Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and computer program products for providing portable communication identity services are provided. A request is received to access a portable communication identity from a communications device. User information is received that is input by a user of the communications device, and the user information is authenticated. Capabilities of the communications device are accessed, and the portable communication identity is transmitted in accordance with the capabilities of the communications device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for redirecting an electronic content request to an alternate content transport mechanism. Electronic content received from a first transport mechanism, such as a satellite broadcast system, is transmitted to and stored at an end-user content cache. If the user subsequently requests content from an alternate transport mechanism, such as the Internet, a transport proxy server intercepts the request. The transport proxy server compares the URL entered by the user with a database of URLs associated with web site content that has been transmitted to and stored at the user's local content cache via the first transport mechanism. If the content requested by the user is presently stored on the user's local content cache, the user's request is redirected to the device or access application for the first transport mechanism which then retrieves and delivers the requested content from the local storage cache.

Abstract: Methods and devices establish an area party line for telephone calls to provide a geographically based chat forum via a telephone. One method receives telephone calls at a local call station where the telephone calls may be landline calls from callers serviced by the local call station, wireless phone calls from users who are currently located in proximity to the local call station, and/or long distance calls from callers who have dialed into the local call station using an area code and exchange. Callers provide an indication of an area party line, such as a star code, and the local call station bridges the calls together. Another method receives telephone calls at a central call station, where the telephone calls are directed to the central call bridging station from a local call station, and the central call bridging station bridges the callers together depending upon the local call station that the calls are transferred from.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collaborative searching are described. In an embodiment of the present invention, a database stores previously executed queries and corresponding results. An application server compares an entered query with the previously executed queries. If the application server finds a query that is substantially similar to the entered query, the application server returns the results corresponding to the previously executed query. If no substantially similar result is found, the query is executed against one or more data sources. When results are returned, an embodiment provides the user with the ability to rate them. The ratings are used to determine the similarity of various queries.

Abstract: Methods for responding to a potential incident are provided in which data about the potential incident is received from a first remote sensing unit. Additional remote sensing units are identified that may have additional data about the potential incident, and additional data about the potential incident is received from at least some of these additional remote sensing units. The totality of the received data is then analyzed, and at least one remote entity is automatically notified regarding the occurrence of the potential incident.

Abstract: A system for supporting Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) applications, Web based applications, and converged IMS/Web based applications that use a service delivery network includes an application services middle layer between the applications and the service delivery network that includes a plurality of common components that are usable by the different applications to provide services over the service delivery network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collaborative searching are described. In an embodiment of the present invention, a database stores previously executed queries and corresponding results. An application server compares an entered query with the previously executed queries. If the application server finds a query that is substantially similar to the entered query, the application server returns the results corresponding to the previously executed query. If no substantially similar result is found, the query is executed against one or more data sources. When results are returned, an embodiment provides the user with the ability to rate them. The ratings are used to determine the similarity of various queries.

Abstract: Methods and devices establish an area party line for telephone calls to provide a geographically based chat forum via a telephone. One method receives telephone calls at a local call station where the telephone calls may be landline calls from callers serviced by the local call station, wireless phone calls from users who are currently located in proximity to the local call station, and/or long distance calls from callers who have dialed into the local call station using an area code and exchange. Callers provide an indication of an area party line, such as a star code, and the local call station bridges the calls together. Another method receives telephone calls at a central call station, where the telephone calls are directed to the central call bridging station from a local call station, and the central call bridging station bridges the callers together depending upon the local call station that the calls are transferred from.

Abstract: An oven temperature control circuit utilizes one or more light emitting diodes to establish a clamping voltage that limits the voltage at the input of a circuit component, such as an analog-to-digital converter, when a sensor, such as a thermistor, is connected to the input of the circuit component and the sensor is subjected to an EMI pulse. A method is provided for continued execution of a heating process after an unavoidable and unintentional interruption.

Abstract: The invention relates to a baseball teaching device that allows to develop striking skills of a player by emulating a force with which a ball travels before being hit by a player. The device has a frame mountable on a horizontal surface, an upright pole extending from the base and a baseball support arm extending traversely to the pole when the device is in use. The baseball support member is a flexible resilient plate that offers the necessary resistance to a striking force exerted by the player when the baseball is hit by a bat. An optional resilient insert is embedded into the body of the plate to increase resistance to the striking force by making the plate less flexible.