Abstract: A computer network (10) interconnected computing device (26) and server (16) are disclosed. The server (16) maintains a database (68) of known computing devices. The computing device (26) is intermittently connected to the network (10) and obtains an assigned network address each time a network connection is established. Thereafter, the computing device (26) contacts the server (46) and provides an identifier and the assigned network address to the server (16). The server (16) compares the identifier to entries of the database (68) to find a matching entry in the database (68). In response to finding a matching entry, the server (16) stores the assigned network address and provides a second network address stored at the server (16) or at computing device (26) to the computing device (26). The second network address is used by the computing device (26) as a homepage address to contact another network interconnected computer.

Abstract: A method for downloading files, the method including the steps of at a client a) requesting a proxy server to initiate a first download of a file from a first server, the first server determined by the client to lack download resume capability and the proxy server possessing download resume capability, at the proxy server b) initiating the first download of the file from the first server, and at the client c) initiating at least a second download of the file from the proxy server.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of separating protocol header information from content data in an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network. A receiving node receives isochronous data packets from a transmitting node via a serial bus. Each packet can include a data portion in addition to protocol header information, although not every packet necessarily includes the data portion. Each incoming packet is loaded into a buffer in the receiver as the packet is being received. The protocol header information is removed and stored in sequence in a first block of memory. This is accomplished by placing an input_more direct memory access (DMA) instruction into a next instruction register and, then, executing the instruction. In addition, the receiver is conditioned for removing the data portion from the buffer by loading an input_last DMA instruction into the next instruction register.

Abstract: A method of managing resources within a network for consumer electronic media devices. In one embodiment, the method is implemented as a software resource manager which provides a centralized resource allocation, reservation and access control functionalities for a home entertainment server. Particularly, user applications of the home server receive instructions from a user or other entities for a media service, and converts the instructions into a request that identifies the necessary resources for providing the media service. The software resource manager then determines whether such resources are available upon receiving the request. Importantly, the software resource manager also determines whether a routing path between the necessary resources has sufficient bandwidth for performing the requested media service.

Abstract: A system is provided for receiving, managing, and distributing data to multiple data destinations. Data is received from at least one data source normalized into a standard configuration. An identifier is associated with the normalized data. The identifier associated with the normalized data indicates the type of data included in the normalized data. The normalized data is transmitted along with the associated identifier to the multiple of data destinations. Each data destination determines whether to retrieve or ignore the normalized data based on the identifier associated with the normalized data. The normalized data may be transmitted in a data packet that includes the identifier associated with the normalized data. In certain instances, the normalized data represents a two-dimensional array of data elements.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are described for remotely rendering a client computer system inoperable. The client computer system is coupled, to a server computer system utilizing a network. The client computer system is initially powered off. The server computer system transmits a signal to the client computer system utilizing the network to prohibit the client computer system from becoming operable. In response to a receipt of the signal by the client computer system, the client computer system is prohibited from becoming operable. The server computer system remotely renders the client computer system inoperable. Alternatively, the client computer system is capable of receiving wireless signals transmitted by the server computer system. The server computer transmits a wireless signal to the client computer system to prohibit the client computer system from becoming operable.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are described for remotely accessing a client computer system's individual initialization settings. The client computer system is coupled to a server computer system to form a local area network. The server computer system transmits a command to the client computer system to access a selected one of the client computer system's initialization settings. In response to a receipt of this command by the client computer system, the client computer system accesses only selected ones of the initialization settings. The client computer system may be powered off while the initialization setting is accessed.

Abstract: In a multimedia call center (MMCC) operating through an operating system, a client-specific self-help wizard is provided for active clients and updated periodically with information related to client transaction history with the MMCC. A connected client is presented by the wizard with a selective media function through which the client may a select a media type for interaction and help, and the MMCC will then re-contact the client through the selected media. The client, for example, may select IP or COST telephony, and the MMCC will place a call to the client to a number or IP address listed for the client, and interactivity will then be through an interactive voice response unit. Help information specific to a client is updated in the client's wizard periodically according to ongoing transaction history with the MMCC. The wizard may also monitor client activity with the wizard and make reports available to various persons.

Abstract: This is a system and method for automatically identifying a customer when accessing an online service. The system and method includes: providing general HTML content with tokens for the computer system; providing system information specific to the computer system to a database accessible by the online service; and providing an identification program for the computer system to provide a system ID that uniquely identifies the system information. The system and method also includes loading HTML content on the computer system. The system ID can include a system express service code, a service tag number, or a unique ID from a microprocessor. The system and method also includes displaying computer-specific information on a web page of the online service.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing an E-mail message in an automatic call processor. The method includes the steps of determining a telephone number of a sender of the E-mail message, setting-up a call connection between the automatic call distributor and sender of the E-mail message based upon the determined telephone number and delivering the call connection to an agent of the call distributor.

Abstract: A system for providing help contents to a client system on behalf of a web enabled embedded system. A help file is loaded onto a server system, and the location of the server system is communicated to the embedded system. A client system requests a page of data stored in the embedded system. In response to the client system request, the embedded system forms a data page including one or more instructions for displaying a help button. The data page includes one or more instructions associating the help file on the server system with the help button. The embedded system transmits the data page to the client system. The client system then processes the data page to form a view on a display device. In response to assertion of the help button, the client system retrieves the help file from the server system and processes the help file. In an example embodiment, a configuration dialog box is displayed on the client system.

Abstract: A TCPEmail system that builds an additional TCP/IP protocol layer on top of an electronic mail system. An application program uses TCPEmail in the conventional manner of using TCP/IP. The application program calls TCPEmail and passes the data to be sent. TCPEmail breaks the data into packets, converts them into ASCII format, and sends the packets as a conventional electronic mail messages. When an electronic mail message is received the data in the mail message is converted into a binary data packet, combined with other packets, and sent to the application.

Abstract: A system and method for managing electronic transactions between a host system and a plurality of trading partners. A transaction gateway is employed to manage electronic transactions between the host system and the trading partners in accordance with a set of rules defined within a software application. The transaction gateway may take the form of a network server, and the rules may provide a correlation between identified trading partners, transaction types, modes of communication and/or scheduling constraints.

Abstract: This invention is to autonomously control reduction of wide-area traffic by sharing the same stream among nodes while avoiding distribution route localization due to route selection at the network level, and efficiently distribute a real-time data stream maintaining a high quality. In a real-time data distribution control system for distributing real-time data such as image or audio data using a network, node devices having data transmission/reception/relay means are put into groups. When the real-time data distribution route is to be selected among the node groups, an upper node group is selected in units of transmission sources.

Abstract: A web messaging system allows a subscriber to receive messages from a wide variety of multimedia sources. If a caller attempts to contact a subscriber but the subscriber is unavailable, the system will record the message in digital format, generate a web page and password, and send a web page identification and password to the subscriber via a paging medium. The subscriber can then access the web page, enter the password, and retrieve the message.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically authenticating a user to applications in a network environment. After an initial authentication procedure, the user's identity is mapped into a network credential which includes the user's role, and which is formed into a cookie. To gain access to an application requiring authentication, the cookie is provided to a script, and the information contained in the cookie is used to obtain authentication data required by the desired application.

Abstract: A computerized messaging system which authors messages that contain recipient-specific content, such that each recipient does not necessarily receive a message that is identical to all other recipients. To author a computerized message that contains recipient-specific content, plural portions of the message are authored, and one or more recipients to which at least one portion of the message will be sent are identified. For each recipient, at least one portion of the message is associated with the recipient, such that at least one recipient does not receive all portions of the message. Viewing options are provided to the sender so as to enable the sender to obtain visual cues as to which portions of the message are sent to each recipient or set of recipients, or to allow the sender to view a recipient list for selected portions of the message.

Abstract: In a computer system having a memory, a processor, and a network interface, a method for dynamically launching a conferencing application upon the receipt of an incoming call having the steps of: receiving an incoming call signal on the network interface; processing the incoming call signal to detect an intended recipient application; and launching the intended recipient application. An apparatus for dynamically launching a conferencing application upon the receipt of an incoming call having a call directing module; a process manager coupled to the call directing module; and, a conferencing component coupled to the network interface; and the call directing module; the conferencing component containing a circuit for notifying the call directing module upon receipt of an incoming call and causing the call director to signal the process manager to activate a conferencing application.

Abstract: Customized Internet content is provided to a requesting client device using an intercepting agent based on the capabilities of the requesting client. The agent, typically at the web server to which the client request is directed intercepts a request made by a requesting client device for a file from a web server. The agent detects client device capability information about the requesting client device, such as display or memory capabilities. The client request is redirected to a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) according to the detected client device capability information to retrieve a version of the requested file.

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing the delivery of unwanted electronic mail messages to a destination client. An original electronic mail message is first received from a source client at a destination server. Next, a reply electronic mail message is sent from the destination server to the source client requesting the source client to complete a registration process to register the source client's electronic mail address with the destination server. The original electronic mail message is only sent from the destination server to the destination client when the source client properly registers the source client's electronic mail address.