Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product are presented for management of resource leases within a distributed data processing system. A resource manager receives a lease request from a requester for a resource in which the lease request has a requested lease period. In response to receiving the lease request, the resource manager secures leases along a logical circuit of resources through the distributed data processing system. The resource manager requests leases from other resource managers along the data path that comprises the logical circuit because use of the requested resource requires use of other resources. After securing leases on a logical circuit of resources, the resource manager returns a lease grant for the resource to the requester. If the system detects oversubscribed conditions and/or error conditions, the system can adjust the pending leases in an appropriate manner, such as terminating a lease, adjusting the lease period of a lease, and the like.

Abstract: A data processing arrangement (100) and method for fuzzy backup and restore of MQSeries shared queues held in coupling facility list structure (106). Periodically backups are taken of the data held in the CF list structure by backing up messages in the sequence uncommitted puts (220), committed puts (230), uncommitted gets (240) and expired messages (250), whereby all messages may be backed up in the backup means except for exceptions which are recorded in the record log. In the event of media failure of the coupling facility, data can be restored by restoring messages in the sequence restoring messages from the backup means (320), replaying messages from the record log means (340) and determining final disposition of messages from replay of the record log means (350). This provides the advantage of allowing the number of log records written to be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to develop and test the WML/HTML applications, and in particular web sites, on a multitude of user agents/browsers at the same time. The user selects the browsers in which the user has an interest. The method executes the web site file on the selected browsers and then displays on a virtual screen, screen shots of the file as viewed on different browsers. The user can use this information to modify their HTML/WML source code and run the code again through the program and view the changes in the output. The present invention can incorporate a WML/HTML editor, which will allow the user to make changes on-line and recheck their results. This method receives a HTML/WML file, selects a browser on which to display the file, edit the displayed output to the file and displays the edited version of the file on the screen. This process can be repeated for a number of browsers.

Abstract: A framework for processing signed applets that are distributed over the Internet. Using the framework, an applet that is packaged as a Netscape- or JDK-signed jar file, or as an Internet Explorer-signed cab file, is processed within the same Java runtime environment irrespective of the browser type (i.e. Netscape Communicator, Internet Explorer or JDK) used to execute the applet. When the applet is executed, the framework verifies one or more applet signatures using the same algorithm that was used to sign the applet, verifies the signer(s) of the applet, and stores information about the signers so that they can be honored by a security policy when permissions for the applet are determined.

Abstract: A method of controlling how a Web document is presented for display on a browser of a client machine. The Web document typically is formatted according to a markup language such as HTML. The method uses a client side HTTP caching proxy to intercept the Web document and then dynamically rewrite the document before it is displayed on the browser. In particular, as the Web document is received from the server, the HTML is parsed to identify the format of the document and the information therein. A filter mechanism is then used to reformat the Web document according to some given protocol, and the re-formatted Web document is then passed to the browser for display. Dynamic alteration of the HTML in this manner enables control of the “look and feel” of the browser display.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product is presented for management of a distributed data processing system. A network management framework dynamically adapts database operations so as to maximize system performance. A skeletonization mechanism is presented in which some objects are merely represented in a database cache as a skeleton object. A skeleton object holds only a fraction of an object's full complement of data; the skeleton object remains associated with its complete object, also termed its corresponding full object or non-skeleton object, which remains stored within its original location within a database. Skeletonized data can be updated on an as-needed or on-demand basis or when otherwise convenient; at that time, a skeleton handler can detect when a request is made for the object, retrieve the remaining data from persistent storage, and then mark the cached object as being a full object or non-skeleton object.

Abstract: A simple electronic horological device, termed a time cell, is presented with associated methods, systems, and computer program products. A time cell has an insulated, charge storage element that receives an electrostatic charge through its insulating medium, i.e. it is programmed. Over time, the charge storage element then loses the charge through its insulating medium. Given the reduction of the electric potential of the programmed charge storage element at a substantially known discharge rate, and by observing the potential of the programmed charge storage element at a given point in time, an elapsed time period can be determined. Thus, the time cell measures an elapsed time period without a continuous power source. One type of time cell is an analog time cell that may have a form similar to a non-volatile memory cell, particularly a floating gate field effect transistor (FGFET). The time cell may have an expanded floating gate for storing an electrostatic charge.

Abstract: A method or system is presented for coupling identities through the use of digital certificates, thereby allowing a client to be authenticated for a variety of services without those services having to modify their existing methods of authentication. The client generates a request for a digital certificate containing its host identity for a targeted host and secret data associated with its host identity. The secret data has been encrypted using the public key of the certifying authority that receives the request for the digital certificate. The certifying authority decrypts the secret data using its private key and encrypts the secret data using the public key of the targeted host. The digital certificate is then generated and returned to the client. At some point in time, a host receives the certificate from the client and obtains the client's host identity from the certificate, i.e. the host identity uniquely identifies the client or the user of the client to the host.

Abstract: A data processing system (100) and method for creating a fuzzy backup (116) only of objects older than a predetermined threshold, and restoring from the fuzzy backup and from a record log (114) replayed from a time equal to the predetermined threshold before the fuzzy backup start time. This provides advantages of reduced resource cost for the fuzzy backup and reduced restore time.

Abstract: A simple electronic horological device, termed a time cell, is presented with associated methods, systems, and computer program products. A time cell has an insulated, charge storage element that receives an electrostatic charge through its insulating medium, i.e. it is programmed. Over time, the charge storage element then loses the charge through its insulating medium. Given the reduction of the electric potential of the programmed charge storage element at a substantially known discharge rate, and by observing the potential of the programmed charge storage element at a given point in time, an elapsed time period can be determined. Thus, the time cell measures an elapsed time period without a continuous power source. One type of time cell is an analog time cell that may have a form similar to a non-volatile memory cell, particularly a floating gate field effect transistor (FGFET). The time cell may have an expanded floating gate for storing an electrostatic charge.

Abstract: An impaired person is provided with a personalized accessibility device, which communicates an identification of a disability or impairment to an assistance device, which provides assistance. Also provided is a method and apparatus for providing feedback to a person with impairment. The feedback may be configured based on the type and extent of impairment, as well as personal preferences, such as a preferred language. The assistance device may also request a response from the disabled or impaired person, thus solving the person's Special Needs in a conversational manner without calling attention to the impairment.

Abstract: A simple electronic horological device, termed a time cell, is presented with associated methods, systems, and computer program products. A time cell has an insulated, charge storage element that receives an electrostatic charge through its insulating medium, i.e. it is programmed. Over time, the charge storage element then loses the electrostatic charge through its insulating medium. Given the reduction of the electric potential of the programmed charge storage element at a substantially known discharge rate, and by observing the electric potential of the programmed charge storage element at a given point in time, an elapsed time period can be determined. Thus, the time cell is able to measure an elapsed time period without a continuous power source. One type of time cell is a binary time cell that may have a form similar to a non-volatile memory cell.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for loading the correct version of a file in a system in which multiple versions of the same file and multiple versions of a requesting application reside. In a preferred embodiment, a class loader receives a request, from a requesting application, to load a file. The request includes an indication of the current version of the requesting application. The class loader retrieves from a plurality of files, the one version of the requested file that is compatible with the requesting application and then loads that file. Each of the plurality of files includes an indication of plurality of versions for which the particular file is compatible and the version of the requesting application is within the plurality of versions for which the selected file is compatible.

Abstract: A simple electronic horological device, termed a time cell, is presented with associated methods, systems, and computer program products. A time cell has an insulated, charge storage element that receives an electrostatic charge through its insulating medium, i.e. it is programmed. Over time, the charge storage element then loses the charge through its insulating medium. Given the reduction of the electric potential of the programmed charge storage element at a substantially known discharge rate, and by observing the potential of the programmed charge storage element at a given point in time, an elapsed time period can be determined. Thus, the time cell measures an elapsed time period without a continuous power source. One type of time cell is an analog time cell that may have a form similar to a non-volatile memory cell, particularly a floating gate field effect transistor (FGFET). The time cell may have an expanded floating gate for storing an electrostatic charge.

Abstract: A method for securing and processing sparse access control list (ACL) data in a relational database used as a backing store for a hierarchical-based directory service. The sparse ACL data is secured in a plurality of tables. An owner table stores data objects with explicitly set ACLs. A propagation table stores data on whether individual ACLs are inherited by descendant objects. A permissions table stores data regarding permissions which a user may perform on an object. A source table stores data for a set of ancestor objects having respective ACLs for each of a set of descendant objects. Preferably, the tables are stored in the relational database together with the objects. For a given object, data in the tables is used to determine the given object's entry owner and ACL. The inventive technique has particular applicability in a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory service having a relational database as a backing store.

Abstract: A process and system for blocking unnecessary callbacks to empty paint methods of graphical user interface components is provided. The process initializes a platform-dependent peer class corresponding to a platform-independent class for the graphical user interface component and stores a value representing whether the platform-independent class extends a standard platform-independent class for the graphical user interface component. A platform-dependent paint method determines whether a callback to a paint method is necessary for processing of the paint event. The callback determination is performed by checking the stored value representing the extension of the standard graphics class for the component. If a callback is necessary, then the native paint method initiates a callback to the paint method of the platform-dependent peer object.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed, according to which, the responsiveness of client/server-based distributed web applications operating in an object-oriented environment may be improved by cofetching read only commands. In an exemplary embodiment, the system and method are implemented by defining special preExecute and postExecute methods of cacheable commands. The preExecute method of a requested command may be invoked to execute secondary commands and then return them to the requesting client. The postExecute method of a requested command may be invoked to place the returned commands in a cache, along with the requested command. In this manner, a single request can be used to execute, retrieve and cache multiple related commands. Cofetched commands are designated by the application developer when the requested command and its associated methods are created, and may be chosen based on their anticipated use in conjunction with the requested command.

Abstract: A method and system for capturing and storing system changes for application to multiple users and systems in a heterogeneous server environment is provided. A data processing system is initialized for a capture of an initial state of the data processing system. The data processing system is modified. The modified state of the data processing system is captured. The differences between the initial state and the modified state are stored as a set of configuration parameters in a depository, and the set of configuration parameters may be used to manage configurability of a data processing system within the distributed data processing system.

Abstract: A user contracts with an application service provider for hosting a needed application. By contracting with a service provider the user may interact with the application by using only a thin client rather than maintaining a thick client. The user rents an application from either the service provider or an independent application provider. If the user procures the application from an application provider, the application provider negotiates hosting terms with the service provider prior to installing the application into the service provider's warehouse. The application provider also checks that the services provided by the service provider meet the minimum requirements of the application. Once installed, the service provider may offer the application to other users along with services for the application. The user may procure additional services from the service provider for supporting the application. A user can then dynamically download the application “on-demand”.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a data processing system for processing a print job. A call is received from an application to print the print job to a selected printer, wherein the print job includes a request to use a hardware service. A print preview of the print job prior to printing the print job is provided. Responsive to receiving an indication that the print job is to be printed after providing the print preview, the print job is sent to a device driver for the selected printer to print the print job. A determination is made as to whether the selected printer supports the hardware service. Responsive to a determination that the hardware service is unsupported by the selected printer, the hardware service is provided using a software simulation.