Abstract: A method of controlling the presentation of user changeable IP Multimedia Subsystem service conditions at a user terminal, where service conditions are defined within an XML document maintained within the IP Multimedia Subsystem network. The method comprises including within the XML document one or more informational elements identifying those conditions that the user can change and, upon receipt of the XML document or a fragment thereof at the user terminal, interpreting said informational element(s) and presenting to the subscriber only those conditions that can be changed.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method are provided for updating a database object. A database thread is implemented in a database-dependent application stored in the main memory of a computer. An object cache manager allows the database-dependent application to modify a cached version of a transient object and to queue corresponding database processing commands. The database thread updates the persistent data stored in the central database corresponding to the transient object. A Permit Manager provides for carrying out concurrency using a cache invalidation mechanism.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method are provided for updating a database object 202. A database thread 706 is implemented in a database-dependent application 702 stored in the main memory 504 of a computer, such that an object cache manager 703 allows said database-dependent application 702 to modify a cached version of a transient object 704 and to queue (705) corresponding database processing commands, which will then be served by said database thread 706 to update the persistent data 202 stored in the central database 201 corresponding to said transient object 704. A Permit Manager 707 is implemented, such that concurrency is carried out by means of a cache invalidation mechanism (1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1105).