Abstract: The development of a natural language interface component can be highly manual and time-consuming. This is especially true when the problem being addressed is based on a class of back-end applications rather than one particular back-end application. Aspects of the present invention support the automated generation of a natural language interface component for a specified back-end application (or more precisely, the automated generation of a natural language interface component that is specific to the ontology for a specified back-end application domain) wherein the generated component includes an agent network.

Abstract: Replication system with methodology for replicating database sequences is described. In one embodiment, for example, in a database system, a method of the present invention is described for replicating a sequence object from a primary database to a replicate database, the method comprises steps of: monitoring changes to table data at the primary database for capturing information sufficiently characterizing the sequence object to allow its replication, the table data being logged to a log file; reading the log file, for determining changes to apply to the replicate database for replicating the sequence object; and reconstructing the sequence object at the replicate database based on the determined changes.

Abstract: A system and methodology for processing of path based queries is described. In one embodiment, a method for processing a path based query requesting data from a markup language document comprises steps of: parsing the path based query requesting data to generate a query tree corresponding to the path based query; identifying all paths which may be utilized for obtaining data requested by the path based query from the markup language document; creating a transformed query tree to represent all identified paths; generating a query plan for obtaining data requested by the path based query based on the transformed query tree; and executing the query plan to obtain and return the data requested by the path based query.

Abstract: An information messaging and collaboration system is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method is described for interactive content retrieval and display, the method comprises steps of: providing a plurality of portlets for retrieval of content for display in a user interface; mapping a message action to a first portlet to create a messaging portlet for sending a message in response to user interaction with the messaging portlet; creating a listener portlet by registering a second portlet to receive messages from the messaging portlet; and in response to user interaction with the messaging portlet, retrieving particular content for display in the user interface based on the message received by the listener portlet from the messaging portlet.

Abstract: System and methods for temporary data management in shared disk cluster configurations is described. In one embodiment, a method for managing temporary data storage comprises: creating a global temporary database accessible to all nodes of the cluster on shared storage; creating a local temporary database accessible to only a single node (owner node) of the cluster; providing failure recovery for the global temporary database without providing failure recovery for the local temporary database, so that changes to the global temporary database are transactionally recovered upon failure of a node; binding an application or database login to the local temporary database on the owner node for providing the application with local temporary storage when connected to the owner node; and storing temporary data used by the application or database login in the local temporary database without requiring use of write ahead logging for transactional recovery of the temporary data.

Abstract: A system providing methodology for replication subscription resolution. In one embodiment, for example, a system of the present invention for determining subscribers to which a published item of data should be replicated comprises: an interface module for receiving user input of lists of a plurality of subscribers, each list specifying items of data to be replicated to a given subscriber, a build module for building an index based on the lists of the plurality of subscribers containing entries indicating subscribers For each item of data specified in the lists and a default list of subscribers for items of data not matching any of the entries; and a resolution module for receiving a published item of data and determining subscribers to which the published item should be replicated based on the index.

Abstract: System providing methodology for optimizing data transfer in a distributed environment is described.

Abstract: A replication system with methodology for replicating stored procedure calls is described. In one embodiment, for example, in a database system without support for logging stored procedure invocations, a method of the present invention is described for replicating invocation of a stored procedure from a primary database to a replicate database, the method comprises steps of: inserting table data into the primary database for storing information sufficiently characterizing the procedure's invocation to allow its replication, the table data being logged to a log file; reading the log file, for determining changes to apply to the replicate database for replicating the procedure's invocation; and reconstructing the procedure's invocation at the replicate database based on the determined changes.

Abstract: A database system providing encrypted column data support with decrypt default functionality. In a database system, a method providing automated encryption support for column data comprises steps of: defining Structured Query Language (SQL) extensions for creating and managing column encryption keys and database tables with encrypted column data; receiving an SQL statement specifying creation of a column encryption key; receiving an SQL statement specifying creation of a database table having particular column data encrypted with the column encryption key; receiving an SQL statement specifying a default value to be provided in response to requests for the column data without decrypt permission; in response to a subsequent database operation requesting encrypted column data from a user with decrypt permission, automatically decrypting the column data; and in response to a subsequent database operation requesting the encrypted column data from a user without decrypt permission, returning the default value.

Abstract: A Boolean Network rule engine for evaluation of rules is described that comprises: a rules interface for receiving a set of rules, each rule having at least one condition; a network builder for building a Boolean Network representation of the set of rules including transducers linked by logic gates, each transducer generating a Boolean value based on evaluating an item of input data against a condition of a rule; and a runtime evaluation engine for receiving input data, detecting changed items of input data, activating links among transducers and logic gates of the Boolean Network representation based on the changed items of input data so as to utilize transducers and logic gates of the Boolean Network representation relevant to rule evaluation outcome, evaluating rules based on the input data and active transducers and logic gates and returning results of rule evaluation.

Abstract: System and methodology providing improved information retrieval are described.

Abstract: System and method for delivering mobile RSS content is described. The system, upon receiving a URL or feature list from a user of a feature phone, retrieves the target Web page and delivers to the feature phone Web content that is comparable to that which the user would enjoy at a desktop computer. In particular, the system of the present invention examines the target Web page to determine a particular page type and corresponding page strategy to apply. Based on the page strategy employed, the system may return to the user the content that they actually wanted from the target Web page. In this manner, the user need not purchase an expensive, high-end “smart phone” (e.g., Treo or the like) in order to retrieve Web content. The invention is particularly applicable in regions where high-end mobile devices are not practical (e.g., developing countries).

Abstract: System and method for assignment of unique identifiers in a distributed environment. In a distributed system having a plurality of nodes, a method for allocating identifiers comprises steps of: allocating a pool of identifiers for use; maintaining lists of free identifiers in the pool at participating nodes; obtaining at a first node permission to update the lists of free identifiers; upon receiving permission to update the lists, allocating for the first node a set of identifiers from the lists; updating the lists of free identifiers to reflect allocation of the set of identifiers for the first node; sending the updated lists from the first node to other participating nodes; upon receiving the updated lists of free identifiers at each other participating node, updating each other participating node's respective copy of the lists of free identifiers; and relinquishing the first node's permission to update the lists of free identifiers.

Abstract: A system and methodology for database migration between platforms is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method is described for migrating a database across platforms having different byte order formats (e.g., big-endian and little-endian), the method comprises steps of: when the database is loaded on a given platform, determining whether the database requires conversion to match the byte order format of the given platform; identifying particular portions of the database to be converted if the database is determined to require conversion; and converting the particular portions of the database to the byte order format of the given platform.

Abstract: A secured database system with built-in antivirus protection is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method of the present invention is described for securing a database system, the method comprises steps of: provisioning storage from a storage device, for storing database information; generating an encryption key so that the database information is stored on the storage device in an encrypted manner; generating a decryption key for decrypting the database information stored on the storage device, wherein access to the decryption key is controlled by the database system based on user privileges; receiving a request from a user for access to the database information; determining whether the user has been granted sufficient privileges to access the database information; if the user has been granted sufficient privileges, automatically decrypting the database information to provide the access; and otherwise denying the request if the user has not been granted sufficient privileges.

Abstract: A SQL language interface for a messaging system, such as IBM MQ, is described. In one embodiment, for example, in a database system, a method is described for providing real-time message support for improved database connectivity, the method comprises steps of: defining Structured Query Language (SQL) extensions having commands that provide message-based connectivity for databases; receiving an SQL statement including a command specifying that a message be sent for communicating particular database data; upon execution of the SQL statement by the database system, creating an outbound message for communicating the particular database data to a destination; and posting the outbound database to a message bus, whereupon the particular database data is communicated asynchronously to the destination.

Abstract: A system and methodology for extraction and aggregation of data from dynamic content is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method is described for extracting and structuring items of data from content available via the Internet, the method comprises steps of: receiving input of a user specifying at least one source of content available via the Internet, types of data to be extracted from the at least one source, and fields for structuring extracted items of data; retrieving content from the at least one source; parsing the retrieved content to extract items of data of the types specified by the user; and mapping the extracted items of data to the fields specified by the user so as to transform the extracted items of data into a structured format.

Abstract: A system and methodology for generating bushy trees using a left-deep tree join enumeration strategy for optimizing execution of a database query is described. In response to receipt of a query specifying at least one join condition between two or more database tables, each query block comprising an atomic portion of the query is identified and subplans are created for each query block based on grouping portions of each query block. At least one favorable access plan is determined for each subplan of each query block based, at least in part, on estimated execution costs. An optimal access plan for each query block is generated based upon at least one favorable access plan determined for each subplan. A query execution plan is then constructed based upon the optimal access plan generated for each query block.

Abstract: A development system with methodology providing optimized message parsing and handling is described. In one embodiment, for example, a computer-implemented method is described for improved processing of certain types of messages, the method comprises steps of: loading metadata at design time, the metadata characterizing a particular message type; based on the metadata, automatically generating source code for creating runtime components highly optimized for the particular message type; compiling the source code into the runtime components, for deployment in a runtime environment; and at runtime, processing messages of the particular message type with the runtime components, so that messages are processed in a manner that is highly optimized for the particular message type.

Abstract: A method for cloning of prepared statements for execution against a database is described. In one embodiment, for example, a method for executing a database statement comprises steps of: preparing at least one template for execution of a statement against a database; storing the at least one template in a shared cache available to a plurality of database connections; in response to a request to execute a particular statement on a given database connection, determining whether a template for the particular statement is available in the shared cache; if the template is available in the shared cache, creating a database statement based on the template for execution on the given database connection; and executing the database statement on the given database connection.