Abstract: The disclosed methods and systems prioritize network devices and components that more likely result in a network outage by evaluating their current and historical outage information relative to a dynamically-generated, statistical threshold based on such outage information. The prioritized list of network devices can be organized by, for example, quantity of outages, number of outage minutes, and/or number of customer-outage minutes so as to provide diagnosis sequences by type of network device, network location, type of component within the network device, and/or by operation during particular time periods/events.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for making a call. Such methods and systems may request the call using a network, initiate a first leg to a caller device based on the request, initiate a second leg to a receiver device based on the request, connect the first leg and the second leg to make the call, and bill the call to a account associated with the subscriber.

Abstract: A security system (150) in a network includes a softswitch (440) and a detection unit (420). The detection unit (420) detects activity directed to the softswitch (440) and records the detected activity. In another implementation, a method for configuring a security device (150) for use in a network includes installing a detection unit (420) to monitor and record traffic directed to the security device (150), installing a deceptive operating system (430), installing a softswitch (440), and configuring the deceptive operating system (430) and softswitch (440) to mirror settings used in an active softswitch (140) in the network.

Abstract: An approach is disclosed for providing an instant location service. At a wireless device of a first user, mapping information of a second user is received over a wireless network. The mapping information specifies position of the second user within a prescribed proximity of the wireless device. The first user is notified of the location of the second user based on the received mapping information. A communication session is selectively initiated by the wireless device, over the wireless network to the second user.

Abstract: Methods and devices for the installation of a fiber optic cable to a house or other building structure are provided. The method may include identifying a preferred location of a customer through an indication left by the customer either on the interior side or exterior side of a wall, forming a through opening in the wall near or at the preferred location, and installing the in-wall termination device in the opening. The in-wall termination device may include a wall plate for attaching to an interior surface of the wall. The wall plate includes one or more connectors for receiving ends of cables extending from the exterior and connecting those cables to other cables extending through the interior of the building structure. The method may allow for the installation of the cable without requiring the presence of the customer or requiring access to the interior of the building structure.

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: An approach is provided for faceted browsing of video assets. A metadata file is parsed to categorize and rank attributes corresponding to a video asset, wherein the ranked attributes are based on a criterion. A set-top box provides attribute browsing to determine selection of the video asset.

Abstract: A system (36) provides a network designer with a mechanism for analyzing the performance of a code division multiple access wireless network (20). The system (36) includes executable code in the form of a probable server identification module (52), a forward link initial estimation module (54), a reverse link initial estimation module (56), a forward link analysis module (58), and a reverse link analysis (60). The modular architecture of the modules (52, 54, 56, 58, and 60) are appropriately configured and interconnected in order to form a network performance analysis process (62) that accurately analyzes both the reverse link performance and the forward link performance of the network (20).

Abstract: A media content instance is provided for display. A plurality of first images are identified associated with locations within a first segment of a media content instance according to a first offset that is one of: a time interval and a number of frames. The first images are retrieved from the media content instance. At least some of the first images are provided for display.

Abstract: A method is provided for performing capability-specific routing. The method includes receiving location information specifying a location. At least one capability indicator representative of user capabilities is also received. A database is accessed, the database specifying, based on user capabilities, facilities that can be accessed by a user, as well as respective geographic locations of specified facilities. A determination is then made as to the facilities that are associated with the received location that are compatible with the received capability indicator. Position information specifying a position may also be received, and at least one route may be determined between the location and the position, the route being compatible with the capability indicator. An apparatus and a computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling a display. The apparatus is moveable by an individual user and includes a motion sensor for detecting and providing an indication of one or more types of movement of the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a transmitter, which is configured to receive the indication of movement, either directly or indirectly, from the motion sensor. The transmitter is further configured to transmit at least one signal based on movement of the apparatus which is configured to initiate display changes in data displayed in a remote display device. A system and a method for controlling a display are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for converting data into Braille text and permitting scrolling of a Braille display are provided. Embodiments may include a Braille display configured to present Braille text, a control device configured to allow a user to at least partially control scrolling of the Braille text, communication circuitry configured to transmit and receive data, and a processor that is operably coupled to the Braille display and communication circuitry, wherein the processor is configured to convert at least portions of data received by the communication circuitry into Braille text for presentation by the Braille display. Embodiments may further include a memory for storing Braille text.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a driving directions subsystem configured to provide data representative of driving directions to an access device communicatively coupled to the driving directions subsystem. The driving directions subsystem is further configured to provide at least one print tool including a plurality of selectable map views to the access device, the print tool enabling a user of the access device to select, from the selectable map views, at least one map view for inclusion in a printing of at least a subset of the driving directions. In certain embodiments, the driving directions include textual driving direction steps, and the driving direction subsystem is configured to scale a font size of at least a subset of the textual driving direction steps based on a number of the textual driving direction steps included in the driving directions.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes a system includes a map subsystem configured to provide data representative of a map to an access device communicatively coupled to the map subsystem, the map being representative of a geographic area. The map subsystem is further configured to provide a landmark selection tool to the access device, the landmark selection tool including at least one selectable landmark option associated with at least one landmark located within the geographic area. The map subsystem is further configured to detect a user selection of the at least one selectable landmark option and provide, in response to the user selection, at least one visual indicator of the at least one landmark for display on the map. In certain embodiments, the at least one selectable landmark option includes a plurality of selectable landmark options prioritized in relation to one another for display in a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A cellular network configuration tool is described that performs frequency assignments for use in a cellular network. The channels are assigned in accordance with input configuration data such as a channel separation matrix, geographic data, and requested channel assignments for each sector included in the cellular network being configured. The configuration is performed in accordance with predetermined constraints and criteria and quality of service input. The tool uses frequency assignment techniques to perform the channel assignments in accordance with varying constraints and criteria.

Abstract: A content processing device is configured to receive data requested according to a specified parameter and also to receive an incoming video signal, and is further configured to receive a request to purchase at least one item after providing a data interface and at least a subset of the requested data for display on a video display.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a portion of a received media stream is copied from a data network without interfering with the flow of the data in the network. A known test signal is then substituted for the information contained in the copied portion of the media stream to prepare a pseudo-media stream. The known test signal is encoded, and packetized if necessary, using the same methods used for the received media stream. A pseudo-media signal is then recovered from the pseudo-media stream using the same depacketizing and decoding methods to be used on the received media stream. The recovered signal is an accurate representation of the state of the received media stream since it has gone through the same packetization/depacketization and encoding/decoding procedures, and it includes all of the same faults of the copied media stream. The perceptual quality of the recovered signal is then measured, providing an accurate measure of the perceptual quality of the copied media stream.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for tracking, recording and distributing link state characteristics over communications networks. The invention allows network operators to efficiently define, track, store and disseminate link state characteristics using a bit-field-encoded resource record that is capable of representing many more link state characteristics than the bit-mask-encoded records used in existing systems. As a result, the present invention, when used in conjunction with standard routing and network maintenance algorithms, provides a much more efficient method than existing systems provide, for performing sophisticated networking tasks, such as handling complicated information transmission requests, setting up and tearing down network paths, and making dynamic routing decisions.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for enhancing the security of a message sent through a network server from a client computer to a destination server running any computer platform. Credentials for authorizing a principal are obtained by the client computer from a validation center. The principal-authentication information is transmitted to the network server. The network server may use the principal-authenticating information to obtain permission data from the validation center for use in accessing the destination server. Also described is a method of providing a remote interactive login connection using the same method.

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”.