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 each with 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 defines the first region and a second continuous region in the series. Codewords are formed for each runlength of non-zero-valued and zero-valued coefficients in the first region according to a first and a second coding method, respectively, and a codeword is formed for the non-zero amplitudes according to a first amplitude coding method. The runlengths of zero-valued coefficients in the second region are encoding using a third coding method.

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 network has a file system configured for providing a selected version of a first file to a client, having requested the file, based on detecting that the client has opened a second file having an identified relationship with the first file. Files are identified as having a relationship based on membership in a file group, wherein each file group identifies only one version of each file specified in the corresponding file group; hence, multiple file groups can identify files associated with respective versions of a file set. In response to determining the first file belongs to a file group, the file system identifies the version of the second file opened by the client, and selects the version of the first file to be provided to the client based on determining the file group associated with the version of the second file opened by the client.

Abstract: A method, and apparatus, and logic encoded in one or more computer-readable tangible medium to carry out a method. The method is to code a plurality of ordered sequences of quantized transform coefficients of a corresponding plurality of blocks of image data using a hybrid coding method that includes determining a breakpoint location in the sequence between a low frequency region and a high frequency region; coding the low-frequency region using a selected low-frequency variable length coding method; coding the high-frequency region using a selected high-frequency variable length coding method; and coding the location of the breakpoint. The plurality of blocks include adjacent blocks and form a multi-block partition. The breakpoint location is determined as a function of the sequences of the multi-block partition such that different multi-block partitions can have different breakpoints.

Abstract: A method, and apparatus, and logic encoded in one or more computer-readable tangible medium to carry out a method. The method is to code an ordered sequence of quantized transform coefficients of a block of image data using a hybrid coding method that includes determining a breakpoint location in the sequence between a low-frequency region and a high-frequency region; coding the low-frequency region using a selected low-frequency variable length coding method; coding the high-frequency region using a selected high-frequency variable length coding method; and coding the location of the breakpoint. The breakpoint location is determined as a function of properties of neighboring blocks such that little if any information needs to be sent to a decoder about the breakpoint of a block or multi-block partition, and the decoder can use the properties of neighboring blocks to determine the breakpoint used to code a to-be-decoded sequence or sequences of a block or a multi-block partition.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allowing images displayed on a keypad of a networked phone to be dynamically changed are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a networked phone apparatus includes a dynamic keypad and control channel logic. The dynamic keypad has a plurality of dynamic keys that each display images. The control channel logic causes the images displayed on the plurality of dynamic keys to be changed. The networked phone apparatus may be a hardware based phone apparatus or a software based phone apparatus.

Abstract: A customer premises router identifies contacts based on web sites visited and searches conducted by a user device. The customer premises router also detects phone calls initiated by a user device (e.g., a Voice over IP telephony device), and identifies an association between a phone call to an identified called destination (e.g., a destination telephone number) and an identified contact, based on a prescribed association attribute. The identified associations are stored in nonvolatile memory. Any subsequent web request by a user device and related to the contact causes the customer premises router to supply to the user device the identified association specifying the contact and the identified called destination, enabling a user of the user device to determine the identified called destination for the contact, even if the visited web sites do not provide the identified called destination.

Abstract: Techniques for associating a physical location with a network interface on an intermediate network node include receiving a data packet from a device connected to a network. Based on data in the data packet, a particular network interface is determined on a first hop intermediate network node. An identity for an entity that originated the data packet is determined based on data in the data packet. A possible physical location for the entity is determined based on the identity. The identity is associated with the possible physical location in an independent data source that is accessible over the network and different from the data packet. The particular network interface is associated with a highest confidence location for the device based on the possible physical location of the entity and any former locations associated with the particular network interface.

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 includes, for a subset of coefficient amplitude values coding by a first method corresponding to each amplitude of the subset, events of a run of zero or more zero-valued coefficients ending in the single non-zero amplitude, coding by a second method events of a run of zero or more zero-valued coefficients ending in any single non-zero amplitude not in the subset, and coding by a third method the amplitude values of the concatenation of the non-zero amplitude not in the subset. The coding methods produce variable length codewords. The method is suitable for series that have scattered non-zero-valued coefficients.

Abstract: A method of reducing the channel selection transition delay from a first media data channel to a second media data channel includes the operations of accumulating an independent media data frame and any related dependent media data frames based on a first decoder decoding at least a first portion of a second channel to form a second channel current media state, receiving a channel change request from a second decoder to change decoding to the second media channel, identifying an insertion position for a current independent frame relative to a current second channel frame set, and generating the current independent frame based on the second channel current media state corresponding to the insertion position. The dependent media data frames are used to modify the second channel current media state based on the independent media data frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configuring an appliance, such as a network node, for performing s service, such as communicating with a network, controlled by a service provider include inserting into an Ethernet port on the appliance an Ethernet couple on a device that is usually small compared to the appliance. The device is configured to send through the Ethernet couple without human intervention an Internet Protocol (IP) data packet that is directed to a logical port of an established standard, such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) port 80. The IP data packet includes appliance configuration data in a message form for the established standard, such as an HTTP POST. As a result, the appliance is configured automatically for performing the service controlled by the service provider.

Abstract: Techniques for presenting a key to a human across a human-machine interface include receiving key data that indicates a key to be input to a target process. The key is reversibly converted to a first human-language statement. The human language statement is designed so that multiple variations in the human-language statement due to common human errors can be correctly reversed to regenerate the key data. The common human-language statement is presented to a human user for use in the target process. After receiving input data that indicates a second human language statement based on human memory of the first human language statement, the second human language statement is corrected for common human language errors. The corrected second human language statement is then converted to second key data and sent to the target process. Thus multiple human inputs are accepted and correctly converted to the key for the target process.

Abstract: An apparatus, e.g., in a network edge device, a method, and a software program product for synchronizing two or more redundant media streams, e.g., MPEG video streams. The method includes receiving network packets encapsulating redundant media streams representing the same media program, buffering the received streams, learning a program identifier for the media program, searching the packets of the redundant streams for synchronization points defined by a plurality of parameters of stream packets, synchronizing the redundant streams based on the comparison, and providing a single stream as an output stream.

Abstract: Advanced communication services are deployed for a user device, such as a VoIP telephony device, based on utilizing a model view controller architecture within a network system (e.g., a VoIP system) configured for communication with the VoIP telephony device. The VoIP telephony device and a service node of the VoIP system each are configured for executing at least one corresponding model object, view object, and controller object of a prescribed network service. The model object, view object, and controller object each are configured for utilizing transaction-based messages associated with the prescribed network service. Moreover, the service node is configured for selectively transferring any one of the model object, view object, and the controller object to another node, for example the VoIP telephony device or another network node, and terminating execution of the transferred object, without interruption in service for the user.

Abstract: Language translation of instant messages between a sending party and a destination party is automatically performed, based on the instant messaging system automatically determining the respective language preferences of the sending and receiving parties. The instant messaging system automatically determines the respective language preferences based on existing subscriber profile attributes for the sending and receiving parties, and automatically translates between the respective language preferences, without the necessity of any manual user intervention by any of the parties during the instant messaging session.

Abstract: Coding quantized transform coefficients as occur in image compression includes, for a subset of coefficient amplitude values coding by a first method corresponding to each amplitude of the subset, events of a run of zero or more zero-valued coefficients ending in the single non-zero amplitude, coding by a second method events of a run of zero or more zero-valued coefficients ending in any single non-zero amplitude not in the subset, and coding by a third method the amplitude values of the concatenation of the non-zero amplitude not in the subset. The coding methods produce variable length codewords. The method is suitable for series that have scattered non-zero-valued coefficients.

Abstract: A search system generates an ordered list of destination targets including identified individuals and data objects, based on applying a user context to an information context and to a connection context. The user context identifies a search context (i.e., the information the user is seeking) relative to an identity of the user, and the information context identifies destinations accessible by the user, including data objects and communications-based actions (e.g., voice over IP telephony calls, instant messaging session transcripts, etc.). The connection context identifies relationships between chosen destinations throughout the system, and the strength of those relationships determined from artifacts of the chosen destinations: the connection context is updated based on artifact detection. The portion of the connection context that is relevant to the user context is used to order the portion of the information context that is relevant to the user context, resulting in the ordered list of destination targets.

Abstract: A search system generates an ordered list of destination targets including identified individuals and data objects, based on applying a user context to an information context and to a connection context. The user context identifies a search context (i.e., the information the user is seeking) relative to an identity of the user, and the information context identifies destinations accessible by the user, including data objects and communications-based actions (e.g., voice over IP telephony calls, instant messaging session transcripts, etc.). The connection context identifies relationships between chosen destinations throughout the system, and the strength of those relationships determined from artifacts of the chosen destinations: the connection context is updated based on artifact detection. The portion of the connection context that is relevant to the user context is used to order the portion of the information context that is relevant to the user context, resulting in the ordered list of destination targets.

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.