Abstract: The present invention provides a compiler that can compile Java byte code at high speed while employing only limited resources. The technique converts byte code into intermediate code that employs, as an opcode, an address of an execution routine that corresponds to a byte code, and executes the execution routines in a sequential order corresponding to that of the intermediate code. The length of the intermediate code is constant and the bit location of the opcode is also constant. The execution routine is stored in sequential areas in a memory, and an offset of the execution routine group from the head address of the sequential memory area is employed as an opcode.

Abstract: A technique for providing a transaction management subsystem for an enterprise computing environment in which multiple concurrent and/or nested transactions may access the same Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs) simultaneously. The transaction management subsystem provides a view for each transaction which includes an independent version of an EJB's business logic and its instance data. When an application or application user has made modifications to an EJB version and requests to commit the modifications, a determination is first made as to whether committing the modifications will result in an unacceptable data conflict with other versions of the same EJB. If no unacceptable data conflict will occur, and after resolution of those conflicts that can be resolved, the modifications are committed. The management subsystem also supports nested transactions, where each subtransaction may have an independent view of an EJB. Subtransactions may commit or roll back independently.

Abstract: In a publish/subscribe data processing broker network having a plurality of broker data processing apparatuses, each of which has an input for receiving published messages directly from a publisher application and/or receiving subscription data directly from a subscriber application, and each of which having a means for receiving a published message on a first topic and assigning a broker-specific sequence number to the received message; a first broker apparatus has: a software unit for determining a failure of a neighboring broker apparatus which has provided published messages on the first topic to the first broker apparatus; and a software unit for sending historic resubscriptions with respect to the first topic to each antecedent broker apparatus of the failed neighboring broker apparatus by using the broker-specific sequence number corresponding to each antecedent broker apparatus.

Abstract: A technique for permitting the creation of multimedia titles in the form of flip books or stories comprising individual scenes includes simplified techniques for establishing navigation both internal and external navigation. The present invention provides a part or framework usable in a power tool environment which enables individual scenes within a multimedia story being created to be linked directly to parts or applications external to the multimedia story such that processing can jump directly from a scene to an external application or part. Additionally, the present invention provides improved navigation between scenes within a multimedia story and the ability to embed stories within individual scenes of the story.

Abstract: A technique for creating client-server applications that permits the client component to be updated remotely, such as over a network or the like, and implementing the updating of a client portion of the application. The client is developed so that certain configurable components thereof may be effectively turned on or off by instructions contained in a bit string and to include parsing functionality for parsing an input bit string. Each configurable component corresponds to a different position in the bit string. When it is determined that the client is down level, the bit string which represents the current preferred client configuration is transmitted to the client. The client parses the bit string, and based on the instruction contained in the position of the bit string which corresponds to each configurable component of the client, turns that component on or off.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for determining an estimated overall delay value associated with a user's communications with a site in a network and providing the user with a visual representation of this estimated overall delay value are provided. The estimated overall delay value may be determined by estimating the round-trip delay associated with the user's communications with the network site, estimating the transmission delay associated with the user's communications with the network site, and then determining the estimated overall delay value based on the estimated round-trip delay and the estimated transmission delay. The user may be provided the visual representation of the estimated overall delay value by generating an indicia corresponding to the estimated overall delay value and displaying this indicia on the user's display device.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that can adjust the scrolling speed for data displayed in an application window on a display and display a visual scrolling speed indicator. When the user manipulates a mouse to request scrolling of data in a window, the display form of the mouse cursor is changed. That is, in addition to the mouse cursor, one or more speed indicators appears in the scrolling direction. The number of speed indicators which are displayed corresponds to the scrolling speed. The speed indicators are arranged from the center of the mouse cursor in the scrolling direction. A speed indicator is shaped like a small isosceles triangle, and as its vertex is facing in the scrolling direction, it is a very effective visual aid for a user. Preferably, one speed indicator is displayed for a low scrolling speed, two for a moderate scrolling speed and three for a high speed scrolling.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable code with which a computing platform for automobiles can be constructed using software components. In particular, device functionality and platform software functionality available to computer applications are represented as JavaBeans in the Java computer programming language. Applications can be written to run on an automotive computing platform to access the device functionality using JavaBeans components. In this manner, software can be optimized for particular automotive applications or particular environments of devices and/or software, while still providing applications that are usable in a wide variety of automobile computing platforms and device configurations.

Abstract: A technique for permitting a client in a client/server computing environment to query a plurality of databases for desired data utilizing a single query sent over a network one time. The single query need not be written in the syntax for the target database, but includes the names of the database and table within the database which contains the desired data. The query is sent from the client over the network via a specified socket, and is received by servers connected to the network which are listening to the specified socket. Each server includes code which determines if the desired data is present in a database which is associated therewith. If so, the server code generates an appropriate query for its associated database, retrieves the desired data from the database and forwards the data to the client over the network.

Abstract: A technique, system, and computer program for presenting test coverage metrics in a visual programming environment. The information is presented in the same general visual manner in which a visual programmer creates a visual program. A number of alternative presentation styles are defined whereby the visual program is augmented to indicate test coverage status. For example, when displaying connections, one color may be used when displaying a connection to indicate that it has been covered, while a different color is used for connections that were not covered. Or, different line styles (such as solid versus dashed, or different degrees of line thickness) may be used to represent the same information. Alternatively, the test coverage status may be indicated by annotating the graphical representation of the visual program with text (such as “covered” or “not covered”).

Abstract: A method and system in a data processing system for customizing a graphic user interface environment by utilizing graphic manipulation of selected graphic user interface elements in order to initiate the installation of optional functions and/or features. A graphical user interface element within a graphic user interface is displayed within a first region of a display screen. A data processing system user is then permitted to temporarily remove the graphical user interface element from that first region of the display screen by temporarily rendering that graphic user interface element transparent or by temporarily displaying that graphic user interface element within an alternate region within the display screen. Thereafter, a selected area is designated within the first region, and a user-selectable object which is representative of an optional function and/or feature is displayed at the selected area within the first region, in response to that designation.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for presenting runtime performance data for analysis in a visual programming environment. The performance data is presented in substantially the same manner in which a visual programmer creates a visual program. A number of alternative presentation styles are defined whereby the visual program is augmented to indicate performance data. For example, when displaying connections, one color may be used when displaying a connection to indicate it has been executed a relatively high number of times, while a different color (or a different hue of the first color) is used for connections that were executed a relatively low number of times. Or, different line styles may be used (such as different degrees of line thickness, or solid lines compared to lines comprised of dashes of varying length) may be used to represent the same information.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for providing test coverage metrics in a visual programming environment. A test coverage model for visual programming is defined, which accounts for the specialized nature of visual programming, and the metrics are based on this model. The metrics are expressed in terms of elements familiar to the visual programmer, as opposed to using source code metrics. In a preferred embodiment, these elements comprise events, actions, connections, and attributes. The code implementing a visual program is instrumented according to this model, and test coverage information is gathered as the instrumented program executes.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program for providing runtime performance analysis in a visual programming environment. A performance data collection technique for visual programming is defined, which accounts for the specialized nature of visual programming, and the analysis is based on this collected data. The performance data is expressed in terms of elements familiar to the visual programmer, as opposed to using a source code approach. In a preferred embodiment, these elements comprise events, actions, connections, and attributes. The code implementing a visual program is instrumented according to this performance data collection technique, and performance information is gathered as the instrumented program executes. Preferably, the information gathered comprises execution counts and elapsed time per element.

Abstract: In a token-based deadline enforcement system for electronic document submission, a submission requirements centre collects information on submission requirements (eg., deadlines for submitting bids in response to commercial tenders), from the processing environments that generate the requirements. A gateway to a network of potential submitters polls the information collected in the submission requirements centre, and generates tokens corresponding to current submission time limits. These tokens are available to all potential submitters until expiry of the corresponding time limit for the submission. On receiving a request for electronic submission from a submitting program, the gateway searches its records for the token corresponding to the submission type. If the token is located, it is returned to the submitting program for packaging with the submission.

Abstract: A technique, system, and computer program for protecting data stored by a computer system in a computing environment having a connection to a public network. The stored data is created and accessed by a software application, which encrypts it for storing and decrypts it for processing. A secret, immutable value specific to the computer system on which the software is running is combined with information identifying an authorized user in order to form the input key used by the encryption and decryption facilities of the software. Optionally, the secret value can be exposed to the user in order to move the encrypted data to another environment.

Abstract: A technique for converting a software program into an object oriented class for sending across a network. A software program is loaded as instance data into a single object oriented class which is self-extracting. Preferably, each program file from the software program is compressed prior to being loaded as instance data into the class. The class may be a Java class which is sent over the Internet to a Java enabled computer system, where the class is unpackaged and the original software program recreated.

Abstract: A technique for determining the number of users or client computers which transact with a server program during a given period of time. The technique is used to ensure that more users or client computers are not transacting with the server program than operative program licenses allow. The technique is embodied in a license management routine that reads and parses data entries in the server program's audit log to determine the number of users or client computers transacting with the server program over a time period. Client-server computing environments that record transactions in an audit log can employ this technique to monitor server program usage and to ensure that the appropriate number of client program licenses are obtained.

Abstract: A server concurrency control technique for use in a client/server computing system where a client sends a request to a server for access to a server resource involves receiving client requests of a plurality of lock requester types at a lock requester interface; comparing each of said requests against a lock requester set which has a lock requester type representation corresponding to a lock requester type of previously received client requests which are presently holding locks to server resources; and as a result of the comparing step, determining whether a newly received client request conflicts with previously received client requests which are currently holding locks to server resources.

Abstract: A technique for maintaining the integrity of data maintained in an object in a persistent store of objects. When a modification event is initiated during a transaction to modify an object, a copy of the object is created. Modifications are made to the copy of the object, and the original object remains available to be accessed with its original value. The modifications to the copy of the object can be reviewed, or further modifications can be made to the copy before the modifications are committed and the changes to the copy applied to the original object and thus available to all users of the persistent store. Alternatively, the modification event can be canceled prior to commitment and never be made available via the persistent store.