Abstract: A method for brokering a repair to a vehicle with multiple potential repair service providers by temporarily associating a random user-anonymous session identifier with a brokering session for the vehicle's access device, transmitting the session identifier and a service request to each potential service provider, receiving multiple offers identifying a cost associated with responding to the repair request, determining a total response repair cost aggregated from the responding providers, selecting a winning offer, determining a cost to the access device for resource usage during the brokering session representing, reducing a gross revenue to the selected winner by the total response cost; and subsequently, re-using the session identifier for aggregating other usage records and offsetting costs to compensate non-winning responders.

Abstract: Objects on application servers may be defined into classes which receive different levels of security protection, such as definition of user objects and administrative objects. Domain-wide security may be enforced on administrative objects, which user object security may be configured separately for each application server in a domain. In a CORBA architecture, IOR's for shared objects which are to be secured on a domain-wide basis, such as administrative objects, are provided with tagged components during IOR creation and exporting to a name server. Later, when the IOR is used by a client, the client invokes necessary security measures such as authentication, authorization and transport protection according to the tagged components.

Abstract: Bulk mail subscriptions by including a bulk mail class indicator and a sender identifier key value in the header portion of an electronic message. Messages which are properly identified as bulk class and include an approved sender identifier value are passed directly to the intended recipient. Messages which are properly identified as bulk class but which do not contain an approved sender identifier value are rejected or intercepted. Messages which do no indicate themselves to be bulk class, but which are determined to have characteristics of bulk mail are rejected or intercepted, as well.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing user-input text strings of illegal lengths from being submitted to a database where, for each character in the string, a character length is determined in quantities of digital units of storage according to an encoding schema, the character lengths are accumulated into a total string length, also measured in digital units of storage, and the total string length is compared to one or more database input field requirements such as non-null and maximum length specifications. If a limit is not met, the system and method are suitable disposed in a manner to block or prevent submission of the user-input string to the database. The invention can alternatively be realized as a plug-in for database front-end application programs, as a stand-alone web services provider, or as a plug-in for a client-side database access program such as a web browser.

Abstract: A system for allocating resources which are anticipated to be available in an on-demand computing at some time in the future, wherein a producer trending agent (PTA) lists resources according to a trend prediction of resource availability in the past, a consumer trending agent (CTA) places bids for listed resources according to previous resource usage trends, and an arbitration system (REAS) matches the bids with the listings to determine if a match exists. If so, a binding contract for consumption of the matched listed resources is established. The PTA also produce tier-based dynamic incentive (TDI) schema which divides potential bidders into tiers, and offers additional resource incentives according to the tiers. Both PTA and CTA dynamically update their available/usage trends, listings and bids, over time.

Abstract: Automated software provisioning based upon a set of role definitions for a user of a configurable device such as a computer or personal digital assistant. The present invention may be realized as an enhancement or extension to currently available software distribution tools which are used to distribute software to remote and local machines, and to permit unattended software installation and maintenance. The invention provides role-based software provisioning which automatically distributes the appropriate software programs and updates to computers that are owned by users based on the role of each user, thereby avoiding the need for intensive manual efforts to determine which computers need what software. The invention may also be interfaced to a License Management system in order to accomplish automatic recovery of unused software licenses, and to obtain permission for installing new licenses, based on user role changes.

Abstract: A microbrowser such as web-enabled wireless telephones and personal digital assistants allows a user to configure types of objects to be blocked from download including object memory consumption, display area, download time, and restrictions on animated images and executable scripts. Microbrowser state conditions such as battery level and network connection mode are considered when providing said limitations such that more restrictions may be placed during low battery periods to maximize battery life. For example, during low battery conditions or analog connection mode, a user may configure an enhanced microbrowser not to download advertisements, run scripts or animated objects in order to maximize remaining battery life. In another example, a user may configure an enhanced microbrowser to block the download of objects containing audio, or which will occupy more than a certain percentage of the available display area.

Abstract: A system for automatically tuning a primary broadcast receiver using a secondary broadcast receiver to receive a first broadcast signal corresponding to a source of an origin program, one or more program transition detectors to monitor first broadcast signal tuned by the secondary broadcast receiver to determine and signal a transition from a non-original program content to origin program content while a user views or hears alternate programming from a primary broadcast receiver, and automatically tuning of the primary broadcast receiver to the first broadcast signal upon detection by the program transition detector that one or more of user-specific tune conditions have been met.

Abstract: A sensor panel having a matrix of independently decoded sensors, arranged in a two-dimensional pattern allows a consumer identification unit (CIDU) to detect a user-specific gesture made with a gesturing instrument such as an RF ID device. The CIDU monitors on a timed basis which of the sensors in the panel are receiving a signal from an RF ID device which has entered the proximity of one or more of the sensors. The user moves the sensor in a two-dimensional pattern to perform a “gesture signature” in free space near the panel, and the CIDU records the sequence of receiving sensors. This sequence can then be quickly and efficiently handled as a number to be looked up to identify and authenticate the user. Preferably, the user is allowed to define multiple signature gestures, each having the possibility of being associated with a transaction or authorization level.

Abstract: Changes in wireless service user behavior are encouraged and produced to shape utilization patterns among cells within a rate plan region by using shaping rules which define potential discounts from a standard charge rate under certain cell-specific utilization conditions, analyzing the shaping rules and utilization statistics of a cell upon service initiation, generating a discount from the standard rate for underutilized cells. The user is notified of these discount opportunities using text messages, icons, or other means. Over time, the users learn that at certain places and times, significant discounts are offered, and thus changes their behavior to take advantage of those discounts, thereby shaping traffic in a manner desired by the service provider.

Abstract: A system, method, and medium for tracking the contents of a container in which the items stored in the container are provided with radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tags, and a tracker affixed to the container periodically polls the items in the container to collect identification information. An electronic manifest, also attached to the container, is updated periodically to reflect items which have been added to the container or removed from the container since the last polling. The tracker emulates an RFID tag when polled by an external reader, responding by uploading the entire electronic manifest to the external reader. The external reader and the affixed reader preferably utilize distinct RFID protocols so as to produce a hierarchical manifest data structure with high integrity.

Abstract: Access Control Lists (ACLs) are used to describe the permitted actions (permissions) on protected network computer system resources or objects associated with an client or user identity. An identity may be an individual user or group of users. The actions are used to represent the different access methods available on a particular projected object or resource. A new action grouping mechanism is provided which tags each action with an action group name. The grouping of actions facilitates a larger permission set to be defined in an ACL, whereas action permission indicators can be reused for unique action definitions within various action groups. This effectively extends the finite total number of permissions available within a security system, allows a more descriptive and extensible permission mechanism in an Access Control List, as well as aiding in the simplification of management and definition of security policies.

Abstract: An in-vehicle monitor detects the occurrence of a meta-event related to the operation of a vehicle, such as the vehicle's operation over a maximum allowable speed, operation in a prohibited geographic area, operation during a specific time frame, or combinations thereof. The monitor signals a server via a wireless data link, and the server determines an appropriate deferred action to be taken by an in-vehicle controller, such as disabling the engine, limiting vehicle speed, and locking vehicle doors, upon occurrence of a second meta-event including conditions such as time delays, vehicle speed and direction, and vehicle location. The system can thereby allow orderly and safe control of vehicle functions for purposes such as terminating a pursuit, enforcing legal sentences and operator restrictions, and controlling fleet vehicle operations.

Abstract: Content is transferred from one computer resource to another computer resource by receiving a first insertion point or replacement area from a first user interface to a destination computer resource, receiving an enablement to perform automatic paste operation, switching to a user interface to a source computer resource, receiving a user selection of content from said source user interface, and automatically copying the selected content to a transfer buffer and to the designated insertion point(s) in the destination computer resource. Each time source content is selected, a number of source reference data items such as author, publication date, and source file name or network address are captured and stored. The stored source reference identifies may then be used to automatically generate a monitor report containing this information, which is then provided to an online learning administrator or instructor.

Abstract: Content is transferred from one computer resource to another computer resource by receiving a first insertion point or replacement area from a first user interface to a destination computer resource, receiving an enablement to perform automatic paste operation, switching to a user interface to a source computer resource, receiving a user selection of content from said source user interface, and automatically copying the selected content to a transfer buffer and to the designated insertion point(s) in the destination computer resource. Each time source content is selected, a number of source reference data items such as author, publication date, and source file name or network address are captured and stored. The stored source reference identifies may then be used to automatically generate footnotes, end notes, and bibliographical entries.

Abstract: Changes in wireless service user behavior are encouraged and produced to shape utilization patterns among cells within a rate plan region by using shaping rules which define potential discounts from a standard charge rate under certain cell-specific utilization conditions, analyzing the shaping rules and utilization statistics of a cell upon service initiation, generating a discount from the standard rate for underutilized cells. The user is notified of these discount opportunities using text messages, icons, or other means. Over time, the users learn that at certain places and times, significant discounts are offered, and thus changes their behavior to take advantage of those discounts, thereby shaping traffic in a manner desired by the service provider.

Abstract: An information repository and management system for data regarding a client base which integrates a plurality of information types including database records, word processor files, e-mail, other hyperlinked documents, web pages and web sites. Implemented as a database application on a web-enabled database server, sales and marketing team members may access the system through an intranet or remotely through an Internet. Portions of the database may be extracted and placed on a portable computing device for traveling purposes. The extracted database can be later synchronized with the central database upon return of a sales and marketing team member from a meeting or business trip. Links and expandable subforms are provided to web sites for stock quoting and client home pages, allowing sales team members to quickly gather information regarding a company's latest news announcements, stock performance, and financial status.

Abstract: Content is transferred from one computer resource to another computer resource by receiving a first insertion point or replacement area from a first user interface to a destination computer resource, receiving an enablement to perform automatic paste operation, switching to a user interface to a source computer resource, receiving a user selection of content from said source user interface, and automatically copying the selected content to a transfer buffer and to the designated insertion point(s) in the destination computer resource. Additional content may be copied to the destination computer resource by simply selecting additional content in the same source computer resource or other computer resources without need to toggle back to the destination user interface between every copy and paste operation.

Abstract: An infrastructure for handling the administration of possible and mandatory input arguments at runtime for software program code. A user alterable argument descriptor file (ADF) stores all information related to input and output arguments for a software program and its constituent subpieces. During invocation of a software program, all command line flags and values are validated against the ADF, and valid pairs are stored in a key/value dictionary which is passed to the software program. Each subpiece of the software program may then access its needed arguments from the dictionary independently of other subpieces, thereby allowing modifications to subpieces which require new or changed arguments without the need to recompile the entire software program.

Abstract: A plurality of data packets encoded according to a first protocol are received which encapsulate data encoded according to a second protocol. A first source address is extracted from the packets according to the first protocol, it is determined whether or not the first source address is a substantial duplicate of a known assigned address. If it is a duplicate, a second source address is extracted from the encapsulated data according to the second protocol, and the first source address and said second source address are provided in an enhanced error log so that a system administrator may correct the duplicate assigned address. Enhanced embodiments of the invention included analysis of data encapsulated by a third, fourth and subsequent protocols, and automatic determination of each protocol encoding format.