Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of a visible, decorative element printed onto the document. Prior art graphical symbols have not been assembled into any kind of visible decorative element, such as a picture, logo, word, signature or seal. Instead, they have generally been large and obtrusive blocks which considerably mar the appearance of a printed document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major causes inhibiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology (e.g. glyphs) for encoding information.

Abstract: A document is printed with graphical symbols which encode information but are not human readable; the graphical symbols are formed into some or all of an element which is human readable. Prior art graphical symbols have not been assembly into any kind of human readable element, such as a picture, logo, word, signature or sea. Instead, they have generally been large and obtrusive blocks which considerably mar the appearance of a printed document. This negative impact on appearance has been one of the major causes inhibiting the uptake of graphical symbol technology (e.g. glyphs) for encoding information.

Abstract: Owing to the complexity of integrated circuits, circuit parameters such as component values must be determined to achieve an optimised measure of circuit performance. A method of determining a preferred value of at least one electronic system component, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 or 28, which optimises one or more characteristics of an electronic system 10. The method comprising: expressing a steady state condition; selecting a trial value for the or each system component and calculating said steady state at the or each point; and applying a perturbation to the value of at least one of the said system components, such that a localised region around said steady state condition is linearised; and determining, as a consequence of said perturbation, a new steady state condition of said electronic system. A computer program carries out the prescribed optimisation method.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to mechanisms for content-aware redirection and content exchange/content discovery that permit a request for content to be redirected to a particular advantageous server that can serve the content.

Abstract: A system and method provide for recipient-initiated automatic repair of IP multicast sessions. A multicast application on a receiver issues a request to join an IP multicast session “X”. A translator/decryption module (TDM) on the receiver intercepts this request and sends it to a controller on a repair server. The controller sends a request to a subscription server to determine if this user has subscribed to the repair service. The controller receives a positive response from the subscription server and determines whether a repair/encryption module exists for this multicast session. If it does not, then the controller selects an IP multicast address, port number and decryption key for a new IP multicast session “Y”. This information is returned to the TDM. The controller creates a repair/encryption module (REM) and provides the IP multicast address and port number for the new IP multicast session “Y” and an encryption key to the REM.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the automatic and transparent repair of IP multicast sessions. The invention is a system and method for the repair of IP multicast sessions. In one aspect of the invention the method repairs a multicast session in a network, beginning with the step of sending a request message from a source to a subscription server in the network, requesting a repair service for an original multicast session originated by the source. The method continues by sending an enabling signal from the subscription server to a plurality of retransmit servers in the network, to buffer data traffic from the original multicast session, in response to the request. The method continues by buffering a copy of the data traffic at each of the plurality of retransmit servers and monitoring errors in each copy. The method continues by automatically selecting with the plurality of retransmit servers at least one retransmit server from among the plurality, having a minimum of the errors in its respective copy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for inserting a watermark in the compressed domain. The watermark inserted does not require a reference. An overall watermarking system incorporating the invention combines cleartext, bitstream, and integrated watermarking. In a perceptual coder, the data enters a filterbank, where it is processed into multiple separate coefficients. A rate/distortion control module uses noise threshold information from a perceptual coder, together with bit-count information from a noiseless coder, to compute scale factors. The coefficients are multiplied by the scale factors and quantized, then noiseless coded and then output for further processing/transmission. The invention supports three embodiments for inserting a mark into the bitstream imperceptibly. It is assumed that some set of scale factor bands have been selected, into which mark data will be inserted. In one embodiment, a set of multipliers {xi=2Ni: i&egr;M} is chosen.

Abstract: A method for sending data from a transmit site to a receive site which includes dividing a transmit data stream having a first bit rate into multiple data streams with each of the multiple data streams having a bit rate which is lower than the first bit rate, transmitting each of the multiple data streams over a plurality of RF channels and recombining the multiple data streams at the receive site to provide a receive data stream having a bit rate equal to the first bit rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sending data from a transmit site to a receive site which includes dividing a transmit data stream having a first bit rate into multiple data streams with each of the multiple data streams having a bit rate which is lower than the first bit rate, transmitting each of the multiple data streams over a plurality of RF channels and recombining the multiple data streams at the receive site to provide a receive data stream having a bit rate equal to the first bit rate.

Abstract: A transmit and receive system for transmitting data between a transmit site and a receive site. The system includes a tunnel source, router and modulator for dividing a transmit data stream having a first bit rate into multiple data streams with each of the multiple data streams having a bit rate which is lower than the first bit rate, transmitting each of the multiple data streams over a plurality of RF channels. The system further includes a demodulator and destination source for recombining the multiple data streams at the receive site to provide a receive data stream having a bit rate equal to the first bit rate.

Abstract: A distributed architecture for a future global Internet stock exchange utilizes a modified timed Reliable Multicast Protocol comprising geographically distributed backbone nodes and trading nodes regionally connected to backbone nodes so that multicast messages are received at the same time in a two tier distribution network. The architecture together with a timed reliable multicast protocol has characteristics such as periodic token passing appropriate for the market data distribution application so that trading sites are equally treated by the protocol. The protocol is modified/enhanced to provide time synchronous emission of data and improved scalability. Grades of service may be provided as between nodes which comprise trading nodes and individuals receiving data from such nodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that enhances a multicast information stream, such as an IP multicast session, in a communication network is provided. The stream is received through the communication network and is enhanced at substantially the time the first stream is received. The information stream may be enhanced by adding transcribed content, such as content generated by speech recognition software, or translated content, such as from a first language to a second language, to the stream. The information stream may also be enhanced by adding content to the first information stream, such as content is related to the original content. The enhanced stream may be sent to a user as a second multicast information stream. The enhanced stream may be received by the user in place of, or along with, the original information stream. The enhanced content may be sent to the user at the conclusion of the information stream, if desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that enhances a multicast information stream, such as an IP multicast session, in a communication network is provided. The stream is received through the communication network and is enhanced at substantially the time the first stream is received. The information stream may be enhanced by adding transcribed content, such as content generated by speech recognition software, or translated content, such as from a first language to a second language, to the stream. The information stream may also be enhanced by adding content to the first information stream, such as content related to the original content. The enhanced stream may be sent to a user as a second multicast information stream. The enhanced stream may be received by the user in place of, or along with, the original information stream. The enhanced content may be sent to the user at the conclusion of the information stream, if desired.

Abstract: A mobility support technique provides home agents and foreign agents in mobility aware access networks. Participating mobile hosts are assigned a home address that is used by other hosts as the mobile host's address. The home address actually addresses the home agent provided in the mobility aware access network. The home address provides additional privacy to the mobile host because it does not identify the mobile host's home premises network where the mobile host resides permanently absent any mobility of the mobile host. By providing home agents and foreign agents in a mobility aware access network, the agents may cooperatively establish optimal routing paths for data transmitted to a mobile host. The agents may identify a pseudo home agent, an agent in a mobility aware access network located near to a transmitting mobile host, that acts as the home agent of a destination mobile host.

Abstract: Proposed is a system and method for providing Intelligent Network services. In one embodiment, the system of the present invention includes a database interacting with a socket redirector installed on a client computer. In one method implemented using the system of the present invention, a socket redirector intercepts a standard Internet Protocol (IP) socket call from a client software application and identifies parameters within the socket call. If the redirector is able to determine that the identified parameters are addressed to the most appropriate socket for accommodating the software application's request, the IP socket call is sent to network software where the socket call is used to form packets which are sent over the network to the requested socket. If the redirector is unable to determine that the identified parameters are addressed to the most appropriate socket for accommodating the request, the redirector requests instructions from a database.

Abstract: A network based platform uses face recognition, speech recognition, background change detection and key scene events to index multimedia communications. Before the multimedia communication begins, active participants register their speech and face models with a server. The process consists of creating a speech sample, capturing a sample image of the participant and storing the data in a database. The server provides an indexing function for the multimedia communication. During the multimedia communication, metadata including time stamping is retained along with the multimedia content. The time stamping information is used for synchronizing the multimedia elements. The multimedia communication is then processed through the server to identify the multimedia communication participants based on speaker and face recognition models. This allows the server to create an index table that becomes an index of the multimedia communication.

Abstract: Given a log of previous web-surfer behavior listing the order in which each surfer downloaded specific items at the web site, and given a meaningful classification of those same items, future surfer behavior is predicted by the present invention. The algorithm utilizes a quantitative model relating items downloaded prior to some specified event to items downloaded after that same event. When the model is applied to a new surfer's session prior to an analogous event, the present invention predicts the likely behavior of the surfer subsequent to that event. The predicted behavior is then further analyzed to derive a quantitative value for the utility of the expected behavior. By randomly selecting sample sessions from a web log, multiple models of surfer behavior can be generated. The multiple models can then be applied to a new surfer's session to produce a predicted behavior/utility distribution and thus a confidence interval for the predicted behavior/utility.

Abstract: A signal is encoded, for example, perceptually and, during or after the perceptual coding process, a digital watermark is inserted into a quantized digital information signal resulting from the perceptual coding process in such a manner that its insertion is imperceptible to one later listening to, displaying or otherwise utilizing the information signal. Moreover, the digital watermark may be inserted in accordance with a key indicative of the location of the mark in the digitally encoded signal. The key may be protected with a trusted entity and distributed in such a manner as to be not detectable by a pirate. Consequently, the key may be utilized at watermarking apparatus that can be located anywhere in the distribution channel of a copyright protected work. The key may be embedded in a secure microprocessor of validating apparatus at a point of distribution or even at a point of sale.

Abstract: A signal is encoded, for example, perceptually and, during or after the perceptual coding process, a digital watermark is inserted into a quantized digital information signal resulting from the perceptual coding process in such a manner that its insertion is imperceptible to one later listening to, displaying or otherwise utilizing the information signal. Moreover, the digital watermark may be inserted in accordance with a key indicative of the location of the mark in the digitally encoded signal. The key may be protected with a trusted entity and distributed in such a manner as to be not detectable by a pirate. Consequently, the key may be utilized at watermarking apparatus that can be located anywhere in the distribution channel of a copyright protected work. The key may be embedded in a secure microprocessor of validating apparatus at a point of distribution or even at a point of sale.

Abstract: A network based platform uses face recognition, speech recognition, background change detection and key scene events to index multimedia communications. Before the multimedia communication begins, active participants register their speech and face models with a server. The process consists of creating a speech sample, capturing a sample image of the participant and storing the data in a database. The server provides an indexing function for the multimedia communication. During the multimedia communication, metadata including time stamping is retained along with the multimedia content. The time stamping information is used for synchronizing the multimedia elements. The multimedia communication is then processed through the server to identify the multimedia communication participants based on speaker and face recognition models. This allows the server to create an index table that becomes an index of the multimedia communication.