Abstract: Movies are distributed and stored within a movie on demand or near movie on demand system having a number of levels of interconnectivity between and including at least one headend and at least one hub serving a plurality of end users. Distribution is determined as a function of the storage cost of a movie at each level of the system, a connection cost of each level to an end user, and a selection probability of each of the movies. Distribution of the movies between the various servers in the cable system is performed in accordance with the calculated optimal distribution.

Abstract: A method is described by which a data communication network can be tested. The network consists of a number of nodes which are connected to each other. At least one of the nodes is designated to the user as be inaccessible from a first node (A). Data are available within the network which, starting from the first node indicate the path to the node which is designated as being inaccessible. An interrogation is carried out to determine which is the nearest node, starting from the first node, on the path to the node which is designated as inaccessible. This nearest node is then directed to determine whether the interrogated nearest node is accessible. If this is the case, another interrogation is performed to determine which is the nearest node, now starting from the already reached node, on the path to the node which is designated as inaccessible. Another test is performed to ascertain if the new nearest node is accessible.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing security against intrusion in the managed devices of a campus LAN network is provided. A managed hub discovers each interconnect device in the network that supports the security feature and maintains an interconnect device list of such devices, which may include token ring switches, Ethernet switches, bridges and routers. The managed hub detects an intrusion by an unauthorized address on one of its ports and notifies the interconnect devices of the intrusion by transmitting a security breach detected frame. After each interconnect device sets a filter on its respective ports against the intruding unauthorized address and sends a filter set frame to the managed hub, the port in the managed hub where the security intrusion occurred is reenabled.

Abstract: A method of parsing frame headers for routing data frames within a computer network is disclosed. In accordance with the method and system of the present invention, a data frame is first received from a computer network. A frame header of the data frame is then parsed into multiple test units of identical lengths. A test vector is subsequently assigned to each of the test units, wherein each test vector includes a reference pattern field and an action code pointer field. A number of test blocks are constructed by inserting each of the test vectors into a corresponding slot of various test blocks. Finally, a search tree is constructed by utilizing these various test blocks, and each test block is associated with each other test block via the test vectors contained within.

Abstract: Provided are a method and system for achieving enhanced performance in communications involving one or more emulated networks overlaid onto at least one base network, where the emulation is performed by one or more network emulation servers-broadcast and unknown servers. The objects of the method and system are achieved via the following. Monitoring addresses of data transiting the one or more network emulation servers-broadcast and unknown servers where such monitored addresses are indicative of one or more functions provided by the one or more emulated networks. Tracking the monitored addresses. Comparing the tracked addresses, indicative of on or more functions provided by the one more emulated networks, with one or more prespecified thresholds indicative of monopolization of resources of the at least one emulated network.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant bridge/router ("brouter") with a distributed switch-over mechanism of the present invention can tolerate any single failures and does not rely on network reconfiguration (or alternative paths) and, therefore, substantially improves system reliability/availability. The fault-tolerant brouter utilizes a plurality of processing elements communicating through a multiple-bus switching fabric. Each processing element can effectively support two ports, each port providing an interface to an individual LAN. Each LAN is then linked to two different ports on two different processing elements, respectively, thereby providing processing element redundancy. If a processing element fails, bridging/routing functions can be performed by the other, redundant processing element. The functions are switched using the switch-over mechanism. Because the switch-over mechanism is distributed, no centralized control mechanism is required.

Abstract: A touch screen display is presented which comprises a display screen, a plate of a rigid transparent material, mounting apparatus for mounting the plate on the display screen, touch sensing transducers cooperating with the mounting apparatus for producing a plurality of electrical signals in response to, and representative of, a force applied to the plate; the force results from tactile stimulus of the plate while the mounting apparatus includes a film composed of a transparent, elastic, adhesive compound, having a similar refractive index to that of the display screen; the adhesive compound being applied to one surface of the plate for bonding that surface to the display screen.

Abstract: The photolithography tool of the present invention in its simplest embodiment includes an afocal lens system and a three-dimensional master or mask. The three-dimensional mask is located within the object space of the afocal lens system and is imaged onto a three-dimensional circuit carrier or substrate located within the imaging space of the afocal lens system. By using an afocal lens, with which persons skilled in instrumental optics are familiar, a system can be designed for which the object space is identical to the imaging space for unity magnification. As a result, a mask can be used in which the surface contour and pattern to be imaged is identical to the desired substrate surface and pattern, thereby simplifying mask design.

Abstract: A system and method for providing security against intrusion in a campus LAN network is provided. A managed hub discovers each interconnect device in the network that supports the security feature and maintains an interconnect device list of such devices, which may include token ring switches, Ethernet switches, bridges and routers. The managed hub detects an intrusion by an unauthorized address on one of its ports and notifies the interconnect devices of the intrusion by transmitting a security breach detected frame. The interconnect devices set a filter on their respective ports against the intruding unauthorized address. The interconnect devices send a filter set frame to the managed hub which reenables the port where the security intrusion occurred, after all filter set frames are received. A network management station sends a security clear condition frame to remove the filters.

Abstract: A fault-tolerant bridge/router ("brouter") with a distributed switch-over mechanism of the present invention can tolerate any single failures and does not rely on network reconfiguration (or alternative paths) and, therefore, substantially improves system reliability/availability. The fault-tolerant brouter utilizes a plurality of processing elements communicating through a multiple-bus switching fabric. Each processing element can effectively support two ports, each port providing an interface to an individual LAN. Each LAN is then linked to two different ports on two different processing elements, respectively, thereby providing processing element redundancy. If a processing element fails, bridging/routing functions can be performed by the other, redundant processing element. The functions are switched using the switch-over mechanism. Because the switch-over mechanism is distributed, no centralized control mechanism is required.

Abstract: A sliding connector block system for inserting an electronic device, such as a wireless modem transceiver, housed in a sliding metal tray into an electrical equipment enclosure containing other electronic components and blindly interconnecting the electronic device with another component via a flexible cable secured within a sliding connector block. The metal tray and connector block have flanges that align with a pair of guide rails mounted in the equipment enclosure and allow travel of the tray and connector block along the rails between stops. A bezel bonded to the front of the tray provides a handle for inserting and removing the electronic device. A grounding clip is also provided to ground the flexible cable to the sliding metal tray and rails.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently routing data within a network, such as a local area network. A search tree is utilized within the bridge/router in order to store addresses. The search tree is utilized by the router for more efficiently and more quickly determining where one or more received frames of data are to be transmitted within the network. Maintenance of the search trees is also provided so that new addresses may be added to the search trees and addresses may be deleted from the search trees. The search trees are developed by partitioning the addresses into bit groups.

Abstract: In a data processing system, a first system processor is coupled to a first system bus. The first system processor includes a first bus controller. A second system processor having a second bus controller is coupled to a second system bus. The first bus controller is then coupled to a management bus, and the second bus controller is coupled to the same management bus. Thereafter, at least one feature device is coupled to the first system bus, the second system bus, and the management bus. The feature device is also configured to communicate system processor communications with the first system processor via the first system bus. Next, a problem that affects system processor communications over the first system bus between the feature device and the first system processor is detected. In response to detecting such a communications problem, a command is sent to the feature device via the management bus.

Abstract: Method and system for automatically determining and updating thresholds based on collected data samples for counter variables being monitored by a network management application. Historical data is accumulated and used to determine the mean and standard deviation of the monitored counter variables based on the aggregated sample values and a threshold factor is applied to the standard deviation and the resulting value added to the mean to establish the threshold value. The threshold value, which is adaptively updated, is used to determine whether the subsequently sampled values of the monitored counter variables are within a normal range, or that a potential problem exists requiring intervention by a network operator.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for efficiently correlating a plurality of events within a data processing system to determine an action to be performed. According to the present invention, a rule network is provided which includes a number of objects arranged in a tree structure having at least one parent object and a plurality of child objects, where a parent object is logically linked to a child object by passing an input event received by the parent object to the child object. At least one of the objects within the rule network invokes an action in response to receipt of a particular input event. In response to receipt of a series of events, the series of events is evaluated through the tree structure rule network. In response to the evaluation, an action is invoked at one of the number of objects.

Abstract: Disclosed is a combined antenna and helicopter rotor blade. The antenna has one or more electrically non-conductive rotor blades, each having an electrical conductor positioned parallel to the major axis of a respective rotor blade. An electrical connection is provided to connect the antenna to a radio for the reception or transmission of radio waves. Also disclosed is a communications system including apparatus for the transmission or reception of radio waves. Two of the electrical conductors, having angular positions nearer to a predetermined angular position are connected via the electrical connector to the radio. The remaining conductors may either be connected to the body of the helicopter or supplied with a signal out of phase compared to that supplied to the two electrical conductors.

Abstract: A method and system for verifying the identity of a computer network node is provided. As part of the session initiation process between two partner nodes planning to exchange sensitive encrypted data, the node receiving data generates and encrypts a session key which is transmitted to the node sending data. At the sending node, the low order four bytes of the encrypted session key are saved for authentication of the receiving node. The encrypted session key is returned to the receiving node as session set-up continues. The receiving node concatenates the low order four bytes of the encrypted session key with four bytes of pseudorandom data to form an initial chaining value which is then encrypted and transmitted to the sending node. The sending node recovers the initial chaining value and compares the low order four bytes of this value with the low order four bytes of the encrypted session key previously saved. If the values are the same, authentication of the receiving node is established.

Abstract: A new system and method allows a Manager in a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) environment to gather updates from its Agents. The system and method comprise the unique provision of an index which is used in each of the Agent's tables for indicating the various revisions thereof. The index lexicographically increases with each revision to the table. The Manager maintains a record of the index of the data which it has received from its Agents, requesting only that data having a lexicographically larger indexing. Further, the index is used in related tables so that the tables will be kept in "sync" in that the Manager will know whether it has the latest updates so that an accurate picture may be portrayed.

Abstract: System and method for storing in a generalized format, and representing on a graphical user interface, the topology information for a plurality of logical and physical resources in a heterogeneous computer communications network. Topological data for each network resource is encoded using a collection of record structures having a tabular format and stored in a plurality of topology information element tables which are categorized further as data element tables, relationship element tables and auxiliary element tables. The rows in the tables representing discrete data elements are recursively processed and correlated and presented as a generalized topology display via a user interface.

Abstract: A new system and method allow one or more Managers in a network to retrieve from an Agent problem determination data relating to the Agent's Components. The system and method of the present invention allow the Manager to use standard mechanisms to retrieve and display the Agent's problem determination data. A generic collection subsystem created by the Agent acts as an interface for the Agent to the Components for collecting and organizing the problem determination data received from the Components. The collection subsystem receives and stores problem determination data from each of the components in tables which are organized based upon the type of problem determination data. Within each table, the data objects may be stored chronologically, for example. The collection subsystem responds to all requests from the Agent for stored problem determination data. The requests may specify particular parameters such as the type of problem and time it occurred.