Abstract: Systems and methods provide for secure communications between local and remote devices or networks in virtual private networks. Data can be communicated between the local and remote devices using the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) to reduce network overhead for the data communications. The UDP-based data communications are made secure and reliable by various techniques, for example: confirming that a packet sent by a source component is received by the receiving component, and guaranteeing packet sequencing by buffering packets as they are received and only delivering them to the target in the original sequence that they were sent from the source. Because TCP based communications are common, a TCP-style API can be used to enable programmers to more easily implement the UDP-based communications. Other embodiments of the invention relate to transport protocol enhancements for use within virtual private networks, including protocol mapping, protocol buffering, and protocol filtering.

Abstract: A system and methods for synchronizing datasets are provided that are especially suitable and efficient for a user who has three or more datasets that need to be occasionally synchronized, with no one dataset or synchronization system being guaranteed to participate in every synchronization. Synchronization status information, such as correspondences between data records of particular multiple datasets, is stored with more than one of the datasets. When two datasets that contain synchronization status information synchronize with each other, they not only synchronize user data and exchange status information involving each other, but they also synchronize and exchange status information involving “third-party” datasets that may not be participating in the synchronization.

Abstract: A system and method for providing notification on remote devices are provided. In architecture, the system includes a computer device for performing the operation. The computer device includes a message send module that sends a message to the remote device using an IP link and a determination module that determines that the message sent by the IP link was not received by the remote device. Moreover, the computer device further includes a resend module that resends the message automatically using a SMS transmission process. A method for providing notification on remote devices is also provided. The method operates by (1) sending a message to the remote device using a IP link; (2) determining that the message sent by the IP link was not received by the remote device; and (3) resending the message automatically using a SMS transmission process.

Abstract: A secure connection between a computer network and a remote device is provided by a carrier network between the computer network and the remote device. The secure connection includes data tunnels that operate as virtual private networks between the corporate network and the carrier network and between the remote device and the carrier network. In addition, communication protocols can be used to enable data requests and data transmission over the secure connection, optionally through ports on the computer network that are opened for Web traffic.

Abstract: A synchronization system may include: A Source (outbound). An “Accessor” communicating with a device's data store. A corresponding Target Accessor is provided for inbound data. Both Accessors work in conjunction with a “Conduit,” which is provided for understanding the data that is being read so that the data can be mapped to a universal schema or “unirecord” or to a target dataset. The Conduit serves to broker the services of the Source Accessor and the Target Accessor and to provide field mapping and conversion. Core synchronization functionality is provided by a Synchronizer or “Sync Core” (engine). The Synchronizer performs its specific functionality on a per record or per data item basis, such as determining which records need to be inserted, deleted, updated, or the like.

Abstract: Synchronizing at least first and second instances of PIM databases stored on a client device with at least one instance of a PIM database stored on a server, by running client synchronization software on the client device, running server synchronization software on the server, which is connected to the client device over a communications link, having the client synchronization software determine changes made to the first and second instances on the client device, transmitting the changes in a single transmission, and having the server synchronization software process the changes for both the first and second instances.

Abstract: A system for processing multiple schedules, constructed in accordance with the principle of the present invention, includes an information processing system having a memory and a processor; an input device for entering user information; a display device for showing scheduling information; an interface for sending and/or receiving information from another source; and means for reconciling two schedules by building synchronized lists, from which the user may effect a reconciliation.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of providing time-zone capability to existing personal information management (PIM) software that lacks time-zone capability, the method comprising: executing the existing PIM software; executing a time-zone application in parallel with the existing PIM software, wherein the time-zone application determines that there has been a change in time zone; and changes times of appointments stored in the PIM software to reflect the new time zone.

Abstract: A computer program and a computer implemented method are provided for synchronizing two databases by attempting to identify a plurality of records of the second database storing a span of information stored in a record of the first database and synchronizing the first database and the second database based on the results of the attempt. The computer program and a computer implemented can also store a record of a first database in a second database where the record of the first database stores a span of information and the second database is not capable of storing such span of information in a single record.

Abstract: Traditionally, it has been difficult to share data among diverse computer applications and platforms because of underlying differences in data formats. Although the meaning or purpose of the data may be similar or identical (for example, two appointments entered using separate computer applications), the differences in data formats required by the various computer applications and platforms renders such sharing difficult. A method is disclosed for the translation of dissimilarly-formatted data between disparate computer applications and platforms.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a uniform interface on heterogeneous access devices, that are capable of requesting specified classes of information from a server. Access devices, such as those that access Internet content, are often of different hardware and software configurations. Each access device displays a similar interface, for example, an interface similar to the touchpad of a telephone. The interfaces are configured so that similar keys included in the interfaces of different access devices request a similar specified classes of information. Then, when similar keys on different access devices are selected by a user, the selection causes the access devices to request a similar specified class of information. Thus, users of access devices with differing configurations become accustomed to similar keys requesting similar specified classes of information. This makes the interface easier to learn and less confusing for users.

Abstract: A Web client/Web server computer system providing a methodology for embedding a context-sensitive Web portal in a computer application operating on the Web client is described. A special key tag type is defined to be monitored by the application, so that the server may control the application, where the special key tag type includes an embedded tag specifying hypertext navigation and includes auxiliary information. The server publishes to the application a Web page having at least one of the special key tags, so that the Web page is displayed at the application. In response to a user request for invoking a particular hypertext link of the published Web page, the application traps the request before the request is processed by the embedded browser. The application may determine whether the invoked hypertext link comprises a special key tag. If the hypertext link does not comprise a special key tag, the application simply passes the hypertext link to the embedded browser for processing.

Abstract: A computer program is provided for synchronizing at least a first and a second database. A plurality of records of the first database fitting a selected criterion are identified. At least one of the identified records of the first database is then synchronized with a record of the second database. On a computer display, a record selection criteria input region may be displayed for a user to input the selected criterion.

Abstract: An enterprise network opens a virtual private network tunnel with a data center by sending the data center a data request that includes a uniform resource identifier. The data center responds by sending the enterprise network ongoing reply data. A user wishing to access network data of the enterprise network transmits an access request to the data center. The data center authenticates the identity of the user and transmits the access request to the enterprise network. The enterprise network responds to the access request by performing acts upon the network data and/or by returning network data to the data center such that the user is enabled access to the network data. In an alternative embodiment, the data center caches a copy of network data to be retrieved by a remote user when the same network data is disconnected from the enterprise network.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enabling a user to create a user-defined map of an Internet document to control how text and links of the Internet document are presented to the user. A user selects and names regions of text or links of an Internet document to create a user-defined map. A user accesses a voice browser which provides an audio representation of the Internet document based on the user-defined map. Prompts assist a user in creating and navigating through the user-defined map. User requests cause an audio representation of the text or links associated with the user-defined map to be played to the user. When selected content associated with the user-defined map is modified then the updated content is provided to the user.

Abstract: A dynamic application environment or system is described that includes a client, a run-time system, and a back-end database. The client comprises a workstation or desktop PC running browser software, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. The back-end database comprises a back-end (e.g., server-based) database system, such as an SQL-based database system. The run-time system includes a collection or repository module for storing “presentation templates,” a Template Services Module or engine, a Template Parameters Module, and a Database Accessor Module. The presentation templates are employed for presentation of the application to the user interface (at the client). At application run-time, the templates are provided to the Template Services Module, which includes a Template Manager and a Template Parser. These provide generic processing of the templates, which may be assembled to complete a finished product (i.e., run-time application).

Abstract: A method of synchronizing at least a first and a second database each containing dated records such as events, wherein the records of the first and second databases are synchronized across a narrow date range narrower than the date range of the records of at least one of the databases. A prior synchronization can be performed across a prior date range. The date range of the prior synchronization is stored, along with the history file containing information representative of the content of the databases following the prior synchronization. When a current synchronization is performed, it is performed across a date range that combines the prior date range with the current date range.

Abstract: A method for reducing message traffic during synchronization between a database residing on a first computer (e.g., a remote computer) and another database residing on a second computer (e.g., a central computer) is disclosed. The first computer transmits to the second computer a proposed synchronization mode and at least one operation that operates on a record stored in the other database. The operation is transmitted to the second computer before the second computer returns to the first computer a confirmation message accepting the proposed synchronization mode. Synchronization is essentially independent of latency in the communication channel.

Abstract: In order to transfer data between two databases, a computer program automatically establishes a field map between the record structures of the two databases using information identifying the record structure of one of the databases. The field map is established automatically by correlating a first plurality of the fields of the first database to a second plurality of the fields of the second database to establish a field map. The data stored in the first plurality of fields of a plurality of the records of the first database is then translated in accordance with the field map. The information identifying the record structure of one of the databases identifies the record structure according to a selected field identification protocol identifying the categories and properties of the fields in the record structure of that database.

Abstract: A technique for synchronizing databases in which different techniques are used for storing a recurring event. A database in which the recurring event is, for example, stored as a single recurring record can be synchronized with a database in which the same recurring event is stored as a series of individual records. The individual records are processed to form a synthetic recurring record representing the set of individual records, and synchronization decisions are based on a comparison of the synthetic record to the recurring record of the other database. Following synchronization, the synthetic record can be “fanned” back into the individual records to update the database containing individual records, and the updated recurring record can be written back to the other database. In this way, the invention avoids the problems encountered with prior methods, in which synchronization resulted in a recurring record being transformed into a series of individual records.