Abstract: Improved and more efficient techniques are described for reducing the amount of work that needs to be performed by a database in a computer network in order to distribute event summary data to a large number of administrator clients. Delays experienced by event data at a database, e.g., due to delays in accessing a database, are reduced so that client can be notified of the events as soon as possible. Furthermore, event data obtained from both local and remote networks is efficiently coordinated using replica and union processes. Each monitoring location in the network includes both locally generated events, and a copy of remotely-generated events which are provided and maintained by one or more remote monitoring locations. The monitoring locations update one another with their event data.

Abstract: A system and method for providing user registry management of instant messages is disclosed. The system allows recipients to set filter criteria for filtering instant messages, the filter criteria being selected from a database of characteristics, or registry, for senders of the instant messages. When an instant message is received, the system determines the characteristics of the sender. The system blocks display of the received instant message if the filter criteria are met by the characteristics of the sender.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems for performing preliminary cause-based classification of events in a computer or networked computer system. Methods are provided in which, based on an event message, cause-based preliminary classification of an associated event is performed. The result of the preliminary classification is used to facilitate subsequent cause-based analysis, such as root cause analysis, relating to the event. Methods are provided in which preliminary classification is performed using a database including a catalog associating event messages with appropriate preliminary classifications of events associated with the event messages.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for resolving Universal Resource Locators (URLs). The URL resolving system examines the script code to obtain URLs from the examination output in the context of website crawling.

Abstract: A non-programmatic method for virtualizing the metadata of external systems at a front-end system is disclosed. The front-end system is provided with programmatic hooks that enable the external capture of its search for metadata and its commands to retrieve properties comprising selected metadata. When an end user of the front-end system requests to retrieve properties comprising selected metadata, typically through the use of a client device, an integrating system captures the search for metadata and provides a list of metadata both native to the front-end system and virtualized from disparate external systems. The end user selects metadata in order to retrieve properties comprising the metadata. The integrating system captures the front-end system's command to retrieve the metadata. The integrating system converts the metadata request from the format of the front-end system to the format of the external system whose metadata was selected.

Abstract: The present invention is a dispenser protector device and method. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a fastener that is associated with a dispenser spigot, or like device. A shield is formed, or otherwise connected, to the fastener such that when the fastener is mounted to a dispenser spigot, the shield prevents direct contact with the spigot of outside elements. While numerous, differing types of contacts are anticipated and protected against by the present invention, the most typical is that when water bottle openings come in contact with dispenser spigots, which generally occurs when water bottles are being refilled. The present invention protects against such direct contact, and other forms of bacterial transmission. It is anticipated that the present invention may be of varied configuration, size, and material construction.

Abstract: A system for displaying products or services for purchase on any document displayed on any computer device, comprising conducting a statistical frequency analysis of the word occurrence in the document to determine the primary subject matter of the document and/or keywords in the document, selecting products which are relevant to the subject matter and keywords of the document, either by manual selection or by automatic selection. Conducting a statistical frequency analysis of the word occurrence in the product or service descriptions, to determine the keywords in the product descriptions, and matching the keywords from the document with the keywords from the product descriptions accomplish automatic selection.

Abstract: A system and method for presenting fantasy sports content with broadcast content is disclosed. One aspect of the invention is to provide a way for a user to customize and configure how fantasy-sports-related content is presented along with broadcast content. In one embodiment, an online user interface is used to set a plurality of user preferences and settings which tailors and formats the fantasy-sports-related content and services available via a client-side device. Another aspect of the invention is to present the customized fantasy-related content along with broadcasted content, such as a sporting event. In one embodiment, a user is able to view a broadcasted sporting event simultaneously with information relating to the user's fantasy team and players.

Abstract: A strapless spur system having a retainer attached to a boot or other footwear, a detachable base with a spring loaded plunger for secure attachment and detachment of the base to the retainer on the footwear. A preferred embodiment includes a mechanism built into the base which releasably engages the spur. The mechanism may be a spring lock which engages a void on the retainer. The spur assembly may have an upward or downward configured spur and the spur assembly may be engaged to the footwear with any of a number of reciprocal mating configurations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for building fast and efficient support vector classifiers for large data classification problems which is useful for classifying pages from the World Wide Web and other problems with sparse matrices and large numbers of documents. The method takes advantage of the least squares nature of such problems, employs exact line search in its iterative process and makes use of a conjugate gradient method appropriate to the problem.

Abstract: A method and system are described herein for obtaining IGP network information useful in determining network routing topologies. The method involves querying a router for its router identifier and all its area identifiers, counting the router's number of area identifiers to determine whether the router is an ABR or an ASBR, and querying the router's link state database for the lowest area identifier on the router. The method further involves importing all Type 1 and Type 2 LSAs for that area into the database of a network discovery software engine, importing from the router's link state database only those networks outside the router's autonomous system that are also directly connected to an ASBR, then moving to the next highest area identifier in the router's database to repeat importing Type 1 and Type 2 LSAs for that area into the database.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention removes barriers that undermine efficient risk-management. The invention prioritizes consumers by predicting their unmet demand for risk protection. Once deemed eligible, consumers are enrolled and funds are allocated to the payment of a premium for income insurance, contribution to a financial vehicle such as a savings or investment product, and payment of a premium for savings loss insurance. Active participants are eligible for income protection in case of job loss, systematic savings and ownership of public equities, principal protection and incentives based on utilization. The system and method of the present invention is calibrated on an ongoing basis to the behaviors of target consumers.

Abstract: Network devices such as intrusion detection systems, routers, firewalls, servers, and other network devices are monitored to aggregate all event data generated by monitored devices to provide a threat ranking of all network activity. A threat level for a given host is determined by a threat weighting assigned to that host and a threat weighting assigned to that host's netblock. In addition, a vulnerability for a given event is determined by the event's destination threat associated with a vulnerability value indexed by the event's destination and the event's type.

Abstract: A method of providing relevant search information comprises receiving a search term. The method also comprises locating a first search result that matches the search term, wherein the first search result is associated with a first measure of reputation, locating a second search result that matches the search term, wherein the second search result is associated with a second measure of reputation, and preferentially presenting the first and the second search results based on the first and the second measures of reputation.

Abstract: The likely relevance of each term of a search-engine query of two or more terms is determined by their deletion probability scores. If the deletion probability scores are significantly different, the deletion probability score can be used to return targeted ads related to the more relevant term or terms along with the search results. Deletion probability scores are determined by first gathering historical records of search queries of two or more terms in which a subsequent query was submitted by the same user after one or more of the terms had been deleted. The deletion probability score for a particular term of a search query is calculated as the ratio of the number of times that particular term was itself deleted prior to a subsequent search by the same user divided by the number of times there were subsequent search queries by the same user in which any term or terms including that given term was deleted by the same user prior to the subsequent search. Terms are not limited to individual alphabetic words.

Abstract: A technique for ranking records of a database is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for ranking records of a database located during a search of an index to the database performed in response to a query, wherein the index has a plurality of index entries, and wherein each index entry has a weight.

Abstract: A method for monitoring client interaction with a resource downloaded from a server in a computer network includes the steps of using a client to specify an address of a resource located on a first server, downloading a file corresponding to the resource from the first server in response to specification of the address, using the client to specify an address of a first executable program located on a second server, the address of the first executable program being embedded in the file downloaded from the first server, the first executable program including a software timer for monitoring the amount of time the client spends interacting with and displaying the file downloaded from the first server, downloading the first executable program from the second server to run on the client so as to determine the amount of time the client interacts with the file downloaded from the first server, using a server to acquire client identifying indicia from the client, and uploading the amount of time determined by the firs

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and software for recognizing and flagging a data item used by one or more application program as falling within the scope of a rule but anomalous when compared with other data items falling within the scope of the rule. The method of the present invention comprises determining a collection to which the data item belongs as defined by the rule. The collection that the data item belongs to is analyzed to calculate statistics regarding the other data items that are part of the collection. Based on the statistical calculations, it is determined whether the data item is an anomalous data item. If the data item is identified as an anomalous data item, it is flagged.

Abstract: A system for indexing a document including: receiving a document to be processed for inclusion in an index of documents; locating a set of documents that include hyperlinks to the document; retrieving anchortext associated with each hyperlink; parsing the anchortext into one or more tokens. Then for each token the following acts are performed: determining a weight for the token, determining whether the weight assigned to the token exceeds a threshold token weight; and indexing the document under the token, if the token weight assigned to the token exceeds the threshold token weight.

Abstract: A set of criteria is acquired that defines a category of entities. The set of criteria is dynamically applied to identify an entity that meets the criteria. It is determined that the entity is registered as having control over at least a portion of a World-Wide Web address. The at least a portion of a World-Wide Web address is associated with the entity in a presentation that indicates that the entity belongs to the category of entities. In the presentation, a link may be included to a set of computer data about the entity. The set of computer data includes information other than information provided at a World-Wide Web site corresponding to the World-Wide Web address.