Abstract: A method of selecting graphic or video files having corresponding locators used to locate such graphic or video files using a computer. Identifiers are created by searching an area within a web page near a graphic or video file for searchable identification terms and searching an area within a web page near links to a graphic or video for searchable identification terms. The identifiers are stored in a database. User requests for graphic or video file content are received and the database of identifiers is searched to find graphic and video files corresponding criteria of the user. Graphic or video file content is then provided to the user.

Abstract: A method for communication within a vehicle dispatch system (10) wherein a wireless communication device (36) co-located with a vehicle (14) receives a location parameter (50) in an assignment message (32), compares the location parameter (50) to the current location (56) of the vehicle (14) and processes the assignment message (32) when the location parameter (50) corresponds to the current location (56). The wireless communication device (36) includes a receiver (46), a memory (54), an assignment manager (58), and a processor (60).

Abstract: A clean-up system recaptures part of the memory or secondary storage space on a client device, such as a handheld personal computer. E-mail messages are organized in a hierarchy of folders within a database. Each folder may or may not contain e-mail messages. Preferably, a user downloads e-mail messages from a server to the client device. Upon placing e-mail messages into a folder, a flag set module marks the folder with a cleanup flag. The user marks any folders, messages from which he wishes to use upon disconnect from the server, for off-line use. The clean-up system parses the folder hierarchy, beginning with the first folder in the hierarchy. A clean-up module determines if the clean-up flag is set for the first folder. If the cleanup flag is set for the first folder, an off-line module determines if the folder is marked for off-line use. If the folder is marked for off-line use, the messages contained within the folder are retained for later use.

Abstract: In accordance with methods and systems consistent with the present invention, a lease manager is provided for managing leases between clients and other network services. To use the lease manager, a client enters into a management lease with the lease manager, specifying an amount of time during which the lease manager can manage preexisting leases between the client and network services on behalf of the client. This management includes renewing the preexisting leases with the other network services. Further, the lease manager notifies the client when a lease between the lease manager and the client is near expiration. The lease manager also notifies the client of failed attempts to renew the preexisting leases, as well as the management lease, either with a network service or with the lease manager.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for optimizing a query being performed by a computer system to retrieve data from a database stored on the computer system. The query is analyzed to identify any joins therein that are lossless and to identify any tables of the identified joins that are eligible for removal. This analysis includes partitioning the joins into lossless and lossy joins, and partitioning the tables of the joins according to their associated quantifiers, wherein each of the quantifiers has a quantifier state indicating whether the table participates in a join that is lossless. The query is then rewritten to eliminate the identified tables that are eligible for removal.

Abstract: A network repository service supplements the functions of a web server to enable an increase in the efficiency of web crawling. The repository service: (a) automatically maintains a file modification list that contains the names of files on the server that have been modified (i.e., added, deleted, or otherwise modified), together with the date and time of the file modification; and (b) provides a requesting crawler with the file modification list (or a portion of the list corresponding to a time period specified by the crawler). The repository service may also (c) limit or restrict access privileges of crawlers that do not request the file modification list prior to crawling, thereby protecting the server from overcrawling.

Abstract: A master repository service maintains a directory of web servers and the most recent times that their web contents were modified, and provides this information to web crawlers to increase their efficiency. The master repository service receives web content update reports from a plurality of web servers, updates the directory to keep it current, and provides crawlers with web site modification information. The web site modification information preferably comprises identifiers for new web sites, “dead” web sites, and modified web sites. Each crawler is preferably provided only with web site modification information received since it last received information from the master repository service. The information allows web crawlers to know immediately about new web sites, and allows them to spend time visiting only those web sites that are new or that have changed their content.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a process is provided for allocating and deallocating resources in a distributed processing system having a requester platform and a server platform. The process involves receiving a request from the requestor platform referring to a system resource and specifying a requested lease period, permitting shared access to the system resource for a lease period, sending a return call to the requestor platform advising of the lease period, and deallocating the system resource when the lease period expires.

Abstract: An original (full size) image is automatically represented by a thumbnail (reduced size) image on a Web page. A user selects the original image that will be represented by the thumbnail image. The thumbnail image is produced and placed into a Web page that is being created or edited. While viewing the Web page, selection of the thumbnail image causes a hyperlink to the original image that is automatically associated with the thumbnail image to be traversed, so that the original image is retrieved and displayed. An auto thumbnail tool dialog box enables the user to define the size of the thumbnail image and to optionally select a border and/or a beveled edge for the thumbnail image. The coloring and the pattern of the border may also be optionally selected by the user.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus is provided for computerized management of a method of corporate, business or sports management by a remote party comprising relating a current database of an entity. For instance, in sports management substantially real time management is possible. Data of a player together with a historical database related to that player and decisions can be transmitted. This is communicated between a central database processing resource and at least one remote party. A remote party is permitted to access the database and access designated data from the database, and input and output data. Voting and other management of the player, team, or business is possible in substantially real time or near real time by the remote party. A remote user can vote on financial compensation for a player, a coach or a team and/or for a bonus for a player, team or game. Similarly hiring and firing decisions can be made.

Abstract: A system that improves performance of a centralized DBMS is provided. The improved performance is realized by distributing part of the DBMS's functionality across multiple computers in a client/server environment. The distribution of the DBMS's functionality is performed by a mechanism known as the navigational agent, which is detached from the DBMS. The navigational agent integrates the centralized DBMS into a client/server environment so that performance improvements can be achieved by distributing a portion of the functionality of the centralized DBMS and some of its database objects to client computers. A database object is a unit of data in the database such as one or more fields of a record, one or more records, or one or more tables. By distributing part of the DBMS's functionality and some of the database objects to client computers, transactions can be performed on the client computers without having to access the server computer on which the database resides.

Abstract: A method of copying a Web page presented for display on a browser of a Web client. The Web page comprises a base HTML document and a plurality of hypertext references, one or more of which may be associated with embedded objects (such as image files). The operation begins by copying the base HTML document to the client local storage and establishing a pointer to the copied document. A first linked list of the hypertext references in the base document is then generated. Thereafter, and for each hypertext reference in the first linked list, the following operations are performed. If the hypertext reference refers to an embedded object in the base HTML document, the embedded object is saved on the client local storage and the file name of the saved embedded object is stored (as a fully-qualified URL) in a second linked list. If the hypertext reference does not refer to an embedded object in the base HTML document, the fully-qualified URL of the hypertext reference is stored in the second linked list.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a process is provided for allocating and deallocating resources in a distributed processing system having a requester platform and a server platform. The process involves receiving a request from the requestor platform referring to a system resource and specifying a requested lease period, permitting shared access to the system resource for a lease period, sending a return call to the requestor platform advising of the lease period, and deallocating the system resource when the lease period expires.

Abstract: A database server is configured to process original requests received from a client and callback requests received from an external routine. The database server saves global information before calling the external routine to distinguish whether a received request is an original or a callback request. Furthermore, both types of requests can be submitted via the same application programming interface and preferably with the same interprocess communication protocol.

Abstract: Historically, graphics editors, text editors, presentation editors, and word processors provide a number of special processing functions that operate on a presented object as a whole. For word processors, these special functions might include: spelling checks, style (grammar) checks, hyphenation, and pagination. The present invention provides a transparent mechanism for making these special processing functions incremental, in the sense that the mechanisms re-process only those portions of presented objects that have changed since the last time the function was performed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accessing foreign processes in a heterogeneous database environment includes a local database server having a heterogeneous services module to selectively send requests to the foreign processes based on their respective capabilities. A client application sending a statement to the local database server is checked by the local server process to determine if the statement includes a reference for a registered external routine executable by an agent process in an address space separate from the local server process. The heterogeneous services module selectively initiates a network connection with an external agent process, and the external agent process executes the external routine by accessing a dynamically linked library. If necessary, the local database server and the agent process exchange callback queries and callback results via the heterogeneous services module to complete intermediate queries within the same user instance.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for generating a response to a join. Two tables are divided into fragments. A join fragment map identifies, for each respective fragment from the first table, the fragments from the second table which contain a record that satisfies the join predicate with a record from the respective fragment from the first table. The map is used to eliminate fragments which cannot satisfy the join predicate.

Abstract: A subscriber management system includes at least one Data Directory Server (DDS) located between one or more transaction generators and one or more data servers. The DDS efficiently routes transactions and provides data location functions. The DDS provides high data availability, high on-line transaction rates, batch capabilities, scalability and maintainability. In particular, based upon internal rules within the DDS and the particular transaction type, the DDS routes transactions to the appropriate server(s). Transactions are classified according to where they may be executed. Specifically, transactions may be classified as SPECIFIC, ANY or ALL. A SPECIFIC transaction must be processed at one or more specific servers irrespective of the accompanying arguments. An ANY transaction may be processed at any of the enterprise servers and selection is made randomly. Finally, an ALL transaction requires sequencing through each of the data servers within the enterprise and repetitively performing the transaction.

Abstract: A database access system responds a user database access request by restructuring a requested database based on two sets of expressions. Expressions are instructions for generating a new database from a starting database modeled as a starting edge-labeled tree by using pattern matches. Expressions always generate an edge-labeled tree allowing a sequence of expressions to be processed to restructure the starting tree. The database access system divides the database restructuring process into two sets of expressions. A first set of expressions is constructed based on subscriber requirements and a second set of expressions is constructed based on particular user requests. The first and second expressions are optimized by composition and the requested database is restructured based on the composed expression.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reorganizing a distributed directory is disclosed. A source logical group, such as a partition, is identified for reorganization. A destination object is selected to which the source logical group will become subordinate. Multiple simultaneous reorganizations of the distributed directory can be handled.