Abstract: In a feeling generation apparatus for accompanying a reaction and an information proposal of a computer with an agent's feeling, a proposal item retrieving part assigns, with reference to a user's taste model, a taste level to said proposal item. With reference to an agent's self-confident degree model describing correspondences between taste's levels for the proposal item and agent's self-confident degrees for proposal, a self-confident degree calculating part calculates an agent's self-confident degree for said proposal item. With reference to the agent's feeling model describing correspondences among the agent's self-confident degrees, user's responses, and agent's feelings, a feeling generating part determines the agent's feeling. In accordance with the determined agent feeling, an output data generating part generates a proposal sentence for proposing the proposal item and data for an operation and an expression of a computer graphics (CG) character.

Abstract: A system for personalizing a mailer includes a controller receiving information identifying the intended recipient of the mailer. In response to this information, the controller selects information to be printed on the exterior of the mailer, with the information to be printed being personalized for the intended recipient. A printer is responsive to the controller to print the personalized information on the back exterior surface of the mailer. A method for personalizing a mailer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing promotional offers and other incentives to consumers over a communication network and for the consumers subsequently to redeem at least some of the offers is disclosed. The invention includes storing manufacturers offers and/or retail incentives in a database C associated with a co-operative communication network site 2 and providing information from the database to a consumer in a response to a request from a consumer to the database. The consumer may be connected directly to the database or may be given access to the database while logged into a retailer's or manufacturer's network site in such a way that the consumer is not aware that information is coming from the co-operative communication site. In addition, a transactional second database D is provided for recording transactions on the first database C so that when a consumer selects offers, step 27, from the database, an order is generated, step 28, on the transactional database.

Abstract: A system and method for using a mailing label to be applied to magazines, newspapers, circulars or other mass mailing items, which has a subscriber's name and address. The label can be removed from the mailed item and applied to a coupon for retail redemption or to a return mailer, so that the subscriber information can be extracted from the coupon or return mailer, and used to generate a database of computer records forming a mailing list of desirable, motivated customers for the product being promoted.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a debit account via a point of sale transaction terminal which is in communication with a secure host server. The transaction terminal includes an operating program for initiating a point of sale transaction to accept funds from a customer to be deposited into a debit account; transmitting the amount of the funds to the secure host server, receiving a debit account number and personal identifier number (PIN) unique to the transaction from the secure host server; and providing a printed receipt to the customer with the debit account number and PIN. The secure host server creates a debit account having a unique debit account number specific to the transaction, stores a electronic representation of currency equivalent to the input value into the debit account; and associates a personal identification number (PIN) with the debit account.

Abstract: An agricultural product business system includes a software portion installed and executable by a system server connected to the Internet. The system is configured to communicate with consumers and growers operating remote terminals connected to the Internet. A system administrator may also access the system via a remote terminal connected to the Internet or via a terminal connected to the system server. The system is configured to provide a distinct interface for communications with each type of user: consumer, grower, or administrator.

Abstract: A method for acquiring electronic data and a data medium forming an electronic shopping cart include a processing unit and a data memory connected to a charging device. Preferably, the medium is a smart card. Information relating to a payment operation to be performed in connection with data acquisition is transferred between the processing unit and the charging device, resulting in a payment of a purchase price for the acquired data. The data medium is also connected to an external data memory for storing the acquired data. The data that is to be acquired is transferred from the external data memory to the data medium and is stored in the data memory. Preferably, the memory is integrated and has a capacity of at least 1 MByte. The data medium combines a payment function and the function of a bulk memory for the electronic data that has been acquired.

Abstract: Digital contents representing the entity of a product are incorporated in a control program, and the control program is transmitted from a vendor to a buyer over a network. The product is delivered from the vendor to the buyer after a desired delivery period has elapsed from the transmission. After the product is delivered, the control program disables the digital contents. Therefore, when the present invention is applied to the book business, the buyer can read the digital contents representing the entity of the book immediately after the buyer places an order for the book. After that, the buyer can get the book that will be delivered.

Abstract: An eyeglass synthesizing system which a customer can try wearing the eyeglass frame at his/her home is provided. A home page which an optician 7 prepares is accessed through Internet using a web browser of a personal computer, and an eyeglass frame 14 provided at the home page is selected and the selected eyeglass frame 14 is synthesized with a facial picture 15. Accordingly, the synthesized picture is displayed on the monitor screen 2A.

Abstract: An interactive user-interface for ordering specific calculated and solution-oriented results related to finance is provided within a software suite for enabling viewing and manipulation of multiple categories of aggregated data compiled from a plurality of data sources and accessible through a single interfacing node operated on a data-packet-network. The interactive user interface comprises, an interactive drop-down menu containing a plurality of questions, the questions relating to various aspects of financial planning, an interactive inputs section containing a plurality of input data fields and selection boxes, the inputs section for configuring a calculative order, a submission function for submitting the calculative order upon completion thereof and a results window for displaying the data results derived from the calculations ordered.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a debit account via a point of sale transaction terminal which is in communication with a secure host server. The transaction terminal includes an operating program for initiating a point of sale transaction to accept funds from a customer to be deposited into a debit account; transmitting the amount of the funds to the secure host server, receiving a debit account number and personal identifier number (PIN) unique to the transaction from the secure host server; and providing a printed receipt to the customer with the debit account number and PIN. The secure host server creates a debit account having a unique debit account number specific to the transaction, stores a electronic representation of currency equivalent to the input value into the debit account; and associates a personal identification number (PIN) with the debit account.

Abstract: According to a request from a broadcast facility or a user terminal, a billing server encrypts broadcast data for a broadcast facility or a user terminal that will receive the broadcast data, distributes encryption keys for decrypting the encrypted broadcast data, stores the viewing commencement time of the program and the user information, periodically carries out updating of the encryption key, and carries out confirmation of reception of the encryption key, and at the same time, in the case that a request from the user terminal to terminate viewing of a program that is being viewed is received, or in the case that the confirmation of the reception of the encryption key is not obtained during the update, determines that the reception should terminate, and carries out billing processing such that the billing assessed depending on the time that the user of the user terminal was viewing the program.

Abstract: A system for controlling the distribution and use of digital works using digital tickets. In the present invention, a “digital ticket” is used to entitle the ticket holder to exercise some usage right with respect to a digital work. Usage rights are used to define how a digital work may be used or distributed. Each usage right may specify a digital ticket which must be present before the right may be exercised. Digital works are stored in repositories which enforce a digital works usage rights. Each repository has a “generic ticket agent” which punches tickets. In some instances only the generic ticket agent is necessary. In other instances, punching by a “special ticket agent” residing on another repository may be needed.

Abstract: A storage device of a design data server stores geometrical data (e.g., dimensions, surface area, volume and the like) and the attribute data (e.g., product material name and the like) of the product. When an operator performs a CAD operation through a CAD system, cost factor data are automatically acquired from the geometrical data and the attribute data stored in the storage device of the design data server through an automatic acquisition feature of the CAD system. A cost of the product is computed based on the cost factor data and is displayed on the CAD terminal.

Abstract: Methods are provided for developing medical diagnostic tests using decision-support systems, such as neural networks. Patient data or information, typically patient history or clinical data, are analyzed by the decision-support systems to identify important or relevant variables and decision-support systems are trained on the patient data. Patient data are augmented by biochemical test data, or results, where available, to refine performance. The resulting decision-support systems are employed to evaluate specific observation values and test results, to guide the development of biochemical or other diagnostic tests, too assess a course of treatment, to identify new diagnostic tests and disease markers, to identify useful therapies, and to provide the decision-support functionality for the test.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for transmitting data having non-standard data types between computers. A query is executed to retrieve data from a database. The database comprises data having standard data types and data having non-standard data types and is stored on a data storage device connected to a server computer. At the server computer, data having standard data types, small non-standard data types, and large non-standard data types is retrieved. An answer set is generated that comprises data having standard data types, small non-standard data types, and one or more placeholders representing data having the large non-standard data types. The generated answer set is transmitted to a client computer. After transmitting the generated answer set, data represented by each placeholder in the answer set is transmitted to the client computer.

Abstract: It is one object of the present invention to use an access control process to evaluate under a specific condition an access permission request.

Abstract: By installing a device control module (DCM), a functional component module (FCM), and a guarantee card FCM of a digital video cassette recorder (DVCR) into an integrated receiver decoder (IRD), the IRD is able to control the DVCR. The guarantee card FCM is used for accessing an electronic guarantee card stored in a non-volatile memory of the DVCR. The IRD stores purchase information or repair information of the DVCR into the non-volatile memory of the DVCR via an IEEE-1394 serial bus in response to an instruction from a requester. The IRD also reads the purchase information or the repair information from the non-volatile memory of the DVCR via the IEEE-1394 serial bus.

Abstract: A pseudo-random number generator includes a first generator for producing a sawtooth waveform signal having a first frequency, and a second generator for producing a pulse signal having a second frequency. A sampling circuit samples the sawtooth waveform signal and the pulse signal for generating a sample signal of the sawtooth waveform signal at the second frequency. A coding circuit codes the amplitude of the sample signal to supply binary values. The pseudo-random number generator has applications in integrated circuits which are used in contact type or contactless IC cards.

Abstract: An exponent unit receives an operand and outputs an exponent of the operand that is equal to the number of consecutive bits of the operand that have the same value as the most significant bit (MSB) of the operand. The exponent unit can obtain an exponent value of an operand having a bit width that is greater than a processing bit width of a leading one detector (or a leading zero detector).

Abstract: A multiplier capable of performing signed and unsigned scalar and vector multiplication is disclosed. The multiplier is configured to receive signed or unsigned multiplier and multiplicand operands in scalar or packed vector form. An effective sign for the multiplier and multiplicand operands may be calculated and used to create and select a number of partial products according to Booth's algorithm. Once the partial products have been created and selected, they may be summed and the results may be output. The results may be signed or unsigned, and may represent vector or scalar quantities. When a vector multiplication is performed, the multiplier may be configured to generate and select partial products so as to effectively isolate the multiplication process for each pair of vector components. The multiplier may also be configured to sum the products of the vector components to form the vector dot product. The final product may be output in segments so as to require fewer bus lines.

Abstract: A system for executing real-time tasks, such as a multi-line modem, on a client-server network includes a control unit and multiple processing units. The control unit is implementable by the server and each processing unit is implementable by a client or by the server. For the modem, the processing units can either modulate outgoing data and demodulate incoming samples per line or can implement one stage of the modem. For the former embodiment, the control unit assigns one processing unit to each active communication between one modem application on the network and one phone line. For the latter embodiment, the control unit moves the data and samples from one stage to the next.

Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to prevent damages caused by illegal copying in a system of providing a user with a content including music, games and others through any communication network.

Abstract: A data terminal, a data distributing system, and an Internet telephoning system are provided where desired data such as advertisements can selectively be determined and used for enjoying its relevant services. The data terminal receives a summary of service data from a data provider apparatus over the Internet, and if desired, demands the data provider apparatus to provide the service data over the Internet. The service data from the data provider apparatus may selectively be received in at least one of an audio form, a text form, and a video form at the data terminal. The service data may be advertisement data, commercial product data, and entertainment data such as music, movies, and games. The entertainment data may selectively be presented as at least one of the title, the artist name, the cost, and a trial sample piece of the content.

Abstract: Improved data broadcasting systems 10 and methods 60 that distribute data to personal computers 16. The architecture of the data broadcasting system includes a content acquisition management system 20 having a publishing element 25, a broadcasting element 26, and a subscribing element 27. The publishing element packages data and data processing instructions for broadcast. The broadcasting element broadcasts the packaged data and data processing instructions. The subscribing element receives the packaged data from the broadcasting element and processes the data in accordance with the data processing instructions contained in the received data. An exemplary data distribution method comprises the following steps. Data and data processing instructions are packaged 61 for broadcast. The packaged data and data processing instructions are broadcast 62. The packaged data and data processing instructions are received 63 at remotely located personal computers.

Abstract: A conferencing system provides for the simultaneous processing of audio and document information during a conference call. An audio conferencing bridge includes the functionality to provide an audio connection between attendees who have dialed into the bridge through either the Public Switch Telephone Network or over a data network using IP telephony. Each of the meeting attendees has access to a user interface with a connection to a data network. On each user interface is a web browser which includes a specially designed plug-in for converting documents from traditional word processing or database formats to HTML. A list is compiled in the conferencing bridge which includes the names and IP addresses for each of the attendees. Once the plug-in has converted the documents to HTML format, a series of icons are incorporated into the documents which provide for the transmission of this information to the other parties.

Abstract: Any of the AV devices or the users of a network system to which the present invention is applied can input detailed information on a recording reservation and provide the remaining AV devices and the users with the detailed information on the recording reservations that the AV device or the user has and it is possible to realize a means to be used by any of the AV devices or the users to provide the remaining AV devices and the users with the detailed information on the recording reservations that the AV device or the user has. Such a system can effectively avoid occurrence of so-called double booking and is easy to use for the users. In a specific processing operation, raw_text_information_block containing a raw text showing details of a reservation and character_code_information_block and language code_information_block showing the coding of the raw text are described in a Resource Schedule Entry of an RSB.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining whether a party sending an email communication is on a list of parties authorized by the intended receiving party. If the sending party is not on the list of authorized parties, an electronic billing agreement is emailed to the sending party indicating a fee that will be charged to the sending party in return for the message being provided to the intended receiving party. Preferably, the present invention is implemented with Internet communications and utilizes a security protocol to enable the electronic transaction to be transacted in a secure manner.

Abstract: A broadcasting station creates a broadcast schedule for broadcasting advertisement information. An information providing apparatus receives the broadcast schedule through a communication network, changes the broadcast schedule based on advertisement rates for broadcasting the advertisement information, and creating a commercial program guide. The commercial program guide is transmitted through a communication network and received by an information storage apparatus. The information storage apparatus automatically records and stores the advertisement information from the broadcasting station based on the received commercial program guide. Also, commercials can be reproduced according to classifications in accordance with the commercial program guide. Thus, it is made possible to automatically record a commercial according to advertisement rates and to display a commercial as desired by a user.

Abstract: This computational data processing system comprises an assembly of networked computers (12, . . . 22) in each of which is stored at least one computational application, and a machine (10) for storing computational data which is linked to the network and in communication with the computers, at least one of the computers (12) operating as master computer and at least some of the other computers (14, . . . 22) operating as slave computer. At least one of the computers comprises, stored in memory an algorithm for configuring the other computers of the network as slave computers and an executable master application for managing the tasks of each slave computer (14, . . . 22) as a function of their availability for the assignment, to each of them, of computational tasks and of corresponding computational data which are stored in the storage machine (10).

Abstract: A method and system for providing high-speed, satellite-based information delivery is described. Improved communication channel efficiency is accomplished by employing an asymmetric data flow. The high bandwidth channel capacity of digital satellite systems is used for the download of large volumes of data. While relatively low speed communication channels are used for upstream data requests. The use of separate channels for upstream data and downloaded data provides an increased efficiency of use for typical internet and other electronic information service subscribers. A typical user in such systems generally makes relatively short information requests. These requests are then followed by large amounts of information being transferred to the user's computer in response to the request. The volume of data being downloaded often causes a capacity overload of typically used land lines.

Abstract: An authoring system for interactive video has two or more authoring stations for providing authored metadata to be related to a main video data stream and a multiplexer for relating authored metadata from the authoring sources to the main video data stream. The authoring stations annotate created metadata with presentation time stamps (PTS) from the main video stream, and the multiplexer relates the metadata to the main video stream by the PTS signatures. In analog streams PTS may be created and integrated. In some embodiments there may be multiple and cascaded systems, and some sources may be stored sources. Various methods are disclosed for monitoring and compensating time differences among sources to ensure time coordination in end product. In different embodiments transport of metadata to an end user station is provided by Internet streaming, VBI insertion or by Internet downloading.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for diffusing at least one item of information characterised in that it includes means for diffusing a signal simultaneously perceptible to a broad public and representative of said information, and in that said information is an occupancy rate of a real or virtual site, in particular a computer network site, particularly of the Internet type.

Abstract: When a plurality of image data sets such as thumbnail images are transferred, stress of a user waiting for the transfer can be reduced. When a client requests a URL for displaying thumbnail images from a server, the server starts up a CGI program and sends data K for measuring a response time to the client. The client replies at the time of receiving the data, and the server measures the response time as a transfer rate on a network. Based on a permitted transfer time set in advance and the response time, the number of the image data sets is determined and an html file for displaying images whose number has been determined is transferred to the client. The client then requests transfer of the image data sets that have been determined from the server, and the server transfers the image data sets to the client. In this manner, the client can display the thumbnail images.

Abstract: A multi-agent cooperating system and method which is capable of being applied to a plurality of users with a simple composition and of performing efficient processing. The system comprises an agent group composed of a plurality of agents for providing services to the user, a user definition storing section for storing personal information such as user preferences for the options when requesting a service, and a user agent for converting the request from the user into an appropriate form with reference to the contents in the user definition storing section and transmitting them to the agent group, or transmitting the value of the attributes of the user with reference to the user definition storing section when user characteristics are requested from the agent group. The user agents are coupled to the agent group corresponding to each user.

Abstract: A directory services system includes a resource object, such as an application object for accessing a resource associated with the resource object. Attributes of the resource object reflect proximity of the actual resource to a user, in some measurable, physical dimension. The proximity attributes may be used to access functionally equivalent instances of a resource object based on proximity. Also, load balancing, fault tolerance, and other factors may be relied upon to select a preferred resource whenever a requested resource is unavailable. A resource, via its resource object in the directory services database, may be easily disabled for maintenance, or any other reason by setting a new disabling attribute in the object.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus is disclosed, that comprises a receiving means for receiving directory information, a directory storing means for storing the received directory information, a directory searching means for searching the content of the directory corresponding to searching and executing requests of the user, a client activating means for activating a client program for receiving a requested service corresponding to the searched result, a client executing means for executing the activated client program, a client executing means for executing the activated client program, and a communication controlling means for controlling a communication between a client and a server, wherein a desired service is searched from the directory and a server selection algorithm stored in the searched directory entry is executed so as to select a server connected to the client.

Abstract: A method and system for inserting and examining Cookies in the data streams of HTTP connections for the purpose of persistently directing HTTP connections to the same destination. The present invention enables a network transmission device, e.g., a router or controller, to reliably and efficiently direct subsequent HTTP connections from the same client to the same server (destination) for accessing the requested resources. There are four modes for employing the Cookie to persistently direct HTTP connections. The associative mode inserts a Cookie into an HTTP response that uniquely identifies the client so that when a client's subsequent HTTP request is compared to a table, the HTTP request will be routed to a previously selected destination associated with the client.

Abstract: A method and system for reserving a virtual connection from a source workstation to a destination workstation. Packets of data are transmitted over a network between an ingress node of the source workstation and an egress node of the destination workstation. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a reservation request is delivered from the source workstation to a reservation server. The reservation server includes a user database for storing the identification of each user allowed to access to the reservation server and also stores the rights of each user. The reservation server further includes a network database for storing the information describing a network capacity required to set up the virtual connection. A verification is then performed to determine whether or not the reservation request may be validated in view of user information within said source workstation.

Abstract: The invention provides a network management system in which the server and the client switch the data transmission method of connection type and that of connectionless type according to the size of the transmitted data, thereby selectively using the packet of datagram type and that of data stream type, thus achieving high-speed data communication.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement in packet switched networks for flow control is based on information provided in a set-up message for a real-time application. The invention restricts the bandwidth of non real-time application flows in and out of a terminal so that application flows associated with the real-time application are guaranteed a required bandwidth that is derived from the information in the set-up message. The invention thus provides a quick adjustment to new real-time application flows by restricting bandwidth use for non real-time application flows as soon as the set-up message for said real-time application flows is received The invention reduces unnecessary retransmissions of data packets on the non real-time application flows and improves the communication quality for the real-time application at the beginning of a communications session.

Abstract: A method for accessing a network in a telecommunication system which comprises at least one terminal and a plurality of networks. Information sets describing settings needed to access networks and their resources are stored in the terminal. The terminal scans for information about available networks. Available information sets are determined by comparing the information about available networks to the stored information sets. At least one network is accessed based on the settings defined in the available information sets.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for improving the performance of long latency or error prone links without reconfiguration. A host (10) is connected to an external network (20) by means of a satellite connection (30). A first router (40) and a first transparent cache (60) are associated with the host (10). Similarly, a second router (50) and a second transparent cache (70) are associated with the external network (20). When the host (10) sends a domain name server query, it is intercepted by the first router (40) and sent to the first transparent cache (60). If the first transparent cache (60) has the answer, it is passed back to the host (10) via the first router (40). If the first transparent cache (60) does not have the answer, the first router (40) passes the query to the second router (50) via the satellite (30) which passes it onto the second transparent cache (70) which supplies the answer if it has it. Otherwise, the router (50) passes the query to the external network (20).

Abstract: A proxy system enables a worker remote from a communication center and limited to a light computer device unable to operate as a workstation at the communication center to operate with full access to data and software at the communication center. A proxy server, which may be a LAN-connected server at the communication center, has a two-way data link to the light computer device operated by the remote agent, and executes software which ascertains the hardware and software characteristics of the light device. The proxy server accesses communication center data at direction from the light device, operates communication center software tools, and provides results to the light device over the communication link in a form usable by the light device.

Abstract: A system and method for a streams based network access control system. The steams-based network access control system includes a software process operating on a computer. The software process is configured to communicate a packet through a streams-based network protocol stack to a network interface card that includes an interface attribute. A session filter module and a network filter module are in communication with the network protocol stack. A table of network attributes, associated with the session filter module and network filter module, compares the network endpoint attribute with the interface attribute in the table of network attributes to determine whether the software process can access the network interface card. The method includes the steps of operating a software process that includes a network endpoint attribute. Next, packets are communicated through a network protocol stack to a network interface card, where the network interface card includes an interface attribute.

Abstract: An authoring apparatus and method for creating a multimedia file is provided. The authoring apparatus for creating a multimedia file as a source file with respect to a multimedia product, includes an editor for loading a graphics file, an audio file, and a text file which are selected from a file position in a computer designated by a user, generating an audio file in response to a first control signal for controlling the start and end of audio, and reproducing the graphics file and the text file in response to second and third control signals which are generated in synchronization with the reproduction of the audio file, respectively, a control signal generator for checking reproduction time information on the loaded audio file and generating the first through third control signals, a storage unit for storing a graphic image and audio and text data which are reproduced by the editor, and a multimedia file generator for generating the stored data as a multimedia file using a predetermined format.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of dispatching an IP datagram comprising socks traffic on a socks server, in an Internet Protocol (IP) network comprising a plurality of socks servers, the IP datagram comprising an IP header comprising a Type Of Service (TOS) field. The method comprises in a socks dispatcher the steps of retrieving the value of the Type Of Service (TOS) field from the IP header of the IP datagram and selecting a socks server referring to a first table, said first table defining for each value of the TOS field one or a plurality of socks servers. The IP datagram is sent by an IP network device with a given priority. The step of retrieving the value of the Type Of Service (TOS) field is followed by the further step of determining the priority of the IP datagram by referring to a second table, the second table defining a priority for each value of the Type Of Service (TOS) field.

Abstract: An interface link layer device (1) to be connected in-between a first sub network (5) and a long delay link (3) to which at least one second sub network (4) is connected via another interface link layer device (2) is able to simulate or replace time critical messages of the at least one second sub network (4). To set-up a network with such interface link layer devices information about the configuration of the sub network (5; 4) connected to an interface link layer device (1; 2) is transmitted from said respective interface link layer device (1; 2) to all other interface link layer devices (2; 1) connected to said respective interface link layer device (1; 2) via the long delay link (3), whereafter a respective interface link layer device (2; 1) connected thereto which received information about the configuration of at least one other sub network (5; 4) is able to perform the neccessary simulation.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement in a communications system handling data packets provides a user of the terminal a possibility to control the available bandwidth of application data flows in and out of the terminal in accordance with the user's preferences. The invention provides the user with a possibility to speed up applications that he finds are relatively more important, by restricting application flows to applications that he finds less important. Incoming application data flows are controlled by manipulating window sizes that are reported to the respective senders of the incoming data on the respective incoming application flows. Outgoing data flows are controlled by supervising the sending times of data packets on the different outgoing application flows. Control decisions are based on information about the user's preferences, which information is stored in a memory in the terminal.

Abstract: The size of packet payloads are varied according to the amount of congestion in a packet network. More data is put in packet payloads when more congestion exits in the packet network. When network congestion is high, less network bandwidth is available for transmitting packets. Accordingly, the packet payloads are transmitted with larger payloads to reduce the percentage of overhead in each packet. When there is little or no network congestion smaller packet payloads are transmitted. The additional overhead created in transmitting smaller packets is acceptable when there is little or no network congestion because the network currently has excess bandwidth. Thus, the packet payloads are dynamically adjusted to use network resources more effectively.