Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method and system for communicating between a plurality of disparate hosts and an order processing system includes generating orders at each of the disparate hosts. The orders are transmitted from each of the hosts to a shared message handler using relational database statements. At the shared message handler, the orders are stored in a relational database table structure using relational database statements. The orders are transmitted from the relational database table structure of the shared message handler to the order processing system. Responses to the orders are received from the order processing system at the shared message handler. Each of the responses is associated with a corresponding order. The status of the corresponding orders are updated based on the responses and provided to the disparate hosts.

Abstract: A method of configuring a network management network (10) including a computer network (20), a network management system (30), and a data link (40) for coupling the computer network to the network management system includes determining at least one network management parameter for the network management network (10), including the number of network devices (22) on the computer network (20). The method also includes calculating a data link (40) capacity in response to determining the at least one network management parameter and the number of network devices (22) and configuring (160) the network management network (10) in response to determining the at least one network management parameter and calculating the data link (40) capacity.

Abstract: An interactive knowledgebase (48) system is provided. The system comprises a server (14) and a client (12). The server (14) is operable to retrieve a plurality of informational pages with each informational page containing items and links to items. The server (14) is further operable to maintain a directory (172) of the items organized by category. The client (12) is coupled to the server (14) and operable to display the directory (172) in a first frame of a web browser (32). The client (12) is further operable to request information -pages from the server (14) and display the information pages in a second frame of the web browser (32). A user at the client (12) can participate in an exchange of items and comments regarding items with other users of the interactive knowledgebase (48).

Abstract: An integrated electronic commerce system (10) may include a server system (12) comprising a plurality of electronic commerce applications (44) and a server security system (46). The electronic commerce applications (44) may comprise an electronic mail application (52), a web server application (54), and a file transfer application (56). The server security system (46) may validate a client system (14) and download information operable to enable a service manager (90) of the client system (14) to invoke the electronic mail application (52), the web server application (54), and the file transfer application (56) to send and receive data over a network (18).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing financial transactions include the capability to receive a first message indicating the making of a financial transaction, the message containing customer information and transaction information. The apparatus and method also include the capability to determine the validity of the customer information and to generate a second message indicating non-authorization of the financial transaction if the customer information is invalid. The apparatus and method additionally include the capability to determine whether the financial transaction involves a micro-payment if the customer information is valid and, if the financial transaction involves a micro-payment, store at least part of the transaction information and generate a third message indicating authorization of the financial transaction. The apparatus and method further include the capability to generate an authorization request if the financial transaction does not involve a micro-payment.

Abstract: A system for household grocery management is provided. The system includes a bar code scanner (22) operable to scan a bar code on a grocery item and to provide bar code data obtained thereby. The system also includes a computer system (20) coupled to receive the bar code data provided by the bar code scanner (22). The computer system (20) has a fixed data storage storing a grocery inventory (26) and a processor executing a grocery management application (24). The grocery management application (24) operates to process the bar code data to identify a scanned grocery item, to maintain the grocery inventory (26), and to generate a replenishment list (32) of grocery items based upon differences between current grocery inventory (26) and defined full levels for the household (10).

Abstract: An interactive knowledgebase (48) system is provided. The system comprises a server (14) and a client (12). The server (14) is operable to retrieve a plurality of informational pages with each informational page containing items and links to items. The server (14) is further operable to maintain a directory (172) of the items organized by category. The client (12) is coupled to the server (14) and operable to display the directory (172) in a first frame of a web browser (32). The client (12) is further operable to request information pages from the server (14) and display the information pages in a second frame of the web browser (32). A user at the client (12) can participate in an exchange of items and comments regarding items with other users of the interactive knowledgebase (48).

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method and system for communicating between a plurality of disparate hosts and an order processing system includes generating orders at each of the disparate hosts. The orders are transmitted from each of the hosts to a shared message handler using relational database statements. At the shared message handler, the orders are stored in a relational database table structure using relational database statements. The orders are transmitted from the relational database table structure of the shared message handler to the order processing system. Responses to the orders are received from the order processing system at the shared message handler. Each of the responses is associated with a corresponding order. The status of the corresponding orders are updated based on the responses and provided to the disparate hosts.

Abstract: A method and system are described for defining a user's access to one or more features of an application. One or more “attributes” are assigned to users of a computer system and stored in a data table. Each attribute has a name which designates the feature to which access is being defined, (e.g, the ability to access data within the database), and a value defining the limits of access. Attributes may be assigned in groups to eliminate the burden of preparing attribute assignments one by one for each user. When an application is run, the attributes are retrieved and enforced such that the user's access to the features of the application is defined in accordance with the retrieved attributes.

Abstract: A system for remote management of private networks having duplicate network addresses is provided which consists of a plurality of managed customer networks (16) within a customer domain (12). The managed customer networks (16) within the customer domain (12) are linked to a level one manager (34) and have unique network addresses. The managed customer networks (16) within the customer domain (12) which have duplicate network addresses are assigned to different level one managers. Errors occurring in the managed customer networks are sent to a level one manager (34) which generates an error message uniquely identifying the node or interface link experiencing the error. This error message is forwarded to a level two manager (40) which then routes the error message to an appropriate operator console (42) where the error is diagnosed and corrected.

Abstract: An Internet based performance measurement system includes a server operable to receive performance perception data from a client corresponding to a performance query. The system also includes a database comprising a metric corresponding to the performance query. The metric comprises actual performance data corresponding to the performance query. The system also includes a performance engine operable to access the performance perception data and the metric. The performance engine is operable to compare the performance perception data to the metric to determine variations between a client perception of performance and actual performance.

Abstract: A multi-port switch is provided having an Ethernet switching section for connecting and switching among network devices and includes at least three ports, a network management module operating according to SNMP, and a monitoring module operating according to RMON. The switch can arrange the ports to operate as virtual local area networks (“VLANs”). The switch is secured with a network element that is part of a network device. In a system including the multi-port switch, an automated teller machine local area network is connected to one port, a customer data LAN is connected to a second port, and a router is connected to a third port. The switch arranges the three port connections into two VLANs, each VLAN including the router. The switch alternately switches between the VLANs in order to enable the ATM LAN and the customer data LAN to communicate with an external network. The switch is secured with or located inside one of the ATMs in the ATM LAN.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system (100) for monitoring and assessing the performance of a project, which system includes a computer (120) and a software program associated with the computer (120), with the software program and computer (120) operable in combination to receive project task data and earned value information from a project management software file, determine schedule recovery date information, and graphically displaying the schedule recovery date information. The present invention also provides a method for monitoring and assessing the performance of a project, which method includes obtaining the task data and earned value information from a project management software file; determining schedule recovery date information; and displaying schedule recovery date information.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system (100) for monitoring and assessing the performance of a project, which system includes a computer (120) and a software program associated with the computer (120), with the software program and computer (120) operable in combination to receive project task data and earned value information from a project management software file, determine cost depletion date information, and graphically displaying the cost depletion date information. The present invention also provides a method for monitoring and assessing the performance of a project, which method includes obtaining the task data and earned value information from a project management software file; determining cost depletion date information; and displaying cost depletion date information.

Abstract: A multi-layered software architecture (90) comprises a software application layer (10), a predefined file filter interface layer (106) operable to perform basic file functions, and a data standard interface layer (94, 104, 114) having a plurality of standard methods for accessing data of a data type. Further, a first plug-in (91, 92) is provided that is operable to access a first data format (34, 31) of the data type according to the data standard interface layer (94, 104, 114), and a second plug-in (96, 98, 100, 102) is provided that is operable to access a second data format (41, 40, 38, 42) of the data type according to the data standard interface layer (94,104,114).

Abstract: A business information repository system (10) is provided that is coupled to a distributed network (12). The business information repository system (10) includes a user interface that is coupled to a control system (28). The control system (28) accesses a business information database (65) using a search engine (26). The business information database (65) includes business information including glossaries, graphics, resumes, skills inventories, citations, proposals, customer information and internal corporate profiles, vendor information, standard solutions, and forecasted deal information. Utility functions (56) are provided including a data access manager (32), a forecasting engine (58), a graphics utility (60) and a population engine (62).

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for load balancing in a distributed object system running on a network comprising a plurality of computers (42, 44) including a first computer (44) wherein the computers (42, 44) are operable to access a plurality of shared objects in a distributed object system. The method comprises instructing an object comprising a part of an application process (50) running on the first computer (44) to record at least one performance statistic in response to a message directed to the object. The application process (50) comprises a multi-threaded process and includes a statistics thread (54). Periodically, at least one performance statistic is obtained using the statistics thread (54) and that performance statistic is sent to a local agent process (48) running on the first computer (44). The performance statistics are relayed to a workload service (46) running on a second computer (42) connected to the network.

Abstract: A communications network includes a transmit node and a receive node. A first transmission line extends between the transmit and receive nodes and includes a primary embedded channel for carrying channel traffic between the nodes and normal operation. A second transmission line extends between the transmit and receive nodes and includes a secondary embedded channel for carrying the channel traffic between the nodes in the event of a fault condition on the primary embedded channel. The transmit node is operable to automatically switch transmission of the channel traffic from the primary embedded channel to the secondary embedded channel in response to a fault condition being detected in the primary embedded channel at the transmit node. The receive node is operable to automatically switch reception of the channel traffic from the primary embedded channel to the secondary embedded channel in response to detection of the same fault in the primary embedded channel by the receive node.

Abstract: Message files preferably comprising MPEG video messages are provided to transaction terminals for display of non-transaction messages to users during a terminal transaction. The messages are selected and displayed upon transaction approval. Operation of the terminal in accordance with transaction approval, i.e., to dispense cash or print a record, is initiated during the interval when the selected message is displayed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for communicating with a knowledge base (16) employs an interface (12) operable to receive a message initiated by an application (20), to translate the message to a knowledge base message cognizable by the knowledge base (16), and to communicate the knowledge base message to the knowledge base (16). In a client-server embodiment, the interface (12) comprises a client interface (40) coupled to the application (20), a server interface (42) coupled to the knowledge base 16, and a link (44) coupled between the client interface (40) and the server interface (42).