Abstract: A system for employing a wireless local area network (WLAN) as a cellular network routing area includes a cellular network, which is capable of determining a location where a service request is made. The cellular network includes a packet-based support node B, which determines if the request can be serviced through a WLAN, which is identified in the cellular network as a routing area. Packet data protocol context is maintained while servicing the request using the WLAN to provide smooth interworking between the WLAN and the cellular network.

Abstract: A wireless Local Area Network provides data service through a data LAN and also provides video broadcast service through a video LAN. A wireless LAN subscriber accesses the video LAN through one of a plurality of Video Access Points (VAPs) that broadcast multiple video programs on a channel having a frequency different than the frequency over which the subscriber accesses the data LAN. Each VAP maintains the video channel in a one-way broadcast-only mode to prevent a wireless LAN subscriber from seeking to uplink information on that channel. In this way, the wireless LAN can employ a common protocol for both data and video transmission, and deliver the video streams at the maximum permissible downlink transmission rate.

Abstract: A method of Authentication Authorization and Accounting (AAA) in an interworking between first and second networks that do not belong in the same administrative domain, using certificate based transactions. In the method according to the invention, the second network sends a public key to the first network, and a certificate to a mobile device. The certificate includes information regarding the subscription level of the mobile device and is signed with a private key of the second network. Upon detection of the first network the mobile device transmits the certificate and the first network authenticates the certificate using the public and private keys of the second network, and authorizes access to the network in response. The first network then sends a session key encrypted with a public key of the mobile device. The mobile device decrypts the session key with a private key and access the first network using the session key.

Abstract: A scalable video bitstream may have an H.264/AVC compatible base layer and a scalable enhancement layer, where scalability refers to color bit depth. The H.264/AVC scalability extension SVC provides also other types of scalability, e.g. spatial scalability where the number of pixels in BL and EL are different. According to the invention, BL information is upsampled in two logical steps, one being texture upsampling and the other being bit depth upsampling. Texture upsampling is a process that increases the number of pixels, and bit depth upsampling is a process that increases the number of values that each pixel can have, corresponding to the pixels color intensity. The upsampled BL data are used to predict the collocated EL. The BL information is upsampled at the encoder side and in the same manner at the decoder side, wherein the upsampling refers to spatial and bit depth characteristics.

Abstract: A method for utilizing a CUDA based GPU to accelerate a complex, sequential task such as video decoding, comprises decoding on a CPU headers and macroblocks of encoded video, performing inverse quantization (on CPU or GPU), transferring the picture data to GPU, where it is stored in a global buffer, and then on the GPU performing inverse waveform transforming of the inverse quantized data, performing motion compensation, buffering the reconstructed picture data in a GPU global buffer, determining if the decoded picture data are used as reference for decoding a further picture, and if so, copying the decoded picture data from the GPU global buffer to a GPU texture buffer. Advantages are that the data communication between CPU and GPU is minimized, the workload of CPU and GPU is balanced and the modules off-loaded to GPU can be efficiently realized since they are data-parallel and compute-intensive.

Abstract: An adaptive and scalable packet error correction apparatus and method in a wireless multicast network is provided. Each retransmission request from a receiver contains a round number and the number of repairs sent in that round. At each receiver, there are two counters for counting the rounds sent out on the network and the number of repairs that have been required. A receiver on the wireless multicast network listens to the ARQ requests sent by other receivers to update the two counters and determines whether its request should be suppressed or be sent out.

Abstract: A method for mapping from an MPEG-2 transport stream to an IP-based RTP/UDP/IP stack for broadcasting service in a WLAN. All the mapping functions may be performed in a receiver transcoder (FIG. 2). Mobile devices such as laptop computers, cell phones and PDAs have limited battery power, CPU processing and memory resources. To reduce CPU processing power and consumption battery power in these devices certain data processing functions are achieved in the communicating systems, such as the de-multiplexer function that typically prepares an MPEG-2 for retransmission at the local level. When a transcoder, capable of de-multiplexing and MPEG-2 transport stream receives a program it de-multiplexes the stream based on PIDs assigned to each transport packet. This de-multiplexing function extracts several components from a transport stream: video and audio PES/ES associated with programs and PSI (PAT and PMTs).

Abstract: An interface for connecting networks includes an interworking function provided between a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a public mobile land network (PLMN) to provide communication interactions between the PLMN and the WLAN. The interworking function includes a dual-protocol stack, which interfaces the WLAN protocols and PLMN protocols to provide seamless communications between the WLAN and the PLMN such that an increase in available service bandwidth provided for users of the PLMN is maintained.

Abstract: A method for providing a private conversation channel in a videoconference session between at least three participants includes the steps of providing an ability to receive a private acceptance in response to the private invitation and providing an ability to exclude non-parties to the private conversation from receiving private messages corresponding to the private conversation.

Abstract: The invention is related with network communication, in particular wireless networking. In order to improve bandwidth utilization, a header compression protocol is implemented in most wireless network systems, such as robust header compression ROHC for WLAN systems. When using multicast groups for data communication problems with ROHC are related with relative late initiation of stations that newly enter the multicast group. The invention proposes an improved state machine for the compressor in order to overcome this drawback. It is also proposed an improvement for the decompressors which omit sending positive acknowledgements in order to further improve compression efficiency. The invention also concerns an accordingly improved method for the exchange of data packets in a network of distributed stations.

Abstract: Secure access by a mobile wireless terminal of a wireless telephony network is achieved by having a Home Location Register store the terminal's temporary and permanent identities. Upon accessing the network following initial registration, the terminal sends a temporary identity to a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN). If no serving node in the network knows the terminal, the terminal need not sent its permanent identity in clear as was previously required. Rather, the serving node need only query the HLR since the HLR can map the terminal's temporary identity to its permanent identity. In this way, the permanent identity of the mobile wireless terminal remains secure.

Abstract: An apparatus in a wireless network includes a video encoder for encoding uncompressed video information into packets with variable length of compressed frames, and a decision processor for selecting a partial bandwidth and queuing delay on a wireless channel for each of the packets based on an intended reception quality. Preferably, the queuing delay and partial bandwidth are one of a plurality of distinct queuing delay and partial bandwidth representative of wireless transmission quality of service classes.

Abstract: A mobile wireless terminal, upon transitioning from a wireless telephony network to a wireless Local Area Network (LAN), seeks identification by sending the same identity information used for identification in the wireless telephony network. Upon receipt of the identity information, a wireless LAN Access Server in the wireless telephony network identifies a Serving General Packet Radio Service Serving Node (SGSN) that had last served the wireless terminal in the wireless telephony network prior to transition. The wireless LAN Access Server forwards the identity information to the SGSN, which, in turn, provides an identification response for validating the terminal.

Abstract: A system for transferring content includes a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a network module provided within the WLAN or a cellular network to alert users of available content in the WLAN and handle user requests made for content when a user has access to the cellular network. The network module, which may comprise an interworking function, delivers the content to the user through the WLAN when the user is present in a coverage area of the WLAN. The invention allows a user to view the programs available for download and request a specific program using a relatively low speed network, such as a cellular network, and download the program through a high speed network, such as a WLAN.

Abstract: A terminal is coupled to a video distribution network headend, and transmits upstream packets to the headend. Each upstream packet has a transmission power. The terminal receives a downstream packet from the headend, indicating a change in power. The terminal calculates an adjusted transmission power, based on the change in power specified in the downstream packet, and sets the transmission power of the upstream packets to the adjusted transmission power. The headend can be coupled to one or more terminals. The headend receives upstream packets from the terminal. The headend senses a received transmission power of each packet, and calculates a weighted average transmission power based on the received transmission powers. The headend calculates a change in transmission power based on the weighted average and a predetermined set point. The headend transmits a downstream packet to the terminal, indicating the change in power.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for reducing the audio-visual synchronization problems (e.g.—“lip sync” problems) in corresponding audio and video streams by adapting a statistical distribution of temporal errors to create a new statistical distribution of temporal errors. The new statistical distribution of temporal errors being substantially within an acceptable synchronization tolerance window which is less offensive to a viewer/listener.

Abstract: A user (121, 122) can gain access to a Local Area Network (LAN) (20) on a fee basis without the risk of having to transmit an un-encrypted PIN at upon initial access. The user initially sends a request to the LAN identifying a Billing Agent (26) that maintains an account associated with the user for payment of LAN access charges. In practice, the account can take the form of a pre-paid account identified only by a PIN known to the user. After the user has identified the Billing Agent, the LAN queries the Billing Agent for its digital certificate, which the LAN forwards to the user. The user utilizes the certificate to encrypt a PIN for transmission via the LAN to the Billing Agent for authentication. Upon successful authentication, the Billing Agent authorizes the LAN to grant access to the user, thus allowing the user to obtain a connection via the LAN to a private network (14) or a public network (16).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing personalized information from a service provider to a plurality of users using mobile terminals. Specifically, at least one content server stores content in at least one content database. Additionally, at least one subscriber database stores personalized user profiles. A plurality of base stations respectively provide wireless communications coverage over a plurality of cells between the at least one server of the service provider and the mobile terminals. Upon receiving a user request for content, the content server searches for the requested content based upon the spatial, temporal, and user preference information stored in the subscriber and content databases. Once the requested content is retrieved, the content server provides search results to the mobile terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus in a wireless network includes a video encoder for encoding uncompressed video information into packets with variable length of compressed frames, and a decision processor for selecting a partial bandwidth and queuing delay on a wireless channel for each of the packets based on an intended reception quality. Preferably, the queuing delay and partial bandwidth are one of a plurality of distinct queuing delay and partial bandwidth representative of wireless transmission quality of service classes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a wireless local area network (WLAN) (104) detects at least one signature sequence in a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a WLAN (104). The present invention indicates the presence of a WLAN (104) in response to the detection of the at least one signature sequence in the RF signal.