Abstract: A method is provided that allows a networked computer to generate a routable response to a status query without invoking its communication protocol stack. The computer is provided with a network controller that includes query detection and data routing modules. A message received by the network controller is scanned for a recognition code that identifies the message as a status query. A status query message includes a prototype response that includes the IP data necessary to respond to the query. When a message is identified as a status query, the data routing module extracts network routing data and the prototype response from the message and generates a routable response packet from the extracted information. Status data may be added to the routable response packet by the data routing module.

Abstract: The route calculated by the routing portion of a connection-oriented protocol between source and destination nodes is further optimized after it is initially calculated. A node X that is part of the calculated route receives or generates a connection setup request which contains the calculated route. In response to the setup request, node X examines the nodes in the calculated route to determine if node X knows of a direct link between itself and another node Y in the calculated route that is not adjacent to node X. If such a direct link is known by node X to node Y, then node X replaces that portion of the calculated route from node X to node Y with the known direct link in the connection setup request, and then forwards the connection setup request to the next node in the present calculated route, where the optimization algorithm may be performed again.

Abstract: A communications terminal device such as a facsimile device with a function of transmitting original document image data to a destination by electronic mail. Before image data transmission to a destination by electronic mail, a main controller of the facsimile device converts the image data on one page of original document to electronic mail data and determines how much volume the image data has. The image data on one page of original document is transmitted to a destination by a single electronic mail when the calculation result does not exceed a prescribed volume. On the other hand, the original image on one page of original document is divided up into smaller pieces of data and transmitted to a destination by a plurality of electronic mails respectively when the calculation result exceeds a prescribed volume.

Abstract: A method of communicating messages across a network is provided. A router receives an RSVP (Resource Reservation Protocol) PATH message from a sending host that is directed to a receiving host. Upon identifying the protocol of the incoming PATH message as RSVP, the router accesses a proxy look-up table to identify a proxy host acting on behalf of the receiving host. The router then adds a proxy header to the PATH message and redirects the PATH message to the proxy host by sending the message to a predetermined port. The proxy host receives the PATH message and, in response, sends a resource reservation request (RESV) message onto the network with a proxy header and directed to the predetermined port. The router receives the RESV message, strips off the proxy header, and forwards the RESV message to the sending host as if the message had originated from the receiving host. A proxy host can also send PATH messages on behalf of the sending host.

Abstract: The Data communication systems and methods in which information for routing of messages between nodes of a communications network is provided by a directory service (such as the DCE directory service), accessible from all network nodes. The provision of such information by the directory service removes the requirement for routing tables to be set up and maintained at each of the network nodes, whose maintenance can involve considerable network traffic in dynamically changing networks or problems of inconsistent data being held at different nodes.

Abstract: A video information transmission network having a plurality of nodes including at least one master node and a number of slave nodes responsive to master node; as well as an information directory containing directory information. The information directory includes a central directory associated with the master node, and a number of slave directories associated with the slave nodes. There is a directory maintenance updater associated with the information directory adapted to maintain information in the slave directories consistent with information in the central directory.

Abstract: A dynamic data synchronization network is provided wherein a plurality of workstations 11 are coupled to a common server 13 using a network 15. The workstations are capable of generating data such as a design model or portions of a design model. The server 13 stores a master of the design model and provides a copy to the workstations 11 for review and update. The input from the workstations to the server is controlled by access locking to permit only selective access to the master copy at the server to thereby keep synchronization. That access can be on the basis of objects in the data of the server. The present application is directed to the method of enrolling the clients.

Abstract: In a communication network comprising at least one communication medium and a plurality of nodes, each node having a unique identifier associated therewith that is transmitted as part of each message transmitted by said node, a method for transmitting signals includes the following steps performed at a first node:(a) determining that a message is to be sent;(b) determining whether the communication medium is available for transmission of the message;(c) determining whether at least a second node is also attempting to transmit during a time period;(d) if at least a second node is also attempting to transmit during the time period, comparing the unique identifier of the first node with the unique identifier for the second node;(e) determining a transmission priority order based on said comparison; and(f) waiting for the second node to finish transmitting in the case that the second node has a higher priority than the first node.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for initial network address configuration using physical address resolution protocol. A device attempts a connection to the network, which causes address resolution (ARP) packets to be generated. The device monitors communications on the network for a specified number of unanswered ARP packets. Thereafter, the device adopt the network address in the unanswered ARP packets and responds to the unanswered ARP packets with the its' physical address.

Abstract: Access to the Internet is provided using dynamic bookmarks. A first bookmark is stored in a browser in a computer system, the first bookmark referencing a web page at a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). A dynamic attribute for the first bookmark to keep it updated. When a change is detected in the web page data incorporated in the first bookmark, it is automatically updated by virtue of its dynamic attribute to reflect the change in web page data. The change in web page data can be detected during a request for the web page referenced by the first bookmark. If redirection of the request to a new URL is detected, the first bookmark is updated to the new URL. A new request for the web page is issued using the new URL. The change in web page data could alternatively be a change in the name of the web page. Setting the dynamic attribute is accomplished by the browser or at the server for a downloaded bookmark. In the preferred embodiment, the bookmark is a member of a bookmark set.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for returning packet acknowledgements from a packet receiving node to a packet sending node of a packet network. During a predefined initial startup phase of a packet connection between the sending and receiving nodes, an acknowledgement is returned to the sending node for every group of X packets received from the sending node. After the expiration of the initial startup phase, an acknowledgement is returned for every W-N packets received from the sending node. W represents the maximum number of packets that can be in transit on the connection at any given time, N is an integer less than W. If packet congestion occurs, the algorithm reverts to returning an acknowledgement for every group of X packets.

Abstract: A new system and method allows a Manager in a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) environment to gather updates from its Agents. The system and method comprise the unique provision of an index which is used in each of the Agent's tables for indicating the various revisions thereof. The index lexicographically increases with each revision to the table. The Manager maintains a record of the index of the data which it has received from its Agents, requesting only that data having a lexicographically larger indexing. Further, the index is used in related tables so that the tables will be kept in "sync" in that the Manager will know whether it has the latest updates so that an accurate picture may be portrayed.

Abstract: A method and system for preventing routing maelstrom loops of automatically routed electronic mail which is operational with intelligent agents and computer-processor hardware components, and includes a software based solution comprising a processor readable code of instructions. The code of instructions generally comprise a routine for tagging processed e-mail message with a system generated special identifying tag revealing each source subscriber, a routine for ascertaining whether a received message intended for automatic routing contains any special tag and a corresponding routine for deciding whether any of the special tags contain the current source subscriber's identification before exercising any routing rules against the message. If the subscriber's ID is listed in the particular e-mail being routed, then the system of the invention determines that a complete loop has been made and terminates further transmission since the next target subscriber has already received the message.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and protocol to enable a simple, reliable and highly scaleable data transfer facility in a digital data network. In communication a server and a client within a data processing system, the method of transferring data from the server to the client comprises requesting, by the client, transfer of the data in accordance with a transfer unit size specified by the client The server transmits the data in successive blocks having a size based on the client specified transfer unit size, till all the data has been transferred, and the server delays at least a predetermined time period between transmission of successive blocks. This connectionless, unacknowledged data transfer protocol minimizes resource utilization at the data server and is combined with source rate control to reduce congestion in the intervening network.

Abstract: An apparatus for dynamically providing a host information about all functions supported by a communication platform provided in a computing network environment is presented. The computing network environment is also provided with a gateway device that is electronically connected at least to one initiating host and at least one receiving host, besides the associated communication platform. The apparatus comprises of a handshaking component for determining address and other information about all hosts to be inputted in a port-sharing table. Means is also provided for checking all host connections at preselected intervals to ensure their connection status availability and all necessary changes are made in the port-sharing table in case any host connection becomes unavailable. A receiving component obtains IP datagrams related to a particular initiating host after a special IP address command has been issued relating to that initiating host.

Abstract: A system information management unit obtains system information from end systems or media data conversion units and sets end system media data compatibility conditions. The media data conversion units obtain this system information from the system information management unit. When media data are transmitted between the end systems, the media data are first converted in accordance with the system information and then sent to receiving end systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing translation services to telecommunications processes for mapping from a unique identifier for an object, such as a telephone number, to an electronic address for the object, such as an electronic mail address. The apparatus and method permit telecommunication application processes to send multimedia messages created in one delivery method over the Internet in another delivery method without supporting directory standards. The advantage is the ability to develop less complicated application processes in less time and therefore get more quickly to market.

Abstract: A new uniform resource locator (URL) of file system attachment (FSA) is created on a web browser. The new URL combines features of the URLs of HTTP and "file". The new URL first attempts to attach the file system where the data is stored. If the client has access to the data base or the data storage where the requested information is stored, then the web server may be bypassed by using the URL of "file" and use of the server is not required. If the client does not receive access to the data base or the data storage where the requested information is stored, then the URL of FSA will act like the standard URL of HTTP and access data through the server.

Abstract: A method of allowing any initiating host to establish communications with any receiving host in a computing network using a Multi-path channel communication protocol. The computing environment also having a gateway device that is electronically connected from one end to at least one initiating host and at the other end to at least one local area network through which a plurality of hosts are connected to the gateway device. The method comprise the steps of first performing an initialization step during information and addresses of all present hosts are determined and stored in a port-sharing table which is kept up to date by regular monitoring of availability status. All host communications is performed entirely through the gateway device. Upon the receipt of a special IP address certain information is obtained from the datagram. Then the address and information of the initiating host is compared to the entries in the portsharing table and if no match is found a new entry is made.

Abstract: An apparatus for allowing any initiating host to establish communications with any receiving host in a computing network using a Multi-path channel communication protocol. The computing environment also having a gateway device that is electronically connected from one end to at least one initiating host and at the other end to at least one local area network through which a plurality of hosts are connected to the gateway device. The apparatus comprises means for first performing an initialization step during information and addresses of all present hosts are determined and stored in a port-sharing table which is kept up to date by regular monitoring of availability status. All host communications is performed entirely through the gateway device. Upon the receipt of a special IP address certain information is obtained from the datagram. Then the address and information of the initiating host is compared to the entries in the portsharing table and if no match is found a new entry is made.