International Business Machines Corporation

James M Dunn

Edith H Stern

Barry Edward Willner

Alan G Ganek

Colin George Harrison

Peter S Lee

Bruce P Semple

Victor S Moore

James J Toohey

David J Allard

David W Levine

Arnold H Bramnick

Edith Helen Stern

A method for secure entry of a user-identifier in a publicly positioned device can include establishing a private communications link between a user and the publicly positioned device; dividing the user-identifier into at least two portions; separately prompting the user for each portion of the user-identifier; prompting the user for a combination of random data and the user-identifier; and, discarding the random data from the combination. In the preferred embodiments, the publicly positioned device can have a visual interface through which the user can be visually prompted for the random data and the user-identifier. Alternatively, the publicly positioned device can have a telephone interface through which the user can be audibly prompted for the random data and the user-identifier. In the case of a visual display, the private communications link can be established by linking the publicly positioned device to active glasses having a shuttered display. The opening and closing of the shuttered display can be synchronized with the display of the prompts in the visual interface such that only the wearer of the active glasses can view the prompts. In the case of a telephone interface, an telephone operator system, for example an Interactive Voice Response system or a human operator, can provide the prompts audibly through the telephone interface.

Secure entry of a user-identifier in a publicly positioned device

A hypermedia document display method can include presenting hypermedia content, the hypermedia content containing hyperlinks to additional hypermedia content; storing selected ones of the hyperlinks in a delayed viewing list; and, caching hypermedia content associated with the stored hyperlinks during the presenting step. The method can further include reconfiguring the stored hyperlinks to point to the cached hypermedia content. The presenting step can include displaying Web content in a Web browser. In that case, the Web content can contain hyperlinks to additional Web content. The presenting step also can include playing back multimedia content in a multimedia content player. Finally, the presenting step can include displaying audiovisual television content combined with hypermedia content in a television set.

User specified parallel data fetching for optimized web access

A data stream is transmitted to groups of individuals making separate requests for the data stream. The groups may be arranged by placing a maximum number of requesters in a group or by grouping the requesters making requests within a discrete period of time. The individual requester may be shifted from group to group or from a data store to another data store location to change the location in the data stream from which the data is sent to an individual requester or the time of transmission of the data sent from the data store.

System and method for grouping recipients of streaming data

A broadband multi-server proxy server (BMPS) enables customers to select an ISP of their choice from the Internet. The BMPS has a database and is coupled to a router. In operation, the cable customers register with a selected ISP of their choice. The selected ISP sends the customers a customer ID, password, a log on script and updates its database and the database of the BMPS with the customer information. The BMPS sends a customer logon request to the requested ISP using the customer ID, password and the BMPS as the source address for any customer message. The ISP verifies the customer address against its database and updates the router address tables to accept customer messages with the new address. Future customer messages are sent directly to the selected ISP bypassing the standard Internet DHCP protocol.

Broadband multi-service proxy server system and method of operation for internet services of user's choice

An apparatus, computer readable medium and method for communicating over a telecommunications network, such as the Internet, with a provider of a service, such as a business. A method for communicating over a telecommunications network with a local representative of an entity, comprising the steps of: receiving, over a data telecommunications network, a request for a connection with a local representative of an entity from a subscriber, wherein the data telecommunications network supports simultaneous voice and data connection over a single line from the subscriber to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) site; determining the geographical location of the subscriber; translating the request from the directory listing database a local representative of the entity that is the geographically nearest to the subscriber requesting a connection; and establishing a voice connection between the subscriber requesting the connection with the local representative of the entity.

Business model, system and method for voice and/or data communications with local business

An improved laser system and method of operation provides signal continuity and safety in the event of accidental interruption of the laser beam. At the transmitting end, a main laser generates a beam, which is surrounded by a low powered guard beam generated by a pulsed laser. At the receiver, a leas system includes a main lens for receiving the main laser beam and a surrounding annular segmented set of lenses acting as a set of parallel receivers for the surrounding guard beam. A trigger circuit is connected to the parallel receivers. In operation, the guard beam insulates the main laser beam and detects interruptions. When the guard beam is interrupted at any point along the length of the beam, one or more of the parallel receivers will be blocked, and a signal will be generated by the trigger circuit to activate a return laser to alter the performance of the main laser, including shutdown of the beam. Upon shutdown, the current stream of bits or packets to the main laser is buffered. Once the guard band interruption is cleared, the trigger signal ends to terminate the return laser. With the termination of the return laser, the buffer circuit is discharged to the main laser, which returns to the normal state whereby signal continuity and safety of operation are achieved.

Laser system and method of operation having improved signal continuity and safety

A packet switching network, e.g., the Internet, employs bandwidth managers to provide guaranteed bandwidth reservations to paired forwarding and receiving agents interfacing with sending and receiving stations in the transfer of large data files therebetween. The forwarding agents obtain guaranteed reservations from the bandwidth manager for segments of the large data file which are transmitted to the receiving station in accordance with the respective reservations. The receiving agent reassembles the segments into the large data file for delivery to the receiving station. By segmenting the large data files, using guaranteed bandwidth reservations on different links or multiple networks, the transmission of large data files through packet switching networks is accomplished without adversely impacting the service requirements of other network users. Reservations and concomitant transmissions are arranged up to the capacity of the network for the attachment which maximizes the transmission ability and allows the network to distribute the bandwidth usage to prevent network congestion.

System and method for large file transfers in packet networks

An E-commerce system enables a user to conduct transactions with a retailer via a network, typically the Internet without certification or trusted paths. The user is a customer of a financial institution coupled to the network. The institution serves as an intermediary in electronic transactions conducted between end user and retailer. End user and retailer initiate transactions in an Internet session. User selects as one payment option a &ldquo;check&rdquo; or data messages as an intent to pay for the purchases without authentication of one another. Retailer prepares and submits a request for payment directly to the financial institution. After the retailer and financial institution exchange digital certificates, the financial institution records the transactions in the user's account as authorized for payment. The user is provided a list of authorized transactions for approval or rejection. Upon approval by the user, payment is made to the retailer by the institution.

E-commerce system and method of operation enabling a user to conduct transactions with multiple retailers without certification and/or trusted electronic paths

An improved wireless telecommunication system enables a user to obtain communication services in overlapping wireless heterogeneous or homogeneous cellular networks at the most economical cost and bandwidth. A plurality of overlapping cellular networks includes a common command channel, a Central Selection Agency (CSA), a home location register, a visitor location register, and a user device positional location mechanism. In one embodiment the user device is equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine its location. In placing a call, the user device broadcasts its ID, location and connection capability requirements on the common command channel. When a base station for the command channel bears the request, the CSA and the home location register for the user are informed. The CSA capability/requirements determine which network and base station selections are potential carriers for the call. Based on user preferences established by a profile stored in an accessible database, the CSA assigns a network and base station to handle the connection. The user device is informed and tunes to the appropriate network and protocols. For incoming calls, the calling party checks the home location register to determine the last known location. The user device is informed that a called is waiting. The user device selects the network and base station to receive the call in a fashion similar to that of placing the call. A call may be transferred from one network to a different network, the networks using different protocol. The user device may be programmed to change networks at random times to provide enhanced security for a call.

Wireless telecommunications system and method of operation providing users&prime; carrier selection in overlapping hetergenous networks

A simplified TV viewer response system coupled to a telephone system enables a viewer/subscriber to respond to television displays by dialing a special code less than six digits. The code is routed to an enhanced services server. The server captures the dial string including the caller ID, checks the caller ID against a subscriber/viewer profile and maps the caller ID to the cable company providing service to the viewer/subscriber. The server delivers the response to the cable television company which processes the response according to the selected items or choices in the TV screen. Several special dialing codes of limited digits expedite viewer/subscriber selections. Each code includes a special character to route the dialing string to the server. The system provides sound recognition of viewer/subscriber selections.

Simplified TV viewer response system and method using special codes and subscriber custom calling codes

A communication system ( ) includes a network, a first application running on a first Host computer system (First Host) ( ) coupled to the network, and a second application running on a second Host computer system (Second Host) ( ) coupled to the network. The first application issues an Extended PING command ( ) for sending an Extended ECHO message ( ) from the First Host ( ) into the network and directed to the second application in the Second Host ( ). The second application in the Second Host ( ), in response to receiving the Extended ECHO message ( ), issues an Extended PING command ( ) for sending an Extended ECHO reply message ( ) into the network and directed to the first application to measure the full loop-back network latency of communicating a message application-to-application across the network.

Method and apparatus for network latency performance measurement

A method for providing privately viewable data in a publically viewable display comprises the steps of: generating a sequencing pattern; generating a data signal having interspersed frames of private data among frames of masking data according to the sequencing pattern; providing the data signal to the publically viewable display; and, opening and closing shutters in a set of active glasses in accordance with the sequencing pattern. In one embodiment, the sequencing pattern can correspond to alternating displays of the private data and the masking data. In an alternative embodiment, the sequencing pattern can correspond to combined left eye/right eye images of the private data. In the preferred embodiment, the masking data can be a fill pattern, for example, random data or a screen saver image. However, in another embodiment, the masking data can be a derivation of the private data. The step of opening and closing the shutters can comprise the step of responsive to sync pulses in the sequencing pattern, opening and closing the shutters. In consequence of the inventive method, a user viewing the display with the active glasses can view the private data and unauthorized viewers without the active glasses can view only the private data obscured by the masking data.

Method for providing privately viewable data in a publically viewable display

A system and method to implement callback for unanswered telephone calls in a Distributed Information System (DIS) adapted for telephony. A calling station and a called station are each connected to the DIS through a local and remote service provider, respectively, each provider including a voice gateway and callback server. A telephone call originated at the calling station by a calling party is processed by the local service provider and the local callback server generates a control message which accompanies the telephone call. The remote service provider processes and connects the telephone call if answered by the called party and sends a message to delete the control message from the local callback server. If the telephone call is unanswered the remote callback server stores the control message and waits for the called party to initiate a return call. When the return call is initiated, the remote callback server sends a message to the local callback server to extend the return call to the calling party. If the calling party is busy or unavailable, the roles of the local and remote callback servers are reversed. The remote (formerly the local) callback server stores the message and initiates a return reply message when the called (formerly the calling) party generates message.

Growing community of inventors

Fresno, CA, United States of America

James M Dunn