Abstract: A computer controlled implementation for distributing portions of a license to use software entities, granted by a licensor to a primary licensee, to subsequent secondary licensees comprising determining a dividable value for the primary license to use a software entity, enabling the primary licensee to grant a portion of the dividable value of the primary license to use the software entity to a secondary licensee, enabling the licensor, the licensee and the secondary licensee to add value to said values of the licenses and tracking said value of the license and of the portion granted to said secondary licensee.

Abstract: Methods and devices for securely providing personalities to reconfigurable hardware. Reconfigurable hardware is provided with one or more domains. At least one domain serves as a gatekeeper domain and another domain serves as a task domain. A service provider provides an authentication and security personality to the gatekeeper domain. The hardware is shipped to the user. A user then accesses the service provider via a network connection and downloads a task personality into the task domain, but only if the personality in the gatekeeper domain allows the download to take place. Once the task personality completes a task, the user may download another task personality into the task domain, if permitted by the personality loaded in the gatekeeper domain. The domains and personalities are managed and made available by the service provider.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for performing computer system management on an activity basis. In one embodiment, computer-system-related items are associated with at least one activity to be performed using the computer system. Then, management procedures are established for the at least one activity. Next, when the computer system is used to perform the at least one activity, the computer-system-related items associated with the at least one activity are managed in accordance with the management procedures established for the at least one activity. In another embodiment, apparatus and methods monitor patterns of use of a computer system. Using information gathered during monitoring operations, activity models are formulated, and for each activity model a management plan is devised. After management plans have been devised for each activity model, the use of the computer system is monitored to identify actions being performed with the computer system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing software. A solution to a problem that has occurred with a program on a client data processing system is received by a server. This solution is created while solving the problem that occurred on the data processing system. The solution includes a process that may be executed on another data processing system to solve the same problem on that data processing system. The process is, for example, a script, a macro, or a set of computer executable steps or instructions. A database of solutions is selectively updated to reflect the new solution. In response to a request for a solution by another client system to a problem, the server will respond with the current solution that exists in the database.

Abstract: The authenticity of a website is tested with software that runs on a personal computing device and a service that is provided via the Internet. The software on the personal computing device is in the form of a proxy, or transparent component in the Internet Protocol implementation. The proxy receives all outbound messages, analyzes them and forwards or modifies them without the user's intervention. The service tests the IP address and/or the behavior of the target website.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing an estimated time of arrival based marketplace are provided. The apparatus and methods solicit bids from one or more service providers for a requested service. The service providers may respond with bids that may include a price for providing the requested service along with an estimated time to perform the requested service in a location associated with the service provider. The bids are used, along with travel data obtained from a travel data provider, to generate service search results that are provided to a client device. The service search results include the price charged by the service provider as well as estimated times of completion (ETAs) for obtaining the service from the service provider. The ETA may be a combination of travel time determined from the travel data and time of performance determined from the bid submitted by the service provider.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a group of computer applications operating on a computer. The method comprises the steps of establishing a set of policies for operating the applications under a variety of circumstances, each of the circumstances being associated with one of the policies and each of the policies setting forth a behavior to occur under the associated circumstance; and monitoring the environment of the computer to determine when one of the circumstances occurs. When one of the circumstances is determined as occurring, a search is made through the set of policies to identify the policy associated with said one of the circumstances, and said group of computer applications is operated in accordance with the behavior set forth in said associated policy.

Abstract: A method for repairing a failed network connection between a client system and a network is disclosed. In a first aspect, the method preferably includes collecting real time connectivity information by the client system and utilizing the real time connectivity information by the client system to establish a connection with the network.

Abstract: An encrypted audio decryption system for decrypting encrypted audio sound. The system includes a hearing device and a key FOB. The hearing device is adapted to receive the encrypted audio sound, decrypt the encrypted audio sound, and transmit signals corresponding to the decrypted audio sound to a speaker of the hearing device. The key FOB is adapted to transmit a decryption key to the hearing device. The hearing device is adapted not to decrypt the encrypted audio sound without receipt of the decryption key, corresponding to the encrypted audio sound, from the key FOB.

Abstract: A system for adjusting audio output including a transmitter unit adapted to be carried by a user and a sound generating system. The transmitter unit includes a memory and a signal transmitter. The sound generating system includes a sound generator, a signal receiver, means for altering a sound signal from the signal generator based upon a signal transmitted by the transmitter to the receiver, and speakers connected to the altering means.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and network data processing system for identifying, locating, and deleting viruses is provided. In one embodiment, the network data processing system includes a local server, several client data processing systems, and a bait server. The address of the bait server is not published to the clients. Thus, any attempt to access the bait server would indicate the presence of a virus on the client attempting access. The bait server monitors itself and, responsive to an attempt from a client to access the bait server, broadcasts an indication that a virus attack is underway to all devices within the network. The bait server then ignores all further access requests by the offending client until it receives an indication that the offending client has been disinfected and directs the local server to disconnect the offending client(s) from the network.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for determining the location of a portable data processing system is provided. In one embodiment, the portable data processing system determines resources that are geographically proximate to the portable computer and generates a location syndrome. The location syndrome is then compared to a set of location profiles, wherein at least some of the location profiles correspond to different geographic locations. Responsive to sufficiently matching the location syndrome to one of the set of location profiles, a label corresponding to the matched one of the set of location profiles is returned as the current location of the portable data processing system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for backing up data in a data processing system. In response to a request to backup data associated with an application, a data store is queried containing meta data regarding files associated with the application in which the data store includes meta data describing the files accessed by the application. A result is received in response to querying the data store, and contains information about files that need to be backed up. The information is then used to drive the backup program. The files are then subsequently backed up to a storage system.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing context-aware automatic e-mail filtering and reply generation based on message semantics, sender's e-mail ID, and the user's identity is provided. In one embodiment, e-mail received from objectionable sources as determined by the sender's ID or the IP address from which the e-mail originate are deleted. In other embodiments, e-mail containing objectionable content as determined by the presence of objectionable words or phrases or by an objectionable score determined by assigning weights to various words and phrases that exceeds a threshold value. Other embodiments allow for attachments to be forwarded to a parent or system administrator and approval received from the parent or system administrator prior to allowing access to the attachment by the recipient.

Abstract: According the present invention, there is provided a method and system for automatically launching an application in a computing device (e.g. Internet appliance, or the like) by authenticating a user via a digital camera in the computing device, comprising: obtaining a digital representation of the user via the digital camera; filtering the digital representation with an digital edge detection algorithm to produce a resulting digital image; comparing the resulting digital image to a pre-stored digital image of the user; retrieving user information including an application to be launched in response to a successful comparison result, the user information being associated with the pre-stored digital image of the user; and launching the application.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for managing rights to a service in a data processing system. A request is received from a user for the service. The rights to the service are identified. Content for the service is received. The content is selectively modified based on the rights identified. The content is sent to the user.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a group of computer applications operating on a computer. The method comprises the steps of establishing a set of policies for operating the applications under a variety of circumstances, each of the circumstances being associated with one of the policies and each of the policies setting forth a behavior to occur under the associated circumstance; and monitoring the environment of the computer to determine when one of the circumstances occurs. When one of the circumstances is determined as occurring, a search is made through the set of policies to identify the policy associated with said one of the circumstances, and said group of computer applications is operated in accordance with the behavior set forth in said associated policy.

Abstract: A system and method for permitting an end user to select a media stream and immediately experience the audio and video of that stream, in order to evaluate whether the stream is appropriate to the user's interests and needs. The invention implements a multi-channel receiver that is actively receiving multiple streams, simultaneously. In a preferred aspect, the bandwidth requirements necessary to convey multiple streams, e.g., those communicated on the same network branch, is reduced. Further, the resource requirements of the multi-channel receiver device are reduced for enabling a user to select from among the received multiple streams. A novel user interface is provided that enables fast selection of a pre-acquired stream and, playback of the stream content immediately upon selection.

Abstract: Users with disabilities that hinder them from using a mouse or other pointing device are aided by a system that minimizes the effect of hand tremors or other motion difficulties on the display produced by a pointing device; in which the mouse automatically adjusts on the fly to the user's habits; the mouse properties automatically adjust to the type of object being selected; and the mouse output is processed by a smoothing filter to suppress small variations about the intended motion.

Abstract: This invention provides a method, apparatus and computer product that enables sending a query to other computers on a network for information relevant to the location of the computer; receiving, in response to said query, from said other computers on the network said information; processing the information in accordance with predetermined policy criteria; and storing information which meets said criteria for later use. While very useful for the processing of bookmarks relevant to a specific geographic location of the computer, other information may include e-mail addresses, configuration parameters, computer programs, computer resource address, store addresses, and emergency contact information.