Abstract: A client computer collects registration information regarding a user and/or the client computer and attempts to upload the collected information to a remote registration system. The client computer stores the registration information locally and delays uploading of the information to the registration system until a connection to the registration system is established. The connection to the registration system and the uploading of the registration information can be performed automatically and transparently to the user, eliminating the need for any further required actions on the part of the user once the registration information is collected.

Abstract: A method and system that enables wireless device users to send messages from their devices to other wireless devices that use a different service provider than the sending device. Generally, the method and system are enabled through use of a third party rerouting/reformatting service that appears transparent to the wireless device users and service providers. In one embodiment, the method includes converting an original SMS message into an e-mail message and routing the e-mail message to the rerouting/reformatting service, whereupon the e-mail message is reformatted into a destination message that is dispatched for delivery to a destination device selected by a user who generated the original SMS message. In another embodiment, rerouting indicia is appended to an SMS message such that it is routed to the rerouting/reformatting service, which again performs reformatting and message dispatch functions to deliver the message to a selected destination device.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring wireless data service performance of wireless service providers. Data messages are sent from a plurality of remote and/or local monitoring probes to other monitoring probes. In general, the remote monitoring probes will be distributed throughout a service area(s) from the service provider and include both fixed probes and mobile probes, wherein each probe will include one or more wireless devices, including cellular phones, PSC phones, PDA devices, Blackberry devices, and the like. Various performance data are then measured, including message deliver latency and network accessibility. This data is then sent from the remote monitoring probes to one or more central monitoring stations, where it is stored and aggregated to generate performance reports and alerts, which are delivered to the service providers or may be accessed through a web user interface.

Abstract: A webcast system delivers Web content from a webcast center over a broadcast medium to many clients. The webcast center has a server unit that gathers Web pages from sites on the Internet and stores the pages in a cache. The server unit bundles the pages from the cache into package files and stores the package files in a package store. The webcast center also has a broadcast unit that retrieves the package files from the package store and delivers the package files to the clients over the broadcast medium. Each client is equipped with a receiver to receive the broadcast package files. The client maintains a subscription database to store a directory of the Web content gathered by the webcast center. A subscriber user interface enables a user to select preferred Web content from the directory of the subscription database.

Abstract: A method for rerouting wireless messages to locate service providers for destination devices that use different service providers than sending devices. In one embodiment, the method begins with a request to send a wireless message from a sending device that uses a first service provider to a destination device that uses a second service provider. Based on a phone number reference in the message, potential service providers for the destination device are identified. Ping messages are then sent to each of these potential service providers, while checking for a successful response. The message is then sent to the destination device via a service provider who successfully responds to the ping message sent to it. A phone map table that maps phone numbers to message service providers may also be used to reroute messages. The phone map table is updated in response to successful ping messages.

Abstract: A remote control system has a remote control device equipped with a handling sensor (e.g., motion sensor) that detects when a user first picks up or otherwise handles the handset before actuating the keys. The handling sensor generates a signal that is automatically transmitted to the controlled device without requiring any user input. The signal is received at a controlled device and initiates a startup phase. In this manner, the startup phase is well underway before the user actually presses a key on the remote control device. Upon conclusion of the startup phase, the user may enter commands using the keys.

Abstract: A computing system uses a zip code entered by the user during a first boot sequence to automatically configure itself. The computing system includes a computing device (e.g., computer, laptop, handheld device, smart appliance, etc.) and a zip code database. The zip code database may reside locally at the computing device, or remotely at a server accessible by the computing device over a network. The zip code database correlates zip codes with corresponding configuration information that can be derived from the zip code (e.g., city, state, time zone, area code, and daylight savings settings). During a first boot sequence (i.e., a process executed when the user turns on the computer for the first time), the computing device prompts a user to enter a zip code. The computing device passes the zip code to the zip code database either locally, or over a network. The zip code is then used to look up the corresponding configuration information in the zip code database.

Abstract: A method for encoding network data, such as Internet Protocol (IP) data, into a format for transmission over a satellite system is described. The network data is configured in a packet having a data block and header information. The network data packet is encoded into a variable-length multi-packet transport (MPT) frame. The MPT frame comprises a data frame to hold data and header information. The IP packet in inserted its entirety into the data frame of the MPT frame. The variable-length MTP frame is then encoded into one or more fixed-length MTP packets. Each MPT packet has a data fragment block comprising a portion of the MTP frame and associated header information to designate what portion of the MTP frame is contained in the data fragment block. The MPT packets are sized to be embedded as a specific size payload of the satellite packet that is transmitted over a satellite network. Using this method, data received over a data network (i.e.

Abstract: A method for encoding network data, such as Internet Protocol (IP) data, into a format for transmission over a satellite system is described. The network data is configured in a packet having a data block and header information. The network data packet is encoded into a variable-length multi-packet transport (MPT) frame. The MPT frame comprises a data frame to hold data and header information. The IP packet in inserted its entirety into the data frame of the MPT frame. The variable-length MTP frame is then encoded into one or more fixed-length MTP packets. Each MPT packet has a data fragment block comprising a portion of the MTP frame and associated header information to designate what portion of the MTP frame is contained in the data fragment block. The MPT packets are sized to be embedded as a specific size payload of the satellite packet that is transmitted over a satellite network. Using this method, data received over a data network (i.e.

Abstract: A method for encoding a network data packet, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet, into a format for transmission as part of the Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) of a broadcast video signal is described. The method includes receiving a network data packet from a data network. The network data packet has a data block and header information. The network data packet is then encoded into a variable-length data group packet having a variable-length data block and header information. The network data packet is inserted in its entirety into the data block of the data group packet. In one implementation, the header information for the data group packet includes a 2-byte type header indicating a type of network data contained in the data block of the data group packet and a 6-byte reserved space header that is reserved for future definition by the developer. One potential use of the reserved space header is for a MAC address.

Abstract: A broadcast transmission system transmits data packets from a server to a client over a unidirectional broadcast network. The system transmits both full-length data packets, which have uncompressed headers, and reduced-length data packets, which have compressed headers derived from associated uncompressed headers. The server compresses the data packets by compressing the packet header. Compressed packet headers contain fewer header fields than their associated uncompressed headers. The server transmits a series of intermixed full-length and reduced-length packets to the client. As the packets are received, the client determines whether the packets are full-length or reduced-length. If the packet is full-length, the client stores the uncompressed header in a header table. If the packet is reduced-length, the client rebuilds the compressed header from its corresponding uncompressed headers in the header table.