Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to record broadcast programming for at least one television channel for a period of time, wherein the recording is performed upstream from subscribers in a television distribution system, and further including after the period of time, keeping recorded programming by request from at least one subscriber. And further wherein the request is for at least one television program contained in the recorded programming or for a time window for a particular channel. According to another embodiment a subscriber requests that broadcast programming be saved for the subscriber upstream from the subscriber in a television distribution system, and wherein the subscriber may request the programming be saved for later viewing by the subscriber between the time the programming was broadcast and a later point in time.

Abstract: An encoding manager facilitates robust single-pass variable bit rate video encoding of a video sequence. Before encoding the video sequence, the encoding manager determines the size of a buffer to use for keeping track of over/under used bits generated during encoding. The encoding manager uses the target bit rate for the video sequence and the length of the video sequence to determine the size of the buffer. After allocating bits to a frame of the sequence, the encoding manager determines the quant to use to encode that frame. The determination of a quant to use to encode a frame is informed by the fullness of the buffer. The encoding manager adjusts the quant to use (and thus the aggressiveness of its encoding) in response to the amount of overflow generated thus far by the encoding of the video sequence.

Abstract: A lead frame facilitates the handling, positioning, attachment, and/or continued integrity of multiple dies, without the use of multiple separate parts, such as jumpers. The lead frame includes a number of structures, each of which is attached to at least one lead. At least one receiving surface, arranged to receive a die, is associated with each structure. When dies are disposed on the receiving surfaces, anodes are similarly-oriented. A number of fingers are attached to the lead frame, and one or more electrode contact surfaces are attached to each finger. Each electrode contact surface can be positioned (for example, bent) with respect to one receiving surface, to facilitate electrical connection between the anode of a die and a lead. The lead frame may be used in connection with surface- and through-hole-mountable electronic devices, such as bridge rectifier modules.

Abstract: An encoding manager facilitates robust single-pass variable bit rate video encoding of a video sequence. Before encoding the video sequence, the encoding manager determines the size of a buffer to use for keeping track of over/under used bits generated during encoding. The encoding manager uses the target bit rate for the video sequence and the length of the video sequence to determine the size of the buffer. After allocating bits to a frame of the sequence, the encoding manager determines the quant to use to encode that frame. The determination of a quant to use to encode a frame is informed by the fullness of the buffer. The encoding manager adjusts the quant to use (and thus the aggressiveness of its encoding) in response to the amount of overflow generated thus far by the encoding of the video sequence.

Abstract: A lead frame facilitates the handling, positioning, attachment, and/or continued integrity of multiple dies, without the use of multiple separate parts, such as jumpers. The lead frame includes a number of structures, each of which is attached to at least one lead. At least one receiving surface, arranged to receive a die, is associated with each structure. When dies are disposed on the receiving surfaces, anodes are similarly-oriented. A number of fingers are attached to the lead frame, and one or more electrode contact surfaces are attached to each finger. Each electrode contact surface can be positioned (for example, bent) with respect to one receiving surface, to facilitate electrical connection between the anode of a die and a lead. The lead frame may be used in connection with surface- and through-hole-mountable electronic devices, such as bridge rectifier modules.

Abstract: An electronic device having a USB connector is provided comprising a partial outer sleeve reaching short of the USB connector and securely holding thereof and a shorter inner sleeve extending little over the USB connector and partially housed in the outer sleeve in a sliding relationship. The USB connector is connected to functional circuit on at least one printed circuit board. A short piece of adaptor bracket permits the selected printed circuit board fastened in a uniform profile to the containing space of the outer sleeve so that a determined size of outer sleeve may hold a variety of printed circuit boards in a constantly acceptable tolerance.

Abstract: An SVC is established between a client and a host by dynamically configuring a host CPE device using a custom module designed for the host CPE device. The configured host CPE device enables communication between the client and the host via the SVC connection.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed to enable backup wireless devices. An example method disclosed herein includes receiving an activation code from a first wireless device, transmitting a deactivation instruction to a second wireless device in response to receiving the activation code for the first wireless device, transmitting a location instruction to the second wireless device to invoke a location function of the second wireless device, receiving information indicative of the location of the second wireless device in response to the transmitted location instruction, and sending an e-mail message indicative of the location of the second wireless device to an account owner of the second wireless device in response to receiving the information indicative of the location.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed to enable backup wireless devices. An example method disclosed herein includes receiving a first activation code from a first wireless device, comparing the first activation code associated with the first wireless device with a first activation code in a database, activating the first wireless device when the first activation code associated with the first wireless device matches the first activation code in the database, and when a second wireless device is active, deactivating the second wireless device in response to receipt of the first activation code associated with the first wireless device.

Abstract: Policy-based routing of packets over a peer-to-peer, quality of service connection includes sending a connection setup request, over a control connection to a connection establishing device, to dynamically establish the peer-to-peer, quality of service connection between a source peer implemented on at least one device and a destination peer implemented on at least one device. Packets originating from an application requiring a specified level of service are transmitted, from the source peer implemented on at least one device, over the peer-to-peer, quality of service connection. Packets originating from an application that does not require the specified level of service are transmitted, from the source peer implemented on at least one device, over a best effort connection.

Abstract: A subscriber dynamically establishes a peer-to-peer session from a source subscriber to a destination subscriber across a switched virtual circuit (SVC). A signaling (control) connection is established from the source subscriber to a server, and a connection request is sent via the signaling (control) connection to the server requesting establishment of the SVC to the destination subscriber. In response, a database is queried for information about a source switch associated with the source subscriber and a destination switch associated with the destination subscriber. Subsequently, the connection request is forwarded to a proxy signaling agent, and the proxy signaling agent signals the source switch and the destination switch to dynamically establish the SVC connection from the source switch to the destination switch. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: Communication between a source and a destination is dynamically established. A connection request is received. The connection request is based on a request transmitted over a best-effort path from the source. A network connection is established having a specified quality of service (QoS) based on the request between the source and the destination. Data for a first application is transmitted over the network connection and data for a second application is transmitted over the best-effort path.

Abstract: An SVC is established via an ATM switch port, which includes multiple virtual paths (VPs), by associating multiple virtual user-to-network interfaces (UNIs) to each of the VPs. Each of the VPs includes multiple virtual circuit (VC) ranges, each of which corresponds to a different virtual UNI. Each VC range includes at least one VC for control and at least one VC for data transfer. Associating the virtual UNIs to each of the VPs includes mapping each virtual UNI to a corresponding VC range within a VP based on a virtual path index (VPI)/virtual channel index (VCI) of the virtual UNI initially received by the ATM switch port.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device includes a die, a lead, and an electrically-conductive structure that is arranged to facilitate electrical communication between the die and the lead. The device also includes a potting material, in which the electrically conductive structure, the die, and at least part of the lead are embedded. An electrically-conductive housing encases the potting material and forms exterior packaging of the device. During manufacturing, the electrically-conductive structure, the die, and at least part of the lead may be arranged within the electrically-conductive housing either before or after the potting material is disposed in the housing. When the integrated circuit device is operating, heat is removable from the die via a thermal conduction path formed by the electrically-conductive structure, the potting material, and the electrically-conductive housing.

Abstract: A lead frame facilitates the handling, positioning, attachment, and/or continued integrity of multiple dies, without the use of multiple separate parts, such as jumpers. The lead frame includes a number of structures, each of which is attached to at least one lead. At least one receiving surface, arranged to receive a die, is associated with each structure. When dies are disposed on the receiving surfaces, anodes are similarly-oriented. A number of fingers are attached to the lead frame, and one or more electrode contact surfaces are attached to each finger. Each electrode contact surface can be positioned (for example, bent) with respect to one receiving surface, to facilitate electrical connection between the anode of a die and a lead. The lead frame may be used in connection with surface- and through-hole-mountable electronic devices, such as bridge rectifier modules.

Abstract: An encoding manager performs a first-pass encoding of a video sequence, collecting modeling data concerning the sequence in the process. The encoding manager utilizes collected data to construct a model concerning the sequence, the model including bit overhead for each frame and data concerning transitions that occur during the sequence. The encoding manager uses the data model to generate a rate profile for the video sequence, avoiding buffer underflow by allocating bits from hard to easy segments as needed. The encoding manager utilizes the rate profile to perform a second-pass encoding of the video sequence, adjusting quantization and bit rate for frames as necessary to avoid underflow and conform to the bit budget for the video sequence.

Abstract: A keyboard module (300) includes a printed circuit board (302), a Qwerty keyboard (304) mounted on the printed circuit board. A plurality of application buttons (308) mounted on the printed circuit board and located within the Qwerty keyboard, and a navigator button (306) mounted on the printed circuit board and located also within the Qwerty keyboard. The navigator button has four direction buttons (316a, 316b, 316c, 316d) each having a profile higher than that of keys of the Qwerty keyboard. Each of four keys of the Qwerty keyboard neighboring the navigator button is located between two neighboring direction buttons of the navigator button.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed to enable backup wireless devices. An example method disclosed herein includes receiving a first activation code from a first wireless device, comparing the first activation code associated with the first wireless device with a first activation code in a database, activating the first wireless device when the first activation code associated with the first wireless device matches the first activation code in the database, and when a second wireless device is active, deactivating the second wireless device in response to receipt of the first activation code associated with the first wireless device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to record broadcast programming for at least one television channel for a period of time, wherein the recording is performed upstream from subscribers in a television distribution system, and further including after the period of time, keeping recorded programming by request from at least one subscriber. And further wherein the request is for at least one television program contained in the recorded programming or for a time window for a particular channel. According to another embodiment a subscriber requests that broadcast programming be saved for the subscriber upstream from the subscriber in a television distribution system, and wherein the subscriber may request the programming be saved for later viewing by the subscriber between the time the programming was broadcast and a later point in time.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to store a policy specifying at least one rule relating to recording, storage or delivery of broadcast programming to a consumer of such programming, and to record, store or deliver broadcast programming in response to at least one of the rules in the policy. According to another example embodiment, a method and system provide for a subscriber requesting that at least one broadcast television program be saved for the subscriber upstream from the subscriber in a television distribution system, and further that the at least one program offered to the subscriber for saving is determined based on a policy established for the at least program.