Abstract: In a networked system having a protected central server network connected to one or more satellite servers, the central server includes master data, and each satellite system includes replicated data derived from the master data. A corruption of at least a portion of the replicated data in one of the satellite servers is determined. Responsive to determining the corruption, at least the corrupted portion of the replicated data is replaced in the satellite server with data derived from the master data of the central server.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program and method for delivering a streaming data to a remote device from a wireless transmitter. In one embodiment, a transmitter is configured to send units of the streaming data to the remote device. A receiver is configured to receive usage data about the streaming data from the remote device. An adjusting module is configured to automatically adjust a transmission strategy of unsent units of the streaming data based, at least in part, on the usage data as a function of time according to a transmission policy. The usage data may include at least location information about the remote device or time of day information at the remote device. A user interface at the remote device may be configured to adjust the predefined transmission policy.

Abstract: In a networked system having a protected central server network connected to one or more satellite servers, the central server includes master data, and each satellite system includes replicated data derived from the master data. A corruption of at least a portion of the replicated data in one of the satellite servers is determined. Responsive to determining the corruption, at least the corrupted portion of the replicated data is replaced in the satellite server with data derived from the master data of the central server.

Abstract: The present invention is an application-aware method for allocating resources to applications based on a set of predefined policies comprising a Resource Allocation Program (RAP). The RAP is application-aware in that the RAP does not arbitrarily allocate resources to requesting applications. Instead, the RAP allocates resources to requesting applications based on predefined policies. The RAP allows a user to define the resource allocation for each policy in a Resource Allocation Table and associate the applications with the policies in a Policy Application Table. When an application requests resources, the RAP looks to the Policy Allocation Table to determine the policy associated with the application and looks to the Resource Allocation Table to determine the permissible amount of resources to allocate to the application associated with the policy. The RAP then allocates the resources to the requesting application.

Abstract: Techniques for adaptive QoS include selecting, based on one or more QoS criteria corresponding to a client, one or more given data items suitable for sending to the client in response to a query from the client. The one or more given data items are selected from a set of data items. One or more statistics are associated with the one or more data items. The one or more statistics are useable to modify which data items are included in the set of data items. The statistics may be used by removing unpopular data items, as determined by the statistics, from the set of data items in the communication system. Additionally, data items exceeding the one or more QoS criteria can be transcoded to create new data items meeting the one or more QoS criteria, and the new data items can be added to the set of data items in the communication system. Thus, the set of data items can be changed depending on current demand by users for particular data items.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for an interactive television commerce environment, acting as a central point of control and information for enabling and facilitating information distribution and transactions in this environment. The apparatus is an essential element of an interactive television (ITV) commerce system, and enables the introduction of interactive commerce services in cable, satellite, and other broadcast networks. Other services provided include interfacing with off-line interactive ads, historical review and tracking services for users, and providing feedback and ITV ad modification capabilities to advertisers. The apparatus, residing at a local head end, can also add to or modify ads by inserting content of local relevance.

Abstract: In response to an internet interrogation by a user for goods or services, a hypermedia presentation is provided that starts out with delivery and presentation of simple thumbnail descriptions of the available goods and services, and proceeds in steps through delivery and presentation of more complex descriptions. The presentations are arranged in segments and permit multiple modes of operation. Each mode has a different set of attributes that permit progress through the presentation in a different manner. When a user first enters a website, he is placed in navigation mode which enables him to browse the website by moving from category to category of goods, having an initial look at the offerings of each category. The user can then move on to the inspection and/or transaction modes. In the inspection mode: the user can examine in more detail the various aspects of the goods he is interested in; can change to a more detailed explanation; zoom in on various portions of the goods; and obtain related information.

Abstract: A single file contains all information for a complete presentation. Each presentation file contains both data and software for the presentation. It includes both the data and software provided to the user and that retained by the server for the performance of the presentation. The basic building block for a presentation is a frame. The presentation file can contain a file header frame and multiple media frames, and one or more meta data frame. Of the frame types, the file header frame is the only one whose presence is mandatory in the presentation file format. The file header frame identifies the subject matter and contents of the presentation file providing information on the media types and total length of the file. The most degenerate yet useful version of a presentation file would have the file header frame followed by a media frame containing a thumbnail description. A thumbnail description may constitute a simple still picture or written description of the subject matter.

Abstract: Network presentations to be displayed on the users screen are divided into increasing more detailed phases. In each phase, the code controlling the phase and the data displayed in the phase are segmented. In transmission over the network, the transmission of the code segment of each phase precedes the transmission of the data segment for that phase. Code transferred to the user's terminal monitors the progress of the display of the current phase on the users screen. When sufficient data for the new phase showing then displayed scene enters the users storage, the code for the incoming phase takes over the presentation on the screen substituting data from the incoming phase for the proceeding phase. In this way, transitions are orderly and seamless.