Abstract: A communication system (100) includes two or more communication devices (110, 150) for communicating video including at least one virtual image. An avatar is associated with each communicated image. Change messages are communicated between a transmitting communication device (110) and at least one receiving communication device (150) to provide iterative enhancement of each avatar associated with a current digital image at the receiving communication device (150).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for utilizing existing systems and components in a cellular network for managing network functionality to reduce event pressure between managers and agents. In accordance with the preferred embodiments of the invention, a filter, an event counter module, and a performance measurement module, all residing on the agent, perform event notification filtering, counting, and thresholding in the agent. In accordance with the preferred embodiments, only an alarm is sent to the manager from the agent if event notifications exceed a threshold that is established by the manager on the agent.

Abstract: A presence server (70) receives a location from a location server (60) of a mobile device (10). If the mobile device has location based communication services provisioned for it (112), the presence server retrieves a current list of businesses authorized to send notifications to the mobile device (162). If the business is at the location of the mobile device (164) and if the mobile device allows notifications from that business (168), the presence server sends the notifications to the mobile device (170).

Abstract: A preferred technique includes a digital content rendering device (100) and a method used in the device, including acquiring (305) an encrypted digital content (105), acquiring (305) a set of rules (110) associated with the encrypted digital content that specify permissions involving at least one level of rendering of the digital content that are based on a comparison of a set of specified locations with a sensed location, acquiring (305) an encrypted content key (120), extracting (315) the digital content, determining (330) a sensed location of the content rendering device, performing comparisons (335) of the sensed location to each of the set of specified locations; and determining (340) a level of rendering of the digital content in accordance with the set of rules, based on results of the comparisons.

Abstract: A method of authentication between servers in a three party network protocol network includes first providing at least one network access server (NAS) in communication with at least one user of the network and also in communication with at least one remote authentication server (RAS) coupled to the network. An access request message including a user password is sent from the user to the NAS. The NAS encrypts the password with a shared secret between the NAS and the RAS. The NAS subsequently tags a message authentication code (MAC) using the shared secret to the encrypted password. The encrypted password and MAC are then sent to the RAS. The RAS first authenticates the NAS by verifying the MAC before decrypting the encrypted user password.