Abstract: A web site system implements a process for storing selected data structures within browser cookies. The data structures may contain a variety of different types of data elements, including N-bit integers and other non-character elements. A version tracking scheme provides forward and backward compatibility between client and server software. The process is implemented without the need for any browser extensions, and without the need for users to download any special code to their computers.

Abstract: A system for managing messages so that redundant messages need not be reviewed by a user. The system monitors electronic messages received by a user, and determines whether the received electronic messages are related to pending electronic messages for the user, such as by being a part of the same message thread. Redundant messages among the related messages are then identified, and are indicated in one or more ways such as by deleting the redundant messages or by altering the visual indicators of the messages presented to the user.

Abstract: A procedure for clustering documents that operates in high dimensions, processes tens of thousands of documents and groups them into several thousand clusters or, by varying a single parameter, into a few dozen clusters. The procedure is specified in two parts: computing a similarity score representing the k most similar documents (typically the top ten) for each document in the collection, and grouping the documents into clusters using the similarly scores.

Abstract: An improved method for creating and searching data files in a database is described. The system and method uses a memory in which is stored a main data file having a plurality of data records each having a data field containing data representative of an alpha-numeric product descriptor. A bitmask generator generates a bitmask value representative of the data in the data field of each data record and appends to each data record stored in the memory a bitmask data field containing the bitmask value representative of the data in the data field of the corresponding data record. A prefix generator generates a plurality of prefix files that are stored in the memory, the prefix files including a copy of selected data records of the main data file, the data records being selected as a function of the prefix of the alpha-numeric product descriptors corresponding to the data in the data fields of the data records.

Abstract: A system and method for providing notifications to a user includes an alert manager. The alert manager receives notifications of events occurring within various executing applications, and utilizes rules to determine when alert notifications should be sent to one or more specified users. In addition, operation of batch jobs can determine changes in state of selected data, which generate events for the alert manager in addition to those generated directly by an executing application. Alert notifications to users can be sent to the user via any of several communications channels.

Abstract: A method for managing messages so that redundant messages need not be reviewed by a user. The method monitors electronic messages received by a user, and determines whether the received electronic messages are related to pending electronic messages for the user, such as by being a part of the same message thread. Redundant messages among the related messages are then identified, and are indicated in one or more ways such as by deleting the redundant messages or by altering the visual indicators of the messages presented to the user.

Abstract: The routing of prioritized documents such as email messages is disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method first receives a text. The method assigns a priority to the document, based on a text classifier such as a Bayesian classifier or a support-vector machine classifier. The method then routes the text based on a routing criteria. In one embodiment the routing is directed by a measure of priority that reflects the expected cost of delayed review of the document.

Abstract: A relational database management system which determines the shareable status of an executable object (section) in an cache. The shareable status is defined for a section in a cache by the system maintaining an identification list which has reference to database entities which are affected by a statement in the current unit of work. When a statement is compiled, the compiler generates a list of dependencies, which list is compared with the identification list. If the statement data dependencies are on the identification list, the statement will be treated as non-shareable until the completion of the current unit of work.

Abstract: A service provider protocol adapter servlet listens for service advertising requests. Each protocol is associated with a different servlet that understands the details of the service advertising mechanism unique to that protocol. The service provider protocol adapter servlet then converts the service advertisement from a service protocol into a canonical representation of service advertising and stores the advertisement in an internal registry. A client protocol adapter servlet listens for client lookup requests and looks up a corresponding service provider in the internal registry. As with service provider protocol adapter servlets, a different client protocol adapter servlet handles the details of client lookup for each particular protocol. The client protocol adapter servlet then converts a client request into a canonical representation of the request, which is then used to look up the service required by the client.

Abstract: A technique to dynamically exchange or update routing capabilities between neighboring peer routers in a computer network without disruption to the operation of the routers. A dynamic capability parameter in an Open message of a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) enables a router to announce a new capability, or revise or remove a previously announced capability, to a neighboring router when a peer connection is established between the routers. Once announced, the dynamic capability allows the router to exchange a capability message containing updates of capabilities without the need for resetting the existing peer connection. As a result, the technique allows non-disruptive configuration and enabling of capabilities in a manner that improves network stability, while reducing interruption of network services.

Abstract: The invention provides device-specific help information, such as help, warranty, configuration, installation information, etc., for network-attachable devices. After a connection notification from a network-attachable device is received over a first data path, device-specific help information for the network-attachable device is retrieved. This device-specific help information is then provided to a configuration interface, thus facilitating installation, configuration and customization of the device.