Abstract: System for deferring the delivery of an e-mail sent by a sender to a receiver through a data transmission network such as Internet wherein a Message Transfer Agent (MTA) associated with the sender is in charge of transmitting over the network any e-mail being sent by the sender. The system comprises a retention server for storing the e-mail whose delivery is to be deferred and an authorization server for giving the retention server the authorization to deliver the stored deferred e-mail to the receiver when predetermined criteria are met. The MTA associated with the sender includes a retention enabling program for sending the deferred e-mail to the retention server when there is an indication in the e-mail that it is to be deferred.

Abstract: Data encrypted with a scrambling key Ks are transmitted from a service provider via a master device to a plurality of client devices having unique identifiers, administered by the master device. A set of partial keys comprising a respective partial key for each respective one of the plurality of clients is calculated at the service provider, by applying a predetermined function to the unique identifiers of all clients but for the identifier of the respective one of the plurality of clients. This set of partial keys is transmitted to the master device, which transmits to each respective clients the respective partial key calculated therefore. Each client can then derive the scrambling key from the respective partial key received from the master device by reference to its own unique identifier, and use the result to decrypt the data.

Abstract: A content stream user defines preferences, which are compared to aggregated metadata describing in real time a plurality of content streams to which the user has access. The metadata for each content stream may be generated by automated analysis of onscreen indicators, noise levels in standard video or audio sequences, or speech recognition or image recognition data applied to identify particular keywords, individuals, etc. Where a match between content and user preferences is identified, the user is notified, and may be given the option of switching to the matching content stream. A number of approaches are used to ensure that the user is able to access the whole of the content of interest, and does not miss the starting porting.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for personalized advertising in mobile broadcast television. A method for use in a personal device, for personalizing a service broadcast over a digital broadcast, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, includes: receiving content for personalizing and display on the personal device, comparing the content with a user profile stored on the personal device to generate a stored personalized content for storage on the personal device, receiving a broadcast service for display on the personal device, and stopping the display at a predetermined time and displaying instead the stored personalized content.

Abstract: A method of delivering a regional television channel to a user over an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service comprising the steps of forming a multicast of channels intended for delivery to a user each channel having a specific channel slot, the multicast of channels including one or more regional channels corresponding to one of the multicast of channels; broadcasting the multicast channels to the user through a regional gateway; forming a regional channel control signal for scheduling and requesting broadcast of the at least one regional channel instead of the one of the multicast of channels; transmitting the regional channel control signal to the regional gateway; and in accordance with the regional channel control signal, at the required time, switching the regional gateway to the at least one regional channel instead of the corresponding one of the multicast channels such that the regional channel is in the specific channel slot of the corresponding channel.

Abstract: A home environment managing method and system to manage home environment values from a plurality of locations is disclosed. The method allows in an acquisition mode to acquire through a Universal Remote Console a plurality of reference sets of home environment values from the plurality of locations. Each of the plurality of reference sets of home environment values are converted into a normalized set using a respective translation algorithm. Each normalized set is stored with a link to the translation algorithm used during the conversion. Furthermore, in a restore mode, a normalized set of home environment values is converted into a reference set using the translation algorithm linked to it, and then the reference set is restore to the appropriate location through a Universal Remote Console.

Abstract: A method of forming a picture in picture (PIP) service over an internet protocol (IP) transmission to one or more users, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a request for a PIP channel comprising a first predetermined channel superimposed with a second predetermined channel; determining if the PIP channel already exists; forming the PIP channel if it does not already exist; and transmitting the PIP channel on a dedicated channel to any users who have requested that PIP channel.

Abstract: A method and system of managing one or more sessions in an Internet Protocol (IP) Multi-Media service (IMS) in which a session provides a stream of data of a specific protocol in order to provide a service to a user is provided. The method in one aspect includes storing details of a session for each user in a storage media, updating the storage media if there are changes to the session and using the details of the session to optimize the bandwidth and scheduling of the service as a whole.

Abstract: A method and systems for multicasting web content to users is disclosed. According to the invention, the behavior of Internet users is analyzed for determining user profiles. The data accessed by a user are multicast to all the users sharing the same profile. Optionally, information relative to the number of access to the document is provided to the users to whom data are multicast.

Abstract: System for enhancing the security of the e-mails transmitted from a sender (10) to a receiver (12) over a data transmission network such as Internet wherein a Message Transfer Agent (MTA) (14) associated with the sender is in charge of transmitting over the network an original e-mail sent by the sender. The MTA associated with the sender includes a message splitting means (16) adapted to divide the original e-mail into a plurality of chunks according to a predetermined algorithm and a predetermined list of relay MTAs (20, 22, 24) to which are forwarded the plurality of chunks. The system comprises a chunk assembly agent (28) for receiving from the relay MTAs the plurality of chunks and re-assembling them by using the predetermined algorithm in order to re-build the e-mail before sending it to the receiver.

Abstract: A method for managing bandwidth for transmitting the content of a video to users requesting the content. The total time duration T of the video is divided into N consecutive sessions. A unicast or multicast connection in normal play mode may be created for each session only at discrete times separated by a time increment ?T equal to T/N. An overall bandwidth B is established for transmitting the content of the video to the users. The overall bandwidth B is divided into a first part B1 and a second part B2. The first part B1 is allocated to a normal play mode of the video during the N sessions such that B1=N*R, where R is the bit transmission rate of the video. The second part B2 is allocated to unicast sessions dedicated to implementation of at least one non-normal streaming mode of the video.

Abstract: A method and computer system for managing bandwidth in a content on demand service provided by a service provider to users. A request is received from a user to receive the content. If it is ascertained that a total number of users requesting the content within a predetermined time period is below a first specified threshold, then the user is connected to a unicast stream of the content. If it is ascertained that a total number of users requesting the content within a predetermined time period is not below a first specified threshold, then the user is connected to a first multicast stream of the content. A video carousel includes at least two multicast streams that contains the first multicast stream. Each multicast stream has been or will be initiated at a unique time slot of a time period that is equal to the time duration of the content.

Abstract: A method of providing a preview and or replay function for a content on demand service provided by a service provider to a plurality of users. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes: generating a first stream of content for transmission to a user; generating one or more other streams of content, each of which are derived from the first stream of content and differ therefrom in that the other streams are each in advance of or after the first stream by a time difference; transmitting the first stream of content to the user; receiving a request from the user to view a preview or replay of a part of the content; and switching the user to one of the other streams of content, which other stream is at the time difference that matches the requested preview or replay part of the content.

Abstract: In a data processing system (100) supporting electronic mail (e-mail) messaging, a method, apparatus and software for distributing an e-mail message from a sender mail user agent (315a) to recipients mail user agents (315b-315f). The method comprises: providing a remote directory (305), located remotely (310) with respect to the sender mail user agent, including recipients e-mail addresses; providing a mailbox (335) associated with a distribution list building agent (340) adapted to interact with the directory so as to perform queries and obtain in reply lists of recipients' e-mail addresses; including in the e-mail message directives for performing a query on the directory, and addressing the e-mail message to the mailbox, whereby the distribution list building agent builds a list of recipients e-mail addresses; and propagating the e-mail message from the mailbox to the recipients whose e-mail addresses are in the list.

Abstract: In a data processing system (100) supporting electronic mail (e-mail) messaging, a method, an apparatus and software for distributing an e-mail message from a sender mail user agent (315a) to recipients mail user agents (315b-315f), comprising: providing a remote directory (305) of recipients' contacts including recipients e-mail addresses, the remote directory being located remotely (310) with respect to the sender mail user agent; providing a mail transfer agent (330b) having an interface function (340) with said remote directory, the interface function being adapted to interact with the remote directory so as to perform queries and obtain in reply lists of recipients' e-mail addresses; including in an address field of the e-mail message a pseudo-address, the pseudo-address comprising an address of said mail transfer agent, and at least one directive for the interface function; upon reception of the e-mail message by the mail transfer agent, having the interface function translate the at least one directive

Abstract: A repair system is disclosed comprising: a server having a repair manager; a client device having a repair agent; and a network, wherein the server and the client device are connected to the network. The repair agent, in response to a repair signal, is operable to restrict communication of the client device on the network to the repair manager, and the repair manager is operable to provide a repair application. The repair system is enabled to correct actual or potential problems including software viruses and trojans, and spam messages. Diagnosis and repairs can be carried out in response to a deleterious detection system or through user input to the device. The repair agent requires only limited system resources and therefore it particularly applicable to mobile devices where system resources are at a premium.

Abstract: A traveller contact information centralising system designed to obtain up-to-date information regarding a user's location. The traveller contact information centralising system sends this information to the user, so that he can decide whether a centralised directory should be updated with this information. In the event that the user agrees to the update of the centralised directory with the relevant information, the traveller contact information centralising system provides the secure transfer of the information to an application that manages the centralized directory.

Abstract: A home environment managing method and system to manage home environment values from a plurality of locations is disclosed. The method allows in an acquisition mode to acquire through a Universal Remote Console a plurality of reference sets of home environment values from the plurality of locations. Each of the plurality of reference sets of home environment values are converted into a normalized set using a respective translation algorithm. Each normalized set is stored with a link to the translation algorithm used during the conversion. Furthermore, in a restore mode, a normalized set of home environment values is converted into a reference set using the translation algorithm linked to it, and then the reference set is restore to the appropriate location through a Universal Remote Console.

Abstract: System, method and program product executed at a workstation for selecting recipients of an e-mail. The workstation displays an initial list of potential recipients of said e-mail. A user identifies to the workstation a first type of recipient to receive the e-mail. The initial list including at least one recipient of the first type. A user identifies to the workstation a second type of recipient not to receive the e-mail. The initial list including at least one recipient of the second type. The workstation automatically determining a final list of recipients to receive the e-mail. The final list is the recipients of the initial list which are the first type but not the second type.

Abstract: An electronic mail management system and method is disclosed comprising a control table for storing information related to sent and received messages of an email client, wherein the stored information relates to header fields of the received and sent messages and, in particular, to fields as defined in Internet Engineering Task Force standard RFC 2822. The system monitors the control table to identify received messages which relate to sent messages and also to identify sent messages which have not been responded to by the recipients of the sent message. The email client displays received messages stored in the control table hierarchically according to the related sent message and also displays the status of the messages in the control table.