Abstract: The invention provides a method for providing, from a client computer across a network, a secure password to one or more remote computers. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a string associated with an application on one of the or each remote computer; obtaining a password from a user of the client computer; combining the string and the password irreversibly to generate a secure password for the application; and providing only the secure password to the one remote computer.

Abstract: A technique for adapting receiver thresholds to improve rate-based flow control in a data communications network. With this invention, the flow control process becomes self-calibrating such that threshold values are dynamically adjusted to adapt to current network conditions, without requiring user intervention. Several different indicators of network conditions are monitored, and appropriate adjustments are made to the threshold(s) upon detecting these specific indicators. One monitor enables the threshold to increase when the network is uncongested, enabling the sender to increase its transmission rate. Conversely, the threshold is lowered if the network is congested, so that the transmission rate will be decreased. Another monitor balances bandwidth allocation among connections sharing a bottleneck resource, by lowering the threshold (and therefore decreasing the send rate) when a connection uses a high share of the resource.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable code with which a scheduling system can be implemented that allows a sender and a receiver to change priorities of queued messages. A technique is also defined for providing a receiver with an advance notice of intended message priority, enabling the receiver to request a priority change before transmission begins. These techniques provide the flexibility to respond to changes in dynamic, volatile network environments, as well as changes in user's wishes or requirements. A ranking technique is defined, whereby requests to change priority may be accepted or denied through a ranking algorithm that resolves potential conflicts in desired transmission priority using proposals exchanged by the parties (e.g. during connection establishment).

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for tailoring content for a session of a first data processing system communicating with a second data processing system by obtaining session specific information from the first data processing system and distributing tailoring functions between the first data processing system and the second data processing systems based upon the obtained session specific information. In particular, policies which control the distribution of tailoring functions between data processing systems based on session specific information may be obtained from a repository and tailoring functions distributed between the first data processing system and the second data processing system according to the obtained policies and the session specific information.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for enabling messaging systems to use alternative message delivery mechanisms. In existing instant messaging systems, messages cannot be delivered to an intended recipient unless the recipient is currently logged on to an instant messaging system. According to the present invention, users may register one or more alternative message delivery mechanisms (such as pagers, cell phones, etc.) through which they are available as an alternative to an instant messaging system. Constraints may optionally be added to these registered alternatives, such as specifying a limitation on days of the week and/or hours of the day when a particular alternative may be used. Providing that an alternative messaging mechanism is registered, and any constraints for this alternative are satisfied, in the first preferred embodiment the extended IMS will select a suitable alternative and deliver the message.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for managing user preferences in heterogenous networks. A native application is selected and a software routine and user preferences obtained from a server which allows installation of the user preferences of the native application on the computer obtaining the preferences. Thus, the software routine obtained may be tailored to the particular computer executing the native application. This routine may be downloaded without requiring intervention at the computer and may be downloaded only if needed by selection of an application. Furthermore, the user preferences may be selected based on a user or user group such that the preferences may be used on different computer by the same user or user group.

Abstract: A message broker data processing apparatus has a unit for receiving published messages on a topic from a publisher application; a unit for processing the received messages; and a unit for distributing the processed messages to subscriber applications; wherein the unit for distributing includes a plurality of subscription point data processing nodes, a first subscription point data processing node distributes messages to a subscriber application which has previously registered a subscription request identifying the first subscription point data processing node with the broker apparatus.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable code for reducing Extensible Markup Language (XML) and Document Type Definition (DTD) document file size through one or more novel compression techniques. In one aspect, a compression technique for tags is defined that reduces the size of tags within either or both of XML and DTD files. In another aspect, a compression technique for attributes within tags may be used to further reduce file size (again, in either XML or DTD files). In a further aspect, a compression technique for strings within an XML file is defined, whereby the decompression will be performed automatically by an XML parser. While these compression techniques are described with reference to XML, they may also be used advantageously with other notations derived from SGML (Standard Generalized Markup Language).

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable code for a technique with which files encoded according to the Extensible Markup Language (XML) notation can be marked up to indicate that the content of the file (or some portion thereof) is dynamic in nature and is to be updated automatically to reflect changing information. The proposed technique provides a novel way to specify that a data repository should be accessed as the source of the updates. Techniques are defined for specifying that this data repository access occurs once, and for specifying that it occurs when a set of conditions are satisfied (which may include periodically repeating the data repository access and content update). In one aspect, the data repository is a database; in another aspect, the data repository is a file system. Preferably, the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is used as an access method when the data repository being accessed is a database storing an LDAP directory.

Abstract: A server for use in a client/server computing system which coordinates the processing of distributed transactions in the client/server computing system, the server has: a means for sending requests for votes to each resource which has been called by the server to take part in a distributed transaction; a means for receiving votes from each resource in response to having sent requests for votes; a means for determining whether any of the resources has thrown an exception instead of returning a vote; and a means for assigning a programmed direction as a vote to a resource which has thrown an exception to complete the transaction if it is determined that a resource has thrown an exception instead of returning a vote.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable code for measuring network latency between a client computer and a server machine without requiring any additional software on the client. Network latency is a measurement that reflects the network round trip delay between a client machine and a server machine. The present invention defines a novel technique for gathering latency information. This information may be used in a variety of ways (such as making policy decisions that may limit the amount of data sent over a communications path due to detection of high latency in the network).

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable code for dynamically determining the most appropriate location for applying style sheets. The style sheets may be applied on a server (and/or Web proxy), or on a client, or when multiple style sheets are to be applied, some may be applied at the server while others are applied at the client. Application at the client depends on the capabilities of the client device. If the client device cannot apply style sheets, then they are applied at the server, and the resulting document is sent to the client; otherwise, the document may be sent to the client, where the client will perform the application process. Optionally, the document may be trimmed before it is sent to the client, using a style sheet preprocessing technique. General-purpose style sheets may be leveraged advantageously where a device-specific style sheet is not available, increasing the applicability of such style sheets.

Abstract: Enforcing data policy using style sheet processing. A Document Type Definition (DTD) associated with an Extensible Markup Language document is modified to specify a reference to stored data policy to be applied to document elements. Each data element may specify a different data policy. This technique uses minimal network transmission overhead, as the policy itself is not transmitted through the network until the DTD reaches the node where the data policy will be applied. Programming code implementing the data policy is then retrieved, using the references, by an Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) processor instrumented according to the present invention. Data policy is preferably enforced by overriding the existing XSL “value-of” method. DTD information describing a document element may be suppressed from a DTD being generated for the output document of the data policy enforcement process, providing privacy protection for the details of the associated policy.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a wireless transceiver on a reception side performs the steps of: measuring a radio strength of a radio signal received from another wireless transceiver; and by using the measured radio strength and a response policy concerning radio strength, determining the response timing to the received radio signal. A wireless transceiver on a transmission side performs the steps of: specifying a response policy concerning a radio strength for other wireless transceivers that will receive a radio signal; and transmitting to the wireless transceiver a radio signal including the specified response policy. As a result, a wireless transceiver located in an area where the wireless transceiver on the transmission side can be connected can be specified.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for integrating structured document content, such as XML (Extensible Markup Language) content, in a 3270 data stream structured field. The 3270 data stream structured fields, including the structured document content so embedded, are passed between a primary logical unit and a secondary logical unit that communicate with each other over a network using 3270 data stream architecture. An initialization protocol sends a Read Partition (Query) structured field from the primary logical unit to the secondary logical unit, to query whether the secondary logical unit supports structured document content. The secondary logical unit sends a Query Reply structured field to the primary logical unit in response to receipt of the Read Partition (Query) from the primary logical unit if the secondary logical unit supports structured document content.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable code for improving the manageability and usability of a Java environment. The advantages of applets and applications are combined, while avoiding particular disadvantages of both, resulting in a technique whereby all Java programs are executed without relying on use of a browser to provide a run-time environment. Techniques for improving the packaging of Java components, including run-time environments and extensions as well as applications, are defined. Dependencies are specified in a manner which enables them to be dynamically located and installed, and enables sharing dependent modules (including run-time environments) among applications. The dependency specification technique ensures that all dependent code will be automatically available at run-time, without requiring a user to perform manual installation.

Abstract: Proxy data stream handling and complex object parameter handling allow object oriented programs to be run as distributed programs without any explicit networking code, and without using an interface definition language (IDL). Two proxies are generated dynamically that allow method calls written for local invocation to be invoked over a network. These dynamically-generated proxies allow calls to flow across a network as if they were local, and contain support for using data stream and complex objects as parameters.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products allow intranet administrators to assign, generate and deliver content to users of an intranet. Intranet users are defined and assigned to various defined user groups. Units of content available to users of an intranet are also defined and assigned to various defined content groups. The defined content groups are then associated with the defined user groups such that each of the defined user groups has at least one of the defined units of content associated therewith. A content page creation profile is provided for each defined user and is configured to control how content is displayed within a user's customized content page. Through identified relationships of user groups and content groups, the units of content assigned to a user can be determined and a content page containing the assigned units of content can be created and delivered to a user.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products allow intranet administrators to assign, generate and deliver content to users of an intranet. Intranet users are defined and assigned to various defined user groups. Units of content available to users of an intranet are also defined and assigned to various defined content groups. The defined content groups are then associated with the defined user groups such that each of the defined user groups has at least one of the defined units of content associated therewith. A content page creation profile is provided for each defined user and is configured to control how content is displayed within a user's customized content page. Through identified relationships of user groups and content groups, the units of content assigned to a user can be determined and a content page containing the assigned units of content can be created and delivered to a user.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for enabling the on-demand generation, packaging, and delivery of archive files (such as cabinet, or “.cab”, files and Java archive, or “.jar”, files). This technique provides a more powerful, more flexible archive capability than the static technique of the prior art. A target server application is specified in place of a static pre-packaged archive file name, where this target will dynamically create an archive file in an application-dependent manner. Zero or more parameter name/value pairs may be specified as well, where the parameter values may be used by the target to customize the dynamic creation. Once created, archive files may optionally be cached to optimize future invocations of the archive content delivery process. Existing browser software may take advantage of the present invention without modification.