Abstract: Disclosed are a method, computer program product and apparatus for integrating resource and coordinator components in a heterogeneous computer system. The technique disclosed involves the introduction of a negotiation phase into the resource enlistment or registration process wherein the resource component and coordinator component request and respond with indicators showing the quality of service that each supports, thus jointly establishing at runtime a quality of service to be supported for the resource and coordinator pairing. The qualities of service may include commit phase support and recovery support.

Abstract: Routing and displaying instant messages includes receiving a first request to establish a first instant messaging session associated with an instant messaging online identity assigned to a user using a first instant messaging controller. The first instant messaging session is established in response to the first request, where the first instant messaging session includes a first state. A second request from the user is received to establish a second instant messaging session associated with the instant messaging online identity assigned to the user using a second instant messaging controller that differs from the first instant messaging controller. The second instant messaging session is established in response to the second request, where the second instant messaging session includes a second state. An instant message designated for the instant messaging online identity assigned to the user is received and a determination is made on where to route the instant message based on routing criteria.

Abstract: To measure the quality of service at the application level in a telecommunication network (N), a function (A) is provided for carrying out sessions at the application level on said network (N). Through this activation function (A), sessions are then carried out, measuring (F) and also storing (HK in a set of points (S1, . . . , Sk, Sn) of the network (N) data indicative of the behavior of said network. The possible occurrence of critical situations relating to quality of service is verified (B) and, upon the occurrence of a said critical situation, a trigger signal (Trigger) is generated. By effect of the generation of said trigger signal, the data indicative of the behavior of the network measured and stored in the aforesaid set of points of the network (N) are collected in centralized fashion (H). The data thus collected are indicative of the end-to-end quality of service of the network (N) itself. Preferential application to packet networks like mobile telephony network such as GPRS or UMTS networks.

Abstract: A mechanism for negotiating a relatively transport agnostic communication protocol for use in accomplishing a distributed activity. The potential protocols subject to negotiation may be, for example, extensions to Web Services Coordination. In that case, when the initiator creates a transaction, the initiator also negotiates the desired protocol with its transaction manager. The transaction manager and any other participants in the transaction will then follow that negotiated protocol when communicating with the transaction manager. The protocol may be selected to improve performance and may be tailored to existing needs and capabilities.

Abstract: A packet forwarding apparatus and network system for providing different types of bandwidth control services to the user; in which a packet forwarding apparatus for transferring data comprises an interface unit for sending and receiving packets, and a traffic shaper for controlling the packet transmission timing and a packet switch for sending an output to the interface unit as the destination of the received packet; and the traffic shaper uses a token bucket algorithm when transmitting a packet to guarantee the minimum frame rate, and uses a leaky bucket algorithm when limiting the peak frame rate.

Abstract: An RFID administration server can provide administration and monitoring for the multiple RFID edge servers. An RFID Management console can allow a user to administer the multiple RFID edge servers.

Abstract: A service system permits remote personnel to service a local embedded device. In an exemplary application, the device being diagnosed communicates with a local computer system that interfaces to a remote computer system via, for example, the Internet. A service program may be downloaded to the local computer system that enables diagnostic interaction with the device by the remote computer system. In some instances, the device is automatically queried for model number and/or other identifying information such that the service program is matched to the particular device being diagnosed. In other embodiments, a local user might, for example, visit a designated Web page, enter identifying information, and the appropriate diagnostic program, such as a JAVA applet, downloads to the local system. The downloaded applet may be used by the remote computer system to, for example, query the device, control its operation, re-program it, receive real-time operational data, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing electronic notifications are described. A notification broadcast initiation is received over a network from a first user. The notification initiation is for a first notification intended for recipients in a first area selected via a GIS system. A determination is made as to which of the recipients in the first area are members of a notification system and have submitted contact paths to the notification system. For those recipients that are members of the notification system, the notification is provided using the submitted contact paths accessed from a system database. For those recipients that are not members of the notification system, the notification is provided using contact information from a reverse 911 database.

Abstract: An exemplary network gateway is capable of accepting a session-related message having a session identifier field; the network gateway is adapted to extract a host identifier from a value populating the session identifier field and to perform a routing operation for the session-related message using the host identifier. For an exemplary media implementation, processor-executable instructions direct a device to perform actions including: ascertaining a host identifier from a session identifier field of a session message; and routing the session message responsive to the ascertained host identifier. An exemplary apparatus includes: at least one processor; and one or more media including processor-executable instructions that are capable of being executed by the at least one processor to direct the apparatus to perform actions including: receiving a session message having a session identifier including a host identifier; and routing the session message responsive to the host identifier.

Abstract: A gamma ray collimator for use in a cardiac inspections system is disclosed which resolves energetically unperturbed gamma rays emitted from a patient and removes inelastic scattered gamma rays. A plurality of collimator elements each have walls, with each wall defining a plane comprised of a first material layer covered by a second material layer and absorbing inelastic scattered gamma rays, the planes being parallel to a central longitudinal axis in each of the collimator elements. The walls of each collimator element define an elongated longitudinal passageway having open ends through which the energetically unperturbed gamma rays enter and leave. The first material layer has a large absorption coefficient for gamma rays, and the second material layer has a large absorption coefficient for inelastically scattered gamma rays generated in the first material layer responsive to gamma rays emitted from the patient.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved vocoder system and method for estimating the pitch of a speech signal. The speech signal comprises a stream of digitized speech samples. The speech samples are partitioned into frames. For each frame of the speech signal, an optimal order-two inverse filter is determined. The optimal order-two inverse filter is determined by computing an order-two inverse filter at various locations within the speech frame. For each order-two inverse filter an energy value is calculated which represents the proportion of energy which would remain if the speech signal were filtered with the order-two inverse filter. The order-two inverse filter which minimizes the energy proportion is chosen to be the optimal order-two inverse filter. The optimal order-two inverse filter is then used to filter the samples of the speech frame. An autocorrelation is performed on the filtered signal for a range of tine-delay values.

Abstract: A network assisted callback method and system for managing calls that fail to reach to a subscriber, and facilitating callback by the subscriber to one or more calling parties. In an embodiment of the invention, a call to a subscriber is routed to an interexchange network which attempts to complete the connection. If the caller fails to reach the subscriber, the network prompts the caller to determine whether a callback is desired, and to verify and obtain additional information. The network stores the information in a subscriber database file-folder. When the subscriber later decides to return phone calls, the subscriber dials an 800 number from any telephone station in order to access the network callback features. The network callback service may include automatic connection to the most recent calling party, or selective connection to any calling party.

Abstract: A circuit and method for maintaining switch-hook detection (SHD) in the presence of a fault in a telephone system may include a comparison of one of a tip current and a ring current to a reference current. A switch-hook detection indicates that a request for service has been made. The reference current may be a conventional switch-hook detection threshold current, I.sub.SHD, times a factor (G.sub.0 +1).sup.-1, where G.sub.0 is the predetermined operating gain of the amplifier in the telephone subscriber line interface circuit. The line current may be reduced in response to detection of a fault in the telephone system without affecting the determination whether a request for service has being made.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an audio playback unit and method for assembling and providing information pertaining to an automobile for sale to prospective purchasers. Both non-replaceable and replaceable memories are utilized to provide the information. An automated method selects and organizes speech elements, which may originate either in the non-replaceable or replaceable memory, to be spoken by the playback unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reconstructing the spatial current distribution in a biological object, at least one component of the magnetic field produced by the current sources being measured at a number of points outside the object, after which the current distribution at the volume elements situated within the object is reconstructed from the measuring values. In order to improve the accuracy of reconstruction, in a representation containing the morphological structure of the object the surfaces are specified on which the current sources are presumably present, the reconstruction being limited to the volume elements which are situated on these surfaces.

Abstract: Isolation and interconnection of a telephone network of tip and ring lines and the analog ports of a modem are achieved with a transhybrid that incorporates optically-coupled isolation stages. Optical isolators directly connect to the tip and ring lines to provide optimal isolation and unidirectional transfer of signals.

Abstract: A method for creating a virtual public numbering domain, which will coexist with and be parallel and non-intrusive to the existing geographic North American telephone network numbering plan is disclosed. It will have sufficient capacity to provide additional and more flexible numbering resources which will stimulate and enable many new service applications. The existing telephone network infrastructure has digital switching points and a database system. The method includes receiving at one of the digital switching points a called number, and verifying whether the number called is a number of the virtual public dial plan.

Abstract: A cutover or reconnection LRD device capable of being remotely controlled has been developed. The cutover or reconnection device consists of a switch under control of a control circuit which can receive tone or other special signals sent remotely, such as via the network from the central office, or via portable devices. In response to those signals, the control circuit changes the state of the switch, thus connecting the subscriber to either the old electric telephone circuit, or the new network circuit. In the below-described preferred embodiments, the latter circuit may be a fiber optic circuit or a broadband or CATV circuit, for example.

Abstract: A telephone instrument creates spatially simulated sound signals from signals received from a telephone line. The monaural signals are separated to two left and right channels. In each channel, the signals are processed via a direct path, an early reflection path including a finite impulse response filter and a reverberant decay path including all-pass filter. In each channel, the outputs from the three paths are summed with different weights.

Abstract: A method of providing communication service to a plurality of subscribers comprised of allocating various services to roles to be filled by the subscribers, receiving a trigger for the service to a subscriber in a particular role, and providing different features to a user associated with the service which are restricted to those services which are allocated to the particular role.