Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for propagating contextual data in an audio communication by storing the contextual data obtained from a calling party in an extensible mark-up language formatted text document. A telephone call between a first party and a second party is converted to a session initiation protocol based voice over internet protocol communication, and the stored text document is attached to session initiation protocol messages that control the voice over internet protocol communication. The document is attached to the signaling messages by embedding the text document in a session description payload associated with the session initiation protocol message. The attached document is propagated with the audio communication, including when the signaling messages are used to transfer the audio communication from the second party to a third party or to add one or more addition parties to the audio communication.

Abstract: A framework is provided to offer composite voice applications and services. A composite application and service begins from the user dialing in via phone and ends by the user hanging up the phone. The composite interactive voice services architecture includes a session initiation protocol session service unit is in the loop of session signaling all the time starting from the time the user first dials in, during the user roaming across various voice servers, and until the end of the composite service when user hangs up the phone. This unit accepts a command and login instruction of the next interactive voice service from the previous interactive voice service. The unit has knowledge of DTMF sequences required for the user to login to next interactive voice service. The session service unit automatically accomplishes a roaming process such that composite applications and services can be achieved across various voice servers.

Abstract: Mechanisms, and associated methods, for conducting voice analysis (e.g., speaker ID verification) directly from a compressed domain of a voice signal. Preferably, the feature vector is directly segmented, based on its corresponding physical meaning, from the compressed bit stream.

Abstract: An n-ways conferencing system using only the participants' telephony devices and without an external conference server. A plurality of telephony devices dial in to and report their mixing capability to a connection topology manager. The connection topology manager also determines the location of each telephony device and neighboring telephony device pairs in the conference service, as each telephony device is used for mixing voice signals of its closest neighbors, and calculates a minimum conference traffic delay for each telephony device. The connection topology manager then builds a topology for the conference service based on the mixing capability, location, and minimum conference traffic delay, wherein the connection topology manager distributes a mixing computation in a substantially uniform manner across the plurality of telephony devices. When a change in the network condition is detected, the connection topology manager rebuilds the topology to bypass the change in the network condition.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for representing and managing data and associated relationships. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for managing data associated with a given domain comprises the following steps. A specification of data attributes representing one or more types of data to be managed is maintained. Further, a specification of algorithms representing one or more types of operations performable in accordance with the data attributes is maintained. Still further, a specification of relationships representing relationships between the data attributes and the algorithms is maintained. The data attribute specification, the algorithm specification and the relationship specification are maintained in a storage framework having multiple levels, the multiple levels being specified based on the given domain with which the data being managed is associated. The techniques may be provided in support of service level management.

Abstract: A method for routing a communication connection request includes the steps of obtaining context information from a communication connection requestor in response to a communication connection request. The steps further include using the context information to determine a communication connection action, and connecting the communication connection requestor based upon the connection action.

Abstract: Projector and camera arrangements are provided for use in electronic whiteboard systems. Specifically, the present invention provides projector and camera arrangements wherein the projector and camera share the same imaging optics. By sharing the same projection and camera optics, the distortions that affect the projection system are the same as those of the camera system. Thus, the calibration step required in conventional whiteboard systems where the projector and camera are separate, i.e., each having their own distinct optics and settings, is no longer needed. Further, the arrangements provided in accordance with the invention are self-aligning, even when lens distortions are large and even in the presence of strong perspective effects. The shared optics projector and camera arrangements of the invention also provide for dynamic zooming. In addition, various active and passive optical marker or lightpen designs are provided for use in electronic whiteboard systems.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a private message chat between electronic devices. The method includes steps of providing an indication as to the availability of a user for receiving a private message chat; receiving an audio input message from at least one first client; and transmitting the audio input message to at least one second client over a communications network, wherein the at least one second client can receive, temporarily store and play back the audio input message. The first client may receive a reply audio input message from the at least one second client or, receive a reply text input message from the at least one second client, and subsequently may further communicate back to the second client device via one of audio or text messaging, according to that user's discretion. The transmitting of any audio input message may be accomplished via VoIP or SIP.

Abstract: A communications system includes a plurality of service providers, and at least one management unit, wherein the at least one management unit selects at least one service provider of the plurality of service providers and utilizes at least one service of the at least one service provider to provide a communication session to at least one end user.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, including apparatus and architecture, and method for providing scheduled and ad hoc voice over IP conference services having enhanced quality and reliability. The system uses an overlay network of geographically distributed conference servers working simultaneously and collaboratively to host a given conference session. Multiple conference servers simultaneously and collaboratively perform the necessary audio mixing. The voice routing path is established and controlled within the overlay network and supports conference services across different conference service providers.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling voice over Internet for computer applications includes registering session initiation protocol (SIP) as a system service and providing SIP service through an application programming interface (API) to permit access to service functions by individual software applications. A SIP link is provided within a software application to permit user invocation of SIP service functions. The link may be passed as a parameter to permit external access to an invoked service function.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to capture a real three dimensional scene, including both color and depth information, and subsequently use the resulting color and depth information to produce separate images for a viewer's left and right eyes, thereby producing a stereoscopic view of the original scene.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method, system and program product for distributing portal content processing. Specifically, a request for portal content is received on a surrogate system and then passed to a portal system. The portal system will obtain and aggregate a first type of the requested content, and then package the aggregated content into a response. The response will also include place holders that correspond to the remaining type of the requested content. The response will then be transmitted to the surrogate system, which will, based upon the place holders, obtain the remaining type of portal content. Once obtained, the remaining type of portal content will replace the place holders in the response, and the response will be rendered for the requesting portal user.

Abstract: Projector and camera arrangements are provided for use in electronic whiteboard systems. Specifically, the present invention provides projector and camera arrangements wherein the projector and camera share the same imaging optics. By sharing the same projection and camera optics, the distortions that affect the projection system are the same as those of the camera system. Thus, the calibration step required in conventional whiteboard systems where the projector and camera are separate, i.e., each having their own distinct optics and settings, is no longer needed. Further, the arrangements provided in accordance with the invention are self-aligning, even when lens distortions are large and even in the presence of strong perspective effects. The shared optics projector and camera arrangements of the invention also provide for dynamic zooming. In addition, various active and passive optical marker or lightpen designs are provided for use in electronic whiteboard systems.

Abstract: The invention allows a user to construct a collection of resolutionally non-uniform, captured digital image views of static scene, thereby defining the more interesting sections of the scene for viewing. The invention provides a system and a method for continuous zooming and display of composite image representation having different levels of resolution at different locations. The invention discloses techniques for acquisition of multiple resolution and overlapping digital images, composite representation of those captured images, and the continuous zooming display of the complete image data.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing handwritten information messaging among users of interconnected computers. Information content, including text and handwritten stroke information, is presented to the user in a graphical user interface (GUI) provided on a user's computer system. The messaging method provides for multimedia, handwritten and text messaging. The non-text data is layered among the usual text messages, after having been suitably scaled and repositioned. Additionally, the present invention provides for annotation, modification and deletion of items presented anywhere in an Instant Messaging record. Users are alerted to annotations by hyperlinks. The method is adapted for use with Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's) as well as other type clients. The method includes a late join feature, allowing users connecting to an IM session already in progress access to the complete record of the IM session. Ink and text input on predefined business forms displayed to the user are also permitted.

Abstract: Projector and camera arrangements are provided for use in electronic whiteboard systems. Specifically, the present invention provides projector and camera arrangements wherein the projector and camera share the same imaging optics. By sharing the same projection and camera optics, the distortions that affect the projection system are the same as those of the camera system. Thus, the calibration step required in conventional whiteboard systems where the projector and camera are separate, i.e., each having their own distinct optics and settings, is no longer needed. Further, the arrangements provided in accordance with the invention are self-aligning, even when lens distortions are large and even in the presence of strong perspective effects. The shared optics projector and camera arrangements of the invention also provide for dynamic zooming. In addition, various active and passive optical marker or lightpen designs are provided for use in electronic whiteboard systems.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for broadcasting history or coarse representations or both of stroke media and other media. Levels are created for media, and the levels are periodically broadcast. The levels segment the media and allow the media to be examined with details that range from coarse to fine or examined with varying importance or both. The periodic broadcast of the levels provides history of the media. In particular, for stroke data, levels of detail are determined through a certain method. Each level of detail is periodically broadcast. The levels of detail may be shown by themselves or combined at a receiver to create segmented views of the stroke data. A user can select a coarse view of the stroke data to quickly see the stroke history. Additionally, techniques are provided for quickly and repeatedly accessing data elements in already existing data structures. Generally, a description is created that describes data elements in a preexisting data structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing video data to improve its tolerance to error, especially with a low bit rate network. With this invention video data is divided into a number of frames and each frame is divided into a number of macroblocks. A dependency count is assigned to each macroblock, and if the dependency count for the macroblock exceeds or is equal to a threshold, the dependency block is intra-coded using low bit rate coding algorithm. If the dependency count is below the threshold, the macroblock is inter-coded.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying a plurality of windows on a display screen. With this invention, a stream of image data for each window is divided into coding intervals, and each coding intervals is then compressed and mixed. The mixed compressed data is then decompressed for ultimate display on a display screen.