Abstract: A system and method for dynamically generating Web content using a parse tree is described. A template describing a dynamically generated Web page is built. The template includes a script written in a tag-delimited page description language. One or more markers included within the template each indicate a relative location within the Web page for dynamic content insertion. The hierarchical nature of the page description language is used to infer a set of display regions, which are referenced by a parse tree. The parse tree includes a plurality of nodes structured into levels. Each node corresponds to structural tags specified within the script. Each successive level represents a further nesting of the structural tags within the script. A controller program invokes a document engine and specifies a particular template. Each marker may be substituted with dynamic content zero, one or several times each.

Abstract: An enterprise-wide web data mining system, computer program product, and method of operation thereof, that uses Internet based data sources, and which operates in an automated and cost effective manner. The enterprise web mining system comprises: a database coupled to a plurality of data sources, the database operable to store data collected from the data sources; a data mining engine coupled to the web server and the database, the data mining engine operable to generate a plurality of data mining models using the collected data; a server coupled to a network, the server operable to: receive a request for a prediction or recommendation over the network, generate a prediction or recommendation using the data mining models, and transmit the generated prediction or recommendation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for improving the performance associated with transferring a data item and obtaining a lock in a multi-node system by interpreting the block transfer message as a lock grant message. Typically when a Holder of a data item transfers a data item (e.g. block) to a Requestor of that data item, the Holder will down-convert its lock for that data item and send a message to the Master of this data item indicating that a down-convert has been performed. Subsequently, the Master sends a lock grant message to the Requestor of the data item to inform the Requestor that it has been granted a lock for the data item. By interpreting the block transfer message as a lock grant message, the down-convert message and the lock grant message can be eliminated, which results in improved performance.

Abstract: The methods and systems for database statement execution plan optimization exploit bind variable data available on the network to build and optimize an execution plan for the statement. A system for database statement execution plan optimization comprises a bind variable analyzer, a frame allocator, and an optimizer, in addition to a parser for parsing and analyzing the statement, a type checker for type checking the statement, and a tree builder for building an expression tree.

Abstract: Techniques for making a replica of a particular group of database objects of a database on a particular node that does not initially have the particular group of database objects include transferring description data from a first node to the particular node during a first time period. The description data describes the particular group of database objects at a first time. The first time period begins at the first time and ends at a second time. During the first time period, a request from a user of the database to perform an operation involving particular data in the particular group of database objects is processed.

Abstract: A self-adaptive hybrid cache and method of caching data objects. A set of cacheable data objects is partitioned among a set of cooperating caches (e.g., a cache cluster). A hybrid cache is configured to cache data objects that it owns (i.e., objects in its partition) as primary content and to also cache data objects that are owned by other caches as secondary content (e.g., based on demand for such objects). A hybrid cache stores and/or removes objects based on criteria such as validity, popularity, size, age, cost of replacing, amount of available cache space, whether the objects are primary or secondary, etc. Over time, the amount or ratio of primary and secondary data that a hybrid cache stores may fluctuate dynamically.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for managing caches in a system with multiple caches that may contain different copies of the same data item. Specifically, techniques are provided for coordinating the write-to-disk operations performed on such data items to ensure that older versions of the data item are not written over newer versions, and to reduce the amount of processing required to recover after a failure. Various approaches are provided in which a master is used to coordinate with the multiple caches to cause a data item to be written to persistent storage. Techniques are also provided for managing checkpoints associated with the caches, where the checkpoints are used to determine the position at which to begin processing recovery logs in the event of a failure.

Abstract: A method of executing a marketing campaign. In one embodiment the method comprises selecting collateral for a proposed marketing message and associating the marketing message with a plurality of customers. For each customer in the plurality of customers, a proposed marketing message is generated; a sales representative is assigned to the customer using an automated assignment rule; the customer-to-sales representative assignment made according to the automated assignment rule is electronically communicated to the assigned sales representative and the assigned sales representative is allowed to modify the proposed marketing message for the customer to create a personalized marketing message. The method also includes delivering the personal modified marketing messages to customers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dynamically allocating space within virtual memory at run-time while substantially minimizing an associated path length are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for allocating virtual storage associated with a computer system includes creating a scratchpad, allocating a unit of storage space at a current location within the scratchpad, and writing a set of information into the unit of storage space such that the set of information is substantially not tracked. The scratchpad supports allocation of storage space therein, and includes a first pointer that identifies a current location within the scratchpad. Finally, the method includes moving the first pointer in the scratchpad to identify a second location within the scratchpad. The first pointer moves in the first linear space in substantially only a top-to-bottom direction.

Abstract: In a real-time collaboration server, a control unit manages a collaboration mode. The control unit operates a virtual client that maintains a virtual screen reflecting the status of the collaboration (e.g., the contents of a shared desktop or whiteboard). The virtual client renders collaboration data within the virtual screen. New clients are synchronized with an ongoing collaboration by packing and sending them a copy of the virtual screen. The control unit maintains a queue of collaboration data to be sent to participating clients. Each client may have a pointer identifying the queued data it is processing. The queue may be collapsed (e.g., when it reaches a maximum size) by sending a copy of the virtual screen to one or more clients that have not yet consumed old data in the queue; those clients are then updated to skip the queue entries embodied in the virtual screen.

Abstract: A system and method for facilitating real-time collaboration. A real-time collaboration server comprises a number of communication modules for handling communications with individual clients. An organizer manages the collaboration and includes a control unit for each mode (e.g., desktop sharing, whiteboard, chat). Incoming communications are routed to the appropriate control unit by a filter. The control unit queues sets of collaboration data for distribution to clients through separate communication modules. When a client acknowledges one set of data sent to it, the next set can be sent. A roster control unit maintains a roster of clients, including their permissions and properties. A client's permissions may be verified when a communication is received from or is to be sent to the client.

Abstract: A method of facilitating the reproduction of a presenter's desktop for attendees of a real-time collaboration. A bound portion of the desktop (the portion shared with the attendees) is logically divided into clusters. When the content of a cluster changes, the cluster is analyzed and one or more objects describing the content may be identified. Each object that is not already cached is cached and assigned a cache ID. Each object in the cluster is described in an object primitive to be sent to the attendees. Actions for reproducing the object on the attendees' clients are sent as action primitives. The object and action primitives allow the content of the presenter's desktop to be sent incrementally instead of sending the entire desktop.

Abstract: Methods of carrying out an electronic transaction that includes payment via a secure electronic draft, include steps of establishing a secure computer site that includes a representation of the draft, the site being controlled by a financial service provider and accessible only to authenticated parties to the transaction; creating a first online letter of credit linked to a drawer of the draft and including predetermined terms, satisfaction of the terms being a precondition to the financial service provider extending credit to the drawer; authenticating each party to the draft requesting access to the draft represented at the computer site, and releasing payment on the draft to a drawee of the draft. At least a portion of the released payment may originate from the credit extended to the drawer. An online performance bond may define liquidated damages to be paid to a drawer upon non-performance of the drawee or to the drawee upon non-performance of the drawer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented and Internet-based method of managing Accounts Receivable (AR) information includes steps of receiving a customer request for remote Internet access to AR information (such as pending invoices) owned by vendor; retrieving the customer's AR information from a database and enabling the retrieved AR information to be remotely displayed for the customer and enabling the vendor's internal personnel to retrieve and to display the customer's AR information simultaneously as the AR information is displayed for the customer. The customer may dispute an invoice accessed from the database by accessing the vendor's Web site and by selecting a reason code for the dispute and at least a disputed amount to create a pending Credit Memo Request, all without direct manual involvement from the vendor.

Abstract: A record management system is provided for generating a multi-dimensional view for different measures. A set of records is retrieved in response to a set of queries. The records include dimension values and measure values, which are associated with the measures. The set of records is maintained in a master table. The record management system generates a record structure foundation, including a query map and a master table index. The record management system then employs the record structure foundation to generate a multi-dimensional layout mapping for the measures that are to be represented in the view. The record structure foundation and measure values in the master table are used to convert the layout mapping into the desired multi-dimensional view. The record management system includes data storage units for implementing the master table, query map, master table index, and layout mapping.

Abstract: A computerized management system is provided. The system includes a routine for accessing journal entries stored in a memory and an automated journal entry generating routine for generating journal entries for a first set-of-books and for a second set-of-books based on the accessed journal entries. The journal entries for the first set-of-books are in accordance with a first reporting standard and the journal entries for the second set-of-books are in accordance with a second, different reporting standard.

Abstract: A method and mechanism is disclosed for implementing transaction logging in a database system. In-memory undo records are maintained to log undo information for the database system. Redo records are batch processed, with multiple redo records for a transaction stored on disk at commit time.

Abstract: A method and mechanism is disclosed for implementing transaction logging in a database system. In-memory undo records are maintained to log undo information for the database system. Redo records are batch processed, with multiple redo records for a transaction stored on disk at commit time.

Abstract: A method and mechanism is disclosed for implementing storage and compression in a computer system. Each granular portion of a file can be individually stored in either a compressed storage unit or an uncompressed storage unit. The storage units can be allocated apriori or on an as-needed basis.

Abstract: A database system that incorporates numerous features that reduce the total cost of maintaining the database system is provided. That database system includes a database appliance that executes a database server on a platform that includes a special purpose operating system specifically tailored to the services required by the database server. The database appliance configures itself by detecting the environment in which it resides and setting operational parameters based on the detected environment. The configuration metadata of all components of the system are stored in a centralized repository which itself may reside external to the system. Both the database server configuration and the operating system configuration are managed by a remotely located integrated management console, which interacts with and configures the system at the database system level, the operating system level and, optionally, at the hardware subsystem level. Backup management may also be performed remotely.