Abstract: A system and method for programming applications to respond to slow links. The programming may be done during configuration of a system, or it may be implemented dynamically in response to a recently-detected change in network performance. The method includes the steps of continually monitoring links in a network, periodically calculating runtime link speeds for the links, and identifying slow links based on the monitoring and calculating. The method may additionally include the preliminary step of predefining so-called original link speed factors for the links. Runtime determination of runtime link speed factors for the respective links and comparison of the original link speed factors to the real-time link speed factors will then be used for the identification of slow links. A variety of application responses may be programmed as slow link responses.

Abstract: A method for generating notification based expressions includes identifying notifications supported by an agent and specifying objects for at least one of the notifications. One or more expressions are defined based on objects specified for the notification. The method further includes sending a list of objects and expressions to the agent to configure the notifications received at a management station upon occurrence of an event at the agent.

Abstract: A family of complex systems has a shared family architecture. A component framework supports participating plug-in components. Individual plug-in components provides one or more services. The component framework defines roles providing one or more common interfaces for services of several plug-in components. Notably, the component framework includes an inventory function for assessing available services in the participating plug-in components.

Abstract: A method for facilitating the electronic scheduling for playback of a variety of media such as music or video is disclosed. In the described system, discrete items of content (such as music or video) are scheduled for play back based upon a schedule created by the integration of five standard scheduling methods into a single comprehensive scheduling algorithm. In the first scheduling method a discrete item of content is assigned a frequency rating relative to other items of content. A second way to schedule is called recurring playback. In the recurring method, a particular item of content is scheduled to repeat at specific intervals of time. Intervals can be in terms of minutes, hours or days. A third scheduling method allows the content to be played according to a time base, that is, media content can be scheduled to play at a specific date and time. The forth type of input to the scheduling system is a trigger event which is received from a source external to the scheduling system.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for telecommunications call service and call feature processing utilize a compiled representation of a textual description in a mark-up language of operations describing a telecommunication service is generated. Objects access this compiled representation, in response to events occurring with respect to a telecommunication service, in order to cause operations represented in the compiled representation to be executed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for controlling application software while switching between sessions in a multi-session computing environment. An apparatus includes memory coupled to switching logic and application program managing logic. The switching logic is configured to selectively switch console control of a computing device between at least two user kernel sessions that are maintained in the memory. The application program managing logic is configured to selectively control at least one application program that is operatively configured within at least one of the user kernel sessions. For example, the application program managing logic can be configured to stop the operation, re-start certain application programs, notify application programs about switching events, and/or adjust the playback of audio and/or video signals associated certain application programs.

Abstract: A system and method for reserving conference resources for a multipoint conference includes receiving a request for a multipoint conference reservation and a list of participants. Communication paths for a plurality of the participants may be predicted. A multipoint control unit resource requirement may be estimated. A first multipoint control unit may be selected to host the multipoint conference. The availability of the multipoint control unit resource requirement at approximately a scheduled start time of the multipoint conference may be determined. A second multipoint control unit may be selected to host the multipoint conference, if the first multipoint control unit does not have the multipoint control unit resource requirement available at the scheduled start time and for the duration of the conference.

Abstract: A method and data communication system for transferring multimedia data which stores on an application server a multimedia file including a plurality groups of multimedia data. Each group has a predetermined data size. Next, the system receives a client request and reads a client address at the application server. The client address corresponds to at least one client apparatus. Next, the system strips consecutive groups from the multimedia file and buffers the stripped groups in a staging buffer. Then, the system transfers to a streaming server, consecutive groups from the staging buffer and the client address. The system then converts at the streaming server, each of the consecutive groups received from the staging buffer into a format readable by the at least one client apparatus. Finally, the streaming server sends each of the converted groups to the at least one client apparatus.

Abstract: A method and system for streaming software applications to a client uses an application server having a library with the application files stored therein. A streaming manager is configured to send the application files to a client as a plurality of streamlets, each streamlet corresponding to a particular data block in a respective application file. A streaming prediction engine is provided to identify at least one streamlet which is predicted to be most appropriate to send to a given client at a particular time in accordance with a prediction model reflecting the manner in which the application files are loaded and used by the application. In the preferred implementation, the application files are preprocessed and stored as a set of compressed streamlets, each of which corresponds to a file data block having a size equal to a code page size, such as 4k, used during file reads by an operating system expected to be present on a client system.

Abstract: A method of representing a development project is presented comprising identifying a plurality of sources comprising the development project, determining whether any of the sources are required simultaneously and, if not, dynamically generating a filter graph representation of the development project utilizing a segment filter to couple a source to multiple processing threads.

Abstract: The bidding method for selecting a protocol involves generating a bid for each protocol and ranking the bids in a prescribed order such that the order of the bids reflects the order of preference among the protocols. Thereafter, the most preferred protocol is executed or processes to establish the intended communication. If for some reason the more preferred protocol is unsuccessful, the next best protocol according to the order of the bids is processed. The bids are generated according to system/user set configuration and target object constraints. Bids fall into ranges of bid values where each range indicates a certain priority and associated rules.

Abstract: An individual information managing device connected to a communication line network, for managing individual information. A disclosure procedure executing section protects an individual information storing section in which information on each individual has been registered and a disclosure procedure storing section in which an information disclosure procedure assigned for each individual by each individual has been registered. The disclosure procedure executing section receives a request for disclosing information on a specific individual, notifies the specific individual that there has been a request for disclosure in a posting procedure that matches the posting procedure to the specific individual stored in the disclosure procedure storing section, and receives an approval for the information disclosure from the individual who has received this posting.

Abstract: An event distribution and event handling system receives a first event at a first event filter. The first event filter has a set of associated filter criteria, which is applied to the first event. If the first event satisfies the filter criteria, the first event is transformed into a second event and the second event is communicated to a second event filter having a set of associated filter criteria. The second event filter is associated with an event consumer, which performs an action if the second event satisfies the filter criteria associated with the second event filter. The second event includes an event header having a standard format and a payload having multiple payload objects.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for associating the IP address of a client within a computer network with the address of the client's local domain name system (LDNS) server (“network discovery” function), and may furthermore use this association to provide such functions as network proximity analysis and load balancing. When a client's LDNS server queries the authoritative DNS (ADNS) server about an IP address of an application server, a name server monitor (NSM) of that ADNS server returns an IP address of an application server monitor (ASM) of the appropriate application server, instead of the address of the server itself, and records the IP address of the querying LDNS server, the ASM address returned, and a timestamp. When the ASM of the application server receives a request for web content from the client, it records the IP address of the client and a timestamp, with possibly other pertinent information (round-trip time, bandwidth estimate, etc.

Abstract: Macro control of streaming digital content through servers where digital content is transcoded into streams of multimedia data in dependence upon remote director instructions including hyperlinked URLs. Embodiments include recording digital content, storing in computer memory macros comprising a URL and the first time when the URL was invoked to control digital content, the macros being stored in the order in which the URLs are first invoked; reading from computer memory the macros in the order in which the macros were stored; invoking each URL of each macro as a hyperlink at a second time, the second time being dependent upon the first time; retrieving, transcoding, selecting for inclusion in output streams, and communicating to client devices, in dependence upon remote director instructions, the digital content.

Abstract: Tracking and displaying of allocated messages in dynamic workload balancing systems in message driven transaction environments which involve distributing data processing transactions into messages and dynamically allocating each of the messages to different computer systems for performance, comprising enabling a user to request the performance of a data processing transaction, dynamically transforming via a server computer any requested transactions into messages free of user input and then allocating the messages to different computer systems. The system has user interactive displays for displaying the allocated messages and associated computer systems when required by the user so that he may track the messages.

Abstract: A group-browsing system for a plurality of clients each including a shared web browser. A server is linked to the shared web browser of each client and is configured to monitor the transmission of the web site URL request from the shared web browser of one client of the group and to direct the request to the shared web browser of other clients in the group. A gatekeeper module is configured to first mask the identity of each client's computer on the shared browser. This prevents the web site from retrieving any client's actual identifier. Second, the gatekeeper is also configured to create a same temporary identifier for each client when any client logs on to the web site so that the same web page is displayed for all the clients in the group.

Abstract: A system for communication over the internet and through a firewall utilizing a single communications protocol. A simple object access communications protocol (SOAP) is utilized. This protocol is an XML/HTTP based protocol for sending messages from one object to another across the internet in a platform independent manner. This type of protocol can be utilized to control network elements provided at various locations.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for distributing and scheduling the play of advertising content utilizing a network. A database is provided for storing the advertising content. A server is coupled to the database. The server is capable of receiving and storing input preferences relating to parameters selected from the group consisting of: frequency, interval, time of play, and trigger events. A scheduling algorithm is executed on the server for generating scheduling data utilizing the input preferences. The scheduling algorithm is based on predetermined methods of processing these input preferences. A network is coupled between the database and the server for distributing the advertising content and the scheduling data to a plurality of output devices.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements are provided for use in multiple user computing environments. These methods and arrangements can be configured to allow for a plurality of separate and concurrent desktops and workspaces within the shared computing environment. One method includes creating a separate desktop thread for each user that is authenticated during a logon process, creating a separate desktop associated with each desktop thread, and maintaining a list of desktop threads that are created. In this manner, several users can be logged on simultaneously. In certain implementations, the method further includes establishing a separate user environment associated with each desktop and launching a separate user shell associated with each desktop. The list of desktop threads allows for selective and/or automatic switching from a first desktop to a second desktop without terminating a desktop thread associated with the first desktop. The methods and arrangements are also applicable to remote process logon and switching.