Abstract: A method, a system and a computer program of reducing overheads in multiple applications processing are disclosed. The method includes identifying resources interacting with each of the applications from a set of applications and grouping the applications from the set of applications, resulting in at least one application cluster, in response to the identified resources. The method further includes assigning an agent corresponding to each of the identified resources and initializing the agent corresponding to each of the identified resources. The method further includes identifying parameters associated with the identified resources, pre-processing the identified parameters for each of the identified resources, and also includes selecting a clustering means for the clustering.

Abstract: Method, system, and computer program product for managing parallel data processing jobs in grid environments are provided. A request to deploy a parallel data processing job in a grid environment is received. A plurality of resource nodes in the grid environment are dynamically allocated to the parallel data processing job. A configuration file is automatically generated for the parallel data processing job based on the allocated resource nodes. The parallel data processing job is then executed in the grid environment using the generated configuration file.

Abstract: Methods for managing privacy settings for a social network using an electronic computing device are presented including: causing the electronic computing device to receive a triggering event on the social network; and causing the electronic computing device to determine a number of privacy indices in response to the triggering event, where the number of privacy indices correspond with at least one target user, where the number of privacy indices are normalized from a summation of a number of privacy scores, where the number of privacy scores are each derived from a sum of attribute scores, and where the sum of attribute scores are each derived from a weighted sensitivity value of an attribute and a user relationship distance value of a user and the target user.

Abstract: A web browser security system including a network detector configured to detect when a computer attempts to connect to a computer network, and a data protector configured to move any data predefined as being private data from any private data areas that are accessible to a web browser on the computer to a secure data repository that is not accessible to the web browser, where any of the network detector and the data protector are implemented in either of computer hardware and computer software and embodied in a computer-readable medium.

Abstract: Methods of generating a transactions prediction model using a computer for optimizing a number of transactions associated with a database system include capturing a database workload, where the database workload includes a number of statements corresponding with the transactions over a specified period of time, where each of the statements includes a variable parameter; then generating a generalized statements from the statements by replacing the variable parameter with a constant value; then generating other generalized statements, where if two or more of the number of the generalized statements are the same grouping the generalized statements to correspond with the other generalized statements; and then creating transaction classes, where each of the transaction classes includes at least one generalized statements.

Abstract: Providing tracking information about events in a virtual world using a computer is presented including: causing the computer to provide a re-usable code portion, the re-usable code portion configured with a unique identifier and an address of an external data storage, causing the computer to configure at least a set of events to be tracked for sending information about tracked events to the external data storage; causing the computer to associate the re-usable code portion with a virtual object to be tracked in the virtual world. In some embodiments, methods are presented wherein the causing the computer to associate the re-usable code portion with the virtual object comprises causing the computer to integrate the re-usable code portion on a source code level into the virtual object.

Abstract: Determining a configuration of a computer system for performing an operation, by determining an expected performance of a computer system based on at least one possible usage scenario given a current configuration of the computer system according to a current set of system parameters, determining an expected performance of the computer system based on at least one possible usage scenario given at least one candidate configuration of the computer system according to at least one candidate set of system parameters, and configuring the computer system according to whichever of the sets of system parameters that has a more favorable expected performance as determined in accordance with predefined criteria.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and system for managing row identifier (RID) list processing on an index are provided. The method, computer program product, and system provide for accessing one or more key values in the index based on one or more keys specified in a query, retrieving a plurality of row identifiers corresponding to the one or more key values from the index, and predicting an actual number of row identifiers to be retrieved from the index based on the one or more key values accessed and the plurality of row identifiers retrieved.

Abstract: Slip resistant cordage is presented including: a length of cordage; a knot keeper configured for providing a more secure knot tied in the length of cordage, the knot keeper including: a number of branches radiating from a portion of the length of cordage, and a number of branch keepers, where each of the number of branch keepers is disposed along each of the number of branches for use in retaining the number of branches with the length of cordage. In some embodiments, slip resistant cordage is presented where the number of branches includes: a flat tip, a rounded tip, a pointed tip, a hooked tip, a barbed tip, a bull-nose tip, a bull-nose barb tip, a rectangular tip, and a rectangular barb tip.

Abstract: Methods for synchronized media playback between a number of electronic media devices wherein the electronic media devices are in electronic communication are presented, the methods including: creating a media play list on an originating media device, selecting a member media device for sharing the media play list; negotiating the media play list by the at member media device wherein the negotiating the media play list includes, searching the member media device for at least one matching candidate, wherein the searching is enabled by comparing a number of candidate indicia with a number of matching candidate indicia, selecting one of the at least one matching candidates for inclusion on a member media play list, conforming the at least one matching candidate, and populating the member media play list with the at least one matching candidate; and playing the media play list and the member media play list.

Abstract: Knot keepers for use with cordage, the knot keeper configured for securing a knot tied in the length of cordage are presented including: a trunk; and a number of branches radiating from the trunk, where the length of cordage is configured to receive the knot keeper along a cordage axis such that the trunk and a first portion of the number of branches is confined within the length of cordage, and where a second portion of the number of branches extends from the length of cordage. In some embodiments, the number of branches further includes a tip such as: a flat tip, a rounded tip, a pointed tip, a hooked tip, a barbed tip, a bull-nose tip, a bull-nose barb tip, a rectangular tip, and a rectangular barb tip.

Abstract: The present invention provides a purchase planning system for making optimal procurement recommendations for purchasing direct materials. The system provides methods for modeling supply channels and supply contracts, for producing a lowest cost purchase plan, for evaluating the supply agreements and for maintaining contractual compliance with vendors. The process considers contractual details and generates intelligent procurement recommendations to minimize the total procurement cost by taking advantage of discounts, variations in price, freight, tariffs, taxes, duties, etc., by minimizing penalties and by considering substitution of parts with their alternates, while at the same time complying with the corporate business rules such as budgets by item groups, supplier spend limits, minority owned business development, supplier preferences and strategic split percentages, spend minimization/maximization with a specific supplier, etc.

Abstract: The present invention is a type of hand tool apparatus for use as a trowel, scrapper, spatula and others. The tool comprises a handle, to which a plate member is securely coupled. A blade member is securely attached to the plate member; the blade member having opposing parallel edges of typically unlike configurations. The handle has a locking device that is pressure sensitive and provides a means to immobilize the pivot mechanism and secure and lock in place the blade member. Activated by the user, such as finger/thumb manipulation, disengagement and release of the locking device allows the pivot mechanism to operate and the blade member to rotate from the first blade edge to the second blade edge. The new method and novel tool allows for achieving a consistently uniform layer of compound spread much more rapidly and with a reduction of material waste and reduces the need for two or more tools needed in task succession.

Abstract: Methods for updating presence information between a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE over a communications network are presented including: on an INVITE message delivery failure to the second UE from the first UE, sending a first PUBLISH message on behalf of the second UE to a presence server by a communications server; sending a NOTIFY message to the first UE by the presence server; and setting a current presence status of the second UE to UNAVAILABLE. In some embodiments, methods further include: if an immediately previous presence status of the second UE is set to AVAILABLE, sending a NOTIFY message to all watchers of the second UE to indicate the current presence status of the second UE. In some embodiments, the first PUBLISH message utilizes a user-agent header to indicate that the communications server originated the first PUBLISH message.

Abstract: A unified query building system generates a source structure comprising nodes from a data structure input of an identified data source, displays the generated source structure in a logical view, adds a selected node or element from the nodes to a design query canvas, generates a query object from the selected node based on a source type of the selected node, presents a logical view of a query function of a selected query object, and generates a unified query comprising the generated query objects. The logical view is displayed in a graphical user interface comprising a design query canvas comprising grids corresponding to functions in a query language such as SQL or XML. The generated unified query is displayed in an actual query view and is outlined in a query outline view.

Abstract: Methods of playing a baccarat card game variation are presented including: providing a 52-card deck of playing cards; placing a wager a player bet line or a banker bet line by a player, where the wager includes a player bet line wager and a banker bet line wager; dealing a pair of cards to each of a banker hand and a community hand, where the banker hand includes a banker face-up card and a banker face-down card, and where the community hand includes a first community face-up card and a second community face-up card; if a community hand sum is less than 4, dealing a community hit card to the community hand; if the community hand sum is greater than 6, standing on the community hand; and if the community hand sum is greater than 3 and less than 7, optionally dealing a community hit card to the community hand.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for effecting transfers using an electronic representation of a commodity, such as money. The commodity is represented by a value note issued by a bank or other authority, and which includes: first information representative of public key information for a bearer; second information representative of a commodity represented by the value note; and third information representative of an issuer's signature which is verifiable from information including the first information, the second information and public key information for the issuer. Digital endorsement signatures are used to redeem one or more value notes for one or more others, and to authenticate information in the value notes to prevent alteration. Redemption instructions permit, for example, transfer of value note money to another party, encashing of value note money, consolation of individual value notes, and generation of short term guaranteed value notes.