Abstract: A peer-to-peer (P2P) probing/network quality of service (QoS) analysis system utilizes a UDP-based probing tool for determining latency, bandwidth, and packet loss ratio between peers in a network. The probing tool enables network QoS probing between peers that connect through a network address translator. The list of peers to probe is provided by a connection server based on prior probe results and an estimate of the network condition. The list includes those peers which are predicted to have the best QoS with the requesting peer. Once the list is obtained, the requesting peer probes the actual QoS to each peer on the list, and returns these results to the connection server. P2P probing in parallel using a modified packet-pair scheme is utilized. If anomalous results are obtained, a hop-by-hop probing scheme is utilized to determine the QoS of each link. In such a scheme, differential destination measurement is utilized.

Abstract: A power control scheme for a wireless network communication system that includes a base station and multiple wireless mobile device dynamically adjusts transmission power of a mobile device in conjunction with adjusting its bit allocation in source coding and channel coding to minimize its total power consumption while maximizing the system capacity in terms of the total effective transmission rates received by the base station. The base station sets a target signal quality value for each mobile station, and the target values are determined by the base station such that the total effective data rate from all the mobile devices is maximized under constraints of the total received power and the error protection level requirements for the mobile devices.

Abstract: A system and method for vertical handoff between different types of wireless networks. A network allocation vector of a first wireless network is sampled for a period of time. The network allocation vector may include a transmission time advertised by a sender in the first wireless network. A network allocation vector occupation is calculated. The calculation of the network allocation vector may include calculating a ratio of an amount of time that the network allocation vector is busy during the time period to a total amount of time during the time period. A wireless network quality of service measure is calculated as a function of the network allocation vector occupation. A vertical handoff may be initiated from a second wireless network to the first wireless network based at least in part on the calculated wireless network quality of service measure.

Abstract: A resource allocation of multiple compressed AV streams delivered over the Internet is disclosed that achieves end-to-end optimal quality through a multimedia streaming TCP-friendly transport (MSTFP) protocol that adaptively estimates the network bandwidth while smoothing the sending rate. Resources allocated dynamically according to a media encoding distortion and network degradation algorithm. A scheme is also disclosed for dynamically estimating the available network bandwidth for streaming of objects, such as MPEG4 multiple video objects, in conjunction with the MSTFP protocol. The scheme can account for packet-loss rates to minimize end-to-end distortion for media delivery.

Abstract: A resource allocation of multiple compressed AV streams delivered over the Internet is disclosed that achieves end-to-end optimal quality through a multimedia streaming TCP-friendly transport (MSTFP) protocol that adaptively estimates the network bandwidth while smoothing the sending rate. Resources allocated dynamically according to a media encoding distortion and network degradation algorithm. A scheme is also disclosed for dynamically estimating the available network bandwidth for streaming of objects, such as MPEG4 multiple video objects, in conjunction with the MSTFP protocol. The scheme can account for packet-loss rates to minimize end-to-end distortion for media delivery.

Abstract: An implementation of a technology, described herein, for transmitting compressed network transport-layer-protocol headers in a speedy, efficient, inferentially synchronized, and robust manner. An implementation, described herein, models the transmission of compressed headers to the congestion procedure of the network transport-layer protocol (e.g., TCP's). Doing so, the sender of the compressed headers can infer whether the receiver correctly received them. Unlike the slow direct synchronization employed by conventional schemes, this implementation of the present claimed invention inferentially synchronizes by modeling after the congestion procedure of the network transport-layer protocol. This is inherently faster than direct synchronization. Since the implementation performs well over both noiseless and noisy links, it is particularly suited to use over wireless communications channels. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent.

Abstract: Emulating a packet reorder condition in a network includes maintaining a counter variable to count packets sent out since the most recent reordered packet. When a new packet arrives, if the counter variable is less than or equal to zero, a current packet lag value is determined. If the current packet lag value is not equal to zero, the new packet is delayed before being sent out in accordance with the lag value, and the counter is updated with the lag value. Otherwise, the new packet is sent out without delay and the counter is decreased by one. The current packet lag value is computed based on supplied configuration parameters. Delaying the new packet includes applying a latency to the packet, the latency comprising a time cost to transmit the packet multiplied by the current packet lag value.

Abstract: A method and system for emulating a network bandwidth condition includes maintaining a queue for holding packets that are received, maintaining a virtual time that is updated whenever a packet timer is scheduled, and, for a selected packet waiting in the queue, calculating a timer expiration time based on the virtual time. A bandwidth emulation module is controlled by an emulator link that comprises a virtual network link to which a first computer is connected. One or more computers may be linked to the first computer.

Abstract: A network emulator provides both per-connection and non-connection-based emulation. The emulator includes a host computer, and a kernel-mode emulator driver and user-mode application component running on the host computer. The application component supplies configuration parameters to the driver. The driver includes a packet filter list that filters a captured packet, a virtual network link that receives the packet from the packet filter list, a link group list that applies an emulation procedure to the packet, a timer management component that manages a timer associated with the emulation procedure, and a packet dispatcher component that sends out the packet. A connection pool component facilitates per-connection emulation.

Abstract: Therapeutic methods and microorganisms therefor are provided. The microorganisms are designed to accumulate in immunoprivileged tissues and cells, such as in tumors and other proliferating tissue and in inflamed tissues, compared to other tissues, cells and organs, so that they exhibit relatively low toxicity to host organisms. The microorganisms also are designed or modified to result in leaky cell membranes of cells in which they accumulate, resulting in production of antibodies reactive against proteins and other cellular products and also permitting exploitation of proferating proliferating tissues, particularly tumors, to produce selected proteins and other products. Vaccines containing the microorganisms are provided. Combinations of the microorganisms and anti-cancer agents and uses thereof for treating cancer also are provided.

Abstract: A cross-layer architecture is provided for delivering multiple media streams over 3G W-CDMA channels in adaptive multimedia wireless networks. A resource management mechanism dynamically allocates resources among different media streams adapted to channel status and Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. By taking the time-varying wireless transmission characteristics into account, an allocation of resources is performed based on a minimum-distortion or minimum-power criterion. Estimates of the time-varying wireless transmission conditions are made through measurements of throughput and error rate. Power and distortion minimized bit allocation schemes are used with the estimated wireless transmission conditions to for dynamically adaptations in transmissions.

Abstract: A system and method for improved vertical handoff between different types of wireless network. Network allocation vector occupation and packet collision probability are used as quality of service measures, enabling vertical handoffs to be delayed until actually beneficial to quality of service. Improved wireless network cell boundary detection in vertical handoff scenarios is achieved with a Fourier-based technique in conjunction with an adaptively determined minimum operating signal strength threshold. Improved wireless network cell boundary detection enables vertical handoffs from high quality of service networks to be delayed as long as possible. Together, practical wireless network quality of service measures and improved detection of wireless network cell boundaries in vertical handoff scenarios reduce the rate of unnecessary vertical handoff resulting in higher overall quality of service experienced by a mobile computing device roaming between wireless network types.

Abstract: An implementation of a technology, described herein, for transmitting compressed network transport-layer-protocol headers in a speedy, efficient, inferentially synchronized, and robust manner. An implementation, described herein, models the transmission of compressed headers to the congestion procedure of the network transport-layer protocol (e.g., TCP's). Doing so, the sender of the compressed headers can infer whether the receiver correctly received them. Unlike the slow direct synchronization employed by conventional schemes, this implementation of the present claimed invention inferentially synchronizes by modeling after the congestion procedure of the network transport-layer protocol. This is inherently faster than direct synchronization. Since the implementation performs well over both noiseless and noisy links, it is particularly suited to use over wireless communications channels. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent.

Abstract: An end host in a peer-to-peer system stores identifiers for both its peers and the neighbors of its peers. When the IP address of the end host and one of the peers changes, the end host's new IP address can be sent to each neighbor of the peer so that communication between the end host and the peer will not be lost. The order in which the neighbors of the peer are stored can be prioritized for faster delivery of the end host's changed IP address to the peer. The prioritizing can be by available bandwidth of the neighbors, proximity of the neighbors, trust between the peer and its neighbors, the probability that the IP address of the neighbors will change, etc. Proximity of the peers from each other and the end host can be a function of the identifier, which can be generated from a public key.

Abstract: A system and method for improved vertical handoff between different types of wireless network. Network allocation vector occupation and packet collision probability are used as quality of service measures, enabling vertical handoffs to be delayed until actually beneficial to quality of service. Improved wireless network cell boundary detection in vertical handoff scenarios is achieved with a Fourier-based technique in conjunction with an adaptively determined minimum operating signal strength threshold. Improved wireless network cell boundary detection enables vertical handoffs from high quality of service networks to be delayed as long as possible. Together, practical wireless network quality of service measures and improved detection of wireless network cell boundaries in vertical handoff scenarios reduce the rate of unnecessary vertical handoff resulting in higher overall quality of service experienced by a mobile computing device roaming between wireless network types.

Abstract: A system and method for improved vertical handoff between different types of wireless network. Network allocation vector occupation and packet collision probability are used as quality of service measures, enabling vertical handoffs to be delayed until actually beneficial to quality of service. Improved wireless network cell boundary detection in vertical handoff scenarios is achieved with a Fourier-based technique in conjunction with an adaptively determined minimum operating signal strength threshold. Improved wireless network cell boundary detection enables vertical handoffs from high quality of service networks to be delayed as long as possible. Together, practical wireless network quality of service measures and improved detection of wireless network cell boundaries in vertical handoff scenarios reduce the rate of unnecessary vertical handoff resulting in higher overall quality of service experienced by a mobile computing device roaming between wireless network types.

Abstract: A spurious timeout (STO) response allows a sending device to conservatively adjust congestion state parameters and maintain the packet flow, after detection of the STO. Since occurrence of an STO may be accompanied by data loss, the STO response couples the spurious timeout and the loss event by maintaining a value of previously available bandwidth and increasing a limit that a sending host can send based on a pattern of returned acknowledgements. In particular, the limit is increased by the maximum size of a data segment that the sending host can send each time an acknowledgement is received from the receiving host indicating a successful transmission of a data packet. Thus, a positive data flow may be maintained conservatively while avoiding further packet losses and an unnecessary re-transmission of data packets that may have been successfully received by the receiving host.

Abstract: A system and method for improved vertical handoff between different types of wireless network. Network allocation vector occupation and packet collision probability are used as quality of service measures, enabling vertical handoffs to be delayed until actually beneficial to quality of service. Improved wireless network cell boundary detection in vertical handoff scenarios is achieved with a Fourier-based technique in conjunction with an adaptively determined minimum operating signal strength threshold. Improved wireless network cell boundary detection enables vertical handoffs from high quality of service networks to be delayed as long as possible. Together, practical wireless network quality of service measures and improved detection of wireless network cell boundaries in vertical handoff scenarios reduce the rate of unnecessary vertical handoff resulting in higher overall quality of service experienced by a mobile computing device roaming between wireless network types.

Abstract: A method for detecting a spurious timeout in a TCP network which can be used to avoid unnecessarily triggering the TCP rate adaptation is disclosed. Upon detection of a timeout on a given packet, a shortened packet version of the possibly lost packet is retransmitted. The retransmitted packet is at least one byte shorter than the original packet. The node receiving this retransmitted packet will acknowledge the receipt of the packet as specified in the TCP protocol. The acknowledgment will contain the sequence number of the lowest byte the receiving node has not yet received. Because the retransmitted packet is shorter than the original packet, the sequence number of this as yet not received byte will be less than or equal to the last byte of the original packet if the original packet was not received indicating a valid timeout.

Abstract: A method provides differentiated quality of service (QoS) by providing adaptive updates to media access control (MAC) layer parameters on a distributed basis. The method includes calculating a failure probability for a transmission over the network, determining a target value for determining a contention window according to a mapped function of the failure probability, and altering the contention window according to a scaling function of the target value. The mapped function and the scaling can provide QoS differentiation. A wireless device ensures fairness in a wireless time slotted network and includes a network interface card (NIC), a network driver interface, a network monitor, a statistics engine, and an adaptive parameter engine for determining a target value for determining a contention window according to a mapped function of the one or more probabilities to enable an alteration of the contention window and provide new parameters for the MAC layer.