Abstract: A powered communication device (31) comprises: a configurable resistor unit (35) coupled to the LAN port and adapted to generate a classification signal designating a power class of the powered communication device to be detected by the LAN switch, and a power module comprising a power converter (38) adapted to supply power to the electronic control unit (40) and to the peripherals in response to receiving power from the LAN port, wherein the electronic control unit (40) is configured to determine a power requirement of the communication device, detect a current resistance state of the configurable resistor unit (35) and, in response to detecting that the power requirement overshoots a power class associated to the current resistance state of the configurable resistor unit: reconfigure the configurable resistor unit (35) to designate a higher power class and, actuate the power switch (37) to transitorily put the LAN port (33) in a low-current state to be detected by the LAN switch.

Abstract: A powered communication device (31) comprises: a configurable resistor unit (35) coupled to the LAN port and adapted to generate a classification signal designating a power class of the powered communication device to be detected by the LAN switch, and a power module comprising a power converter (38) adapted to supply power to the electronic control unit (40) and to the peripherals in response to receiving power from the LAN port, wherein the electronic control unit (40) is configured to determine a power requirement of the communication device, detect a current resistance state of the configurable resistor unit (35) and, in response to detecting that the power requirement overshoots a power class associated to the current resistance state of the configurable resistor unit: reconfigure the configurable resistor unit (35) to designate a higher power class and, actuate the power switch (37) to transitorily put the LAN port (33) in a low-current state to be detected by the LAN switch.

Abstract: A method for slowing a digital audio signal from the transmitter in order to transmit a slowed-down digital audio signal to a receiver, comprises the conversion of the digital audio signal received from a transmitter into a text made up of a series of words, assigning a timestamp bookmark to each word of the text, identifying words that belong to patterns referenced in a database of patterns to be eliminated, the definition of a rate of slowing, the adaptation of timestamped bookmarks to a slowed-down time frame based on the time of slowing, the slowing of the digital audio signal, the deletion of patterns to be eliminated, and the transmission to the receiver of a slowed-down digital audio signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a service distribution infrastructure comprising a plurality of tags and a data distribution server storing data elements in association with tag identifiers and application identifiers, the data distribution server being configured to receive a data distribution request from a requesting communication device, wherein the data distribution request comprises the tag identifier and an application module identifier, the data distribution server being configured to retrieve the data element associated with both the tag identifier and the application module identifier.

Abstract: A method for slowing a digital audio signal from the transmitter in order to transmit a slowed-down digital audio signal to a receiver, comprises the conversion of the digital audio signal received from a transmitter into a text made up of a series of words, assigning a timestamp bookmark to each word of the text, identifying words that belong to patterns referenced in a database of patterns to be eliminated, the definition of a rate of slowing, the adaptation of timestamped bookmarks to a slowed-down time frame based on the time of slowing, the slowing of the digital audio signal, the deletion of patterns to be eliminated, and the transmission to the receiver of a slowed-down digital audio signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing picture privacy in video. The method includes separating, by the processor, pixels of a first type from pixels of a second type in a current gray-scale frame based on a decision threshold, where each of the pixels of the first and second types includes an image pixel value, and applying, by the processor, a privacy filter to the pixels of the first type. The privacy filter is configured to randomly swap the image pixel values within a pixel area to occur at different locations in the pixel area. The method further includes combining, by the processor, the filter pixels of the first type with the pixels of the second type.

Abstract: There is proposed a speed control method for controlling a link speed of an Ethernet port. The method comprises steps of detecting the amount of data to be sent via the Ethernet port, and controlling the link speed of the Ethernet port based on the detected amount of data. The step of controlling the link speed of the Ethernet port based on the detected amount of data further comprises steps of comparing the detected amount of data with a predefined threshold, and setting the link speed level of the Ethernet port based on the comparison. According to the solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention, the present invention may set the Ethernet port to a lower speed when there is no large amount of data to be sent, and thus implements power saving without changes to the infrastructure of the Ethernet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing picture privacy in video. The method includes separating, by the processor, pixels of a first type from pixels of a second type in a current gray-scale frame based on a decision threshold, where each of the pixels of the first and second types includes an image pixel value, and applying, by the processor, a privacy filter to the pixels of the first type. The privacy filter is configured to randomly swap the image pixel values within a pixel area to occur at different locations in the pixel area. The method further includes combining, by the processor, the filter pixels of the first type with the pixels of the second type.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of centralized Power over Ethernet network shutdown, which comprises the steps of: sending (19) from a centralized management unit (1, 2) through said network a shutdown binary signal, a first value of which commands a shutdown, and the second value of which authorizes a restart; detecting (20) the value of said shutdown signal, in a network element; then shutting down (22, 24) at least some of the functions of said network element and propagating the shutdown signal, if the signal has its first value, or authorizing all the functions of said network element if the signal has its second value. The shutdown signal can be constituted by a Power over Ethernet voltage usually used for remotely supplying power to network elements that can be remotely powered. The presence of a Power over Ethernet voltage commands a shutdown, and commands the propagation of a shutdown signal; whereas the absence of the Power over Ethernet voltage authorizes all the functions of said network element.