Abstract: In a communications system, a presence server maintains and distributes presence information in accordance with recording rules and previous value selection rules. The presence server: associates a recording rule with each presence information element in a subset of a plurality of presence information elements for a presentity; maintains a set of previous values according to the recording rule associated with the presence information element, for each presence information element in the subset; receives an initial subscribe request from a watcher for one or more presence information elements in the subset; and in response to the initial subscribe request, notifies the watcher of a number of the previous values maintained for each presence information elements in the subscribe request, wherein the number of the previous values that is sent is determined by a previous value selection rule associated with each presence information element.

Abstract: An actionable communication resource forming function performs a method for forming an actionable communication resource in a communication system.

Abstract: A video decoder system receives a user request for non-linear decoding of at least one video frame from a video stream encoded using an Intra macroblock refresh process. The request includes a first frame offset corresponding to a user requested first decoding frame within the video stream for commencing the non-linear decoding. The decoder system: determines an Intra-refresh period corresponding to at least one encoded Predictive frame in the video stream during which all macroblocks in the user requested first decoding frame are Intra encoded at least once; determines a second frame offset as a function of the Intra-refresh period and the user requested first frame offset, the second frame offset corresponding to a second decoding frame within the video stream. Finally, the decoder system decodes the video stream starting at the second decoding frame and suppresses the display of the video stream until the first decoding frame.

Abstract: A policy enforcement device performs a method for adjusting video compression parameters for encoding source video based on a viewer's environment. The method includes: receiving, from a video receiving device, a video stream identifier indicating a video stream and a source of the video stream, wherein the video receiving device is remote from the source of the video stream; receiving an indication of environmental conditions of a viewer of the video stream using the video receiving device; determining a set of video compression parameters based on the indication of environmental conditions of the viewer; sending the set of video compression parameters to the identified source of the video stream to enable encoding of the video stream to a different compression level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus distributes video packets over multiple bearers for providing unequal packet loss protection. The method includes a packet processing function receiving a plurality of packets collectively comprising a flow of sequential data included in a sequence of media frames. For each packet, the packet processing function: applies a bearer selection process to select one of a plurality of bearers for transporting the packet over an access network, wherein each bearer has a different quality of service level which influences the probability of the transported packets being intentionally discarded by the access network, wherein the bearer selection process causes distribution of the plurality of packets across the plurality of bearers such that each bearer carries non-consecutive packets both within any given media frame and across sequential media frames and provides unequal packet loss protection for the packets in the plurality; and provides an indication of the selected bearer.

Abstract: An intermediary function receives a reservation request for a desired throughput from the sourcing device, and determines a set of bearers whose aggregate throughput approximates the desired throughput. The intermediary function requests from at least one access network the set of bearers whose aggregate throughput approximates the desired throughput, and receives from the at least one access network an allocated set of bearers, wherein the allocated set of bearers comprises one or more bearers. The intermediary function informs the sourcing device of an aggregate throughput of the allocated set of bearers, receives user plane data from the sourcing device, and associates the user plane data with the allocated set of bearers in order to transport the user plane data to the receiving device. Subsequent modifications to the allocated set of bearers causes the intermediary function to inform the sourcing device of the modified aggregate throughput of the allocated set of bearers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus distributes video packets over multiple bearers for providing unequal packet loss protection. The method includes a packet processing function receiving a plurality of packets that collectively includes video data from a group of pictures comprising a sequence of video frames, wherein the sequence includes one Intra frame at the beginning of the group of pictures followed by a plurality of Predictive frames. For each packet, the packet processing function: determines the corresponding frame that includes the video data; applies a bearer selection process to select one of multiple bearers for transporting the packet over an access network, wherein each bearer has a different quality of service level which influences the probability of the transported packets being dropped, wherein the bearer selection process is based on the position of the frame within the sequence of frames; and provides, to an access network entity, an indication of the selected bearer.

Abstract: A method to transmit a broadband multimedia resource locator using a narrowband communication system embeds the broadband multimedia resource locator into a narrowband audio stream and transmits the narrowband audio stream to one or more receiving communication devices over the narrowband communication system. The receiving communication device(s) subsequently extract the broadband multimedia resource locator from the narrowband audio stream and use the broadband multimedia resource locator to access a broadband communication system to retrieve multimedia content.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing audio reproduction in collocated end devices is presented. Each of the devices auto-correlates using noise to determine a threshold prior to the antenna receiving an audio signal. When the devices receive a common audio signal, they provide audio outputs. Each device cross-correlates its audio output with the audio outputs of the other devices. The timing of the audio output of each device is then adjusted such that the audio outputs of all of the devices align temporally with the lagging or leading device.

Abstract: A method for bearer reservation, maintenance, and use in a communication system is performed by an intermediary function (IF) in the enterprise network. The IF processes a user plane reservation request for a flow of user plane data from a sourcing device, and determines a set of bearers to transport the flow of user plane data. The IF requests from at least one access network the determined set of bearers, and receives from the at least one access network an allocated set of bearers, wherein the allocated set of bearers comprises one or more bearers. The IF receives the flow of user plane data from the sourcing device. The IF receives an indication that at least one of the bearers in the allocated set of bearers is unavailable, and prevents at least a portion of the flow of user plane data from being transmitted over the default bearer.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing and reproducing a received media stream while minimizing storage space is presented. The media stream transmitted by a transmitting device is uploaded to an external storage device. Metadata including packetization mapping information, missing packets not received by the receiving device, and reproduction time at the receiving device are also uploaded to the storage device. The storage device stores the missing packets and reproduction time of each receiving device if the same media stream is received by multiple devices. The data in the storage device is used to reconstruct the received media stream and reproduce the end user experience.

Abstract: A method for minimizing tunnels in a network, apparatus and computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer to perform the method. The method includes the steps of: obtaining state information associated with a first node connected to a mobile network behind a mobile node; receiving a first message sent between the first node and a correspondent node, wherein a first header was removed from the first message prior to sending the first message; recreating, in one of the mobile node and a mobility agent, the first header using the state information; and sending the first message with the first header.

Abstract: Pixels in a provided image for which the content has been provided in error are identified. This image content is processed to provide a version of the image wherein the error is at least partially concealed while also creating ancillary information regarding the errored pixel(s) and the spatial location to which such pixel(s) corresponds to thereby provide a record that describes which pixels in the image content were provided in error. An optional user-selectable option can permit displaying either of the aforementioned corrected version of the image wherein the error is at least partially concealed and a version of the image wherein the ancillary information is used to depict the errored pixel(s) such that provided-in-error pixels are readily distinguished from correctly-provided pixels.

Abstract: A client entity generates a subscription to a presentity that includes a sequence of events which define a trigger that controls when a presence server sends a notification to the client entity; and the subscription further indicates a time period parameter for the sequence of events. Upon receiving the subscription, the presence server receives and monitors presence information based on the indicated time period parameter to detect an occurrence of the sequence of events, and sends the notification to the client entity when the presence information satisfies the trigger.

Abstract: A video decoder receives compressed video and processes the video to generate decompressed video comprising a plurality of pixels in a sequence of frames. For at least some of the pixels, the video decoder further determines, on a pixel by pixel basis, motion vector and quantizer values used to perform compression of the pixels and determines a quality value for each corresponding pixel using the motion vector and quantizer values, wherein the quality value provide a measure of reproduction accuracy of the decompressed video with respect to corresponding uncompressed video.

Abstract: In a communications system, a presence server maintains and distributes presence information in accordance with recording rules and previous value selection rules. The presence server: associates a recording rule with each presence information element in a subset of a plurality of presence information elements for a presentity; maintains a set of previous values according to the recording rule associated with the presence information element, for each presence information element in the subset; receives an initial subscribe request from a watcher for one or more presence information elements in the subset; and in response to the initial subscribe request, notifies the watcher of a number of the previous values maintained for each presence information elements in the subscribe request, wherein the number of the previous values that is sent is determined by a previous value selection rule associated with each presence information element.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing media reproduction across heterogeneous networks is presented. The networks include end-to-end IP broadband and narrowband simulcast networks that contain broadband and narrowband devices associated with a common communications group. A controller in the networks determines delay times for reproduction of a media stream across devices in the networks and establishes the longest delay time. The longest delay time is used to calculate appropriate transmission and reproduction timestamps to permit the devices to reproduce the provided media stream in synchronization. Narrowband base stations repeat the media stream at the time specified by a transmission timestamp, and broadband end devices reproduce the media stream at the time specified by a reproduction timestamp. By synchronizing the presentation time, the devices present the media at substantially the same time and are granted fair rights to communicate with one another.

Abstract: In a group communications system, a group watcher module subscribes to presentities of interest for a particular group by communicating, to at least one presence server module, a set of subscriptions to a plurality of presentities, wherein each subscription contains a set of event notification criteria for a presentity. When the group watcher module detects a change in presence information for the set of subscriptions, it determines current members of the group and distributes the change in presence information to the current members.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing a plurality of data streams. A land mobile radio (LMR) data stream can be generated by a LMR communication device. At least one LMR identifier can be communicated from the LMR communication device to a broadband communication device. A broadband data stream can be generated by the broadband communication device. The broadband data stream and the LMR identifier can be communicated from the broadband communication device via an access network. The LMR identifier can enable synchronization of the LMR data stream with the broadband data stream.

Abstract: A method to transmit a broadband multimedia resource locator using a narrowband communication system embeds the broadband multimedia resource locator into a narrowband audio stream and transmits the narrowband audio stream to one or more receiving communication devices over the narrowband communication system. The receiving communication device(s) subsequently extract the broadband multimedia resource locator from the narrowband audio stream and use the broadband multimedia resource locator to access a broadband communication system to retrieve multimedia content.