment, the systems and methods can be applied to networks that use a layer-1 redundancy scheme.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) includes an icon stack comprising a plurality of icons in an area within the GUI, whereby the icons overlap. The GUI further includes at least one interstitial navigation box that is capable of displaying information about at least one item associated with one of the icons.

Abstract: A method for generating business targets includes accessing data (300) corresponding to a number of customers. The data includes variables (310-330) associated with each of the customers and an observed value for each of the customers. The observed value for a customer may represent revenue associated with that particular customer. The method also includes identifying a neighborhood that includes a first customer and a number of the other customers. The method further includes calculating a target for each of the customers in the neighborhood, where the target may represent the potential revenue from each of the customers.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhanced television services such as an interactive audio programming guide for a television. Users may use an input device, such as a remote control, to select display objects displayed on an output device, such as a television, as part of an interactive programming guide. An IPG module on a network terminal, such as a set top box, may determine whether the display object requires an audio representation. If an audio representation is required, the set top box may transmit an audio representation of the display object to the television to be played for the user.

Abstract: A video signal is provided to a set top box. An instruction to record a specified portion of the video signal, thereby creating a video sample, is provided to the set top box. The video sample is received from the set top box. Reference video corresponding to the video sample is obtained. A comparison of the video sample and the reference video is performed.

Abstract: The disclosed methods and systems can employ internet messaging protocols to transmit an alphanumeric message to one or more destination addresses in response to a telephone service customer's notification service request. The request can include a string having a feature code trigger and one or more digits. The destination address can be an electronic mail address, an instant messaging address, a pager number, and/or a telephone number.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an integrated communication services (ICS) network that permits data subscribers to share information on a hospital campus using wireless or wireline local area networks, or to seamlessly tap into the facility's central database while in transit away from the hospital. The central database, referred to as the integrated communications clearinghouse (ICC) is adapted to store a communication profile for every network server on the ICS network. The ICC also maintains a Global Patient Profile (GPP), consisting of a patient profile for every patient on the network. The GPP provides the ICC with the capability of providing aggregated data and demographic information, creating “live” public health statistics through a single query to a central server. The actual selection of a particular channel to access the ICS will be service-dependent and a function of user whereabouts, desired quality of the connection, and costs of the connection.

Abstract: Techniques are described for enabling authentication and/or key agreement between communications network stations and service networks. The techniques described include the negotiation and use of a cryptographic primitive shared between a service network and a home environment of a station. The techniques described also feature a key usage indicator, such as a sequence number, maintained by the service network and a station. Comparison of the key usage indicators can, for example, permit efficient authentication of the service network.

Abstract: A method for generating business targets includes accessing data (300) corresponding to a number of customers. The data includes variables (310-330) associated with each of the customers and an observed value for each of the customers. The observed value for a customer may represent revenue associated with that particular customer. The method also includes identifying a neighborhood that includes a first customer and a number of the other customers. The method further includes calculating a target for each of the customers in the neighborhood, where the target may represent the potential revenue from each of the customers.

Abstract: A video signal is provided to a set top box. An instruction to record a specified portion of the video signal, thereby creating a video sample, is provided to the set top box. The video sample is received from the set top box. Reference video corresponding to the video sample is obtained. A comparison of the video sample and the reference video is performed.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods to mitigate the problems associated with MAC address spoofing and denial of service attacks in an FTTH network system. The MAC address spoofing attack may occur when a computer hacker configures his computer to change the MAC address of a data signal to deceive the receiver of the signal's source address. The denial of service may occur when a computer hacker floods a file server with data packets. The present invention mitigates these attacks by modifying the software of certain components of the FTTH network system to enable the components to insert virtual MAC addresses, tags and codes into the data packets that identify a component of the communication related to the address of the source computer.

Abstract: A map-based search application for map-based category navigation includes geographic data, category data, and categorized data comprising at least one item, wherein each item is associated with each of the geographic data and the category data. Accordingly, a user is enabled to search for categorized data that satisfies at least one condition related to the geographic data and at least one condition related to the category data. The invention further comprises a display for displaying a list of results from a search, wherein the list comprises the at least one item.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a unified messaging system. The unified messaging system comprises a unified messaging system server and clients, such as personal computers, telephones, facsimile machines, and two-way paging machines connected via both land based and wireless connections. This system enables a user to access and retrieve a variety of messages, including voice mail messages, facsimiles, and electronic mail messages via a unified user interface that clearly distinguishes each message type using message identifiers, and segregates messages by type.

Abstract: Techniques are described for enabling authentication and/or key agreement between communications network stations and service networks. The techniques described include the negotiation and use of a cryptographic primitive shared between a service network and a home environment of a station. The techniques described also feature a key usage indicator, such as a sequence number, maintained by the service network and a station. Comparison of the key usage indicators can, for example, permit efficient authentication of the service network.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically processing and responding to large volumes of customer requests regarding Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE) and other service disruptions. The process combines manual and automated steps, and includes routing, filtering, aggregating, validating, ticketing, custom and automated responses, tracking, analyzing, and closing each validated request. The process can be used by the Customer Support Center (CSC) of the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to insure that all complaints are handled successfully, that promotion of complaints is done correctly, that legal aspects of certain criminal or fraud related incidents are handled correctly, and that portions of the processing of complaints are handled automatically.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides systems and methods for accommodating a diversity of services (e.g., telephone, video broadcasting, email, etc.) using a fixed connection of a certain service type. A method and system of communicating data using a fixed connection, including, based on at least two service data units (SDUs), associating a priority and a channel identifier with the at least two SDUs, iteratively (i) selecting one of the at least two SDUs based on priority to provide a selected SDU, and, (ii) forming at least one data packet, the at least one data packet including (a) data associated with the selected SDU, and, (b) the channel identifier associated with the selected SDU; and, transmitting the formed at least one data packet using the fixed connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing an integrated communication services (ICS) network that permits wireless and wireline data subscribers to share information on a hospital campus using wireless or wireline local area networks, or to seamlessly tap into the facility's central database while in transit away from the hospital. Users interface with the ICS network through the use of a point of care terminal that resembles a clipboard and accepts data entry from a stylus on an touch screen. The central database, referred to as the integrated communications clearinghouse (ICC) is adapted to store a communication profile for every network server on the ICS network. The ICC also maintains a Global Patient Profile (GPP), consisting of a patient profile for every patient ever added to the network.

Abstract: A system and method can enable a user of a communications network, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), wireless and/or voice over IP network to participate in Presence Availability Management (PAM) and Instant Messaging (IM) activities of a PAM/IM network. In response to phone network triggers, a phone network Service Control Point (SCP) can generate requests to a web server. The web server can translate the requests to presence information that can be forwarded to presence user agents for participants of the PAM/IM network. The presence user agents can present the user's presence information to participants having the user on their “buddy list”. In turn, the presence user agent for the user can forward the presence information for participants on the user's “buddy list” to a media server that can communicate the information to the user through Automatic Speech Recognition, Text to Speech and/or Dual Tone MultiFrequency technology.

Abstract: In a cellular system configuration, the location of a mobile station is determined from the acquisition of cellular network data pertaining to the mobile station, and the translation of such network data into a corresponding geographical position profile. The cellular system includes a mobile station locator entity for receiving from a mobile switching center the network data such as cell and/or sector ID and trunk group member number. The mobile station locator translates the network data into position information such as geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude), resolution (radius), and angle values for sectorized cells.