Abstract: A method of caching data at a processing node within a communication network can include predicting a future location of a user. A processing node within the communication network can be selected according to the future location. Data to be sent to the selected processing node can be selected. The selected data can be sent to the selected processing node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for compensating for dialects and accents comprising an automatic speech recognition system comprising an automatic speech recognition device that is operative to receive an utterance in an acoustic format from a user with a user interface; a speech to text conversion engine that is operative to receive the utterance from the automatic speech recognition device and to prepare a textual statement of the utterance; and a correction database that is operative to store textual statements of all utterances; where the correction database is operative to secure a corrected transcript of the textual statement of the utterance from the speech to text conversion engine and adds it to the corrections database if the corrected transcript of the textual statement of the utterance is not available.

Abstract: A method for providing virtual world functionality to a user of a base virtual world having base virtual world functionality and a base world list of base virtual world users, includes providing a virtual world layer, communicating to the base virtual world that the virtual world layer will overlay the base virtual world and adding the virtual world layer to the base world list in order to register the virtual world layer with the base virtual world.

Abstract: A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and suming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device.

Abstract: A method of identifying incidents using mobile devices can include receiving a communication from each of a plurality of mobile devices. Each communication can specify information about a detected sound. Spatial and temporal information can be identified from each communication as well as an indication of a sound signature matching the detected sound. The communications can be compared with a policy specifying spatial and temporal requirements relating to the sound signature indicated by the communications. A notification can be selectively sent according to the comparison.

Abstract: The present invention provides various approaches for disseminating emergency broadcasting messages or other messages of importance (hereinafter “alerts”) within virtual world environments such that interested virtual world residents can be made aware of matters of importance based on their physical world locations (e.g., without respect to the locale of their current virtual world presence).

Abstract: A method of identifying incidents using mobile devices can include receiving a communication from each of a plurality of mobile devices. Each communication can specify information about a detected sound. Spatial and temporal information can be identified from each communication as well as an indication of a sound signature matching the detected sound. The communications can be compared with a policy specifying spatial and temporal requirements relating to the sound signature indicated by the communications. A notification can be selectively sent according to the comparison.

Abstract: A method for providing virtual world functionality to a user of a base virtual world having base virtual world functionality, including providing a virtual world layer having virtual world layer functionality beyond the base virtual world functionality, coupling the virtual world layer to the base virtual world and coupling the virtual world layer to the user. User access to the base virtual world functionality and to the virtual world layer functionality by the virtual world layer is provided.

Abstract: Aspects of this invention are directed toward determining the effectiveness of advertising in a virtual universe. Specifically, under the present invention, a visit by an avatar to a region of the VU that includes targeted advertising content is registered. Then, the following avatar attributes are determined: a proximity to the target advertising content by the avatar; an avatar directionality of the avatar with respect to the target advertising content; a camera directionality of a camera object associated with the avatar; and a time with respect to which the avatar may be exposed to the target advertising content in the region. Thereafter, at least one score is assigned to the visit, the proximity, the directionality, and the time. An effectiveness score is then calculated based on the at least one score. The overall effectiveness of the target advertising content is then calculated based on the at least one score.

Abstract: A method of identifying incidents using mobile devices can include receiving a communication from each of a plurality of mobile devices. Each communication can specify information about a detected sound. Spatial and temporal information can be identified from each communication as well as an indication of a sound signature matching the detected sound. The communications can be compared with a policy specifying spatial and temporal requirements relating to the sound signature indicated by the communications. A notification can be selectively sent according to the comparison.

Abstract: A method and system applies a rating adjustment to ratings by avatars in a virtual universe. The rating adjustment offsets mutual rating collusion between avatars. The ratings may be adjusted based on a weighted value of indicia of association, and may also be adjusted based on rating frequencies between the same avatars. In a rating system having a fee structure, the ratings may be adjusted by scaling the rating/fee payoff to favor higher fees. Where indicia of association are weighted, the weightings are mapped to discrete levels of association between avatars, from no association to close association, with greater reduction of ratings for closer association.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for compensating for dialects and accents comprising an automatic speech recognition system comprising an automatic speech recognition device that is operative to receive an utterance in an acoustic format from a user with a user interface; a speech to text conversion engine that is operative to receive the utterance from the automatic speech recognition device and to prepare a textual statement of the utterance; and a correction database that is operative to store textual statements of all utterances; where the correction database is operative to secure a corrected transcript of the textual statement of the utterance from the speech to text conversion engine and adds it to the corrections database if the corrected transcript of the textual statement of the utterance is not available.

Abstract: A mobile device accepts a selection of a file for opening or editing or both. The file is associated with a file type. A mobile application on the mobile device identifies the file type associated with the file. A request message is constructed that is indicative of the file type and one or more user credentials. The request message is sent to a cloud server. The mobile device receives an address for a selected cloud image from the cloud server and, in response thereto, connects to a remote processing environment in the selected cloud image.

Abstract: A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device.

Abstract: A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device.

Abstract: A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device.

Abstract: A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device.

Abstract: A method of identifying incidents using mobile devices can include receiving a communication from each of a plurality of mobile devices. Each communication can specify information about a detected sound. Spatial and temporal information can be identified from each communication as well as an indication of a sound signature matching the detected sound. The communications can be compared with a policy specifying spatial and temporal requirements relating to the sound signature indicated by the communications. A notification can be selectively sent according to the comparison.

Abstract: A method for providing configurable access to media in a media-on-demand system also can include delivering the media to a first client device in a format compatible with the first client device; interrupting the delivery of the media; recording a bookmark specifying a position in the media where the interruption occurred; and resuming delivery of the media to a second client device, the resumed delivery beginning at a position in the media specified by the recorded bookmark. The method further can include identifying device properties for each of the first and second client devices; delivering the media to the first client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the first client device; and, delivering the media to the second client device in a format compatible with the identified device properties for the second client device.

Abstract: A method of identifying incidents using mobile devices can include receiving a communication from each of a plurality of mobile devices. Each communication can specify information about a detected sound. Spatial and temporal information can be identified from each communication as well as an indication of a sound signature matching the detected sound. The communications can be compared with a policy specifying spatial and temporal requirements relating to the sound signature indicated by the communications. A notification can be selectively sent according to the comparison.