Abstract: A process is provided for submitting a service request in a local service management system. A core telecommunication system is interfaced for receiving a core telecommunication system request from the core telecommunication system. Thereafter, such core telecommunication system request is translated to a predetermined protocol. The core telecommunication system request is then sent to a local service provider. Next, an order confirmation is received upon validation of the core telecommunication system request by the local service provider. The system request is processed by the local service provider. Further, a completion notification is received upon completion of a partitioning of the core telecommunication system request in a plurality of duties assigned to different local service providers.

Abstract: An interactive electronic instructional system is a teaching interface between a teacher and students where data is transmitted from the teacher's terminal to the student terminals. The data is received at the student terminals and is separated into execution data and instructional data. The student terminals are grouped into teams allowing student teams to interact with a group decision. This encourages team participation by shy or otherwise reluctant students. Team answer data is transmitted from one of the student terminals in the team to the teacher's terminal. The teacher monitors team answer data to infer class progress towards a goal. The teacher may modify the instructional data based on the progress.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for identifying alliances among a plurality of business entities in components of a network framework. First, alliances are identified among a plurality of business entities in terms of components of a current network framework. Next, a pictorial representation is displayed of the current network framework and the components. The alliances are then conveyed by indicia coding the components of the current network framework in which the alliances exist.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing base service patterns for use in a component-based architecture. A batch job pattern is provided for structuring batch components such that common architectural services are implemented uniformly across the batch components. A batch unit of work pattern is utilized for structuring work to be processed by the batch components so that the work is treated uniformly by the batch components.

Abstract: A data processing system stores a first database of component data on components of an equipment. The data processing system stores a second database of maintenance personnel associated with corresponding qualifications. The data processing system associates at least one predictive maintenance factor (for a component) with the corresponding component data. A scheduler schedules maintenance for a maintenance time period for at least one of the components based on the first database, the second database, the associated predictive maintenance factor, and an elapsed time with respect to an installation date of at least one component. The predictive maintenance factor may be defined by one or more of the following: a longevity estimate, a probability of failure, a financial estimate on maintenance of a component.

Abstract: A method for providing an estimate for building a capacity modeling and planning function in an information technology organization includes conducting the tasks involved in building the capacity modeling and planning function. The tasks include the planning, analyzing, designing, building, testing, and deploying the capacity modeling and planning function. Each task includes process, organization, and technology infrastructure elements.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for providing a user interface for a data management application that extracts data from several data sources across an enterprise. First, a user is allowed to input a search query. Data items found during a search based on the query are received and displayed in nodes arranged in a tree format. A portion of the data items are hyper linked to detailed views of the data items. A detailed view of one of the hyper linked data items is displayed upon selection of the one of the hyper linked data items by the user. The selected hyper linked data items are added to a history list.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for managing data across an enterprise. A request for information is received from a user. Data relating to the user request is searched for in at least two geographically separated information repositories. The results of the search are presented to the user. The user is allowed to browse through additional data of the information repositories. Links between data items and other data entries in the information repositories are created according to relationships the data items have to the other data entries.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing an activity framework. First, a plurality of sub-activities are created which each include sub-activity logic adapted to generate an output based on an input received from a user upon execution. Second, a plurality of activities are defined which each execute the sub-activities in a unique manner upon being selected for accomplishing a goal associated with the activity. Selection of one of the activities is allowed by receiving user indicia. An interface is depicted for allowing receipt of the input and display of the output during execution of the sub-activities associated with the selected activity.

Abstract: A system and method, are provided for structuring batch activities for simplified reconfiguration. A series of processing steps is prepared for performing on input objects being streamed into a batch processing system. Each of the processing steps is encapsulated within at least one of a plurality of filters. The input objects are received and processed in the filters. Results are delivered from the filters incrementally during the processing of the input objects for reducing latency and enabling parallel processing. Connectors are utilized for connecting at least two of the plurality of filters each having a processing step for creating a process. One of the two filters is an input filter of the process and the other of the two filters is an output filter of the process. Connectors are also used for connecting input and output filters of different processes for forming a scalable system.

Abstract: According to a broad aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention, telephone calls, data and other multimedia information is routed through a hybrid network which includes transfer of information across the internet utilizing telephony routing information and internet protocol address information. The hybrid network includes network element management wherein events received from network elements are filtered, correlated, and translated into a standard object format.

Abstract: Integrating IP telephony and a computer user interface across a hybrid communication network may include the following. Data is transmitted over a hybrid communication system during a data session. Telephonic communication is allowed over the hybrid communication system during the data session. The telephonic communication is routed over the hybrid communication system via a user action. The telephonic communication over the hybrid communication system is limited based on a user profile. The user profile is enforced by rules in an active database that provides seamless cross-location registration without a need for duplicate databases located on different networks. Customized fault management tools may be provided.

Abstract: A system and method of providing a global internetworking gateway architecture in an e-commerce environment are provided. A plurality of gateways each situated in a distinct geographic location are coupled to an internet. A wide area network, separate from the internet, is coupled to each of the gateways for providing communication between the wide area network and the internet. Coupled to the wide area network is a central database for providing a central storage for data used in e-commerce carried out over the internet. In one embodiment, at least one of the gateways includes at least one screening router coupled to the internet service provider, at least one firewall connected to the screening router, and a choker router coupled between the wide area network and the firewall.

Abstract: A notification when multiple users attempt to alter the same data may first begin when connections to a plurality of user stations are monitored. An instruction for initiating a load process is received from a user station. Data is downloaded from the one of the user stations to the server. It is determined whether another load process is being concurrently executed by another user station. If it is determined that a load process is being concurrently executed, a notification is sent to the user station. A notification is also sent to the user station that initiated the concurrently executing load process. At least one of the load processes is suspended upon detecting the concurrently executed load process. At least one of the load processes may be allowed to continue upon receiving a command to continue from the user station associated with the suspended load process.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for affording test maintenance in an automated scripting framework. First, a plurality of test scripts are developed. Then, the plurality of test scripts are stored in a centrally located database. A user is then allowed to edit a specific test script located on the centrally located database. Finally, the user edits to the specific test script are propagated to each of the plurality of test scripts.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for interacting with a user over a network for personalizing a website. A user is identified and information about the user is collected. A profile of the user is built based on the collected information and a plurality of different contents are managed. The profile and the contents are analyzed in order to match attributes of the profile of the user and attributes of the contents. The contents which have attributes that match the attributes of the profile of the user are then selected and delivered to the user. The user is allowed to manually select which of the delivered contents are depicted on a display. The user is also allowed to selectively position the delivered contents on the display.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for managing voice messages based on emotion characteristics of the voice messages. First, a plurality of voice messages that are transferred over a telecommunication network are received. Thereafter, such voice messages are stored on a storage medium. An emotion associated with voice signals of the voice messages is then determined. The voice messages are organized based on the determined emotion. Access to the organized voice messages is then permitted.

Abstract: A communication system and method for supporting the communication of inter-dependent data messages includes determining if a later data message represents an inter-dependent message affiliated with an earlier data message. The communication system and method determines whether a condition associated with the earlier inter-dependent data message is fulfilled. If the condition is fulfilled, communication system executes a command associated with the fulfilled condition and the later inter-dependent data message.

Abstract: A method and system for preparing hierarchical textual file for storage in a relational database allows the user to use readily available commands for querying and manipulating stored in a relational database. A generally tabular data structure contains data attribute fields associated with corresponding data element fields. Hierarchical textual file is accepted containing structured data elements. The data attributes are determined. The data attributes are associated with corresponding structured data elements of the accepted hierarchical textual file. The determined data attributes are stored in the generally tabular data structure of the relational database.

Abstract: A management system communicates with at least one remote data processing system, associated with a trading participant, on a technical parameter of at least one remote data processing system. A technical parameter may refer to software configuration data, hardware configuration data, operational status of a data processing system, operational status of a software component of the data processing system, operational status of a hardware component of the data processing system, or otherwise. The management system receives a report message on the technical parameter via a communications network. The management system interprets or processes the report message for a presentation on a user interface of the management system.