Abstract: A network data processing system is provided suitable for achieving reduction of network traffic volume and shortening of the time elapsed before first print out. A client unit generates printing data formed by segmenting data with respect to each component that constitutes printing contents, transmits a printing request including header information to a printer, searches for partial data from inside a storage part in response to an acquisition request, and transmits the retrieved partial data to the printer. When the printing request is received, the printer analyzes the received printing request, determines whether or not the partial data required for forming the printing data is stored in a storage part, acquires insufficient partial data from the client unit having a small hop count, stores the acquired partial data in the storage part, and forms the printing data based on the partial data of the storage part.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to determine a port number for a network connection. An Internet Protocol (IP) address of a server is determined. Based on the IP address, a first number is determined. An interval value is added to the first number resulting in a second number to be used as a port number. The interval value is repeatedly added to the second number if the second number is not available for use as the port number.

Abstract: A method for substantially assuring the examination of a set of data elements by a first user with a messaging device, the set of data elements further comprising a metadata portion. The method further includes determining a set of data elements, each data element of the set of data elements further comprising a state. The method also includes creating a first set of rules for monitoring a change to the state, creating a second of rules for transforming the set of data elements from a first representation to a second representation, based in part on the metadata, and creating a third set of rules for optimizing the delivery of a notification to the first user, based in part on the first set of rules, the notification further comprising a link to the second representation. The method further includes sending the notification to the first user based in part on the third set of rules. And, if the first user does not redeem the second representation, the method includes sending the notification to a second user.

Abstract: A portable computer in a store can be carried past a kiosk and wirelessly receive from the kiosk demonstration versions of software, along with an ID of the store. Later, after using the demonstration version, the user can access a Web server and purchase a full version of the software. During the transaction, the store ID is provided to the server, which can then credit the particular store at which the demonstration version was obtained with a sale.

Abstract: Messages of a user are ranked based on metrics derived from user actions with regard to the messages. Groupings of messages, such as conversations or a set of messages that are determined to be similar, may also be ranked. When new messages are received, their interest to the user is estimated based on rankings of messages and message groupings to which the new message is related. The new messages may be made more or less prominent based on the estimated interest to the user.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for improving video quality by leveraging time zone delays occurring during transmissions of programs. The method comprises an operation of determining a time zone delay between a broadcasting source of a program and a targeted destination for the program. Thereafter, the program is transmitted to the targeted destination where the resolution is equal to at least twice of a normal resolution and/or transmission data rate is equal to no more than one-half of a normal transmission data rate.

Abstract: A system and method for characterizing the quality of a link, in particular, a bi-directional link, between nodes in a wireless communication network, such as a wireless ad-hoc peer-to-peer network, with minimum network overhead. The system and method determine the quality of link between two nodes by taking into consideration the view from both the nodes, and factors such as signal strength, signal-to-noise ratio or any statistic collected at the physical layer that is deemed representative of the quality of a link. The link quality can also be adjusted using a weighting factor.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for redirecting an electronic content request to an alternate content transport mechanism. Electronic content received from a first transport mechanism, such as a satellite broadcast system, is transmitted to and stored at an end-user content cache. If the user subsequently requests content from an alternate transport mechanism, such as the Internet, a transport proxy server intercepts the request. The transport proxy server compares the URL entered by the user with a database of URLs associated with web site content that has been transmitted to and stored at the user's local content cache via the first transport mechanism. If the content requested by the user is presently stored on the user's local content cache, the user's request is redirected to the device or access application for the first transport mechanism which then retrieves and delivers the requested content from the local storage cache.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interconnecting a SAN with hosts on a remote network are disclosed. The systems and methods receive a set of device identifiers for a set of physical storage devices on the SAN. The device identifiers are mapped to a set of virtual device identifiers. Virtual devices having the virtual device identifiers are created on the remote network. The virtual devices correspond with the physical devices. Commands and responses are mapped and communicated between the virtual devices and the corresponding physical devices.

Abstract: An improved system and method is provided for packet routing in dynamic router tables. Specifically, the invention provides a method, computer system, and computer readable media for using Priority Search Trees (PSTs) to match, insert, and delete rules in dynamic routing tables in O(log n) time. In a first embodiment, for a dynamic router table consisting of n pairs of tuples, each tuple comprising an address prefix and next-hop information, the invention provides a system and method, using a PST, for inserting a new tuple, deleting an existing tuple, and searching for the tuple with the longest matching prefix for destination address, wherein each operation is performed in O(log n) time.

Abstract: In a system and method for the distribution of identities and reputation on a network, identity and reputation information may be distributed among nodes on a network (e.g. nodes on a peer-to-peer network). Embodiments may allow nodes on the network to evaluate other nodes' reputation using the distributed reputation information. Embodiments may allow nodes to iteratively increase confidence in a determined reputation of a node by determining the reputation of nodes that provide reputation information corresponding to the node. Embodiments may allow nodes to adjust a reputation of other nodes using results of transactions and prior reputations. Determined or adjusted reputation information and/or transaction information may be distributed among the nodes on the network. In one embodiment, transaction information may be divided into segments and the segments may be distributed among the nodes on the network.

Abstract: A web service provisioning system including a subscription system having a web service description data correlated to the at least one web service, and provisioning processes data correlated to the at least one web service. The provisioning system also includes an invocation system operatively coupled to the subscription system. A method of provisioning at least one web service, the method including the steps of providing user profile data; providing web service description data correlated to the at least one web service; providing provisioning processes data correlated to the at least one web service; selecting at least one web service; and invoking the provisioning processes data correlated to the selected at least one web service.

Abstract: A network topology management system includes information processing units, storage units, connection units that control connection switching between the information processing units and the storage units, a management unit that manages a network topology consisting of the information processing units, the storage units and the connection units, and an emulator connected to the connection units and to the management unit of the network. The emulator comprises a conversion section that converts first equipment identification information that identifies the information processing units or the storage units into second equipment identification information that is recognizable by the management unit to identify the information processing units or the storage units, and a transmitting section that sends the second equipment identification information to the management unit. The management device has a control section that manages the network topology based on the second equipment identification information.

Abstract: Disclosed are a queue management system and a method of managing a queue. This system and method are for use with a parallel processing system including a plurality of clients and a plurality of processors. The clients receive messages and transmit the messages to a shared queue for storage, and the processors retrieve messages from the shared queue and process said messages. The queue management system includes a mirror queue for maintaining a copy of each message transmitted to the shared queue by one of the clients; and the queue management system stores to the mirror queue, a copy of each message transmitted to the shared queue by that one of the clients. The mirror queue provides the system with continuity in case of an outage of the shared queue. In the event of such an outage, each instance of an application can simply discontinue using the shared queue and process requests from the mirror queue. The mirror queue is used until the shared queue is once again available.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for allowing mobile nodes to have access to mobility functions after being attached to their home networks are disclosed. The invention allows a home agent to authenticate a registration request and validate a DHCP-acquired home address even if no mobile bindings currently exist. Typically, a home agent will not create mobility bindings if a mobile node attaches itself to a home agent network segment. By using either cached information or DHCP resources, the home agent can approve a registration request.

Abstract: Method and systems are disclosed for enabling a computer system to generate a request that includes an instruction identifying the authentication method or methods to be used when authenticating a subset of the client computer systems or users network connected to a server computer system. The subset of client computer systems or users may include as little a single computer system or user. The request is then transmitted to the server computer system. When receiving subsequent requests for service from any of the subset of client computer systems or users, the server computer system will refer to the information in the instruction to determine which authentication methods are acceptable in authenticating the client computer system or user.

Abstract: Mechanisms and techniques provide a system for performing messaging between a message server and a message client. Embodiments operate to receive a first message to be sent to a messaging client and establish a first connection to the messaging client. The system then transmits a message processing script and the first message over the first connection to the messaging client. The message processing script enables the messaging client to display the first message and to receive and display at least one second message over the first connection to the messaging client. The system maintains the first connection in an open state after transmitting the first message to the messaging client. The system then receives a second message to be sent to the messaging client and transmits the second message over the first connection to the messaging client for receipt by the message processing script, while continuing to maintain the first connection in an open state.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a peer-to-peer overlay network. The method includes discovering a set of node characteristics for each of a subset of existing nodes of a network. The method also includes scaling each of the discovered set of node characteristics to a value which is within a predetermined range of values. The method also includes generating a set of weighted values for each of the subset of nodes by applying a weighting function to each of the scaled values. In addition, the method includes generating a node rank value for each of the subset of nodes by summing the weighted values of each respective set of weighted values. Further, the method includes determining whether to connect to any of the subset of nodes based upon the node rank value.

Abstract: Financial news distribution apparatus comprising: a first terminal (10) comprising means (14, 17) for displaying a selected one of a plurality of data entry screens (1000) associated with news items of different types, each said data entry screen comprising: a plurality of data entry fields (1004) for entry of respective data items of a new said news item, and respective data item label text fields (1002) each containing text describing the corresponding data entry field in a source language, selection means (12) for selecting at least one of a plurality of target languages; translation means (50) for translating the source language text of said data item label text fields (1002) into corresponding text in said at least one target language; means (12) for inputting data specifying a type of news item and a subject of a new news item; a computer (30) remote to said first terminal (10), said computer (40) being arranged to read a store (40) containing a database of previous news items, accessible by type and su

Abstract: In a virtual private network, a plurality of concentrators form an interface to provide client/remote site access to a private network over a public network. The plurality of concentrators are grouped into a virtual cluster. Each concentrator in the virtual cluster has an IP address and the virtual cluster has a virtual IP address. In operation, one of the plurality of concentrators assumes the virtual IP address and acts as the master device in the cluster. When a client attempts a connection to the private network, the client addresses an initial request to the virtual IP address. The master device responds to the client request by transmitting to the client the IP address of a concentrator in the cluster selected to handle the connection.