Abstract: An embodiment of the invention described in the specification and drawings is a distributed and highly available data storage system. In one embodiment, the distributed data storage system includes a plurality of data storage units that are controlled by an object management system. The object management system preferentially selects the distributed data storage units for performing the file access requests according to the external inputs/outputs with which the file access requests are associated. In response to a file creation request that is associated with an external input of one distributed data storage unit, the object management system preferentially creates a data file in that distributed data storage unit. In response to a file retrieval request that is associated with a data file and an external output of a distributed data storage unit, the object management system preferentially returns a hostname and pathname of a copy of the data file that is stored within that distributed data storage unit.

Abstract: A method secures software in a computer system that has one or more fixed disk drives. Each fixed disk drive is configured with a predetermined system serial number, such that each fixed disk drive has the same system serial number. Software is received with an associated target serial number. The associated target serial number is compared to the system serial number on every fixed disk drive. The file is installed when the system serial number on every fixed disk drive is the same as the associated target serial number. A computer program product embodies the method described above.

Abstract: Voice messages are stored in both a user's voice mailbox in a voice mail system and an e-mail box in an e-mail system distinct from the voice mail system. When a voice message is stored in a user's voice mailbox in the voice mail system, a corresponding e-mail message is sent to and stored in an e-mail system with the voice message located in an attachment to the e-mail message. Information identifying the voice mail system and the voice mail message are included in a predefined portion of the email message, such as a particular field of the header. At predetermined times the user's voice mailbox and e-mail box are synchronized.

Abstract: A system and method for locating the subscriber of a telephony product in which a best guess location is assigned to each subscriber of the telephony product. Under certain predetermined conditions, the telephony product directs incoming phone calls to a subscriber by first attempting to locate the subscriber at the best guess location. If the best guess location does not successfully answer or is not attempted first, an alternate search method is used.

Abstract: A backplane apparatus provides board address information for each board inserted in the slots of the backplane, using a single pin in the backplane slot. A unique address for a board in a backplane slot is identified by an analog address signal, which can be communicated on a single line and therefore requires only one pin in the backplane slot or in the device which will read the address information. The analog address signal is a function of a component, such as a resistor or a capacitor, coupled to the address pin in the backplane slot. A predefined characteristic of the component, such as the resistance or the capacitance, is unique for each slot. The component characteristic is converted into a corresponding characteristic of the analog address signal, such as the voltage, current, frequency or the slope of a voltage or current ramp, so that the analog address signal is measurably different for every slot.

Abstract: A load test board is configured for plugging into a backplane of a chassis. The load test board has a CPU, a variable load controlled by the CPU, a voltage sensor to detect voltage across the variable load, and a current sensor to detect current through the variable load. To test the chassis, one or more of the load text boards are plugged into the backplane of the chassis. Each load test board provides a variable load, using circuitry on the test board to control the variable load, and measures current through the variable load and voltage across the variable load. Information corresponding to the measurements is conveyed to a host computer.