Abstract: A system and method for distributing virtual items for collection by a user device in the real world are provided. One embodiment of a method includes sending a notification to a user device indicating availability of a virtual item, the virtual item configured to be available to the user device when the user device is determined to be proximate to one or more real world geolocations associated with the virtual item. The method provides for determining that the user device is proximate to the one or more geolocations and for providing information related to the virtual item so as to enable viewing of at least a portion of the virtual item. The method also provides sending an activated version of the virtual item to the user device when predetermined conditions associated with viewing the virtual item have been met.

Abstract: Streaming content may be delivered through a combination of broadcast and a backchannel. A desired streamlet may be selected from the packet of information and presented with a display. A remainder of a data stream associated with the streamlet may be requested and received from via a backchannel while the desired streamlet is being presented. The remaining data stream may then be presented with the display.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing virtual items for collection by a user device in the real world are provided. One embodiment of a method includes sending a notification to a user device indicating availability of a virtual item, the virtual item configured to be available to the user device when the user device is determined to be proximate to one or more real world geolocations associated with the virtual item. The method provides for determining that the user device is proximate to the one or more geolocations and for providing information related to the virtual item so as to enable viewing of at least a portion of the virtual item. The method also provides sending an activated version of the virtual item to the user device when predetermined conditions associated with viewing the virtual item have been met.

Abstract: An apparatus and computer implemented method for modifying a state of a virtual item and a corresponding computer-readable medium are disclosed. A receiving device receives information relating to one or more virtual items from a server via a broadcast signal. The information is filtered according to one or more criteria to select a selected virtual item from among the one or more virtual items. The criteria include a physical world location of the receiving device. A state of the selected virtual item is modified from an initial state to a modified state and information relating the modified state back is sent back to the server.

Abstract: Streaming content may be delivered through a combination of broadcast and a backchannel. A desired streamlet may be selected from the packet of information and presented with a display. A remainder of a data stream associated with the streamlet may be requested and received from via a backchannel while the desired streamlet is being presented. The remaining data stream may then be presented with the display.

Abstract: Streaming content may be delivered through a combination of broadcast and a backchannel. Related apparatus and methods for receiving and distributing streaming content are described. A receiving device may receive a packet of information in the form of a broadcast signal from a broadcast source. The packet of information may contain one or more streamlets and a table of contents associated with the streamlets. A desired streamlet may be selected from the packet of information and presented with a display. A remainder of a data stream associated with the streamlet may be requested and received from via a backchannel while the desired streamlet is being presented. The remaining data stream may then be presented with the display.

Abstract: Prioritizing network traffic among two or more distinct channels of communication within a single application in a node configured to communicate with one or more other nodes over a network is disclosed. For a particular time quantum, a bandwidth quantum may be distributed amongst two or more communication channels according to priorities associated with those channels. Ready data for each channel may be transmitted over a network path up to the size of the reserved portion for that channel and not greater than a path maximum transmission unit (MTU) size for a network path. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optimizing quality of streaming data transmitted between a first node and a second node over a network, the streaming data including one or more frame groups is disclosed. A processor-readable medium having embodied therein processor readably instructions for implementing a method for optimizing quality of streaming data transmitted between a first node and a second node over a network is also disclosed.

Abstract: Broadcast messages are efficiently directed to nodes of an overlay network. Broadcast messages include an End ID parameter specifying the range of key values for nodes that should receive the broadcast message. Each node of an overlay network maintains a list of finger nodes and their respective key values. Upon receiving a broadcast message, a node assigns a finger node a new End ID value based upon the End ID value of the broadcast message or the key value of an adjacent finger node. The node compares a finger node's new End ID value with the finger node's key value to determine whether to forward the broadcast message to that finger node. A broadcast message forwarded to a finger node includes an End ID parameter equal to the new End ID value determined for the finger node. Nodes can aggregate response messages from its finger nodes.

Abstract: Traversal of a Network Address Translator (NAT) can be facilitated for a mobile device configured to communicate with one or more other devices over a network via one or more wireless access points. A direction of travel can be estimated for the mobile device. One or more wireless access points the mobile device is likely to encounter can be predicted using the estimated direction of travel. Information regarding behavior of one or more NATs associated with the predicted wireless access point(s) can be predicted. Such information can be stored in such a way that the information is retrievable by one or more other devices or using the information to traverse one or more of the NATs. Alternatively, information can be retrieved regarding behavior of one or more NATs associated with the predicted wireless access points. This information can be used to traverse one or more of the NATs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optimizing quality of streaming data transmitted between a first node and a second node over a network, the streaming data including one or more frame groups is disclosed. A processor-readable medium having embodied therein processor readably instructions for implementing a method for optimizing quality of streaming data transmitted between a first node and a second node over a network is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for structuring a content distribution overlay network for a peer-to-peer network is presented. The method includes receiving a request from a requesting node for content at a content node. The content node has processing capabilities to process the content for presentation to the requesting node. An overlay network, including the requesting node and the content node, is dynamically assembled after receiving the request for content, where the overlay network is self-organized from available nodes of the peer-to-peer network that are available at a time of the request and based on the content requested. Using the assembled overlay network, a head node of the overlay network determines if a child node in the overlay network has processing capabilities to process the content, where the child node is then assigned to process the content for presentation to the requesting node.

Abstract: Provided is a method and an apparatus for selectively returning parameters from an invoked object. Specifically, a requestor can invoke an object by transmitting a message. The message can include specified return parameters from an interface, such as an interface definition language (IDL). Alternatively, an object stub locally accessible by the requester can be invoked. The object stub, similar to the IDL, can specify the parameters to return. After the execution of a method in the invoked object, the requestor receives the return parameters or a subset of the return parameters previously selected.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optimizing quality of streaming data transmitted between a first node and a second node over a network, the streaming data including one or more frame groups is disclosed. A processor-readable medium having embodied therein processor readably instructions for implementing a method for optimizing quality of streaming data transmitted between a first node and a second node over a network is also disclosed.

Abstract: Prioritizing network traffic among two or more distinct channels of communication within a single application in a node configured to communicate with one or more other nodes over a network is disclosed. For a particular time quantum, a bandwidth quantum may be distributed amongst two or more communication channels according to priorities associated with those channels. Ready data for each channel may be transmitted over a network path up to the size of the reserved portion for that channel and not greater than a path maximum transmission unit (MTU) size for a network path. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a peer of a peer-to-peer network to search for an available resource includes organizing peers of the peer-to-peer network in a hierarchical structure based upon locality of the peers. A request for the available resource is received at a parent from a peer as a request bit string. An aggregate availability bit string representing an aggregate of resources available at all children associated with the parent is accessed to determine if one or more children of the parent are able to fulfill the resource request. The determination is by performing a logical operation with bits of the request bit string and bits of aggregate availability bit string. When more than one child of the parent is able to provide the requested resource, a child with available resource that is closest to the peer requesting the resource is identified. The available resource of the identified child is used to satisfy the resource request of the peer.

Abstract: Forward error correction may be implemented in a network having first, second, third and fourth nodes. The second node receives streaming media message packets and one or more check packets from an upstream first node. The second node transmits the message packets and check packets to a downstream third node. The second node transmits a second set of one or more check packets to a fourth node that is downstream of the third node.

Abstract: In a node configured to communicate with one or more other nodes over a network, available bandwidth for network traffic may be distributed among two or more distinct channels of communication within a single application running on the node. An available bandwidth may be detected for communication between the first node and a second node. A distribution may be determined for the available bandwidth among the two or more communication channels. A sending rate may be adjusted for data sent from the first node to the second node over one or more of the two or more communication channels in response to a detected change in the available bandwidth.

Abstract: Methods are provided for event notification in a decentralized peer-to-peer (P2P) network. Each node within the P2P network can publish a subscription object for a published resource. Through the use of common identifiers, each subscription object is co-located with a corresponding publish object for the resource. Upon receiving notification of an event associated with the resource, the node responsible for the publish object for the resource distributes the event notification to each node present on the corresponding subscription registry. Therefore, nodes within the P2P network that are interested in a resource are capable of establishing a persistent query for the resource by publishing a subscription object for the resource on the responsible node.

Abstract: Traversal of a Network Address Translator (NAT) can be facilitated for a mobile device configured to communicate with one or more other devices over a network via one or more wireless access points. A direction of travel can be estimated for the mobile device. One or more wireless access points the mobile device is likely to encounter can be predicted using the an estimated direction of travel for the mobile device. Information regarding behavior of one or more NATs associated with the predicted wireless access point(s) can be predicted. Such information can be stored in such a way that the information is retrievable by one or more other devices or using the information to traverse one or more of the NATs. Alternatively, information can be retrieved regarding behavior of one or more NATs associated with the predicted wireless access points. This information can be used to traverse one or more of the NATs.