Abstract: Methods are generally described for distributing and storing contents over a wireless network in a home or another similar environment. A storage device may be configured to automatically download content using broadband communications. A wireless device may establish communication with the storage device when within range for wireless communications. The established communications with the storage device may be a direct wireless communication link or an indirect communication link through other networking devices. The wireless device may download contents from the storage device during an idle time when the wireless device has sufficient power available. Downloaded content may be manually or automatically selected. Downloading may be handed off from one storage device to another storage device that has greater wireless signal strength. Downloading may be multicast from a network device to both the wireless device and the storage device.

Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure sets for a method for synchronizing multiple mobile devices in a wireless network, which includes the steps of calculating a time interval for a first mobile device to respond to a request, receiving timing information of the first mobile device, determining a first offset associated with the first mobile device based on the time interval and the timing information, receiving a first data stream including the timing information of the first mobile device, and inserting a first dataset into the first data stream based on the first offset before transmitting the first data stream.

Abstract: A method includes determining a data capacity of a first network device of a plurality of network devices that provide content to a set-top box device. In response to the data capacity satisfying a first threshold and a second threshold, sending a first command to the first network device. The first command instructs the first network device to store media content associated with a particular channel corresponding to a predicted channel change request at the first network device. In response to the data capacity satisfying the first threshold and failing to satisfy the second threshold, sending a second command to the first network device and sending a third command to a second network device. The third command instructs the second network device to store the media content associated with the particular channel.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and systems that redefine how a course is taught and how material is learned in a large-scale class environment. In this system, there is adaptation of content presentation for each student, based on the tracking, learning, and profiling of student learning efficiency. Furthermore, the textbook of the present invention can be created during the delivery of course content, and sold at a variety of granularity.

Abstract: An extension to TCP is generally provided that allows TCP to handle heterogeneous applications, especially those with delay and smoothness-sensitive contents, and wireless transmission media having noisy, fading radio channels. The TCP extension decouples reliability control from rate control, sacrificing reliability for delay control (transmission rate and retransmission decision) that may be suitable for delay and smoothness-sensitive contents. Furthermore, the TCP extension may select TCP variants and modifications to the TCP variants based on one or more of application needs, channel conditions, or local observables such as loss and delay to better adapt to different types of applications and physical layers.

Abstract: Systems and methods of delivering video content are provided. A method of delivering video content is provided that includes predicting a channel change request at a network device. The predicted channel change request indicates a predicted stream of video content. The method also includes generating a control signal at the network device related to the predicted channel change request and storing the control signal at a data storage device associated with the network device. In an illustrative embodiment, the network device stores the control signal when the network device is associated with a first data capacity. Additionally, the network device sends a video content request to a service provider server when the network device is associated with a second data capacity. The video content request is related to the predicted stream.

Abstract: Techniques for a node in a wireless network to process packets are disclosed. An example method includes registering with a network-management system in the network to become a node in the network, determining neighboring nodes, sending a link-state advertisement to the network-management system, the link-state packets providing its neighboring relationships, processing the packets using switching rules for a tree switching network portion of the network, the switching rules defining at least one of (1) an ingress link to a parent node and (2) egress links to child nodes, determining if a wireless link to a neighboring node has failed, and when a wireless link to a neighboring node has failed, informing a node at the end of an ingress wireless link and the network-management system of the failed link.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering variable pricing of data usage to a user device operated by a user is disclosed. The system includes a server configured with a usage monitor configured to identify the user and monitor usage patterns of the user device. The server has a pricing policy engine configured to generate pricing information based on at least one of the identity of the user and the usage patterns. The pricing policy engine is configured to transmit the pricing information to the user device. The user device is configured with a usage controller having a user interface configured to receive a delay preference selection identifying at least one delay tolerant application. The usage controller is configured to receive pricing information from the pricing policy engine and to delay data usage to the delay tolerant application based on the delay preference selection and the pricing information.

Abstract: Techniques for a node in a wireless network to process packets are disclosed. An example method includes registering with a network-management system in the network to become a node in the network, determining neighboring nodes, measuring costs of wireless links to its neighboring nodes, measuring radio characteristic levels of the wireless links to its neighboring nodes, sending a link-state advertisement to the network-management system, the link-state packets providing its neighboring relationships and the costs of the wireless links to its neighboring nodes, receiving link weights from the network-management system, computing a routing table for a link-state routing protocol based on (1) the sum of the link weights and the radio characteristic levels for the corresponding wireless links to its neighboring nodes, and (2) a topology of the network, and processing the packets using the routing table.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are for selecting content for distribution via a data network, and creating at least one content distribution channel to distribute specific content of the selected content. The specific content is partitioned from the selected content based upon a criterion common to the specific content.

Abstract: Embodiment of the disclosure set forth methods for sharing data in a wireless network. Some example methods include storing in a database a content related information associated with a first mobile device, receiving a request for the content related information from a second mobile device, searching the database for the content related information, and transmitting a search result to the second mobile device to enable the transfer of content between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.

Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure sets for a method for synchronizing multiple mobile devices in a wireless network, which includes the steps of calculating a time interval for a first mobile device to respond to a request, receiving timing information of the first mobile device, determining a first offset associated with the first mobile device based on the time interval and the timing information, receiving a first data stream including the timing information of the first mobile device, and inserting a first dataset into the first data stream based on the first offset before transmitting the first data stream.

Abstract: An extension to TCP is generally provided that allows TCP to handle heterogeneous applications, especially those with delay and smoothness-sensitive contents, and wireless transmission media having noisy, fading radio channels. The TCP extension decouples reliability control from rate control, sacrificing reliability for delay control (transmission rate and retransmission decision) that may be suitable for delay and smoothness-sensitive contents. Furthermore, the TCP extension may select TCP variants and modifications to the TCP variants based on one or more of application needs, channel conditions, or local observables such as loss and delay to better adapt to different types of applications and physical layers.

Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure sets for a method for synchronizing multiple mobile devices in a wireless network, which includes the steps of calculating a time interval for a first mobile device to respond to a request, receiving timing information of the first mobile device, determining a first offset associated with the first mobile device based on the time interval and the timing information, receiving a first data stream including the timing information of the first mobile device, and inserting a first dataset into the first data stream based on the first offset before transmitting the first data stream.

Abstract: A method includes accessing network information stored at a remote device, the network information identifying one or more available physical locations to deploy one or more network nodes of a proposed network. The method further includes receiving data indicating a number of core layer nodes to be included in the proposed network. The method further includes determining a number of aggregator layer nodes to be included in the proposed network, the number of aggregator layer nodes determined based on incrementing a threshold number of aggregator layer nodes that supports a coverage area of the proposed network. The method further includes generating a network design of the proposed network. The network design identifies particular physical locations of the one or more available physical locations to deploy each of the core layer nodes and each of the aggregator layer nodes of the proposed network.

Abstract: A system and method for network design are disclosed. In one embodiment of a method incorporating teachings of the present disclosure, embedded network information describing at least one existing network element and a plurality of physical locations available for locating new network nodes may be received. A demand forecast for a coverage area of a proposed network may also be received. In an embodiment in which a proposed network has a core layer, a number of core layer nodes to be included in the proposed network may also be received. In an embodiment in which a proposed network has an aggregation layer, a number of aggregator layer nodes to include in the proposed network may be calculated by adding a positive integer to a lower bound number of aggregator layer nodes. Consideration may be given to these and other inputs in connection with generating a network design.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are for selecting content for distribution via a data network, and creating at least one content distribution channel to distribute specific content of the selected content. The specific content is partitioned from the selected content based upon a criterion common to the specific content.

Abstract: Techniques for a node in a wireless network to process packets are disclosed. An example method includes registering with a network-management system in the network to become a node in the network, determining neighboring nodes, measuring costs of wireless links to its neighboring nodes, measuring radio characteristic levels of the wireless links to its neighboring nodes, sending a link-state advertisement to the network-management system, the link-state packets providing its neighboring relationships and the costs of the wireless links to its neighboring nodes, receiving link weights from the network-management system, computing a routing table for a link-state routing protocol based on (1) the sum of the link weights and the radio characteristic levels for the corresponding wireless links to its neighboring nodes, and (2) a topology of the network, and processing the packets using the routing table.

Abstract: A cross-layer protocol may generally provide joint control of power and schedule in a fully distributed manner without any centralized coordination for an interference-limited wireless network. Under the described protocol, each wireless device may use a detection trial to locally detect interference condition and randomly back off in a distributed manner. Based on the result of the detection trial, the wireless device may then shift between (1) a pure power control mode with power control and (2) a time sharing mode with joint power and scheduling control. The wireless device may also use the amount of backlog in its queue buffer to determine the duration of a silence period in the time sharing mode and an increment to the power level provided by the power control algorithm.

Abstract: A hierarchical wireless network is provided with a mesh backbone network portion and a switching tree network portion. The mesh backbone network portion includes first tier nodes each having at least one wireless link to another first tier node. The first tier nodes execute a link-state protocol for routing packets. The switching tree network portion includes second tier nodes each having a single wireless link to one first tier node and at least one wireless link to one third tier node, and third tier nodes each having a single wireless link to one second tier node. The second tier and the third tier nodes execute switching rules for switching packets.