Abstract: A computer-implemented method for providing notifications to wireless hand held devices concerning status conditions of a remote location is provided. The method associates the remote location to a user account, and the user account is configurable with settings of a user having the user account. The server receives the settings over the Internet from a graphical user interface of an application rendered on the hand held personal computer. The method includes receiving, at the server, information from the controller for a change in status condition in at least one of the devices. The method determines that the change in status condition requires a notification and sends the notification to the application of the of the hand held personal computer. The notification is rendered as an icon displayable on a screen of the application. The icon is indicative of one or more notifications for the devices associated with the user account.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling an information appliance from a remote location, the information appliance having access to a network and access to receive television programming. The method receives a request from a wireless portable device to access the information appliance, and the request identifies at least a user account. Verifying, based on the user account, whether to grant access to the information appliance from the wireless portable device and providing data to the wireless portable device. At least some of the data used to populate a user interface of the wireless device with information concerning the television programming and selectable options, and receiving selections from the user interface of the wireless portable device. The selections identifying an item of the television programming to record, and communicating instructions to the information appliance to record the item in digital storage buffers associated with the information appliance.

Abstract: Methods are provided to access of home devices over the Internet and to control and/or set states of devices over the Internet. One method includes providing, at a server connected to the Internet, code for enabling access to networked devices at a remote location using a networked computing device. The method can enable receiving a status request to view status of one or more of the networked devices. The method can also enable receiving a control request at the server, via the networked computing device, to operate one or more utility controls at a remote location. The utility controls can be used for any of a variety of purposes. The method is operable for any computing device that has access to the Internet, including wireless hand-held networked devices.

Abstract: Methods are provided to access devices over the Internet and to control and/or set states of devices over the Internet. One method includes providing, at a server connected to the Internet, code for enabling access to networked devices at a remote location using a networked computing device. The method can enable receiving a status request to view status of one or more of the networked devices. The method can also enable receiving a control request at the server, via the networked computing device, to operate one or more utility controls at a remote location. The utility controls can be used for any of a variety of purposes. The method is operable for any computing device that has access to the Internet, including wireless hand-held networked devices.

Abstract: The remote monitoring and controlling of controllable devices is provided by sending control information to and receiving status information from information appliances over a network. A user is able to monitor the information appliances from a remote location, and control the information appliances from the remote location. The remote monitoring and control can be facilitated by graphical user interfaces. The information appliance can be a home lighting system, a home alarm system, a home entertainment system, a water gardening system, a home heating system, a home cooling system, and a television system having recording capabilities.

Abstract: Methods are provided to access devices over the Internet and to control and/or set states of devices over the Internet. One method includes providing, at a server connected to the Internet, code for enabling access to networked devices at a remote location using a networked computing device. The method receives, at the server, user login data via the networked computing device, to identify a user and to provide access to the networked devices. The method enables receiving a status request at the server, via the networked computing device, to view status of one or more of the networked devices. The status includes an update condition for at least one of the networked devices. The method also enables receiving a control request at the server, via the networked computing device, to operate one or more utility controls at the remote location.

Abstract: Methods are provided to access devices over the Internet and to control and/or set states of devices over the Internet. One method includes providing, at a server connected to the Internet, code for enabling access to networked devices at a remote location using a networked computing device. The method receives, at the server, user login data via the networked computing device, to identify a user and to provide access to the networked devices. The method enables receiving a status request at the server, via the networked computing device, to view status of one or more of the networked devices. The status includes an update condition for at least one of the networked devices. The method also enables receiving a control request at the server, via the networked computing device, to operate one or more utility controls at the remote location.

Abstract: A television is provided. The television includes an interface for connecting the television to a network, such as the Internet. The television also includes digital buffers internal to the television for digitally storing digital programming data obtained from a digital provider. The television being accessible through a graphical user interface over the Internet from a remote computing device. The graphical user interface providing a control panel for displaying status and at least one control including a control for playing or recording of certain channels at least partially to the digital buffers that are internal to the television.

Abstract: A method for dynamically allocating bandwidth among ATM cells and packets scheduled for output from an aggregation multiplexer of a transport-layer device configured to multiplex both ATM cells and packets onto the same channel of an optical fiber. The method includes local control and relative priority lookup of incoming ATM cells and packets to support output decision. When compared to currently employed methods, the required level of coordination with the receiving circuit for dynamic bandwidth allocation is substantially lower, thereby reducing operational complexity for network operators and latency for critical data when reallocating bandwidth.

Abstract: A technique for disguising ATM cells as ATM cell-containing packets within a routing facility to permit the packet-only switch to also handle switching of the ATM cells. The technique has wide applications within the backbone infrastructure, Wide Area Networks, Metro Area Networks, Local Area Networks, and particularly within a routing facility to handle high speed traffic. The technique can receive both ATM cells and packets for switching via a single channel or optical fiber or receive ATM cells and packets via two separate channels or two separate fibers. The ability to handle both ATM cell and packet switching allows packet-only routers to handle ATM traffic, thereby reducing the cost of the switching infrastructure for network operators.

Abstract: An architecture for transmitting both ATM cells and data packets via a single optical fiber and for receiving ATM cells and data packets via a single optical fiber. The architecture includes both a transmission convergence device (TCD) circuit and a segmentation-and-reassembly (SAR) circuit and is implemented as integrated circuits, preferably as part of a router to eliminate the need for a SONET multiplexer.

Abstract: A method for dynamically allocating bandwidth among ATM cells and packets scheduled for output from an aggregation multiplexer of a transport-layer device configured to multiplex both ATM cells and packets onto the same channel of an optical fiber. The method includes local control and relative priority lookup of incoming ATM cells and packets to support output decision. When compared to currently employed methods, the required level of coordination with the receiving circuit for dynamic bandwidth allocation is substantially lower, thereby reducing operational complexity for network operators and latency for critical data when reallocating bandwidth.

Abstract: An integrated ATM/packet segmentation-and-reassembly engine for handling both packet and ATM input data and outputting packets containing information from both the packet and ATM input data. The integrated ATM/packet segmentation-and-reassembly engine is also configured for receiving packets containing information destined for transmission as ATM cells and information destined for transmission as packets, perform the segregation function and segmentation function on the information destined for transmission as ATM cells in order to output both ATM cells and packets. Architecture includes the ability to output both ATM cells and packets on a single optical fiber.

Abstract: A processor-based architecture having a processor for facilitating transmission between an ATM port, a first packet port, and a second packet port. The processor-based architecture includes random access memory and a processor coupled to the random access memory and configured to receive ATM cells from the ATM port and first packets from the first packet port and for outputting second packets containing information from both the ATM cells and the first packets on the second packet port. The processor-based architecture includes segmentation-and-reassembly to facilitate bi-directional packet-to-ATM translation functionality. In one embodiment, the processor-based architecture is implemented on a single card and includes dynamic traffic management between ATM and packet traffic.

Abstract: A method for dynamically allocating bandwidth among ATM cells and packets scheduled for output from an aggregation multiplexer of a transport-layer device configured to multiplex both ATM cells and packets onto the same channel of an optical fiber. The method includes local control and relative priority lookup of incoming ATM cells and packets to support output decision. When compared to currently employed methods, the required level of coordination with the receiving circuit for dynamic bandwidth allocation is substantially lower, thereby reducing operational complexity for network operators and latency for critical data when reallocating bandwidth.

Abstract: An integrated ATM/packet segmentation-and-reassembly engine for handling both packet and ATM input data and outputting packets containing information from both the packet and ATM input data. The integrated ATM/packet segmentation-and-reassembly engine is also configured for receiving packets containing information destined for transmission as ATM cells and information destined for transmission as packets, perform the segregation function and segmentation function on the information destined for transmission as ATM cells in order to output both ATM cells and packets. Architecture includes the ability to output both ATM cells and packets on a single optical fiber.

Abstract: A method for permitting a user to create a plurality of outbound communication paths to a plurality of communication devices from a unified messaging system, the creating the plurality of the outbound communication paths being performed responsive to verbal input from a user through a telephone. The method includes receiving at the unified messaging system the verbal input from the user through the telephone. There is also included recognizing an action word from the verbal input which includes an action word and called party identity or contacting data. An calendar database for the callee, external to the caller's unified messaging system, is accessed via a network to determine whether a calendar entry therein temporally overlaps a time of the verbal command creating the end-to-end connection. The ascertained availability information may be provided to the caller for input whether to contact the callee.

Abstract: A method for permitting a user to create a plurality of outbound communication paths to a plurality of communication devices from a unified messaging system, the creating the plurality of the outbound communication paths being performed responsive to verbal input from a user through a first telephone. The method includes receiving at the unified messaging system the verbal input from the user through the first telephone and performing voice recognition on the verbal input. There is also included detecting an action word from the verbal input after the performing voice recognition. The action word is indicative of a communication service desired by the user in creating the end-to-end connection. Additionally, there is included detecting at least one of a first called party identity and first contacting data from the verbal input after the detecting the action word.