Abstract: An active stream format is defined and adopted for a logical structure that encapsulates multiple data streams. The data streams may be of different media. The data of the data streams is partitioned into packets that are suitable for transmission over a transport medium. The packets may include error correcting information. The packets may also include clock licenses for dictating the advancement of a clock when the data streams are rendered. The format of ASF facilitates flexibility and choice of packet size and in specifying maximum bit rate at which data may be rendered. Error concealment strategies may be employed in the packetization of data to distribute portions of samples to multiple packets. Property information may be replicated and stored in separate packets to enhance its error tolerance. The format facilitates dynamic definition of media types and the packetization of data in such dynamically defined data types within the format.

Abstract: A network interface device that is capable of supporting a plurality of protocols on a heterogeneous LAN, and that triggers the initialization of at least one loaded, but uninitialized, protocol stack upon the automatic detection of a network communication on the LAN that is supported by the protocol stack. The network interface device is also capable of triggering the initialization of at least one loaded, but uninitialized, protocol stack upon the receipt of a network services or status request from an application software module that requires the support of the protocol stack.

Abstract: A set-up supporting server stores a model table which is used for conversion of a translator of a client for order receiver and a set-up supporting tool for correcting the model table and setting up into the translator. A set-up processing module of the client for order receiver receives a down-load of the model table 72 and set-up supporting tool in response to a supporting request to the set-up supporting server and automatically executes a set-up process of the translator 36 on the basis of an input of predetermined individual information.

Abstract: A method for delivering electronic mail (e-mail) messages over a cable television distribution network comprises the steps of: accepting e-mail messages addressed to e-mail subscribers of the cable television distribution network; respectively associating each the e-mail message with data identifying one of the subscribers; adding an address header from the data identifying the subscribers to each the e-mail message corresponding to the premises of the respective e-mail subscriber; transmitting the e-mail messages and address headers for transmission over the cable distribution network simultaneously with television signals but in a predefined frequency band not carrying the television signals; receiving all e-mail messages transmitted over of the cable television distribution network at each respective premises of the e-mail subscribers; decoding the address headers of the e-mail messages; determining from the address headers whether the e-mail message is addressed to the respective premises; and, if the e-m

Abstract: A proxy server operative to accept plug-in filters to perform forward and reverse filtering between a client process and a server process. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method of filtering information includes the steps of receiving a request by the proxy server from a client. The proxy server identifies a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of a server process in the request and compares that URL against filter rules previously defined to the system. In the event the URL satisfies one of the filter rules, a filter servlet associated with the satisfied filter rule is used to filter the requested information. A filter servlet is a set of instructions that, when executed, filters the information. The filtered request is then used to retrieve information from a server process. Similarly, the same filtering process may be performed on a response from the server process destined for a client process.

Abstract: In a computer environment, a new storage and delivery data format for multimedia object sets increases performance and improves the user experience by reducing the transactions needed to retrieve a set of n objects from n to 1. The object data is interleaved with data definition entries identifying respective object data into a data format comprising a single stream for storage and/or delivery. The data format eliminates the need for multiple, asynchronous transactions thus reducing latency in the data transfer process. Moreover, the data format allows for optimization of how the object data is prioritized and interleaved to achieve desired performance objectives upon delivery of the multimedia objects.

Abstract: A system and method for managing time and expense when communicating between a host and multiple network connections. A server program, inserted between an information requesting device and the network connections, reconfigures the information requesting device forcing the information requesting device to pass all requests through the server program. The server program then determines what type of network is being connected. Additionally, the server program makes costs visible to the user, warns the user when pre-specified budgets are exceeded, postpones actions to a later time when conditions are met, and automatically adapts user customization and system configuration values to the changing conditions of use. This allows asynchronous style browsing in which users can work disconnected from a cache of documents or trade off communication cost against information needs.

Abstract: A method of balancing loads during data distribution in a managed network environment wherein at least one gateway machine services a plurality of endpoints. System management tasks include data distributions, which are normally initiated at the gateway and distributed to all managed endpoints. Load balancing is achieved by setting a load parameter for each subnet of each network path between the gateway machine and an endpoint machine serviced thereby. The load parameter is selectable and identifies an amount of network bandwidth that may be used by a particular data distribution over the segment. Prior to initiating a distribution, the effective load that a given subnet will “see” when the operation begins is then calculated. If that effective load for any subnet exceeds that subnet's respective load parameter, the data distribution rate is altered for the overall network path. This technique effectively balances network loads and makes more efficient use of resources.

Abstract: A hierarchial vector clock (HVC) providing a logical time system to a collection of distributed systems. HVC is not restricted to any fixed number of hierarchy levels and scals naturally when the number of levels increases. Unlike constant-size clocks, its storage and processing requirements grow gracefully at approximately a logarithmic rate with the number of distributed sites within the distributed system. HVC is well suited for modern, message-passing distributed systems which make use of highly hierarchical communication networks.

Abstract: A data processing system comprising a single Host coupled by a communications channel to a single multifunction peripheral is disclosed. The multifunction peripheral comprises a paper tray, a display, a user input device, a processor, a first memory for long term storage and a second rewritable memory for short term storage, a communications interface, the multifunction peripheral for providing document scanning and hard output functions. The Host comprises a processor, a first rewritable memory for long term storage and a second rewritable memory for short term storage, a communications interface, and a network adapter for communicating with a computer network. The communications channel coupling the communications interface of the multifunction peripheral and the communications interface of the Host.

Abstract: An improved process control sytem wherein objects having functions for configuring a process control system are distributed and arranged in a plurality of computers connected to a network and each distributed and arranged object shares the functions of the process control system; information component cassettes are provided having individual information related to monitoring and operation and methods to display the information in an optimum display form, and the cassettes are provided according to the types of information; an information component deck is provided which arranges the information component cassettes and offers a unified interface for accessing the information component cassettes; and control objects are provided for controlling a plant and display objects for monitoring and operation of the plants, the control objects and display objects being related to each other and operated in association with each other.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for integrating structured document content, such as XML (Extensible Markup Language) content, in a 3270 data stream structured field. The 3270 data stream structured fields, including the structured document content so embedded, are passed between a primary logical unit and a secondary logical unit that communicate with each other over a network using 3270 data stream architecture. An initialization protocol sends a Read Partition (Query) structured field from the primary logical unit to the secondary logical unit, to query whether the secondary logical unit supports structured document content. The secondary logical unit sends a Query Reply structured field to the primary logical unit in response to receipt of the Read Partition (Query) from the primary logical unit if the secondary logical unit supports structured document content.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for communicating structured document content between legacy 3270 logical units. A 3270 data stream is sent between a primary logical unit (LU) and a secondary LU over a network using 3270 data stream architecture, with structured document content (such as content encoded in the Extensible Markup Language, or “XML”) embedded therein. The sending of 3270 data stream communications and the sending of 3270 data stream structured fields are repeated in an arbitrary sequence, to thereby asynchronously send 3270 data streams and structured document content between the primary LU and the secondary LU. Thus, structured documents may be sent using the LU2 protocol in a manner that need not interfere with legacy communications between a 3270 application and an end user.

Abstract: A data communication network includes a network client, a network server, and a name caching entity located between the network client and the network server. The network server is coupled to the data communication network by a plurality of network adapters that each have a different network (e.g., Media Access Control (MAC)) address, but share a common logical name. The name caching entity includes a name cache, which stores the common logical name shared by the server's network adapters in association with the network address of one of the network adapters. By reference to the name cache, the name caching entity is able to convert broadcast frames to unicast frames, thereby advantageously reducing broadcast frames in the network.

Abstract: A system and method for providing automatic and continuous selection of user-preferred data streams based on predefined parameters. In one aspect of the present invention, a client/server system comprises: a sever comprising an address list including addresses of a plurality of data sources; and a client comprising a list of user preferences; means for accessing the server to obtain the address list; means for accessing at least a first data source of the plurality of data sources on the address list to obtain descriptive information; evaluation means for evaluating the descriptive information and the user preferences to select at least a second data source of the plurality of data sources based on the evaluation; and means for accessing the second data source. In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention as applied to Internet radio stations, a user would be allowed to listen only to songs from his list of favorites.

Abstract: A system for processing protocols for Internet services employing a serial line and an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, including a settop-box for loading transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) data on a designated ATM cell or delivering TCP/IP data loaded on an ATM cell to a computer, and an Internet gateway for converting the data according to a protocol used in an external network into the TCP/IP data transferred through the settop-box and the ATM network, wherein the Internet gateway also converts the TCP/IP data into the data according to the protocol used in the external network.

Abstract: An electronic mail system and method which allows an originating user to customize text for a specific recipient in a multiple recipient electronic mail system. The system recognizes embedded processing codes based on a code specific to each recipient's message. Upon recognizing the embedded processing codes, the system and method generates separate, properly formatted electronic mail messages for each recipient.

Abstract: In an analysis of a set of discrete multidimensional data which can be represented in an array with a topology, where the array that can be mapped to an image space of discrete elements, such as digitized image data, seismic data and audio data, genotype/phenotype classifications are imposed on the topology, and then molecular biological-like processes (annealing, fragmentation, chromatographic separation, fingerprinting, footprinting and filtering) are imposed upon that topology to perceive classifiable regions such as edges. More specifically, an image feature probe constructed of strings of contiguous image fragments of the class of N-grams called linear N-grams, anneals genotypes of topological features by complementary biological-like techniques in the same manner that complex biological systems are analyzed by genetic mapping, sequencing and cloning techniques. For example, molecular biological probes anneal with molecular biological genotypes and then are used to classify those genotypes.

Abstract: An iterative method enabling a request plan to be established for an observation satellite. A plan consists in a succession of requests which are associated with pluralities of opportunities for satisfying said requests. The plan must also comply with a plurality of constraints. Each iteration k of the iterative method is made up of the following steps: new opportunity is selected; a provisional plan is derived from the preceding plan k-1 as calculated in-the preceding iteration, and from the new opportunity; provisional plan is verified for compliance with said plurality of constraints; the quality of said provisional plan is evaluated; and it is determined whether the provisional plan should be confirmed as plan k as a function of the quality of said provisional plan and of the quality of said preceding plan k-1.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling an object-oriented application to access in an object-oriented manner a procedural operating system having a native procedural interface is disclosed. The apparatus includes a computer and a memory component in the computer. A code library is stored in the memory component. The code library includes computer program logic implementing an object-oriented class library. The object-oriented class library comprises related object-oriented classes for enabling the application to access in an object-oriented manner services provided by the operating system. The object-oriented classes include methods for accessing the operating system services using procedural function calls compatible with the native procedural interface of the operating system. The computer processes object-oriented statements contained in the application and defined by the class library by executing methods from the class library corresponding to the object-oriented statements.