Abstract: There is disclosed a method, apparatus and computer program product for receiving a message, the message being processable by a component on one of a plurality of processing threads. A message is received from a first component on a current thread. The communication style that was used by the first component is determined. Responsive to receipt of the message, the communication style that is desired to be used by a second component is determined. Responsive to determining that the two components are asynchronous, communication takes place with the second component using the current thread.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method which derives from metadata definitions the allowable values for a method argument, where the allowable values are a subset or a restricted set of values from a defined range of values for that type of method argument. The subset of allowable values is then converted into a fragment of source code that can be used to initialize the argument variable with one of the allowable values when the method is invoked. The fragment of source code is inserted into the source code for that method argument using an editor tool. A system for implementing the method may comprise an integrated development environment (IDE) program.

Abstract: A system and method for generating random permutations of elements (e.g., integers) in a test generation tool by providing one or more ordered ranges (110-170), each represented by a low and high value. Initially a single range is provided corresponding to the entire set of integer to be permuted. A random integer is then selected within this range, and this selected integer is removed by excluding the selected element. This exclusion is achieved by either splitting the range (110) into two ranges (120, 130), or, if the selected integer is the lowest or highest value of an existing range, adapting the end of the range. Subsequently, one of the ranges in the list of ranges is selected randomly and an element within the selected range is selected randomly and excluded, and so on. In this way a random permutation of all the elements in the original range is generated in the test generation tool.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system and methodology for sorting and/or distributing items and articles being shipped to a receiving party through private and/or commercial delivery systems. Various characteristics of an article being shipped are obtained and assembled in a database. In an exemplary embodiment, the descriptive characteristics of the article are acquired at a first site and the processing and desired disposition of the article is determined at a second site which is physically separate from the first site. The descriptive characteristics of the article being shipped are displayed at the second site and are sufficient to identify the article to a processing individual located at the second site. The processing individual is then enabled to indicate a desired disposal of the article from the second site without being exposed to the physical article located at the first site.

Abstract: A solution provided here comprises transferring control to at least one data-capture component when an error occurs in a production environment, performing introspection upon an object associated with the error, and capturing data from the object. The captured data is associated with the error, and the capturing is performed at least partially through introspection. Methods for error—handling and providing diagnostic data, systems for executing such methods, and instructions on a computer-usable medium, for executing such methods, are provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and program product includes a movement processing system for capturing a first three-dimensional movement of a user and capturing at least another three-dimensional movement of the user, wherein the three-dimensional movement is determined using at the at least one image capture device aimed at the body of the user. A projected movement system predicts a movement baseline based on the first three-dimensional movement of the user and predicts at least one subsequent movement range based on the at least another three-dimensional movement of the user. Based on a comparison of the movement baseline with the at least one subsequent movement, the projected movement systems predicts a projected movement of a user for tracking changes in a range of body movement of a user.

Abstract: A style compressor for improving compression of a web document collects all the style attributes referenced by elements of the web document into a central style repository. The style compressor replaces each reference by each of the elements with a class attribute assigned in the central style repository to the replaced style attributes. Next, the style compressor organizes the style attributes in the central style repository and compresses the style attributes into a minimized selection of class attributes each referencing at least one of the style attributes. The style compressor updates the elements of the web document to reference one or more of the minimized selection of class attributes in the central style repository to produce a shorter, more efficiently organized web document.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided for enabling a user to paint a surface a desired final color while using a paint, the color of which appears in raw form different from the desired final color for the painted surface. In an exemplary embodiment, a tile painting application is illustrated and includes a camera arranged to take an image of a bisque tile. When a user applies a glaze to the tile, the camera-computer system analyzes the glaze color among other factors affecting the painting process and an image showing a final color of the tile after firing is presented on the display of the computer system such that by looking at the computer screen, the user is able to see the actual final color of the tile after firing while applying the initial glaze to the bisque tile before firing.

Abstract: A method and system are provided in which a user is enabled to record, for example, a song or other radio and/or video content, on demand, and to account for and process appropriate payment for the use of the recorded content. The recorded material is saved and indexed by title and is retrievable for subsequent review, tabulation and/or playing at the user's convenience. In one example, a user is enabled to record received media content by pressing a single “ADD” button at any time while a favorite song is being received and played. The song then being played together with the title of the song or video presentation are then saved to memory for subsequent retrieval and playing. The received content is accounted for and tabulated and a payment for the use of the recorded song is processed by the user in accordance with a predetermined payment schedule.

Abstract: A method and implementing instant messaging processing system are provided in which a user's presence and on-line status in a chat session are not broadcast to the chat or instant messaging participants until the user chooses to allow or enable such broadcast. Additionally, the user is enabled to selectively exclude other specified users from seeing the user's on-line status. A “preferences” screen is presented to a user to enable the user to input his or her privacy preferences during a subsequent chat session before the user actually logs-into the chat session. The instant messaging system includes means by which a local instant messaging user is enabled to view all remote users within the chat application who are monitoring the user's on-line status as a result of having the user included in the remote users' buddy lists, as well as the ability to view the on-line state of those remote users.

Abstract: A network cluster is provided herein having a plurality of cluster members. In order to control the admission of client requests sent to the cluster, one member of the cluster is elected “reservation coordinator.” The reservation coordinator runs a reservation algorithm for controlling the distribution of rate capacity across members of the cluster. For example, each member of the cluster may reserve some amount of rate from the coordinator to allow for passing of client requests. To ensure that each member is provided with the appropriate rate capacity, each member of the cluster runs an estimation algorithm to determine whether or not additional rate capacity should be reserved from the reservation coordinator, or released back into the cluster for redistribution. The estimation algorithm is run in real-time and allows the admission control algorithm to adapt to changes in rate distribution.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and program includes a behavior processing system for capturing a three-dimensional movement of a user within a particular environment, wherein the three-dimensional movement is determined by using at least one image capture device aimed at the user. The behavior processing system identifies a three-dimensional object properties stream using the captured movement. The behavior processing system identifies a particular defined behavior of the user representing a particular behavioral signal from the three-dimensional object properties stream by comparing the identified three-dimensional object properties stream with multiple behavior definitions each representing a separate behavioral signal for directing control of at least one machine. In response to identifying the particular defined behavior, a machine control system generates a control signal triggered by the particular behavioral signal for directing control of the at least one machine.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and program product includes a behavior processing system for capturing a three-dimensional movement of an operator of a vehicle, wherein the three-dimensional movement is determined by using at least one image capture device aimed at the operator, and identifying at least one behavior of the operator from the captured three-dimensional movement. An operator monitoring system for a vehicle determines whether the predicted behavior and the current operational state of the vehicle indicate unsafe operation of the vehicle and the operator monitoring system notifies the operator when unsafe operator of the vehicle is indicated by the operator's behavior for the current operational state of the vehicle.

Abstract: Modern enterprises, particularly technology companies, often provide benefits that are sold or given to their customers or partners. For example, an enterprise's customers, or selected subsets of customers, may be entitled to receive product upgrades, product updates or product support. The types and levels of service to which a particular customer is entitled may vary across services and customers. A mechanism is provided to determine, in response to a request for a service, often, but not necessarily, to be delivered electronically, if the requesting recipient is entitled to the service. In determining if the recipient is entitled to the service, an administrator-configurable set of profile attributes values associated with a package of services containing the requested service is compared with corresponding values for said recipient.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laptop computer including a body and a display articulably connected to the body. The laptop computer includes at least one drive unit capable of moving the display relative to the body.

Abstract: In a computer system including a set of resources for allocation to, and access by, a plurality of consumers, a method for allocating a resource to a requesting consumer comprising: calculating a suitability rating for each resource in the set of resources as a value in a range from least suitable to most suitable, the suitability rating being calculated from: a) a measure of recency of access to the resource; b) a measure of a number of times the resource has been accessed by a consumer other than the requesting consumer since a previous access to the resource by the requesting consumer; and c) a measure of a number of times the resource is accessed by a different consumer since the previous access to the resource by the requesting consumer; identifying a resource having a suitability rating which is closest to most suitable; and allocating the identified resource to the requesting consumer.

Abstract: A gesture-enabled electronic communication system informs users of gestures made by other users participating in a communication session. The system captures a three-dimensional movement of a first user from among the multiple users participating in an electronic communication session, wherein the three-dimensional movement is determined using at least one image capture device aimed at the first user. The system identifies a three-dimensional object properties stream using the captured movement and then identifies a particular electronic communication gesture representing the three-dimensional object properties stream by comparing the identified three-dimensional object properties stream with multiple electronic communication gesture definitions.

Abstract: A method and system for managing channels in a voice response system is provided. The method comprises periodically monitoring utilization of a system resource and determining a number, N, of voice channels required to be quiesced based on the utilization level of the system resource. This number is compared with the number of channels currently quiescing, Q, and the number of quiescing channels is adjusted accordingly. A quiescing channel is disabled when it becomes inactive.

Abstract: A user may select an error message presented in a graphic user interface and bring up a word processor by which text describing the error and its solution may be entered. This is saved, and the next time the error is encountered, the saved annotation is available for presentation to and further editing by the user. In this manner, the developer may continually improve the quality and usefulness of the error messages.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for tracking communications usage time. Time increments are counted in response to a call. A call count is determined based on time increments. The call count is modified based on calling plan parameters.