Abstract: A method and apparatus provides random access to mainframe files that are accessed using an operating system that does not provide random access. This allows a computer system such as a mainframe on which random access is not supported to act as a file server for a computer system on which random access is supported without requiring the entire file to be downloaded to the client computer system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus establishes a connection for a communication session between two remote devices, then negotiates an additional connection. One of the connections is used to communicate data, not commands, allowing that connection to be more efficient because each remote device does not have to scan it for commands in the information it receives.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allows a switch or other network equipment device to provide Quality of Service information to a router or other user equipment devices using a management interface such as frame relay LMI. The switch and router negotiate the version of the management interface that has the capabilities of the present invention. The router can then request Quality of Service parameters from the switch. The switch provides the parameters and the router can use them to route information via the switch. If the parameters are changed in the switch or other changes occur, the switch notifies the router and the router can then request updated parameters from the switch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus checks a set of files against a manifest to determine whether to accept or reject the files. The manifest contains one or more policy sections that describe whether to accept files that are described in the manifest but not received, or received but not described in the manifest. The method and apparatus determines whether files are listed in the manifest but not received, or received but not listed in the manifest, and can accept the files in these circumstances based on the policy section of the manifest. The manifest may also contain a hash result for each file. The method and apparatus can hash the files received and compare the hash result produced with the hash result specified in the manifest. If the hash results computed for the file are different from the hash result for the file in the manifest, the file or the set of files may be rejected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allows a client or other device separate from a server to retrieve from the server more data than is requested by an application program on the client. The additional data is maintained by the client or other device and provided to the application program in response to a subsequent request, reducing the number of times data is requested from the server, and also the processing and overhead required by the server to supply the data. If the server releases memory pointing to the data on the server at the time or after all data specified by the application program has been retrieved, because the data is potentially retrieved from the server in amounts larger than requested by the application program, the server may release memory pointing to the data on the server sooner than it would by processing requests for the data from the application program alone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus identifies the existence of differences between two files on a personal computer, such as two versions of a Windows registry file. Portions of each of the files are hashed into a four byte value per portion to produce a set of hash results, and the set of hash results is combined with a four byte size of the portion of the file from which the hash was generated to produce a signature of each file. If the two files are different versions of a Windows registry file, the portion of the file hashed are the values of the Windows registry file. If the two files are different, there is a high probability that the signatures of the two files will be different. The signatures may be compared to provide a strong indicator whether the two files are different. Each four-byte hash from one file can be compared against its counterpart from the other file to determine the portion or portions of the files that differ.

Abstract: A method and apparatus connects a user to a remote network, and enforces operation of management software before the user is allowed to perform other tasks on the remote network. The method and apparatus also allows connection of the user to a third party network. The user may be restricted from accessing third party networks not on a trusted list of networks, which may be updated by the management software. The method and apparatus enforces access rules for the third party software to prevent unauthorized retrieval or deletion of information by the third party software.

Abstract: A method and apparatus heats ultrapure water using microwaves. Chambers such as pipes containing the water are capable of admitting microwaves to the water, allowing the microwaves to heat the water. The pipes may be made of inert material such as PVDF or quartz that will not introduce contamination into the water.

Abstract: A computer program product and apparatus builds a set of uninstall instructions from a set of installation instructions so that one or more installations of computer updates can be removed.

Abstract: A system and method of (1) creating a temporal queue in which responses to multiple client requests received simultaneously, or nearly simultaneously, by a server computer include indications of periods of time such that subsequent rounds of client requests are staggered in time, and (2) notifying system users of the status of their messages with respect to the temporal queue. A log-in request is transmitted from a user to the server computer. In response, a message containing an estimate of the period of time required for prior threads to conclude is sent. The user is notified of the remaining time left in the temporal queue. Upon the expiration of the period of time, the thread continues with further messages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus allows a client to easily send multiple commands to a server. The client registers one or more tables with the method and apparatus of the present invention, which contain information with which to query the client if the client provides commands to be sent to a server. When the client sends a command intended for the server, the command and the tables are used to query the client. If the application responds affirmatively to the query, additional commands are generated for sending to the server. The method and apparatus assist in handling errors by deleting, either unconditionally or upon receipt of an instruction from the client, all pending commands related to the command causing the error and not generating additional such commands.

Abstract: A method and apparatus identifies the existence of differences between two files on a personal computer, such as two versions of a Windows registry file. Some or all of each of the files are hashed into a four byte value per file, and each hash is combined with a four byte size of the portion of the file from which the hash was generated to produce a fingerprint of each file. If the two files are different versions of a Windows registry file, the portion of the file hashed are the values of the Windows registry file. If the two files are different, there is a high probability that the fingerprints of the two files will be different. The fingerprints may be compared to provide a strong indicator whether the two files are different.