| AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120131608 | Remote Healthcare Services Over Internet Protocol Television - A particular method includes communicating a media stream in response to receiving a channel change request (e.g., a request to view an interactive health channel) from a first device associated with a patient. The media stream is received from a second device associated with a healthcare provider and is communicated to the first device via an internet protocol television (IPTV) network. The method further includes communicating patient data received from the first device associated with the patient to the second device associated with the healthcare provider via the IPTV network. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120131589 | METHOD FOR SCHEDULING UPDATES IN A STREAMING DATA WAREHOUSE - A method for scheduling atomic update jobs to a streaming data warehouse includes allocating execution tracks for executing the update jobs. The tracks may be assigned a portion of available processor utilization and memory. A database table may be associated with a given track. An update job directed to the database table may be dispatched to the given track for the database table, when the track is available. When the track is not available, the update job may be executed on a different track. Furthermore, pending update jobs directed to common database tables may be combined and separated in certain transient conditions. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120131202 | COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR CONFIGURING FAILOVER COMMUNICATION SERVICES - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Home Subscriber Server having a processor adapted to receive from a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) device a request for a subscription profile of a communication device to register the communication device, to detect from the request that the communication device is registered with a primary communication resource and that the communication device is to be registered with the S-CSCF device as a secondary communication resource, and to provide the S-CSCF device the subscription profile without de-registering the communication device from the primary communication resource and without directing the S-CSCF device to the primary communication resource. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120131110 | Shared Multimedia Experience - A method includes receiving a request to establish a group presence session between at least a first device associated with a first network and a second device associated with a second network. During the group presence session, multimedia content is provided to the first device and to the second device at substantially the same time, and first presence information from the first device is provided to the second device at substantially the same time as second presence information from the second device is provided to the first device. The method further includes synchronizing the multimedia content, the first presence information, and the second presence information based on a first device capability, a second device capability, information associated with the first network, and information associated with the second network. Synchronized content streams that include the multimedia content and presence information are transmitted to the devices via the respective networks. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120131085 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO A WORK - A method for providing access to a work at a preferred device includes: receiving, from an entity, a request to send a copy of a work to a preferred device; sending a query to a database to determine whether the entity is permitted to access the work; receiving a response to the query; and sending a copy of the work to the preferred device, when the response to the query indicates that the entity is permitted to access the work. The database stores, for each of a plurality of entities, a record of works that each respective entity is permitted to access, irrespective of format. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120130971 | Systems and Methods to Play Media Cotent Selected Using a Portable Computing Device on a Display Device External to the Portable Computing Device - A particular method includes identifying, at a portable computing device, media content that is accessible from a remote computing device via a network. The method includes receiving user input associated with a particular media content item of the indentified media content. The user input indicates selection of a send media to a second device option associated with the particular media content item. The method includes generating a message in response to the user input, wherein the message includes information identifying the particular media content item. The method also includes sending the message from the portable computing device to an application server that provides media content to a set top box device. In response to the message, the application server sends information to the second device that causes the set top box device to automatically play the particular media content item. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120130835 | System and Method of Providing Post-Purchase Media Content to A Subscriber - A method includes receiving purchase data at one or more computing devices associated with a media service provider. The purchase data includes information descriptive of a particular purchase made by a subscriber of the media service provider from a seller, where the seller is independent from the media service provider. The method also includes selecting media content available from the media service provider based on the purchase data. At least a portion of the selected media content is sent to a device associated with the subscriber. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120130813 | SELECTING ADVERTISEMENTS FOR USERS VIA A TARGETING DATABASE - A data processing system collects messages to create user profiles for users of user devices. The messages are collected from various systems and include data regarding user events on user devices. The user profiles are stored in a targeting database. In response to a request for information corresponding to a user device, a user profile is identified using data from the request and information from the profile is provided to the requester. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120130714 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING CHALLENGE UTTERANCES FOR SPEAKER VERIFICATION - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media relating to speaker verification. In one aspect, a system receives a first user identity from a second user, and, based on the identity, accesses voice characteristics. The system randomly generates a challenge sentence according to a rule and/or grammar, based on the voice characteristics, and prompts the second user to speak the challenge sentence. The system verifies that the second user is the first user if the spoken challenge sentence matches the voice characteristics. In an enrollment aspect, the system constructs an enrollment phrase that covers a minimum threshold of unique speech sounds based on speaker-distinctive phonemes, phoneme clusters, and prosody. Then user utters the enrollment phrase and extracts voice characteristics for the user from the uttered enrollment phrase. The system generates a user profile, based on the voice characteristics, for generating random challenge sentences according to a grammar. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120130709 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUILDING AND EVALUATING AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION VIA AN APPLICATION PROGRAMMER INTERFACE - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for building an automatic speech recognition system through an Internet API. A network-based automatic speech recognition server configured to practice the method receives feature streams, transcriptions, and parameter values as inputs from a network client independent of knowledge of internal operations of the server. The server processes the inputs to train an acoustic model and a language model, and transmits the acoustic model and the language model to the network client. The server can also generate a log describing the processing and transmit the log to the client. On the server side, a human expert can intervene to modify how the server processes the inputs. The inputs can include an additional feature stream generated from speech by algorithms in the client's proprietary feature extraction. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128326 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Programming Guides - Methods, systems, and products generate a programming guide. An association is stored between programming events and a package of programming. The programming guide is generated as a programming grid of cells that displays a wrapper surrounding all cells in the programming grid of cells that are associated with the programming events in the package of programming. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120128141 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Accessing Call Logs - Methods, systems, and products provide remote access to call logs upon request. An incoming call is processed and an address is retrieved that is associated with a called number. An electronic message is sent to the address to identify a calling number of the incoming call. A log of calls is updated with the incoming call. A reply electronic message is received from the address, and the log of calls is sent to the address. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120127975 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY PROVISIONING A FEMTOCELL - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a femtocell having a controller operable to establish communications with a gateway and transmit authentication information to the gateway. The gateway transmits the authentication information and a gateway identifier to a remote server to authenticate the femtocell. The controller is also operable to detect enablement of services responsive to the remote server identifying a subscriber account according to the gateway identifier, and the remote server authenticating the femtocell by comparing the authentication information to information retrieved from the subscriber account. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120124672 | Multi-Dimensional User-Specified Extensible Narrowcasting System - Narrowcast communication to one or more narrowcast communication recipients is provided through the use of an extensible method and apparatus. A narrowcast communication sender determines a set of attributes that define who will be eligible to receive a narrowcast communication. The set of attributes characterize potential recipients according to qualities such as interests, location, or another descriptor of a potential narrowcast communication recipient. Through the use of a privacy sphere, attributes associated with the narrowcast communication are matched to the qualities of potential recipients to identify the network addresses of the narrowcast communication recipients. The narrowcast communication is then transmitted to those network addresses. The narrowcast communication can be then expired from recipients who are no longer eligible to receive it and transmitted to recipients who become eligible to receive the narrowcast communication. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120124609 | System and Method of Voting Via An Interactive Television System - A method includes receiving a first voting selection from a first user logged in at a set-top box device, the first voting selection associated with video content that is received at the set-top box device. The first voting selection is added to a tally of votes when a voting status of the set-top box device indicates no previous voting selection has been received from the first user. A second voting selection associated with the video content is received from a second user logged in at the set-top box device. The second voting selection is added to the tally of votes when no previous voting selection has been received from the second user. A third voting selection received from the first user is not added to the tally of votes when the voting status indicates that the first voting selection has been received from the first user. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120124516 | Electronic Device Control Based on Gestures - Systems and methods for electronic device control based on gestures are provided. A particular method includes sending a menu from a gesture controller to a display device. The menu includes selectable options to control at least one electronic device. The method includes detecting a first user gesture at the gesture controller in response to three dimensional ( | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120124197 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING NETWORK DATA FLOW ANALYSIS AND ROUTING - Data flow analysis and routing processes include monitoring a process of a workflow, intercepting data traffic for data entered for the process, and identifying a communication path of a destination location for the data traffic. The method also includes verifying compliance of the process by applying business rules to the data, and notifying an entity of any non-compliance identified from the verification. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120124090 | Method and System for Targeted Content Distribution Using Tagged Data Streams - Methods, systems, and products target content based on profiles. A content tag associated with a content item is received and compared to a profile tag. When no match occurs, and the user profile contains no more profile tags, then another content tag is retrieved and successively compared to the profile tags until a match occurs. A score is incremented when the match occurs, and the score is compared to a threshold value. When the score satisfies the threshold value, then the content item is appropriate for presentation. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120124059 | ADDRESS BOOK AUTOFILTER - A mechanism is provided for filtering an address book. Contacts are read of the address book of a user. An operative connection is maintained to a social networking site related to the user. Social networking communication data of the user is extracted from the social networking site. The contacts are ranked in the address book based on the social networking communication data of the user. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120123778 | Security Control for SMS and MMS Support Using Unified Messaging System - A method and apparatus for providing security control of short messaging service (SMS) messages and multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages in a unified messaging (UM) system are disclosed. An SMS or MMS message directed to a recipient mailbox in a UM system is received. It is determined that the recipient mailbox is a secondary mailbox associated with a primary mailbox in the UM system. The message is audited according to an audit policy associated with the recipient mailbox. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120122427 | Personal Media Storage and Retrieval for Visual Voice Mail - A personal media storage system within a visual voicemail system may be implemented A visual voicemail server may receive and store multimedia content on a personal media storage system and associate such content with a voicemail. A visual voicemail server may obtain such content if provided with location data for the content rather than the actual content. A visual voicemail client on a wireless device may transmit a request for content to the visual voicemail server, which may retrieve the content and send to the visual voicemail client using the communications link between the visual voicemail client and the visual voicemail server. The visual voicemail client may render the content within the client. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120121075 | Directed Notifications - A computer-implemented method includes receiving a notification at a network server and directing the notification to a particular address of a plurality of addresses that are associated with a customer premises. The method further includes identifying one or more customer premises equipment (CPE) devices that are designated to receive notifications directed to the particular address based on a directed notification profile that is associated with the customer premises. The directed notification profile may be stored at a lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) database that is accessible to the network server. The method further includes communicating the notification from the network server to the one or more identified CPE devices. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120120314 | LIP SYNC ERROR DETECTION AND CORRECTION - A method of managing lip synchronization error in a multimedia content delivery network includes identifying a video packet and an audio packet associated with the video packet and determining a synchronization offset between the audio and video packets at a first monitoring point in the network. The audio and video packets are then detected at a second monitoring point in the network and a second synchronization offset is determined. When a delta between the first synchronization offset and the second synchronization offset exceeds a threshold, lip synchronization error information may be automatically recorded and/or reported to a service provider and corrective action may be taken if potential sources of the lip synchronization error are within the domain of the service provider. The video packet may be identified by a timestamp within the packet and the audio packet may be identified by audio data within the audio packet. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120119885 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Discovering Electronic Devices - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for controlling an electronic device. A query is received at a remote control interface. A response to the query is determined. A random response interval of time is determined according to a collision avoidance mechanism. When the random response interval of time expires, then the response to the query is sent. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120117007 | Systems and Methods to Facilitate Local Searches via Location Disambiguation - Systems and methods use machine learning techniques to resolve location ambiguity in search queries. In one aspect, a dataset generator generates a training dataset using query logs of a search engine. A training engine applies a machine learning technique to the training dataset to generate a location disambiguation model. A location disambiguation engine uses the location disambiguation model to resolve location ambiguity in subsequent search queries. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120116872 | Selecting Advertisements from One or More Databases for Sending to a Publisher - An advertising system determines the context of a user accessing a publication media (e.g., an online web site). The advertising system retrieves candidate advertisements from one or more databases based on the user's context (e.g., a user search request). The advertising system selects particular advertisements and then sends them to the user (e.g. for display on the user's terminal or device). | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120115528 | Dynamic Bandwidth and Access Management - In one or more embodiments, one or more methods and/or systems described can perform determining that a first demand by a group of mobile devices for a first bandwidth of a first data communication path exceeds the first bandwidth; wirelessly coupling to a second data communication path; receiving, via the first data communication path, first data at or below the first bandwidth of the first data communication path; transmitting the first data to the mobile devices; receiving, via the second data communication path, second data at or below a second bandwidth of the second data communication path; and transmitting the second data to the mobile devices. In one or more embodiments, wirelessly coupling to the second data communication path can include wirelessly coupling to a wireless access point. In one or more embodiments, the wireless access point can be included in a satellite that orbits a planet. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120113796 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH FAILOVER COMMUNICATION SERVICES - A system may include, for example, an Interrogating Call Session Control Function (I-CSCF) device having a processor adapted to receive a request from a Serving CSCF (S-CSCF) device communicatively coupled to a first communication device to establish communications with a second communication device responsive to the first communication device initiating a call directed to the second communication device, and to identify a primary S-CSCF device to which the second communication device is registered. The processor can also be adapted to detect a communication fault when attempting to communicate with the primary S-CSCF device, and to identify a secondary S-CSCF device that provides backup communication services to the second communication device responsive to detecting the communication fault. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120110127 | MESSAGING ABSTRACTION IN A MOBILE DEVICE SERVER - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a mobile device server that receives a pairing key, establishes communication with a media resource center using a web server application of the mobile device server, transmits the pairing key to the media resource center to enable processing of a software application by the mobile device server, detects a request from the software application to utilize a resource of the media resource center, accesses a messaging abstraction library, retrieves a first message from the messaging abstraction library that is representative of the request and that conforms to a first communication protocol of the resource, and transmits the first message to the resource to cause the resource to process the request generated by the software application. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120110040 | System and Method for Providing Fast Startup of a Large File Delivery - A file delivery system includes a disk file system, a solid state drive file system, and an interface module. The disk file system includes a disk drive that stores a plurality of files for download by a user device. The solid state drive file system includes a solid state drive that stores a first block of data for each of the files stored on the disk drive. The interface module is in communication with the disk file system and with the solid state drive file system, and is configured to retrieve the first block of data of one of the files from the solid state drive in response to a request from the user device for one of the files, to send a read command to the disk drive for a next block of the one of the files at substantially the same time as the first block is retrieved from the solid state drive and sent to the user device, and to store the next block in a buffer. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120109954 | UBIQUITOUS BOOKMARKING - Data for items of information are marked, stored and retrieved. A method for marking, storing and retrieving data for items of information. Markable data is received at an electronic device. The received markable data is marked using an input of the electronic device dedicated to selectively marking received markable data at the discretion of a user of the electronic device. The received marked data is stored as marked data in response to marking the received information. The stored marked data is retrieved using the electronic device. The stored marked data is obtained and presented. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120108326 | SECURE GEOGRAPHIC BASED GAMING - Security in a geogame is maintained by implementing various security techniques. The various techniques provide specific advantages for different threat modes and attack styles against a geogame implemented via a mobile ad hoc network utilizing a geocast protocol. Jamming is detected by each player device listening for expected retransmissions of its own originated geocasts. If it fails to hear a retransmission, it concludes jamming. Network interdiction is detected by monitoring for received transmissions and/or periodically sending dummy transmissions to support other devices' detections. Location determination attacks are detected by recognizing “impossible” movements. Geogame interruption attacks are detected by detecting unauthorized requests to restart a geogame. Other security measures include utilizing cryptographic keys and/or pass phrases when geocasting. Various penalties within the context of a geogame are levied against a player if a security breach is detected. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120106377 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A MEASUREMENT OF PERFORMANCE FOR A NETWORK - Performance for a network is measured by sending multi-objective probes on a path, receiving at least one of the multi-objective probes for the path, and determining performance measurements for at least two parameters of the path determined from the at least one of the multi-objective probes. Separate algorithms are simultaneously executed to measure the at least two parameters of the path determined from the at least one of the multi-objective probes. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120105633 | System And Method For Controlling Devices At A Location - A system and method for controlling, by an outside entity, one or more devices associated with a location. A representative embodiment of the system architecture comprises an internal computer system through which a device may be remotely controlled by the outside entity during a communication session between the outside entity and the internal computer system through an external computer network. The external computer network can be the Internet. When the outside entity is requested to control the device, the outside entity's identity information is authenticated before the communication session is established. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120102409 | PROVIDING INTERACTIVE SERVICES TO ENHANCE INFORMATION PRESENTATION EXPERIENCES USING WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES - Systems, methods, and devices that provide interactive services relating to an information presentation to user equipment (UE) are presented. A presentation management component (PMC) provides at least a portion of the information presentation to one or more UEs, which can be integrated with the PMC, to facilitate enabling one or more UE users to use interactive services in relation to a tour of a point(s) of interest associated with the PMC. The interactive services comprise, for example, broadcast communications to desired UEs in a tour group, UE clustering, customized tour recommendations, whiteboard feature, note-taking functions, “slow down” option, and “raise hand” option. Respective UEs in a group are configured to be a master UE, sub-master UE, or slave UE, wherein the master UE at least partially controls communications of the other UEs in the group, and the sub-master UE at least partially controls communications of UEs in a sub-group. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120101914 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING TRANSACTION SERVICES - Transaction services include providing, to a computer system of an entity via a first user interface, a transaction service template having data fields configured to specify items and identifiers of physical locations in which each of the items resides. The transaction services also include receiving the transaction service template including entries presented in the data fields, the transaction service template mapping the items to corresponding physical locations. Transaction services further include providing a second user interface to an end user device, the second user interface including a portion of the data fields of the transaction service template. In response to a transaction request that includes one of the items, the transaction services also include populating an identifier of a corresponding physical location of the item in the transaction request within the second user interface as a transaction response. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120101820 | MULTI-STATE BARGE-IN MODELS FOR SPOKEN DIALOG SYSTEMS - A method is disclosed for applying a multi-state barge-in acoustic model in a spoken dialogue system. The method includes receiving an audio speech input from the user during the presentation of a prompt, accumulating the audio speech input from the user, applying a non-speech component having at least two one-state Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) to the audio speech input from the user, applying a speech component having at least five three-state HMMs to the audio speech input from the user, in which each of the five three-state HMMs represents a different phonetic category, determining whether the audio speech input is a barge-in-speech input from the user, and if the audio speech input is determined to be the barge-in-speech input from the user, terminating the presentation of the prompt. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120101817 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING MODELS FOR USE IN AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for generating a model for use with automatic speech recognition. These principles can be implemented as part of a streamlined tool for automatic training and tuning of speech, or other, models with a fast turnaround and with limited human involvement. A system configured to practice the method receives, as part of a request to generate a model, input data and a seed model. The system receives a cost function indicating accuracy and at least one of speed and memory usage, The system processes the input data based on seed model and based on parameters that optimize the cost function to yield an updated model, and outputs the updated model. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120100847 | PERFORMANCE DIAGNOSIS OF WIRELESS EQUIPMENT AND A WIRELESS NETWORK OVER OUT-OF-BAND COMMUNICATION - System(s), apparatus(es), and method(s) are provided for diagnosing performance issues of wireless equipment (WE) or a wireless network through an alternative communication channel enabled by an alternative wireless network available to the WE. A service platform (SP) probes performance condition of the WE through a mobility control node (MCN) and, in response to a fault condition, collects data related to operation of the WE. Based at least on part of the data, the SP diagnoses the fault condition and related performance issue(s). To probe performance, the SP requests the MCN to collect data related to performance metric(s) of the WE. The alternative communication channel is established, and such data is collected therefrom, in response to low-grade connectivity amongst the MCN and the WE. The SP notifies the WE of at least the fault condition through the MCN or, in case of network fault condition, via the alternative communication channel. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120096140 | Network Aware Forward Caching - A network includes a cache server and a network aware server that operates to determine an optimization between a cost of retrieving content from a communication network and a cost of caching content at the cache server. The optimization is determined as a minimum of a sum of a transit cost, a backbone cost, and a caching cost. The transit cost includes a money cost per data unit. The backbone cost includes a money cost per data unit and time unit. The caching cost includes a money cost per server unit. In response to determining the optimization, the network aware server sends a content identifier to the cache server, and the cache server receives the content identifier, determines a source of a content item, and if the source is the same as the content identifier, then cache the content item. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120096128 | Systems and Methods for Determining the Location of a Request on a Content Delivery Network - A domain name server includes a processor operable to receive a domain name system request, determine a source Internet protocol address of the request, and in response to determining the source Internet protocol address to send a prompt to a client system associated with the source Internet protocol address and receive a reply from the client system. In response to receiving the reply the processor selects a content server that is closer to the source Internet protocol address than another content server. In response to selecting the content server the processor composes a file including a list of domain names that are associated with the content delivery network and an Internet protocol address associated with the content server. The processor sends the file to the client system. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120096099 | Method And System For Publishing An Electronic File Attached To An Electronic Mail Message - Publishing content associated with an electronic file attached to an electronic mail message by executing instructions contained in the electronic mail attachment and accessing the content at a remote computer server identified by the attached file. The attached file includes computer-executable instructions, such as a computer program or script, which include an identifier for a remote server connected to a distributed computer network. This identified remote server typically hosts a web site containing content for viewing by the recipient of the electronic mail message. In response to launching the attached file of the electronic mail message with a viewer program, a browser program can be opened to enable the recipient to view the content of the identified remote server, typically a web site on an intranet or the global Internet. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120096081 | System and Method for Content Validation - A method includes receiving at a directory server a notification from a client system, where the notification indicates that the first client received a corrupt packet of a playfile from a first peer. The method also includes determining if the first peer is a poor quality peer, updating a first peer score for the first peer if the first peer is not a poor quality peer, identifying a second peer that is not on a blacklist, and providing a peer identification associated with the second peer to the client system. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120095861 | PERSONAL CUSTOMER CARE AGENT - Aggregating information includes configuring, by at least one processor, a user profile that indicates user preferences for aggregated information. The at least one processor monitors information sources including the World Wide Web, business websites of interest, and online social media, based on the user preferences. Data obtained from the information sources is presented, based on the monitoring, by the at least one processor, in accordance with a presentation format, as the aggregated information, based on the user preferences. The at least one processor triggers updating of the presented aggregated information based on a change to the data at least one of the information sources and a change to the user profile. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120094770 | GEOGAME FOR MOBILE DEVICE - A geogame utilizes wireless devices to track the movements of the players. As players move, virtual tails are generated behind each player, and their locations are determined and geocast, via a wireless geographic broadcast protocol, to all players of the geogame. Each player observes all players movements and tail locations on his/her wireless device. Players can draw sketches utilizing their respective virtual tails and/or players can traverse courses which involve various types of terrain. Players can try to avoid virtual obstacles that can be generated within the game. Players can be provided weapons to shoot through boundaries and tails. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120094643 | OVER-THE-AIR CONTENT MANAGEMENT OF WIRELESS EQUIPMENT IN CONFINED-COVERAGE WIRELESS NETWORKS - System(s), apparatus(es), and method(s) are provided for managing content of wireless equipment (WE) over-the-air (OTA). Content is germane to feature(s) of the WE and is related to operation thereof. Management of the content is automatically implemented in response to attachment of the WE to a confined-coverage access point (AP). The WE and a network server enable, in part, such management. The confined-coverage AP enables exchange of signaling and data associated with management of the content amongst the WE and the network server. Content includes software (SW); management OTA of SW can include update of an in-use version of a SW application or related SW component(s). SW update signaling can comprise message(s) conveying a WE identifier and in-use version(s) of SW; request(s) for an update instruction; request(s) for at least one file associated with the SW; message(s) indicative of availability of version(s) of SW newer than the in-use version(s). | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120093302 | Dynamic Load Balancing Between Multiple Locations With Different Telephony System - A method includes receiving a call from a primary interactive voice response (IVR) system at a load-balancing IVR system. The primary IVR system routes a first percentage of calls to routing logic and a second percentage of calls to the load-balancing IVR system. A telephony system is selected from among a plurality of telephony systems based on agent availability data associated with call center sites of the plurality of telephony systems. The method includes routing the call to a routing protocol component of the routing logic, where the routing protocol component routes the call to a call center of the selected telephony system. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120093301 | Saving and Forwarding Customized Messages - Methods and computer-readable media provide presenting a customized message to an incoming calling party and for allowing the calling party to save or forward the customized message. A called party submits a customized message to an intelligent network component of her telecommunications service provider along with identifiers for specified incoming callers who are to receive the customized message upon calling the called party. After the customized message is prepared, incoming callers who have been associated with the customized message are presented with the customized message before being connected to the called party. If the incoming call is not from a telephone directory number associated with the customized message, the incoming call is processed according to normal call processing methods. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120092435 | System and Method to Enable Layered Video Messaging - A method includes selecting, at a first computing device, a first content source as a foreground content source and a second content source as a background content source. The method includes determining a location of the first computing device. The method also includes generating layered multimedia content. The layered multimedia content includes a foreground layer including first media content received from the first content source, a background layer including second media content received from the second content source, an information layer including data associated with the location to the first computing device, and audio content. The method includes sending the layered multimedia content to at least a second computing device. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120090008 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRESELECTING MULTIMEDIA CONTENT - A method and system for remote control at a client of a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) enables a user to add desired multimedia program listings to a user collection. The user collection may be saved at an MCDN server for subsequent retrieval. Multimedia programs corresponding to the listings may be stored in a user collection cache. The user may easily select the listings in a user collection for presentation at an MCDN client. The multimedia programs may be provided from a plurality of content sources, including external content providers and the Internet. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120089998 | VIDEO SERVICE BLACKOUT EVENTS - A method includes receiving, at a component of a multimedia content distribution system, a command including blackout information related to a first version of content. The blackout information includes scheduling information. The method includes updating a first entry within a control matrix based on the blackout information in response to the command. The first entry includes information related to when the first version of the content in a first stream is to be blacked out based on the scheduling information. The method also includes updating a second entry within the control matrix based on the blackout information in response to the command. The second entry includes information related to when the second version of the content in a second stream is to be blacked out based on the scheduling information. The method also includes sending a control stream based on the control matrix to one or more set top boxes. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120089683 | AUTOMATED ASSISTANCE FOR CUSTOMER CARE CHATS - An apparatus provides automated assistance to an agent. The apparatus includes a receiver that receives a client communication from a client terminal via a network. A processor processes the client communication and determines a plurality of agent statements based on the client communication. The plurality of agent statements is displayed on a display. An input receives an agent communication from the agent. The agent communication is selected from a custom statement input by the agent and one of the plurality of agent statements selected by the agent. A transmitter transmits the agent communication to the client terminal via the network. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120089618 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A PERSONAL VALUE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL - A method and apparatus for generating a personal value for a user are disclosed. For example, the method collects data associated with the user, wherein the data that is collected comprises social connection data, enhances the data that is collected, receives a request, and generates a response to the request by using a personal value for the user, where the personal value is generated from the data that is enhanced. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120089605 | USER PROFILE AND ITS LOCATION IN A CLUSTERED PROFILE LANDSCAPE - Delivering targeted content includes collecting, via at least one tangible processor, user activity data for users during a specified time period. questions asked by the users during the specified time period are extracted from the user activity data, via the at least one tangible processor, and stored in user profiles for the users. The user profiles are clustered, via the at least one tangible processor, based on the questions asked. Targeted content is delivered, via the at least one tangible processor, to a subset of the users based on the clustering. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120089367 | Method and Apparatus for Monitoring a Material Medium - A material medium, such as an optical fiber or electrical cable, is used to carry services. The material medium is monitored with at least one diagnostic sensor. The diagnostic sensor may measure the operational health of the material medium, or may measure local environmental conditions around the material medium. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120087268 | ADAPTIVE RATE AND REACH OPTIMIZATION FOR WIRELESS ACCESS NETWORKS - A method controls a wireless local area network, which includes a centralized performance management controller and a plurality of network elements. The method includes determining interference between each network element and every other network element of the plurality of network elements, and populating an interference matrix identifying the interference between each combination of two network elements of the plurality of network elements. The method also includes generating an adjacency matrix based on the interference matrix indicating each combination of the two network elements of the plurality of network elements that has an unacceptable level of interference. The method further includes improving overall performance of the wireless local area network by reducing the unacceptable levels of interference indicated by the adjacency matrix. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120086935 | IDENTIFIABLE VISIBLE LIGHT SOURCES FOR FIBER OPTIC CABLES - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method including generating a plurality of identifiable visible light sources having at least one constant visible light source and at least one oscillating visible light source and selectively applying, such as one at a time, at least two identifiable visible light sources among the plurality of identifiable visible light sources to a fiber optic cable strand in order to remotely test a fiber optic cable having a plurality of strands including the fiber optic cable strand. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120084834 | SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A MOBILE DEVICE SERVER - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operating in a mobile device server that has computer instructions to execute a web server application at the mobile device server. The web server application can be operable to detect a media resource center while roaming in a communication zone of the media resource center and to transmit a pairing key to the media resource center responsive to acquiring communication access to the communication zone. The web server application can be further operable to receive from the media resource center an indication that a roaming charge will be applied to a subscriber account associated with the mobile device responsive to the media resource center identifying from the pairing key that the mobile device server is a guest device. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120084831 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PRIVACY MANAGEMENT IN MACHINE-TO-MACHINE COMMUNICATIONS - A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for processing a request from a server of a machine-to-machine service provider are provided. For example, the method receives the request from the server of the machine-to-machine service provider to communicate with a machine-to-machine device, determines whether to authorize the request based upon a policy in a privacy database, and enables communications between the server of the machine-to-machine service provider and the machine-to-machine device if the request is authorized based upon the policy. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120084629 | Systems and Methods for Generating Sitelets Using Information Assets - A definition of an information category a user wishes to publish to the Internet is received from a user. At least one information asset comprising a link to an information data object is received and assigned to the information category. Sitelet generation parameters are received from the user, including a sitelet category comprising the information category, and optionally, other sitelet generation parameters such as data feed types and additional information categories. A sitelet is then generated using the sitelet category and any other supplied sitelet generation parameters. The sitelet comprises a data feed of a first data feed type comprising a representation of the information assets assigned to the sitelet category and any additional information categories. The data feed type can be in any standard format, such as RSS or ATOM, or any custom format, such as iFrame HTML, XML or JSON. If the user specifies more than one data feed type, sitelets are generated for each data feed type. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120084466 | SYSTEM FOR SYNCHRONIZING TO A MOBILE DEVICE SERVER - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operating in a mobile device server having computer instructions to execute a web server application at the mobile device server. The web server application can be operable to detect a media resource center while roaming in a communication zone of the media resource center, and to transmit a pairing key to the media resource center. The web server application can be further operable to receive authorization from the media resource center to synchronize differences between content stored in the media resource center and content stored in the mobile device server responsive to the media resource center validating the pairing key. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120084342 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING MOBILE DEVICE SERVERS - A method that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving at a media resource center a first pairing key from a first mobile device server and enabling the first mobile device to access at least one media device based on the first pairing key, where the at least one media device is operably coupled with the media resource center, where the first mobile devices provides media services by executing a web server application that utilizes the at least one media device, and where the first mobile device communicates with a second mobile device server to provide the media services. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120084275 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH A MEDIA PROGRAM - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an apparatus having a processor adapted to receive a message from a portable communication device communicatively coupled to a set-top box presenting a media program and to retrieve from the message a media descriptor associated with the media program. The processor is further adapted to identify according to the media descriptor one or more images of one or more performers commonly presented in the media program, to monitor one or more frames of a live media feed including the media program, and compare the one or more human figures to the one or more images of performers. The processor can also be adapted to recognize a performer from the comparison, to retrieve information associated with the performer, and to transmit the information to the portable communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120084186 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS OF A MOBILE DEVICE SERVER - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which operates in a mobile device server and which has computer instructions to obtain a software application, store a first pairing key in a memory of the mobile device server where the first pairing key is generated by a device of a service provider in response to a review of the software application for compliance with at least one policy of the service provider, and execute a web server application at the mobile device server that is operable to detect a media resource center operably coupled with at least one media device, establish communications with the media resource center and transmit the first pairing key to the media resource center to enable at least a portion of services that are associated with the software application and that utilize the at least one media device. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120084086 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPEN SPEECH RECOGNITION - Disclosed herein are systems, methods and non-transitory computer-readable media for performing speech recognition across different applications or environments without model customization or prior knowledge of the domain of the received speech. The disclosure includes recognizing received speech with a collection of domain-specific speech recognizers, determining a speech recognition confidence for each of the speech recognition outputs, selecting speech recognition candidates based on a respective speech recognition confidence for each speech recognition output, and combining selected speech recognition candidates to generate text based on the combination. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120084081 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING SPEECH ANALYTICS - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for performing trend analysis of speech. A system practicing the method receives a speech trend analysis request having candidate feature constraints, an objective function with respect to a speech trend to be analyzed, and a set of speech record constraints. The system selects a subset of speech records from the group of speech records based on the set of speech record constraints to yield selected speech records, identifies features in the selected speech records based on the set of candidate feature constraints to yield identified features, and assigns a weight to each of the identified features based on the objective function. Then the system ranks the identified features by their respective weights to yield ranked identified features, and outputs at least one of the ranked identified features associated with a speech-based trend in response to the speech trend analysis request. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120083270 | FEMTOCELL APPROVED USER LIST MANAGEMENT VIA SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE (SMS) - A system and methodology that facilitates user friendly and/or dynamic femtocell access provisioning based on Short Message Service (SMS) communication is provided. In particular, the system can enable users to update and/or view a femto access control list associated with a femtocell by employing SMS messages. Moreover, the system can receive a SMS message from a user equipment (UE) requesting an action (e.g., add, remove, and/or view an entry within a femto access control list) associated with femtocell access and identify a femtocell associated with the UE. Further, the system can analyze the SMS, request confirmation to perform the action, and execute the action on receiving confirmation from the UE. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120083248 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING TELEPHONE CALL NOTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT IN A NETWORK ENVIRONMENT - Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to receive an incoming call message via a data interface upon activation of a trigger established with a voice communication network and activated when the voice communication network receives an incoming call to a destination identified by a pre-determined subscriber account; generate a call notification in response to the incoming call message; obtain a list of set-top boxes corresponding to the predetermined subscriber account; and route the call notification to the set-top boxes on the list. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120082115 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLANNING RADIO FREQUENCY SPECTRUM IN A FIXED WIRELESS NETWORK - A method and apparatus for selecting a bandwidth option for a cell in a network are disclosed. For example, the method obtains, for the cell, network traffic data for a geographical area for mobility traffic and fixed wireless traffic, a physical characteristic of an antenna in the geographical area, and a type of connectivity at a customer premise, determines a busy time data traffic from the network traffic data for both the fixed wireless traffic and the mobility traffic, determines, for the cell, a cell range from the physical characteristic of the antenna and the type of connectivity at the customer premise, selects a bandwidth option from a plurality of bandwidth options, and determines an average throughput in accordance with the bandwidth option that is selected and the cell range, wherein the average throughput comprises a throughput for serving both the mobility traffic and the fixed wireless traffic. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120082114 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLANNING RADIO FREQUENCY SPECTRUM IN A WIRELESS NETWORK - A method and apparatus for selecting a bandwidth option for a cell in a network are disclosed. For example, the method obtains, for the cell, network traffic data for a geographical area, and a physical characteristic of an antenna in the geographical area, determines busy time data traffic from the network traffic data, determines, for the cell, a cell range from the physical characteristic of the antenna, selects a bandwidth option from a plurality of bandwidth options, and determines an average throughput in accordance with the bandwidth option that is selected and the cell range. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120081522 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRESENTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEDIA CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor including a controller to obtain three-dimensional media content, obtain position information associated with at least one viewer of a display device that is operably coupled to the media processor, adjust convergence of the three-dimensional media content based on the position information, and provide the three-dimensional media content with the adjusted convergence to the display device for presentation. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120081502 | AUDIO AND VIDEO CALLING THROUGH MULTIPLE TERMINAL DEVICES - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium in a media controller having computer instructions to execute a soft-phone client application on the media processor, receive a call originating from an IP Multimedia Subsystem network where the calls are directed to the media processor by a gateway having a switch that routes the call in accordance with a destination address included in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) header message, and selectively answer the call at any of a plurality of terminal devices including a mobile cellular phone coupled to the media processor via a femtocell. The computer instructions can be operable to present an audio portion of the call through a speaker of a presentation device operatively coupled to the media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120081501 | INTERNET PROTOCOL TELEVISION AUDIO AND VIDEO CALLING - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium in a media controller having computer instructions to execute a soft-phone client application on the media processor, receive an audio call or a video call originating from an IP Multimedia Subsystem network where the calls are directed to the media processor by a gateway having a switch that routes the audio call or video call in accordance with a destination address included in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) header message, and selectively answer one of the audio call or the video call. The computer instructions can be operable to present an audio portion of the audio call through a speaker of a presentation device when an audio call is answered. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120079588 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Identity Verification - Methods, systems, and products verify identity of a person identification verification. A signature, representing the presence of a device, is acquired. The signature is compared to a reference signature. When the signature favorably compares to the reference signature, then the identity of a user associated with the device is verified. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120078893 | Determining Sort Order By Distance - Included are embodiments for determining sort order. At least one embodiment of a method includes determining a plurality of search results associated with at least one search criteria. Some embodiments of a method include determining a first distance between at least one of the search results and a home page associated with the at least one search result and determining a display order for the plurality of search results. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120078799 | SECURE PAYMENT SERVICE AND SYSTEM FOR INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE (IVR) SYSTEMS - A secure payment method includes receiving, at a computer of a payment service, a request from a requester for a one time use transaction identification token for a transaction. The one time use transaction identification token is provided from the payment service computer to the requester. The one time use transaction identification token is received at the payment service from a merchant communications apparatus under the control of a merchant. Electronic payment information for the transaction is issued from the payment service to the merchant upon validating the one time use transaction identification token. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120078639 | System and Method for Voice Authentication Over a Computer Network - Systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media are provided for voice authentication. The method includes receiving a speech sample from a user through an Internet browser for authentication as part of a request for a restricted-access resource, performing a comparison of the received speech sample to a previously established speech profile associated with the user, transmitting an authentication to the network client if the comparison is equal to or greater than a certainty threshold, and transmitting a denial to the network client if the comparison is less than the certainty threshold. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120078638 | CENTRALIZED BIOMETRIC AUTHENTICATION - A communications system includes a receiver and at least one transmitter. The receiver receives, from different intermediate systems, biometric samples from parties attempting to obtain services from the intermediate systems and information characterizing the expected identifies of the parties. The at least one transmitter transmits, to the intermediate systems, verification that the biometric samples match pre-registered biometric information obtained from a storage device such that the expected identities of the parties is verified as the identities of the parties. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120078617 | System and Method for Increasing Recognition Rates of In-Vocabulary Words By Improving Pronunciation Modeling - The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for generating a lexicon for use with speech recognition. The method includes receiving symbolic input as labeled speech data, overgenerating potential pronunciations based on the symbolic input, identifying potential pronunciations in a speech recognition context, and storing the identified potential pronunciations in a lexicon. Overgenerating potential pronunciations can include establishing a set of conversion rules for short sequences of letters, converting portions of the symbolic input into a number of possible lexical pronunciation variants based on the set of conversion rules, modeling the possible lexical pronunciation variants in one of a weighted network and a list of phoneme lists, and iteratively retraining the set of conversion rules based on improved pronunciations. Symbolic input can include multiple examples of a same spoken word. Speech data can be labeled explicitly or implicitly and can include words as text and recorded audio. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120077526 | Dynamic Text Communication Administration - A system for administering text communications may be configured to determine if an incoming communication that includes text meets any of various criteria and respond based on that determination. A reply may include information based on the criteria or information related to how other messages with the same or similar criteria have historically been handled by a user. Reply communications may be in a different form than that of the incoming communication. Other actions may be taken in addition or instead of replying, including setting calendar reminders or tasks, and sending delegate notifications. Data used for determinations may be collected over time or gathered from external systems. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120077493 | NOTIFICATIONS BASED ON DEVICE PRESENCE - The disclosed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate and/or transmit notifications based upon device presence techniques in connection with a wireless communications network. For example, when certain mobile devices register with a particular network entity (e.g., a femtocell) that services a particular target location (e.g., place of residence), then such registration can be leveraged to indicate presence at the target location. Accordingly, notifications can be delivered to custodian devices that indicate the presence information if certain predetermined conditions or criteria are satisfied. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120077468 | PROVIDING INTEGRATED SERVICE-ENTITY PREMIUM COMMUNICATION SERVICES - Systems, methods, and devices that integrate a subscriber's communication services, including home wireline communication services, and a service-entity communication services are presented. User equipment (UE) is associated with a subscription for communication services, comprising wireline and wireless communication services, of a subscriber. The UE communicates with an enhanced service management component (ESMC) associated with a service entity to facilitate integration of at least a portion of the subscriber's communication services with the service entity's communication services while the UE is registered with the ESMC. While registered, the subscriber's UE is used to facilitate controlling a door lock to the subscriber's room associated with the service entity; and accessing the integrated communication services, including at least a portion of the home services, while in a location of the service entity, at least when the home services are provided via the same provider as that serving the service entity. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120077467 | CONDITIONAL MESSAGE FORWARDING FUNCTIONS - Systems, methods, and devices that can conditionally and/or automatically control message forwarding by communication devices are presented. A network message management component and/or handset message management component can monitor messages (e.g., short message service (SMS) messages) communicated between user equipment (UE) in a communication network, identify and/or intercept a message for which one or more forwarding conditions have been specified by the message originator, target, or forward target, and conditionally and/or automatically route the message to the target and/or forward target in accordance with predefined message routing rules based at least in part on the conditions specified by the originator, target, or forward target. The predefined message routing rules can be implemented by the network and/or the UEs, and can relate to the UE identifiers, time, priority, cost, operation state, size, desired automatic response messages, or other desired factors, associated with the message. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120077463 | REMINDERS BASED ON DEVICE PRESENCE - The disclosed subject matter relates to an architecture that can facilitate and/or transmit reminders based upon device presence techniques in connection with a wireless communications network. For example, when certain mobile devices register with a particular network entity (e.g., a femtocell) that services a particular target location (e.g., place of residence), then such registration can be leveraged to indicate presence at the target location. Accordingly, reminders can be configured by custodian devices and delivered to subservient devices if certain predetermined conditions or criteria are satisfied in connection with the presence information. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120076285 | ENHANCED CALLER ID WITH RECIPIENT-SELECTED CALLER INFORMATION DISPLAY - A method includes receiving an incoming call at a first device. The method includes determining whether second caller identification information is available at the first device based on first caller identification information received with the incoming call. The method further includes retrieving the second caller identification information in response to determining that the second caller identification information is available at the first device. The method further includes presenting a graphical display at a display device. The graphical display includes a plurality of caller information fields. The plurality of caller information fields are populated based on the first caller identification information and based on the second caller identification information. The graphical display also includes a user selectable edit option to edit the second caller identification information during the incoming call. The method further includes modifying the second caller identification information in response to selection of the user selectable edit option. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120076016 | FEMTOCELL AUTOMATIC SPEED TEST - A system and methodology that facilitates automatically determining performance parameters of a broadband network connected to a femto access point (FAP) is provided. In particular, the system automatically performs a broadband test, in the background, to detect the current speed, performance, throughput, etc. of the broadband network. The results of the speed test are then provided to the customer and/or to the femtocell carrier's Customer Care team, to facilitate diagnosing and correcting problems with the femtocell's performance. Specifically, the system notifies the customer of the broadband test results via short message service (SMS) message(s), email and/or posts the results on a femtocell management web page accessed by the customer. In addition, the femtocell automatic broadband test results can also be posted to an online tool that is accessed by authorized entities within the femtocell carrier's Customer Care team to facilitate easy and accurate diagnosis of femtocell performance issues. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120075312 | Avatars in Social Interactive Television - Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120072966 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECORDING AND TIME-SHIFTING PROGRAMMING IN A TELEVISION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WITH LIMITED CONTENT RETENTION - Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems to record broadcast programming for at least one television channel for a period of time, wherein the recording is performed upstream from subscribers in a television distribution system, and further including after the period of time, keeping recorded programming by request from at least one subscriber. And further wherein the request is for at least one television program contained in the recorded programming or for a time window for a particular channel. According to another embodiment a subscriber requests that broadcast programming be saved for the subscriber upstream from the subscriber in a television distribution system, and wherein the subscriber may request the programming be saved for later viewing by the subscriber between the time the programming was broadcast and a later point in time. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120072964 | STB Messaging System - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a video terminal device having a processor adapted to submit a query to a mobile device to determine whether to redirect one or more mobile messages destined for the mobile device to the video terminal device, receive from the mobile device an affirmative response to the query, transmit a request to a wireless carrier system to redirect transmission of the one or more mobile messages to the video terminal device, receive from the wireless carrier system the one or more mobile messages while the mobile device remains communicatively coupled to the video terminal device. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120072963 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MESSAGE NOTIFICATION AND ACCESS VIA A VIDEO DISTRIBUTION NETWORK - A method includes receiving, via an internet protocol television network, a broadcast signal comprising video content at a device. The device is associated with a person. The method includes receiving, via the internet protocol television network, a message notification directed to a communication address associated with the person. The message notification includes a visual indication based at least in part on the communication address. The method also includes sending a display signal to a display device. The display signal includes the broadcast signal and the visual indication. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120072962 | Set-Top Box-Based TV Streaming and Redirecting - A method for redirecting video content includes receiving a video signal at the set-top box and decoding the video signal to produce unrendered video data. The unrendered video data is encoded and provided to the remote device via a wide area network. By encoding unrendered, rather than rendered, video data for transmission to the remote device, the need for an encoding device external to the set-top box is obviated. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120072605 | System and Method to Detect and Mitigate Distributed Denial of Service Attacks using Random Internet Protocol Hopping - A method includes sending a first redirect instruction to a first client in response to a first session request received at a service address, and establishing a first session with the first client in response to a second session request received at the first redirect address indicated by the first redirect instruction. Additionally, the method includes determining a first service interval has passed, and sending a second redirect instruction to a second client in response to a third session request received at the service address after the first service interval has passed. The method still further includes establishing a second session with the second client in response to the fourth session request received at the second redirect address indicated by the second redirect instruction after the first service interval has passed, and rejecting the fifth session request received from a third client at the first redirect address after the first service interval has passed. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120072590 | Real-Time Notification of Presence Availability - Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for providing presence status information of a first user to a second user. The system includes a presence server for storing presence status information of the first user. The presence server is configured to detect a change in the presence status of the first user. The presence server also informs a notification server of a change in the presence status of the first user. The notification server sends a notification message to a communication device of the second user. The notification message contains current presence status information of the first user. Other systems and methods are also provided. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120072537 | Methods and Systems for Monitoring Computer Systems Using Wireless Devices - Methods and systems for providing information regarding monitored computer systems to wireless devices are provided. Information may be requested by a wireless device and displayed on the wireless device in a browser. The web server application may detect the wireless device, and may also then specially format the response, including the requested information formatted for optimized delivery and/or display on a wireless device. The web server application may also send a message to a wireless device about events associated with the monitored computer systems. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120072308 | INTERNET BILLING METHOD - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying a consumer account managed by a service provider to which purchases are chargeable, the identification of the account based on transactional information, enabling customer equipment to request a purchase of an electronically-purchasable item of a vendor via network equipment of the service provider, wherein the vendor is a party other than the service provider, charging the consumer account a fee for a purchase initiated by the customer equipment, and remitting a portion of the fee to an account of the vendor. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120072301 | Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Placing Orders - Included are embodiments for customized ordering. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving an indication to send a previously created customized order to a vendor and retrieving at least one component of the customized order according to the indication. Some embodiments include determining the vendor associated with the customized order and sending the at least one component of the customized order to the vendor in a first manner, the vendor being configured to receive the customized order. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120072217 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING PROSODY FOR VOICE-ENABLED SEARCH - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for approximating relevant responses to a user query with voice-enabled search. A system practicing the method receives a word lattice generated by an automatic speech recognizer based on a user speech and a prosodic analysis of the user speech, generates a reweighted word lattice based on the word lattice and the prosodic analysis, approximates based on the reweighted word lattice one or more relevant responses to the query, and presents to a user the responses to the query. The prosodic analysis examines metalinguistic information of the user speech and can identify the most salient subject matter of the speech, assess how confident a speaker is in the content of his or her speech, and identify the attitude, mood, emotion, sentiment, etc. of the speaker. Other information not described in the content of the speech can also be used. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120071158 | Browser on Test Equipment - A portable telecommunication test set with a web browser incorporated therein is provided. A standard Hyper Text Mark-up Language or Wireless Application Protocol browser may be incorporated within the portable test set, allowing a network technician to access the Internet as well as other remotely-located sources of information to retrieve data and other useful technical information while in the field for communication network or telephone line maintenance, troubleshooting or repair. The test set may contain memory to locally store certain technical information that may be retrieved and “read” by the built-in browser module when prompted by the network technician. The web browser may display the content of the requested information on a display provided on the test set. Line-specific (as well as manufacturer-specific) test information need not be in a manufacturer-dictated proprietary format. Testing-related data may thus be supplied by a vendor other than the manufacturer of the test set. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120071128 | MULTIMEDIA EMERGENCY SERVICES - A system and method for remotely controlling one or more monitoring devices in a user's household in the event of emergency so as to more productively monitor the emergency situation on a real-time basis. The monitoring devices may include a number of multimedia instruments such as a telephone with an answering machine, a computer with a built-in digital camera, a video recording device, a cellular phone with an integrated digital camera, etc. An emergency service provider may remotely activate the monitoring devices in the user's vicinity upon receiving an emergency help request from the user, and receive the information sent by the monitoring devices to enable the service personnel to plan appropriate response to the emergency at hand. Such an arrangement allows for better monitoring of the user's vicinity in an emergency situation without the need for prolonged user participation in narrating or describing the emergency situation. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120069976 | Multi-Mode IVR - Included are embodiments of systems and methods for providing information. At least one embodiment of such a method includes facilitating establishment of a communication between a user on a communications device and an interface server, the interface server being configured to provide data related to an information tree to the user, the information tree being configured with a plurality of options. Some embodiments include facilitating navigation of a user through the information tree and receiving a first version of a marker from the user, the marker being configured to mark at least one position in the information tree. Still some embodiments include associating the received first version of the marker with a position in the information tree. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120069972 | SECURITY SYSTEM WITH CALL MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONALITY - A security system with call management functionality includes a security controller having at least one first interface to at least one user identification device and a second interface to a call management controller. The security controller also includes logic to determine a security status of a user based on identification information received from the at least one user identification device and to communicate the security status of the user to the call management controller. The call management controller enables, disables, or modifies a communication service based on the security status of the user. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120068835 | Devices, Systems, and Methods for Tactile Feedback and Input - Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to tactile communication. Devices are included for direct tactile input and having logic for conversion of speech and other forms of audio into vibrotactile sequences. Vibrotactile sequences are transmitted to devices equipped with tactile output, such as vibrators. Voice coil vibrators create sensations of tapping and rubbing in addition to vibration. | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120066745 | Association of Multiple Public User Identifiers to Disparate Applications in an End-User's Device - Devices and methods are disclosed which relate to managing multiple public user identifiers (PUIDs) in a database by setting customizable access rules and requiring authorization from applications for access. These PUIDs can be virtually any electronic identifier such as a telephone number, email address, FACEBOOK name, etc. The PUID database is on the memory of a mobile communication device. Applications on the mobile communication device or on the network request access to the PUID database. Access logic on the mobile communication device checks another database of PUID Access Policies and Preferences (PAPP) for authorization. The PAPP database may allow the application immediate access, deny access, or query the user for allowance. The PUID database and PAPP database are on a server on a network. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066735 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMANCE MONITORING OF NETWORK TERMINAL DEVICES - A method and system for performance monitoring of a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) includes a probe device configured to capture input and output data with respect to a network terminal device at an MCDN client premises. The input data, representing network data sent to the MCDN client for display, may be buffered along with the output data, representing audio and video data generated using the input data. When an anomaly event, such as a display error, occurs, the probe device may record the buffered input and output data, including data acquired prior to the anomaly event. The input and output data may be analyzed to determine a source or origin of the anomaly event. The probe device may also certify that the MCDN and/or the network terminal device was operating normally. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066722 | Enhanced Video Sharing - Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for sharing video between devices during a voice call. A sending party and a receiving party can view a video during the voice call, enabling a live discussion of the video. During a connected voice call between a first mobile device and a second mobile device, the first mobile device signals to an application server the desire to share a video with the second mobile device. The application server determines the settings and preferences of each device as well as a location of the video. The application server appropriately instructs a media server to obtain the video and transcode the video for delivery to the second mobile device, the first mobile device, and/or an external display device. The external display device is a device at the same location as the second mobile device which may receive the video instead of or in addition to the second mobile device. The media server communicates with the first mobile device, the second mobile device, and/or the external display device over a network to obtain and deliver the video. The video may be streamed to the media server from the first mobile device or the media server may otherwise locate the video from within the network. The media server streams the video to the second mobile device, the first mobile device, and/or the external display device. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066597 | Creation of a Reference Point to Mark a Media Presentation - Methods, systems, and products insert markers into recorded media modules. A pair of reference points is received that marks a position and another position in a recorded media module. A copy of the recorded media module is retrieved from memory. Portions of the copy of the recorded media module occurring before the position, and occurring after the another position, are discarded. The copy of the recorded media module occurring between the position and the another position is then presented to a user. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066463 | Managing Presence in Communications Systems - Raw presence data from a plurality of presence data sources is collected and processed into unified presence data. Unified presence data over a period of time before a first time is stored in a historical presence data archive. A probability of a presence variable having a specific value is generated based on unified presence data collected and processed at a second time on or after the first time, the historical presence data archive, and user profile data. Presence information is generated based on the probability and the user profile data. Presence data sources include both Session Initiation Protocol based and non Session Initiation Protocol based presence data sources. In an embodiment, non Session Initiation Protocol based unified presence data is transformed into Session Initiation Protocol based unified presence data. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066392 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE TO A MOBILE DEVICE SERVER - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium operating in a mobile device server having computer instructions to execute a web server application in the mobile device server. The web server application can be operable to detect a resource control manager while roaming in a communication zone of the resource control manager, and to transmit a pairing key to the resource control manager. The web server application can also be operable to receive from the resource control manager authorization to pair with one or more resources selected by the resource control manager according to the pairing key, and to establish communications with the one or more resources selected by the resource control manager. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066383 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING FUNCTIONS OF DISTRIBUTED DATA - A method and system of monitoring computer network activity including determining a first phase frequency estimate, associated with a first frequency vector, determined in response to receiving first bits from a first plurality of remote computer network devices. The first bits received from the first plurality of remote devices in response to satisfying a first activity threshold. Also, determining a second phase frequency estimate associated with a second frequency vector and determined in response to receiving second bits from a second plurality of remote devices. The second bits received from the second plurality of remote devices in response to a second activity threshold being satisfied. The second phase frequency estimate determined in response to the first phase frequency estimate exceeding a global threshold. Further, providing a frequency moment F | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066343 | Parametric Analysis of Media Metadata - A method is disclosed that includes receiving, from a device of a user, a request to transmit a multimedia file. The method also includes automatically generating a generated content descriptor based on an analysis of the multimedia file using at least one analysis parameter. The method includes determining whether the generated content descriptor satisfies filter criteria of a profile associated with the user. The method further includes rejecting the request to transmit the multimedia file when the generated content descriptor does not satisfy the filter criteria of the profile. The method includes transmitting the multimedia file along with the generated content descriptor when the generated content descriptor satisfies the filter criteria of the profile. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066336 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AGGREGATING DISPARATE STORAGE ON CONSUMER ELECTRONICS DEVICES - A method includes determining whether a requesting device includes sufficient available memory to store a media file. The method further includes determining whether a best fit memory block is available in a particular device of a plurality of devices in response to a determination that the requesting device includes insufficient available memory. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066186 | Systems and Methods to Select Media Content - A method includes accessing, at a device, data identifying a plurality of categories of media content. The data includes a first value associated with a first category of the plurality of categories of media content and a second value associated with a second category of the plurality of categories of media content. The method also includes modifying the data to remove the first category in response to determining that the first value does not satisfy a threshold. The method further includes adjusting the second value after modifying the data to remove the first category. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120066139 | Methods, Systems, and Processes for Identifying Affected and Related Individuals During a Crisis - A crisis management system may retrieve and analyze data from the social network system to identify, find, and/or locate individuals affected by a crisis. For example, when a crisis occurs, the crisis management system may retrieve data from a social network system regarding individuals that may be affected by the crisis. Crisis management system may then analyze the retrieved data to determine whether the individuals may have been located within the crisis area. Additionally, crisis management system may analyze the retrieved data to determine related individuals, such as co-workers, friends, family, relatives, or other individuals that may act as emergency contacts for the affected individuals. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120065975 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRONUNCIATION MODELING - Systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for generating a pronunciation model. The method includes identifying a generic model of speech composed of phonemes, identifying a family of interchangeable phonemic alternatives for a phoneme in the generic model of speech, labeling the family of interchangeable phonemic alternatives as referring to the same phoneme, and generating a pronunciation model which substitutes each family for each respective phoneme. In one aspect, the generic model of speech is a vocal tract length normalized acoustic model. Interchangeable phonemic alternatives can represent a same phoneme for different dialectal classes. An interchangeable phonemic alternative can include a string of phonemes. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120065963 | System And Method Of Generating Responses To Text-Based Messages - In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an automated method of and system for generating a response to a text-based natural language message is disclosed. The method includes identifying a first selected input clause in a sentence in the text-based natural language message. Also, assigning a semantic tag to the first selected input clause and matching the semantic tag to a historical input tag. The historical input tag associated with a first previously generated response clause. Further; generating an output response message based on the historical response clause, the output response message derived from the historical input tag and a second previously generated response clause. The system includes means for performing the method steps. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120064860 | Multiple Access Internet Portal Revenue Sharing - Multiple access internet portal billing systems are provided. A representative system, among others, includes a communication facility, a wireless internet server, and a transaction billing system. The communication facility includes a billing platform, and is operable to connect to a plurality of wireless device platforms through a mobile network, and to connect to the wireless internet server. The wireless internet server provides internet access to the wireless devices and communicates at least one billing information record including a usage time to a transaction billing system. The transaction billing system receives the billing information record from the wireless internet server, formats the billing information record, and communicates the formatted record to the communication facility billing platform. Methods and other systems for multiple access internet portals are also provided. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120063769 | Bandwidth Provisioning for an Entangled Photon System - A quantum key distribution system is deployed in an optical fiber network transporting classical data traffic. A source of entangled photon pairs is used to generate quantum keys. Classical data traffic is typically transported over channels in the C-band. If a pair of channels for transport of quantum data is available within the C-band, then the source of entangled photon pairs is tuned to emit in a pair of channels in the C-band. If a pair of channels for transport of quantum data is not available within the C-band, then the source of entangled photon pairs is tuned to emit in a pair of channels in a combined S-band and L-band. When a periodically-poled lithium niobate waveguide pumped with a laser is used for the source of entangled photon pairs, the output spectral properties are tuned by varying the temperature of the waveguide. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120063643 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Gesture-Activation - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed recognizing gestures. A sequence of images is captured by a camera and compared to a stored sequence of images in memory. A gesture is then recognized in the stored sequence of images. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120063596 | Characterization of an Entangled Photon System - A quantum key distribution system comprises a source of entangled photon pairs and two single-photon detectors. The source is coupled to each of the single-photon detectors by optical fiber. Operational systems parameters include the efficiency of the first single-photon detector, the efficiency of the second single-photon detector, and the maximum average number of photon pairs per unit time generated by the source. To characterize the operational systems parameters, the transmittances between the source and each single-photon detector are determined. The dark count probability of the first single-photon detector and the dark count probability of the second single-photon detector are determined. The count probability at the first single-photon detector, the count probability at the second single-photon detector, and the coincidence count probability are determined as a function of the optical power from the source. By fitting the values to a set of relationships, the operational systems parameters are computed. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120063581 | REMOVING SLAMMING PROTECTION TO PERMIT A CHANGE IN SERVICE PROVIDERS - A designated service provider of a customer having slamming protection on their account may not be changed without authorization from the customer to remove the slamming protection. When a customer's telephone company receives a request to change the customer's long distance provider and subsequently determines that the customer has slamming protection on their account, the telephone company notifies the requester that the requested change may not be provisioned due to the slamming protection. The customer's authorization to remove the slamming protection is provided by the requester in the form of an audio file that is reviewed by the telephone company. If the telephone company or an agent of the telephone company listens to the audio file and approves the request, then the customer's slamming protection is removed. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120063579 | Disposable Telephone Numbers - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed that provide disposable numbers for a conference service. A disposable number is assigned to a conference bridge that is only activated for a defined period of time, after which the disposable number is disposed and deactivated. A call is received to the disposable number, and the call is routed to the conference bridge. A database is queried that associates the disposable number to a subscriber's number. Subscriber information is retrieved that describes when a conference bridge subscription is active. If the conference bridge subscription is active, then a caller is connected to the conference bridge. If the conference bridge subscription is inactive, then the caller is prompted to pay for a conference service. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120062796 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REMOTE CONTROL - A method and system for remote control at a client of a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) enables a user to configure a wireless user device as a remote control device (RCD). The RCD may communicate via a wireless network and an MCDN server to execute remote control commands at the MCDN client. The RCD may implement a remote control interface, including control elements configured for touch operation. The control elements may provide specific interactive functionality for channel selection, volume selection, playback of multimedia content, and other remote control features. The RCD may also receive feedback and status information associated with remote control commands. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120061478 | Creation of Customized Transactional Cards - Methods, systems, and products create credit cards, debit cards, and other transactional cards. An image is received and provided on a transactional card. Account information is retrieved and associated with the transactional card. A machine-readable element is also provided on the transactional card and includes the account information. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120060221 | Prioritizing Malicious Website Detection - A computer implemented method includes identifying a universal resource locator and characterizing a traffic pattern associated with the universal resource locator. The traffic pattern can include referrer information, referring information, advertising network relationship information, and any combination thereof. The method can further include classifying the universal resource locator into a risk category based on the traffic pattern. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120060201 | Web based extranet architecture providing applications to non-related subscribers - An extranet includes a network which couples a plurality of non-related participants and a server coupled to the network. The server stores a plurality of applications including workgroup applicants, transaction applications, security applications and transport circuits and equipment. The server is programmed to load particular ones of the plurality of applications onto the network for use by the plurality of participants in response to a request by one of the participants for a particular application. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120059690 | INCENTIVIZING PARTICIPATION IN AN INNOVATION PIPELINE - Detecting and devaluing non-pertinent input in an online social network includes setting triggers for user conduct that includes evaluating a unique content submission submitted to the online social network and detecting, at a tangible host server, when a trigger is activated based on user conduct by a first user. The first user is penalized based on the user conduct. An initial weighting value is assigned to the unique content submission submitted to the online social network based on the first user evaluating the unique content submission. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120056971 | Virtual Presence Via Mobile - Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for connecting a plurality of mobile devices in a videoconference over a cellular network via a videoconferencing server. At least one of the mobile devices includes a camera to capture a video of a participant in the videoconference. The video is transmitted to the videoconferencing server on the cellular network. The videoconferencing server edits the video and sends the edited video to receiving mobile devices in real-time. The receiving mobile devices output the video as a projection by using an internal mobile projector or transmit the video to an external display device. A sending mobile device may also act as a receiving mobile device, such that each of the participants may view video of other participants in his/her own background/environment while communicating with the other participants. In some variations, the videoconferencing server removes the background from the video and may replace the background such that the images of participants are placed in front of a new background or in each other's background. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120047549 | SYSTEM FOR ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATIONS WITH A MOBILE DEVICE SERVER - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium operating in a mobile device server having computer instructions to execute a web server application in the mobile device server. The web server application can be operable to cause a media processor to invoke a software application in the mobile device server. The mobile device server can support voice communications over a cellular communication system. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120047219 | Systems and Methods for Social Media Data Mining - Systems and methods are provided to collect, analyze and report social media aggregated from a plurality of social media websites. Social media is retrieved from social media websites, analyzed for sentiment, and categorized by topic and user demographics. The data is then archived in a data warehouse and various interfaces are provided to query and generate reports on the archived data. In some embodiments, the system further recognizes alert conditions and sends alerts to interested users. In some embodiments, the system further recognizes situations where users can be influenced to view a company or its products in a more favorable light, and automatically posts responsive social media to one or more social media websites. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120044924 | Synchronizing Wireless Local Area Network Access Points - In a wireless local area network, a first and second access point in which the RF coverage areas overlap are synchronized by positioning a monitor station within the overlap area. The monitor station receives beacon frames from both access points and records the arrival times. A manager in communication with both access points and the monitor station calculates a retardation interval and issues a control command to the second access point to retard transmission of its beacon frame. The retardation interval is calculated such that the contention-free period of the second access point does not overlap the contention-free period of the first access point. The manager may also issue control commands to the first and second access points to adjust their contention-free periods. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120044861 | CONTROL DOMAIN CHANGE BASED ON NETWORK REGISTRATION CONDITION - Aspects describe a separate domain selection function that is utilized as the first function in a communication path for a communication that is to be connected to a user device registered in a first network or a second network. If a result of the domain selection function indicates call control should be maintained by first network (e.g., user device is registered with first network or a network with which first network has a control relationship), call control of the communication remains with first network. If the result of the domain selection function indicates the user device is registered with second network, call control is suspended by the first network, which allows the communication to bypass the first network. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120044804 | DYNAMIC REROUTING OF DATA PATHS IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK - A system and methodology that dynamically reroutes active communications sessions between a user equipment (UE) and a wireless network. In particular, the system can determine a current or impending fault condition and reroute a data path for network traffic to another service. Moreover, the system can identify a failed element in a wireless network and deny access and divert traffic until the element is restored. Further, the system can issue an alert to a user interface of the wireless network with information associated with a fault condition, a failed element, or a restored element. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120042350 | Systems and Methods for Processing Media Content Requests - A method for processing media content requests includes receiving, at a multimedia distribution computing device, a request for a media stream to be provided to a media device. The method includes determining, at the multimedia distribution computing device, whether media content of the media stream is for time-shifted viewing. The method includes sending a unicast transmission including at least a portion of the media content to the media device when the media content is not determined to be for time-shifted viewing. The method includes joining the media device to a multicast group associated with the media stream without sending the unicast transmission to the media device when the media content is determined to be for time-shifted viewing. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120041975 | Methods, Systems, and Products for Conducting Electronic Commerce - Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for conducting electronic commerce. Information is received that describes an item sold by a merchant. A database is queried for a category associated with the item sold by the merchant. An inventory database of another merchant is queried for the category, and a description is retrieved of a related item in the same category. A suggestion is then made for the another merchant to promote the related item. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120041964 | System and Method for File Format Management - A method and system for managing access to file system objects enables an application to request access to a file system object via a file system transformer driver, which may extend the capabilities of a file system. The file system transformer driver may be configured to convert a data file format for the file system object to a data format requested by the application. The file system transformer driver may store the file system object in an internal data format using a file system on a storage device. The file system transformer driver may receive requests from applications via an operating system instruction. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120040665 | Controlled Text-Based Communication on Mobile Devices - Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for managing text-based services on mobile devices during the operation of a vehicle. Proactive service-controls use a time of day and location based services to determine that a mobile device is in a moving vehicle. Reactive position-awareness techniques use near-field communication (NFC) to determine that the mobile device is being operated by a user in a driver's seat of the vehicle. Upon satisfying both these determinations, specific text-based services such as messaging, browsing, etc. can be disabled by either the mobile device itself or by a network entity. The present invention can also be extended to managing other mobile device's usages in vehicles, including phone calls, online gaming, etc. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120040662 | REDIRECTING HANDOVERS IN LTE NETWORKS - The disclosed subject matter relates to an architecture that can redirect communications upon detection of a handover failure in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. In particular, the architecture can obtain information indicative of a handover failure that is available in a first portion of the LTE network that has no control over the communication path. Furthermore, the architecture can utilize the information to instruct a second portion of the LTE network, one that can control the communication path but conventionally has no access to the information, to reroute the communication path to avoid unresponsive or failing network entities. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120039525 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING THREE DIMENSIONAL MEDIA CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the exemplary embodiments may include, for example, means for generating a disparity map based on a depth map, means for determining accuracy of pixels in the depth map where the determining means identifies the pixels as either accurate or inaccurate based on a confidence map and the disparity map, and means for providing an adjusted depth map where the providing means adjusts inaccurate pixels of the depth map using a cost function associated with the inaccurate pixels. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120039222 | CHARACTERIZATION OF TEMPORARY IDENTIFIERS IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK - System(s), device(s), and method(s) are provided to characterize a temporary identifier for user equipment (UE) in telecommunication procedure(s) in a wireless communication network. Based on radio technology of at least one serving node that enables at least part of the telecommunication procedure(s), the UE generates a TI and a classifier that discloses the type of the TI. The classifier enables distinguishing a TI value in a first radio technology from a TI value in a second radio technology. In addition the classifier enables a serving node that receives the classifier to identify a logic address of a disparate serving node without restriction in backwards compatibility amongst radio protocols utilized by the wireless communication network. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120039187 | Intelligent Loop Diagnostics for Digital Subscriber Line Services to Support a Service Assurance System - A method of diagnosing a transmission loop in an Internet protocol television (IPTV) network includes configuring the loop as an open loop and performing a single-ended loop test (SELT), configuring the loop as a terminated-loop and performing another SELT, subtracting a trace of the first SELT from a trace of the second SELT, and determining the length of the loop from the result. A service assurance system in an IPTV network includes a test module and a DSLAM coupled to a residential gateway by a transmission loop. The test module operates to determine that a fault condition on the IPTV network is caused by a fault in the loop, direct the DSLAM to perform an open loop SELT and a terminated-loop SELT on the loop, receive the results of the SELTs, and determine a location of a tap on the loop based upon the results. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120036576 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DEFENDING AGAINST INTERNET-BASED ATTACKS - A system for defending against internet-based attacks is disclosed. The system may include an electronic data processor which may be configured to receive information associated with a device when a web request is transmitted by the device to access a web page monitored by the electronic data processor. The processor may also determine whether traffic associated with the web request from the device is suspected of being used for malicious activity and, if not, enable the device to access the web page. If the traffic is suspected of being used for malicious activity, then the processor may transmit a challenge to the device if the traffic is determined to be suspected. Furthermore, the processor may receive information associated with the web request, which may be provided by a uniform resource locator invoked in response to the traffic being determined to be suspected. The processor may also deny the device access to the web page based on a variety of factors. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120036529 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller operable to monitor for emergency messages over a broadcast network and over the Internet, obtain an emergency message based on the monitoring where the emergency message comprises text data, audio data, schedule data and location data and where the text and audio data correspond to a plurality of languages, generate an alert message comprising the schedule data, the location data and at least a portion of the plurality of languages of the text and audio data, and multicast the alert message over an Internet Protocol Television network to a plurality of set top boxes, wherein each of the set top boxes presents a text alert that is synchronized with an audio alert based on the multicast alert message when the location data corresponds with a location of the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120036227 | Reducing DNS Lookups - A method for reducing Domain Name System (DNS) lookup traffic in a computer data network in a system including a router in communication with a client computer includes the steps of receiving a DNS lookup request through a web browser when the user requests to open a particular URL. The router sends the DNS lookup request for a hostname of the web server to a DNS server and receives a corresponding IP address. The router forwards the IP address to the web browser and the web browser sends a network connection request with a file transfer request to the router. The router forwards the request to the web server. The web server responds to the request by sending an HTML document for the web page. Upon receiving the HTML document, the router examines the HTML document for the URLs associated with image elements to be downloaded for display of a web page and sends one DNS lookup request for each of the distinct hostnames, regardless of how many times that distinct hostname appears in the HTML document. The router receives IP addresses, each of which corresponds to one of each of the distinct hostnames and modifies the HTML document by replacing the each of the distinct hostnames, including their recurrences, in the URLs associated with the image elements with their corresponding IP addresses. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120036197 | Messaging Genealogy Interface - A number of related electronic messages can be presented in an organized and intuitive manner by associating each of the messages with a message generation and displaying a set of message nodes, each associated with a particular message, organized by generation. The messages nodes are associated or linked with one another to indicate a portion of the respective message lineage. The messages displayed can be filtered so that the viewer of the interface is only presented with messages to which the viewer is a participant. The interface also displays a list of message thread participants over all related electronic messages or on a generation-by-generation basis. The list of participants can also categorize participants as active or passive. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120036136 | SECURING DATABASE CONTENT - A method for securing content in a database includes identifying a challenge column associated with a database column referenced in an update query. A challenge value for the challenge column may be received and resolved for a match with a corresponding value stored in the challenge column. In case of a match, the update query may be certified for execution on the database, otherwise, the update query may be prevented from executing. Challenge columns may be determined by an analysis of the database on the basis of discriminating power, description complexity, and/or diversity. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035995 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING TARGETED ADVERTISEMENTS FROM SUBSCRIBERS OF DIRECTORY SERVICES - Disclosed are systems, computer-readable medium and a method for delivering advertisements to user devices. The method includes storing first data associated with online and physical activity of plurality of customers, storing second data associated with current status of plurality of advertisers, matching a customer with an advertiser based on analysis of the first data and the second data and delivering an advertisement to a device associated with the matched customers online and physical activity. The on-line and physical activity is captured by a plurality of devices including a mobile device via a plurality of sensors. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035933 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNTHETIC VOICE GENERATION AND MODIFICATION - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for generating a synthetic voice. A system configured to practice the method combines a first database of a first text-to-speech voice and a second database of a second text-to-speech voice to generate a combined database, selects from the combined database, based on a policy, voice units of a phonetic category for the synthetic voice to yield selected voice units, and synthesizes speech based on the selected voice units. The system can synthesize speech without parameterizing the first text-to-speech voice and the second text-to-speech voice. A policy can define, for a particular phonetic category, from which text-to-speech voice to select voice units. The combined database can include multiple text-to-speech voices from different speakers. The combined database can include voices of a single speaker speaking in different styles. The combined database can include voices of different languages. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120035917 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF ABNORMAL STRESS PATTERNS IN UNIT SELECTION SYNTHESIS - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for detecting and correcting abnormal stress patterns in unit-selection speech synthesis. A system practicing the method detects incorrect stress patterns in selected acoustic units representing speech to be synthesized, and corrects the incorrect stress patterns in the selected acoustic units to yield corrected stress patterns. The system can further synthesize speech based on the corrected stress patterns. In one aspect, the system also classifies the incorrect stress patterns using a machine learning algorithm such as a classification and regression tree, adaptive boosting, support vector machine, and maximum entropy. In this way a text-to-speech unit selection speech synthesizer can produce more natural sounding speech with suitable stress patterns regardless of the stress of units in a unit selection database. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120034916 | POLICY ENABLED ROAMING GATEWAY IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK - Systems, methods, and apparatus for centrally managing service related information within a roaming environment are presented herein. A decision component can be configured to decide, based on information associated with a service level agreement, whether to accept, reject, or dynamically negotiate a communication service requested via a mobile device roaming within a visited network. Furthermore, an analysis component can be configured to map one or more parameters related to a quality of the communication service to one or more service policies as a function of the information. Moreover, a distribution component can be configured to distribute the one or more service policies to one or more policy servers of the network; or forward information of the one or more service policies to another network. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120033794 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVE VOICEMAIL TRANSCRIPTION - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for selectively transcribing messages. Five general approaches are disclosed herein. The first approach is directed to checking for a transcription capable client, which transcribes messages when a client device is capable of receiving transcriptions. The second and third approaches are platform-controlled and user-controlled predefined selective transcription. One aspect of this approach is driven by transcription rules. The fourth approach is user-controlled on-demand selective transcription before the message is stored or deposited for transcription. An example of this is a user transferring an incoming caller to voicemail and indicating that the voicemail be transcribed. The fifth approach is user-controlled on-demand selective transcription after the message is stored. In one embodiment of this approach, a user must specifically request that a stored message be transcribed. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120033610 | Network Servers, Systems, and Methods for Multiple Personas on a Mobile Device - Network servers, systems, and methods are disclosed which relate to providing a plurality of user identities or personas on a single mobile device. The mobile device has a unique address to communicate with entities on the network. The mobile device further has a plurality of telephone numbers associated with it. The usage of each telephone number may be billed to a separate account. Each telephone number further has a plurality of personas associated with it. Each persona has its own visual interface on the mobile device and a corresponding set of rules. The relationship between personas and telephone numbers, and associated rules, are stored on an application server on the network. The application server routes incoming connections to a specific persona on the single mobile device based on the plurality of rules. The rules can be edited by a user of the mobile device via an interface or via another device connected to the network. An SIP stack on the mobile device enables seamless communication with an IP Multimedia Subsystem. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120030764 | SYSTEM FOR TRACKING MEDIA CONTENT TRANSACTIONS - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a web server having a controller adapted to manage an archive of media content for a subscriber, and record a transaction description and a corresponding tracking identifier for a transaction that manipulates the archive. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120030734 | FEMTOCELL ACCESS PROVISIONING BASED ON SOCIAL NETWORK, PRESENCE, AND USER PREFERENCES - A system and methodology that facilitates user friendly, automatic and/or dynamic femtocell access provisioning based on social network, presence, and/or user preference information is provided. In particular, the system can includes femto access manager that can identify a list of ‘close friends’, to which the femtocell owner is likely to grant femtocell access, based on an analysis of access data (e.g., data from social networks, communication logs, calendars, address books, websites and/or blogs, transaction related data, and the like). Further, an access priority associated with each of the close friends can be determined based in part on location data, availability data, and/or predefined policies. Furthermore, the femto access control list, within the femto access point (FAP), can be populated, dynamically and/or automatically, with the highest priority friends from the close friends list. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120030727 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MEDIA CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to receive two-dimensional image content comprising a plurality of images, identify an object in a first image of the plurality of images, identify the object in a second image of the plurality of images, determine a perspective angle difference between the first and second images, generate a third image using the first and second images when the perspective angle difference satisfies a three-dimensional angle threshold, generate three-dimensional image content using the first image and the third image, and provide the three-dimensional image content to a display device operably coupled with the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120030712 | NETWORK-INTEGRATED REMOTE CONTROL WITH VOICE ACTIVATION - A method and system for network-integrated remote control includes voice activation of a user interface context on a remote control device. A user may utter a voice command, which the remote control device may use to obtain a user interface context from a network server. The user interface context may be used by the remote control device to display a user interface. The voice command may be associated with desired multimedia content, which may be selectable using control elements in the user interface. The remote control device can then be used to select and control desired multimedia programs. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120030709 | Customized Interface Based on Viewed Programming - In one embodiment, a system generates a customized interface based on displayed programming. The system stores a program that a user displayed through a media device; searches through a network for information related to the displayed program; and extracts data associated with the information related to the displayed program. A custom interface is generated based substantially on the data associated with the information related to the displayed program. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120030293 | EMPLOYING REPORT RATIOS FOR INTELLIGENT MOBILE MESSAGING CLASSIFICATION AND ANTI-SPAM DEFENSE - Systems, methods, and devices that classify mobile messages and associated mobile message senders are presented. A communication network can comprise a message abuse detector component (MADC) that evaluates a mobile message, for example, labeled as abusive in an abuse report. The MADC can evaluate information relating to the abuse report, wherein the evaluations can include an abuse-report-hash-ratio, an abuse-report-sender-ratio, correlation of mobile message content to known spam content or non-spam content, and/or evaluation of reputation of the mobile message sender or abuse report sender, etc. Based at least in part on the evaluation, the MADC can classify mobile message as spam, subscription related, or as another type of mobile message, and can identify, select, and execute (e.g., automatically) a desired abuse management action(s) based at least in part on the evaluation and predefined message abuse criteria. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120030067 | System and Method for Vendor and Customer Management in a Supply Chain - A method of managing a supply chain comprises providing at a customer interface module a plurality of order fulfillment options to a customer, and receiving from the customer a selection of a particular order fulfillment option. The method also includes receiving a first order from the customer, and receiving a first inventory status from a first distribution center. A first distribution center sends a first product to the customer in response to determining that the particular order fulfillment option comprises a fill-partial order fulfillment option, and a duration between the time that the first product is directed to be sent and the time when the first product is actually sent is determined. An alert is generated if the duration is greater than a predetermined duration. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120029984 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PACKAGE CREATION THAT INCLUDES AUDIO CONTENT AND AUDIO ADVERTISING - A particular method includes receiving, via an interactive voice response unit, an audio content item during a first call. An indication of an insertion point at which to insert audio advertising in the audio content item is also received. The method further includes receiving via the interactive voice response unit an audio advertisement during a second call. The audio advertisement is automatically inserted into the audio content item at the insertion point to create a package. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120029917 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MESSAGES IN A SOCIAL NETWORK - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server including a controller to receive audio signals and content identification information from a media processor, generate text representing a voice message based on the audio signals, determine an identity of media content based on the content identification information, generate an enhanced message having text and additional content where the additional content is obtained by the controller based on the identity of the media content, and transmit the enhanced message to the media processor for presentation on the display device, where the enhanced message is accessible by one or more communication devices that are associated with a social network and remote from the media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120028606 | IDENTIFYING ABUSIVE MOBILE MESSAGES AND ASSOCIATED MOBILE MESSAGE SENDERS - Systems, methods, and devices that identify abusive mobile messages and associated abusive mobile communication device users are presented. A core network can comprise a message abuse detector component (MADC) that can selectively or randomly monitor or sample mobile messages communicated in the core network. The MADC can evaluate origination and destination address information and can identify abusive mobile messages and associated abusive mobile message senders based at least in part on the respective address information and predefined message abuse criteria. The MADC also can distinguish between spam mobile messages, subscription mobile messages, harassing mobile messages, and other mobile messages, and can identify and implement a desired response (e.g., automated response) to the abusive mobile message. To facilitate identifying abusive mobile messages, the MADC also can analyze history and reputation associated with the origination address, reputation of the address reporting an abusive message, message content, etc. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120028589 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTERACTIVE HOME MONITORING - A method and system for interactive home monitoring includes detecting a visitor arriving at a premises of a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) client by an intercom unit installed at the premises. The intercom unit may be coupled to the MCDN client, which may be configured to wirelessly communicate with a user of the MCDN client. A captured image of the visitor may be used to determine if an identity of the visitor is known or unknown. Based on the identity, a communication channel between the visitor and the user may be established at the intercom unit. The intercom unit may further be configured to provide further information to the visitor based on the visitor identity. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120027416 | NETWORK INTERFACE DEVICE FOR OPTICAL PREMISES SIGNALS AND NETWORKS - A network interface device (NID) demarcates an access network and a premises network. The NID receives a broadband signal via an access network and transmits optical device signals to pieces of premises equipment. The broadband signal may be a single-mode fiber (SMF) optical signal transmitted over an SMF cable. In these embodiments, the NID may include a transponder including a first stage to convert the SMF signal to an intermediate electrical signal and a second stage to convert the intermediate electrical signal to a premises optical signal. In other embodiments, the broadband signal may be a very high bit rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) or other type of electrical signal and the NID's transponder may convert the VDSL signal to the premises optical signal. The NID may further include a multiplexer to multiplex the premises optical signal into the optical device signals for delivery to premises devices via corresponding premises device ports and plastic optical fiber cables. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120026871 | System and Method of Communicating a Media Stream - A particular method includes measuring port usage data related to each of a plurality of physical ports associated with a link aggregation group. A bandwidth requirement of a requested media stream is estimated and added to a traffic load at each of the plurality of physical ports to produce an estimated total traffic load of each of the plurality of physical ports. When the requested media stream includes non-video data, the requested media stream is sent to a destination device via a physical port that selected in accordance with a static bandwidth allocation. When the requested media stream includes video data, the requested media stream is sent to the destination device via a least loaded physical port that is dynamically identified based on the estimated traffic loads of each of the plurality of physical ports. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120026865 | FEMTOCELL SERVICE THROUGH A SECONDARY CONNECTION - System(s), apparatus(es), and method(s) are provided to for providing femtocell service through a secondary connection to a network gateway node that is part of a service provider network. The secondary connection can be established in response to at least one telecommunication performance condition of a primary connection to the network gateway node; the at least one performance condition includes connectivity state of the primary connection or quality of traffic delivery through the primary connection. The secondary connection can be established, in part, via a home gateway node that is alternative to a home gateway node associated with a femtocell access point (AP) that enables, in part, the femtocell wireless service. The main home gateway node or the femtocell AP can initiate establishment of the secondary connection. Home gateway node(s) or femtocell AP(s) that can provide femtocell service through the secondary connection can manage connectivity with the network gateway node. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120023540 | APPARATUS FOR ADAPTING A PRESENTATION OF MEDIA CONTENT ACCORDING TO A POSITION OF A VIEWING APPARATUS - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to detect a first position of a viewing apparatus, wherein the viewing apparatus enables viewing of media programs, obtain a media program in a first viewing perspective that conforms to the first position, present the media program with the first viewing perspective for viewing by way of the viewing apparatus, and transmit to the viewing apparatus a first audio signal corresponding to the first viewing perspective. The storage medium can also have computer instructions to detect that the viewing apparatus has moved to a second position, obtain the media program in a second viewing perspective according to the second position, and present the media program with the second viewing perspective for viewing by way of the viewing apparatus. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120023531 | APPARATUS FOR ADAPTING A PRESENTATION OF MEDIA CONTENT TO A REQUESTING DEVICE - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media processor having a controller to record stereoscopic media content supplied by a multimedia system, receive from a communication device a request for the recorded stereoscopic media content, determine rendering capabilities of the communication device, generate transcoded content by transcoding the recorded stereoscopic media content according to the rendering capabilities of the communication device, and transmit to the communication device the transcoded content. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120023519 | Services Gateway Video-on-Demand Service - A services gateway includes a processor configured to send a request for a video-on-demand content, receive a first content stream from a video-on-demand content server, and process the first content stream to retrieve the video-on-demand content. The first content stream includes the video-on-demand content and is protected with a first digital rights management scheme. The processor is further configured to encode the video-on-demand content in a second content stream, and provide the second content stream over a local area network to a playback device. The second content stream is protected with a second digital rights management scheme. In an embodiment, the processor can be further configured to store the video-on-demand content in a mass storage. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120023518 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADAPTING A PRESENTATION OF MEDIA CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, identifying a stereoscopic preference from a user profile associated with a user of a viewing apparatus, receiving a stereoscopic media program, generating an adapted media program by adapting one or more presentation aspects of the stereoscopic media program according to the stereoscopic preference, and presenting at a presentation device the adapted media program according to a time-division multiplexing or space-division multiplexing scheme for viewing by way of the viewing apparatus. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120023323 | Instant Messaging Private Tags - Systems for instant messaging private tags preferably comprise a parser for parsing an instant message for sensitive data and an encryption engine for encrypting the sensitive data. A modified uuencoder is also preferably included for converting the encrypted sensitive data into a data stream that complies with an XML format. Other systems and methods are also provided. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120023173 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRIORITIZING MESSAGE TRANSCRIPTIONS - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for managing transcription resources. A system practicing the method retrieves a class of service for a subscriber recipient of a message deposited at a first server for transcription by a second server, determines a probability of near-term access of the message by the subscriber, assigns a weight to the message based on the class of service and the probability of the near-term access, and transcribes, at the second server, the message based on the weight. Classes of service can include a real-time class of service and/or one or more non-real-time class of service. The probability of near-term access can be based on subscriber presence, subscriber receipt of a new message notification, historical statistics of subscriber message access times, message urgency, and other message metadata. A channel manager can manage a finite number of channels between the first and second servers. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120023063 | DOCUMENT TRACKING IN HETEROGENEOUS APPLICATION ENVIRONMENTS - A method of naming documents according to a document naming convention (DNC) includes receiving, from any of a plurality of data processing applications (DPAs) within an enterprise, a request for a document name and generating a document name “infix” portion in compliance with the DNC for inclusion in the document name. The prefix may be descriptive of a characteristic of the document and the suffix may indicate a document type, a document format, or both. The infix may include a fixed portion and a modifiable portion. The fixed portion may include a datestamp and a document unification identifier. The infix may include a variable portion that can be modified by a DPA that creates a new or modified document, but the name of the modified document maintains the fixed portion of the original document. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120023023 | Methods, Systems, And Products For Providing Electronic Media - Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for providing electronic media to a customer. One method prompts a customer to license a right to electronic media. If the customer agrees to license the right, then the license is electronically stored on behalf of the customer. The licensed electronic media is communicated to the customer via a communications network. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120022950 | Systems and Methods for Targeted Advertising in Voicemail to Text Systems - Systems and methods are provided for a voice message to text system supporting targeted advertisements. Voice messages received from users are converted to raw text messages that are normalized to insert proper punctuation and extract entity information. The normalized text and entity information are processed to extract concepts, such as critical phrases, from the normalized text. Extracted concepts are then matched to advertisements on an advertisement database having user selection criteria. Advertisements having selection criteria matching the extracted concepts are transmitted to the users, and the advertisers that placed the advertisements are charged fees for the advertisements. User profile information and user context information can additionally be used to select advertisements for transmission to users. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120021739 | Auto Sensing Home Base Station for Mobile Telephone with Remote Answering Capabilities - The present invention discloses in one embodiment a mobile telephone capable of communicating with a home base station through radio signals. The mobile telephone registers with a home base station before beginning to communicate with the home base station. The home base station is capable of sensing the presence of the mobile telephone in its coverage area and subsequently establishing contact with the mobile telephone, if the mobile telephone is registered with the home base station. The home base station can support a plurality of telephone devices, including corded and cordless telephone devices, and provides call placement and answering services to these telephone devices if there is a registered mobile telephone within its coverage area. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120020577 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENT UNIFIED MESSAGING SYSTEM SUPPORT FOR SPEECH-TO-TEXT SERVICE - Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for communicating information about transcription progress from a unified messaging (UM) server to a UM client. In one embodiment, the transcription progress describes speech to text transcription of speech messages such as voicemail. The UM server authenticates and establishes a session with a UM client, then receives a get message list request from a UM client as of a first time, responds to the get message list request with a view of a state of messages and available transcriptions for transcribable messages in a list of messages associated with the get message list call at the first time, and, at a second time subsequent to the first time, transmits to the UM client a notification that provides an indication of progress for at least one transcription not yet complete in the list of messages. The messages can include video. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20120017255 | System and Method of Managing Video Content Streams - A method includes buffering a plurality of video streams within a buffer of a video server and generating a unicast video output and a multicast video output at the buffer. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120017253 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SERVICES USING A SERVICES GATEWAY - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller operable to provide media content to a gateway for presentation on a plurality of display devices without using a set top box, provide a selection of available services for presentation on the plurality of display devices, receive from the gateway a request for a service chosen from the selection of available services where the service is not a telecommunication service, provide an executable software to the gateway for implementation of the service, and generate a shipping order in response to the request, where the shipping order instructs delivery of equipment associated with the service to a building in which the gateway is located, where the equipment is detected by the gateway when the equipment is connected to a powerline of the building, and where the service is implemented using the gateway. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120016940 | Geographic Based Logical Message Addressing And Delivery - A geographic addressing scheme is used to route a message from a sender to all devices occupying a specified geographic region. Message delivery and addressing are based on logical predicates being satisfied, wherein the logical predicates comprise a geographic region and at least one filter predicate. When a message is received by a device, the logical predicate is evaluated to determine if the requirements of the logical predicate are satisfied. In one configuration, a Boolean value (true or false) if determined. If the Boolean result is true, the message is provided to an appropriate application, or applications, residing on the device. If the Boolean result is false, the message is ignored silently. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120016635 | Characterization of Single-Photon Detectors Using a Continuous Wave Laser Source - Operational parameters of a single-photon detector are determined with a continuous wave laser source. At a fixed trigger, a dark count probability and a series of count probabilities at different optical powers are determined. A particular optical power is selected by using a wide-range variable attenuator to attenuate the optical power of the continuous wave laser. The dark count probability and the count probabilities are determined for different trigger rates. The operational parameters include efficiency, afterpulsing constant, and detrap time. The operational parameters are computed by fitting the computed dark count probabilities and count probabilities to a user-defined relationship. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120016634 | Characterization of Single-Photon Detectors Using a Source of Photon Pairs - Operational parameters of a single-photon detector are determined with a source of photon pairs. At a fixed trigger, a dark count probability and a series of count probabilities at different optical powers are determined. A particular optical power is selected by adjusting the optical power of the source of photon pairs. The dark count probability and the count probabilities are determined for different trigger rates. The operational parameters include efficiency, afterpulsing constant, and detrap time. The operational parameters are computed by fitting the computed dark count probabilities and count probabilities to a user-defined relationship. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120014695 | Digital Light Path Labeling System with Dual Polarization Quaternary Phase-shift Keying Modulation - A method and system for encoding and determining labels in a Dual Polarization (DP) Quaternary Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) signal is provided. A label frame, signature sequence, and data payload are combined using a complementary constant-weight code encoding (CCWC) encoder, the output of which is deinterleaved and differentially precoded to generate a polarized tributary of a DP-QPSK signal. This encoding can be duplicated for a second tributary of the DP-QPSK signal. The label can be determined using one or more polarizers and corresponding low-speed photodetectors, each applied to a copy of the DP-QPSK signal. The strongest output of the photodetectors is then used to determine the label. Alternatively, the DP-QPSK signal can be viewed as having XI, XQ, PH, and PV tributaries. These tributaries can then be translated into XI, XQ, YI, and YQ tributaries are encoded into a standard DP-QPSK signal. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120014317 | Radio Access Network Node With IP Interface - Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed to directly connect a node of a Radio Access Network (RAN) with an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The node is provided with an interface to a broadband local loop network. Access to the local loop network or last mile enables the node to communicate directly with an IP network, including an IP Multimedia System (IMS) core. The node need not access a packet-switched core network via a controller. Embodiments include a Node B with an IP interface in a UMTS system and a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) with an IP interface in a GSM system. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120014316 | Radio Network Controller With IP Mapping Table - Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for seamlessly routing data to mobile devices that undergo handovers from one access point to another. A controller, such as a RNC or BSC, includes logic to map the locations of mobile devices that are connected to various access points on one or more networks. The access points include base stations, Node Bs, wireless LAN, etc., and incorporate or are coupled to network agents. The network agent reports the location of the mobile device to the controller via a plurality of means such as over an IP network, a powerline network, or a satellite network. Using the database, or IP mapping table, having the most current locations of all the mobile devices under its domain or area, the controller can route data packets to the mobile devices using the most effective routing paths. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120011554 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PROVIDING VOICE COMMUNICATION - A method includes receiving, at a device, a request to initiate a call with respect to a contact and a communication device associated with a caller. In a particular embodiment, the method may further include initiating presentation, at a display device, of a selectable call placement indicator to initiate the request. In another particular embodiment, the method may further include sending display data to the display device, where the display data indicates that the call has been placed to the contact. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120011546 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING A PRESENTATION OF MEDIA CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium having computer instructions to present a plurality of unassociated media programs from a single presentation device having overlapping presentation periods, and cause the single presentation device to present a user interface for one of the plurality of unassociated media programs responsive to detecting a request for the user interface. Each of the plurality of unassociated media programs can be viewable only with a viewing apparatus. The viewing apparatus can be configured for viewing one of the unassociated media programs at a time. Other embodiments are disclosed and contemplated. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120011534 | System and Method of Providing Media Content - A method includes receiving, from a set-top box device, data that indicates selected media content from a list of available media content. The method includes locating one or more content sources for the selected media content. The method includes selecting a particular content source from the one or more content sources. The method includes locating an access rules source for the selected media content. The method includes instructing the particular content source to send the selected media content to the set-top box device. The method also includes instructing the access rules source to send an access rule associated with the selected media content to the set-top box device. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120011529 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETERMINE VIEWERSHIP - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, network device having a controller programmed to track a number of times that a particular service channel is distributed to a subscriber device from at least a network device selected from the group of a unicast stream server, a multicast stream router, or a digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM) which is used in an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network when the subscriber device is initially tuned to the particular service channel and to obtain real time viewership information by polling the network device in the IPTV network to determine how many subscriber devices are tuned to each service channel in the IPTV network. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120011527 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MEASUREMENT DATA AND BACK-UP CHANNEL SERVICES - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box (STB) comprising a controller programmed to receive measurement data stored in a first wireless device serving as a portable monitoring gateway that collects subscriber collected data and store and analyze the measurement data at the STB using the received measurement data received from the first wireless device and optionally from a remote server or a local storage space having stored measurement data to provide analyzed results. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120011007 | Mobile Payment Using DTMF Signaling - Systems and methods are disclosed for mobile payment using dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signals. A mobile device equipped with at least a speaker and an input is used to connect to a server on the mobile network. Upon authentication of a user of the mobile device, the server generates the payment key, translates the key to DTMF signals, and plays the DTMF signals over the speaker of the mobile device. The user holds the mobile device speaker close to a microphone of a DTMF scanner at a POS terminal. The DTMF scanner includes logic that extracts the payment key from the DTMF signals, and the POS terminal uses the payment key to bill the user. The POS terminal transmits the bill with the payment key to the server on the network. The server ensures that the key is active, and debits an account for the user based on the amount presented in the bill. The key is de-activated after a specified time period or one use, whichever occurs first. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120008752 | MULTI-PASS ECHO RESIDUE DETECTION WITH SPEECH APPLICATION INTELLIGENCE - A method is provided for multi-pass echo residue detection. The method includes detecting audio data, and determining whether the audio data is recognized as speech. Additionally, the method categorizes the audio data recognized as speech as including an acceptable level of residual echo, and categorizes categorizing unrecognizable audio data as including an unacceptable level of residual echo. Furthermore, the method determines whether the unrecognizable audio data contains a user input, and also determines whether a duration of the user input is at least a predetermined duration, and when the user input is at least the predetermined duration, the method extracts the predetermined duration of the user input from a total duration of the user input. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120007947 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING THREE DIMENSIONAL MEDIA CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to receive 3D image content with a plurality of left eye frames and a plurality of right eye frames, remove a portion of pixels from each left eye frame and from the corresponding right eye frame, combine remaining pixels from each left eye frame of the plurality of left eye frames with remaining pixels from the corresponding right eye frame of the plurality of right eye frames to form a plurality of transport frames where the combined remaining pixels form an alternating pattern of pixels based on either alternating rows of pixels or alternating columns of pixels from each left eye frame and the corresponding right eye frame, and encode the plurality of transport frames for delivery to a media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120005717 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANAGING THE PRESENTATION OF MEDIA CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to receive a single video stream comprising two-dimensional image content and a depth map of the two-dimensional image content, generate three-dimensional image content in real-time from the two-dimensional image content and the depth map where the three-dimensional image content is generated when a display device operably coupled with the set top box is determined to be capable of presenting the three-dimensional image content, and provide either the two-dimensional image content or the three-dimensional image content to the display device. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120005709 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDES - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to provide a media processor with a description of available channels, receive from the media processor a request for EPG data and a selection of channels from the available channels where the selection of channels is based on a user's input at the media processor in response to a presentation of the description of the available channels at a display device operably connected to the media processor, and provide to the media processor the requested EPG data representing programming for the selection of channels without programming for remaining channels from the available channels that were not selected, where the media processor presents an EPG based on the provided EPG data, and where a portion of the EPG data is obtained by the controller from a first service provider network that is different from a second service provider network in which the server operates. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120005704 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SELECTIVE CHANNEL OR ADVERTISING DELIVERY - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network device having a controller programmed to store a subscriber selectable preference for advertisements and for video channel distribution to send to a set top box (STB) and receive a signal from a broadcast stream indicating the location for insertion of an advertisement based on the subscriber selectable preference. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120005605 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING MEDIA CONTENT - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a device having a controller to create metadata corresponding to an identity of an entity, incorporate in a media file the metadata that identifies the entity with metadata that describes media content in the media file, and present a graphical user interface depicting a media file directory structure generated according to the metadata that identifies the entity and the metadata that describes media content in the media file. Other embodiments are disclosed. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120005536 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO PREVENT CHRONIC NETWORK IMPAIRMENTS - A method and system for managing performance over a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), such as a digital subscriber line network, involves accessing a record of historical values of a network service parameter for a plurality of MCDN clients. The historical values may be analyzed to detect network impairment associated with an MCDN node. Network diagnostics may be initiated for MCDN clients associated with the MCDN node. The result of the network diagnostics may result in localizing a source of the network impairment. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120005333 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO DETECT A PREDICTIVE NETWORK SIGNATURE - A method and system for monitoring a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN) includes receiving an indication that a network impairment has been detected at an MCDN node. MCDN clients associated with the MCDN node may be analyzed to detect an impairment signature, representing correlated impairments among the MCDN clients. Subsequent incoming service requests for the MCDN node may be bundled into a master service ticket. Users of the MCDN clients may be notified of the detected network impairment and of a status of ongoing remediation efforts. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120005332 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY DEGRADED NETWORK PERFORMANCE - A method and system for managing performance of a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), such as a digital subscriber line network, involves monitoring maximum data transfer rates and current data transfer rates for one or more MCDN clients. A ratio of the current data transfer rate to the maximum data transfer rate may be evaluated with respect to a threshold. When the ratio is less than the threshold, an associated MCDN node may be designated as a degraded node and subject to enhanced surveillance by an MCDN operator. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120005331 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY A SOURCE OF SIGNAL IMPAIRMENT - A method and system for managing performance of over a multimedia content distribution network (MCDN), such as a digital subscriber line network, involves receiving an indication of an impairment in network performance from an MCDN client. The MCDN node associated with the client may be identified and a community of MCDN clients coupled to the MCDN node may be further identified. Impairment information, representative of MCDN equipment, may be collected for each of the MCDN clients. Detailed network diagnostics and field service may be performed for MCDN clients based on a characterization of the impairment parameters. After remediation of the MCDN node, collection of the impairment information may be terminated. | 01-05-2012 |
