Abstract: Mobile devices (121, 122, . . . , 12n) are handed off in overlapping cells (181, 182, . . . , 18n) by tracking a velocity (speed and direction) of movement of any number of the mobile devices (121, 122, . . . , 12n). Access points (141, 142, . . . , 14n) are each located in an associated operational cell (181, 182, . . . , 18n) and each operates at a dedicated frequency. The initial signal strengths are measured in advance at predefined locations within a defined space (16) to define signal strengths as location map (42). A nearby initial access point (typically the nearest) and at least two nearby (typically next nearest) access points are assigned for one of the mobile devices (121, 122, . . . , 12n), and the frequencies of each access point identified. A tracking processor (50) periodically scans the frequencies of the nearby access points to determine the location velocity of the mobile device and predict when a handoff will be appropriate. E.g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a time triggered network used in particular in an automotive network having a plurality of clusters. Each cluster (A-X) includes a plurality of nodes (11).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a node in distributed communication system operating under a time triggered protocol, further it relates to distributed communication system and to a monitoring device coupled to such node of a communication system.

Abstract: In order to further develop a communication system (400) as well as a corresponding communication method in such way that a protection of the communication medium (300, 310) from timing failures of a communication controller (120) of a node (100), in particular a limited protection of the communication channel (300, 310) from illegal transmissions in the time domain, can be achieved without providing any bus guardian, it is proposed to prevent any transmission of the node (100) during phases with high susceptibility to illegal transmission, in particular during the communication startup of the communication system (400).

Abstract: A device and method for detection of timing errors or failures of a communication controller (24) by a decentralized bus guardian (26) is provided. In a node (20) on a communication network (38), a communication controller (24), a bus guardian (26) and a bus driver (34) operate to receive and transmit information in a designated communication time slot on a communication medium (38). The bus guardian monitors activity on a communication medium and determines if it appears that the communications from other specific nodes on the communication medium are placing information on the communication medium within their designated communication time slots (54). If two or more of the communications from the other specific nodes are operating outside of there designated time slots, then the bus guardian determines that its own related communication controller has a timing failure.

Abstract: Mobile devices (121, 122, . . . , 12n) are handed off in overlapping cells (181, 182, . . . , 18n) by tracking a velocity (speed and direction) of movement of any number of the mobile devices (121, 122, . . . , 12n). Access points (141, 142, . . . , 14n) are each located in an associated operational cell (181, 182, . . . , 18n) and each operates at a dedicated frequency. The initial signal strengths are measured in advance at predefined locations within a defined space (16) to define signal strengths as location map (42). A nearby initial access point (typically the nearest) and at least two nearby (typically next nearest) access points are assigned for one of the mobile devices (121, 122, . . . , 12n), and the frequencies of each access point identified. A tracking processor (50) periodically scans the frequencies of the nearby access points to determine the location velocity of the mobile device and predict when a handoff will be appropriate. E.g.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile device and a method for generating and maintaining a signal strength database that provides an assignment between a location within a building and corresponding signal strengths of signals that are emitted by a plurality of access points of a wireless data communication network. The inventive mobile device is adapted to determine its own position by making use of a trigonometric technique on the basis of dedicated reference points or access points of the network. The mobile device is further adapted to measure the signal strength of signals being transmitted by the plurality of access points. A determined position of the mobile device is then assigned to a set of measured signal strengths and stored as an entry of the database. Preferably, the mobile device is attached to a trolley like device that is subject to frequent movement through a building.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of ensuring the quality of service in a broadcast network (1) which also comprises apparatuses (Q, Z) that do not have their own quality of service functionality. An apparatus operating as a bandwidth manager (BM) monitors the data traffic in the network and, in the case of risk of the ensured quality of service, it sends control messages (A) to the source (Q) of the data stream, which messages cause this source to reduce the data stream. The control messages (A) can be particularly transmitted through the simulated transmitter of the target (Z).

Abstract: The invention relates to a multimedia device, which detects at least one information item in an audio and/or video data stream processed by the multimedia device, saves the detected information items as a function of a weighting consisting of the time of occurrence of an information item and at least one selection criterion and displays follow-up information relating to the information item selected by a user on an output unit of the multimedia device.

Abstract: A method for selecting an application to deliver content in a networked consumer environment (12) is based on multiple factors. Generally, application selection is based on factors associated with a desired content to be communicated and/or rendered, a desired location and certain capabilities and conditions of applications and consumer electronic (CE) devices in a network (18). In various embodiments, the method is based on any combination of equivalent content, content type, sink resource, content source, preference, and resource availability factors. In another aspect of the invention, a consumer environment for multi-factor application selection includes a network with various combination of sink resources (22), source resources (24), processing resources (26, 30), and external communication resources (28, 32). The network (18) may also include mobile devices (34).

Abstract: The invention relates to a network having network nodes (1 to 5) and a software system distributed among all the network nodes (1 to 5), said software system having at each network node (1 to 5) a software component referred to as a distribution utility (12 to 14) for the access to the data of a distributed data base (31), and for the communication with other distribution utilities (12 to 14) of different network nodes. A software component referred to as a data manager (15 to 19) serves as a link from the data base (31) to other components and includes a callback component (20 to 24) for the access to at least one element (28) of a data object (29).

Abstract: Theft protection of electronic apparatuses connected to a bus system is implemented in a manner particularly suitable for use in a digital home network based on the IEEE 1394 standard. At least one of the apparatuses in the network is equipped with a monitoring unit switchable between an activated and a de-activated state. In the activated state, the monitoring unit monitors the occurrence of a bus reset which is generated particularly upon removal of an apparatus from the network. After occurrence of such a reset, the monitoring unit compares the list of all apparatuses on the bus with a list generated and stored before the reset. When determining differences, an alarm is triggered which can be reproduced particularly by means of the apparatuses which are present, such as, for example, televisions and hi-fi equipment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a network for use in a home application. In particular the network includes network nodes and a software system distributed to all the network nodes. The software system is distributed over the plurality of network nodes, and includes a virtual storage device to manage respective real storage devices of respective network nodes, wherein the virtual storage device enables storage and/or retrieval of data in the real storage devices irrespective of the type of network node.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of handling utilization conflicts in digital networks, particularly in in-home digital networks. Such a conflict occurs where a second application seeks to access a resource for a second objective, the resource already being used by a first application for a first objective. In such cases the method searches for modifications to the actual requests for network components that will permit achievement of the first objective and the second objective simultaneously. If the first objective, for example, is to provide sports news, and for this purpose the first request seeks to record sports news on a video recorder at a certain time, and a second application requests the video recorder at this time, this conflict may possibly be resolved by recording another program containing sports news at a later time to resolve the first objective.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for theft protection of electronic apparatuses connected to a bus system. The method is particularly suitable for use in a digital home network based on an IEEE 1394 standard. In the method, at least one of the apparatuses in the network is equipped with a monitoring unit which can be switched between an activated and a de-activated state. In the activated state, the monitoring unit monitors the occurrence of a bus reset which is generated particularly when removing an apparatus from the network. After the occurrence of such a reset, the monitoring unit compares the list of all apparatuses on the bus with a list generated and stored before the reset. When determining differences, an alarm is triggered which can be reproduced particularly by means of the apparatuses which are present, such as, for example, televisions and hi-fi equipment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multimedia device, which detects at least one information item in an audio and/or video data stream processed by the multimedia device, saves the detected information items as a function of a weighting consisting of the time of occurrence of an information item and at least one selection criterion and displays follow-up information relating to the information item selected by a user on an output unit of the multimedia device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network with network nodes and a software system distributed over the network nodes within which, on first access to an access-protected object of the system, an authentication of the user is provided, where the authentication is valid at least for a further access to an access-protected object and a duration of the validity of the authentication is dependent on the duration of access to the access-protected object and/or on the context of the use of the system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network in the home range with network nodes and a software system (17) distributed to all the network nodes with a uniform software abstraction referred to as a virtual memory device (18) for the real devices of the network for the management of the states of all the memory devices (1, 6, 7, 9) in the network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network comprising network nodes (1 to 3) and to a software system distributed over all the network nodes which comprises a database management system (7 to 9) which is provided for calculating a characterizing unit of the data object when a user, referred to as a client (10 to 12), of the database management system (7 to 9) accesses a data object, and the characterizing unit is provided for being transferred to the client (10 to 12) and the client (10 to 12) is provided for storing the characterizing unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network having network nodes (1 to 5) and a software system distributed among all the network nodes (1 to 5), said software system having at each network node (1 to 5) a software component referred to as a distribution utility (12 to 14) for the access to the data of a distributed data base (31), and for the communication with other distribution utilities (12 to 14) of different network nodes. A software component referred to as a data manager (15 to 19) serves as a link from the data base (31) to other components and includes a callback component (20 to 24) for the access to at least one element (28) of a data object (29).