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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a wireless local area network (WLAN) (104) determines a position of a mobile device (110) using a position location system (114), receives a position of a WLAN (104) from a location database(112), and determines whether the mobile device (110) is within a service area (108) of the WLAN (104) in response to the position of the mobile device (110) and the position of the WLAN (104).

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.

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: 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 method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a wireless local area network (WLAN) (104) detects at least one energy fluctuation in a radio frequency (RF) signal propagating in a WLAN frequency band and indicates the presence of a WLAN (104) in response to the detection of the at least one energy fluctuation.

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: A method and apparatus for digitally encoding video image data, which is particularly suited for encoding Internet Web pages, eliminates the need for performing time consuming, computationally intensive motion vector searches by taking advantage of prior knowledge regarding the Web page movement. In a first preferred embodiment, a digital video encoder, such as an MPEG encoder, employs Web page scrolling coordinates obtained from a browser application to determine, through calculation instead of searching, motion estimation for all the macroblocks of the present image frame relative to the previous frame. In a second preferred embodiment, the encoder receives information from the browser application that indicates that certain portions of an image, such as a Web page animation window, are continuously changing, and thus should be encoded as an intra frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for digitally encoding video image data, which is particularly suited for encoding Internet Web pages, eliminates the need for performing time consuming, computationally intensive motion vector searches by taking advantage of prior knowledge regarding the Web page movement. In a first preferred embodiment, a digital video encoder, such as an MPEG encoder, employs Web page scrolling coordinates obtained from a browser application to determine, through calculation instead of searching, motion estimation for all the macroblocks of the present image frame relative to the previous frame. In a second preferred embodiment, the encoder receives information from the browser application that indicates that certain portions of an image, such as a Web page animation window, are continuously changing, and thus should be encoded as an intra fame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for digitally encoding video image data, which is particularly suited for encoding Internet Web pages, eliminates the need for performing time consuming, computationally intensive motion vector searches by taking advantage of prior knowledge regarding the Web page movement. In a first preferred embodiment, a digital video encoder, such as an MPEG encoder, employs Web page scrolling coordinates obtained from a browser application to determine, through calculation instead of searching, motion estimation for all the macroblocks of the present image frame relative to the previous frame. In a second preferred embodiment, the encoder receives information from the browser application that indicates that certain portions of an image, such as a Web page animation window, are continuously changing, and thus should be encoded as an intra frame.

Abstract: A coin validation system for determining if a coin moving along a coin rail is a valid coin, and if so, its denomination the system including a rail along which coins move, at least one optical sensor located along the rail to sense the presence or absence of a coin moving therealong, at least one magnetic sensor associated with each optical sensor located in the vicinity of the respective optical sensor, each of the magnetic sensors including an inductive element and a circuit for exciting the magnetic sensor to produce a field that is coupled to the coin moving past so that the coin and the inductive element have mutual inductance therebetween, the circuit ringing the magnetic sensor a predetermined number of times while the coin is adjacent to the magnetic sensor whereby the magnetic sensor generates a damped wave signal having characteristics representative of the physical and magnetic characteristics of the coin, a signal preprocessor operatively connected to the magnetic sensor for producing output resp