Abstract:
This invention provides methods and apparatus for providing customised prior-to-answer and in-call media playback telephony services. The services allow for playback of customised media content to calling parties in the form of customised ringback tones, engaged tones, call holding, call transfer tones and other content such as pre-recorded announcements. The media content for playback is stored in equipment associated with subscribers and playback of the media content is originated from the subscriber equipment. The invention allows subscribers to give their telephony services a personal touch as they can choose different items of media content for playback to different calling parties. As the media content is stored on subscriber equipment local to subscribers, no additional network resources such as data storage and data processing facilities are required.
Abstract:
A networked multimedia system (10) comprises a plurality of networks (40) and at least one storage server (100). A signal path interconnects the workstations (12) and the storage server (100). Each workstation (40) includes video and audio reproduction capabilities, as well as video and audio capture capabilities. Any given storage server (100) comprises a set of storage cells (120) that operate under the direction of a storage cell manager (160). A storage cell (120) may include one or more encoding (132) and transcoding converters configured to convert or transform audio and video signals originating at a workstation into a form suitable for storage. A storage cell (120) may further include one or more decoding converters (134) configured to convert stored signals into a form suitable for audio and video signal reproduction at a workstation. Each storage cell (120) additionally includes at least one storage device (150) and storage device controller (152) capable of storing, for later retrieval, signals generated by one or more converters. The storage cell controller responds to signals received from the workstations (40), and oversees the operation of the storage cells to facilitate the storage of converted audio and video signals in at least one file that can be simultaneously accessed by one or more application programs executing on one or more workstations.
Abstract:
Some embodiments of the present invention include pairing two wireless devices by placing at least one of two devices in a pairing mode; performing at least one pairing motion event with at least one of the wireless devices to satisfy at least one pairing condition; detecting satisfaction of the at least one pairing condition; and pairing the two wireless devices in response to detecting satisfaction of the at least one pairing condition. Numerous other aspects are provided.
Abstract:
This invention provides methods and apparatus for providing customised prior-to-answer and in-call media playback telephony services. The services allow for playback of customised media content to calling parties in the form of customised ringback tones, engaged tones, call holding, call transfer tones and other content such as pre-recorded announcements. The media content for playback is stored in equipment associated with subscribers and playback of the media content is originated from the subscriber equipment. The invention allows subscribers to give their telephony services a personal touch as they can choose different items of media content for playback to different calling parties. As the media content is stored on subscriber equipment local to subscribers, no additional network resources such as data storage and data processing facilities arc required.
Abstract:
A wearable display interface (10) that during operation is in short-range (preferably no more than 10 meters), wireless bidirectional communication with a server, related methods, and systems including the interface and server. The wearable interface includes a power supply driving a processor (genera! purpose or graphics, with or without on-board memory, with or without on-board display and other I/O driver(s)) that is operatively coupled to a visual display and a wireless interface where the interface further includes an attachment interface for linking the display interface to a user's body, such as wrist or neck, or apparel. The server is preferably a mobile telephone where the display interface is a client. In addition, the interface can further function as a speaker and/or microphone to received and/or accept verbalized data, such as input instructions or communication commands. Intentional distribution of processing across the server and client ensures that the interface maintains a small and efficient form factor.
Abstract:
This invention provides methods and apparatus for providing customised prior-to-answer and in-call media playback telephony services. The services allow for playback of customised media content to calling parties in the form of customised ringback tones, engaged tones, call holding, call transfer tones and other content such as pre-recorded announcements. The media content for playback is stored in equipment associated with subscribers and playback of the media content is originated from the subscriber equipment. The invention allows subscribers to give their telephony services a personal touch as they can choose different items of media content for playback to different calling parties. As the media content is stored on subscriber equipment local to subscribers, no additional network resources such as data storage and data processing facilities arc required.
Abstract:
A networked multimedia system (10) comprises a plurality of networks (40) and at least one storage server (100). A signal path interconnects the workstations (12) and the storage server (100). Each workstation (40) includes video and audio reproduction capabilities, as well as video and audio capture capabilities. Any given storage server (100) comprises a set of storage cells (120) that operate under the direction of a storage cell manager (160). A storage cell (120) may include one or more encoding (132) and transcoding converters configured to convert or transform audio and video signals originating at a workstation into a form suitable for storage. A storage cell (120) may further include one or more decoding converters (134) configured to convert stored signals into a form suitable for audio and video signal reproduction at a workstation. Each storage cell (120) additionally includes at least one storage device (150) and storage device controller (152) capable of storing, for later retrieval, signals generated by one or more converters. The storage cell controller responds to signals received from the workstations (40), and oversees the operation of the storage cells to facilitate the storage of converted audio and video signals in at least one file that can be simultaneously accessed by one or more application programs executing on one or more workstions
Abstract:
An echo canceler-suppressor speakerphone arrangement effectively addresses the limitations of regeneration and reverberant return echo inherent in the design of speakerphones. The tendency for regeneration is eliminated by employing adaptive echo cancellation in the receive path of the speakerphone arrangement to cancel speakerphone talker echo across a hybrid and thereby reduce the local loop gain to below unity. And the generation of a reverberant return echo to the far-end party is avoided by employing adaptive echo suppression in the transmit path of the speakerphone arrangement. Near-full and full duplex operation are regularly achieved since the receive path remains open at all times and transmit path has its gain reduced only to the level necessary to suppress excessive reverberant return echo.
Abstract:
A wearable display interface (10) that during operation is in short-range (preferably no more than 10 meters), wireless bidirectional communication with a server, related methods, and systems including the interface and server. The wearable interface includes a power supply driving a processor (genera! purpose or graphics, with or without on-board memory, with or without on-board display and other I/O driver(s)) that is operatively coupled to a visual display and a wireless interface where the interface further includes an attachment interface for linking the display interface to a user's body, such as wrist or neck, or apparel. The server is preferably a mobile telephone where the display interface is a client. In addition, the interface can further function as a speaker and/or microphone to received and/or accept verbalized data, such as input instructions or communication commands. Intentional distribution of processing across the server and client ensures that the interface maintains a small and efficient form factor.