Abstract: In a system (e.g., debit card) where a PIN is entered as verification, the PIN and biometric information, which is free of being stolen or faked, are combined to realize secure user verification. The leakage and the theft of a PIN is reliably prevented, thereby realizing a high security ability. To-be-verified biometric feature data is transmitted from first transceiving interface (205) of data processing device (200) to portable electronic device (300). Biometric feature data verifying section (306) of portable electronic device (300) compares the to-be-verified biometric feature data, which has been received by second transceiving interface (301), with valid biometric feature data.

Abstract: A method for controlling communications between a client and a cluster of servers includes conducting a first communication session over a network between the client and a selected one of the servers in the cluster, and sending identifying data generated responsive to the first communication session over the network for storage by the client. Upon receiving a request from the client to conduct a second communication session, the request comprising the identifying data, the request is routed to the selected server responsive to the identifying data in the request.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for connecting first and second user-terminals to one another over a network (e.g., the internet) containing a plurality of user-terminals and a plurality of respective network access servers. When the second user-terminal connects to its respective network access server, this network access server sends connection information to the subscriber data server which updates its database with this connection information. The subscriber data server handles an incoming call request, from a first user-terminal connected to a first virtual private network, to establish a connection between the first user-terminal and the second user-terminal that is connected to a second virtual private network. The subscriber data server at first searches in its database for connection information of the second user-terminal and then determines the respective network access server that is connected to the second user-terminal based on the determined connection information.

Abstract: A system for providing provisioning and operation at a wireless device comprising a first computer comprising a communication facility adapted to communicate information to remote computers and the wireless device; a second computer comprising a locating facility for locating the first computer; and a wireless device comprising a microprocessor and a mobile communication facility; wherein the first computer, the second computer and the wireless device are connected to the Internet; wherein the locating facility is adapted to facilitate communication between the first computer and the wireless device; and wherein the first computer and the wireless device are adapted to permit a user of the wireless device to access information at the first computer from the wireless device.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for sending an encrypted message through a distribution list exploder in order to forward the encrypted message to recipients on a distribution list. The system operates by encrypting the message at a sender using a message key to form an encrypted message. The system also encrypts the message key with a group public key to form an encrypted message key. The group public key is associated with a group private key to form a public key-private key pair associated with a group of valid recipients for the message. Next, the system sends the encrypted message and the encrypted message key to the distribution list exploder, and the distribution list exploder forwards the encrypted message to a plurality of recipients specified in the distribution list. After receiving the encrypted message and the encrypted message key, the recipient decrypts the encrypted message key to restore the message key.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for point-to-point communication between a sender (SRV(m)) and a receiver (SRV(m)) by means of messages with flexible message formats (ILMF) wherein any of said messages includes: a header with a least message definition references (MSG ID. MSG CLASS, MSG VERSION, MSG CREATOR), a sender identifier (SENDER ID) and a destination address (DESTINATION ADDRESS); message content regarding: number of fields (FIELD COUNT) and content of any field (FIELD(1), . . . ); number of objects (OBJECT COUNT) and content of any object (OBJECT(1), . . . ); number of field mappings (MAP COUNT) and content of any field mapping (MAP(1), . . . ), any field mapping being usable by predetermined fields; number of actions (ACTION COUNT) and content of any actions (ACTION(1), . . . ), any action being at least usable by predetermined fields.

Abstract: The “what” and “how” of policy-based management is integrated in a single framework that enables a system administrator to specify service-level quality of service (QoS) goals for automatic enforcement. Automatic enforcement of the specified “high-level” QoS goals is realized through the execution of “low-level” rule-based or procedural logic, without the client having to specify the low level logic. Specifically, one embodiment of the invention employs a management server including a graphical interface that allows a user, e.g. a system administrator, to easily specify parameters for service-level QoS goals. A QoS goal is defined by the administrator selecting a client, a service and a QoS expression that specifies the desired service-level QoS. The state of the network is monitored and one or more defined QoS goals are selected for evaluation in a continuous process. The QoS delivered for the selected goal is determined and compared to the desired QoS for the selected QoS goal.

Abstract: A processor in a data processing system having multiple cache memories performs cache memory or processor module affinity dispatchin. Processes awaiting dispatch are stored in prioritized queues. Each queue has a priority chain, and a chain for each cache memory or processor module, with each chain containing processes ready for dispatch. The dispatcher checks the queues in priority order, starting with the priority chain for a queue, followed by the chain corresponding to the cache memory or processor module that the process last executed upon, followed by chains corresponding to other cache memories or processor modules.

Abstract: A computer based system for evaluating particular natural resource property includes a remotely located client computer based device having means for remote communication and software for generating a Evaluation Request corresponding to a particular natural resource property, a local computer based device having a device for remote communication having evaluating and controlling software thereon which is responsive to the Evaluation Request of the remotely located client computer based device, whereupon the Evaluation Request the local computer based device initiates a Due Diligence application, the Due Diligence application includes software means for generating a GET Request corresponding to a predetermined characteristic data for the particular natural resource property from at least one of a remote database and local database, and further having software for receiving and manipulating the predetermined characteristic data assigning a predetermined weighting factor corresponding thereto and generating at l

Abstract: Frame-based streaming data is controlled through a reconfigurable graph of processing modules. A control mechanism employs a set of components that are used and combined among themselves to implement control functions at the control pins of processing modules. The components include a source pin and a sink pin for connecting modules together, a queue for making data frames available to module functions, a data-frame requester, and a splitter for handling graph branches. When modules are assembled into a graph, a control manager implements their control operations as combinations of the above components, then examines all of the components in a graph control structure to determine whether any can be removed as unnecessary to the overall operation of the structure. If so, the remaining components are connected directly to each other. When the graph is played, control packets traverse the simplified structure, carrying with them associated frames of data for processing by the modules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scheduling jobs having a staging time and a processing time are described. In one method, the jobs are divided into subsets based on a predetermined criteria such as depending on whether the staging time is longer than the processing time. In this method, the jobs in each subset are ordered independently. The jobs are then scheduled by alternating between the ordered subsets. In a second method, the jobs are again divided into subsets based on a predetermined criteria such as depending on whether the staging time is longer than the processing time. The jobs in each subset are ordered independently. The jobs in one subset are then simply appended to the other subset. In a third method, the jobs are ordered according to a predetermined criterion into a list and are executed by alternating between both ends of the list. The invention is also applicable to scheduling jobs having a destaging time.

Abstract: A computer program product enables a computer device to implement a method of monitoring Web page traffic. The multi-step method begins by automatically sending a first ping at a first time to a first Internet address associated with a first Web page. A first response time for the first ping is measured to determine a first level of Internet traffic on the first Web page. Using the first response time, a first value is assigned to a perceptible characteristic of a first graphical object, which is then displayed on a display device associated with the computer device. Next, a second ping is automatically sent to the first Internet address at a second time. The second response time to the second ping is measured to determine a second level of Internet traffic on the first Web page. Based on the second response time a second value is assigned to the perceptible characteristic of the first graphical object, which is then redisplayed on the display device.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the scheduling of threads in a multi-thread processor system. The multi-thread processor system has a multi-thread processor, a main memory, a cache memory, and a thread scheduler. Information is sent from the cache memory to the thread scheduler for determining which thread the processor is going to execute. The thread scheduler calculates or maintains a figure of merit for each thread executing on the processor. The figure of merit determines which thread to switch to when the current or previous thread has a long latency. The figure of merit define the execution environment as measured by the performance of the cache memory. The figure of merit can be the owner of a particular thread, the number of data lines accessed by a particular thread which resides in the cache, the number of times a particular thread has hit in the cache over a specified time interval, the thread that installed the data or the thread that was used most recently.