Abstract: Providing multiple line functionality using alternative network telephony is disclosed. A local telephone installation comprises a first local telephone equipment associated with a first local node, a second telephone equipment associated with a second local node, and local telephone wiring connected to the first and second local nodes. The local telephone installation is associated for purposes of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) with a single telephone line. A request from a calling party to establish a connection with the local telephone installation is received at a third local node. It is determined whether the calling party desires to establish a connection to (1) a first telephone extension associated with the first local node or (2) a second telephone extension associated with the second local node. A connection is established from the third local node to the desired extension over the local telephone wiring in a manner that does not affect the other extension.

Abstract: A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.

Abstract: A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.

Abstract: A method of capturing a scene within a field of view of a wide-angle lens coupled to a camera comprising storing image data of the scene in an image collection array, digitizing the scene image data into digitized scene image data for storage in a memory, receiving selections of a plurality of subsets of the digitized scene image data, and performing distortion compensation on the selected subsets of the digitized scene image data.

Abstract: A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method are described which allows multimedia signals received from one or more content providers (e.g., cable television providers, Internet content providers, . . . etc) to be received, processed and retransmitted by an originating node to one or more receiving nodes over a local cable network (e.g., the coaxial cable network within a user's home). One impediment to communication between nodes within the local cable network is the fact that most cable splitters are designed to attenuate signals between the split legs of the splitter. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, a reflector device coupled upstream of the root splitter in a local cable network (or in place of the root splitter) is configured to reflect signals transmitted from the originating node back up into the network to the receiving nodes. Signal attenuation is minimized because the signals propagate from the splitter inputs to the splitter legs (rather than between the splitter legs).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for efficiently scheduling incoming information objects so that timely objects from a variety of content classes are scheduled for broadcast. The incoming information objects are preferably received from one or more information sources, and are tagged with attributes that associate each object with one or more classes of information (e.g., sports, news, etc.), and provide a gauge of the timeliness or ‘age’ of the object. The tags can be used to select and broadcast objects from a variety of classes, and to identify the most timely objects at any give time.

Abstract: A sequence of cards is stored that graphically represents available options within an information system. In response to a single user action, the sequence of cards is successively displayed within a focus area of the user interface. In response to a subsequent user action, the successive display is discontinued to display a particular card representing a selected option.

Abstract: Outgoing video communication requests are intercepted and screened by one or more unauthorized recipient lists, authorized recipient lists, caller-specific authorized/unauthorized recipient lists, and/or various combinations of these. The video communication requests may be blocked or forwarded to the recipient depending on whether the recipient is included or not included in one of the various lists.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for efficiently scheduling incoming information objects so that timely objects from a variety of content classes are scheduled for broadcast. The incoming information objects are preferably received from one or more information sources, and are tagged with attributes that associate each object with one or more classes of information (e.g., sports, news, etc.), and provide a gauge of the timeliness or ‘age’ of the object. The tags can be used to select and broadcast objects from a variety of classes, and to identify the most timely objects at any give time.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method are described which allows multimedia signals received from one or more content providers (e.g., cable television providers, Internet content providers, . . . etc) to be received, processed and retransmitted by an originating node to one or more receiving nodes over a local cable network (e.g., the coaxial cable network within a user's home). One impediment to communication between nodes within the local cable network is the fact that most cable splitters are designed to attenuate signals between the split legs of the splitter. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, a reflector device coupled upstream of the root splitter in a local cable network (or in place of the root splitter) is configured to reflect signals transmitted from the originating node back up into the network to the receiving nodes. Signal attenuation is minimized because the signals propagate from the splitter inputs to the splitter legs (rather than between the splitter legs).

Abstract: Outgoing video communication requests are intercepted and screened by one or more unauthorized recipient lists, authorized recipient lists, caller-specific authorized/unauthorized recipient lists, and/or various combinations of these. The video communication requests may be blocked or forwarded to the recipient depending on whether the recipient is included or not included in one of the various lists.