Abstract: A method for managing marker entities within a document data stream independently of the content of the data stream. The method provides consistent specification and independent processing of marker entities which may include both text and non-text data and which may be associated physically and/or logically with data stream content at the document or lower order entity level. A define marker structure control is utilized within the data stream to specify in a data type independent fashion the physical structure and content of a marker entity as well as defining any desired relationship of a marker entity with another entity within the data stream. A map marker control is then utilized to control the position within a presentation area where the marker entity is to be imaged.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention may be utilized to automatically initiate additional procedures in a data processing system with regard to documents stored therein. A selected document, such an invention disclosure document, is identified and evaluations of the selected document are automatically solicited from a selected group of evaluators enrolled within the data processing system. In one embodiment of the present invention the evaluators are automatically selected in response to the technical or functional subject matter of the document. Each evaluation of a document is then stored and the content of all evaluations are then utilized to automatically initiate an additional procedure. For example, if a majority of evaluations indicate that a selected document should be closed, the file is automatically closed and a report is automatically generated indicating this action.

Abstract: The method and apparatus permit the automatic generation of a meeting agenda for a requested meeting concerning a document stored within a data processing system. A document, such as an invention disclosure document, is stored within a data processing system and identified as the subject of a desired meeting. Evaluation comments by a plurality of users within the data processing system regarding the identified document are tabulated and utilized to create a meeting agenda automatically in response to a request for a meeting. Desired meeting parameters including at least: a desired meeting duration; a desired date span; and a list of desired attendees are selected by a meeting requester and copies of the automatically created meeting agenda are automatically transmitted to each desired attendee in conjunction with a notice of the scheduled meeting. Printed copies of the meeting agenda may also be automatically created in response to a scheduled meeting.

Abstract: A method for processing distributed application programs in SNA type networks employing LU 6.2 protocols, including an information processing system having a host processor, a virtual machine type Operating System, and a plurality of Intelligent Work Stations (IWSs). The Operating System is provided with a Virtual Machine Pool Manager (VMPM). The function of the VMPM is to create and dynamically manage the assignment of a plurality of virtual machines in the pool to process requested individual LU 6.2 conversations, to permit the transfer of information between Parts A and B of a distributed Application, which parts are stored respectively at one IWS and the host processor. In response to a conversation request, an idle Virtual Machine (VM) in the pool is assigned by the VMPM to process one LU 6.2 conversation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of maintaining the integrity of changes made to a revisable form document in a shared library. This invention provides a COPY command with options for checking out and checking in a revisable form document to a shared library. The check-out option allows a single user to check out the revisable form document from the shared library and make a copy thereof in a user's private storage space. A lock is placed on the revisable form document in the shared library to prevent changes while it is checked out. Information relating the revisable form document to the copy is placed in both documents. This information is used when the copy, with the user's changes, is returned to the shared library. Updates are permitted only to the copy in the private storage space. Once updates are completed, the check-in option is used to return the copy to the shared library.

Abstract: A method of saving a search criteria and search results of a document search in a document interchange system having a plurality of shared libraries. The search criteria is stored in a Search Criteria Document appropriately encoded for the document interchange management system. The search results are saved in a Search Result Document. This Search Result Document may be reused or stored in another document such as a folder.

Abstract: A method for classifying and accessing a collection of documents as a single document entity. Relationships are formed between the collection of documents in a relational manner. Each individual document relationship is assigned a document relationship classification independent of the document. The relationship classification contains sensitivity attributes in addition to specific information which relates the documents to a part of a particular set. Access to documents is based on the requester's credentials as well as a calculated relationship classification based on the sensitivity attributes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of decompressing data mode up of a sequence of literal references, history references, and lexicon references. The method includes the steps of reading a reference from the sequence and emitting a lexicon string if the reference is of the type lexicon, emitting a history string if the reference is of the type history, and emitting a literal string if the reference is of the type literal. The string emitted is inserted into a history buffer and if the string is of the type history it is inserted in a lexicon.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of identifying attributes when documents are grouped to form document relationships within a document management system. Document groupings frequently require the identification of all documents within the relationship with a particular attribute. However, when individual documents store attributes along with document contents, individual querying of each document is required when the information is sought later. This invention provides a Vector Relational Characteristical Object, available to access mechanisms, and containing fields to identify a particular attribute. Each field in the Vector Relational Characteristical Object is followed by an identifier which uniquely identifies the document which possess the particular attribute.

Abstract: A method to preserve system resources during the execution of distributed application programs in an SNA type data processing network that supports program to program communication between an Intelligent Work Station (IWS) and a host processor in accordance with SNA Logical Unit 6.2 protocols when a Virtual Machine Pool Manager exists at the host processor and functions to,(1) create a pool of virtual machines at the host processor that are brought to a run ready state prior to any program to program communciation,(2) dynamically assign an idle run ready virtual machine to process each request from the IWS involving one application program so that sequential requests from the one program are assigned to different ones of the idle virtual machines and run concurrently, and3) provide a Pool Manager Data Structure for use by the Pool Manager during the step of dynamically assigning the idle run ready virtual machines in the pool.

Abstract: A method for processing distributed application programs in SNA type networks including a host system having a virtual machine type Operating System and an Intelligent Work Station (IWS) provided with an Operating System that is capable of running two distributed application programs concurrently, in which two idle virtual machines, from a pool of run ready virtual machines that are created and managed by a Virtual Machine Pool Manager (VMPM), are each assigned to process a different one of the two application programs concurrently to prevent the distributed application programs from being serialized on one virtual machine at the host even though both application programs are being invoked by requests at the IWS terminal involving the same USER ID.

Abstract: A method of simultaneously displaying day calendar information in first and second view ports, each of which displays it's calendar data in a different format. The information in the two simultaneously displayed view ports is functionally interrelated to provide an improved interactive user interface.The first viewport has a time structured format which displays a sequence of predesignated time slots, each of which represents a fixed period of time, such as 30 minutes. Each time slot is allocated to one display line in the viewport. If the number of time slots allocated between the beginning and end of a calendar day is greater than the number of display lines in the viewport, then the information is scrollable so that the entire day may be viewed by the operator. The first viewport also includes at least one column that is used to display a vertical busy bar adjacent to a time slot which indicates that the slot is already scheduled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of compressing a sequence of data symbols. The method includes the steps of sequentially appending symbols to a working substring to find the longest string that is duplicated in a history buffer or a lexicon. If the string is duplicated in the history buffer, then a history reference is emitted. If the string is duplicated in the lexicon, then a lexicon reference is emitted. If the string is not duplicated in either the history buffer or the lexicon, then a literal reference is emitted. The history buffer is a record of uncompressed data that has most recently been processed. The lexicon is a record of strings that has been emitted by means of history references.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of decoding a stream of compressed data made up of a sequence of literal references, history references, and lexicon references. If the first bit of the stream is a zero, then the first reference is of the type literal and the first bit is followed by the 8-bit literal symbol itself. If the first bit is a one, then the first reference is either a history reference or a lexicon reference. If the second bit is a zero, then the first reference is of the type history and the second bit is followed by an offset value and a length value. If the second bit is a one, then the first reference is of the type lexicon and the second bit is followed by an index value. After the character of the first reference has been determined, the process is repeated starting with the first bit following the first reference.

Abstract: A method to maintain all of the information that is originally displayed in a window on the display screen in an interactive information handling system, as the size of the window is decreased. A plurality of character sets which have different appropriate width and height attributes are stored in the system. When the size of the window is decreased, a stored character set is selected based on the amount that the window is decreased. Characters from the selected set are then substituted for the corresponding text characters originally displayed. Since the selected character set contains proportionally smaller characters no information is lost. The method allows the operator to dynamically vary the window size, after the initial window has been displayed, by operator action, such as by movement of a mouse. Movement of the mouse in a generally horizontal direction with the button in the held position causes the horizontal window size to decrease.

Abstract: A method of encoding compressed data for transmission or storage. The method includes converting the input data stream into a sequence of literal references, history references, and lexicon references. Each literal reference includes a literal identifier. Each history reference includes a history identifier. Each lexicon reference includes a lexicon identifier. The history references and lexicon references specify the location of strings of symbols in a history buffer and lexicon, respectively. The encoding method of the present invention encodes the location information in an optimal manner.

Abstract: A method is described which permits a user of an Intelligent Work Station (IWS) in an SNA type network in which communication with the host processor employs LU 6.2 advanced program to program protocols and in which the host processor does not assign a dedicated virtual machine to the user during the period the user is active on the system, to notify the system of the user's current terminal address so that distributed applications programs having component parts distributed at the host and the IWS may be executed. When resident counterpart programs of distributed applications are executed by assigning each LU 6.2 conversation to an idle virtual machines from a preestablished pool of virtual machines created by the host processor, rather than to a dedicated virtual machine, the prior art methods that are based on associating the current address of the user with the address of the dedicated virtual are no longer operable.

Abstract: An electronic calendaring method for use in a data processing system which includes a plurality of interactive terminals which are interconnected to permit an end user at each terminal to interchange information with each other and to maintain an electronic calendar. The method facilitates the reply process to an electronic invitation to attend a meeting that is issued by one of the end users by arranging for the system to advise the invitee that a meeting notice is available to review in the "In Box" of the terminal. The method causes a composite screen to be built which simultaneously displays the meeting details and the relevant section, i.e. a day of entries, of the owner's calendar in a side by side format so that calendar entries are correlated to the meeting data and time. The composite display permits an interactive selection by the calendar owner end user of at least one option which can be either to accept the invitation and calendar the meeting or to reject the invitation.

Abstract: A method for scheduling time initiated tasks from an Intelligent Work Station (IWS) of an SNA network in which a host processor has created a plurality of run ready virtual machines which are assigned under control of a Virtual Machine Pool Manager in response to an LU 6.2 allocate verb to establish an LU 6.2 conversation between distributed parts of an application program, one part of which is resident at the IWS and the other part of which is resident at the host. A distributed application program named BATCH is provided, Part A of which is resident on the user's IWS and Part B of which is resident on the host processor. Part B is functionally a component of Virtual Machine Pool Manager (VMPM). The BATCH program allows the user to tranfer information regarding the task that is to be initiated at a designated time, to the host processor.

Abstract: A method for tailoring a master document to obtain a special document. The master document is made up of data objects and portions of the data objects. Included in the portions are pointers to corresponding data objects. The portions are windowed and displayed. Selection of a window will result in a view port being opened through the window into a corresponding data object. The data object can then be scrolled to obtain a desired portion to be included in the special document. As each desired portion is obtained, it is stored and becomes part of the special document.