Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes an automatic speech recognition (ASR) module, a natural-language understanding (NLU) module, a dialog manager, one or more agents, an arbitrator, a delivery system, one or more processors, and a non-transitory memory coupled to the processors comprising instructions executable by the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to receive a user input, process the user input using the ASR module, the NLU module, the dialog manager, one or more of the agents, the arbitrator, and the delivery system, and provide a response to the user input.

Abstract: A method of managing lip synchronization error in a multimedia content delivery network includes identifying a video packet and an audio packet associated with the video packet and determining a synchronization offset between the audio and video packets at a first monitoring point in the network. The audio and video packets are then detected at a second monitoring point in the network and a second synchronization offset is determined. When a delta between the first synchronization offset and the second synchronization offset exceeds a threshold, lip synchronization error information may be automatically recorded and/or reported to a service provider and corrective action may be taken if potential sources of the lip synchronization error are within the domain of the service provider. The video packet may be identified by a timestamp within the packet and the audio packet may be identified by audio data within the audio packet.

Abstract: A method of managing lip synchronization error in a multimedia content delivery network includes identifying a video packet and an audio packet associated with the video packet and determining a synchronization offset between the audio and video packets at a first monitoring point in the network. The audio and video packets are then detected at a second monitoring point in the network and a second synchronization offset is determined. When a delta between the first synchronization offset and the second synchronization offset exceeds a threshold, lip synchronization error information may be automatically recorded and/or reported to a service provider and corrective action may be taken if potential sources of the lip synchronization error are within the domain of the service provider. The video packet may be identified by a timestamp within the packet and the audio packet may be identified by audio data within the audio packet.

Abstract: A method of managing lip synchronization error in a multimedia content delivery network includes identifying a video packet and an audio packet associated with the video packet and determining a synchronization offset between the audio and video packets at a first monitoring point in the network. The audio and video packets are then detected at a second monitoring point in the network and a second synchronization offset is determined. When a delta between the first synchronization offset and the second synchronization offset exceeds a threshold, lip synchronization error information may be automatically recorded and/or reported to a service provider and corrective action may be taken if potential sources of the lip synchronization error are within the domain of the service provider. The video packet may be identified by a timestamp within the packet and the audio packet may be identified by audio data within the audio packet.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. An example method includes identifying links of a communication system, the links communicatively coupling router pairs, identifying communication paths in the communication system, each of the communication paths being routed via one or more of the links, testing the links during a first interval by testing at least a first portion of the communication paths, testing the links during the second interval by testing at least a second portion of the communication paths, changing the first portion of the communication paths to include at least one of the communication paths from the second portion of the communication paths such that testing the first portion of the communication paths and testing the second portion of the communication paths collectively test each of the links, and identifying a link failure based on the testing.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. An example method includes identifying links of a communication system, the links communicatively coupling router pairs, identifying communication paths in the communication system, each of the communication paths being routed via one or more of the links, testing the links during a first interval by testing at least a first portion of the communication paths, testing the links during the second interval by testing at least a second portion of the communication paths, changing the first portion of the communication paths to include at least one of the communication paths from the second portion of the communication paths such that testing the first portion of the communication paths and testing the second portion of the communication paths collectively test each of the links, and identifying a link failure based on the testing.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. An example method includes identifying links of a communication system, the links communicatively coupling routers, identifying communication paths in the communication system, each of the communication paths being routed via one or more of the links, testing the links during a first interval by testing at least a first portion of the communication paths, testing the links during the second interval by testing at least a second portion of the communication paths, changing the first portion of the communication paths to include at least one of the communication paths from the second portion of the communication paths such that testing the first portion of the communication paths and testing the second portion of the communication paths collectively test each of the links, and identifying a link failure based on the testing.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. An example method includes identifying links of a communication system, the links communicatively coupling routers, identifying communication paths in the communication system, each of the communication paths being routed via one or more of the links, testing the links during a first interval by testing at least a first portion of the communication paths, testing the links during the second interval by testing at least a second portion of the communication paths, changing the first portion of the communication paths to include at least one of the communication paths from the second portion of the communication paths such that testing the first portion of the communication paths and testing the second portion of the communication paths collectively test each of the links, and identifying a link failure based on the testing.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes identifying first and second inter-network communication links of a communication system, identifying a first plurality of router pairs associated with the first inter-network communication link, identifying a second plurality of router pairs associated with the second inter-network communication link, partitioning the first plurality of router pairs into a first subset of router pairs and a second subset of router pairs, partitioning the second plurality of router pairs into a third subset of router pairs and a fourth subset of router pairs, during a first time interval, performing first reachability tests for respective ones of the first and third subsets of router pairs, and during a second time interval, performing second reachability tests for respective ones of the second and fourth subsets of router pairs.

Abstract: A method of managing lip synchronization error in a multimedia content delivery network includes identifying a video packet and an audio packet associated with the video packet and determining a synchronization offset between the audio and video packets at a first monitoring point in the network. The audio and video packets are then detected at a second monitoring point in the network and a second synchronization offset is determined. When a delta between the first synchronization offset and the second synchronization offset exceeds a threshold, lip synchronization error information may be automatically recorded and/or reported to a service provider and corrective action may be taken if potential sources of the lip synchronization error are within the domain of the service provider. The video packet may be identified by a timestamp within the packet and the audio packet may be identified by audio data within the audio packet.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to characterize and predict network health status are presented. A particular method of characterizing and predicting a health status of a network node includes receiving a plurality of report values associated with the network node, where each report value is one of alert and normal, and where each report value is received at a corresponding time. The method includes calculating a current report weight associated with a current report value received at a current time. When a first previous report value was received at a first previous time before the current time, the current report weight is calculated based at least partially on the current report value and at least partially on a first previous report weight associated with the first previous value. The method includes storing the current report weight at a memory device.

Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to monitor communication paths in communication systems are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes identifying first and second inter-network communication links of a communication system, identifying a first plurality of router pairs associated with the first inter-network communication link, identifying a second plurality of router pairs associated with the second inter-network communication link, partitioning the first plurality of router pairs into a first subset of router pairs and a second subset of router pairs, partitioning the second plurality of router pairs into a third subset of router pairs and a fourth subset of router pairs, during a first time interval, performing first reachability tests for respective ones of the first and third subsets of router pairs, and during a second time interval, performing second reachability tests for respective ones of the second and fourth subsets of router pairs.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detection and prevention of a slow response on a network are disclosed. For example, the method selects a router automatically for testing in response to a ticket indicating a slow response, and performs a diagnostic test on the router, wherein the diagnostic test comprises at least one of: a protocol diagnostic test, a circuit diagnostic test or, a congestion diagnostic test. The method then performs at least one remedial step to address a root cause that is identified by the diagnostic test, wherein the root cause is associated with the slow response.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to characterize and predict network health status are presented. A particular method of characterizing and predicting a health status of a network node includes receiving a plurality of report values associated with the network node, where each report value is one of alert and normal, and where each report value is received at a corresponding time. The method includes calculating a current report weight associated with a current report value received at a current time. When a first previous report value was received at a first previous time before the current time, the current report weight is calculated based at least partially on the current report value and at least partially on a first previous report weight associated with the first previous value. The method includes storing the current report weight at a memory device.

Abstract: A mould for encapsulating an integrated circuit package on a leadframe including a top mould-half and a complementary bottom mould-half enclosing a cavity for encapsulating said package wherein structures are provided on at least one of said mould-halves which, upon the closure of said mould-halves, closes off the spaces between adjacent leads of the leadframe to allow only said leads to extend out of said cavity. The structures may be protrusions from the mould half closing off the spaces. Notches or slots cut to allow the leads' extension are the preferred structures due to ease of machining. The mould design thus enables a leadframe package to be moulded with a peripheral flange as narrow as desired without the need to cut a broad conventional flange formed up to the dam bar because only the leads and tie bars are left to be singulated. A method for making the above mould as well as singulation methods for cutting and punching the leads and tie bars is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating the traffic rates of large traffic sources is provided. A class of a most recently selected address is compared to the contents of a register. If the class is the same as the contents of the register, a first counter is incremented; otherwise, the class is loaded into the register and the first counter is initialized. A class of a new most recently selected address is then obtained and the above process repeated. If the count of the first counter reaches a predetermined threshold, a threshold counter associated with the class is incremented and the first counter and register are reset. A different threshold counter is associated with each different class. After a predetermined time period, the traffic rate for a class may be computed from the count of the threshold counter associated with the class.