Abstract: A selection resource executed within the network is configured for selecting from among a plurality of servers, distributed throughout the network at respective network-based server locations in each configured for providing a specified service, a selected server for providing the specified service for a client device at a network-based client location. The selection resource selects the selected server based on the corresponding server location relative to the client location, and causes a request having been generated by the client device to be sent to the selected server. Hence, the selection resource optimizes client-server interactions in a distributed computing network, based on the client location and the server location.

Abstract: A selection resource executed within the network is configured for selecting from among a plurality of servers, distributed throughout the network at respective network-based server locations in each configured for providing a specified service, a selected server for providing the specified service for a client device at a network-based client location. The selection resource selects the selected server based on the corresponding server location relative to the client location, and causes a request having been generated by the client device to be sent to the selected server. Hence, the selection resource optimizes client-server interactions in a distributed computing network, based on the client location and the server location.

Abstract: A network-enabled user interface device, for example a VoIP telephony device, includes a display, a user input interface, an interface controller, and an application controller. The interface controller is configured for generating display elements for the display, controlling the user input interface based on received commands, and outputting responses to the application controller. The application controller is configured for outputting the commands to the interface controller based on application operations executed locally (i.e., within the user interface device), or remotely (e.g., by a server in communication with the user interface device). Remote application operations may include communications between the application controller and the remote server. The interface controller also may generate the display elements based on messages received from the network.

Abstract: Coding quantized transform coefficients as occur in image compression combines a position coding method to code the position of clusters of consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients with an amplitude coding method to code the amplitudes of a concatenation of a plurality of the clusters. The amplitude coding method exploits that runs of amplitude 1 coefficients are more likely in the clusters than runs of other coefficient amplitudes.

Abstract: A Method, apparatus, and carrier medium to encode a series of quantized transform coefficients. The method includes identifying events that each includes a run of one or more non-zero-valued coefficients, and for each such event, encoding the event with a codeword that for at least some events, relatively more likely-to-occur events are encoded by a shorter codeword than relatively less likely-to-occur events, and for each identified event, jointly encoding a plurality of consecutive values in the run of consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients, the joint encoding according to an amplitude coding method. The method is such that relatively short codewords are formed to represent values or sequences of values that are relatively more likely-to-occur, and relatively long codewords are formed to represent values or sequences of values that are relatively less likely-to-occur. The method is applicable to encoding a region in the series where there is likely to be a cluster of non-zero-valued coefficient.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and carrier medium to encode a series of quantized transform coefficients. The method includes identifying events that each includes a run of zero-valued coefficients preceding a run of one or more non-zero-valued coefficients, and for each such event, jointly encoding the run lengths of the preceding run of zero-valued coefficients and the following run of non-zero-valued coefficients with a codeword, such that for at least some events, relatively more likely-to-occur pairs of runlengths are encoded by a shorter codeword than relatively less likely-to-occur runlengths. The method further includes encoding each amplitude in the run of consecutive non-zero-valued coefficients, and encoding the signs of such coefficients. The method is applicable to encoding a region in the series where there is likely to be a cluster of non-zero-valued coefficients.

Abstract: Distributed data, having been stored in a distributed storage system as a collection of distributed data elements, is recovered based on connection of multiple user nodes, each user node having stored selected distributed data elements as a corresponding portion of the distributed data during replication of the distributed data elements throughout the distributed storage system. Each distributed data element is identifiable by a corresponding unique object identifier (OID). Each user node includes a discovery resource for discovering reachable user nodes, a local cache configured for identifying at least the corresponding portion of the distributed data based on the respective OIDs, and an identification service module configured for resolving a data object to a corresponding OID, via the corresponding local cache, or based on sending a query to the reachable user nodes. Hence, user nodes can recover distributed data based on exchanging resolution information and OID information.

Abstract: A network has network nodes for storage of respective copies of a data file. One of the network nodes has a corresponding unique locality control object for the copies of the data file. The locality control object provides authority for the one network node to control storing and modifying any of the copies of the data file. The other network nodes lacking the locality control object must obtain permission from the one network node before modifying any one of the copies of the data file. The network nodes also can negotiate for passing the locality control object from the one network node to another one of the network nodes based on determined locality attributes associated with the copies of the data file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to variable length code an ordered series of quantized transform coefficients of an image block. The method classifies the series into one of a plurality of classes. Each class has a corresponding coding process that is applicable to the statistical distribution of the coefficients in the series. The series is coded according to the particular corresponding coding process of the class of the classifying.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of image compression, and a memory to store a data structure for compression. The method includes, for an ordered series of quantized coefficients of a transform of an image block, forming events from the series of quantized transform coefficients, each event being a run of non-zero-valued coefficients in a first contiguous region defined by a breakpoint, a run of zero-valued coefficients in the first region, or a run of zero-valued coefficients in a second region defined by the breakpoint, the breakpoint defining the first region and a second continuous region in the series following the first region.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of image compression, and a memory to store a data structure for compression. The method includes, for an ordered series of quantized coefficients of a transform of an image block, forming from the series events that are a run of non-zero-valued coefficients in a first contiguous region defined by a breakpoint, a run of zero-valued coefficients in the first region, or a run of zero-valued coefficients that ends in a non-zero-amplitude coefficient in a second region defined by the breakpoint. A codeword is formed for each runlength of non-zero-valued and zero-valued coefficients in the first region using a first- and a second coding method, respectively, and, and encoding the runs of zero-valued coefficient that end in a non-zero value in the second region according to a third coding method, including providing an exception codeword when the ending amplitude is not 1.

Abstract: Data is stored using multiple selected network nodes in a network based on encoding of the data into multiple distinct encoded data units according to a prescribed encoding operation. The secure encoding operation generates a first prescribed number of encoded data units, whereas merely a second prescribed number of the encoded data units are necessary for recovery of the original data, the second prescribed number being less than the first prescribed number. The encoded data units are distributed among selected network nodes in a network, where any one network node receives less than the second prescribed number to ensure security. A requesting node recovers the original data by requesting the second prescribed number of encoded data units from among the network nodes having stored the respective encoded data units.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method, device, and database for providing communication addresses for communication devices. In one form, a method for providing a communication address for establishing communication with a communication device is disclosed. The method includes receiving an input character associated with a selectable communication address and determining a communication address reference based upon a communication criteria associated with the input character. The communication device may then display a communication address reference within a user interface in response to determining a communication address.

Abstract: The present invention includes a device, method, and user interface for providing optimized entry of alphanumeric text. In one form, a method for providing selectable characters within a user interface includes determining an operating mode of a communication device and receiving an input associated with a selected input key. The method determines a group of characters associated with the selected key based on the operating mode and displays the group of characters within the user interface. The user interface may display a first character of the group of characters within a first portion of the user interface and the group of characters proximal to the first character within a second portion of the user interface.

Abstract: A synthetic code book document type definition (DTD) is generated that identifies selected compression codes, based on specifying code-book extensible markup language (XML) tags having semantics defined according to a generic code book document type definition (DTD). The compression codes are used to compress API commands, defined by second XML tags having semantics defined by a generic API DTD, into synthesized data. The synthesized data and the code-book XML tags are supplied to a destination device configured for storing the generic code book DTD and the generic API DTD, enabling the destination device to synthesize a code book for recovery of the API commands from the synthesized data.

Abstract: A self-contained power supply module operating from utility power and having short term energy storage in the form of a battery or capacitor is adapted for powering electronic consumer devices especially during brief brownout and power outages of the utility. The self-contained power supply module is a low cost power supply having an integral AC plug adapted for connection in a standard electrical wall outlet. The integral battery or capacitor provides continuous and clean power to electronic consumer devices that may lose programmed information stored therein due to brief power interruptions thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transition effects in digitally compressed motion video, such video complying with the MPEG-1 standard. Transitions between two frames of video are effectuated by selecting a FROM frame and a TO frame, generating a stream of bidirectionally dependent duplicator frames which vary in their motion vector references to the FROM frame and the TO frame according to a predefined pattern, placing the FROM frame in the past buffer of a decoder, placing the TO frame in the future frame of a decoder, feeding the stream of duplicator frames to the decoder, causing the duplicator frames to be displayed, and beginning normal playback of the video stream containing the TO frame at the TO frame position.