Skype Limited Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130170401 | Communication System and Method - A method of placing an outgoing communication event to a destination phone number is disclosed. Accordingly, upon receiving a notification of the outgoing communication event, a determination is made if the destination phone number is associated with a user of a first network. The first network is a packet based communication network. A user identification of the user of the first network corresponding to the destination phone number is then retrieved. A presence information of a communication node in the first network associated with the user is also retrieved. The presence information is an indication of the user's availability. The communication node is configured to receive voice communication events. The outgoing communication event to the communication node associated with the user in the first network is placed based on the retrieved presence information. | 07-04-2013 |
20130125224 | DEVICE ASSOCIATION VIA VIDEO HANDSHAKE - A method of pairing a first device with a second device is disclosed. Accordingly, an image that include encoded data is generated by the first device. The encoded data includes a unique identifier for identifying the first device and an arbitrary security code. The first device displays the image on a display. The second device captures the image using an image sensing device. The encoded data is decoded to generate a decoded data. The second device sends the decoded data to a server that is communicatively connected to the first device and the second device. Upon receiving the decoded data and using the unique identifier, the server communicates with the first device to verify the arbitrary security code. | 05-16-2013 |
20130122810 | Device Association - A method of associating a first device with a second device is disclosed. The first device through its speaker broadcasts a request for association using an audio signal. The broadcasted audio signal is received by the second device through its microphone. The first and second devices then cooperatively verifies a security code and upon a successful verification of the security code, the first and the second devices are enabled to communicate with each other. | 05-16-2013 |
20130074080 | Timed Iterator - A computer implemented method for processing tasks is disclosed. The method includes invoking a timed iterator, during an event loop pass, without spawning a new thread, wherein the invoking includes passing a task list and a timeout constraint to the timed iterator. The method further includes executing one or more tasks in the task list for a period of time as specified in the timeout constraint, and relinquishing program control to a caller after the period of time. | 03-21-2013 |
20130073395 | ADVERTISEMENT FUNDED TELEPHONE CALLS - A method for rendering a document is disclosed. The method includes identifying a phone number in the document. The sponsorship configuration of the phone number is then determined. A caller account configuration is also determined. The caller account configuration is associated with a user of a device and the device is configured to display the document. The document is amended to format the phone number according to the sponsorship configuration and the caller account configuration. | 03-21-2013 |
20130013303 | Processing Audio Signals - A method of processing audio signals during a communication session between a user device and a remote node, includes receiving a plurality of audio signals at audio input means at the user device including at least one primary audio signal and unwanted signals and receiving direction of arrival information of the audio signals at a noise suppression means. Known direction of arrival information representative of at least some of said unwanted signals is provided to the noise suppression means and the audio signals are processed at the noise suppression means to treat as noise, portions of the signal identified as unwanted dependent on a comparison between the direction of arrival information of the audio signals and the known direction of arrival information. | 01-10-2013 |
20120303363 | Processing Audio Signals - A method, user device and computer program product for processing audio signals during a communication session between a user device and a remote node. The method comprising: receiving a plurality of audio signals at audio input means at the user device including at least one primary audio signal and unwanted signals; receiving direction of arrival information of the audio signals at a gain control means; providing to the gain control means known direction of arrival information representative of at least some of said unwanted signals; processing the audio signals at the gain control means by applying a level of gain to generate a gain controlled signal for transmission to the remote node, wherein the level of gain applied is dependent on a comparison between the direction of arrival information of the audio signals and the known direction of arrival information. | 11-29-2012 |
20120295562 | Processing Audio Signals - A method of processing an audio signal transmitted from a remote transmitter and received at a local receiver of an acoustic system, includes at the receiver receiving with the audio signal an indication of remote transmitter gain, determining an overall system gain of the acoustic system from the remote transmitter gain and a local receiver gain and selectively applying a system gain reduction step to the audio signal if it is determined that the overall system gain exceeds a threshold. | 11-22-2012 |
20120266217 | Permitting Access To A Network - Method and communication system for permitting access to a network by sharing access credentials over the communication system between first and second communication clients executed at respective first and second user terminals of respective first and second users of the communication system. The access credentials are for accessing the network. The method comprises the first communication client causing the access credentials to be stored in a first store of the first user terminal or of the communication system, and the first user authorising the second user to access the access credentials stored in the first store. The second communication client accesses the first store and retrieves the access credentials on the basis of the second user's authorisation to access the access credentials stored in the first store. The second communication client stores the retrieved access credentials in a second store at the second user terminal, and the second communication client uses the access credentials stored in the second store to access the network, without conveying the retrieved access credentials to the second user in a form which is comprehensible to the second user. | 10-18-2012 |
20120163612 | Communication System - An echo component of a first signal received at an audio input device is removed. A second signal is output from an audio output device. The echo component in the first signal is the result of the second signal traversing an echo path. The characteristics of the first and second signals are compared, and if the first signal only comprises the echo, an estimate of the echo path is determined by comparing the first and second signals. The echo path estimate is applied to the first signal to determine an equalised first signal, which is is compared with the second signal to determine an estimate of the echo component. The echo component from the first signal is removed in dependence on the estimate of the echo component. | 06-28-2012 |
20120158163 | Method For Generating Concealment Frames In Communication System - A method for generating a sequence of concealment samples in connection with transmission of a digitized audio signal, wherein the method comprises generating the sequence of concealment samples from buffered samples of the digitized representation of audio signal in sample time order, wherein at least two consecutive subsequences of samples in the sequence of concealment samples are based on subsequences of buffered samples, wherein said subsequences of buffered samples are consecutive in reordered time. | 06-21-2012 |
20120136656 | Communication System - A method for reducing ringing in a signal output from a filter comprising inputting a signal into a filter; filtering a first portion of the input signal to generate a filtered portion of the output signal; analyzing the filtered portion of the output signal; detecting if ringing is present in the filtered portion of the output signal based on said analysis; and adjusting the filter characteristics to reduce ringing in a subsequent filtered portion of the output signal if it is determined that ringing is present. | 05-31-2012 |
20120129518 | Dual-Mode Device For Voice Communication - A terminal for use in a voice communications system includes a base station and at least one handset arranged to communicate wirelessly with the base station. The base station includes a first interface to a packet data network and a second interface to a public switched telephone network, the base station being arranged to selectively establish a packet data call from the first interface and a public switched telephone call from the second interface. | 05-24-2012 |
20120059874 | Help Channel - A method of providing selectable media content from a server to a user at a user terminal, the method comprising: storing variables relating to the user's familiarity with a communication client application executable at the user terminal; executing program code to read said variables to determine the media content to be provided to the user based on said variables; retrieving said determined media content from the server; and providing said media content to the user at the user terminal. | 03-08-2012 |
20120057683 | Call Re-Establishment - Method and user terminal for handling a call over a communications network between a first user terminal, usable by a first user, and at least one other user terminal, usable by a respective at least one other user, wherein a client is executed at the first user terminal for participation in the call. The client determines a condition of a respective at least one network connection used in the call between the first user terminal and the at least one other user terminal over the communications network. The client also determines that the call has been dropped, and responsive to the determination that the call has been dropped, the client automatically attempts to re-establish the call in dependence upon the determined condition of the at least one network connection. | 03-08-2012 |
20120056972 | PREMIUM COMMUNICATION SESSIONS - Communication systems and methods for providing premium multiparty communication sessions between a plurality of callers. The plurality of callers may comprise an initiating caller who initiates the premium multiparty communication session but who does not have a status in the communication system which is recognized by an operator of the communication system for allowing the premium multiparty communication session to proceed; and a premium multiparty caller who has a status in the communication system which is recognized by the operator of the communication system such that the operator allows the premium multiparty communication session to proceed, wherein the premium multiparty caller is a different caller to the initiating caller. The premium multiparty caller funding the premium multiparty communication session may be transferred and assigned during communication sessions. | 03-08-2012 |
20120044990 | Data Compression For Video - The present invention provides a technique for performing one or more aspects of video coding such as quantization, intra prediction coding or inter prediction coding in dependence on a perceptual model taking into account human sensitivity to data in the video signal. The perceptual model may relate to spatial frequency, temporal frequency, contrast sensitivity, colour sensitivity, a structural metric, and/or one or more parameters affecting perception such as motion in the video, the distance of a recipient user from the screen, and the size, aspect ratio or resolution of the screen of the recipient terminal. | 02-23-2012 |
20120033797 | Communication System - A method of transmitting a communication event from a calling entity to a called entity located in a communication system comprising a first network and a second network, said method comprising determining a first identity associated with the calling entity and a first and second identity associated with the called entity, wherein the first identities are recognizable in the first network and the second identity is recognizable in the second network; associating at a first node located in the second network the first identities with the second identity; establishing a connection between the calling entity and a second node; wherein the connection with second node is established using the first identity associated with the called entity; querying the first node with the first identity associated with the called entity and the first identity associated with the calling entity to determine the second identity associated with the called entity; and transmitting the communication event to the called entity using the second identity associated with the called entity. | 02-09-2012 |
20120011210 | Instant Messaging Communication System and Method - A method of providing instant messaging communication between a first user and at least one other user via a communication network. The method comprises: executing an instant messaging client at a user terminal of the first user, the instant messaging client having a user interface comprising a message composition region; the instant messaging client receiving a selection of media for insertion into the instant messaging communication from the first user; the instant messaging client generating a link comprising the address of the selected media at a network element and creating a selectable control with the link embedded therein; inserting the selectable control in the message composition region of the instant messaging client; the instant messaging client receiving user-viewable text entered by the first user into the message composition region in addition to the selectable control; and the instant messaging client transmitting the contents of the message composition region of the instant messaging client to the at least one other user over the communication network responsive to a command from the first user. | 01-12-2012 |
20120005301 | Sharing an image - Method, server, network and computer program product for sharing an image between a first terminal and a second terminal. An original version of the image is received at the server from the first terminal. Tiles are then received at the server from the first terminal, each tile representing at least a section of the image and including a change made to the image at the first terminal. An image state is maintained at the server identifying which tiles are required for forming a latest version of the image. On determining that the latest version of the image is to be formed at the second terminal, tiles based on the image state for forming the latest version of the image are transmitted from the server to the second terminal. | 01-05-2012 |
20120001832 | Updating an image - Method, terminal, network and computer program product for processing updates of an image for transmission from a first terminal to a second terminal for use in screen sharing between the first terminal and the second terminal wherein updates to the image displayed on a first display at the first terminal are also displayed on a second display at the second terminal. The image is divided into an array of contiguous sub-tiles, each sub-tile comprising more than one picture element of the image. It is determined that a plurality of sub-tiles of the image have changed at the first terminal and at least one of said changed sub-tiles and at least one contiguous sub-tile are selected to form a tile. The tile is encoded for transmission to the second terminal, said encoding determining sub-tile data identifying which sub-tiles are included in the tile such that the image can be updated at the second terminal in accordance with the changes to said changed sub-tiles, wherein the configuration of the tile is flexible such that the number of contiguous sub-tiles encoded in the tile can be varied. | 01-05-2012 |
20110312283 | Controlling data transmission over a network - Method, device and computer program product for controlling data transmission over a network wherein a plurality of applications are capable of execution at a device of the network to thereby access the network, and wherein control means of the device are configured to set respective bandwidth limitations and to limit the bandwidth of the network access of the applications in accordance with their respective bandwidth limitations, the plurality of applications comprising at least one real-time application. The method comprises the control means determining a current transmission condition, the current transmission condition being one of a current network condition and a current bandwidth requirement of one of the at least one real-time application. The control means dynamically adapts the respective bandwidth limitations for the applications in dependence upon the determined current transmission condition. The control means controls network access of the applications to thereby limit the bandwidth of the network access of the applications in accordance with their respective adapted bandwidth limitations. | 12-22-2011 |
20110255532 | Packet-Switched Telephony Call Server - A system and method for providing packet-switched telephony service. The system provides call control, signaling, and/or delivery of voice, video, and other media in substantially real time. One embodiment of the system includes a call client application on a user device, and a call server located at a packet-switched telephony service provider. The call server is preferably operable to communicate with the call client in a non-native protocol and with the gateway in a native protocol. | 10-20-2011 |
20110244955 | Media Appliance - A media appliance comprising: video apparatus for outputting signals to a screen; a control device allowing a user to control the output of signals from the video apparatus to the screen, thereby selecting a viewing activity; a network interface for accessing a packet-based network; a memory storing a communication client application; and processing apparatus, coupled to the memory, network interface and video apparatus, and arranged to execute the communication client application; wherein the client application is configured so as when executed to allow the user to conduct bidirectional communications with other users via the packet-based network, and output notifications to the user of incoming communication events received from other users over the packet-based network; and wherein the client application is further configured to defer one or more of said notifications of incoming communication events received during said viewing activity, determine a delineation in the viewing activity, and automatically output the one or more notifications to the user following said delineation. | 10-06-2011 |
20110243141 | System of User Devices - A system comprising: a first user device and at least a second user device for a same user, at least one of the first and second user devices being a household media appliance, and each being installed with a respective instance of a communication client application for conducting voice or video calls over a packet-based network. Each instance is associated with a same user identifier identifying said same user, a first of said instances is associated with a first sub-identifier, and a second of said instances is associated with a second sub-identifier. The instances are configured so as, during an ongoing call conducted over a first network connection established based on said user identifier and the first sub-identifier, after the call has been answered, to establish a second network connection based on said user identifier and the second sub-identifier and to switch the call to the second network connection. | 10-06-2011 |
20110243125 | COMMUNICATION USING A USER TERMINAL - Provided is a method of communicating using a user terminal that comprises: a first interface for exchanging call data with a first interface of a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a second interface for interfacing with a node of a mobile telecommunications network, and wherein the first interface of the mobile communication device is unsuitable for interfacing with a node of a mobile telecommunications network; a second interface for exchanging call data with a second user terminal over a packet-based communication network; and a processor for executing a communications client, which processor is coupled to the first interface of the user terminal and to the second interface of the user terminal and is configured to participate in a call with the second user terminal via the second interface of the user terminal and the packet-based communication network; wherein the method comprises: sending call data via one of the first interface of the user terminal and the second interface of the user terminal during the call, on the basis of call data received via the other of the first interface of the user terminal and the second interface of the user terminal. | 10-06-2011 |
20110205889 | Controlling packet transmission - Disclosed is a method of controlling transmission of data transmitted in packets from a transmitter to a receiver via a channel. The method comprises transmitting packets from the transmitter to the receiver; determining if the transmission delay and/or loss of subsequent packets transmitted to the receiver may be reduced beyond a threshold amount; controlling the transmission rate to be dependent on a first target delay if it is determined that the transmission delay and/or loss of subsequent packets transmitted to the receiver may not be reduced beyond a threshold amount; and controlling the transmission rate to be dependent on a second target delay if it is determined that the transmission delay and/or loss of subsequent packets transmitted to the receiver may be reduced beyond a threshold amount, wherein the second target delay is lower relative to the first target delay. | 08-25-2011 |
20110191695 | Screen sharing - A method of transferring image data from a first terminal to a second terminal connected via a communication network, the method comprising: displaying on a screen of the first terminal a screen image generated by a processor executed application; a processor executing a communication client to: establish a communication event between the first and second terminals and display at the first terminal an interactive selection component; a user at the first terminal actuating the selection component to select at least one object displayed on the screen to be shared with the second terminal, wherein the communication client accesses data defining displayed object dimensions and adjusts the selection component based on those dimensions to cause the at least one object selected by the window selection component to be displayed on a screen of the second terminal by transferring image data over the communication network in the established communication event. | 08-04-2011 |
20110158175 | Wireless Device For Voice Communication - A wireless handset for use in a peer-to-peer voice communications system comprising: a display; a keyboard comprising multifunctional keys capable of entering numeric or alphabetic characters depending on a number of key presses, said keyboard being arranged to enter contact information into a user interface displayed on said display, select contacts on the user interface, and initiate a packet data voice call with a contact; a microprocessor arranged to execute embedded client software, wherein the client software is arranged to establish a packet data voice call over the network and encode speech information as individually addressed packets; and a radio communication device arranged to transmit said individually addressed packets as radio signals from said wireless handset to a network. | 06-30-2011 |
20110137660 | Encoding and decoding speech signals - A method and apparatus for transmitting an audio signal over a communication channel comprising encoding the audio signal with an encoder | 06-09-2011 |
20110137644 | Decoding speech signals - A method, terminal and program for processing a speech signal, in which the speech signal is received over a network from a transmitting device, wherein the frequency components in the received speech signal are limited to a predetermined frequency range and the received speech signal has been filtered using a transmitter frequency response over the predetermined frequency range. The received speech signal is decoded. The decoded speech signal is filtered using a receiver frequency response which is complementary to the transmitter frequency response over the predetermined frequency range to thereby reduce distortion in the speech signal introduced over the predetermined frequency range by using said transmitter frequency response. | 06-09-2011 |
20110134911 | Selective filtering for digital transmission when analogue speech has to be recreated - A method, terminal and program for making a call in a packet switched network between a calling device and a called device. The method comprises receiving at a processor of the calling device samples of a speech signal and an identity of the called device, executing code on the processor to perform the steps of: determining based on the identity of the called device whether a filter should be applied to the samples, when it is determined that a filter should be applied, filtering the samples, and encoding the filtered samples for transmission on the packet switched network. | 06-09-2011 |
20110128868 | Data Rate Control Mechanism - A method and product for controlling a rate of transmission from a first, transmitting node to a second, recipient node. The method comprises: transmitting a stream from the first node to the second node over a first network route; transmitting further data from the first node to a third node over a second network route substantially overlapping with the first network route; receiving feedback at the first node from the third node regarding transmission of the further data to the third node over the second network route; and based on the feedback from the third node, controlling a rate of transmission of the stream to the second node over the first network route. The third node may not be a recipient of said stream. The rate of transmission may be controlled without feedback from the second node. The further data may be formed of dummy data. | 06-02-2011 |
20110122869 | Method of Transmitting Data in a Communication System - A method of transmitting a first signal from a first terminal to a second terminal via a communication network including: receiving at the first terminal a second signal from the second terminal; outputting the second signal from an output device associated with the first terminal and determining information relating to a characteristic of the second signal. A processing resource of the second terminal used to transmit the second signal is estimated, wherein the estimation is based on the information relating to the characteristic of the second signal. A characteristic of the first signal is adjusted in dependence on the estimated processing resource of the second terminal used to transmit the second signal and the first signal is transmitted to the second terminal. | 05-26-2011 |
20110119490 | Controlling Communications - A gateway, program and method for use in a packet-based communication system. The gateway comprises: a connection to a public packet-based network comprising a public-network server and a plurality of public-network user terminals; a connection to a private packet-based network comprising a private-network server and a plurality of private-network user terminals each installed with a public-network communication client; a processing device arranged to receive a login request from a public-network client of a private-network user terminal, and in response to initiate both a private-network authentication procedure involving the private-network server and a public-network authentication procedure involving the public-network server, so as subject to both authentication procedures to enable establishment of a communication channel between one of the public-network user terminals and the public-network client of the private-network user terminal; wherein the processing device is further configured to apply a control policy to communications occurring over said channel. | 05-19-2011 |
20110112831 | Noise suppression - A method and computing system for suppressing noise in an audio signal, comprising: receiving the audio signal at signal processing means; determining that another signal is input to the signal processing means, the input signal resulting from an activity which generates noise in the audio signal; and selectively suppressing noise in the audio signal in dependence on the determination that the input signal is input to the signal processing means to thereby suppress the generated noise in the audio signal. | 05-12-2011 |
20110112668 | Gain control for an audio signal - A method and system for modifying an audio signal, the method comprising: receiving the audio signal at signal processing means; analysing the received audio signal to identify characteristic signal components in the audio signal; | 05-12-2011 |
20110110504 | Controlling Communications - A first network comprising: one or more first end-user computer terminals; a gateway to a second, packet-based network comprising one or more second end-user computer terminals installed with a communication client of the second network; one or more telephone units for performing calls with one of the second end-user computer terminals over the second network; wherein each of the one or more first end-user terminals is installed with a communication client for performing calls with the second end-user computer terminals over the second network; and wherein the gateway comprises switching apparatus configured to detect a user selection between a first state in which one of said calls is to be performed using one of said first end-user computer terminals and a second state in which the call is to be performed using one of said telephone units; and on condition of detecting the first state, to route both call set-up signalling and call media to the first end-user computer terminal; and on condition of detecting the second state, to route call set-up signalling to the first end-user terminal but route the call media to the telephone unit. | 05-12-2011 |
20110064028 | Dual-Mode Device for Voice Communication - A terminal for use in a voice communications system includes a base station and at least one handset arranged to communicate wirelessly with the base station. The base station includes a first interface to a packet data network and a second interface to a public switched telephone network, the base station being arranged to selectively establish a packet data call from the first interface and a public switched telephone call from the second interface. | 03-17-2011 |
20110058607 | Video coding - A method of transmitting video, a method of receiving and decoding video, and a corresponding transmitter, receiver and computer program products. The method of transmitting video to one or more recipient terminals comprises: transmitting a stream of inter frame encoded video data to a recipient terminal; during ongoing transmission of the stream to the recipient terminal, receiving a request signal from that recipient terminal; and in response to the request signal, transmitting alternatively encoded video data to the recipient terminal in association with the inter frame encoded video data. | 03-10-2011 |
20100290337 | Network access nodes - A communication system, method and program, the system comprising: one or more wireless access nodes of a first communication service provider and at least one server associated with a second communication service provider, interconnected via a packet-based network; and a wireless user terminal operable to establish a session with one of the wireless access nodes of the first communication service provider, the wireless user terminal is installed with an application of the second communication service provider. The application is configured so as to: in event of failure to establish a session via one of the wireless access nodes of the first communication service provider, store information regarding the failed session at the wireless user terminal; and in event of subsequent access to the packet-based network, transmit the information regarding the failed session to the server associated with the second communication service provider over the packet-based network. | 11-18-2010 |
20100287301 | Communication system and method - A method, system and program for use in a communication system. The method comprises: interacting with a document-browser application executed on a first user terminal, the document-browser being configured to retrieve an electronic document from a first storage unit and display it on a screen, wherein the interaction comprises identifying a sequence of numeric or alphanumeric characters in the displayed document as being for use in initiating communication with a second user terminal over the communication system. The method further comprises: querying a second storage unit; and based on that query, selecting a display configuration for the identified sequence of characters from a plurality of available display configurations. The interaction further comprises modifying the display of a portion of the document so as to display the identified sequence of characters or information associated therewith in dependence on the determined display configuration. | 11-11-2010 |
20100275007 | Secure Transmission System and Method - A method is provided for transmitting information from a user to a first network entity over a communications network. The user enters information into a browser executed at a user terminal. The browser generates a first message comprising the information using a first communication protocol for despatch over the network via a network port, the first message including an identifier of the first network entity. A client executed at the user terminal receives the first message before the first message reaches the network port. The first message is wrapped in a second message of a second communication protocol used for transmitting messages between the client and a second network entity. The second message is transmitted to the second network entity over the communications network. The first message is unwrapped from the second message at the second network entity, the identifier of the first network entity translated to a network address of the first network entity and the first message is transmitted to the first network entity over the communications network. | 10-28-2010 |
20100262714 | Transmitting and receiving data - The present invention provides a method of transmitting data in a network of interconnectable end-user nodes comprising a source node, a recipient node and a plurality of further nodes, wherein each of the end-user nodes is executing an instance of a communication client application. The invention also provides corresponding method of receiving data, and corresponding computer programs and user terminals. The method of transmitting data comprises: comprising: the communication client of the source node receiving a command to transmit the data to the recipient node; the source node selecting from the plurality of further nodes at least one storage node to store the data from the source node before being retrieved by the recipient node; transmitting the data from the source node to the at least one storage node; and the source node providing a network identity for each of the at least one storage nodes to the recipient node. | 10-14-2010 |
20100262709 | Optimising communications - A method, system and program for transmitting different quality versions of a stream to end-user nodes of a network. The method comprises: for each of a plurality of possible combinations of versions of the stream to different consuming end-user nodes, evaluating a utility function for each of those consuming end-user nodes, the utility function being dependent on the version and defining a quantitative measure of end-user benefit that would be experienced at the respective end-user node by consumption of the respective version; for each of said plurality of possible combinations of versions of the stream over said routes, determining an overall utility value based on the respective evaluation of the utility functions of each of said plurality of consuming end-user nodes; and selecting a preferred combination of versions of the stream over said routes based on the overall utility values of the different possible combinations. | 10-14-2010 |
20100260192 | Optimising communications - A method, system and program for routing a data stream amongst a plurality of network nodes including at least a plurality of end-user nodes. The method comprises: establishing a plurality of routes for the stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, including at least one route via one or more relaying nodes; at each of a plurality of optimising nodes, executing an optimisation algorithm to determine a respective routing modification by evaluating a routing criterion with respect to a collection of end-user nodes which share information with the respective optimising node and determining a change in the routing criterion that would result from one or more potential routing modifications. The different optimising nodes' collections of end-user nodes are at least partially coincident such that each optimising node can determine a different routing modification with respect to at least some of the same end-user nodes. | 10-14-2010 |
20100260191 | Optimising communications - A method of transmitting a data stream to end-user nodes of a network, and a corresponding communication system, program, and distribution system for distributing the program. The method comprises: for each of a plurality of possible combinations of routes of the stream to a plurality of consuming end-user nodes, evaluating a utility function for each of the consuming end-user nodes, the utility function being dependent on route and defining a quantitative measure of end-user benefit that would be experienced at the respective end-user node by consumption of the stream; for each of the plurality of possible combinations of routes, determining an overall utility value based on the respective evaluation of the utility functions of each of the plurality of consuming end-user nodes; and selecting a preferred combination of routes for the stream based on the overall utility values of the different possible combinations. | 10-14-2010 |
20100260190 | Method and system for data transmission - A method, system and program for transmitting a data stream in a network of interconnectable end-user nodes comprising a source node, a plurality of recipient nodes and a plurality of further nodes, wherein each end-user node executes a communication client application. The method comprises: the source receiving a command to transmit the data stream to the plurality of recipients; selecting from the plurality of further nodes at least one relaying node to relay the data stream between the source node and the plurality of recipients; the source establishing a connection to the at least one relaying node; the at least one relaying node establishing a connection to each of the plurality of recipients; transmitting the data stream from the source to the at least one relaying node; and transmitting the data stream from the at least one relaying node to the plurality of recipients. | 10-14-2010 |
20100198980 | Method of transmitting data in a communication system - A method and system for transmitting data over a channel of a network. The method comprises: receiving data at a first node; encoding a first portion of the data at a first bit rate to generate a first encoded data stream; monitoring an indication of the capacity of the channel; transmitting to the second node a padded data stream via the channel, wherein padding bits are added to the first encoded data stream, in dependence on the indication of the capacity of the channel, to generate the padded data stream; determining if transmitting the padded data stream exceeds the capacity of the channel; and encoding a second portion of the data at a higher bit rate than the first bit rate, to generate a second encoded data stream for transmission over the channel, if it is determined that transmitting the padded data stream does not exceed the channel's capacity. | 08-05-2010 |
20100174547 | Speech coding - A method, system and program for encoding and decoding speech according to a source-filter model whereby speech is modelled to comprise a source signal filtered by a time-varying filter. The method comprises: receiving a speech signal; and from the speech signal, deriving a spectral envelope signal representing the modelled filter and a remaining signal representing the modelled source. At intervals during the encoding, the method further comprises determining a period between portions of the remaining signal having a degree of repetition and determining a correlation between said portions based on that period, thus producing a respective vector of the correlation for each interval. Once every number of said intervals, the method further comprises selecting a codebook from a plurality of codebooks for quantizing the vectors, quantizing the vectors of that number of intervals according to the selected codebook, and transmitting the quantized vectors along with an indication of the selected codebook. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174542 | Speech coding - A method, system and program for encoding and/or decoding a speech signal. The method comprises: generating a first signal representing a property of an input speech signal; transforming the first signal using a simulated random-noise signal, thus producing a second signal; quantizing the second signal based on a plurality of discrete representation levels, thus generating quantization values for transmission in an encoded speech signal, and also generating a third signal being a quantized version of the second signal; and performing an inverse of the transformation on the third signal, thus generating a quantized output signal, wherein the generation of the first signal is based on feedback of the quantized output signal. The method further comprises controlling the transformation in dependence on a property of the first signal so as to vary the magnitude of a noise effect created by the transformation relative to the representation levels. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174541 | Quantization - A method, system and program for encoding speech. The method comprises: receiving an input signal representing a property of speech; quantizing the input signal, thus generating a quantized output signal; prior to the quantization, supplying a version of the input signal to a first noise shaping filter having a first set of filter coefficients, thus generating a first filtered signal based on that version of the input signal and the first set of filter coefficients; following the quantization, supplying a version of the quantized output signal to a second noise shaping filter having a second set of filter coefficients different than said first set, thus generating a second filter signal based on that version of the quantized output signal and the second set of filter coefficients; performing a noise shaping operation to control a frequency spectrum of a noise effect in the quantized output signal caused by the quantization, wherein the noise shaping operation is performed based on both the first and second filtered signals; and transmitting the quantised output signal in an encoded signal. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174537 | Speech coding - A method, system and computer program for encoding speech according to a source-filter model. The method comprises deriving a spectral envelope signal representative of a modelled filter and a first remaining signal representative of a modelled source signal, and deriving a second remaining signal from the first remaining signal by, at intervals during the encoding: exploiting a correlation between approximately periodic portions in the first remaining signal to generate a predicted version of a later portion from a stored version of an earlier portion, and using the predicted-version of the later portion to remove an effect of said periodicity from the first remaining signal. The method further comprises, once every number of intervals, transforming the stored version of the earlier portion of the first remaining signal prior to generating the predicted version of the respective later portion. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174535 | Filtering speech - A method of filtering a speech signal for speech encoding in a communications network, includes determining a cut off frequency for a filter, wherein a component of the speech signal in a frequency range less than the cut off frequency is to be attenuated by the filter; receiving the speech signal at the filter; determining at least one parameter of the received speech signal, the at least one parameter providing an indication of the energy of the component of the received speech signal that is to be attenuated; and adjusting the cut off frequency in dependence on the at least one parameter, thereby adjusting the frequency range to be attenuated. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174531 | Speech coding - A method of encoding one or more parent blocks of values, the number of values being the length of each block, the method comprising for each parent block: | 07-08-2010 |
20100150171 | Controlling packet transmission - The invention provides a method of controlling transmission of packets from a transmitter to a receiver via a channel, and a corresponding transmitter and receiver. The method comprises: transmitting packets from a queue, each packet having a packet size based on data in the packet; determining a transmission time for each packet, based on a transmission clock; determining a reception time of each packet, based on a reception clock; supplying to an estimation function successive sets of observations including in each set transmission time, reception time and packet size, the estimate function being arranged to provide an estimate of bandwidth for the channel using the relationship between the bandwidth, the amount of data in the queue, packet size and the delay between transmitting successive packets from the queue; and using the estimated bandwidth to control transmission of packets. | 06-17-2010 |
20100145685 | Regeneration of wideband speech - A method and system for regenerating wideband speech from narrowband speech. The method comprises: receiving samples of a narrowband speech signal in a first range of frequencies; modulating received samples of the narrowband speech signal with a modulation signal having a modulating frequency adapted to upshift each frequency in the first range of frequencies by an amount determined by the modulating frequency wherein the modulating frequency is selected to translate into a target band a selected frequency band within the first range of signals; filtering the modulated samples using a high pass filter to form a regenerated speech signal in the target band, wherein the lower limit of the high pass filter defines the lowermost frequency in the target band; and combining the narrow band speech signal with the regenerated speech signal in the target band to regenerate a wideband speech signal. | 06-10-2010 |
20100064334 | Communication system and method - A method of transmitting video data comprising: establishing a bidirectional video channel between a first terminal and a second terminal in a packet-based communication network; beginning a live, face-to-face video call over the established channel by generating first video data from a video camera of the first terminal, transmitting the first video data to the second terminal for display on a screen of the second terminal, receiving second video data generated from a video camera of the second terminal, and displaying the second video data on a screen of the first terminal; generating third video data at the first terminal from a source other than the video camera of the first terminal; receiving a user selection at the first terminal; and in response to the user selection, transmitting the third video data to the second user over the established channel of the packet-based communication network. | 03-11-2010 |
20100064333 | Communication system and method - A media appliance and corresponding method, the media appliance comprising a video signal source such as a TV receiver, and signal processing apparatus for generating a corresponding sequence of frames for output to a screen. The appliance comprises a client application programmed to capture one of the frames and use the captured frame to generate an image to represent a user in relation to bidirectional communications over a packet-based network. | 03-11-2010 |
20100064329 | Communication system and method - A television receiver system and corresponding method, the television receiver system comprising: a television receiver for receiving broadcast television signals, signal processing apparatus operable to process the received television signals for output to a television screen, and a control device allowing a user to select a viewing activity by controlling the output to the television screen. The television receiver further comprises a memory storing a communication client application; and communications processing apparatus operable to execute the communication client application. The client application is programmed so as when executed to allow the user to establish bidirectional communications with one or more other users via a packet-based communication network, and to provide notifications to the user of incoming communication events from other users. The client application is further programmed to control the notifications of incoming communication events in dependence on the selection of viewing activity. | 03-11-2010 |
20100064328 | Communication system and method - A media device comprising: a memory storing a communication client application; a processor, coupled to the memory and operable to execute the communication client application, wherein the client application is programmed so as when executed to allow a user to establish a call with one or more other users via a packet-based communication network; and a remote control unit comprising wireless communication means arranged to transmit data to the processor, a control means coupled to the wireless communication means and configured to control the wireless communication means, user input means coupled to the control means and arranged to receive input commands from the user and provide the input commands to the control means, and a microphone coupled to the control means and arranged to receive audio signals from a user, wherein, responsive to the control means receiving a command to establish a call from the user input means, the control means is arranged to activate the wireless communication means from a deactivated state, establish a wireless connection with the processor, and transmit data comprising audio signals from the microphone using the wireless communication means to the processor for transmission in a call over the packet-based communication network. | 03-11-2010 |
20100064014 | Distributing presence information - A method of distributing availability information from a first user terminal to at least one further user terminal connected via a communication network, comprising: executing a communication client at the first user terminal; the communication client accessing schedule data stored on a storage means relating to a user of the first user terminal; the communication client analysing the schedule data to determine a current status of the user; mapping the current status of the user to a selected one of a group of predefined availability settings at the communication client; and transmitting a message comprising the selected availability setting over the communication network to the at least one further user terminal. | 03-11-2010 |
20100062858 | Electronic gaming system and method - A games system, method and program. The system comprises: a user control device arranged to be operable by a user; a network interface for receiving data via a packet-based communication network; and a processing apparatus arranged to execute a game application and a communication client; wherein the communication client is programmed to establish video communication via the network interface and packet-based communication network, receive video data from a remote user and decode the video data to produce a live video image; wherein the game application is arranged to divide the live video image into segments, re-order the segments to produce a shuffled live video image and output the shuffled live video image for display on a display unit; and wherein the game application is further arranged to receive control information from the control device and cause a further-reordering of the segments responsive thereto during the video communication. | 03-11-2010 |
20100062857 | Data stream processing - A method for outputting data streams in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
| 03-11-2010 |
20100062856 | User interface - A method of establishing a communication event between a first user and a second user of a communication system; wherein the first user operates a user terminal executing an electronic game application; the method comprising the steps of:
| 03-11-2010 |
20100062847 | Electronic gaming system and method - A games system and method, the system comprising: a storage reader for reading a game application from a storage medium; a memory storing a communications client application; a network interface for receiving data from a remote user via a packet-based communication network; and processing apparatus arranged to execute the game application and the client application. The communication client is programmed to establish bidirectional video communications via the network interface and packet-based communication network, including receiving video data from a remote user. The game application comprises image recognition software programmed to receive the video data from the client application, recognise a predetermined image element in the received video data, and track the motion of that element to generate motion tracking data. The game application further comprises game logic programmed to control aspects of the game based on the motion tracking data. | 03-11-2010 |
20100060788 | Communication system and method - A method of initiating a communication event via a packet-based communication network in a media appliance having a processor executing a communication client, comprising: retrieving a stored list comprising a plurality of contacts associated with a user of the communication client; generating a first two-dimensional contact grid comprising a first arrangement of entries; displaying the first contact grid on a display means such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, wherein the graphical representations are sized so as to fit in the entries of the first contact grid; receiving a selection of a subset of the graphical representations in the first contact grid from a user of the communication client; generating a second contact grid comprising a second arrangement of entries corresponding to the selected subset; displaying the second contact grid on the display means in replacement of the first contact grid, such that each of a plurality of the entries comprises a graphical representation of a respective one of the plurality of contacts, and wherein the graphical representations are resized so as to fit in the entries of the second contact grid; receiving a selection of one of the graphical representations in the second contact grid from the user of the communication client; and initiating a communication event with the contact represented by the selected graphical representation via the packet-based communication network. | 03-11-2010 |
20100060715 | Communication system and method - A television receiver system, comprising: a television receiver operable to receive broadcast video signals; a memory storing a communication client application; a processor, coupled to the memory and operable to execute the communication client application, wherein the communication client application is programmed so as when executed to allow a user to establish a video call with one or more other users via a packet-based communication network; a video buffer operable to buffer video data for display on a television screen; and selection means having a first input arranged to receive broadcast video data from the television receiver, a second input arranged to receive video call data from the communication client, an output connected to the video buffer, and a control input connected to the communication client, wherein the selection means is arranged to output the broadcast video data to the video buffer in the absence of a selection signal at the control input, and wherein the communication client is arranged to generate a selection signal to control the selection means to output the video call data to the video buffer responsive to receiving a command to establish a video call from the user. | 03-11-2010 |
20100060477 | Communication system and method - A remote control unit for controlling a media device, comprising: a first wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a first power source; a second wireless transmitter arranged to be powered from a second power source; a processor coupled to the first and second wireless transmitters, wherein the processor is configured to control the first and second wireless transmitters and is arranged to be powered from the first power; and monitoring means arranged to monitor power levels of the second power source and provide power level information to the processor. | 03-11-2010 |