Abstract: Techniques for an ink experience with images are discussed herein. In various implementations, an image is displayed via an image management application for viewing and/or editing images. In conjunction with interaction scenarios provided via the application, an inking mode for adding inked annotations to the image is enabled. Input to apply one or more inked annotations to the image is obtained, such as via finger touches on a touchscreen, drawing with a stylus, camera-based gestures, or other natural input mechanisms. Responsive to obtaining the input, data blocks corresponding to the one or more inked annotations are appended to an image file as additional data blocks for the image.

Abstract: Techniques for an ink experience with images are discussed herein. In various implementations, an image is displayed via an image management application for viewing and/or editing images. In conjunction with interaction scenarios provided via the application, an inking mode for adding inked annotations to the image is enabled. Input to apply one or more inked annotations to the image is obtained, such as via finger touches on a touchscreen, drawing with a stylus, camera-based gestures, or other natural input mechanisms. Responsive to obtaining the input, data blocks corresponding to the one or more inked annotations are appended to an image file as additional data blocks for the image.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating the call control signaling pathway with data network access components. A call control server agent is resident on a network device that provides a first interface from an access network to a packet-switched data network. The call control server agent receives data session initiation requests and passes the requests to the call control server agent. The call control server agent also performs proxy server functions and provides a source of information relating to data sessions directly to the access network.

Abstract: A mobile station indicates a need for at least one specific type of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) prefix in a message (73) transmitted to a serving network element. The latter processes this message to determine (74) the indicated IPv6 prefix type and responds with a reply message (75) comprising, at least in part, an IPv6 prefix of a type that is commensurate with the type (or types) indicated by the mobile station in the aforementioned message.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating the call control signaling pathway with data network access components. A call control server agent is resident on a network device that provides a first interface from an access network to a packet-switched data network. The call control server agent receives data session initiation requests and passes the requests to the call control server agent. The call control server agent also performs proxy server functions and provides a source of information relating to data sessions directly to the access network.

Abstract: A method and system for a mobile station to identify to a wireless network agent, an access point into a wireless network. The mobile station obtains an indication of an access point into the wireless network and inserts the indication into a mobile registration message. The access point identifier identifies an access point into the wireless network. Then, the mobile station sends the mobile registration message to the wireless network agent via the access point identified by the access point identifier. The wireless network agent receives the mobile registration message and provides the access point identifier to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server. The AAA server uses the access point identifier to provide location-based services to the mobile station.

Abstract: A system and method for integrating the call control signaling pathway with data network access components. A call control server agent is resident on a network device that provides a first interface from an access network to a packet-switched data network. The call control server agent receives data session initiation requests and passes the requests to the call control server agent. The call control server agent also performs proxy server functions and provides a source of information relating to data sessions directly to the access network.

Abstract: A wireless local area network access point (200) has a data communication network input (201) (to provide, for example, broadband access via a digital subscriber line modem, a cable modem, or the like). The access point also has a wireless local area network output (202) to provide wireless access to this broadband resource and a hard-wired local area network output (203) to provide wired access. In a preferred approach the latter couples to a cable television coaxial cable (308) that carries a plurality of cable television service provider channels within a predetermined frequency band (304). Access to the broadband resource comprises use of a carrier (307) that is out of band with respect to that predetermined frequency band.

Abstract: While one node (such as a wireless mobile node) facilitates a point-to-multipoint communication via a communications network (10), communication requests from other nodes in the multipoint audience are queued in a node queue (17). At some point (in a preferred approach, at the conclusion of the transmission by the one node), and typically for a predetermined amount of time, communication requests are further noted. These more recent indicia of a desire to communicate are then utilized to modify the node queue. Subsequent communications are then arranged, at least in part, based upon the modified node queue.

Abstract: A cable modem communicates the timing of the arrival of certain packets (such as TCP ACK packets) to a cable modem termination system. This timing feature is useful in methods for increasing the throughput in the downstream direction by eliminating TCP ACKs backing up at a cable modem. In particular, a cable modem termination system implementing an unsolicited bandwidth grant service in which unsolicited grants of bandwidth are sent by the cable modem termination system to the cable modem. The grants of bandwidth are timed to arrive at the cable modem simultaneous with or shortly after the arrival of the TCP ACK from an end station connected to the cable modem. Several methods of calculating or predicting when the unsolicited grants should be sent to the cable modem are described. The method is also applicable to other types of packets, such as voice packets from a end station implementing a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide a system and method for seamlessly roaming between different wireless access technologies. In an exemplary embodiment, a universal wireless access gateway (UWAG) may include a shared component and a first environment access module (EAM) that communicates with the shared component to enable access to a first network using a first wireless access technology. Additionally, the UWAG may include a second EAM that communicates with the shared component. The second EAM and shared component may enable access to a second network using a second wireless access technology that differs from the first wireless access technology. An exemplary data structure including various pointer blocks and data blocks may also be provided for switching between different wireless access technologies.

Abstract: While one node (such as a wireless mobile node) facilitates a point-to-multipoint communication via a communications network (10), communication requests from other nodes in the multipoint audience are queued in a node queue (17). At some point (in a preferred approach, at the conclusion of the transmission by the one node), and typically for a predetermined amount of time, communication requests are further noted. These more recent indicia of a desire to communicate are then utilized to modify the node queue. Subsequent communications are then arranged, at least in part, based upon the modified node queue.

Abstract: System and method for providing a multi-frequency upstream transmission channel to a network device. When a headend network entity generates an upstream channel descriptor message, the descriptor message includes at least two upstream frequencies available for upstream transmission, and a frequency hopping descriptor with a frequency-hopping pattern associated with the available frequencies for determining an upstream frequency for upstream transmission. The headend provides a timing reference for determining upstream transmission periods on the frequencies available on the network device. When the headend receives upstream transmission on one of the available upstream frequencies, the headend network entity determines frequency distortions. If the distortions exceed a threshold level, the headend may send a new upstream channel descriptor message that excludes the upstream frequency associated with the high frequency distortions, add a new upstream frequency, or defines a new frequency-hopping pattern.

Abstract: A method and system for load balancing in a network system such as a data-over-cable system. One method includes receiving a first message on a first network device such as a cable modem termination system (“CMTS”) from a second network device and marking the first message with an identifier of a network access device. The method further includes intercepting the first message on a third network device such as a provisioning/access manager prior to any first protocol server such a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server receives the first message. When the third network device intercepts the first message, the third network device determines capabilities of the second network device and applies a set of rules to load balance any requests between a plurality of channel pairs. Each charmel pair is associated with at least one capability of a network device and also has a load factor parameter and a threshold value defining a capacity of a channel pair.

Abstract: A mobile station indicates a need for at least one specific type of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) prefix in a message (73) transmitted to a serving network element. The latter processes this message to determine (74) the indicated IPv6 prefix type and responds with a reply message (75) comprising, at least in part, an IPv6 prefix of a type that is commensurate with the type (or types) indicated by the mobile station in the aforementioned message.

Abstract: A routing Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS) configured to enable Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE). The routing CMTS may bridge Ethernet frames related to a PPPoE connection from a first network to a second network. Bridging Ethernet frames allows terminals in different networks to establish a PPPoE connection. A routing CMTS may also collect state information regarding PPPoE connections. The routing CMTS may use the state information to only bridge Ethernet frames related to valid PPPoE connections. It may act as a firewall to prevent spoofing attacks.

Abstract: A home agent preference control node gathers information regarding available home agents in a given network. This information includes both information regarding present availability and other information (for example, other information as may pertain the relative availability of one home agent with respect to another). The home agent preference control node utilizes such information to determine a respective preference value for at least some, and preferably all of the network's home agents. Following communication of a resultant list that comprises, at least in part, such preference values, the home agents are then able to respond to home agent discovery inquiries from a mobile node with this information. This, in turn, facilitates selection by the mobile node of a home agent that likely represents at least a relatively efficient distribution of system resources.

Abstract: A method and system for a mobile station to identify to a wireless network agent, an access point into a wireless network. The mobile station obtains an indication of an access point into the wireless network and inserts the indication into a mobile registration message. The access point identifier identifies an access point into the wireless network. Then, the mobile station sends the mobile registration message to the wireless network agent via the access point identified by the access point identifier. The wireless network agent receives the mobile registration message and provides the access point identifier to an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server. The AAA server uses the access point identifier to provide location-based services to the mobile station.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamic service registration, activation and deactivation on a data-over-cable system. A first network device, such as a cable modem with associated service devices (e.g., Voice over Internet Protocol telephones) sends a first message to another network device, such as a cable modem termination system. The first message includes multiple service parameters for a desired service requested by a service device associated with the first network device. The multiple service parameters are extracted from the first message. A service session profile is created for the desired service. The service session profile includes one or more of the extracted service parameters required by the desired service. The service session profile is used by a service server associated with the cable modem termination system to provide a desired service. The service session profile is associated with a deferred inactive service identifier for the cable modem.

Abstract: A network element (10) can retain a plurality of prefix identifiers as are used to formulate an address to be used by individual network users. Pursuant to a preferred approach, one or more of these prefix identifiers are pre-correlated to a given domain name while at least one other prefix identifier is pre-correlated to the absence of a domain name. So configured, a specific prefix identifier can be allocated for use by a given network user as a function, at least in part, of the domain name (or lack of a domain name) as may be presented by that network user when seeking to establish a network connection.