Abstract: A computer program for representing the information technology infrastructure of an organization includes an interactive display module and an output module. The interactive display module can generate a hierarchical list of information technology elements and organizational elements in the information technology infrastructure of the organization and can generate an interactive user interface that presents the hierarchical list. The output module can generate a hierarchical graph of the information technology infrastructure of the organization. The hierarchical list and the hierarchical graph each represent the information technology infrastructure of the organization.

Abstract: A method and system are described for defining a user's access to one or more features of an application. One or more “attributes” are assigned to users of a computer system and stored in a data table. Each attribute has a name which designates the feature to which access is being defined, (e.g, the ability to access data within the database), and a value defining the limits of access. Attributes may be assigned in groups to eliminate the burden of preparing attribute assignments one by one for each user. When an application is run, the attributes are retrieved and enforced such that the user's access to the features of the application is defined in accordance with the retrieved attributes.

Abstract: A system for communicating information between a central site and a remote site includes a central network access device operable to receive a broadcast signal from the central site and to condition the broadcast signal to facilitate its transmission to the remote site using a satellite system. The central network access device further operable to receive from a wide area network an incoming signal originating from the remote site, and to condition the incoming signal for receipt by the central site.

Abstract: An integrated electronic commerce system (10) may include a server system (12) comprising a plurality of electronic commerce applications (44) and a server security system (46). The electronic commerce applications (44) may comprise an electronic mail application (52), a web server application (54), and a file transfer application (56). The server security system (46) may validate a client system (14) and download information operable to enable a service manager (90) of the client system (14) to invoke the electronic mail application (52), the web server application (54), and the file transfer application (56) to send and receive data over a network (18).

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method and system for communicating between a plurality of disparate hosts and an order processing system includes generating orders at each of the disparate hosts. The orders are transmitted from each of the hosts to a shared message handler using relational database statements. At the shared message handler, the orders are stored in a relational database table structure using relational database statements. The orders are transmitted from the relational database table structure of the shared message handler to the order processing system. Responses to the orders are received from the order processing system at the shared message handler. Each of the responses is associated with a corresponding order. The status of the corresponding orders are updated based on the responses and provided to the disparate hosts.

Abstract: An interactive knowledgebase (48) system is provided. The system comprises a server (14) and a client (12). The server (14) is operable to retrieve a plurality of informational pages with each informational page containing items and links to items. The server (14) is further operable to maintain a directory (172) of the items organized by category. The client (12) is coupled to the server (14) and operable to display the directory (172) in a first frame of a web browser (32). The client (12) is further operable to request information -pages from the server (14) and display the information pages in a second frame of the web browser (32). A user at the client (12) can participate in an exchange of items and comments regarding items with other users of the interactive knowledgebase (48).