A secure data interchange system enables information about bilateral and multilateral interactions between multiple persistent parties to be exchanged and leveraged within an environment that uses a combination of techniques to control access to information, release of information, and matching of information back to parties. Access to data records can be controlled using an associated price rule. A data owner can specify a price for different types and amounts of information access.

Secure data interchange

An interactive television program guide with remote access is provided. The interactive television program guide is implemented on interactive television program guide equipment. A remote program guide access device is connected to the interactive television program guide equipment by a remote access link to provide a user with remote access to program guide functions. An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings), etc.

Interactive television program guide with remote access

The present invention is generally directed to a system for monitoring a variety of environmental and/or other conditions within a defined remotely located region. In one aspect, a system is configured to monitor utility meters (613) in a defined area. The system is implemented by using a plurality of wireless transmitters (614), each integrated into a sensor (612) adapted to monitor a particular data input. The system also includes a plurality of transceivers (221) that are dispersed throughout the region at defined locations. The system uses a local gateway (210) to translate and transfer information from the transmitters to a dedicated computer (260) on a network (230). The dedicated computer collects, compiles and stores the data for retrieval upon client demand across the network. The computer further includes means for evaluating the received information and identifying an appropriate control signal to be applied at a designated actuator.

System and method for monitoring and controlling remote devices

A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network accommodates real time voice transmission both through dedicated, scheduled bandwidth and through a packet-based routing within the confines and constraints of a data network. Conversion and call processing circuitry is also disclosed which enables access devices and personal computers to adapt voice information between analog voice stream and digital voice packet formats as proves necessary. Routing pathways include wireless spanning tree networks, wide area networks, telephone switching networks, internet, etc., in a manner virtually transparent to the user. A voice session and associate call setup simulates that of conventional telephone switching network, providing well-understood functionality common to any mobile, remote or stationary terminal, phone, computer, etc.

Hierarchical Data Collection Network Supporting Packetized Voice Communications Among Wireless Terminals and Telephones

In a data communication system capable of variable rate transmission, high rate packet data transmission improves utilization of the forward link and decreases the transmission delay. Data transmission on the forward link is time multiplexed and the base station transmits at the highest data rate supported by the forward link at each time slot to one mobile station. The data rate is determined by the largest C/I measurement of the forward link signals as measured at the mobile station. Upon determination of a data packet received in error, the mobile station transmits a NACK message back to the base station. The NACK message results in retransmission of the data packet received in error. The data packets can be transmitted out of sequence by the use of sequence number to identify each data unit within the data packets.

Method and apparatus for high-rate packet data transmission

A packet switching system (100) having a packet switch (140) employs an acknowledgment scheme in order assure the delivery of all fragments (310) comprising a fragmented data packet (300) to improve overall system throughput during the handling of packets (310) that require reassembly. When packet fragments (310) are lost, corrupted or otherwise unintelligible to a receiving device (92, 94), the acknowledgment scheme permits retransmission of the missing data. In addition, a second acknowledgment signal is scheduled by system processing resources (110) in order to verify the successful delivery of all retransmitted data.

Packet delivery system

A hierarchical addressing technique is employed in a packet communications system to enhance flexibility in storing and referencing packet information. This method permits packet message data and certain packet control data to be stored in memory locations without having to be duplicated at a different memory location prior to transmission of the packet. This method is preferably employed in a ring configuration in which a series of packets have addressing mechanisms which points sequentially to each other to form a ring of packets received or to be transmitted.

Addressing technique for storing and referencing packet data

A wireless in-building telecommunications system for voice and data communications is disclosed having at least one node (101) arranged for linking to the PSTN (151) and at least one digital information source (153, 155, 157, 159) multiplicity of user modules (103) (UM's) linked to the node via a shared RF communications path (107). Each UM is coupled to a voice telephone instrument (127) and to one or more data terminals (165). The UM's communicate with the node by exchanging fast packets via the common RF path (107). The node also includes a fast-packet-switched mechanism controlled by a bandwidth allocating scheme to prevent collisions of packets as they are transmitted between the various units (101, 103) (nodes and/or user modules) that may be accessing the RF path (107). Also disclosed is a method for allocating the required bandwidth to each of the users of the common communications path in a wireless in-building telephone system. The invention provides for the combination of both voice and data in a single switch using a common packet structure. It allows for the dynamic allocation of bandwidth based on system loading. This includes not only bandwidth within the voice or data areas of the frame, but also between the voice and data portions. It also synchronizes the transfer of the data and the allocation of bus bandwidth.

Wireless in-building telecommunications system for voice and data communications

A packet switching system (100) employs packet reassembly hardware (214) in a packet switch (140) to improve overall system throughput during the handling of transmission packets (310) that require reassembly. In this manner, reassembly is accomplished with minimal processor (110) intervention and without having to duplicate the message data portion (312) of a transmission packet (310) into a different memory location prior to retransmission.

Packet reassembly method and apparatus

User device (12) classes are established in a communications network (100). An access point (10) utilizes a first password to create an encryption key, then generates a plurality of secondary passwords for use by devices (12). User device (12) classes are established by assigning a secondary password to a respective class of users, determining the network access permitted the class, determining the network services provided to the class and finally assigning the secondary password to a device (12') seeking to communicate within the network (100).

White Richard E

Papers

Packet delivery system

Addressing technique for storing and referencing packet data

Wireless in-building telecommunications system for voice and data communications

Packet reassembly method and apparatus

Method for establishing classes within a communication network