Abstract: Performing a user initiated search query is disclosed and comprises receiving user input comprising description details of at least one desired object, retrieving a plurality of objects from a database sharing one or more of the description details of the user input, constructing a tree data structure based on the description details of the plurality of objects, the tree data structure comprising one or more attributes related to each of the plurality of objects retrieved, displaying visual images associated with the retrieved plurality of objects, the visual images matching at least one of the attributes related to the plurality of objects, and receiving a user selection of one or more of the visual images.

Abstract: An identity selector manages the identity requirements of an online interaction between a user and a service provider environment. The identity selector is adapted for interoperable use with a user-portable computing device. The user device enables a user to carry identification information and to generate security tokens for use in authenticating the user to a service provider. The identity selector includes an agent module that facilitates communication with the user device. The identity selector imports the user identities from the user device and determines which user identities satisfy a security policy of a relying party. After the user selects one of the eligible user identities, the identity selector generates a token request based on the selected identity and forwards it to the user device, which in response issues a security token. The security token is returned to the identity selector and used to facilitate the authentication process.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving and tracking a plurality of transactions and distributing the transactions to at least two replication queues over a network. The system and method comprise a global queue for storing a number of the received transactions in a first predetermined order. The system and method also comprise a sequencer coupled to the global queue for creating a copy of each of the transactions for each of said at least two replication queues and for distributing in a second predetermined order each said copy to each of said at least two replication queues respectively, said copy containing one or more of the received transactions.

Abstract: A user-portable computing device configured as a smart card enables a user to carry identification information and to generate security tokens for use in authenticating the user to a service provider. The device includes memory for storing user identities as information cards that are exported to a host computer, presented to a user in visual form, and then selected for use in the authentication process. A security token service installed on the device issues a security token in response to a token request sent from the host computer that references the selected user identity. The security token service uses user attribute information stored on the user device to compose the claim assertions needed to issue the security token. The token is returned to the host computer and used to facilitate the authentication process.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and non-transitory computer readable storage medium, in one embodiment, associating at least one wireless device and at least one user, requesting audio information from at least one remote source by said at least one wireless device, receiving said audio information from said remote source, broadcasting an audio identifier to said at least one wireless device, using said audio information, authenticating said association between said at least one wireless device and at least one transport, based on said audio information, determining at least one characteristic of said at least one user based on at least one of at least one user search history and at least one user preference selection and determining at least one probable route of said at least one transport based on said at least one characteristic and at least one of at least one route history and at least one input destination.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus configured to communicate between mobile devices. One example method may include determining a present location of a mobile device being operated by a user, determining a present location of at least one additional mobile device being operated by at least one additional user via a location based service (LBS) and notifying the mobile device when the present location of the at least one additional mobile device is within a predefined threshold distance of a mobile device domain. The method may also include receiving media data captured from the at least one additional mobile device and forwarding the received data to the mobile device. The user of the mobile device may be able to track, maintain communication, and identify the locations and activities of friends, family, and other persons of interest via their respective mobile devices.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer media encoding instructions, and systems for receiving write requests directed to non-sequential logical block addresses and writing the write requests to sequential disk block addresses in a storage system. Some embodiments further include overprovisioning a storage system to include an increment of additional storage space such that it is more likely a large enough sequential block of storage will be available to accommodate incoming write requests.

Abstract: This invention is a method and system for tokenless biometric authorization of an electronic communication, using a biometric sample, a master electronic identicator, and a public communications network, wherein the method includes: an electronic communication formation step, wherein at least one communication comprising electronic data is formed; a user registration step, wherein a user electronically submits a registration biometric sample taken directly from the person of the user; a public network data transmittal step, wherein the registration biometric sample is electronically transmitted to a master electronic identicator via a public communications network, said master electronic identicator comprising a computer database which electronically stores all of the registration biometric samples from all of the registered users; a user registration biometric storage step, wherein the registration biometric sample is electronically stored within the master electronic identicator; a bid biometric transmittal

Abstract: In order to provide filtering of content to be presented on a mobile device, a gesture-based preferencing system and method may be employed. When content is presented to a user, the user may indicate a positive or negative preference toward that content by making a gesture. The gesture may be detected by a motion sensor and the preference of the content indicated by the gesture may be stored in a preference datastore. The preference may be used to subsequently filter content that is to be presented to the user.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method of managing network elements operating on a network. One example method may include transmitting a request to receive at least one activity parameter of a network element operating on the network and monitoring the at least one activity parameter of the network element. The method may include determining whether a usage value of the at least one activity parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold usage value and transmitting a corrective function message to the network element responsive to determining that the usage value of the at least one activity parameter exceeds the predetermined threshold value. The method may further include performing a corrective function to reduce the usage value of the at least one activity parameter.

Abstract: A method and system for checkpointing at least one application in an application group. At least one full checkpoint and at least one incremental checkpoint are created for the application in the application group. The at least one incremental application checkpoint is merged against the at least one full application checkpoint, and checkpointing across all applications in the application group is synchronized. A storage checkpoint is taken for at least one of the full checkpoint and the incremental checkpoint, and memory and storage checkpoints are synchronized and consistent.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic short messaging and advertising method where minimal initiative is required from the consumer. Some embodiments of the invention may also be applied to an electronic sales method. The invention may also be applied for normal short messaging. The electronic short messaging method for collect calling may send transmissions to at least one subscriber terminal via the Internet and/or the telephony network. The method may include sending a first transmission to a recipient subscriber terminal for display, wherein the first transmission defines one or more active alternatives including at least one of initiating a collect call and deleting the transmission. In some embodiments, unless the collect call is initiated, the first transmission is automatically deleted after reception after a predefined time period.

Abstract: The embodiments describe an apparatus for accessing a remote object. The apparatus includes a transceiver. The transceiver is configured to transmit a Domain Name Service request of the remote object to a Domain Name Service server and receive a Domain Name Service response comprising an Internet Protocol of the remote object. The transceiver is further configured to connect to the Internet Protocol of the remote object based on the Domain Name Service response.

Abstract: All steps required to create and operate a peripheral device of an electronic device can be performed without the need to plug in the peripheral device to the electronic device. Setup information for a peripheral device is extracted, modified and stored to fit to a physical existent peripheral device. The modified setup information is used to create a data structure that is passed to the peripheral bus driver. As the data structure contains a hot plug notification the reception causes the peripheral bus driver to initiate the setup process for the peripheral device. As the data structure is built from setup information that is available at the electronic device no additional user action is required. The invention also allows the creation of a device object for existing signed driver packets that may not be altered.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may be configured to create setup information, and perform the initialization and performance of an installation of a peripheral device of an electronic device. One example method may include storing a device identification (ID) of the peripheral device, extracting data and creating a data structure from existent setup information. The method may also include replacing a device ID in the data structure with the device ID of the peripheral device, and creating and storing a setup information file from content of the data structure. The method may also include creating and passing a request to at least one of a device driver of an interface of the peripheral device and a bus that initiates the installation of the peripheral device. The peripheral device may not be connected to the electronic device.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer readable medium for usage billing of one or more hosted applications serving one or more clients. The hosted applications are contained within one or more isolated environments or run without isolated environments. The system may include usage billing based on one or more of resources open, amount of data flowing through resources, number of open files, number of transactions, number of concurrent users, number of processes, CPU utilization and memory usage, The system may further include a management interface where administrators may add, remove and configure isolated environments, configure client policies and credentials, and force upgrades. If using isolated environments, the isolated environments may be isolated from other applications and the host operating system on the clients and applications within the isolated environments may run without performing an application-installation on the client.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method of verifying an application installation procedure. One example method of operation may include receiving an application at a computer device and initiating the installation of the application on the computer device. The method may also provide executing the application during the installation procedure and creating a hash value corresponding to the executed application data. The method may further provide storing the hash value in memory and comparing the hash value to a pre-stored hash value to determine whether to continue the installation of the application.

Abstract: A multimedia collaboration system that facilitates more efficient, free-flowing collaboration sessions. The role of the presenter can be exchanged among participants in a collaboration session. The multimedia collaboration system is configured so that control of a collaboration session can be exchanged freely between participants in the collaboration session. The multimedia collaboration system enables participants in the collaboration session to determine the pace and course of the session.

Abstract: A client-side user agent operates in conjunction with an identity selector to institute and exercise privacy control management over user identities managed by the identity selector. The user agent includes the combination of a privacy enforcement engine, a storage of rulesets expressing user privacy preferences, and a preference editor. The editor enables the user to direct the composition of privacy preferences relative to user identities. The preferences can be applied to individual cards and to categorized groups of attributes. The engine evaluates the proper rulesets against the privacy policy of a service provider. The privacy preferences used by the engine are determined on the basis of specifications in a security policy indicating the attribute requirements for claims that purport to satisfy the security policy.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical device and method of automatically searching for and connecting to known or unknown available public communication infrastructure and/or devices in the vicinity using a multi-layer communication model. Each layer may include binding information for local available communication methods and shareable hardware devices, a routing table, and, if applicable, one or more logon profiles for service providers. Communication layers may be built by searching for available public communication infrastructure and/or devices in the vicinity by actively sending out connection requests to all addressable destinations along the available transport medium. Each node is able to access and use the communication infrastructure of each other node. Switching between layers as they become inoperable and/or become available without any user interaction required is also possible.