Abstract: A mutual exclusion arrangement is disclosed for use in connection with a computer, the computer being configured to execute at least one program having at least one thread in a series of time slots. The mutual exclusion arrangement includes, associated with the computer, a signal generator and, associated with the at least one thread, a signal handler. The signal generator is configured to generate a signal for provision to the at least one thread when the computer initiates processing of the at least one thread in one of the time slots. The signal handler is configured to, in response to the signal, determine whether the thread, when it begins execution in the time slot, will be executing a section of code that is to be executed in an atomic manner, and, if so, enable the thread to begin execution at a beginning of the section, and otherwise enable the thread to begin execution subsequent to previously-executed code.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collaborating over the Internet (or an intranet) in which two or more parties, such as a user and an agent, can share dynamic content generated by a web site server. Collaboration can be accomplished on live, dynamic pages without imposing a proxy server between user browsers and the web servers. Mechanisms prevent multiple submissions, and filters can be provided to selectively filter versions of a page for different users.

Abstract: Mechanisms and techniques are provided which allow a server computer system, such as a web server, to generate information, such as a web page, which includes an audio resource locator (ARL) configured in accordance with the invention. The ARL includes a reference to audio data, an audio command,and an audio server reference that identifies an audio server computer system that can process the reference to audio data within the ARL according to the audio command within the ARL to producing output, which may be audio or another type of output. The server computer system can serve the information including the ARL to an originator of a request for such information, such as a browser on a client computer system. A client computer system configured with a browser can obtain the information containing the ARL and can reference the ARL which causes the client computer system to send a request to process audio data to the audio server specified in the ARL.

Abstract: The invention provides a graphical user interface which can use a hierarchical form or style of presentation to depict and display hierarchical and non-hierarchical relationships and objects. In one configuration, the system of the invention displays icons on a graphical user interface on a display of a computer system and receives a user selection of an icon and receives a relationship selection selected by the user that corresponds to the icon selected by the user. The system then performs a relationship function identified by the relationship selection selected by the user. The relationship function is performed upon a descriptor in the memory system that is related, according to the relationship selection, to the icon selected by the user.

Abstract: The invention provides unique architectures and techniques for routing redundancy in a data switch configured to use label switching. Multiple label switch controllers (LSCs) each operate concurrently but independently of each other to provide routes through a data switching mechanism. Preferred embodiments provide a plurality of LSCs offering MPLS capabilities coupled to a single switch, such as an ATM switch. The similarly configured LSCs each can concurrently support a route for data (e.g., labeled ATM cells) within the data switching mechanism in parallel, thereby providing the ability to support redundant and multiple parallel data networks. The configuration is called a label switch router (LSR). A fully-meshed embodiment allows selected routes to share bandwidth on ports, while a fully parallel embodiment provides separate ports for selected routes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for scheduling delays of data in a data communications device within a network. A network policy can be obtained and analyzed to determined various delay categories associated data having various attributes. The delay categories having associated delay values can be used to configure a number of storage locations preferably interconnected in a series. Each storage location has an associated delay. When data arrives, an attribute of the data allows a determination to be made of which delay category and therefore what delay is associated with the data. The data is then deposited into a storage location having an associated delay that generally corresponds to the delay associated with the data. The delay of data is adjusted over time for each storage location, preferably by shifting the data from one storage location to the next.

Abstract: An operating system call control subsystem is disclosed for use in a computer that includes a processor for processing a program, the program instructions of an operating system call instruction type identifying one of a plurality of types of operating system calls, each type of operating system call being associable with an operating system call type identifier value within a predetermined range of values. The operating system call control subsystem comprises a crossover table, an operating system call instruction type address resolution module, and an operating system call instruction type processing module. The crossover table has a number of entries corresponding to a predetermined fraction of the predetermined range, each entry in the crossover table having an instruction for enabling the processor to save a value corresponding to an offset of the entry into the crossover table.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for generating normalized events from nonstandard computer telephony interface (CTI) events generated by various private exchanges or telephone switches made by various manufacturers. In one embodiment, the system of the present invention includes a processor coupled to a local interface, a memory coupled to the local interface with normalization logic stored in the memory, the normalization logic being executed by the processor. The normalization logic generates a number of normalized events relative to the operation of a call center based upon non-standard CTI events received from the specific private exchange employed. In this regard, the normalization logic includes event normalization logic to generate at least one normalized event from a non-standard CTI event.

Abstract: A system and method of routing requests received from client computers. The client computer processor is redirected to a router for which the address is within the preferred coverage zone. If a router is not identified for which the address is within a preferred coverage zone, but a router other than the router that received the request is identified for which the address is within a regular coverage zone, the processor is redirected to the router for which the address is within the regular coverage zone. If a message is transmitted from a router behind a firewall to a router outside the firewall, and then a request for data is received from a processor behind the firewall, the processor is redirected to the address of the router. Routers register themselves dynamically into a hierarchy. In another alternative embodiment, a service request from a particular client computer is serviced immediately by the root router rather than redirected to another router.

Abstract: Mechanisms and techniques are disclosed that provide the ability to backup and restore a file between a backup server and a data storage system using multiple trails of data for the same file. Within the data storage system, the file is generally stored as a series of data portions spread across multiple storage devices such as disk. The file may be stored, for example, within a volume. In the backup operation of the invention, a discover phase determines which respective data portions of the file (e.g., partitions) are stored upon which respective storage devices (e.g., disks) of a plurality of storage devices. The system then designates individual respective backup devices (e.g., tapes) of a plurality of backup devices to be used for backing-up respective individual ones of the data portions of the file that are stored on respective storage devices.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing an equitable routing of calls within an automatic call distributor where calls are transferred to agent terminals from two sources, one controlled by switching equipment and the other controlled by a server. The server detects receipt of a call by a queue within the switching equipment and it determines whether other calls are waiting to be routed in the switching equipment. If other calls are waiting, the server withholds ready status of the agent terminals from the queue until the waiting calls are processed so that the switching equipment does not attempt to transfer calls from the source it controls, potentially conflicting with the waiting calls.

Abstract: A parallel filesystem remote access subsystem facilitates remote access to files in a parallel filesystem in a digital computer network, the network including at least one client computer and a plurality of server computers interconnected by a communication link, and each server computer storing a portion of at least one file in the parallel filesystem. The parallel filesystem remote access subsystem includes, associated with the server computer, a parallel filesystem input/output daemon, and, associated with the client computer, a parallel filesystem module and a parallel filesystem proxy daemon. The parallel filesystem module receives access requests generated to access a file in the parallel filesystem and refer the access requests to the parallel filesystem proxy daemon, and the parallel filesystem proxy daemon, in turn, generates server access request messages for transfer over the communications link.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing a recoverable routing of calls using an automatic call distributor to avoid loss of calls at busy agent terminals. Switching equipment receives incoming calls and issues a routing request to a server. In response, the server returns the address of a quence to receive and hold the calls. Intermediate telephones are “punched into” the queue for receiving the calls from the queue, and the server detects transfer of calls to the intermediate telephones in order to obtain control of the calls. The server performs a consultative transfer of the calls from the intermediate telephones to agent terminals so that, if an agent terminal is busy, the server may transfer the call back to the switching equipment in order for the call to be rerouted.

Abstract: A system including a method and apparatus are provided for controlling fault conditions in a computer controlled device such as a data communications device. The invention can preferably be provided in a process restarter mechanism within an operation system. In operation, the process restarter system detects improper execution (i.e., detects a processing failure) of a set of instructions and initiates execution of the set of instructions in response to the operation of detecting. The system then repeats the operation of detecting and initiating according to a first restart sequence and then repeats the operation of detecting and initiating according to a second restart sequence. The second restart sequence initiates execution of the set of instructions in a different sequence than the first restart sequence.

Abstract: A content-aware flow switch intercepts a client content request in an IP network, and transparently directs the content request to a best-fit server. The best-fit server is chosen based on the type of content requested, the quality of service requirements implied by the content request, the degree of load on available servers, network congestion information, and the proximity of the client to available servers. The flow switch detects client-server flows based on the arrival of TCP SYNs and/or HTTP GETs from the client. The flow switch implicitly deduces the quality of service requirements of a flow based on the content of the flow. The flow switch also provides the functionality of multiple physical web servers on a single web server in a way that is transparent to the client, through the use of virtual web hosts and flow pipes.

Abstract: A network appliance is capable of remote booting and obtaining its configuration information from a source located far away. The network appliance can be shipped to a business location or office environment without requiring a local boot server in that location or environment and without requiring the presence of a person who is familiar with and highly skilled in configuring the appliance. The invention allows for booting and the obtaining of configuration information, and therefore allows for the functioning of the appliance, regardless of whether there is a local server in the local network environment, such as a DHCP server or a boot server, that has been set up and configured to provide to the appliance the booting and configuration information it requires. Self-organizing distributed appliances (SODAs) according to the invention augment the Internet by providing a self-organizing network that efficiently distributes big data items, i.e.

Abstract: A call center system allows a representative and a user to jointly browse World Wide Web content while simultaneously conducting a voice conversation over either a circuit switched or packet switched network. A user may initiate a joint browsing, or synchronous collaboration, session by accessing a web page associated with the call center. A call center server downloads a user applet to the user's computer. The user applet communicates state information about the user computer's browser display, or user view, to the server. The server stores this state information. The server then downloads a service applet to the browser of a selected call center representative. The service applet generates a service view including a representation of the user view and a script frame that controls the representation of the user view. The representative may, for example, alter the representation of the user view by selecting a hyperlink or entering information into an HTML form.

Abstract: A communication system includes communication devices which communicate during a communication session. During communication session establishment, the devices exchange a session key in an encrypted manner for privacy. When one device has information to transfer to the other device, the one device will append the session key to the information and apply a hash function thereto to generate a hash value, and generate a message packet for transfer to the other device that includes an information portion containing the information and a hash value portion containing the hash value. When the other device receives the message packet, it will append the session key to the information from the information portion of the packet that it receives, and generate a hash value therefrom.