Abstract: An example of a solution provided here comprises: providing a connection pool, said connection pool including a connection for each of a plurality of servers; applying a load-balancing policy to said connection pool; and assigning a connection from said connection pool to a client, according to said load-balancing policy. Another example of a solution comprises: providing a plurality of directory servers; providing a connection pool, said connection pool including a connection for each of said plurality of directory servers; applying a load-balancing policy to said connection pool; and assigning a connection from said connection pool to a client, according to said load-balancing policy. Methods for providing highly available services, systems for executing such methods, and instructions on a computer-usable medium, for executing such methods, are provided.

Abstract: Resource requests made by clients of origin servers in a network are intercepted by reflector mechanisms and selectively reflected to other servers called repeaters. The reflectors select a best repeater from a set of possible repeaters and redirect the client to the selected best repeater. The client then makes the request of the selected best repeater. The resource is possibly rewritten to replace at least some of the resource identifiers contained therein with modified resource identifiers designating the repeater instead of the origin server.

Abstract: A data reception/playback apparatus includes sending means for sending a transmission request to a transmission apparatus, reception means for receiving stream data transmitted from the transmission apparatus in response to the transmission request, selection means for selecting a playback start position from a playback start position table where at least one playback start position is stored, and playback means for playing the stream data. The sending means requests the transmission apparatus to transmit the table, the reception means receives the table, the selection means selects a playback start position from the table, the sending means requests the transmission apparatus to transmit the stream data from the playback start position, the reception means receives the stream data, and the playback means plays the received stream data. Therefore, even when the data reception/playback apparatus receives the stream data from some midpoint in the stream, the apparatus can correctly play the stream data.

Abstract: A manufacturing method enables the manufacture of a remotely controlled network device management system. The manufacturing method includes the steps of obtaining a software program, obtaining a downloadable unit (e.g. an applet) configured to communicate with the software program, compiling the software program into a binary file, embedding the downloadable unit into the binary file, and loading the binary file with the embedded downloadable unit onto the network device. A management method enables a remote client to manage the network device. The management method includes the steps of receiving from a remote client a request to manage a software program which has a binary file with an embedded downloadable unit, locating the downloadable unit embedded in the binary file, extracting the downloadable unit from the binary file, and forwarding the downloadable unit to the remote client.

Abstract: A method for ensuring consistent message reception among a plurality of nodes in a distributed system includes the step of causing nodes with outgoing messages to send the messages to all of the nodes. Each of the nodes then re-sends whatever messages it has received to all of the nodes after each of the nodes has received at least one message. The sequence of received messages in each of the nodes is then determined. If the sequence is not the same for all of the nodes, then each of the nodes re-sends what it has received until each node receives the same sequence of messages. A distributed system with a weak atomic broadcast module in each node to ensure consistent message reception while the nodes operate asynchronously is also described.

Abstract: A main unit address restricted notification system has a main unit, two or more subordinate terminals which acquire an IP address of said main unit at a connection start, an address administration unit having a DHCP function, and a transmitting line for connecting these. The address administration unit attaches terminal identification information to a DHCP message from the subordinate terminals to the address administration unit at a connection start and also the address administration unit comprises a terminal identification information authorizing part which authorizes terminal identification information received and a main unit IP address information notifying unit which notifies only terminals which have passed the authorization of main unit IP address information.

Abstract: A device for accessing data from an internet site. The device comprises at least two protocol modules, each module comprising instructions enabling the device to communicate with an external internet resource under a first protocol or a second protocol respectively; the device being arranged to selectively employ one or the other of the modules. Request data receiving component receives request data relating to a requested site from a user, and a data requesting module for requests, dependent upon the request data, data from an external internet resource. A received data determining component determines if data received as a result of the requested data refers to a site with data under the first protocol or the second protocol, and a router determines the route of the request and resubmitting the request to the requested site via the determined route dependent upon the determination of the request being through the first or second protocol.

Abstract: A notification service that efficiently scales to the number and variety of notifications and users being serviced. The notification service is separated into three general functional components. A listener component receives a notification in a network format suitable for transmitting the notification over a network. The listener component translates the notification into an internal processing format used by the notification service. The notification is then forwarded to a routing component that determines a category associated with the notification, and performs a set of one or more operations on the notification based on its category. Finally, the notification service is forwarded to a delivery service for delivery of the notification to the notification sink. The listener component, the routing component, and the delivery component may each be scaled in order to adjust for current processing loads using load balancing functionality.

Abstract: A method and system for transferring a queue of packets in a router between an inbound controller and an outbound controller is disclosed. The inbound controller is adapted for receiving an inbound packet at an inbound port. In addition, a plurality of inbound queues are provided for the inbound port. An inbound packet is then received at the inbound port. The inbound packet is classified in a selected one of the plurality of inbound queues according to packet sorting criteria. The inbound packet is then stored in the selected one of the plurality of inbound queues. The inbound controller is capable of determining when one of the plurality of inbound queues is ready to be moved to an outbound queue which is capable of storing a multiplicity of inbound queues. The outbound controller is adapted for forwarding packets at an outbound port. At least one outbound queue is provided for the outbound port which is capable of storing a plurality of inbound queues.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing digital media assets to a plurality of users. A portal is provided comprising at least one server computer. The portal executes a media library database server application that manages access a master library of media assets that can be accessed by users via one or more communication networks. A plurality of media player devices communicate with the portal to access media assets for use. Each media player device may comprise a processor that executes a database client application that manages media assets licensed for use by a user.

Abstract: Techniques for arranging operations performable on information in an information processing system are provided. In a system having a plurality of information producers and a plurality of information subscribers, paths are identified over which information traverses, and within which the information is subject to select and/or transform operations. The present invention optimizes the system by reorganizing the sequence of select and transform operations so that transforms follow select operations; and by combining multiple select and transform operations into single select and transform operations, respectively. Using these optimizations, the processing resources of the system can be reorganized, and/or information flow graphs describing the system can be designed, so that the select operations are “pushed” toward the producers, and transform operations are “pushed” toward the subscribers. Efficient content-based routing systems can then be used to implement the select operations.

Abstract: A system and method that enables users operating originating devices, such as PC's, laptop computers, PDA's, pocket PC's, cell phones, etc., to print documents, images, etc. by sending the content to be printed via an e-mail message. The e-mail message is sent to a virtual printer e-mail address hosted by an e-mail server. The e-mail message is retrieved by a “driverless” print server (DPS) system, separated into a main file and attachment files, and printed on a printer to which the virtual printer e-mail address corresponds. The DPS system utilizes a table driven mechanism to determine appropriate applications to laod and process and handle various printer events generated by various software applications pertaining to the documents desired to be printed by operators of the originating devices. The system and method enable documents and the like to be printed without requiring a printer device driver corresponding to the target printer to be loaded on the originating device.

Abstract: Computer processes for carrying out almost any process may be defined as a series of steps using a plurality of standardized user-interface screens. These standardized interface screens may be linked together in predetermined orders to implement on a client computer activities for which the standardized screens are appropriate to accomplish a pre-defined process. Any number of computer processes may be developed and deployed using the standard interfaces. The computer process automatically takes a user from screen to screen, prompting the user to review or provide information or take appropriate action. Processes may be represented using metadata. Metadata may provide data to a screen rendering process running on a user's workstation with details on how to render one of a plurality of standard screens in a manner which is specific to a particular process. Metadata may be provided to define the steps of the process for enabling navigational capabilities.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus searches for documents with access rights created for them. A file information obtaining section obtains predetermined information from a file. A right information obtaining section obtains right information indicating a user who can access a file. An index storing section stores an index in which information obtained by the file information obtaining section is associated with right information obtained by the right information obtaining section. A keyword inputting section accepts keyword input for searching for a file. A user specifying section specifies a user who inputted a keyword. A search query generating section generates a search query from a keyword input from the keyword inputting section and information indicating a user specified by the user specifying section. A searching section searches the index storing section for an index corresponding to a search query generated by the search query generating section.

Abstract: The field of distributed authoring systems, and more particularly the implementing of authoring controls within the authoring system. Moreover, the authoring system is provided a process for access by simultaneous users, which employs control structures through an access control engine for dynamically selecting content and display components of an authoring system.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a network client inserts a validation key into the SEQ and ACK fields of a TCP connection request (TCP-SYN). The TCP connection request is sent to a validating server. The validating server extracts the validation key and uses it, with other implicit and explicit data contained within the TCP connection request to validate the connection establishment request. If the connection request is validated, the validating server responds with a TCP-SYN/ACK as described in the TCP protocol specification. If the TCP connection request is denied, the request is discarded and nothing is sent back to the requestor, in this case the network client. When an internet port scanner sends a TCP connection request to a validating network server without the proper key, the request is silently discarded or “black-holed.” This makes the validating server appear to the Internet port scanner to not exist.

Abstract: A novel module system solution is provided for direct, transparent access to I/O storage devices connected to a host server within a system area network cluster for efficient sharing of resources and databases among all clustered servers. An exemplary driver system comprises a host driver module which may reside on and which may interface to a host operating system, and which establishes service connections with remote data processors on the system area network and provides direct access to the local storage devices while bypassing protocol stacks of the host operating system; an input/output platform (IOP) including a device driver module which may reside on and which may interface the local storage devices for controlling an array of local storage devices; and a local bus which connects and transports messages and data between the host driver module and the input/output platform (IOP).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a circuit path between a source node and a destination node within a network comprising a plurality of nodes by iteratively selecting appropriate next nodes using a shortest path algorithm and accepting or rejecting the selected next node based upon the bandwidth utilization level of the communications link to the next node. In the case of a lack of acceptable communication links or a determined circuit path exceeding an ideal circuit path by a predetermined amount, the threshold levels defining acceptable links are adjusted.

Abstract: A control system includes an Internet web interface to a network of at least one programmable logic control system running an application program for controlling output devices in response to status of input devices. The Web interface runs Web pages from an Ethernet board coupled directly to the PLC back plane and includes an HTTP protocol interpreter, a PLC back plane driver, a TCP/IP stack, and an Ethernet board kernel. The Web interface provides access to the PLC back plane by a user at a remote location through the Internet. The interface translates the industry standard Ethernet, TCP/IP and HTTP protocols used on the Internet into data recognizable to the PLC. Using this interface, the user can retrieve all pertinent data regarding the operation of the programmable logic controller system.

Abstract: A platform independent B2B messenger is described. The B2B messenger includes a subscribing portion coupling a first partner and a second partner. The subscribing portion further includes a subscription manager arranged to receive a message from the first partner and a subscription message adapter coupled to the subscription manager arranged to convert the first partner message from a first partner message format to a second partner message format. The subscribing portion of the B2B messenger also includes a partner adapter coupled to the subscription manager adapter arranged send the appropriately formatted message to the second partner.