Abstract: A method and system for generating a database query language request for performing a join between a plurality of database tables including a first database table and a second database table. The first table includes a first plurality of fields and the second database table includes a second plurality of fields, where each one of the plurality of fields has a particular meaning. The method and system includes providing a plurality of expressions that communicate the meaning of the each of the fields in the first and second plurality of fields. A user then submits a query requesting information from the tables in the form of a conjunction of literals. Each of the literals are then mapped to all matching expressions to provide a list of fields to be queried. The list of fields includes a first field from the first table and a second field from the second table, such that the mapping indicates that the first and second fields have the same meaning.

Abstract: An interaction framework is based on user configurable view links, where a view link is created by dragging an icon from a source view, and dropping it onto a target view. When a user subsequently selects an object in the source view, its contents are expanded in the target view. View links enable such multi-view extensions as link filters, in which functions are provided which can create dynamic linked content.

Abstract: A process is provided that allows an exportable SSL client to negotiate an encrypted session using strong encryption with a server if the server is allowed to use strong encryption. With this process, the SSL client is normally limited to export strength encryption. But, when it is communicating with an approved server, it is able to expand the available set of encryption algorithms to include stronger algorithms/key lengths. The process involves performing an SSL handshake twice. The process begins when a client, i.e. a user, wants to establish a session with a server. The client first initiates a network connection to the server. The first handshake between an export client and an approved server results in an SSL session that uses export strength encryption. This establishes a connection using an exportable cipher suite. The client examines the server's certificate obtained as part of the first handshake.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for revealing the marked structure of a document, e.g. a document written in HTML, such that a person reviewing the document is instructed in the operation and recreation of the document from a casual on-screen review of the document. During operation of the invention, an input file is first read. The file is parsed into markers, e.g. HTML tags, during input. A vector is built of all markers, including the function and location of the markers. For each marker, a glossary is accessed to determine what the marker is and what the marker does. Depending upon the mode of operation selected by the user, the invention can provide a learn mode in which a "mouse-over" trigger is generated for each marked section, e.g. a JavaScript mouse-over, a NetHelp trigger, or layers for each marking; and provide a performance support mode in which display units, e.g. layers, are generated for each marking and displayed for each marking.

Abstract: A time authority is established within a trusted time authority hierarchy which is periodically updated with the current date and time by the time authority. The user trusts the time authority and the associated hierarchy. Servers in the chain of the established authority are authorized to stamp a message with the time and date and encode the message so the recipient knows whether the message has been tampered with since the date stamp was attached. Existing browser security features are used to provide the tamper-proof mechanism. Messages are sent to trusted outgoing mail servers and are time stamped, encoded with the time authority's digital signature for tamper protection, and are also encrypted according to the user's preferences. The message is then routed to the intended recipient whose mail reader receives the message, decodes the time authority's digital signature for tamper detection, and decrypts the message if it has been encrypted.

Abstract: A method and system for removing duplicate query results in a database system comprising a plurality of data sources. The method and system includes issuing a query from a user to a first data source. In response to receiving a first query result from the data source, a first hash index is computed for the first query result and the first query result is passed on to the user. The method and system further includes receiving a second query result and computing a second hash index for the second query result. The first hash index is then compared with the second hash index to cheek for a hash collision. If the first, and second hash indexes match, the first data source is queried for data corresponding to the second query result. And if the first data source contains the data, then the second query result is considered a duplicate and is discarded.

Abstract: A sprite engine or compositor that is well-adapted to a variety ofadaptable to a host platforms and that minimizes the amount of drawing that occurs on a refresh of a framebuffer display area. The invention exploits the host platform's abilities to perform both back-to-front and front-to-back drawing algorithms, where the choice of algorithm used depends upon whether a sprite is opaque or transparent. Each sprite registers itself with a sprite engine, identifying whether or not the sprite is wholly opaque or notis transparent, the bounding area of the sprite, and the function that the sprite uses to draw. The function can be the drawing routine that is available from the host platform or operating system. The sprite engine keeps track of the Z position of each sprite and examines each sprite to determine if the sprite overlaps a particular region that needs to be refreshed.

Abstract: A tool for smart system configuration assists in needs assessment, product/options selection, pricing, and distribution. The tool recommends a system configuration that most nearly meets a customer's needs, based upon the results of an interactive customer product selection session in which the customer progresses through a dialog that is implemented in a series of cascading style sheets. The tool is customizable to meet customer-specific requirements. A proposal template is provided to collect customer input and merge customer responses during the product selection session into fields within a proposal template. The tool is written in client-side JavaScript and Dynamic HTML. Product pricing information provided by the tool is readily updated, for example using push technology.

Abstract: A prefetching and control system for a computer network environment. The user configures the client's prefetch parameters which are: enabling/disabling prefetching, prefetch threshold value, and the maximum number of documents to prefetch. A prefetch value or weight is contained in the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) page or prefetch file, called a pathfile, for each link. The HTML page contains the prefetch values for each of its links, while pathfile contains the weights for every link on the HTML page associated with the Universal Resource Locator (URL). The client compares the prefetch or weight values of each link with its threshold value to decide if the link should be prefetched and placed in the local cache as long as the maximum number of documents to prefetch is not exceeded. Pathfiles reside on the server and are created by the server or web administrator/author.

Abstract: A router discovery system for virtual routers automatically builds a multicast virtual network over an existing network topology. The virtual routers send out "heartbeats" across the Internet Protocol (IP) multicast network marked with a Time to Live (TTL) value containing the number of hops that the packet can take through the network before it gets discarded. The originating router gets an estimate of how far away the receiving router is when it receives the response packet from the receiving router (i.e. the receiving router is less than TTL hops away from the originating router). The invention uses the TTL values to find the closest routers. It balances the efficiency of the IP network connections with the distance of the routers to create a balanced network topology and establishes connections with the routers that meet these criteria. When a router comes alive, it sends out multicast packets across the network.

Abstract: An interface for scheduling temporal events is provided in the form of a time line associated with a desktop metaphor. The interface comprises a clock representation in any of several formats that is associated with a display, where the clock has a first display configuration that is integrated into an electronic desktop in a seamless and consistent fashion, and that represents a most minimized state of the scheduling interface. The clock also has one or more additional display configurations that represent expanded states to provide a time line representation of such items scheduled events, related documentation, participant identity, and resource management tools.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for scheduling and time management. The invention is adapted for use with computer systems, including intranet and Internet systems. The schedule owner schedule tasks and appointments with a scheduling tool. A threshold amount indicating the total amount of meetings or other interruptions the schedule owner prefers during a time period is selected. This threshold amount is defined according to number, time, type, or scheduler. A scheduler accesses the schedule with the scheduling tool to search for un-scheduled times in which to set a meeting. If such meeting exceeds the threshold amount, a signal is given by the scheduling tool. Alternative embodiments permit or prohibit the scheduling of a meeting in excess of said threshold. The invention is also operable as a group scheduling application. The schedules of any number of prospective attendees are compared to locate a time at which all of said users are available. A meeting may then be scheduled at that time.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for converting a computer program from a current version first language to a localized version in a target language. All resource information of the program is stored in a resource dynamic link library (DLL). A current version resource DLL is separated from executable code and compared by a leverage tool to resource DLLs of a previous version of the computer program and to a previous target language translation. The leverage tool stores all resource data from the current version resource DLL as translation records in a resource database. The translation records may include translation instructions and comments. Strings in the current version resource DLL that were present in the previous version, and already translated in the previous target language resource DLL are stored in a new target language resource DLL. Strings which are not to be translated to the target language are locked.

Abstract: An automatic client configuration system provides a system administrator with the ability to configure every client in a network with one file which resides on the server, and which contains information for setting the client's lock files, preferences, configuration information, and software versions. Control over logical groupings of clients is possible using separate configuration files for each group. The configuration of the network clients is performed during runtime, is automatic, and can be initiated by either the client or the server. The client contacts the server at startup for configuration information, which returns the configuration file that is used by the client to configure its system. The administrator uses the server to query the clients in the network for information, such as file version numbers. If the server determines that any of the clients need file updates, it sends the files to the specific client, which replaces the existing files with the new files sent by the server.

Abstract: An interaction framework is based on user configurable view links, where a view link is created by dragging an icon from a source view, and dropping it onto a target view. When a user subsequently selects an object in the source view, its contents are expanded in the target view. View links enable such multi-view extensions as dynamic sources and dynamic targets, where a view link establishes a dynamic operation, in which a source and/or target relation is dynamically determined, e.g. by an active view.

Abstract: A prefetching and control system for a computer network environment. The user configures the client's prefetch parameters which are: enabling/disabling prefetching, prefetch threshold value, and the maximum number of documents to prefetch. A prefetch value or weight is contained in the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) page or prefetch file, called a pathfile, for each link. The HTML page contains the prefetch values for each of its links, while pathfile contains the weights for every link on the HTML page associated with the Universal Resource Locator (URL). The client compares the prefetch or weight values of each link with its threshold value to decide if the link should be prefetched and placed in the local cache as long as the maximum number of documents to prefetch is not exceeded. Pathfiles reside on the server and are created by the server or web administrator/author.

Abstract: A method of signal processing including receiving an input vector for processing, decomposing an input vector of N length including multiplying input vector with a first and a second decimating matrices to generate a shape vector and a detail vector shape vector and detail vector having a length of N/2, where N is an integer, reconstructing input vector including multiplying shape vector and detail vector by a first and second restoring matrices respectively, to generate a reconstructed shape vector and a reconstructed detail vector, and adding reconstructed shape vector to reconstructed detail vector to generate an integer processed input vector is presented. Accordingly, signal processing involves fewer integer operations compared to floating point operations representing more precision for less operations, and further, requires neither the approximation or the computation overhead of the conventional approach.

Abstract: A computer program product is for use with a computer system that executes methods. Scope permission setting computer readable program code includes access request reception computer readable program code for receiving a request from a first method, executing at a first security level, to be dynamically empowered to access methods to be executed at a second security level, wherein the second security level is higher than the first security level. Dynamic capability activation computer readable program code is responsive to the access request reception code and includes static capability determination computer readable program code for determining if the first method is statically capable of accessing security methods generally and dynamic capability indication computer readable program code, responsive to the static capability determination code, for indicating in the activation record for the first method that the first method has been dynamically empowered to access security methods generally.

Abstract: A method and system for performing a database join across a first field and a second field that represent a conceptual meaning, wherein the first field represents the conceptual meaning using a first value and the second field represents the conceptual meaning using a second value. The method and system includes mapping the first value and the second value to the conceptual meaning using a code-mapping table. After the code-mapping table is generated, the system receives a request that specifies a join operation between the first and second fields. The method and system further includes joining the first and second fields in response to identifying that the first and second fields map to the conceptual meaning in the code-mapping table.