Abstract: Within a computer cluster usage reference counts are maintained for replicated databases within a computer cluster using cluster membership and cluster voting services. Such a method includes the maintaining of a local reference count for all open distributed data resources within a given node, tracking by a group services client of those nodes that have the open distributed data resources, and using cluster membership services to update the local reference counts for node failures.

Abstract: A method of enabling a proxy to participate in a secure communication between a client and a set of servers. The method begins by establishing a first secure session between the client and the proxy. Upon verifying the first secure session, the method continues by establishing a second secure session between the client and the proxy. In the second secure session, the client requests the proxy to act as a conduit to a first server. Thereafter, the client and the first server negotiate a first session master secret. Using the first secure session, this first session master secret is then provided by the client to the proxy to enable the proxy to participate in secure communications between the client and the first server. After receiving the first session master secret, the proxy generates cryptographic information that enables it to provide a given service (e.g., transcoding) on the client's behalf and without the first server's knowledge or participation.

Abstract: A method of balancing loads during data distribution in a managed network environment wherein at least one gateway machine services a plurality of endpoints. System management tasks include data distributions, which are normally initiated at the gateway and distributed to all managed endpoints. Load balancing is achieved by setting a load parameter for each subnet of each network path between the gateway machine and an endpoint machine serviced thereby. The load parameter is selectable and identifies an amount of network bandwidth that may be used by a particular data distribution over the segment. Prior to initiating a distribution, the effective load that a given subnet will “see” when the operation begins is then calculated. If that effective load for any subnet exceeds that subnet's respective load parameter, the data distribution rate is altered for the overall network path. This technique effectively balances network loads and makes more efficient use of resources.

Abstract: A web page image is modified “on-the-fly” for a specific client machine according to calibration parameters for that machine (or the user of the machine) that are generated during a one-time calibration at the client. Preferably, this calibration is effected using a software routine, e.g., a Java applet, that is downloaded to the client and executed, e.g., in a client browser. A user of the client machine runs the applet to establish a set of calibration parameters that are then stored at the server, e.g., as a user profile. When a request is later made for a given web page hosted by the server, the server identifies the user making the request and applies the calibration parameters to color adjust the image as the page including that image is served.

Abstract: A calling service is provided within a conventional Internet operating environment wherein client machines connect to the Internet via an Internet service provider (ISP). The ISP provides Internet access to the users for a time-based or usage-based service fee. According to the invention, a client machine user is provided an option to make a telephone call to a Web site operator during a browsing session. The charges for the telephone call preferably are invoiced by the ISP (or some third party on the ISP's behalf). Thus, when a user elects to make a “one-click” telephone call to the Web site, the charge for the call preferably shows up on the user's ISP billing statement.

Abstract: A move/copy interface is provided with a pause feature that allows the user to pause and subsequently resume a move or copy command. In one embodiment, the pause, tool saves an index, source file name, target file name, block size and block number so that the operation can be subsequently resumed. After a pause has been requested, a “resume” command button appears on the, user interface that is selected by the user to resume processing. Extended periods between a pause and subsequent resume are provided by saving the pause data to a data file. Another embodiment pauses a copy operation over a computer network, such as the Internet, suspending the source computer's sending of blocks of data comprising the source file until the resume operation is requested. The user can repeatedly pause and resume the copy operation in order to free system resources in order to perform other operations.

Abstract: A apparatus and method for cross-referencing routines in software is implemented. Declarations in the software program are searched for routine declarations. For each routine declaration found, an entry in a first table in a database is generated and a routine identifier for the routine entered. In response to each identifier entered, the routines corresponding thereto are searched for calls to other routines. For each call, entry in a second table is generated in which, in a first field, the identifier of the routine being searched is written, and in a second field, an identifier for the called routine is written. The user may select for outputting the routines called by a particular routine, in which case, the entries are accessed via the first field and the contents of the second field are output. Alternatively, the user may select for outputting the routines called by a particular routine, in which case the entries are accessed via the second field and the contents of the first field are output.

Abstract: A directory schema for directory applications or platforms that store common attributes in a distributed directory. According to the schema, a given attribute is stored in a directory together with a signature that identifies given information, e.g., the purpose and version of the attribute. Thus, when an attribute is migrated to a new value, e.g., upon the release of a new application version, the directory schema need not be extended. Rather, the attribute may be maintained in the schema is the same location as was used with an earlier application version.

Abstract: An alternate boot record is stored on a hard disk drive in a data processing system at the opposite end of the hard disk from a master boot record. Extended boot records stored before each logical partition are employed for that partition when the master boot record or alternate boot record is utilized for system initialization. The alternate boot record is utilized to initialize the data processing system when attempts to initialize the data processing system utilizing the master boot record are unsuccessful. The alternate boot record thus forms part of an automatic recovery mechanism in the data processing system.

Abstract: A process and system for profiling code executing on a data processing system is provided. Event-based trace data is recorded in response to selected events, and the event-based trace data includes an indication of which code is being interrupted. The trace data may be processed to identify a thread or method that was executing during the event. A periodically occurring event is also detected, and a stack associated with the profiled code is identified in response to detection of the periodically occurring event, such as a timer interrupt. The stack is examined to identify each routine that is currently executing during the periodically occurring event.

Abstract: A method of monitoring in a distributed computer network having a management server servicing a set of managed computers. The method begins by deploying a management infrastructure across a given subset of the managed computers, the management infrastructure comprising a runtime environment installed at a given managed computer. At the given managed computer, the routine executes a monitoring agent in the runtime environment to determine whether a given threshold has been exceeded. Then, a given action is taken if the given threshold has been exceeded. The monitoring agent is executed upon receipt of an external event or as a result of an internal timer. Execution of the monitoring agent involves taking a measurement, comparing the measurement against the given threshold, and then taking some corrective action if possible.

Abstract: A method of outputting a document on a rendering engine in a client in a computer network. The document comprises a markup language data stream having a plurality of references to external resources required by the document. In operation, the document is first retrieved to the client. As the document is received, the rendering engine parses the markup language data stream for a list of external resources. If the list of external resources is present in the markup language data stream, the engine selectively prefetches at least one external resource as the document is output by the rendering engine.

Abstract: A large distributed enterprise includes computing resources including a management server servicing a plurality of endpoint machines. A management infrastructure include a runtime engine is deployed on given endpoint machines. In response to a task deployment request at an administrative server, discovery agents may be launched into the computer network. When a software agent arrives at a given machine that supports the runtime engine, the agent is executed to determine whether the endpoint is a candidate for a particular task deployment.

Abstract: A method of enabling an HTTP server plug-in to pass an unmangled environment variable into a CGI process begins by configuring the HTTP server to initially override a CGI service method. When the server processes an HTTP request, the server plug-in, which is called prior to the CGI service method and is running in a process of the HTTP server, inserts a “name value” pair prepended with a marker in a request header parameter block of the HTTP server. Then, the CGI service override method executes the server's original (i.e. native) CGI service method, causing it to run an encapsulation program in the CGI process. This program scans the environment of the CGI process for any string prepended with a given HTTP code (e.g., the string “HTTP_”) and the marker. If it finds any such string, the program strips the given HTTP code and the marker from a remainder of the string and resets the environment variable into the CGI process in an “unmangled” form.

Abstract: A data processing system and method providing for the sharing of inputs and outputs between a first assistive technology application and a second assistive technology application. An input/output manager in the first application is used to manage inputs to and outputs from the second application. An input method in the first application sends input to the second application. An output method in the first application receives output from the second application. A channel is formed between the input/output manager and the input and output methods to pass input and output that allows assistive technology applications to share user interface devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a data stream including audio and video data in which high data rates and throughput is required. Thresholds are employed to control the processing of video and audio data in a data stream. Video data is decoded in response to a comparison of audio and video data to threshold values. Additionally, another threshold value is employed to control buffers storing audio data in response to an underflow of audio data.

Abstract: A portable electronic device that can obtain position information despite lacking GPS reception capability includes data storage that stores a reference position, a plurality of inertial motion sensors, and computational circuitry. The inertial motion sensors detect movement of the portable electronic device and output motion signals to the computation circuitry indicative of the sensed movement. In response to these motion signals and the stored reference position, the computational circuitry computes a position of the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A method for reuse of image data in a distributed computer network is operative at a web server in response to a request from a client browser for a web page. At the web server, a determination is made regarding whether the web page includes a given object reference. If so, a template defining a composite image is retrieved. The template identifies at least one image object to be retrieved from another location, typically from a host remote to the web server. Once the image object is retrieved, a given transform is applied to the image object to generate a transformed image object. The given transform, for example, is selected from a group of transforms such as: scaling, mirroring, cutting, cropping, inverting, flipping, reversing, rotating, color shifting, and combinations of the above. Thereafter, the transformed image object is mapped into the composite image according to the template. After the composite image is created, it is served within the web page originally requested by the client.

Abstract: A caching mechanism for a directory service having a backing store. According to the invention, directory search results are cached over a given data capture period, with the information then being used by a data analysis routine to generate a data access history for the user for a particular application. That history is then used to generate a recommended pre-fetch time, a filter key for the pre-fetch, and a preferred cache replacement policy (e.g., static or LRU). Based on that information, a control routine pre-fetches and populates the cache with information that is expected to be needed by the user as a result of that access history.

Abstract: A semaphore manager data structure for managing semaphores in a multi-tasking computer system is disclosed. The data structure comprises of a multiple of indices corresponding to each class, a multiple of semaphore numbers corresponding to each semaphore, and a mapping table defining an assignment of each of the semaphores to each of the classes by utilizing the class indices and the semaphore numbers. The assignment criteria is that a class can only be assigned to one semaphore but a semaphore can be assigned to more than one class.