Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: A machine-readable medium, a system, and an apparatus are provided for increasing a data transmission rate. A window size is established, where the window size is an indicator of an amount of data a terminal can receive. Data segments are received in accordance with the window size. An error condition of the data segments over a specified time period is measured. The window size of the data terminal is changed based on the error condition.

Abstract: A machine-readable medium, a system, and an apparatus are provided for increasing a data transmission rate. A window size is established, where the window size is an indicator of an amount of data a terminal can receive. Data segments are received in accordance with the window size. An error condition of the data segments over a specified time period is measured. The window size of the data terminal is changed based on the error condition.

Abstract: A network usage monitoring module is provided for monitoring network usage at a network access point, i.e. network traffic aggregation point, typically at a gateway device or a similar network interface device. As such, the network usage monitoring module can monitor the usage of a number of network users who are attempting to access various network services provided via the gateway device. Thus, the usage information collected by the usage monitoring module is considerably more robust than that offered by conventional monitoring techniques. As such, the information is considerably more valuable to network service providers, network users, network beneficiaries and the like. In addition, the usage monitoring method and apparatus offers a number of particular features to improve the monitoring process as well as the value of the usage information that is collected.

Abstract: A method is provided for providing content providers with specific information about recipients receiving a multicast session, which minimally impacts applicable standards and network equipment. By judicious enhancement of the network POP (i.e., Point-of-Presence) and multicast packet header (i.e., datagram) enhancement, the identity of a recipient or host may be identified in a suitable manner that provides the content provider with information about the recipients as a group with out compromising the privacy of any individual host/recipient of a multicast session.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to improve the data transmission rate of a system executing an network protocol such as TCP, by adapting the protocol according to an error rate of the system. The technique includes first establishing a connection between a receiver and transmitter according to the network protocol including establishing a data window size, the window size being an indicator of the amount of data the receiver can receive. As data segments are received, the receiver counts the number of data segments received as well the number of errored octets produced by the physical layer of the network over specified time periods. For each time period, the receiver determines whether the window size of the receiver should be changed to improve the data communication rate based on the previous window size, the number of segments received and the number of errors measured.

Abstract: A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.

Abstract: The invention provides persistent communication for address routed communication in an environment where the communication session address changes. The invention is appropriate for any address routed communication, and in particular to packet based (e.g., UDP/IP and TCP/IP) communications to mobile cellular units as the units transition or move between supporting cells. The invention provides a technique to store address information and transitory information related to the session to allow continuation of the session at the new address, thereby reducing or eliminating the need to set up the session at the new address. One application is for streaming multi-media sessions. Another application is for internet protocol (IP) telephony. The invention provides embodiments where the techniques are performed within the mobile unit, or performed in combination with a proxy server that is part of the supporting cellular system.

Abstract: A system and method provide for recipient-initiated automatic repair of IP multicast sessions. A multicast application on a receiver issues a request to join an IP multicast session “X”. A translator/decryption module (TDM) on the receiver intercepts this request and sends it to a controller on a repair server. The controller sends a request to a subscription server to determine if this user has subscribed to the repair service. The controller receives a positive response from the subscription server and determines whether a repair/encryption module exists for this multicast session. If it does not, then the controller selects an IP multicast address, port number and decryption key for a new IP multicast session “Y”. This information is returned to the TDM. The controller creates a repair/encryption module (REM) and provides the IP multicast address and port number for the new IP multicast session “Y” and an encryption key to the REM.

Abstract: A cable access network includes a cable trunk amplifier connected over a coaxial cable to A plurality of cable data modems to provide backup power to the cable modem during power outages experienced by either the trunk amplifier or the modems, thereby insuring uninterruptible IP telephone service. The trunk amplifier applies a DC voltage across the conductors of the coaxial cable. An AC/DC power converter and regulator and also a backup battery are sources of power for the DC voltage applied to the coaxial cable. A power outage sensor selectively connects either the AC/DC power converter and regulator or, alternately, the backup battery to the cable, depending on whether there is an outage sensed at the trunk amplifier. Each cable data modem connected to the trunk amplifier is partitioned into IP voice circuits and other circuits not contributing to the IP voice function. The other circuits include, for example, video/audio receiver circuits and IP data transceiver circuits.

Abstract: A hybrid fiber/coaxial cable is attached to an autonomous controller which includes a wireless receiver, transmitter, and antenna. Typically, the autonomous controller is connected near the end of the cable which is remote from the headend. At least one other hybrid fiber/coaxial cable connected to the same headend or distribution hub, provides connectivity for cable data modems and set top boxes in an adjacent neighborhood or community. The second cable is attached to its own, respective autonomous controller which also has a wireless receiver, transmitter, and antenna. The two antennas in the adjacent neighborhoods constitute an antenna cluster. When the first cable's connection to the common headend is interrupted, thereby preventing service to the first neighborhood, its autonomous controller senses the interruption and responds by sending a wireless signal to the controller in the adjacent neighborhood.

Abstract: In a multimedia presentation transmitted by streaming media, advertising/announcements are dynamically inserted into the stream in response to a realization of conditions preselected by the source of the advertising/announcements. In a particular embodiment providers of the streaming media content define metadata for the programming. Advertising/announcement sources define metadata for their ads to be presented. The requirements of both metadata files are compared to both program data and ad data to specify conditions that determine when an Advertisement/announcement is inserted into a media stream.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the automatic and transparent repair of IP multicast sessions. The invention is a system and method for the repair of IP multicast sessions. In one aspect of the invention the method repairs a multicast session in a network, beginning with the step of sending a request message from a source to a subscription server in the network, requesting a repair service for an original multicast session originated by the source. The method continues by sending an enabling signal from the subscription server to a plurality of retransmit servers in the network, to buffer data traffic from the original multicast session, in response to the request. The method continues by buffering a copy of the data traffic at each of the plurality of retransmit servers and monitoring errors in each copy. The method continues by automatically selecting with the plurality of retransmit servers at least one retransmit server from among the plurality, having a minimum of the errors in its respective copy.

Abstract: A server platform is programmed to receive requests from the customer digital subscriber line modems for changing the customer's class of service for access to the Internet. The server platform can provide an immediate change in the bit rate of a platform digital subscriber line modem in response to a customer's request. The server platform can provide a service plan that automatically changes the bit rate of a platform digital subscriber line modem in response to a customer's request. The server platform can selectively provide a schedule that is followed to automatically change the bit rate of a platform digital subscriber line modem in response to a customer's request. In addition, the server platform can selectively provide an option to automatically increase the bit rate of a platform digital subscriber line modem when receiving streaming video or audio content from the Internet.

Abstract: A method for initiating a security and billing feature request at the beginning or during an active telephone call. The telephone subscriber can select one of a plurality of security levels that may be required to ensure privacy during a call. Since each level of security is based on a different encryption and authentication algorithm, the levels of security can be incrementally priced. Thus, selecting an algorithm which is deemed to be very secure can be billed to the subscriber at a higher rate than an algorithm that is deemed to be less secure.