Abstract: This invention relates to a network architecture for data communication between data sources and data destinations via network nodes and at least one data concentrator. According to the invention the nodes (2, 4) are conceived to communicate with a data concentrator (1) in both directions either via a permanently operative network (8) in the multihop mode or via an occasionally operative network (5) in wireless connection with mobile user nodes (6) in the nomadic mode. Means for commutation are provided to detect faulty multihop nodes and to activate nomadic nodes instead until the fault disappears, in order to maintain the overall functionality of the network. Moreover the network according to the invention allows the data collected by mobile users to be shared with other mobile users, thus forming a peer-to-peer network.

Abstract: The underlying invention generally relates to the field of mobile computing in a wireless mobile networking environment with distributed multimedia applications (130). More specifically, it is directed to the field of Quality-of-Service (QOS) management for adaptive real-time services running on mobile devices and an End-to-End Negotiation Protocol (E2ENP) based on a novel usage of a session-layer protocol (SIP) in conjunction with extensions of a session description protocol implementation (SDP, SDPng) and the Extensible Markup Language (XML) for defining user profile and terminal capability information which allow to enforce and use hierarchical QOS Contract specifications.

Abstract: This invention relates to a network architecture for data communication between data sources and data destinations via network nodes and at least one data concentrator. According to the invention the nodes (2, 4) are conceived to communicate with a data concentrator (1) in both directions either via a permanently operative network (8) in the multihop mode or via an occasionally operative network (5) in wireless connection with mobile user nodes (6) in the nomadic mode. Means for commutation are provided to detect faulty multihop nodes and to activate nomadic nodes instead until the fault disappears, in order to maintain the overall functionality of the network. Moreover the network according to the invention allows the data collected by mobile users to be shared with other mobile users, thus forming a peer-to-peer network.

Abstract: This invention relates to a network architecture for data communication between data sources and data destinations via network nodes and at least one data concentrator. According to the invention the nodes (2, 4) are conceived to communicate with a data concentrator (1) in both directions either via a permanently operative network (8) in the multihop mode or via an occasionally operative network (5) in wireless connection with mobile user nodes (6) in the nomadic mode. Means for commutation are provided to detect faulty multihop nodes and to activate nomadic nodes instead until the fault disappears, in order to maintain the overall functionality of the network. Moreover the network according to the invention allows to share the data collected by mobile users with other mobile users, thus forming a peer-to-peer network.

Abstract: This invention relates to a network architecture for data communication between data sources and data destinations via network nodes and at least one data concentrator. According to the invention the nodes (2, 4) are conceived to communicate with a data concentrator (1) in both directions either via a permanently operative network (8) in the multihop mode or via an occasionally operative network (5) in wireless connection with mobile user nodes (6) in the nomadic mode. Means for commutation are provided to detect faulty multihop nodes and to activate nomadic nodes instead until the fault disappears, in order to maintain the overall functionality of the network. Moreover the network according to the invention allows to share the data collected by mobile users with other mobile users, thus forming a peer-to-peer network.

Abstract: A system for establishing a session between two entities in a telecommunications network. The system includes the following Application Programming Interfaces (APIs): a Management API representing an interface between the system and an entity managing it, an API representing an interface between the system, middleware and/or an application using services offered by the system, and a generic session-layer protocol API representing an interface between the system and a User Agent of a session-layer protocol.

Abstract: This invention relates to a network architecture for data communication between data sources and data destinations via network nodes and at least one data concentrator. According to the invention the nodes (2, 4) are conceived to communicate with a data concentrator (1) in both directions either via a permanently operative network (8) in the multihop mode or via an occasionally operative network (5) in wireless connection with mobile user nodes (6) in the nomadic mode. Means for commutation are provided to detect faulty multihop nodes and to activate nomadic nodes instead until the fault disappears, in order to maintain the overall functionality of the network. Moreover the network according to the invention allows to share the data collected by mobile users with other mobile users, thus forming a peer-to-peer network.

Abstract: A system offering an Application Programming Interface for multi-stream multimedia applications running on at least two registered end peers participating in a mobile telecommunication session and/or middleware being connected to a mobile network. The system providing guaranteed end-to-end quality and resource capabilities using the concept of concatenated E2ENP phases and providing a pre-negotiation of a multiplicity of alternative capabilities and QoS Contracts, management of leased pre-negotiated information, session establishment between said end peers with negotiation of a multiplicity of alternative capabilities and/or QoS Contracts, and a dynamic re-negotiation of the end-to-end quality and capabilities.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of mobile multimedia middleware, quality-of-service, shared resource reservation mechanisms, distributed processing systems, handheld computers, computer networking and wireless communication. Particularly, the present invention describes a processing system and pieces of software for one or more communication networks, with middleware comprising an application programming interface (102) cast over a data model describing quality-of-service contracts and quality-of-service adaptation paths specified by quality-of-service aware mobile multimedia applications (101) using said programming interface, in order to manage quality-of-service and mobility-aware for managing network connections with other applications. The present invention hereby relates to a corresponding data model as well as the necessary architecture.

Abstract: In mobile computing and context awareness in mobile ad-hoc networks, node connectivity is unpredictably time-varying. A middleware entity solves the problem of automatically executing a user-defined set of actions, collected in a user profile, upon detection of events such as an attachment of a mobile terminal to the ad-hoc network, changes of the underlying network topology, the moving of mobile terminals into the physical proximity of further mobile terminals, the presence of services and/or of users within the network, and a detachment of a mobile terminal from the ad-hoc network. Thereby, the actions are invocations of services hosted on the mobile terminal or other mobile terminals interconnected via the ad-hoc network. The aforementioned profiles are stored on mobile terminals (e.g. PDAs, mobile phones, etc.) or on fixed or mobile customer-edge devices such as television sets, home gateways, etc. Also envisioned is the deployment of a distributed database holding the profiles.

Abstract: This invention presents a framework for achieving dynamic End-to End QoS negotiation and control coordination, with distributed multimedia applications. The framework builds upon dynamic capability negotiations and specification of Adaptation Paths and (alternative) QoS Contracts, based on user preferences. In particular we present a protocol providing End-to-End negotiation of alternative QoS, capabilities, and preferences/configurations, based on extensions of IP-based protocols like SIP/RTSP/SDP, in coordination with mechanisms for network resource reservation (e.g. RSVP), local terminal resource (e.g. CPU, memory, power, auxiliary devices) reservation, and adaptation mechanisms. To this extent, and with respect to two or more peers (101, 103) this invention identifies six phases, through which said peers can establish multiparty, multi-stream, multimedia communications.

Abstract: The underlying invention generally relates to the field of mobile computing in a networking environment with distributed multimedia applications and technologies. More specifically, it is directed to the concept of the End-to-End Negotiation Protocol (E2ENP) phases, which enable a pre-negotiation (802, 804, 805), fast negotiation (806) and a fast, dynamic renegotiation (808) of the end-to-end quality and capabilities for telecommunication sessions (102), for multiple configurations of two or a multiplicity of end peers and/or intermediate components in a consistent, reliable, and incremental way by enabling the mobile users' applications to efficiently and timely react to QoS violations. In this context, the invention proposes a model for defining user profiles and terminal capability information in such a way that hierarchical QoS contract specifications (1108), e.g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication device and a software for operating multimedia applications in one or more communication networks, with a computing manager unit (52) for managing and providing multimedia applications on the basis of a communication with one or more communication devices in the one or more communication networks, whereby the computing manager unit (52) controls a device discovery manager unit (58) for detecting the availability of one or more devices and/or one or more communication networks, a service discovery manager unit (56) for providing available services from and/or for said one or more communication networks, and a virtual device manager unit (60) providing a graphical user interface for controlling devices and/or services of the one or more communication networks. The present invention particularly enables mobile multimedia applications to effectively use mobile ad-hoc networks in a simple and effective way.

Abstract: This invention relates to a network architecture for data communication between data sources and data destinations via network nodes and at least one data concentrator. According to the invention the nodes (2, 4) are conceived to communicate with a data concentrator (1) in both directions either via a permanently operative network (8) in the multihop mode or via an occasionally operative network (5) in wireless connection with mobile user nodes (6) in the nomadic mode. Means for commutation are provided to detect faulty multihop nodes and to activate nomadic nodes instead until the fault disappears, in order to maintain the overall functionality of the network. Moreover the network according to the invention allows to share the data collected by mobile users with other mobile users, thus forming a peer-to-peer network.

Abstract: The invention generally related to the field of mobile multimedia middle-ware, computer networking, distributed processing systems, data bases, hand-held computers and wireless communication. A method for conveniently managing user profile information in an unified instant messaging system (7) is proposed. This method operates on a data base structure, which accommodates in a flexible way subscribers' information. More specifically, this method takes into account the mutable characteristics of the environment where subscribers' devices (9) are operating: subscribers can in fact freely modify their personal user profiles (1) as situations change and/or as they move to different geographical locations.

Abstract: The underlying invention generally relates to the field of mobile computing in a wireless mobile networking environment with distributed multimedia applications (130). More specifically, it is directed to the field of Quality-of-Service (QOS) management for adaptive real-time services running on mobile devices and an End-to-End Negotiation Protocol (E2ENP) based on a novel usage of a session-layer protocol (SIP) in conjunction with extensions of a session description protocol implementation (SDP, SDPng) and the Extensible Markup Language (XML) for defining user profile and terminal capability information which allow to enforce and use hierarchical QOS Contract specifications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a processing system and to pieces of software for one or more communication networks. Applications are provided with a platform and a network-independent framework for achieving cross-adaptability by providing components for QoS management in the communication network(s) by means of a component coordinator unit.

Abstract: The underlying invention generally relates to the field of mobile computing in a networking environment with distributed multimedia applications and technologies. More specifically, it is directed to the concept of the End-to-End Negotiation Protocol (E2ENP) phases, which enable a pre-negotiation (802, 804, 805), fast negotiation (806) and a fast, dynamic renegotiation (808) of the end-to-end quality and capabilities for telecommunication sessions (102), for multiple configurations of two or a multiplicity of end peers and/or intermediate components in a consistent, reliable, and incremental way by enabling the mobile users' applications to efficiently and timely react to QoS violations. In this context, the invention proposes a model for defining user profiles and terminal capability information in such a way that hierarchical QoS contract specifications (1108), e.g.

Abstract: In mobile computing and context awareness in mobile ad-hoc networks (502a) node connectivity is unpredictably time-varying. A middleware entity (110?) solves the problem of automatically executing a user-defined set of actions (214), collected in a user profile (210), upon detection of events such as an attachment of a mobile terminal (504) to the ad-hoc network (502a), changes of the underlying network topology, the moving of mobile terminals into the physical proximity of further mobile terminals, the presence of services and/or of users within said network, and a detachment of a mobile terminal from the ad-hoc network. Thereby, said actions (214) are invocations of services hosted on said mobile terminal (504) or other mobile terminals interconnected via said ad-hoc network (502a). The aforementioned profiles are stored on mobile terminals (e.g. PDAs, mobile phones, etc.) or on fixed or mobile customer-edge (CE) devices such as television sets, home gateways, etc.

Abstract: This invention presents a framework for achieving dynamic End-to End QoS negotiation and control coordination, with distributed multimedia applications. The framework builds upon dynamic capability negotiations and specification of Adaptation Paths and (alternative) QoS Contracts, based on user preferences. In particular we present a protocol providing End-to-End negotiation of alternative QoS, capabilities, and preferences/configurations, based on extensions of IP-based protocols like SIP/RTSP/SDP, in coordination with mechanisms for network resource reservation (e.g. RSVP), local terminal resource (e.g. CPU, memory, power, auxiliary devices) reservation, and adaptation mechanisms. To this extent, and with respect to two or more peers (101, 103) this invention identifies six phases, through which said peers can establish multiparty, multi-stream, multimedia communications.