Abstract: Extensions to a communications protocol manage the exchange of data content and related metadata according to a hierarchical data content structure. The communications protocol is the ICE protocol, and the extensions include ICE DTD extensions. Data content is preferably offered according to a subscription service provided by a first network device. The first network device is preferably a content server. The data content is organized, and thereby distributed, according to a hierarchical data content structure defined by the ICE DTD extensions. The hierarchical data content structure provides a means for organizing the data content, preferably by subject-matter. The hierarchical data content structure includes a plurality of channels, and each channel is segmented into one or more content sub-channels. Each individual data content item is associated with at least one of the content sub-channels and corresponding channel.

Abstract: A version based content distribution and synchronization system configured for content distribution from a syndicator to a subscriber is disclosed. The preferred system comprises version based content, a syndicator, subscriber content, and a subscriber. Preferably, the content comprises a version number and the subscriber content comprises a subscriber content version number. The version based content preferably comprises digital media. The version based content is preferably stored and organized on the syndicator in a tree like structure. The syndicator preferably compares the version number of the version based content with the subscriber content version number of the subscriber content. If the version number is greater than the subscriber content version number, the version based content is transferred from the syndicator to the subscriber. Preferably, the version based content is distributed and synchronized via an internet protocol method.

Abstract: A content server provides content to a first network device during a data synchronization between the two devices. A middleware filter selectively filters content provided by the content server such that selected content is provided to the first network device. The middleware filter is included within a second network device coupled between the content server and the first network device. The second network device acts as a proxy for the first network device to receive the content provided by the content server. The content is provided from the content server according to a subscription service between the content server and the first network device. The first network device is preferably a personal digital assistant (PDA) and the second network device is preferably a personal computer. Alternatively, the content server is coupled to the first network device, without the second network device coupled in between.

Abstract: A method of and system for authorization and authentication downloading utilizes a removable memory having a set of authentication data. A user accesses a server with a handheld electronic device via a wireless Internet connection. The removable memory includes the set of authentication data. The handheld electronic device includes an interface to connect to the Internet when the removable memory is inserted into the handheld electronic device and a connection is formed with a server, using the set of authentication data, the server is able to authenticate the removable memory automatically without the user interfacing personally with the server. The server authenticates downloading to the removable memory in the handheld electronic device by reading the set of authentication data on the removable memory, and downloading the desired content to the removable memory.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for transferring files between a personal computer (PC) and a personal digital assistant (PDA). In the absence of the file stream manager of the PDA being available to the conduit, the present invention defines a mechanism to effectuate file conversion and transfer through the conduit without the file stream manager. The present invention includes a method and system that generates a file in the PC and allocates a record size such that the file is read and written into separate data records of the allocated size before transfer to the PDA. An application information block is generated to identify the number of records and the size of each record. Upon receiving the records in the PDA, the method and system of the present invention utilizes the database manager to read and the file stream manager to write each record into a storage heap before the file and the file stream manager are closed.

Abstract: A system for packet parsing and data reconstruction in an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network includes a network interface unit, a processing unit, and a memory wherein an operating system resides. The operating system includes a streaming services module and a multimedia Application Program Interface (API) module. The network interface unit receives a stream of packets from a transmission device. Each packet includes a header portion, and may also include a data portion. The data portion, if present, stores data content generated from source data organized in accordance with a predetermined format. The streaming services module stores and then parses the received packets. A method for packet parsing and data reconstruction includes the steps of receiving a packet stream; storing a first and a second packet; locating a header portion within the first packet; and determining whether a header portion within the second packet immediately follows the header portion within the first packet.

Abstract: An optical return-to-zero (RZ) signal generator and related methods are described in which a phase modulator causes a phase change in an optical signal responsive to a transition in a driving signal, and in which an interferometer receives the optical signal from the phase modulator and generates an optical pulse responsive to that phase change. Preferably, the interferometer introduces a fixed, unmodulated time delay between its two signal paths, the fixed time delay being selected such that destructive interference occurs at an output of the interferometer when the phase of the optical signal received from the phase modulator remains constant. However, when a rising or falling edge of the driving signal causes phases changes in the optical signal, the destructive interference at the output of the interferometer is disturbed, and an optical pulse is generated. The driving signal is a differentially encoded version of an input information signal.

Abstract: An integrated optical cross-connect device and associated methods are described, the cross-connect device comprising a plurality M of input waveguides formed in a first material layer of an integrated circuit, a plurality N of output waveguides formed in a second material layer of the integrated circuit, and a plurality MN of micromechanically actuated bridge elements formed in at least one intermediate layer lying between the first and second material layers. Responsive to an electrical control signal, each bridge element establishes an index-guided, nonreflecting optical path between its associated input waveguide and its associated output waveguide. Preferably, the bridge element comprises an arcuate waveguide structure substantially surrounded by air or other nonsolid material, the arcuate waveguide structure being twistably connected to a remainder of the intermediate layer by a narrow neck portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method for transmitting an optical signal through a nonlinear medium such that nonlinearities caused by the medium are eliminated from the transmitted optical signal is described. The optical signal is presumed to have a duty cycle, wherein the optical signal is “on” during an active portion of the duty cycle and “off” during an inactive portion, the active portion being of equal or lesser duration than the inactive portion. The optical signal plus a delayed and weighted version of itself are transmitted through the nonlinear medium without mutual interference. The transmitted signals are then re-synchronized, weighted, and subtracted such that nonlinearities induced by the medium are canceled, but such that a signal proportional to a delayed version of the original optical signal survives.