Abstract: A virtual workspace is provided for a user with a number of electronic devices, in which information can be exchanged among the electronic devices through a number of connections between the electronic devices. The virtual workspace is provided by determining where services are located and the type of the services, determining one or more data formats associated with data accessible by one or more of the electronic devices. A portion of the data has a given one of one or more data formats. An electronic device is selected based at least in part on predetermined criteria and the given data format. A route through the connections to the selected electronic device is determined, where the route may comprise a given one or more of the connections. At least the portion of the data associated with the given data format is routed to the selected electronic device. The portion of the data is utilizable for presentation by the selected electronic device when received by the selected electronic device.

Abstract: A virtual workspace is provided for a user with a number of electronic devices, in which information can be exchanged among the electronic devices through a number of connections between the electronic devices. The virtual workspace is provided by determining where services are located and the type of the services, determining one or more data formats associated with data accessible by one or more of the electronic devices. A portion of the data has a given one of one or more data formats. An electronic device is selected based at least in part on predetermined criteria and the given data format. A route through the connections to the selected electronic device is determined, where the route may comprise a given one or more of the connections. At least the portion of the data associated with the given data format is routed to the selected electronic device. The portion of the data is utilizable for presentation by the selected electronic device when received by the selected electronic device.

Abstract: A virtual workspace is provided for a user with a number of electronic devices, in which information can be exchanged among the electronic devices through a number of connections between the electronic devices. The virtual workspace is provided by determining where services are located and the type of the services, determining one or more data formats associated with data accessible by one or more of the electronic devices. A portion of the data has a given one of one or more data formats. An electronic device is selected based at least in part on predetermined criteria and the given data format. A route through the connections to the selected electronic device is determined, where the route may comprise a given one or more of the connections. At least the portion of the data associated with the given data format is routed to the selected electronic device. The portion of the data is utilizable for presentation by the selected electronic device when received by the selected electronic device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for delivering a level of quality of service for a client requesting data in a connection arrangement including a server and a plurality of clients assigned one of a plurality of classes, wherein the determination of the level of quality of service includes estimating an arrival rate of potential future requests of at least one class of the plurality of classes, determining a capacity of the at least one data server, determining a current load of the server, reserving a capacity for at least the one class of the plurality of classes according to an estimated arrival rate, assigning the server to the client, and serving the data to the client from an assigned data server, wherein an amount of capacity is allotted to the client according to the level of the quality of service.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus to protect user privacy while accessing information in public places, using both public and personal devices. This is achieved by employing a mechanism that prevents private information from being displayed on public devices. Instead, this type of information is made available only to a user's personal device(s) that the user carries and/or trusts. An example embodiment of the invention shows relevant parts of the information content, referred to also as information documents or simply documents, to multiple devices based on privacy level and user preferences. Embodiments of the present invention also provide personalized services based on privacy levels defined by users. These users can for example be customers of a retail store. The service provided is sometimes also based on user history of accessing information documents. It permits personalized information to be sent to a customer's personal device.

Abstract: In a connection arrangement including two or more electronic devices, wherein information can be exchanged among the electronic devices through a plurality of communication links between the electronic devices, at least one of the electronic devices being configurable for communicating with a data source, a method for presenting a multi-channel message originating from the data source, the multi-channel message including a two or more components, includes the steps of allocating each of at least a portion of the components in the multi-channel message to at least one electronic device and, for each allocated component, determining possible communication paths between the data source and the at least one electronic device allocated to the corresponding component.

Abstract: A virtual workspace is provided for a user with a number of electronic devices, in which information can be exchanged among the electronic devices through a number of connections between the electronic devices. The virtual workspace is provided by determining where services are located and the type of the services, determining one or more data formats associated with data accessible by one or more of the electronic devices. A portion of the data has a given one of one or more data formats. An electronic device is selected based at least in part on predetermined criteria and the given data format. A route through the connections to the selected electronic device is determined, where the route may comprise a given one or more of the connections. At least the portion of the data associated with the given data format is routed to the selected electronic device. The portion of the data is utilizable for presentation by the selected electronic device when received by the selected electronic device.

Abstract: The packet network phone unit is an interface between a telephone instrument and a packet network for enabling voice data to be communicated over the packet network. The unit also functions as a gateway between a packet network and a public switched telephone network, thereby interconnecting the networks and providing a public switched telephone network gateway to a packet network. When power is not supplied to the unit, a fallback switch automatically links the telephone instrument directly to the public switched network, bypassing the circuitry in the unit. The unit includes links to a plurality of external serial communications lines as well as an interface for connecting to a personal computer. The unit also includes an LCD driver and a display for displaying information such as a caller identification. The packet network phone unit also may function an answering machine/messaging system.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, apparatus and systems that allow devices to enter and leave a local domain often and still allow consumers of the service provided by the device to easily detect its availability. To achieve this, an example embodiment locates a “service discovery proxy” in the local domain. On receiving a service discovery request from a remote inquirer, the proxy resolves the service request based on those services that are determined to be dynamically available in the local domain at that time. The proxy resolves the incoming service request within its local domain by using any method for local service discovery. The response to the service discovery received from the local devices is customized by the service discovery proxy, wherein the customization includes formatting, filtering, aggregating, and/or selecting particular responses. The proxy then sends the customized response back to the remote inquirer.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus to protect user privacy while accessing information in public places, using both public and personal devices. This is achieved by employing a mechanism that prevents private information from being displayed on public devices. Instead, this type of information is made available only to a user's personal device(s) that the user carries and/or trusts. An example embodiment of the invention shows relevant parts of the information content, referred to also as information documents or simply documents, to multiple devices based on privacy level and user preferences. Embodiments of the present invention also provide personalized services based on privacy levels defined by users. These users can for example be customers of a retail store. The service provided is sometimes also based on user history of accessing information documents. It permits personalized information to be sent to a customer's personal device.

Abstract: The packet network phone unit is an interface between a telephone instrument and a packet network for enabling voice data to be communicated over the packet network. The unit also functions as a gateway between a packet network and a public switched telephone network, thereby interconnecting the networks and providing a public switched telephone network gateway to a packet network. When power is not supplied to the unit, a fallback switch automatically links the telephone instrument directly to the public switched network, bypassing the circuitry in the unit. The unit includes links to a plurality of external serial communications lines as well as an interface for connecting to a personal computer. The unit also includes an LCD driver and a display for displaying information such as a caller identification. The packet network phone unit also may function an answering machine/messaging system.