Abstract: A method of and system for enabling a distributed entertainment system over a computing device is described herein. When implementing a distributed entertainment system wherein the entertainment system is directly correlated to live events or televised programs, there are a number of issues that must be addressed such as differing timing and channels of television programs and separate state laws. Furthermore, there are a plethora of varying computing device models possibly requiring model-specific software. An “Activity Client” is provided to handle such concerns. Furthermore, since time is of the essence for activities based on live or televised events, it is necessary to ensure a computing device is able to receive the necessary updates for the program before the event begins. By providing only the needed components instead of entire data packages, the present invention is able to much more efficiently prepare users' computing devices in time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data casting in an interest aware peer network are provided. The method comprises determining whether a set of interests associated with a node in a network is updated, wherein the set of interests comprises one or more topics IDs, wherein each topic ID corresponds to a topic of interest associated with said node; distributing the set of interests associated with the node to one or more neighboring nodes by way of a first distribution scheme until N nodes in the network are aware of the updated set of interests for the node; providing each node in the network with a mechanism to determine value of a topic of interest in a set of interests received in association with a node based on a topic ID included in the set of interests for the node.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a radio-like experience may comprise providing a personal media library (PML)-based playlist, including receiving media elements from a listener's PML, creating a playlist of the media elements using professional broadcast scheduling software and providing the playlist to the listener. A system and method of providing a radio-like experience may also comprise creating a playlist of media elements according to the user preferences for a media genre and for perishable content and providing the playlist to the listener. A method of distributing user-generated content may comprise incorporating user-generated content into a playlist of media elements according to the listener preference and providing the playlist to the listener. A method of distributing user generated content may also comprise receiving user-generated content, incorporating the user-generated content into a playlist of media elements of the recipient and providing the playlist to the recipient.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing non-intrusive data link layer performance measurement in communication networks are disclosed. An example method to measure data link layer performance between existing network nodes disclosed herein comprises coupling a first intelligent network interface (INI) to an available access port of a first existing network node providing access to a network, wherein the first INI obtains power and input information only from the access port after being coupled thereto, and exchanging test messages between the first INI and a second INI coupled to a second existing network node during normal operation of the first and second existing network nodes to measure data link layer performance, wherein the test messages originate in the first INI and are routed through the first and second existing network nodes using a first data link layer address associated with the first INI and a second data link layer address associated with the second INI.

Abstract: A system and method for presentation of surveillance data includes a first environment including one or more sensors configured to monitor the first environment wherein data is collected by the one or more sensors. A second environment includes one or more information presentation devices configured to convey an event or state occurring in the first environment by altering an ambient sensory condition in the second environment, such that the ambient sensory condition is modified in accordance with a type and/or level of the event or state.

Abstract: A radio base station device comprises: a preamble signal receiving unit (15) that receives a RACH preamble signal transmitted from a radio terminal device; a reception notice receiving unit (16) that receives, from a radio relay station device, a reception notice indicating that the radio relay station device has received the RACH preamble signal; and a response signal transmitting unit (18) which, when an identifier (RA-ID) of the RACH preamble signal transmitted from the radio terminal device matches an identifier comprised in the preamble reception notice transmitted from the radio relay station device, permits the use of an identifier by the radio relay station device and transmits, to the radio terminal device, a RACH response signal (RACH Response) comprising a cell identifier (Cell ID) of a cell managed by the radio relay station device permitted to use the identifier. Accordingly, the latency when establishing a connection can be reduced.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product for communicating with machines connected to a network. Information sent to or from the machines is transmitted using electronic mail or via a direct connection. The electronic mail may be transmitted over the Internet to a service center or from a service center to a resource administrator, but also may remain within a local or wide area network for transmission between a machine and a resource administrator. E-mail messages may be transmitted from a computer which is attached to a device that is being monitored or controlled and include information regarding the status, usage, or capabilities of the attached device. The device may send status messages and usage information of the device to either a resource administrator or to a service center on the Internet through a firewall. The message may be sent directly to the resource administrator station if urgent service is needed by the device.

Abstract: A method for balancing the loads of servers in a server farm. A vector, referred to herein as the “DesiredVector,” is computed to hold the load factors for each of the servers. Upon receipt of a client request, a vector, referred to herein as the “ActiveConnections,” is modified for each scenario where the new client request is considered to be serviced by a different server. The ActiveConnections vector holds the current number of client requests being serviced by each of the servers. Angles made by each of the different ActiveConnections vectors with the DesiredVector are computed. Upon identifying the ActiveConnections vector that produces the smallest angle with the DesiredVector, the client request is directed to the server which corresponds to the identified ActiveConnections vector. In this manner, the best possible distribution of requests among the servers is made for every client connection.

Abstract: A user can specify particular news, weather, traffic, or other perishable content received on a particular Internet radio station or other media channel. The user can customize the station so that wherever the user is currently located, he can receive perishable content related to a preferred geographic location or other category. In some embodiments, a user can specify that a customized station plays local news from one city at the top of the hour, traffic from another city at 10 minutes past the hour, and music or other content at other times. The user can also customize the station to select the perishable content, or other original content, from the personal libraries of specified users. Thus, a user can customize not only the genre of content or select a particular local station, but can also modify the perishable content provided by the customized station.

Abstract: A honey pot system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, information is collected which relates to network traffic targeting a plurality of computers associated with a distributed honey pot system. Next, a pattern is detected among the information collected from the distributed honey pot system. To this end, response data is generated, if the pattern is detected.

Abstract: A system and computer program product for balancing the loads of servers in a server farm. A vector, referred to herein as the “DesiredVector,” is computed to hold the load factors for each of the servers. Upon receipt of a client request, a vector, referred to herein as the “ActiveConnections,” is modified for each scenario where the new client request is considered to be serviced by a different server. The ActiveConnections vector holds the current number of client requests being serviced by each of the servers. Angles made by each of the different ActiveConnections vectors with the DesiredVector are computed. Upon identifying the ActiveConnections vector that produces the smallest angle with the DesiredVector, the client request is directed to the server which corresponds to the identified ActiveConnections vector. In this manner, the best possible distribution of requests among the servers is made for every client connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring storage unit ownership to continuously balance input/output loads across storage processors is provided. In one embodiment, a method for rebalancing loads across a plurality of storage processors using storage unit ownership information includes accessing ownership information between a plurality of storage units and a plurality of storage processors within a storage subsystem and in response to a load imbalance across the plurality of storage processors, modifying storage unit ownership of at least one storage unit of the plurality of storage units from a storage processor of the plurality of storage processors to another storage processor of the plurality of storage processors based on the ownership information.

Abstract: A data processing system comprises a matching engine for matching messages and a switch for routing data. The data processing system is arranged to receive publish messages comprising topic and source identification, and to receive subscribe messages comprising topic and sink identification. The matching engine is arranged to match one or more sink identifications to a source identification according to a matching topic and the switch is arranged to receive control signals dependent on the result of the matching and accordingly to route data from a source to one or more sinks. The system can include a switch control, the switch control arranged to receive an output of the matching from the matching engine and to transmit the control signals to the switch, the control signals defining the routing to be applied by the switch.

Abstract: Techniques are described for downloading user-selected segments of media objects. As described herein, a user may demand that a client device present a segment of a media object when the client device has not yet downloaded the data that represents the partial segment of the media object. The client device may then output two separate requests to a server that hosts the media object. The first request specifies a resource identifier of the media object and a first data range. Data in the first range specifies a format of data of the media object. The second request specifies the resource identifier of the media object and a second data range. Data in the second range represents the requested partial segment of the media object. When the client device receives the data, the client device uses the data in the first range to present the data in the second range.

Abstract: A wirelessly controlled pet toy dispenser with camera provides a user opportunity to view the user's pet from a remote location and to select a pet toy for dispensing and to select the timing of dispensing.

Abstract: A maintenance system for an IPTV network includes a logging module, a ticketing module, and an operations module. The logging module receives a fault alert from a service provider and sends the alert to the ticketing module. The ticketing module determines the urgency of the fault, generates a ticket, assigns priority to the ticket based upon the urgency, and sends the ticket to the operations module. The operations module allocates the ticket and sends a message to a mobile device regarding the ticket. A method includes receiving a fault alert from a service provider, sending the alert to a ticketing module, determining the urgency of the event, generating a ticket, assigning priority to the ticket based upon the urgency, sending the ticket to an operations module, allocating the ticket, and sending a message to a mobile device the ticket.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a four dimensional (4D) information distribution system and method which allows on-demand and real-time transmission of time-sensitive and useful self-help data or instructional materials to user. The transmission of the 4D information can be initiated at the user's request or it can be automatically carried out based on a set of established rules, such as a schedule of events. The 4D information distribution system includes a processing device for generating the 4D information, a distribution device for transmission of the 4D information, a receiving device for accepting the 4D information, and a display device for outputting the received 4D information.

Abstract: An appliance has at least two components and an internal communications network. A first component is in communication with the network and the second component is not. But the first component is configured to communicate service information related to the second component over the internal communications network. The service information will include one or more identifiers.

Abstract: A method for optimizing media playback quality for a wireless handheld computing device is disclosed. The system includes a client request manager that may be responsible for controlling or instructing a web browser on what file segments should be downloaded next to the wireless handheld mobile computing device to insure optimal video playback quality for the computing device. The request manager may be dynamic in that it may continually monitor elements of an application subsystem as well as the modem subsystem. The request manager may select one or more file segments for download that optimizes media playback on the wireless handheld computing device based on the data received from at least one of the application subsystem and modem subsystem.

Abstract: A method of controlling a video source in a video surveillance system having a video source connected by a network to a workstation having a graphical user interface for enabling a user to control the video source comprising the steps of providing a video analysis program for analyzing the video images generated by the video source before the video images are transmitted over the network, providing a file containing the user interface controls for the graphical user interface and the parameters for configuring the video analysis program; storing the file in memory, downloading the file to the workstation at run time and enabling a user to configure the video analysis program by interacting with the graphical user interface.