Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing network performance are provided. In data provided by an application on a first host for transport or communication to an application associated with a second host according to a first data transport protocol is intercepted at the first host and wrapped or encapsulated in a test data packet formatted according to a second data transport protocol. The test data packet formatted according to the second data transport protocol includes, in addition to data comprising all or a portion of the original data packet, instrumentation information. The test data packet is then delivered to the second host, which unpacks the original data packet and the instrumentation information. A response packet containing instrumentation information may be sent from the second host to the first host to provide roundtrip performance metrics.

Abstract: A source node for configuring and transmitting packets is provided that comprises (a) a reservation agent 204 configured to assign to a first packet a preemption level causing at least some routers in the distributed processing network to process the first packet differently than other packets not having the preemption level, (b) a preemption map 208 comprising a plurality of preemption levels (each preemption level being associated with predetermined level identification criteria), and/or (c) sender-specific information 212 associated with a sender. The reservation agent 204 can configure and transmit packets containing a preemption level and/or sender-specific information.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to voice communication devices in which an audio stream is divided into a sequence of individual packets, each of which is routed via pathways that can vary depending on the availability of network resources. All embodiments of the invention rely on an acoustic prioritization agent that assigns a priority value to the packets. The priority value is based on factors such as whether the packet contains voice activity and the degree of acoustic similarity between this packet and adjacent packets in the sequence. A confidence level, associated with the priority value, may also be assigned. In one embodiment, network congestion is reduced by deliberately failing to transmit packets that are judged to be acoustically similar to adjacent packets; the expectation is that, under these circumstances, traditional packet loss concealment algorithms in the receiving device will construct an acceptably accurate replica of the missing packet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to voice communication devices in which an audio stream is divided into a sequence of individual packets, each of which is routed via pathways that can vary depending on the availability of network resources. All embodiments of the invention rely on an acoustic prioritization agent that assigns a priority value to the packets. The priority value is based on factors such as whether the packet contains voice activity and the degree of acoustic similarity between this packet and adjacent packets in the sequence. A confidence level, associated with the priority value, may also be assigned. In one embodiment, network congestion is reduced by deliberately failing to transmit packets that are judged to be acoustically similar to adjacent packets; the expectation is that, under these circumstances, traditional packet loss concealment algorithms in the receiving device will construct an acceptably accurate replica of the missing packet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to voice communication devices in which an audio stream is divided into a sequence of individual packets, each of which is routed via pathways that can vary depending on the availability of network resources. All embodiments of the invention rely on an acoustic prioritization agent that assigns a priority value to the packets. The priority value is based on factors such as whether the packet contains voice activity and the degree of acoustic similarity between this packet and adjacent packets in the sequence. A confidence level, associated with the priority value, may also be assigned. In one embodiment, network congestion is reduced by deliberately failing to transmit packets that are judged to be acoustically similar to adjacent packets; the expectation is that, under these circumstances, traditional packet loss concealment algorithms in the receiving device will construct an acceptably accurate replica of the missing packet.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to voice communication devices in which an audio stream is divided into a sequence of individual packets, each of which is routed via pathways that can vary depending on the availability of network resources. All embodiments of the invention rely on an acoustic prioritization agent that assigns a priority value to the packets. The priority value is based on factors such as whether the packet contains voice activity and the degree of acoustic similarity between this packet and adjacent packets in the sequence. A confidence level, associated with the priority value, may also be assigned. In one embodiment, network congestion is reduced by deliberately failing to transmit packets that are judged to be acoustically similar to adjacent packets; the expectation is that, under these circumstances, traditional packet loss concealment algorithms in the receiving device will construct an acceptably accurate replica of the missing packet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an interconnect cable having selectively activated identifiers in order to facilitate the locating and positive identification of ends of the interconnect cable. The identifiers may be activated by introducing or enabling a suitable activation signal at identifier activation points provided at an end of the interconnect cable opposite an end including an identifier. The activation signal may be provided by a detection probe tool.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to voice communication devices in which an audio stream is divided into a sequence of individual packets, each of which is routed via pathways that can vary depending on the availability of network resources. All embodiments of the invention rely on an acoustic prioritization agent that assigns a priority value to the packets. The priority value is based on factors such as whether the packet contains voice activity and the degree of acoustic similarity between this packet and adjacent packets in the sequence. A confidence level, associated with the priority value, may also be assigned. In one embodiment, network congestion is reduced by deliberately failing to transmit packets that are judged to be acoustically similar to adjacent packets; the expectation is that, under these circumstances, traditional packet loss concealment algorithms in the receiving device will construct an acceptably accurate replica of the missing packet.

Abstract: A dynamic information retrieval system for monitoring a conversation between two or more parties and automatically collecting a plurality of keywords used during the conversation. A priority is assigned to the plurality of keywords and an information database is automatically searched for information relevant to the conversation based on the plurality of keywords. A keyword list and an information list is displayed on a workstation display to allow an agent to directly select/deselect one or more of the plurality of keywords and/or information, wherein the priority of the one or more of the plurality of keywords and/or information may be adjusted. As keywords and/or information are selected/deselected, the keyword list and the information list are dynamically updated based on new priorities that may have been assigned to the plurality of keywords and information and/or how much time has passed since a keyword was mentioned.

Abstract: A source node for configuring and transmitting packets is provided that comprises (a) a reservation agent 204 configured to assign to a first packet a preemption level causing at least some routers in the distributed processing network to process the first packet differently than other packets not having the preemption level, (b) a preemption map 208 comprising a plurality of preemption levels (each preemption level being associated with predetermined level identification criteria), and/or (c) sender-specific information 212 associated with a sender. The reservation agent 204 can configure and transmit packets containing a preemption level and/or sender-specific information.