Abstract: Described is a method for managing flow of protocol information in a node of a hierarchical network in which the protocol information is communicated between network nodes in topology state elements. The method comprises checking topology state elements generated by the node to identify protocol information encapsulated therein, and selectively allowing transmittal of the topology state elements from the node to lower levels of the network based on the protocol information identified.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system for distributed computation of an RSA inverse in an asynchronous network among participating network devices. The RSA inversion is self-verifiable and the result can be checked by every participating network device locally.

Abstract: Client-server graphics transmission system wherein component capabilities are provided at the server and client locations for the following: to gather three dimensional graphics transmission performance parameters, including client rendering capabilities, server load, network bandwidth and optionally-provided user preferences; to evaluate the potential performance of different transmission methods which could be used to communicate a graphics data set from the server to the client; to choose and request a transmission method based upon the evaluating; to format the requested data set for transmission; and to provide the formatted data set for rendering at the display hardware associated with the client.

Abstract: A shared markup system and a method are provided for supporting Web co-browsing. Based on the hyper-text markup language (HTML), the markup system is interoperable across different platforms and Web browsers and provides for online annotation, of shared HTML documents, directly within the browser's windows. The annotations created by the markup system are realized using HTML components that are composed dynamically. Synchronization and control of the browser's environment are also provided to achieve uniform participants' views.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing the time required to obtain results for a content based query in a data base. More specifically, with this invention, the data base is partitioned into a plurality of groups. Then, a schedule or sequence of groups is assigned to each of the operations of the query, where the schedule represents the order in which an operation of the query will be applied to the groups in the schedule. Each schedule is arranged so that each application of the operation operates on the group which will yield intermediate results that are closest to final results.