Abstract: A global messaging system delivers messages to user devices by employing aliases, permissions, and protocols. A sender sends a message to an alias. The message is transmitted to devices associated with the alias. The system compares the message length to a maximum message length and modifies the transmission of the message when the message length exceeds the maximum message length by sending a concatenated message and adding a header to the message. Accordingly, messages can be delivered to recipients without the need to know a physical device address or have the ability to directly communicate with the device.

Abstract: A method for testing upgrades and modifications to a first transmission network by providing a second internet transmission network including components that duplicate or simulate one or more of the components of the first network. The second network duplicates the functionality and configuration of the first network thereby permitting modifications to be installed and tested on the second network prior to installing them on the first transmission network. This in turn allows “bugs” to be found and eliminated before modifications are used on the first network. The invention also allows error signals to be injected to enable operators to compensate for and to avoid these errors before they appear on the first network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flow controlling apparatus provided in a node of a packet routing network, the flow controlling apparatus performing a rate-based congestion control on packets supplied via an incoming line as well as buffer management. The invention also relates to a node apparatus that incorporates such a flow controlling apparatus. In the flow controlling apparatus and the node apparatus, a frequency at which individual packets belonging to the flows are to be discarded during the course of buffer management are kept, for each flow, at approximately the same value. Therefore, in a network to which the invention is applied, the transmission quality is kept uniform and the service quality is highly maintained while flexible adaptation is made to various service forms.

Abstract: A network server runs a routine that is triggered by an external database management program. The routine receives configuration parameters from the database, and configures application programs resident on the server in accordance therewith.

Abstract: In a network interconnecting a plurality of content providers and a plurality of clients, for providing content to a client, each of the plurality of content providers is coupled to at least one content distribution network of a plurality of content distribution networks, wherein the client is coupled to at least one of the plurality of content distribution networks and a request for the content is sent from the client to a redirector node that receives requests, wherein a redirector at the redirector node provides an address for a server available to serve the requested content. When the client's content distribution network is a primary content distribution network for the content provider providing the requested content, redirecting the client to a server within the client's content distribution network.

Abstract: To provide an integrated IP network containing therein a plurality of separated IP networks with a variety of characteristics, such as IP telephone network, IP video network, IP electronic text network, best effort network, IP data multicast network and IP-based TV broadcast network. In the integrated IP network there are virtually installed a plurality of IP networks with various features, such as IP telephone network, IP video network, IP electronic text network, best effort network, IP data multicast network and IP-based TV broadcast network. An address management table is set in each of the network node devices installed at input points through which the integrated IP network is accessed from outside. The address management table is registered beforehand with terminal addresses and port numbers identifying the application programs (AP) in the terminal.

Abstract: A system and method for compressing a data set. The method comprises the steps of: (i) requesting a data set from a server to be sent to a user, (ii) determining the size of the data set to be sent, (iii) compressing the data set, (iv) assigning a compression flag to the compressed data set, (v) sending the compression flag and compressed data set to the user, (vi) inspecting the data set for compression, (vii) uncompressing the data set; and (viii) processing the data set. Alternatively, upon determining the size of the data set to be sent, assigning an uncompressed flag to the data set, sending the uncompressed flag and data set to the user, inspecting the data set for compression, and processing the data set. In another alternative embodiment, upon determining the size of the data set to be sent, sending the uncompressed data set to the user, inspecting the data set for compression, and processing the data set.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for server configuration using a removable storage device are provided. The apparatus and methods include coupling a removable storage device reader to a server and inserting a removable storage device into the reader. The removable storage device includes configuration data that is used to configure the server. When power is supplied to the server, the server performs a boot-up sequence that includes uploading the configuration data from the removable storage device. The same removable storage device reader may be used to configure a plurality of servers. That is, the removable storage device reader is capable of being easily moved and coupled to a plurality of servers one after the other. The user may make use of the same removable storage device or different removable storage devices for each of the plurality of servers.

Abstract: A method for conducting a contest using a network. A selected article of commerce is identified to a plurality of users remotely disposed at user locations on the network which bears an indicia encoding an identification code which corresponds to the selected article in accordance with an extrinsic standard. An unvalidated entry message packet is then received at a reference location which was transmitted across the network from a user location in response to scanning at the user location an indicia on an article of commerce. The indicia on the scanned article of commerce encodes an identification code which corresponds to the article in accordance with an extrinsic standard. A reference database is provided at the reference location which has a plurality of article codes and routing information for target locations on the network and associates the routing information with at least one of the article codes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing personalized supplemental programming is provided. In a first embodiment, an apparatus comprising a first component for supplying supplemental programming, a second component operative to receive primary programming from an external source, and a processor agent coupled to the first and the second components. The processor agent being operative to evaluate the received primary programming for predetermined content criteria, and to provide appropriate ones of the supplemental programming based on the results of the evaluation.

Abstract: An automatic address distributing method, computer program and system for automatically examining addresses already assigned to terminals connected to a network without regard to the status of the existing terminals and removed terminals. An address may be assigned to a terminal by apparatus other than a DHCP server. After a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server has been started, addresses currently used in a network are examined by a duplicate-address examining unit and the status of the address are stored in an in-use-address database (DB). When a terminal makes a request for distribution of an address, the DHCP server distributes an address that is currently not used in the network. In the examination carried out by the duplicate-address examining unit, an inquiry about the entire name information controlled by a Domain Name Service (DNS) server is made to the DNS server. Results of the inquiry are also stored in the in-use-address DB. Then, a mobile-agent DB is examined for a mobile agent.

Abstract: The actual site that serves the Web pages to a client in response to a URL domain name is automatically and transparently selected from a list of many switches each having identical data storage. In a peer hand-off process, a switch receives domain name server lookup request for a particular virtual Internet protocol (VIP) domain name. The switch examines the source IP-address for the domain name server request, examines the user's IP-address, and determines if there is server site that is geographically close to that user. The switch examines an ordered hand-off table corresponding to the domain. The switch chooses a next remote server (or its own VIP) in line based on, (a) the remote server location compared to domain name server request source, (b) the remote servers' weights, and (c) the remote server that experienced the previous hand-off. The switch then sends the domain name server response back to client domain name server with the IP-addresses in an ordered list.

Abstract: When an operator sets an original on a reading unit of an image reading apparatus, and requests to read the original and assigns a communication partner on a LAN (local area network) through an operation unit, this information is transmitted to an information processing terminal connected via an interface. The information processing terminal determines if information which coincides with identification information of the assigned communication partner is present. If the result of the determination is affirmative, the information processing terminal instructs the image reading apparatus to start a reading operation. If the result of the determination is negative, the information processing terminal prohibits a reading operation. When a reading operation has been prohibited, the image reading apparatus displays the fact on the operation unit.

Abstract: A system and method for load balancing. A packet is received at a firewall, which implements a rule and refers the packet to a load balancing proxy. The proxy performs a load balancing analysis at the load balancing proxy. Based on the results of the load balancing analysis, the proxy determines a load balancing rule, which is implemented by the firewall. At the end of the session to which the received packet belongs, the load balancing rule is deleted at the firewall.

Abstract: A control software system for generating and distributing motion media for operating a target motion device. The control software system generates the motion media based on a motion program generated at a content server. The control software system distributes the motion media to a client browser associated with the target motion device.

Abstract: A method of imposing execution of a predefined command by a first terminal on a second terminal, in which a relation between an intended internet protocol address and the hardware address of the second terminal is inserted into a translation table in the first terminal and in which a reference to a predefined command is associated with the second hardware address, so that the predefined command is imposed by the first terminal upon the second terminal and is to be executed in the event of being addressed by a predefined message which includes the second hardware address.

Abstract: An application server system has a constructed environment for executing application programs where the system has a plurality of processors, for receiving data from client requests and then modifying the constructed execution environment accordingly and for receiving and returning server data, and an interface for each of the processors, for receiving client request data and server data and returning server data, via the interface to/from its corresponding processor for modification of the execution environment and determination of server data to be returned. Each processor includes a receiving unit for calls containing client request data, a unit for processing the client request data and modifying the execution environment, and a unit for determining that another processor must be invoked, locating the other processor and invoking the other processor using the interface, and passing server data and client request data corresponding to the other processor.

Abstract: In an Internet-based client/server application, a system is provided which detects demographics of a client including CPU power, hard disk space, applications installed, network connectivity and log-in history so as to provide this infrastructure related information detailing client usage of the Internet to the service provider. In one embodiment, each user is provided with software having a unique serial number. Having the serial number, infrastructure data is checked at the client side and reported to the server periodically, with the server updating a database with the infrastructure data from each PC. In one embodiment, the database is filtered by factors such as location of the client and an indication of which providers delivered software to a client. After filtering, the service provider can obtain various demographics such as the demography of hard disk space, CPU power and viewers.

Abstract: A broadcast and interactive data distribution system that distributes broadcast and interactive data transmitted by way of a geostationary satellite, and optionally by way of a cable system, to personal computers. The system comprises a modular digital data communication cyberstation that is a modular computer and server that is external to the personal computers to which data is to be distributed. The cyberstation receives, optionally stores, and distributes the broadcast and interactive data to the personal computers. The cyberstation has wireless and optional wired interfaces for communicating with the personal computers. An optional cable modem may be used to directly communicate with the cable system. A satellite receiver is employed to communicate with the geostationary satellite, and a low-earth-orbit satellite transceiver is employed to communicate with low-earth-orbit satellites used to support information requests, data billing and status/diagnostic reporting to a service provider.

Abstract: In a data communication network, a system for protecting parts of the network. The system comprises a plurality of user nodes linked together within the network. Each user node comprises means for transmitting list indicating to other nodes in the network the identification of allowed senders and receivers; and two or more security nodes within the network; each security node detects transmission and relays each signal only to the recipients specified in the list.