Abstract: A baffle arrangement disposed within the exhaust flue of a fuel-burning water heater promotes heat transfer from exhausted combustion by-products to the water storage chamber. The baffle arrangement has an elongate planar base and plural exhaust-directing fins spaced along opposite sides of the base. Each fin is a planar body extending perpendicularly from the base at an acute upward angle from a longitudinal centerline to a respective side of the base. The fins deflect combustion by-products laterally outwardly within the flue to promote heat transfer. The fins are of selected configurations generally increasing in surface area upwardly along the planar base for selectively controlling pressure drop within the exhaust flue. Hanger tabs project outwardly from the upper end of the base to suspend the baffle arrangement within the flue. The planar base, hanger tabs and exhaust-directing fins are formed integrally from a unitary body of sheet metal.

Abstract: Sustainable average data throughput rates for data transfer between a sender and a receiver are determined for a network in a steady-state condition. Delivery performance for data transferred in non-steady-state conditions is disregarded in determining sustainable average data throughput rates. The rates may be used to adapt file delivery to network conditions.

Abstract: A brokering device that manages multimedia information includes an interface device having access to a network and a multimedia service provider. The interface device enables selection of multimedia information from the network, and provides the selected multimedia information to a plurality of locations without requiring the user to specify a protocol associated with the multimedia information.

Abstract: Congestion information is determined based on a file segment transferred to one of user terminals. The congestion information is available to a server or controller communicatively linked with a plurality of user terminals. The congestion information is shared with other user terminals that share a bottleneck link.

Abstract: Aa brokering device manages multimedia information including an interface device having access to a network and a multimedia service provider. The interface device enables selection of multimedia information from the network and provides the selected multimedia information to a plurality of locations without requiring the user to specify a protocol associated with the multimedia information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing at least one information feed are disclosed. For example, the method receives at least one content via at least one automated feed. The method associates the at least one content to one or more geographical locations on a map, wherein the one or more geographical locations are determined from the at least one content. The method then presents an access to the at least one content to a user via the map.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing case restoration in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method obtains one or more content sources from one or more information feeds, and extracts textual information from the one or more content sources obtained from the one or more information feeds. The method then creates or updates a capitalization model based on the textual information.

Abstract: Aa brokering device manages multimedia information including an interface device having access to a network and a multimedia service provider. The interface device enables selection of multimedia information from the network and provides the selected multimedia information to a plurality of locations without requiring the user to specify a protocol associated with the multimedia information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing the progressive download of media content using techniques that preferentially identify and use periods of surplus network capacity to maintain the content delivery. A buffer of a receiving system is maintained and pre-filled with enough content to bridge playback intervals where a network is unable to deliver content as fast as it is played out. When no surplus network capacity is available, a user requesting content may be given the option to continue the delivery in the background so that the content may be played at a later time. The user may then resume their playback experience once the content has been completely delivered using surplus network capacity as it becomes available. A first portion of a content file may be pre-delivered to the receiving system so that users may consume the first portion content while the buffer is pre-filled.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing the progressive download of media content using techniques that preferentially identify and use periods of surplus network capacity to maintain the content delivery. A buffer of a receiving system is maintained and pre-filled with enough content to bridge playback intervals where a network is unable to deliver content as fast as it is played out. Content delivery does not impact other users' applications and use of the network and its resources since content is only sent when surplus network capacity exists in the network. When no surplus network capacity is available, a user requesting content may be given the option to continue the delivery in the background so that the content may be played at a later time. The user may then resume their playback experience once the content has been completely delivered using surplus network capacity as it becomes available.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing at least one information feed are disclosed. For example, the method receives at least one content via at least one automated feed. The method associates the at least one content to one or more geographical locations on a map, wherein the one or more geographical locations are determined from the at least one content. The method then presents an access to the at least one content to a user via the map.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a brokering device adapted to manage multimedia information including an interface device having access to a network and a multimedia service provider. The interface device enables selection of multimedia information from the network and provides the selected multimedia information to a plurality of locations without requiring the user to specify a protocol associated with the multimedia information.

Abstract: An adaptive file delivery system and method transmits a data file, such as an audio-video file, over a network or collection of networks in segments in response to a request for the data file by a receiving system. In addition to the requested file, a sending system sends an unrequested secondary data file to the receiving system for playback before, during, or after playing of the requested data file.

Abstract: An adaptive file delivery system and method transmits a data file, such as an audio-video file, over a network or collection of networks in segments, each segment transmitted during a different time period. Each time period has a transmission portion to transmit its associated file segment and a wait portion in which no further interaction with the network occurs regarding the transmitted segment. In some implementations, the duration of the transmission portion of each time period is sufficient to reach a steady-state throughput condition, which allows the traffic load status of the network or networks to be determined from rate measurements of file segment transmissions. The duration of the wait portion of each time period is at least long enough to limit the average rate of file segment transmission to adapt to network traffic load variations while causing the entire file to be delivered in a predetermined delivery deadline.

Abstract: Information relevant to internet security is received at a data center server. Such information, for example, a network intrusion alert or details on a recent outbreak of an network virus, may be examined to determine the nature and scope of the security-related information. A security alert is promptly generated in response to the information, using previously stored multimedia content divided into categories of security alerts and/or multimedia content generated at the data center shortly after receiving the security information. The security alert is then disseminated to a plurality of mobile device users. The alerts may be disseminated only to the users associated with a certain security event category, or may be sent to different groups of users depending on other relevant criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing the progressive download of media content using techniques that preferentially identify and use periods of surplus network capacity to maintain the content delivery. A buffer of a receiving system is maintained and pre-filled with enough content to bridge playback intervals where a network is unable to deliver content as fast as it is played out. Content delivery does not impact other users' applications and use of the network and its resources since content is preferentially sent when surplus network capacity exists in the network. When no surplus network capacity is available, a user requesting content may be given the option to continue the delivery in the background so that the content may be played at a later time. The user may then resume their playback experience once the content has been completely delivered using surplus network capacity as it becomes available.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing at least one information feed are disclosed. For example, the method receives at least one content via at least one automated feed. The method associates the at least one content to one or more geographical locations on a map, wherein the one or more geographical locations are determined from the at least one content. The method then presents an access to the at least one content to a user via the map.

Abstract: An adaptive file delivery system and method transmits a data file, such as an audio-video file, over a network or collection of networks in segments, each segment transmitted during a different time period. Each time period has a transmission portion to transmit its associated file segment and a wait portion in which no further interaction with the network occurs regarding the transmitted segment. In some implementations, the duration of the transmission portion of each time period is sufficient to reach a steady-state throughput condition, which allows the traffic load status of the network or networks to be determined from rate measurements of file segment transmissions. The duration of the wait portion of each time period is at least long enough to limit the average rate of file segment transmission to adapt to network traffic load variations while causing the entire file to be delivered in a predetermined delivery deadline.

Abstract: Sustainable average data throughput rates for data transfer between a sender and a receiver are determined for a network in a steady-state condition. Delivery performance for data transferred in non-steady-state conditions is disregarded in determining sustainable average data throughput rates. The rates may be used to adapt file delivery to network conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for content recording and indexing are described. Content may be accessed from a content source. The content may be processed to generate an index of the content. Programming data for future content may be accessed. A content selection guide may be generated in accordance with the index and the programming data. The content selection guide may include a listing of the indexed content and the future content.