Abstract: Scheduling in a distributed data collection process is performed locally, within collectors. Scheduling of data transfers from endpoints or downstream collectors or to upstream collectors is based on local queues, without global management. Additionally, scheduling for the collector input queue, which manages data collection from endpoints or downstream collectors, is bifurcated from scheduling for the output queue, which manages notifications to upstream collector(s) regarding the availability of collection data for pickup. Such bifurcation permits simpler scheduling logic and different functional responses to similar events, and further localizes scheduling. Scheduling of collection data transfer is controlled, within parameters specified by the output scheduler for the endpoint or downstream collector, by the input queue for the upstream collector.

Abstract: A data processing system and method including a touch pad capable of receiving inputs and providing outputs utilizing a surface of the pad. The surface is first enabled to receive inputs utilizing a plurality of input regions specified within the surface of the I/O touch pad. An output is provided utilizing the surface of the touch pad by outputting a first plurality of location indicators for assisting a user to quickly locate at least one of the plurality of input regions. The surface is then enabled to receive inputs utilizing a different plurality of input regions specified within the surface of the I/O touch pad. The output is then dynamically altered in response to the specification of the different plurality of input regions by outputting a second plurality of location indicators for assisting the user to quickly locate at least one of the different plurality of input regions.

Abstract: An interface to a multi-field text string object is provided to intercept display requests from a control utilizing a single field text string to the multi-field text string object. The interface passes contents of a current display field within the multi-field text string object to the legacy control in response to intercepted requests. The interface also intercepts change requests, such as Java setText( ) methods, from the legacy control to edit the contents of the multi-field text string object. The intercepted change requests are redirected by the interface to a specialized change control, which implements methods for changing the contents of any field within the multi-field text string object. The specialized change control performs the change requested by the legacy display control on a current display field of the multi-field text string objects.

Abstract: To facilitate dynamic language switching in a data processing system, software is implemented with user interface text—menu and button labels, dialog messages, help text, etc.—and other language-specific components segregated from underlying functionality. Thus, for example, label and other text-based parameters for Java AWT methods are taken from storage objects separate from the constructor invoking the corresponding Java AWT method. Since Java is dynamically linked at runtime, one or more language-specific files containing all user interface text for an application may be dynamically selected during initialization of the application. The language-specific file selection may be based on the current setting of a language property for the host data processing system. If a language change request is received, the user interface may be reloaded with text supplied from a different language-specific file pursuant to the language change request.

Abstract: A system, method, and program utilizes a software state machine for carrying out the processes and functions of a program. The components of a program, e.g., the process flow, functions, dialogs, etc., are implemented using various states. A value of a state variable indicates a corresponding state. A method checks for a current value of the state variable. Any given function within any given state, or input received from a user, such as through “next” or “previous” buttons on a dialog box, can return a value for the state variable. When the method determines a new value of the state variable, an object corresponding to the state indicated by the new value is brought up and enabled. A program utilizing a software state machine is easily customized by merely adding or deleting states or by changing a value of the state variable returned for a given function within a state or for any given input received.

Abstract: A rotate user control is provided to selectively change the current display item within a group of display items. Each actuation of the rotate control changes the current display item from one item to a next item within an internally nonrepeating, ordered sequence loop of all candidate display items. Each display item within the group is therefore displayed in turn, and a user may quickly review all available display items for a desired display item. An indicator provides a visual cue to the user of which display item is currently selected for display. With small groups of display items, such as a multi-field text string object having separate fields each containing a different representation of a text string, the rotate control provides faster switching between views than conventional display change controls such as drop-down boxes. The rotate control also provides a fixed view of the newly selected display field, unlike flyover pop-up box displays.

Abstract: The “scan” phase of a distributed data collection process is decoupled from upload of the return collection data, with the “scan” consisting merely of an infrequent profile push to configure autonomous scanners at the data collection endpoints. Distributed data collection is initiated by endpoints within the distributed network, which autonomously perform a scan and transmit a Collection Table of Contents (CTOC) data structure to a nearest available collector, then await a ready message from the collector. When ready to receive the return collection data, the collector signals the endpoint, which transfer the data collection in small packets to the collector. The collector stores the received data collection in persistent storage, then initiates collection to a higher collector or recipient in substantially the same manner as the endpoint. A routing manager controls the routing of data from endpoints through one or more collectors to the recipient.

Abstract: An install system, method, and program for installing a given program utilizes a containment structure having a fileset object for the program or several fileset objects for various parts of a program. Each fileset object contains install objects. An install object may be a file object, registry object, shortcut object, directory object, permissions object, library file object, dependency object, folder objects or other objects. Each fileset and install object contains the means for installing itself, uninstalling itself, logging itself to a file and recreating itself from a log file. The install process includes defining and building up a program object, for the program, which contains fileset objects which contain install objects. Install is called on the program object which effectuates an install call on each of the filesets and install objects. For each fileset object, a log is created. Then, each install object for a fileset logs itself to the particular log file of that fileset.

Abstract: A three-dimensional graphical user interface is provided wherein the windows have a “thickness” property. In the preferred embodiment, a window will have a Z plane position (z) and a Z plane thickness (cz) as well as the traditional x, cx, y and cy. This allows positioning anywhere in three dimensional space. Using either a three axis mouse or a conventional mouse with supplemental control (perhaps keyboard), each axis may be traversed to navigate the desktop. As the pointer moves along an axis, the user's point of view can change, bringing the view either closer/farther/left/right, depending on the direction of motion, which may cause the windows perspective to change, e.g., larger or smaller. The user's perspective can pass into and through the window-blocks.

Abstract: Separate language and locale properties are implemented within a data processing system. The language property only controls selection of the human language employed for user interface text and, preferably, the sort order for text-based items displayed in the user interface. The locale property controls all other cultural support, number format, date format, currency and currency format, time format, etc. This split allows a particular language to be selected without utilizing a particular set of cultural conventions associated with a region in which the selected language is dominant. Instead, the cultural conventions may be selected for an entirely different region.

Abstract: User interface text is implemented in identifiable software components separate from functional components containing human-language independent functionality for a software program. The software product may then be distributed and loaded into a user's system with only a basic set of human language translations for the user interface text. Different or additional human language translations may be provided to the user by downloading from an enterprise server associated with the system on which the software program is being executed, or from an Internet server operating for the software source. The additional human language translations may be downloaded, preferably automatically and invisibly to the user, to the user's system as necessary or requested. The human language translation process thus gains the “float” period normally associated with physical software distribution, speeding delivery times.

Abstract: The system, method, and program of this invention enables a developer to write a platform independent program that can read, create, modify, delete, and enumerate registry type of information regardless of whether or not a targeted operating system supports a registry or registry equivalent functionality. More specifically, as disclosed herein, in a preferred embodiment, there is a global registry object for carrying out, i.e., mapping, registry functions or registry equivalent functions across multiple operating systems. In particular, the global registry object is used to read, create, modify, delete, and enumerate registries for the Windows operating system in a simplified manner. The global registry object has the following fields: keyname, key root, and key value. The key root field is mapped to a root in a registry of a Windows operating system. The keyname field is mapped to a key and any subkeys, if they exist, in the Windows registry. The key value field is mapped to a value in the Windows registry.

Abstract: A system, method, and program for providing language translators with contextual information for the text to be translated. The translator is presented with a graphical user interface in the base language, and can then interactively translate each text label on the screen. Because the translation is performed on the text in the proper context, the time and expense of Translation Verification Testing is reduced or eliminated. The contextual presentation of the text is accomplished by storing contextual information in localization files, along with the text to be translated. When the translation tool is run, it retrieves both the text to be translated and the contextual information from the localization files, and uses this information to create a GUI display which is similar to that of the original program. The translator can then translate the text in the proper context, and the translation is stored to disk.

Abstract: A unique combination of four colorants (C′M′Y′K′) of a given printer that is equivalent to an externally defined four colorant combination (CMYK) by having the same color values (e.g., L*a*b* values). A fourth colorant, e.g., black, (K) of the externally defined four colorant combination is mapped to an equivalent fourth colorant (K′) of the printer by matching optical density, reflectance, L* or similar color value. The L* value is found for various percentages of the fourth colorant of the printer by printing varying percentages of the fourth component and measuring its L*a*b* values and, assuming a* and b* are near zero, using the L* value. These values are inputted into an interpolation program. Then, patches of varying percentages of each one of the three color components of the printer (CMY) are printed out at varying percentages.

Abstract: A system, method, and program for providing language translators with contextual information for the text to be translated. The translator is presented with a graphical user interface in the base language, and can then interactively translate each text label on the screen. Because the translation is performed on the text in the proper context, the time and expense of Translation Verification Testing is reduced or eliminated. The ability to edit the text within the application is achieved by adding an editor function to the software application itself. Each text label in the application is stored in a localization file with a specific resource bundle name and by a key. When the editor is activated, the text object is introspected for its source data, and the translator can edit the text directly. The source data is then used to store the translation for later use.

Abstract: A system, method, and program enables a platform independent way for specifying a property, or function, of a program. Values of properties that are specific to a given operating system are treated as a variable in a program which enables it to run on multiple operating systems. This enables the program to be developed and run on different operating systems. The program reads in the properties and the values, or variables, from a script file into property objects. As such, variables that have meaning to a system can be put into the property object as the value for that property. To use the property by the program, the program sends a get call to the property object to get the value or to provide substitution of a platform specific value for the variable. Accessible to the program is a plurality of operating system specific code segments which define an actual value for the variable for the specific operating systems.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture for integrating object security service authorization in a distributed computing environment, includes one or more processors, a storage system, a system bus, a display sub-system controlling a display device, a cursor control device, an I/O controller for controlling I/O devices, all connected by system bus an operating system such as the OS/2* operating system program (OS/2 is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation), one or more application programs for executing user tasks and an object oriented control program, such as, DSOM Objects program, which is a commercially available product of International Business Machines Corporation, the object oriented control program including mapping a set of methods defined by a given class to a finite and a fixed set of access rights from which a method required access rights set is assigned, and selecting the access rights set by examining two components, first, a family right type and, second, a

Abstract: A method, system, and program for use in a data processing system for sending private messages from a single electronic message. A plurality of recipients is identified for an electronic message. A number of different sections are designated within the electronic message for separate receipt by each of a number of recipients within the plurality of recipients. Responsive to an indication to send the electronic message, an electronic message is automatically generated for each of the number of recipients, wherein the message of a given recipient within the number of recipients excludes sections within the number of sections designated for other recipients within the number of recipients.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for converting an externally defined four dimensional colorant, e.g., CMYK, to an equivalent four dimensional colorant, e.g., C'M'Y'K, having components of a printer. A measurement is made of first color values, e.g., L.sup.* a.sup.* b, of a first set of patches having predetermined combinations of varying percentages of three primary colors, e.g., CMY, printed by the printer. Each combination of known CMY values are correlated with corresponding color values, e.g., L.sup.* a.sup.* b, as input to a first inversion program for determining CMY values for any given color value (L.sup.* a.sup.* b). A measurement is also made of second color values, e.g., L.sup.* a.sup.* b, of a second set of patches having predetermined varying percentages of a fourth colorant (K) printed by the printer. The first inversion program is used to determine CMY values corresponding to the color values, L.sup.* a.sup.* b, for the varying percentages of the fourth colorant (D).

Abstract: A system and method for training a neural network that ceases training at or near the optimally trained point is presented. A neural network having an input layer, a hidden layer, and an output layer with each layer having one or more nodes is presented. Each node in the input layer is connected to each node in the hidden layer and each node in the hidden layer is connected to each node in the output layer. Each connection between nodes has an associated weight. All nodes in the input layer are connected to a different historical datum from the set of historical data. The neural network being operative by outputting a prediction or classification, the output of the output layer nodes, when presented with input data. The weights associated with the connections of the neural network are first adjusted by a training device. The training device then iteratively applies a training set to the neural network, the training set consisting of historical data.