Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for transforming and rendering scenes of video data. A frame of video data is stored as a scene file. Components within the scene are edge detected, such that boundaries of the components of the scene are determined. The edge-detected components are saved as a first synthesized scene file describing the scene. The minor components of the scene are discarded, and the remaining major components are saved as a second synthesized scene file describing the scene. Vectors describing the boundaries of the major components are saved as a third synthesized scene file describing the scene. When a request is received for the frame of video data, any of the scene files may be returned to a requesting device, depending on bandwidth and/or cost.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for providing indicators in an interactive programming guide. Exemplary embodiments include a method for displaying an interactive program guide with program status indicators, the method including retrieving a set of program guide entries for the program guide, each of the program guide entries representing programs that have at least one indicator associated with, the program guide entry and illustrating the status of the programs, determining that a subset of the program guide entries represent programs include a particular status that includes a particular status indicator and displaying the status indicator adjacent each program guide entry of the subset of program, guide entries.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for multiple reminder and sub-events for calendar items. Exemplary embodiments include a method including creating an event having an event time in the electronic calendar, creating a first reminder associated with the event and configured to activate at a first time prior to the event and creating another reminder associated with the event and configured to activate at a second time prior to the event and after the first time. Additional exemplary embodiments include a method including identifying deadlines associated with the sub-events, setting a reminder for each of the deadlines associated with the sub-events, setting a sound attribute for each of the reminders, and activating the reminder for each of the deadlines associated with the sub-events. An activation two reminders having a common deadline can have a unique sound attribute.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include a method for creating an electronic identification card during a real time communications session including: presenting a user with an option to enter personal information; receiving a command from the user to send the electronic identification card including the personal information during the real time communications session; recording the personal information for the electronic identification card with a data entry method; and sending the electronic identification card to a device involved in the real time communications session.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include a method for creating an electronic identification card during a real time communications session including: presenting a user with an option to enter personal information; receiving a command from the user to send the electronic identification card including the personal information during the real time communications session; recording the personal information for the electronic identification card with a data entry method; and sending the electronic identification card to a device involved in the real time communications session.

Abstract: In a method of controlling the power state of a peripheral device, the peripheral is changed from a first power state to a second power state in response to communications across a network connected to the peripheral indicating that a user is proximately located to the peripheral. A user may be determined to be proximately located to the peripheral by monitoring communications across the network to detect traffic that is associated with a user logging onto a computer that can utilize the peripheral, by discovering a wireless terminal that is associated with a user and which is proximately located to the peripheral, by receiving information from a cellular communication network across the network that indicates that a user of the peripheral is proximately located to the peripheral, and/or in response to a time of day and/or day of week/month schedule.

Abstract: An interactive method of providing an array of nucleic acid sequences in which a remote user enters a query to generate a listing of desired sequence probes, which are then selected and returned to the host for use in producing a custom microarray designed by a remote user.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing a calling party to save information obtained from an information retrieval system. The caller may select options to save the information to a memory location, e.g., the caller's own network-based voice mail system or a temporary voice mailbox provided for the caller by the information provider, from which the caller can subsequently retrieve and review the information. The information may be saved to an Internet-based website from which the caller may subsequently retrieve the information. The information may be forwarded to a separate telephone directory number for receipt by a third person or for storing on a remote voice mail system. Additionally, the information may be electronically mailed to the caller's electronic mail address for subsequent retrieval. Discussions with a live attendant may be recorded and stored, as audio files or as converted to text, for access by or delivery to the caller.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing a calling party to save information obtained from an information retrieval system. The caller may select options to save the information to a memory location, e.g., the caller's own network-based voice mail system or a temporary voice mailbox provided for the caller by the information provider, from which the caller can subsequently retrieve and review the information. The information may be saved to an Internet-based website from which the caller may subsequently retrieve the information. The information may be forwarded to a separate telephone directory number for receipt by a third person or for storing on a remote voice mail system. Additionally, the information may be electronically mailed to the caller's electronic mail address for subsequent retrieval. Discussions with a live attendant may be recorded and stored, as audio files or as converted to text, for access by or delivery to the caller.

Abstract: Optical transceivers used in data communications equipment are typically bidirectional and require two-way communications in order to maintain their operability. However, in some applications such as cable television, the traffic is highly unbalanced with very high bandwidth requirements in one direction and minimal bandwidth requirements in the opposite direction. Hence for such efficient and cost effective one-way communication applications, unidirectional fiber optic transceivers are useful. There is provided here a unidirectional transceiver provided internally with a keep-alive signal generator to enable unidirectional transmissions. The keep alive signal is, for instance, idle characters for a Gigabit Ethernet communication system, or any other suitable handshake signal which provides the desired operability.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include a method for managing contact information in case of emergency including: receiving from a requesting device a unique identifier corresponding to a emergency subject; retrieving from a database an emergency contact information corresponding to the unique identifier; and communicating the emergency contact information to the requesting device.

Abstract: In a communication network architecture including mobile equipment that employs multiple functions selectable for use by the user, the functions having respective measurable parameters, a service provider monitors the user's behavior with, and use of, the mobile equipment. An agent, such as software installed on-board the mobile equipment, measures parameters that are related to the user's behavior and use of the mobile equipment, and communicates the measured parameters to the service provider, over the communication network. The agent detects change of such user behavior and use, and accordingly changes parameters to measure and report on.

Abstract: In a communication network architecture, a service provider monitors its customer's experience as the customer selects and uses services offered by the service provider. An agent, such as software installed on-board the customer's mobile equipment, measures parameters that are related to the services, and communicates the measured parameters to the service provider, over the communication network.

Abstract: A method for electronic information transfer by a sender. The method includes composing an electronic message on a sender terminal. At least one announcement file is associated with an attribute of the electronic message, the announcement file configured for playing at a recipient terminal upon the recipient terminal receiving the electronic message. The electronic message and the association to the announcement file is sent over a network to a recipient at the recipient terminal. Embodiments include a computer program product for implementing the method.

Abstract: In a communication network architecture having multiple technology coverage areas that support different network technologies, a service provider monitors its customer's experience as the customer roams between technology coverage areas. An agent, such as software installed on-board the customer's mobile equipment, measures parameters that are related to the network technology, and communicates the measured parameters to the service provider, over the communication network.

Abstract: In a communication network architecture having multiple service providers over different service areas, a home service provider monitors its customer's experience as the customer roams between technology coverage areas supported by different service providers. An agent, such as software installed on-board the customer's mobile equipment, measures parameters that are related to the service provider and the services it provides, and communicates the measured parameters to the home service provider over the communication network.

Abstract: In a method and system, one or more communication devices within a communication network are provided with a dynamically and remotely configurable probe element, implemented at least partially in software and controllable by the network operator via one or more communication links, capable of monitoring, measuring and capturing user interaction data flowing from voice and/or data transactions occurring in the network. User interaction data reflects a user's experience on the network and thus provides valuable raw data usable by the network operator for improving network quality from the user's perspective, especially when received from a statistically significant number of network user devices. Collected user interaction data can include network engineering metric data and/or user profile data.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that use mobile collectors for accessing a wireless sensor network. In certain embodiments, one or more mobile collectors having mobility that is unpredictable to a wireless sensor network are deployed for use in accessing the wireless sensor network. Thus, rather than relying on an access technique having certainty designed therein with regard to the access of a wireless sensor network, certain embodiments utilize an access technique that relies on statistical probability for accessing the wireless sensor network. For instance, by deploying a plurality of mobile collectors that are operable for accessing a wireless sensor network, a statistical probability exists that at some point (or at various points in time) at least one of the mobile collectors will travel within range of the wireless sensor network to enable access thereof.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments include a method for creating an electronic identification card during a real time communications session including: presenting a user with an option to enter personal information; receiving a command from the user to send the electronic identification card including the personal information during the real time communications session; recording the personal information for the electronic identification card with a data entry method; and sending the electronic identification card to a device involved in the real time communications session.

Abstract: Included is a method for saving instant messages. Embodiments of the method include receiving a message from a sender, wherein the message is configured for delivery to a recipient. Embodiments of the method also include determining whether the recipient has viewed the message, and in response to determining that the recipient has not viewed the message, storing the message for subsequent delivery.