Abstract: A method and system that reduces the impact of packet loss on video data quality. Packet selection is performed by the method and system to selectively drop low priority packets so that the overall quality of the received video data may be improved. In one exemplary embodiment, the probability of higher priority layers being delivered on time is computed and a packet is transmitted only if this probability is greater than a given threshold h. In another exemplary embodiment, the system and method have the capability of backing up the process to transmit previously skipped packets, if time allows.

Abstract: A number of sets of methods and apparatuses applicable to online shopping are disclosed. One set, “Bin Packing Methods with Approximate Membership”, includes methods in pricing and auctioning a bundle of items, some of which could belong to another bundle. Significantly, the membership of a bundle, during pricing and auction, could change. Another set, the “Shopping Console”, puts a structure into the online shopping experience, so that through one interface various shopping activities can be facilitated, including but not limited to researching, pricing, negotiation, group buying, and tracking of purchases. Still another set, “Flash Mob Shopping”, allows sellers and a (spontaneous) group of shoppers to connect on prices without requiring shoppers' hard commitments, and with sellers revealing only necessary price information.

Abstract: In a search system, document terms are weighted as a function of prevalence in a data set, the documents are scored as a function of prevalence and weight of the document terms contained therein, and then independently, the documents are ranked for a given search as a function of (a) their corresponding document scores and (b) the closeness of the search terms and the document terms. The steps can all be accomplished using matrices. Subsets of the documents can be identified with various collections, and each of the collections can be assigned a matrix signature. The signatures can then be compared against terms in the search query to determine which of the subsets would be most useful for a given search.

Abstract: A portable router for enabling a data communication terminal to be location and device transparent includes: a first module for storing a digital communication address of a user; a second module for detecting a data communication network location to which the terminal is connected; a third module for detecting communication devices that are connected to the terminal; a fourth module for establishing data communication between the terminal and the network such that the communication address of the location from the second module is automatically converted to the communication address of the user from the first module; and a fifth module for automatically selecting a communication device which was detected by the third module for use by the fourth module.

Abstract: A method and system that reduces the impact of packet loss on video data quality. Packet selection is performed by the method and system to selectively drop low priority packets so that the overall quality of the received video data may be improved. In one exemplary embodiment, the probability of higher priority layers being delivered on time is computed and a packet is transmitted only if this probability is greater than a given threshold h. In another exemplary embodiment, the system and method have the capability of backing up the process to transmit previously skipped packets, if time allows.

Abstract: A system and method of interfacing includes a mobile web information exchange device. Information about a user is recorded on a mobile web recording medium. Information terminals are provided at locations which receive the mobile web recording medium. Information is stored on the Internet or terminals relating to the specific location. The mobile web recording medium, such as any media storage device, is connected to the terminals. A control is provided, either on the storage media or in the terminals for the interaction of the mobile web recording medium with the terminals. Thus information is exchanged by supplying the information about the user to the terminal and by recording selective information data from the terminal and/or Internet to the mobile web recording medium. Such exchange may be effected by inputting commands with a mouse or keyboard or touch screen connected to the terminals. The media storage device is then removed from the terminal and used at as many terminals as desired.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting a user device to a network where the user device settings, the network settings, or both are unknown include intercepting packets transmitted by the user device and modifying the packets to be compatible with the network. The system and method are particularly suited for use by mobile computers, such as laptop computers, which are connected to various foreign networks. Depending upon the particular application, a device may be carried with the mobile computer, or attached as a node on the network. The device automatically determines the network settings of the user device and/or the network and modifies packets appropriately so that the user device can communicate over the network without having to reconfigure the user device with appropriate settings for each network it may encounter. Communication settings such as network address, gateway, proxy address, etc. are automatically determined using various techniques.

Abstract: A system and method for connecting a user device to a network where the user device settings, the network settings, or both are unknown include intercepting packets transmitted by the user device and modifying the packets to be compatible with the network. The system and method are particularly suited for use by mobile computers, such as laptop computers, which are connected to various foreign networks. Depending upon the particular application, a device may be carried with the mobile computer, or attached as a node on the network. The device automatically determines the network settings of the user device and/or the network and modifies packets appropriately so that the user device can communicate over the network without having to reconfigure the user device with appropriate settings for each network it may encounter. Communication settings such as network address, gateway, proxy address, etc. are automatically determined using various techniques.

Abstract: A method and system that reduces the impact of packet loss on video data quality. Packet selection is performed by the method and system to selectively drop low priority packets so that the overall quality of the received video data may be improved. In one exemplary embodiment, the probability of higher priority layers being delivered on time is computed and a packet is transmitted only if this probability is greater than a given threshold h. In another exemplary embodiment, the system and method have the capability of backing up the process to transmit previously skipped packets, if time allows.

Abstract: Users call ONE telephone number from their computer communication link-up. The call goes into a computer which has a large database of the many providers' access numbers. The computer identifies where the user is calling from via any identifying feature included in the invention. The computer figures out the most appropriate (e.g. cheapest/proximal/etc.) number the user should use to connect to the “Net”, which includes cost of the phone call and of the services provided by service providers. The computer then transmits this number back to the remote user, and electronically dials the local (and probably free) number to connect the user to the Net. The user may set up an account, or purchases one temporarily and gets charged for the service provided to him. Users are connected to information networks by providing a central processing station with a database including an index of network access numbers and associated charges for using the numbers.

Abstract: A system and method of interfacing includes a mobile web information exchange device. Information about a user is recorded on a mobile web recording medium. Information terminals are provided at locations which receive the mobile web recording medium. Information is stored on the Internet or terminals relating to the specific location. The mobile web recording medium, such as any media storage device, is connected to the terminals. A control is provided, either on the storage media or in the terminals for the interaction of the mobile web recording medium with the terminals. Thus information is exchanged by supplying the information about the user to the terminal and by recording selective information data from the terminal and/or Internet to the mobile web recording medium. Such exchange may be effected by inputting commands with a mouse or keyboard or touch screen connected to the terminals. The media storage device is then removed from the terminal and used at as many terminals as desired.

Abstract: The present invention is based on a prefetching scheme consisting of two modules: a prediction module and a threshold module. After a use's request for a new file is satisfied, the prediction module immediately updates a database of history information if needed, and computes the access probability for each candidate file, where the access probability of a file is an estimate of the probability with which that file will be requested by the user in the near future. Next the threshold module determines the prefetch threshold for each related server, which contains at least one candidate file with nonzero access probability. The threshold is determined in real time based on then current network conditions. Finally, each file whose access probability exceeds or equals its server's prefetch threshold is prefetched. When prefetching a file, the file is actually downloaded if and only if no up-to-date version of the file is available on the local computer; otherwise no action is taken.

Abstract: A system and method of interfacing includes a mobile web information exchange device. Information about a user is recorded on a mobile web recording medium. Information terminals are provided at locations which receive the mobile web recording medium. Information is stored on the Internet or terminals relating to the specific location. The mobile web recording medium, such as any media storage device, is connected to the terminals. A control is provided, either on the storage media or in the terminals for the interaction of the mobile web recording medium with the terminals. Thus information is exchanged by supplying the information about the user to the terminal and by recording selective information data from the terminal and/or Internet to the mobile web recording medium. Such exchange may be effected by inputting commands with a mouse or keyboard or touch screen connected to the terminals. The media storage device is then removed from the terminal and used at as many terminals as desired.

Abstract: A nomadic router or translator enables a laptop computer or other portable terminal which is configured to be connected to a home network to be connected to any location on the internet or other digital data communication system. The router automatically and transparently re-configures the terminal to its new location and processes outgoing and incoming data. The router includes a processor which appears as the home network to the terminal, and appears as the terminal to the communication system. The terminal has a permanent address, the router has a router or translator address, and the terminal transmits outgoing data to the system including the permanent address as a source address. The processor translates the outgoing data by replacing the permanent address with the router address as the source address.

Abstract: A convention ID badge system which provides a trade-show badging system for two-way data exchange. It uses a floppy disk as an ID badge and stores exhibitor's data on the ID badge. A user takes home an electronic record of the event, electronically stores all the brochures onto the diskette and computerizes a business card by using the IDisk. The new IDisk System replaces the old fashioned badge with a floppy disk loaded with information that attendees take home with them. The IDisk System has two components: the attendee Idisk badge and the exhibitor IDisk station. The badge identifies attendees by name visually and by electronic imprint, plus it provides room to retrieve selected data from the exhibitor's IDisk station.