Abstract: Systems and methods of device identifier selection are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving an enumeration message via a host interface of a device operatively coupled to a host device as well as to one or more other devices and identifying the enumeration message as a command originated by the host device or as a response message from one of the other devices. The method includes, in response to identifying the enumeration message as a command, selectively sending an enumeration response message to the host device. The enumeration response message indicates a distinctive device identifier value. The method also includes, in response to identifying the enumeration message as a response message from one of the other devices, reading from the response message an identifier value used by such other device and at least temporarily storing this identifier value at the device to enable the device to select the distinctive device identifier value.

Abstract: A computer system comprises servers running application programs which are controlled, at least in part, by configuration parameters. The parameters are updated by first updating a database of configuration parameters, and then automatically updating the servers in accordance with the database updates to automatically maintain synchronization between the server configuration and the database.

Abstract: A data processing network and method for conserving energy in which an initial negotiation between a network server and a switch to which the server is connected is performed to establish an initial operating frequency of the server-switch link. An effective data rate of the server is determined based on network traffic at the server. Responsive to determining that the effective data rate is materially different than the current operating frequency, a subsequent negotiation is performed to establish a modified operating frequency where the modified operating frequency is closer to the effective data rate than the initial operating frequency. The determination of the effective date rate and the contingent initiation of a subsequent negotiation may be repeated periodically during the operating of the network. In one embodiment, the initial and subsequent negotiation are compliant with the IEEE 802.3 standard.

Abstract: A web server and a shared caching server are described for serving dynamic content to users of at least two different types, where the different types of users receive different versions of the dynamic content. A version of the dynamic content includes a validation header, such as an ETag, that stores information indicative of the currency of the dynamic content and information indicative of a user type for which the version of the dynamic content is intended. In response to a user request for the dynamic content, the shared caching server sends a validation request to the web server with the validation header information. The web server determines, based on the user type of the requestor and/or on the currency of the cached dynamic content whether to instruct the shared caching server to send the cached content or to send updated content for serving to the user.

Abstract: Techniques for distributing restricted media to consumers are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, personalized settings (e.g., parameters or table) are managed in a primary client device associated with a user. A copy of the personalized settings is maintained in a server. When the primary box is replaced, a copy of the personalized settings is uploaded to a different client device that is configured to respond to the personalized settings. Data pertaining to titles in a personal vault is preloaded. When there is an order for a release that is restricted for distribution over an open network, data pertaining to such a release is also loaded. As a result, the subscriber sees the familiar settings on the different client device and would not miss any release while the primary box is being replaced or repaired.

Abstract: Dynamic load balancing of network traffic is achieved using one or more access points by using a server-centric approach where rules are applied to attributes and characteristics observed by the server which form a profile of wireless clients accessing the network, such as in-car video systems. In various illustrative examples, priorities are assigned to in-car video systems and data files stored therein to which the server applies rules to responsively invoke commands performed by the in-car video systems to balance the uploading of data files to the server. The commands, when executed, allow high priority data files, or data files from high priority in-car video systems or users to be uploaded first, while lower priority data files or users are put on hold. In other illustrative examples, in-car video systems are commanded by the server or forced to roam between access points having overlapping coverage but operating on different non-interfering channels.

Abstract: An automated provisioning and management system for network devices includes a library of commands that are generic to all devices of interest, and device-specific plug-ins for implementing those commands in each of the different devices. A user can select any one of the standard commands and have it applied to a particular device of interest in a manner which is capable of being handled by that device. An interface between the library and a source of configuration information, such as a database, enables the various tasks associated with the provisioning and management of network devices to be automatically carried out on multiple devices, thereby minimizing, or even eliminating, the need to manually configure each such device. Various tools are provided to facilitate the ability of support personnel to identify and monitor functions performed by various devices, as well as detect and correct errors in the operation of those devices.

Abstract: To achieve consistent health service measures, a method and an apparatus combine various metrics from both internal sources and external sources that relate to the service under observation. This service health information is generated independently from specific provider applications and performance monitoring tool sets, thereby allowing shorter time-to-market for service management solutions. The output of the method may be in the form of a programmatic or scriptable interface to be used by high-level performance monitoring tools that are capable of reporting status of many disparate computer services. The performance monitoring tools may reside on different systems and architectures and may be supplied by different vendors. As a result, the programmatic or scriptable interfaces are designed to be generic and flexible.

Abstract: A device may receive a first message that indicates whether an application layer gateway is hosted on the router, send a second message to test whether a firewall on the router incorrectly blocks the second message from reaching a client, send a set of messages to detect a pinhole in the firewall, and generate a report that provides results of receiving the first message, sending the second message, and sending the set of messages.

Abstract: A computer-implemented contact management method includes creating a contact record in a contact management system, generating a unique serial number corresponding to the contact record, conveying the serial number to a recipient, entering, by the recipient, the serial number into an internet-enabled computer application, requesting, by the application, the record from the contact management system corresponding to the serial number, and receiving data associated with the contact record. The received contact data may be automatically updated through an update function. A contact management system includes a data storage and a contact management server. A plurality of internet-enabled computer applications associated to the same user account may receive the same information using a synchronization function without further user input.

Abstract: A method of transmitting electronic mail messages using the least possible data capacity. It uses a short message service, an electronic mail message and address and/or identification data for transmission of the electronic mail message in a second communications network is transmitted with a short message in a first communications network. A first header including signaling of at least one data field, including the address and/or identification data, is transmitted with the short message. A second header, indicating the presence of the first header, is transmitted with the short message. The at least one data field is transmitted outside of any header within a data portion of the short message.

Abstract: A method for shortening popular navigation paths in a website comprises determining a popular navigation path through a network, identifying a start page and an end page of the popular navigation path, and updating the start page with a link referring to the end page, wherein the updating is performed by a network resource interfaced with the network.

Abstract: Techniques for transporting data in a distributed environment are described. In a media system in which boxes are configured to supply each other needed data, stabilities of data transportation among the boxes are important. According to one aspect of the techniques, when one or more supplying boxes are identified to supply respective data portions to an ordering box, each communication session between the ordering box and one of the supplying boxes is constantly monitored. If the data is not transported correctly, a backup session by a backup box is activated to replace the session in which the data is not transported correctly. Without affecting the number of available boxes that may be designated to supply data to other ordering boxes, in one embodiment, one box is used to backup multiple boxes.

Abstract: A multiple computer environment is disclosed in which an application program executes simultaneously on a plurality of computers (M1, M2, . . . Mn) interconnected by a communications network and in which the local memory of each computer is not maintained substantially the same by updating in due course. An address table mechanism is provided to permit access to an asset, object, or structure (i.e., memory location) for the purpose of updating, for example. Not all computers have the same memory, so it is not necessary for all computers to be updated.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: an image acquisition means (4) which acquires a road image via an imaging means (3); an edge extraction means (5) which extracts edge points from the acquired image; a line search means (6) which searches the extracted edge points for line components; an evaluation value calculation means (7) which calculates an evaluation value indicating the degree that each line component approximates a linear lane mark on the road for the line components searched for; a lane mark candidate selection means (8) which selects line components each having an evaluation value greater than a predetermined threshold value as candidates for a line component corresponding to the lane mark from the line components searched for; and a lane mark detection means (9) which detects the lane mark by determining the line component corresponding to the lane mark from the selected candidates for the line component.

Abstract: A method for communicating from an integration platform to a profile management server includes receiving user-entered information at the integration platform. The integration platform generates an event based on the user-entered information and publishes the event on a channel subscribed to by a connector associated with the server. The connector receives the event information, transforms the event information to a format compatible with the server and establishes communications with the server via hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). The connector downloads the information to the server and the server updates its database. The connector may also determine whether at least one other system received the event information before downloading the information to the server.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for allowing routers in an autonomous system to implement LDP and RSVP at the same time. RSVP can be used in the network core with LDP being used in network regions surrounding the core. LDP LSPs are tunneled through the RSVP network core using RSVP LSPs and label stacking techniques. During route selection LDP LSPs which use an RSVP LSP tunnel are preferred over alternative LDP LSPs having an equal cost associated with them to create a preference for traffic engineered routes.

Abstract: A graphic user interface is provided to facilitate a playback of a movie from any desired point. The graphic user interface includes a track bar to reflect how much time data pertaining to the movie title is available for playback. After it is determined that a current data point is being dragged along the track bar, a time corresponding to the current data point is tracked as such a subsequent playback of the movie starts right from the current data point. In one embodiment, dragging the current data point along the track bar is achieved by a scroll wheel.

Abstract: Binary executables are distributed in a distributed manner by equipping a server with a bootstrap program. The server provides the bootstrap program to a client computer in response to the client's request for the binary executables. The bootstrap program is designed to enable the client computer to obtain the binary executables in one or more portions from one or more peer locations that have already downloaded the said binary executables. In one embodiment, the bootstrap program also monitors the performance associated with obtaining the portions of the binary executables, and reports the performance data to a resource naming service that tracks peer locations that cache the binary executables. In one embodiment, the binary executables also includes a component that registers the client computer as a peer location that caches the binary executables, and provides the binary executables to other client computers responsive to their requests. In various embodiments, content is distributed in like manner.

Abstract: A Digital Signal Processor (DSP) cloud architecture for clustering DSP resources across multiple integrated media-services gateways. The control plane components use peer-to-peer overlay connections for DSP resource management. The data plane components use a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) for media stream packet processing.