Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for dynamically modifying an application program's behavior in response to changing environmental conditions (such as network changes, system changes, and so forth). The application may solicit such information, and/or may receive unsolicited environmental change notifications. In response to a change notification, the application may take one or more of the following approaches to adapt to the changing conditions: (1) alter its execution; (2) modify its use of, or control of, other cooperating application; and (3) modify the selection of application execution threads. (An application might also decide to make no changes in its behavior.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for improving data transfer in complex computing environments. Internal routing enhancements are defined, which enable traffic of virtual servers to be processed more efficiently, thereby improving overall data transfer rates. Instead of performing routing operations in the Internet Protocol (“IP”) layer of a networking stack, a “mini-routing” table is created programmatically and is used to perform routing at the Data Link Control (“DLC”) layer. This technique avoids bottlenecks in the IP layer and speeds the data transfer process.

Abstract: A value-based caching system and method. A value based cache method can include partitioning a cache into different value-based partitions. Data to be stored in the cache can be valued and the valued data can be cached in individual ones of the value-based partitions. Subsequently, cache entries can be evicted from the value-based partitions. Finally, the caching and evicting can be managed according to the valuing step. In this regard, the cache and eviction management step can ensure greater cache responsiveness for data having a greater value relative to other valued data.

Abstract: A value-based caching system and method. A value based cache method can include partitioning a cache into different value-based partitions. Data to be stored in the cache can be valued and the valued data can be cached in individual ones of the value-based partitions. Subsequently, cache entries can be evicted from the value-based partitions. Finally, the caching and evicting can be managed according to the valuing step. In this regard, the cache and eviction management step can ensure greater cache responsiveness for data having a greater value relative to other valued data.

Abstract: A data re-direction method can include receiving a data re-direction request from an application server; identifying from the data re-direction request at least one data re-direction primitive, the primitive including at least one data element selected from the group consisting of a client identity and a client type; retrieving personalized data according to subsequent client data requests associated with the at least one data re-direction primitive; and, forwarding the retrieved personalized data directly to a POC corresponding to the client data requests without first passing the retrieved personalized data through the application server.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for dynamically modifying an application program's behavior in response to changing environmental conditions (such as network changes, system changes, and so forth). The application may solicit such information, and/or may receive unsolicited environmental change notifications. In response to a change notification, the application may take one or more of the following approaches to adapt to the changing conditions: (1) alter its execution; (2) modify its use of, or control of, other cooperating application; and (3) modify the selection of application execution threads. (An application might also decide to make no changes in its behavior.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for improving data transfer in complex computing environments. Internal routing enhancements are defined, which enable traffic of virtual servers to be processed more efficiently, thereby improving overall data transfer rates. Instead of performing routing operations in the Internet Protocol (“IP”) layer of a networking stack, a “mini-routing” table is created programmatically and is used to perform routing at the Data Link Control (“DLC”) layer. This technique avoids bottlenecks in the IP layer and speeds the data transfer process.

Abstract: Management of datastream construction prior to transmission of the datastream across a channel of a communications system by providing for data blocking while reducing movement or copying of the data improves the performance in a communications system. Multiple header segments received from a higher layer in the communications stack are copied into the datastream header area of a datastream such that the header segments are sequentially stored in the datastream header area. A datastream buffer list having entries referencing the datastream header area is generated. Buffer list entries referencing data segments received from higher layers in the communications stack are also stored in the datastream buffer list. The data segments are not physically moved or copied into the datastream during processing by the communications stack. Rather, a "virtual" datastream is generated by the communications stack for transmission without physically moving or copying the data segment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for content coding of Audio-Visual materials is presented. The content coding can then be decoded by a home station where the content coding is collected and processed. The content codes are utilized by the subscribers home station to collect information on the subscribers selection of AVM streams and record information on which AVMs have been presented to the subscriber. An audio-video material distribution system is described for supplying AVM streams to home station via a local distribution network. The home stations decode the content coding from the AVM streams and collect the encoded content codes. The collected content codes are then sent to collection centers for processing. The encoded information may also utilized to provide management of an upstream channel between the home stations and the video distribution node.

Abstract: A multi-path channel interface for computer input-output systems includes the ability to define and activate unbalanced groups of unidirectional communications sub-channels for a user application. Protocol independent exchange identifications permit not only unbalanced transmission groups but also allow user-controlled extensions for negotiating the values of transmission parameters at the time the transmission group is activated. When error correcting re-transmissions force the re-segmenting of data blocks, second level sub-segment indexing assure the proper order of delivery of the various segments and sub-segments. The exchange identifications include an identification of the user protocol being supported and thus permit interfacing with any user protocol.

Abstract: A multi-path channel interface for computer input-output systems includes the ability to define and activate unbalanced groups of unidirectional communications sub-channels for a user application. Protocol independent exchange identifications permit not only unbalanced transmission groups but also allow user-controlled extensions for negotiating the values of transmission parameters at the time the transmission group is activated. When error correcting re-transmissions force the re-segmenting of data blocks, second level sub-segment indexing assure the proper order of delivery of the various segments and sub-segments. The exchange identifications include an identification of the user protocol being supported and thus permit interfacing with any user protocol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the automatic access control to multimedia presentations at the receiver in accordance with a viewer selected access mode and access classification data encoded into the multimedia presentation. Screening classification codes (SCCs) are embedded in the Audio Visual Material (AVM) delivered to a subscribers home station. The screening classification codes identify the type of content that follows in the AVM stream. For instance, violent content (video and/or audio) provided to a home station may contain a SCC that indicates violent scenes or violent action is forth coming in the AVM stream. The home station takes the SCC that are encoded and/or embedded in the AVM stream and applies a subscriber selected screening criteria. The screening criteria or suppression criteria are AVM manipulation commands.

Abstract: A multi-path channel interface for computer input-output systems includes the ability to define and activate unbalanced groups of unidirectional communications sub-channels for a user application. Protocol independent exchange identifications permit not only unbalanced transmission groups but also allow user-controlled extensions for negotiating the values of transmission parameters at the time the transmission group is activated. When error correcting re-transmissions force the re-segmenting of data blocks, second level sub-segment indexing assure the proper order of delivery of the various segments and sub-segments. The exchange identifications include an identification of the user protocol being supported and thus permit interfacing with any user protocol.