Abstract: A computing device stores an acquired image as a transient image template when there is a failure in an image-based authentication of the acquired image and the user of the computing device has provided user credentials that authorize the user to access the computing device. The transient image template may be used to further authorize the user to access the computing device during a predetermined time period. At the expiration of the predetermined time period, the computing device deletes the transient image template. The computing device then reverts to using a baseline image template for performing image-based authentication of the user. The transient image template may also be associated with a location such that the computing device uses the transient image template for image-based authentication when the computing device is at or near the location.

Abstract: A computing device stores an acquired image as a transient image template when there is a failure in an image-based authentication of the acquired image and the user of the computing device has provided user credentials that authorize the user to access the computing device. The transient image template may be used to further authorize the user to access the computing device during a predetermined time period. At the expiration of the predetermined time period, the computing device deletes the transient image template. The computing device then reverts to using a baseline image template for performing image-based authentication of the user. The transient image template may also be associated with a location such that the computing device uses the transient image template for image-based authentication when the computing device is at or near the location.

Abstract: A first base station may be configured as an auxiliary receiver for a data stream sent on an uplink from a source device to a second base station. The second base station may be a base station that is engaged in conventional communications with the source device on uplink and downlink channels using a selected protocol. The first base station may be used to provide extra data redundancy/QoS for a data stream sent from the source device to a destination device through the second base station. The first base station may determine that it has available bandwidth and is able to serve as an auxiliary receiver. The first base station may be asked by the second base station to provide extra bandwidth when certain network conditions occur. The first base station may include a software defined radio (SDR) that may be configured to receive according to the selected protocol.

Abstract: An initiating device receives a request to initiate a call to a service associated with a first identifier, wherein the identifier is associated with a first geographic location. A determination is then made as to whether a proxy device is in proximity to the initiating device, wherein the proxy device is configured to wirelessly communicate using a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). In response to the determination that the proxy device is in proximity to the initiating device, a determination is made for a second identifier for calling the service based on a second geographic location, wherein the second geographic location is associated with the proxy device, and the first identifier is replaced with the second identifier. The second identifier is then transmitted to the proxy device with an instruction to call the service. Thereafter, communications are performed via the proxy device.

Abstract: In a first device incorporating a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory includes executable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to control the first device to perform functions of receiving a bit error pattern of data traffic transmission from the first device to a second device, the bit error pattern including a number and locations of bit errors which occurred during the data traffic transmission; and adapting at least one transmission parameter of the first device based on the received bit error pattern. The error pattern allows more refined data traffic decisions.

Abstract: The patterns of usage, participation, and/or item sharing by the participants in a conference call are correlated, recognized, and used to select a data centers. This selection can be done both before and/or during a call. When significant patterns are recognized (e.g., heavy video sharing by one participant at every Friday afternoon meeting) there may be a better (e.g., faster, better quality, more efficient, less use of network resources) data center to host the call than one that is selected based on the geography of the participants alone. Likewise, during a call, other patterns of behavior can be correlated and recognized dynamically such that when these patterns occur, the call is hosted by a different (i.e., better) data center.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be used to authenticate a user using a first device (e.g., a collaboration device) and a second device (e.g., a device proximate to the collaboration device) For example, the first device may compare an authentication image of a user (captured by the second device) to an image captured by the first device (for example at a lower resolution or with a partial view). The user may be authenticated by the first device in response to identifying the user from the authentication image (e.g., by matching the authentication image to a reference image of the user) and determining a correlation between the authentication image and the captured image.

Abstract: Disclosed in various examples are methods, systems, devices, and machine-readable mediums for tracking device and access point geographic locations of wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) networks. In an example, operations performed by a device for association and use of a location include: receiving identification information (e.g., a MAC address) that identifies an access point of a wireless network; comparing the identification information with a list of access points (e.g., a white list) to identify an unvalidated status of the access point; communicating the identification information to the communications service; receiving a validated status for the access point and a geographic location for the wireless network from the communications service; and perforating a communication action with the communication service, using the wireless network, based on the geographic location and the validated status.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed by which a device in a wireless network may determine and reduce interference when using channels in restricted frequency bands and when other networks may be transmitting in the same restricted frequency. The wireless network may be a Wi-Fi system utilizing channels/frequencies in the television white space. Receivers, such as a client device and access point (AP), may determine information on one or more interfering signals and utilize the information to reduce or cancel the interference caused by the interfering signals generated by a second network. The information may be parameters or information on the structure of the interfering signal, and may be determined by retrieving stored cache information, receiving information on a beacon signal or sampling an interfering signal. The interference cancellation may be performed by joint demodulation or parallel interference cancellation.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software technology for partitioning media streams is disclosed herein. In an implementation, a network node receives a media stream for a multimedia session from an upstream node in a communication channel supporting the multimedia session, partitions the media stream into a plurality of sub-streams to vary a code rate of each sub-stream of the plurality of sub-streams relative to each other, and transmits the plurality of sub-streams to a plurality of downstream nodes over a plurality of channels supporting the multimedia session.

Abstract: Techniques for connection information for inter-device wireless data communication are described. In at least some embodiments, a broker device maintains wireless connection information for various wireless devices. The wireless connection information includes wireless channels at which particular wireless devices can be accessed. The broker device can provide the wireless connection information to various other devices to enable wireless communication with the wireless devices.

Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments to improve security of authentication credentials. In some aspects, a client device, upon which authentication credentials may be entered cooperates with a server device, which may provide authentication services, to obscure delays between characters of the authentication credentials. This reduces the ability of a nefarious actor to surreptitiously obtain the delays, which may compromise security of a computer account when these delays are used as a signature of a user login process.

Abstract: Techniques for spread spectrum wireless over non-contiguous channels are described. In at least some embodiments, a set of channels is selected for wireless communication, with at least some of the channels being non-contiguous (e.g., non-adjacent) from one another. A spreading sequence is selected, such as based on attributes of a selected set of channels. Communication data that is to be transmitted over the set of channels is combined with the spreading sequence to generate a spread spectrum signal. The spread spectrum signal is then divided into multiple sub-signals for transmission over the set of channels.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining whether to adjust a network path between two endpoints of a network connection or session are disclosed. In some aspects, a method includes receiving a performance indication for a first portion of a network path for a network connection, the first portion between a first node and a second node in the network path, receiving an indication of a geographic location of a third node in the network path, the indication included in a message from the second node, a path between the second node and the third node comprising a second portion of the network path, the second portion not including the first portion, generating a performance measurement for the network connection based on the performance indication and the indication of the geographic location of the third node and initiating an adjustment of the network connection based on the performance measurement.

Abstract: A network controller is configured to receive a data packet from a core network for routing to a device in a wireless network. The controller may then select an antenna set from a plurality of antenna sets that are distributed across different base stations operable to transmit data packets to the destination device. The antenna set may be selected from the plurality of antenna sets based on a distribution pattern. For example, the distribution pattern may be a pseudo-randomly generated distribution pattern. The controller may then route the at least one data packet to the base station which the selected antenna set is implemented for transmission to the device. The antenna sets may be implemented on one base station, or implemented so that the antennas of an antenna set are distributed across multiple base stations. The antenna sets may also be configured to be of any number of antennas.

Abstract: A computing environment containing a mesh network that is adapted to provide a reliable transport mechanism over which services may be delivered. Nodes of the mesh can automatically select routable addresses without conflicts, which allows nodes of the mesh to be accessed, even as the mesh changes through the addition or deletion of nodes. Also, nodes communicate with a protocol that supports service advertisements. These advertisements can identify mesh nodes that supply services, such as file or print servers, for which devices that have not yet connected to the network may be searching. Advertisements can also identify services to be used by nodes in the network, allowing, for example, a node to select a gateway providing a reliable connection to an external network. The mesh network can be used as a transport for communication using protocols, such as TCP/IP, that generally exhibit poor performance when using unreliable transports.

Abstract: Techniques for message transport and network type selection, provided in the context of electronic messaging sessions (e.g., instant messaging, chat, voice, email, SMS, etc.) occurring between users, are disclosed herein. In an example, a message processing system performs operations to: receive and process a message, addressed from a sender to a recipient in a messaging session; predict a delivery state or read result for the message, based on identified activity of the recipient, or additionally, context of the interaction between the sender and the recipient; select a communications transport mechanism for the message, based on the predicted delivery state or read result; and cause transmission of the message to the recipient using the selected communications transport mechanism. In further examples, the prediction is performed using a machine-learning trained model, or is assisted with profile information, rules, historical data, or ongoing monitoring or tracking data.

Abstract: In a device including a processor and a memory in communication with the processor, the memory includes executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to control the device to perform functions of monitoring a plurality of communication sessions among a plurality of endpoint devices in a network telephony platform; collecting characteristics of the endpoint devices; tracking metrics associated with the endpoint devices with respect to the communication sessions; and generating a map representing the characteristics and metrics associated with the endpoints, wherein the map represents the characteristics of the endpoint devices as relative spatial relationships among the endpoint devices.

Abstract: Online content is served to participant devices using two or more systems. The content served by each system is not the same. Rather, the content streams coming from each system is a partial or lower-quality version of the original high-quality version of the content stream. A single one of the partial data streams can be used by the participant device to output a lower-quality version of the original content stream to the user. Alternately, the received partial content streams can be combined to output, to the user, a high-quality version of the original content stream.

Abstract: Discovery of services between devices is provided prior to establishing a connection between devices, including wireless-enabled devices or devices that are communicatively coupled to wireless access points or other wireless communication devices. Discovering services prior to establishing a connection may facilitate finding a desired service. The services that may be discovered may be, for example, print services, camera services, PDA services or any other suitable services. Services may be discovered using 802.11, Bluetooth, UWB or any other suitable wireless technology. A graphical user interface is provided that enables a user to select a desired service.