Abstract: A wireless access point may be configured to advertise, to mobile user devices, multiple wireless networks available through the wireless access point. For example, service set identifiers (SSIDs) may be specified within an information element (IE) of a communication such as, for example, an 802.11 beacon, broadcasted to mobile user devices. Such an IE may utilize the capability provided by IEEE 802.11 itself to use additional and flexible numbers of information elements within a beacon. Accordingly, networks that would otherwise remain hidden due to limitations of known wireless access points are made visible to mobile user devices. Configuring a wireless access point to advertise multiple available wireless networks, for example, by firmware upgrades, may serve as a viable and cost-effective interim solution and/or alternative to replacing a wireless access point with a wireless access point configured to implement virtual wireless access points.

Abstract: A multiple screen telepresence style video conferencing experience is provided employing generic hardware and intelligent software, which may be based on existing enhanced communication systems such as unified communication systems. Through a component based approach, the system can be deployed in any conference room, assembled on the spot by an untrained user, flexible to accommodate any number of screens.

Abstract: A system and method for carrying out network and interface selections across multiple media is disclosed. The disclosed system facilitates automated network interface configuration decision-making that spans a set of networks supporting communications via differing media. A set of media specific modules associated with differing communications media acquire network interface status/capabilities information. A rules engine thereafter applies a designated network selection rule(s) to the acquired network interface status/capabilities information, and any other appropriate parameters attributable to either an interface or network, to select one or more networks and interfaces with which to establish/maintain a connection.

Abstract: A host computer communicatively linked with a virtual circuit network and communicatively linked with a device over a local area network receives a virtual circuit message from the virtual circuit network, such as an asynchronous transfer mode network. A data structure associating a virtual circuit of the virtual circuit network with the device is referenced, and based on the association, the virtual circuit message is passed to the device over the local area network. The data structure may be a table containing an entry associating the virtual circuit with the device or with the network address of the device.

Abstract: Multiple computing devices are connected together using a high-speed wireless link. The wireless link enables expansion of available resources to the host device, such as one or more of volatile memory resources, non-volatile memory resources, and additional processor resources.

Abstract: A system and method for carrying out network and interface selections across multiple media is disclosed. The disclosed system facilitates automated network interface configuration decision-making that spans a set of networks supporting communications via differing media. A set of media specific modules associated with differing communications media acquire network interface status/capabilities information. A rules engine thereafter applies a designated network selection rule(s) to the acquired network interface status/capabilities information, and any other appropriate parameters attributable to either an interface or network, to select one or more networks and interfaces with which to establish/maintain a connection.

Abstract: A park request is received from a first computing system. The park request is a request to park a conversation between a user of the first computing system and a user of a second computing system. The park request conforms to a protocol that supports parking and unparking of conversations having a first modality and conversations having a second modality. Furthermore, an unpark request is received from a third computing system. The unpark request is a request to unpark the conversation. Referral information is sent to the third computing system. The referral information enables the third computing system to establish a communication session to carry the conversation.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting and communicating contextual information relating to a VoIP conversation is provided. Structured hierarchies are utilized for efficient communications of various amounts and types of contextual information relating to a VoIP conversation. Information identifying at least one structured hierarchy, which will be used to carry the contextual information, is transmitted during establishment of a conversation between two VoIP enhanced devices. The structured hierarchy is selected from a set of predefined and declared structured hierarchies. Subsequently transmitted contextual information exchanged between two VoIP enhanced devices is represented in accordance with the identified structural hierarchy. VoIP clients, network infrastructure, and various service providers can collect the contextual information based on the identified structured hierarchy, update the contextual information by adding, deleting and/or modifying the contextual data.

Abstract: An error correction system determines a level of error correction protection to apply to a frame of video data to be transmitted by a sending endpoint to a receiving endpoint based on the predicted impact of packet loss as well as the importance of the frame based on inter-frame dependencies, frame size, packet loss probability, historical packet loss pattern, central processing unit (CPU) load, and available network bandwidth. At the receiving endpoint, when packet loss is detected for a particular frame, the receiving endpoint will attempt to recover the frame using protection packets received along with the video data.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing a multiparty session with a mesh configuration by sending out invitations to endpoints in parallel is provided. To initiate a session, an initiating endpoint sends invitations in parallel to the endpoints that are to be in the session. When the initiating endpoint receives an acceptance, it then sends to the accepting endpoint an indication of the other endpoints that are currently in the session. When an accepting endpoint receives the indication of the endpoints in the session, the accepting endpoint sends an invitation to establish a dialog to each of the indicated endpoints. When an endpoint that is in the session receives such an invitation, it can automatically accept the invitation because it is already participating in the session.

Abstract: A wireless access point may be configured to advertise, to mobile user devices, multiple wireless networks available through the wireless access point. For example, service set identifiers (SSIDs) may be specified within an information element (IE) of a communication such as, for example, an 802.11 beacon, broadcasted to mobile user devices. Such an IE may utilize the capability provided by IEEE 802.11 itself to use additional and flexible numbers of information elements within a beacon. Accordingly, networks that would otherwise remain hidden due to limitations of known wireless access points are made visible to mobile user devices. Configuring a wireless access point to advertise multiple available wireless networks, for example, by firmware upgrades, may serve as a viable and cost-effective interim solution and/or alternative to replacing a wireless access point with a wireless access point configured to implement virtual wireless access points.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating automatic detection of a type of wireless network is provided. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, wireless network client(s) can automatically detect the “type” of a network (e.g., method of authentication and encryption) without requiring input from the user. For example, unencrypted network, WEP encrypted net work requiring a WEP key, WPA encrypted network requiring a pre-shared key, an IEEE 802.1x enabled net work supporting WPA anchor an IEEE 802.1x enabled network not supporting WPA. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a wireless network detection system having a connection component and a detection component is provided. The connection component facilitates connection of a client system to at least one of a plurality of wireless networks The detection component identities a type of an available wireless network.

Abstract: Network devices access a communications network and engage in secure associations with one or more network access points upon authenticating the access points and upon verifying the discovery information that is broadcast by the access point. Once a secure association is created, management frames that are subsequently transmitted between the network devices and the access points and that are used to control the secure association are verified to further enhance the security of the communications network.

Abstract: The invention makes possible remote control of devices in a piconet by remote users communicating over the Internet and the like by providing a proxy-bridge device. The proxy-bridge device is a bridge for sending packets to and from between an external device and a device in the piconet. Moreover, the proxy-bridge device also serves as a proxy for the external device to devices in the piconet and as a proxy for devices in the piconet accessing an external device. The proxy-bridge wireless device's protocol stack allows communications with the piconet devices within the piconet. In addition, the protocol stack allows an application to communicate with a remote device e.g., via the Internet Protocol. Thus, the proxy-bridge device, using two protocols, enables remote users discover the presence of a service offered by a device in a piconet as a logical embedded device within the proxy-bridge device and vice-versa.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing a multiparty session with a mesh configuration by sending out invitations to endpoints in parallel is provided. To initiate a session, an initiating endpoint sends invitations in parallel to the endpoints that are to be in the session. When the initiating endpoint receives an acceptance, it then sends to the accepting endpoint an indication of the other endpoints that are currently in the session. When an accepting endpoint receives the indication of the endpoints in the session, the accepting endpoint sends an invitation to establish a dialog to each of the indicated endpoints. When an endpoint that is in the session receives such an invitation, it can automatically accept the invitation because it is already participating in the session.

Abstract: A method, schema and computer system for a location service provides data structures that are extensible by allowing different types of location awareness applications to retrieve and deposit location data. The method includes providing an abstract location object arranged in a schema to enable servicing a received request for a logical location of an electronic endpoint; and arranging one or more location elements within the context of the abstract location object. The location elements are configured to act as peers relative to the logical location and each location element is configured to act as a proxy relative to any other location element within the abstract location object.

Abstract: A method and system for outputting a call announcement based on presence information of a callee as a ringback tone is provided. The announcement system is provided with presence information of users. When the telephone system receives an indication of an incoming call from a caller, the telephone system identifies the callee. After the callee is identified, the announcement system retrieves the presence information for the callee and generates an announcement based on that presence information.

Abstract: Video send and receive capabilities of participants are determined by the respective machines determining available combinations, as well as preferences for the receivers. Receiver capabilities are forwarded to the source for computation of negotiated video capabilities through a logic intersection of the determined capabilities based on desired number of streams and resolutions. If a resolution of a send capability exists within the receive capability, the highest frame and/or bit rate may be selected for transmission.

Abstract: Video receiving capabilities of participants and source capabilities are compared and conference capabilities for providing different resolutions, frame rates, bit rate, and number of streams are determined by maintaining a conference receiving capability list updated as number and capability of participants' changes. Preferred receiving capabilities of participants are also taken into account in determining conference characteristics based on comparison with allowed capabilities.

Abstract: Protocol architecture for wiring media streams and specifying mixing behavior in a multipoint control unit. The protocol provides the capability to expose the core mixing algorithms to modification for mixing media without dealing with the functionality of the mixer itself (e.g., ports and IP specifics). The protocol facilitates the wiring of input media streams to output media streams by changing the mixing behavior via changes to the mixing algorithms using the protocol. The protocol operates based on a schema that includes controls related to route, wire, and filter for the mixer input and mixer output.