Abstract: A method of providing a computing infrastructure based on virtual machines. An update is received from a software supplier, the update including one or more patches that at least one of correct bugs, correct security vulnerabilities, or introduce at least one new functionality for virtual machines using software of the software supplier for which the update affects and is applicable. It is determined, using a processor on a computer, whether a virtual machine image, stored in a library and used as a template for instantiating virtual machines and affected by the received update, should be updated immediately in accordance with the received update. The virtual machine image is updated if it is determined that such immediate update should be implemented.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for allocating shared resources. Upon receiving requests for resources, the system determines whether there are any pending updates for a VM image for provisioning a virtual machine (VM) for the request. For each image with pending updates the system determines whether to replace the stored image with an updated VM image and provision from the replacement or, update a single instance of the image and provision from the single instance. The system also determines an optimal time to update images with pending updates. After replacing an image, the system provides an alert indicating that an updated said VM was provisioned.

Abstract: A method of providing a computing infrastructure based on virtual machines. An update is received from a software supplier, the update including one or more patches that at least one of correct bugs, correct security vulnerabilities, or introduce at least one new functionality for virtual machines using software of the software supplier for which the update affects and is applicable. It is determined, using a processor on a computer, whether a virtual machine image, stored in a library and used as a template for instantiating virtual machines and affected by the received update, should be updated immediately in accordance with the received update. The virtual machine image is updated if it is determined that such immediate update should be implemented.

Abstract: A method (and structure) for providing a computing infrastructure based on virtual machines. A virtual machine provisioning system, as executed by a processor on a network, receives a virtual machine request, as an input; retrieves a virtual machine image from a library of virtual machine images, to accommodate the virtual machine request; constructs an instantiated virtual machine from the selected virtual machine image by provisioning the selected virtual machine image to accommodate the virtual machine request; and outputs the instantiated virtual machine. An image update system determines an update timing for updating at least one of the virtual machine image and the virtual machine as instantiated, based on update costs.

Abstract: A data distribution system, method and a computer program product therefor. Computers provisioned with operations centers supporting individual locations share resources with organizations in multiple locations. Each operations center receives and evaluates local information for the supported location and selectively provides evaluated information for reuse by other locations. A data exchange agent in each operations center publishes information available from a supported location to a publication subscription unit. The operations center also subscribes to the publication subscription unit for information available from other locations. The publication subscription unit identifies matches between subscriptions and publications. A negotiation unit negotiates matched information transfers between operations centers.

Abstract: A method for provisioning IT resources includes receiving a signal from an e-book reading device indicating that a user of the e-book reading device is approaching a practical procedure section within an e-book being read by the user on the e-book reading device. The practical procedure section includes an exercise to be performed by the user pertaining to the subject matter of the e-book. What IT resources are needed for the user to perform the exercise are determined. The needed IT resources are provisioned such that the IT resources that the needed IT resources are available when the user is ready to perform the exercise.

Abstract: With a computer processor, access is obtained to a sorted global tuple list of incident types, each tuple of which includes at least an incident identifier, a corresponding incident type, a corresponding context, and a corresponding impact factor. The latter specifies importance of solving the corresponding incident type in the corresponding context. Each tuple of the global tuple list is sorted by decreasing order of impact factor. At the computer processor, context information is obtained for at least one remote computing device; based on the context information and the sorted global tuple list, the computer processor sends, over a telecommunications infrastructure, data which causes an incident reporting display on the remote computing device to be re-ordered in accordance with the impact factors as they are ranked in accordance with the context information for the at least one remote computing device.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for allocating shared resources. Upon receiving requests for resources, the system determines whether there are any pending updates for a VM image for provisioning a virtual machine (VM) for the request. For each image with pending updates the system determines whether to replace the stored image with an updated VM image and provision from the replacement or, update a single instance of the image and provision from the single instance. The system also determines an optimal time to update images with pending updates. After replacing an image, the system provides an alert indicating that an updated said VM was provisioned.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for allocating shared resources. Upon receiving requests for resources, the system determines whether there are any pending updates for a VM image for provisioning a virtual machine (VM) for the request. For each image with pending updates the system determines whether to replace the stored image with an updated VM image and provision from the replacement or, update a single instance of the image and provision from the single instance. The system also determines an optimal time to update images with pending updates. After replacing an image, the system provides an alert indicating that an updated said VM was provisioned.

Abstract: A shared resource system, method of managing shared resources and services and a computer program product therefor. Service provider computers (e.g., cloud computers) including a resource management system, selectively make resource capacity available to networked client devices. Stored resource configuration parameters are collected from non-intentional haptic input to mobile client devices. The resource management system provisions resources for mobile clients based on resource configuration parameters. Non-intentional haptic input is provided as non-intentional gesture feedback, and evaluated to selectively update stored resource configuration parameters.

Abstract: A method (and structure) includes receiving an input from a sensor on a mobile device. Based on the sensor input, a processor determines whether a user of the mobile device is engaged in a specific physical activity. A control setting on the mobile device is set for delivering content during a period the specific physical activity is detected.

Abstract: With a computer processor, access is obtained to a sorted global tuple list of incident types, each tuple of which includes at least an incident identifier, a corresponding incident type, a corresponding context, and a corresponding impact factor. The latter specifies importance of solving the corresponding incident type in the corresponding context. Each tuple of the global tuple list is sorted by decreasing order of impact factor. At the computer processor, context information is obtained for at least one remote computing device; based on the context information and the sorted global tuple list, the computer processor sends, over a telecommunications infrastructure, data which causes an incident reporting display on the remote computing device to be re-ordered in accordance with the impact factors as they are ranked in accordance with the context information for the at least one remote computing device.

Abstract: A method (and structure) for providing a computing infrastructure based on virtual machines. A virtual machine provisioning system, as executed by a processor on a network, receives a virtual machine request, as an input; retrieves a virtual machine image from a library of virtual machine images, to accommodate the virtual machine request; constructs an instantiated virtual machine from the selected virtual machine image by provisioning the selected virtual machine image to accommodate the virtual machine request; and outputs the instantiated virtual machine. An image update system determines an update timing for updating at least one of the virtual machine image and the virtual machine as instantiated, based on update costs.

Abstract: A method (and structure) for providing a computing infrastructure based on virtual machines. A virtual machine provisioning system, as executed by a processor on a network, receives a virtual machine request, as an input; retrieves a virtual machine image from a library of virtual machine images, to accommodate the virtual machine request; constructs an instantiated virtual machine from the selected virtual machine image by provisioning the selected virtual machine image to accommodate the virtual machine request; and outputs the instantiated virtual machine. An image update system determines an update timing for updating at least one of the virtual machine image and the virtual machine as instantiated, based on update costs.

Abstract: Providing a cloud-based service to an endpoint device includes providing the cloud-based service to the endpoint device in accordance with a default Quality of Service, learning an importance of the cloud-based service to a user of the endpoint device, and automatically adjusting the providing of the cloud-based service to the endpoint device in response to the importance, wherein the adjusting results in the cloud-based service being provided to the endpoint device in accordance with a Quality of Service other than the default Quality of Service for at least a temporary period of time. The importance may be inferred from how quickly the user of the endpoint device consumes data provided by the cloud-based service. Alternatively, the importance may be a relative importance of the cloud-based service to the user, as compared to other users of the cloud-based service.

Abstract: A system for providing a cloud-based service to an endpoint device includes a resources that provide the service to the device in accordance with a default Quality of Service (QoS) and a processor that monitors usage of the service on the device and automatically adjusts the service on the device in response to the usage, so that the service is provided to the device in accordance with a QoS other than the default QoS at least temporarily. A system for providing a cloud-based service includes an endpoint device that monitors usage of the service on the device and a server that provides the service to the device in accordance with a default QoS and automatically adjusts the service on the device in response to the usage so that the service is provided to the device in accordance with a QoS other than the default QoS at least temporarily.

Abstract: A data distribution system, method and a computer program product therefor. Computers provisioned with operations centers supporting individual locations share resources with organizations in multiple locations. Each operations center receives and evaluates local information for the supported location and selectively provides evaluated information for reuse by other locations. A data exchange agent in each operations center publishes information available from a supported location to a publication subscription unit. The operations center also subscribes to the publication subscription unit for information available from other locations. The publication subscription unit identifies matches between subscriptions and publications. A negotiation unit negotiates matched information transfers between operations centers.

Abstract: A data distribution system, method and a computer program product therefor. Computers provisioned with operations centers supporting individual locations share resources with organizations in multiple locations. Each operations center receives and evaluates local information for the supported location and selectively provides evaluated information for reuse by other locations. A data exchange agent in each operations center publishes information available from a supported location to a publication subscription unit. The operations center also subscribes to the publication subscription unit for information available from other locations. The publication subscription unit identifies matches between subscriptions and publications. A negotiation unit negotiates matched information transfers between operations centers.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for allocating shared resources. Upon receiving requests for resources, the cost of bundling software in a virtual machine (VM) image is automatically generated. Software is selected by the cost for each bundle according to the time required to install it where required, offset by the time to uninstall it where not required. A number of VM images having the highest software bundle value (i.e., highest cost bundled) is selected and stored, e.g., in a machine image store. With subsequent requests for resources, VMs may be instantiated from one or more stored VM images and, further, stored images may be updated selectively updated with new images.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for allocating shared resources. Upon receiving requests for resources, the system determines whether there are any pending updates for a VM image for provisioning a virtual machine (VM) for the request. For each image with pending updates the system determines whether to replace the stored image with an updated VM image and provision from the replacement or, update a single instance of the image and provision from the single instance. The system also determines an optimal time to update images with pending updates. After replacing an image, the system provides an alert indicating that an updated said VM was provisioned.