Abstract: A method and system for multi-bridge LAN aggregation is disclosed. The method includes aggregating a plurality of LANs coupling a host to a first and a second intermediate network device. The system includes an intermediate network device. The intermediate network device includes a multi-bridge engine. The multi-bridge engine includes a tunnel engine coupled to a bridge interconnect port and a first physical port.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a computing system including a World Wide Web application. The application includes a pick field to receive a partial value. The application automatically transmits the partial value to a server. The server is coupled to a database. The server searches the database to find a complete value corresponding to the partial value. The complete value is transmitted to the application. The complete value replaces the partial value in the pick field.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention include generating a list of orders associated with an account. The list of orders comprises orders that are open. Selection of one of the orders is detected. A request to change the selected order is detected. Changes in the open and pending orders to reflect the future state of an asset are applied. A quote based on the future state of an asset is generated. A user is allowed to change the configuration of the future state of the asset, and the change is incorporated in the quote.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining data for multi-channel communication queuing associated with different media formats such as telephone, email, and fax. A list of agent data includes information related to types of communication media an agent can access. The data can further include information related to an agent's skills, a list of media routes, statistics for communication channels of specified media types, statistics for an agent, and journals for work items. Priority values for the media routes, the maximum number of queued items for the media routes, and times for escalating a work item can also be included.

Abstract: A method and system for integrating business application elements of an external business application into an internal business application where the integration system maps the output of external business applications to a Extensible Markup Language (“XML”) format. The XML format defines a standard format for the business application elements generated by the external business applications and provided to the internal business applications by the integration system. When developing a new internal business application, developers can work with the XML formatted elements provided by the integration system without having to learn the different formats provided by the various external business applications. The integration system is responsible for converting the data generated by the external business application to the XML format.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for faster recovery of validated continuous data protection time images. In one embodiment of the method, an image validation process is initiated. In response, a first write transaction is generated for writing first new data to a first image of a data object that existed at prior time T1. The first new data is written to a first storage. Thereafter data contents of the first storage are copied to a first memory object. Finally, the first memory object is linked with the first image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recreating placeholders comprising selecting at least one object of information in an archive, determining a source location for the selected at least one object of information, accessing the selected at least one object of information, and recreating a placeholder from the selected at least one object of information.

Abstract: A method of and system for collecting, storing, and retrieving data in a data base management system. The database management system includes a master database server (4), at least one workgroup server (315), and a plurality of workgroup user clients (310). The workgroup server (315) is interposed between the master database server (4) and said workgroup user clients (310). The method creating a transaction in a local database resident on one of the workgroup user clients (310), entering the transaction into a transaction log resident on the workgroup user client (310), and creating a transaction file corresponding to the transaction in an outbox of said workgroup user client (310). Next, the transaction file is copied to an inbox identified to the workgroup user client (310) and updating the transaction file into a workgroup database (305) resident on the workgroup server (315). The workgroup database (305) includes a transaction log.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable medium for using competency-related information for individuals to provide a variety of benefits is described. In some situations, competency-related information is used to assist members of an organization in managing future career paths within the organization. An organization member can specify a starting position type and a target future position type, and one or more possible career paths leading from the starting position type to the target future position type (possibly through one or more intermediate position types) are identified. Competency gaps for the member relative to the position types along the career path can be identified, and actions to reduce those competency gaps can be identified for possible inclusion in a future action plan for the member.

Abstract: A method, system, computer program product and apparatus are presented to enable a L2 network device, such as a bridge or switch, to control the flow of a multicast data stream to a connected router in response to control messages received from the router by the L2 network device. By controlling the flow of multicast data streams in this manner, there will be a corresponding reduction in wasted bandwidth due to unnecessary transmission of these multicast data streams and a reduction in processing overhead by the router due to analysis and dropping of unnecessary multicast frames. In one aspect of the present invention, the router can generate the control messages in response to receiving a data frame in a multicast data stream from the L2 network device.

Abstract: A method and system for efficient space management for single-instance-storage volumes is provided. A backup module storing data within a collection of containers according to access locality and retention time of the data, wherein the retention time defines an amount of time the data is stored within the collection of containers before deletion of the data, and the access locality comprises an order in which the data is to be accessed is further provided. A compaction module compacting the stored data by selecting at least two containers among the collection of containers, wherein the selection is performed using a predetermined criteria that includes access locality and retention time of the data is also provided. The compaction module distributes the data among the at least two containers. The compaction criteria creates an imbalance among the containers to create more empty, full, or nearly full containers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for incrementally backing up database files is described. In one embodiment, the present invention replicates an original database file for the purpose of creating a backup database file. The backup database file is subsequently stored in a data store and the original database file is monitored for at least one change (i.e., new e-mail message). In response to a detected change, the change to the original database file is copied to the backup database file so that the two database files are replicas of each other.

Abstract: One implementation of a method for providing backup storage services for encrypted data includes receiving signatures of convergently encrypted portions of data from client computers, determining whether the encrypted portions are already present on a backup storage, and obtaining only the needed portions. Users unassociated with a particular user account are denied access to information backed up in that account. The backup storage also stores password protected key files holding signatures of the unencrypted portions of data. One implementation of a system includes a memory, a single-instance storage circuit, a user account management circuit, and a signature index. The memory holds a user-account database and backup copies of convergently encrypted portions of data. The single-instance storage circuit uses the signature index to prevent duplicative backup copies. The user account management circuit responds to download requests after authenticating the user information associated with the requested data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cloning a configuration of a computer in a datacenter is described in the present application. In one embodiment, the method comprises accessing a configuration snapshot for a computer in a data center, wherein the configuration snapshot defines at least one configuration attribute for at least one computer resource and indicates an operating system and at least one software application and provisioning a hardware computer in the data center based on the configuration snapshot.

Abstract: The payload of a set of storage devices is encrypted using a payload key that is stored within the set of storage devices itself. However, the payload key is obtainable only if a user has access to n of the storage devices. A first set of keys can be distributed among a set of n storage devices, such that each key is usable to encrypt and/or decrypt a key stored on a different one of the n storage devices. The first set of keys is usable to encrypt portions of the information needed to regenerate another key (e.g., the payload key or a key used to encrypt the payload key). A different portion of the information needed to regenerate the other key is stored on each of the n storage devices. Accordingly, the other key cannot be obtained unless the user has access to all n storage devices.

Abstract: Various systems and method are disclosed for disseminating security server contact information in a network. For example, one method (e.g., performed by a security server) involves determining that a network device is a secure network device, in response to participating in a security exchange with the network device; and then sending a server list to the network device. The server list includes the network address of at least one security server. Another method (e.g., performed by a network device) involves initiating an authentication exchange; receiving a server list, which includes the network address of a security server, as part of the authentication exchange; and communicating with the security server by sending a packet to the network address included in the server list.

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture for defining and managing instances of time-based organization hierarchies, and for monitoring achievement and attainment, and calculating compensation for individuals and/or groups within instances of the time-based organization hierarchies are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a user may define and/or manage one or more instances of the time-based organization hierarchy via a user interface generated on a client. Moreover, and in response to a sales data input corresponding to a transaction, an achievement and attainment monitoring process may then be executed to accumulate transaction data in one or more achievement containers, and to compile achievement containers from a specified attainment period to calculate a user's attainment.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable medium for providing rapid failback of a computer system is described. The method, which operates during failback of a secondary computer to a primary computer, accesses a map to determine a location of a latest version of data corresponding to a read request, where the location may be within either a primary data storage or a secondary data storage. The system comprises a primary computer coupled to a primary data storage and a secondary computer coupled to a secondary data storage. The primary computer maintains a write log and the secondary computer maintains a map. The computer-readable medium contains instructions, which, when executed by a processor, performs the steps embodied by the method.

Abstract: One method for joining a meet-me conference call includes establishing a communication channel, in response to a request to join a conference call; receiving, over the channel, information as to whether the conference call is still ongoing; and if the conference call is no longer ongoing, giving notification that the conference call is no longer ongoing. The communication channel can be a non-media-transport-supporting channel. If the information indicates that the conference call is still in progress, a media transport channel can be established.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for partitioning a computer cluster through coordination point devices that provide enhanced split brain arbitration during I/O fencing. In one embodiment, a method for using coordination point devices to support Input/Output fencing in a computer cluster comprises processing at least one arbitration request from at least one client computer upon an occurrence of a split brain within a computer cluster, wherein each arbitration request indicates at least one established connection between at least one coordination point device and each client computer of the at least one client computer and each client sub-cluster membership, wherein the at least one coordination point device form a coordination point cluster membership and selecting a client computer of the at least one client computer to continue to be a portion of the computer cluster based on the arbitration request.