Abstract: One aspect of the instant application can provide a system and method for balancing load among multiple network sockets established between a local node and a remote node. During operation, the system can encapsulate the multiple network sockets to form a local transport-layer virtual socket comprising a write interface and a read interface. The system can receive, at the write interface of the local transport-layer virtual socket, a packet; select, based on a load-balancing policy, a network socket from the multiple network sockets; and forward the packet to a socket-specific incoming queue associated with the selected network socket to allow the packet to be sent to the read interface of a corresponding remote transport-layer virtual socket via the selected network socket.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to multiplexing network connections. In this manner, the embodiments disclosed herein enable receipt of a request from a user to access a computing device. A first user group associated with the first user may be identified. A determination may be made as to whether the first user group has control over any network connections of a set of network connections available from the computing device. Responsive to the first user group not having control over any network connections available from the computing device, the request may be included in a priority queue for requests. Responsive to a network connection becoming available, a request from the priority queue may be selected and control of the network connection may be made available to user group associated with the user from which the request was received.

Abstract: A system for issuing, redeeming and monitoring incentive offers generated in response to qualifying on-line and off-line non-purchase activities. For example, an electronic data card is used to store electronic coupons issued by web sites (i.e., on-line) and/or off-line locations. In one embodiment activity registration is performed by programming integrated with, or coupled to, a web browser. Off-line activity is registered by a kiosk at a merchant location that generates an incentive offer, or a token which is later converted to an incentive offer, in response to conditions determined at the kiosk (e.g., entered by the user, clerk, and so forth). A loyalty server operates to aggregate information about the offers for reporting purposes, and can be optionally required for determining qualification for an incentive offer, providing security codes for participating incentive issuers, providing qualification of offers prior to issuance, and validating stored offers prior to redemption.

Abstract: A system for and method of enabling people to share a common application context for media presentation and playback is described herein. The presentation results from input from a set of active participants where the input includes a set of media types such as music, artwork, visualizations, photographs and text messages. The participants use personal devices to couple to the system and utilize the application.

Abstract: A system for and method of enabling people to share a common application context for media presentation and playback is described herein. The presentation results from input from a set of active participants where the input includes a set of media types such as music, artwork, visualizations, photographs and text messages. The participants use personal devices to couple to the system and utilize the application.

Abstract: A system for issuing, redeeming and monitoring incentive offers generated in response to qualifying on-line and off-line non-purchase activities. For example, an electronic data card is used to store electronic coupons issued by web sites (i.e., on-line) and/or off-line locations. In one embodiment activity registration is performed by programming integrated with, or coupled to, a web browser. Off-line activity is registered by a kiosk at a merchant location that generates an incentive offer, or a token which is later converted to an incentive offer, in response to conditions determined at the kiosk (e.g., entered by the user, clerk, and so forth). A loyalty server operates to aggregate information about the offers for reporting purposes, and can be optionally required for determining qualification for an incentive offer, providing security codes for participating incentive issuers, providing qualification of offers prior to issuance, and validating stored offers prior to redemption.