Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for secure password validation can include a local authentication process configured for coupling both to local authentication data and to a remote authentication process. The system also can include a comparator disposed in the local authentication process and programmed to detect an extended password string in the local authentication data. Finally, the system can include a remote authentication handler disposed in the local authentication process and programmed to outsource password validation to the remote authentication process responsive to the comparator detecting an extended password string retrieved for a supplied user identifier. Preferably, the remote authentication handler can be a remote procedure call to the remote authentication process.

Abstract: An edit selection control. The edit selection control can include a drop down list box coupled to a list of entries of full textual length; an edit box coupled to the drop down list box within the edit selection control and configured to display a selected one of the entries; and, list management logic coupled to the edit box and programmed to accept through the edit box as an alternative selection to the list of entries, a manually specified entry. Importantly, the edit selection control can have a structure configurable for embedding within a markup language document.

Abstract: A laser annealing method for annealing a stacked semiconductor structure having at least two stacked layers is disclosed. A laser beam is focused on a lower layer of the stacked layers. The laser beam is then scanned to anneal features in the lower layer. The laser beam is then focused on an upper layer of the stacked layers, and the laser beam is scanned to anneal features in the upper layer. The laser has a wavelength of less than one micrometer. The beam size, depth of focus, energy dosage, and scan speed of the laser beam are programmable. Features in the lower layer are offset from features in the upper layer such that these features do not overlap along a plane parallel to a path of the laser beam. Each of the stacked layers includes active devices, such as transistors. Also, the first and second layers may be annealed simultaneously.

Abstract: Event-generation metadata is used to control the run-time environment of a system implementing a component architecture. A service provider program (40,100) implementing a component architecture is provided with event-generation functions that are configurable by the metadata to generate and send events. The metadata can be implemented as properties of an EJB deployment descriptor associated with a program component (30) for configuring event generation functions of an EJB container (40), to generate and send events to an events service (110). The events can be used to monitor processing of an application.

Abstract: A reference to data in program code is resolved during execution of the program code. A request to resolve the reference is classified based on a state of the referenced data and a source of the request. A transitional resolution for the reference is provided if the referenced data state indicates no accessible definition and resolution of the reference is allowed according to the request classification. A full resolution for the reference is provided if the referenced data state indicates an accessible definition according to the request classification. The request is removed only if the reference resolution is a full resolution.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a limit value of a resource for use in a concurrent limit checking system comprising: a resource having an associated limit value; a plurality of request handlers having access to a plurality of sub-limit values, wherein the sub-limit values when summed equal the limit value and wherein each request handler is operable to check a request value of a request for consuming the resource against its associated sub-limit value, in order to determine whether the request can be satisfied. The apparatus comprises a coordinator, responsive to the first request handler determining that the first request cannot be satisfied, for generating a coordination request comprising a coordination request value required to satisfy the first request, a receiver for receiving a coordination response from the second request handler; and an updater for updating the sub-limit values in accordance with the coordination request value.

Abstract: The present invention is a system, method and apparatus for for real-time blogging. In a preferred aspect of the invention, a real-time bi-directional blogging system can include a blog and a bi-directional syndication interface to the blog. Importantly, an instant messaging system can be coupled to the syndication interface of the blog. The instant messaging system of the present invention can include a chat server and at least one chat client. Notably, a bot can be coupled to the chat server. The bot can be programmed to communicate blog postings received in the chat server to the chat client or clients. The bot can be further programmed to communicate responses to the blog postings received from the chat client or clients to the blog through the syndication interface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to scenario testing of an application under test and provide a method, system and computer program product for enhanced scenario testing. In one embodiment of the invention, a scenario testing data processing system can include an action recorder configured to activate each of recording and playback sessions in an application user interface. The system also can include an application communicatively coupled to the action recorder and the content browser. The application can include one or more controllers, each controller corresponding to one of the sessions.

Abstract: A method and system for managing membership in a collaborative computing environment community are provided. Identification of a selected a group of end user persons to invite to join the collaborative computing community is received. The selected group is evaluated to identify one or more invitees there from. The one or more identified invitees are invited to join the community. An indication from one or more invitees that the invitee wishes to join the community is received.

Abstract: A task roster. A task roster can include a visual list of component tasks, the component tasks collectively forming a high-level task; a specified sequence in which the component tasks are to be performed; and, one or more visual status indicators, each visual status indicator having a corresponding component task, each visual status indicator further indicating whether the corresponding component task has been performed in the specified sequence. The task roster also can include a component task initiator configured to launch a selected component task in the visual list of component tasks upon a user-selection of the selected component task.

Abstract: A method for enabling connectivity for protocol aware applications across different network topologies can include receiving frames passing between a first network having a first network topology and a second network having a second network topology; inspecting an incoming one of the frames to identify a remote resource in the second network and a device identifier corresponding to the remote resource, and an outgoing one of the frames to identify a socket assigned to a local resource in the first network and a device identifier for the local resource corresponding to the socket; and, transmitting data from a protocol-aware application in the first network to the remote resource in the second network in a protocol consistent with the second network topology, and further transmitting data from the remote resource in the second network to the protocol-aware application in the first network in a protocol consistent with the first network topology.

Abstract: A system for maintaining data coherency in a multiprocessor system includes a first processor having a cache and a directory, a second processor having a directory, and at least one additional processor having a directory and separate from the first and second processors. The first processor is configured to determine if a data line is not found in the cache of the first processor and forward a request for the data line to the second processor. The second processor is configured to forward the data line from the second processor to the first processor, update the directory of the second processor to reflect the data line being forwarded to the first processor, and forward a directory update message to the at least one additional processor to reflect the data line being forwarded to the first processor. An entry in the directories includes a memory address, a most recent data holder, and a line state.

Abstract: A separator apparatus that separates meat from bone in two distinct separation stages includes a rotary cam pump in series with a deboning screw assembly. In the first separation stage, substantially bone-free meat is separated from bone as the meat-bone mixture passes through the rotary cam pump, and expelled from the separator apparatus. The rotary cam pump then drives the remaining meat bone mixture into the deboning screw assembly, where a second separation stage occurs in which additional substantially bone-free meat is separated from bone as the meat-bone mixture passes through the deboning screw assembly, and is also expelled from the separator apparatus. The remaining bone residue is expelled from a bone residue outlet on the separator apparatus. The meat separated during the first stage can have a different coarseness than that separated during the second stage, and each can be expelled and collected at a different location.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for configuration of access rights to sensitive information handled by a sensitive Web-Service. In a case of requested configuration changes initiated by the client system the Web-Server system provides a configuration data file to the client system preferably using a SOAP-communication protocol. The changes of the configuration data file are exclusively performed offline at the client side and the updated configuration data file is signed with authentication information and sent as a part of a SOAP-request to the Web-Server system. The Web-Server system provides a filter component for identifying and discarding non-SOAP requests as well as an access control manager for providing authentication examination for incoming SOAP-requests. After successful passing these components the SOAP-request is used for updating the existing configuration data file.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to video scaling and compression and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for pre-distribution image scaling for screen size. In one embodiment of the invention, a compressed video delivery method can be provided. The method can include determining a display size for a target computing platform, pre-scaling video imagery to comport with the display size of the target computing platform, compressing the pre-scaled video imagery, and transmitting the compressed, pre-scaled video imagery to the target computing platform over a computer communications network.

Abstract: A source container for use in a computer system executing problem determination tools in an integrated environment across a computer network, the source container comprising a list of pathways to a plurality of source files and module objects. A software development may create the source container independently or within the front end of a problem determination tool. The front end of the problem determination tools sends the source container to its engine, and only source files and module objects having a pathway in the source container are analyzed within the engine of the problem determination tool. Furthermore, the results of the analysis of only those source files and module objects having a pathway in the source container are returned to the front end of the problem determination tool for viewing by the software developer.

Abstract: The wishes of purchasers and sellers of particular commodity items are matched using a computer database. Hopeful purchasers submit requests during a predetermined sale time frame. The requests include a desired purchase price and a desired purchase quantity for the particular commodity item. After the predetermined period, purchaser information is used to produce a purchase wish list in a predetermined order. An optimum combination of intending purchasers, selling quantities, selling prices, commodity suppliers, supply quantities, and supply prices is created by comparing the purchase wish list with a supply list.

Abstract: Prioritization of fragmented messages in an ORB is achieved by intercepting the flow of message data within the ORB, marking the current data stream location and issuing sufficient read commands to gather the message header and control area information. Then classification for priority can be performed using the data in the control area to classify the request. The classification information is stored for the message for later use by queuing and prioritization processes and the data stream marker is reset to the original location. When the queuing and prioritization processes are ready to dispatch the message, the message can be sent on to the higher levels of processing within the ORB where the higher levels of message processing code will process the message, totally unaware of the fact that the message has been classified and/or queued or prioritized prior to delivery to the higher level.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to e2e SLA support in a network of both manageable and unmanageable portions and provide a method, system and computer program product for e2e SLA compliance across both managed and unmanaged network segments. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for e2e SLA compliance across both managed and unmanaged network segments can be provided. The method can include identifying both a managed segment and an unmanaged segment of an e2e network for a communications path implicated by an SLA, determining an observed delay for the unmanaged segment of the e2e network, computing from a desired delay for the communications path and the observed delay a differential delay, and constraining the managed segment to meet the differential delay in order to assure meeting the desired delay for the communications path implicated by the SLA.

Abstract: A novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for tuning order configurator performance by dynamic integration of manufacturing and field feedback information. A method for dynamically tuning order configurator behavior by using product issue data can include collecting product issue data for a manufactured product, the product issue data including performance and attribute information of a part of the manufactured product, analyzing the collected product issue data to identify a problematic part, and, modifying the order configurator using the analyzed product issue data.