Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved communication in a communications system is disclosed. The improvement involves storing connection data at a client end of a client-server connection within a communications system. Connection data is transmitted from a server communications device to a data access device. This connection data history can later be retrieved and analyzed by a server communications device to assist in the optimal configuration of communication sessions between the data access device and the server communications device within the communications system.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacturer is provided to improve the quality of service and image display in videotelephony systems by combining digital zooming techniques and picture-in-picture functionality to conserve bandwidth and enhance selected portions of the video display. A portion of the videotelephony image is selected to be zoomed and re-transmission of the videotelephony image source is limited by preventing instructions to zoom the defined portion from being transmitted to the videotelephony image source. Zooming of the defined portion is performed by using an interpolation-based digital zooming technique independent of the zooming capabilities of the videotelephony image source. The zoomed portion is then displayed in a window on a display screen. The zoomed portion can be displayed in an in-place window over the defined portion such that the zoomed portion overlaps adjacent non-zoomed portions of the videotelephony image or in a separate floating window on the display screen.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for improved delivery of content to a requesting computer connected to a communications network by a communications device by sending, from the requesting computer, a request for content and a plurality of content preferences. A content stream representing the content is then received on a communications device. Components within the content stream are grouped and reordered based upon at least one of the plurality of content preferences. The reordered content stream is then received on the requesting computer. The content stream may contain data formatted using languages such as HTML or XML. Grouping and reordering of the components can be used to compress the content stream and/or filter components from the content stream. Compression and filtering are especially useful in low bandwidth situations, for example analog or wireless modem connections.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacturer is provided to improve the quality of service and image display in videotelephony systems by combining digital zooming techniques and picture-in-picture functionality to conserve bandwidth and enhance selected portions of the video display. A portion of the videotelephony image is selected to be zoomed and re-transmission of the videotelephony image source is limited by preventing instructions to zoom the defined portion from being transmitted to the videotelephony image source. Zooming of the defined portion is performed by using an interpolation-based digital zooming technique independent of the zooming capabilities of the videotelephony image source. The zoomed portion is then displayed in a window on a display screen. The zoomed portion can be displayed in an in-place window over the defined portion such that the zoomed portion overlaps adjacent non-zoomed portions of the videotelephony image or in a separate floating window on the display screen.

Abstract: Video image communication throughput is enhanced by mapping the video image based on a predetermined color range, creating a color mapped image. A first template is created around certain regions of the color mapped image. A second template is created around certain shapes within the first template. Bandwidth on the communications link is then allocated based on the regions of the video image relative to the boundaries of the templates. The techniques are primarily used to optimize video images of the human face. The first template approximates the shape of a human face. The second template approximates a rectangular shape of the eyes region of a human face and a triangular shape of the nose-mouth region of a human face. Bandwidth is the allocated based upon the defined regions.