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 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: An apparatus and method for multicast data stream selection in a communication system includes a first step 300 of providing an intermediate server between a service entity and mobile clients. A next step 302 includes receiving a join request from a mobile client. A next step 304 includes deriving subgroups with each subgroup having at least one associated multicast data stream. A next step 310 includes deriving subgroup outer tunnels. A next step 316 includes encoding different data streams for the associated subgroups. A next step 320 includes mapping each data stream to the respective outer tunnels for each subgroup. A next step 322 includes sourcing the mapped streams to each subgroup. A next step 324 includes converting the mapped streams to a form that can be recognized by the mobile clients.

Abstract: A method (400) of implementing floor control in a communications system (100). The method can include receiving a random symbol from each of a plurality of communication devices (104, 106, 108, 110, 112) or network nodes (204, 206, 208, 210, 212). From the plurality of random symbols, a random symbol that satisfies a criteria can be identified. Floor ownership can be granted to a selected one of the communication devices associated with the identified random symbol or from which the identified random symbol was received.

Abstract: A method (400) of implementing floor control in a communications system (100). The method can include receiving a random symbol from each of a plurality of communication devices (104, 106, 108, 110, 112) or network nodes (204, 206, 208, 210, 212). From the plurality of random symbols, a random symbol that satisfies a criteria can be identified. Floor ownership can be granted to a selected one of the communication devices associated with the identified random symbol or from which the identified random symbol was received.

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 first communication device managing a communication group of communication devices in a communication network is disclosed. The first communication device sends one or more data objects to the communication group and receives an affiliation request from a second communication device. The first communication device determines the one or more data objects that have not been received by a user of the second communication device and provides the data objects to the second communication device by establishing a communication session between the second communication device and the first communication device.

Abstract: The present invention allows a single access point (“AP”; 100) to support a plurality of devices (102, 104) operating on different frequency bands. During a first period of time, the AP initiates a contention free period at a first frequency. The AP switches from the first frequency to a second frequency, and communicates with devices operating at the second frequency. Periodically during the first period of time, the AP temporarily ceases communication with devices operating at the second frequency to initiate a contention free period at the second frequency, switch from the second frequency to the first frequency, initiate another contention free period at the first frequency, and switch from the first frequency back to the second frequency.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing floor control in a communication session enables remote control of devices in a network and provides a status update concerning floor ownership. The method includes processing at a floor controller a floor request message received from a first endpoint, where the floor request message requests that floor ownership be provided to a second endpoint (step 305). A floor control announcement message is then transmitted from the floor controller to at least both the first endpoint and the second endpoint, where the floor control announcement message indicates that the second endpoint has floor ownership (step 315).

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: In a system (100) that includes at least one mobility server (40, 50), at least one edge mobility agent (60) and a plurality of mobile nodes (20, 30), a method for local routing between two mobile nodes that includes the steps of: receiving a first care-of address for a first mobile node; detecting an edge mobility agent having knowledge of the first care-of address; determining, based upon at least one condition, that the edge mobility agent can perform local routing of at least one datagram for the first mobile node; and instructing the edge mobility agent to perform local routing of at least one datagram between the first mobile node and a second mobile node that has a second care-of address that is known to the edge mobility agent.

Abstract: A radio frequency communications system (100) includes wireless terminals (102) and base sites (104). The wireless terminals communicate with the base sites over a radio frequency channel (106). The base sites are interconnected to each other and other network elements via a packet network. The communication system has a radio frequency channel (400) with time slots (406, 408) for transmission of both delay-sensitive data, such as streaming audio and video, and non-delay-sensitive data. A method and apparatus are provided for determining whether a time slot in the radio frequency channel is to be allocated to delay-sensitive data or non-delay-sensitive data (704, 706, 708). Each packet of data transmitted over the wireless channel has a type of service field (900). The type of service field has a precedence or priority value (902) and a service type (904).

Abstract: A radio frequency communications system (100) includes wireless terminals (102) and base sites (104). The wireless terminals communicate with the base sites over a radio frequency channel (106). The base sites are interconnected to each other and other network elements via a packet network. A method and apparatus determine for a particular delay-sensitive application on the wireless terminal, for example, an audio or video transmission, the requirements for bandwidth for transmission over the radio frequency channel (500, 502). After the requirements on the radio frequency channel are determined, the necessary channel bandwidth, if available, is reserved or allocated to guarantee performance to the application (510). The reserved bandwidth is utilized by selectively granting access to the radio frequency channel on the basis of the bandwidth allocated to the device.

Abstract: A packet-based, multimedia communication system is disclosed that extends IP host functionality to wireless terminals serviced by wireless links. A service controller of the communication system manages communications services such as voice calls, video calls, web browsing, video-conferencing and/or internet communications over a wireless packet network between source and destination host devices. A multimedia content server of the communication system provides access to one or more requested multimedia communication services. A bandwidth manager of the communication system determines an availability of bandwidth for the service requests and, if bandwidth is available, reserves bandwidth sufficient to support the service requests. Wireless link manager(s) of the communication system manage wireless communication resources required to support the service requests.

Abstract: A radio frequency communications system (100) includes wireless terminals (102) and base sites (104). The wireless terminals communicate with the base sites over a radio frequency channel (106). The base sites are interconnected to each other and other network elements via a packet network. The communication system has a radio frequency channel (400) with time slots (406, 408) for transmission of both delay-sensitive data, such as streaming audio and video, and non-delay-sensitive data. A method and apparatus are provided for determining whether a time slot in the radio frequency channel is to be allocated to delay-sensitive data or non-delay-sensitive data (704, 706, 708). Each packet of data transmitted over the wireless channel has a type of service field (900). The type of service field has a precedence or priority value (902) and a service type (904).

Abstract: A radio frequency communications system (100) includes wireless terminals (102) and base sites (104). The wireless terminals communicate with the base sites over a radio frequency channel (106). The base sites are interconnected to each other and other network elements via a packet network. A method and apparatus determine for a particular delay-sensitive application on the wireless terminal, for example, an audio or video transmission, the requirements for bandwidth for transmission over the radio frequency channel (500, 502). After the requirements on the radio frequency channel are determined, the necessary channel bandwidth, if available, is reserved or allocated to guarantee performance to the application (510). The reserved bandwidth is utilized by selectively granting access to the radio frequency channel on the basis of the bandwidth allocated to the device.