Abstract: A globally unique identification system for a communications protocol and database is disclosed. A method for generating the globally unique identification code and for generating a compressed globally unique identification code is also described. The communications protocol permits multiple communications sessions to be sent through a single open port of a firewall.

Abstract: A globally unique identification system for a communications protocol and database is disclosed. A method for generating the globally unique identification code and for generating a compressed globally unique identification code is also described. The communications protocol permits multiple communications sessions to be sent through a single open port of a firewall.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for escalating a problem with a personal communications device in a wireless communications network, each personal communications device having at least one communications session associated therewith, at least one process associated therewith, at least one IP address associated therewith and at least one personal communications device identification associated therewith. A problem is identified with a particular communication session associated with a particular personal communications device. The particular communications session is excluded from the wireless communications network. The device determines if the problem associated with the particular communications sessions has exceeded a problem threshold. If the problem associated with the particular communications sessions has exceeded a problem threshold, the exclusion of the particular communications session.

Abstract: A globally unique identification system for a communications protocol and database is disclosed. A method for generating the globally unique identification code and for generating a compressed globally unique identification code is also described. The communications protocol permits multiple communications sessions to be sent through a single open port of a firewall.

Abstract: An ad hoc wireless communications system and method permits a group of wireless portable communications devices to communicate with each other. The ad hoc network has security systems. A server for the ad hoc network is selected from among the portable communications devices associated with the ad hoc network.

Abstract: A system and method for call announcement using a typical computing device permits a typical computing device, such as a PDA, to be used more effectively for telephony. In particular, a novel headphones connector and a software program/module being executed by the computing device are combined together to implement the call announcing method. The system permits the sound output of the computing device to be split in various manners in order to permit the computing device to be operated as a telephony device.

Abstract: An ad hoc wireless communications system and method permits a group of wireless portable communications devices to communicate with each other. The ad hoc network has security systems. A server for the ad hoc network is selected from among the portable communications devices associated with the ad hoc network.

Abstract: A sound codec including a compression portion and a decompression portion. The compression portion separates the incoming sound packet bandwidth into frequency sub-bands using a bank of infinite impulse response (IIR) filters. In accordance with the invention, the lower frequency signals are divided into more sub-bands than the higher frequency signals. Once the signals are divided into sub-bands, each sub-band signal is quantized. The resulting signals of all of the quantized sub-bands are then sent out over a communications link along with the filter state at the end of each sound packet. The decompression portion recombines the individual sub-band signals together (using a bank of infinite impulse response (IIR) filters) to form the audio data using the filter states to configure the reconstruction.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide methods and architectures for enhancing the reliability of computer appliances and reducing the possibilities that human intervention is necessary in the event of a system failure or failure condition. The provided architecture is extensible and provides a generalized framework that is adaptable to many different types of computer appliances. One aspect of the invention provides a boot up redundancy component to ensure that a computer appliance can be appropriately booted. In the described embodiment the appliance hard drive is configured with multiple partitions that can be utilized to boot the appliance thereby reducing the chances that the appliance will not boot. In addition, an architecture is disclosed that comprises one or more resource monitoring components that monitor an associated appliance resource for a failure condition. The resource monitoring components are programmed to attempt to remedy certain failure conditions that they detect.

Abstract: A system and method for call announcement using a typical computing device permits a typical computing device, such as a PDA, to be used more effectively for telephony. In particular, a novel headphones connector and a software program/module being executed by the computing device are combined together to implement the call announcing method. The system permits the sound output of the computing device to be split in various manners in order to permit the computing device to be operated as a telephony device.

Abstract: A computer system includes a local non-volatile data storage medium and a visual display device. A still image is stored as a compressed data file in a multi-resolution compression format on the non-volatile data storage medium. The multi-resolution format is of a type that allows efficient progressive decompression and display of the selected still image. The computer system includes a data processor programmed to decompress the compressed data file, to produce successive versions of the selected still image at progressively increasing resolutions, and to display the successive versions on the visual display device. The computer system has a data retrieval medium through which the data processor retrieves the compressed data file from the local non-volatile data storage medium. The data retrieval medium has a data transfer rate that is at least as fast as the data processor can decompress the compressed data file and display the successive versions of the selected still image.