Abstract: A system and method are described for initiating and conducting a data conference between a plurality of conference endpoints linked in communication by a private or public computer network. A first conference endpoint then sends a conference initialization request to a dedicated conference server coupled to the computer network. Upon receipt of the conference initialization request, the conference server responsively generates a conference code uniquely identifying the conference and transmits the code to the first conference endpoint. The first conference endpoint subsequently converts the received conference code to a form (such as a string DTMF tone) which can be transmitted by in-band audio to other conference endpoints. The other participating conferencing endpoints, after receipt of the conference code, are configured to log on to the conference server using the conference code.

Abstract: Methods of obtaining and comparing data processing system configurations, and producing reports of differences between the configurations, where the configurations include elements to control access from a remote client to a storage facility of a data processing system, are described. Systems to receive and alter a configuration based on local conditions, and to use the altered configuration to control data exchange logic are also described. Software to display configuration elements, identify differences between configurations, and attach attributes to configuration elements is also described.

Abstract: A system and method detects an amount of data attributed to a device including reports sent to the device, and reduces the amount of data being used to provide reports to the device if the amount of data attributed to the device exceeds an amount assigned to the device. Data uploaded from the device is also minimized.

Abstract: A method includes defining a pattern of time intervals, each time interval having a respective assigned communication speed, which alternates among multiple communication speeds supported by a first communication device. Synchronization requests are transmitted over a communication medium from the first communication device to a second communication device at the respective communication speed that is assigned in each interval in accordance with the pattern. While transmitting the synchronization requests, synchronization replies sent over the communication medium in response to the synchronization requests are received only at the respective communication speed that is assigned in each interval. Responsively to receiving the synchronization replies from the second communication device, one or more common communication speeds that are supported by both the first and the second communication devices are identified.

Abstract: An improved method and system for identifying individual users accessing a web site. A web site server is able to identify distinct users by using a unique identifier associated with each client computer system requesting access to the web site. The unique identifier comprises an Internet address, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) address, and a time value associated with each client computer system requesting access to the web site. On starting up a web browser, an application program or browser plug-in may synchronize the internal clock included with the client computer system with a global time standard. The synchronized time value may be based on an event associated with the client computer system, such as the start of a web browser. A web site server may determine the uniqueness of the client computer system by comparing unique identifier records of users accessing the web site. A user may be identified as distinct if no matching record exists in the database.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for automatically releasing network resources reserved for use by network devices within a network. In particular, a network device, such as a router, may include an interface card that receives a first and a second message from respective first and second client devices requesting reservation of network resources. The first message may include a first identifier, while the second message may include a second identifier. Both messages however may also include the same additional context information that identifies the same context in which the first client device operates. The router may include a control unit that determines whether the additional context information included within the first and second messages is the same. Based on a determination that this information is the same, the control unit may automatically release resources reserved for use by the first client device within the network.

Abstract: A method of performing network modification in a telecommunications network is disclosed. The method comprises storing a database comprising a master inventory defining network resources available in the network. A network modification is performed by a process comprising modifying the database storing the master inventory; and modifying the network in dependence on the modified database. The method can be used in the management of telecommunications systems. A network planning method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for configuring a network are provided. A method may include monitoring properties of a connection between a computing device and a network. The method may also include detecting a change in the properties of the connection. The method may also include verifying the connection to the network is provided by a service provider when the change in the properties is detected and providing network configuration options based on the change.

Abstract: A web service execution apparatus that sequentially executes a plurality of web services develops a first information for invoking a first web service in a memory, and deletes the first information that is developed in the memory. The apparatus then develops a second information for invoking a second web service in the memory from which the first information is deleted, and executes a plurality of web services in accordance with the first or the second information that is developed in the memory.

Abstract: A hybrid Butterfly Cube (“BCube”) architecture is described herein. The BCube architecture is a server-centric network architectural design, and includes a plurality of servers. Each of the plurality of servers may have multiple network ports and serve not only as an end host, but also an intermediate relay node for other servers. The BCube architecture further includes a plurality of switches which are arranged in multiple levels. Each switch has a certain number of network ports for connecting to the servers. The BCube architecture provides multiple parallel paths between any two servers. A packet source routing protocol and a BCube source routing (BSR) protocol are used to determine which path is used for routing a packet between any two servers.

Abstract: A host is coupled to a network via an intelligent network adaptor. The host is executing an application configured to receive application data from a peer via the network and the intelligent network adaptor using a stateful connection according to a connection-oriented protocol. The intelligent network adaptor performs protocol processing of the connection. Application data is copied from host memory not configured for access by the application (possibly OS-associated host memory) to host memory associated with the application (application-associated host memory). The application data is received from the peer by the intelligent network adaptor and copied to host memory not configured for access by the application. The operating system selectively provides, to the intelligent network adaptor, information of the memory associated with the application.

Abstract: A method for managing bandwidth allocation in a storage area network includes receiving a plurality of Input/Output (I/O) requests from a plurality of client devices, determining a priority of each of the client devices relative to other client devices, and dynamically allocating bandwidth resources to each client device based on the priority assigned to that client device.

Abstract: A method for reducing delay of playing media includes: a user node obtaining information on a list of nodes that can provide a desired program content; selects a best node among the nodes that can provide the program content corresponding to one or more time segments, wherein the program content is to be played in more than one time segment and the best node is closest to the user node among all the nodes; creating a connection with the selected best node; receiving media stream data of the program content from the best node; and playing the media stream data. An apparatus for reducing delay of media playing herein includes: a node information obtaining module, a best node selecting module, a connection creating module, and a playing module.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to synchronization utilizing one or more optimizations through the utilization of metadata. For several embodiments of the present invention, one method for optimizing synchronization is to reduce the overhead required for said synchronization by having each peer only tracking changes for itself and other peers within its change community (or communities) (a.k.a., “Intra-Community-Only Change Tracking Optimization”). For certain embodiments of the present invention, another method for optimizing synchronization is to not create synchronization overhead until required. For numerous embodiments of the present invention, yet another method for optimizing synchronization is to minimize redundant use of a partner's unique global ID—a large and cumbersome number—and to instead maintain a table that cross-references each partner (and its unique global ID) with a smaller and much less cumbersome partner key.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a method for allocating bandwidth in a network appliance where the network appliance includes a plurality of guaranteed bandwidth buckets used to evaluate when to pass traffic through the network appliance. The method includes providing a shared bandwidth bucket associated with a plurality of the guaranteed bandwidth buckets, allocating bandwidth to the shared bandwidth bucket based on the underutilization of bandwidth in the plurality of guaranteed bandwidth buckets and sharing excess bandwidth developed from the underutilization of the guaranteed bandwidth allocated to the individual guaranteed bandwidth buckets. The step of sharing includes borrowing bandwidth from the shared bandwidth bucket by a respective guaranteed bandwidth bucket to allow traffic to pass immediately through the network appliance.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for service level management, wherein business processes are composed of services. A state of the service is defined by one or more service parameters, and the service parameters depend upon performance of network components that support the service, e.g., component parameters. The state of the service may depend, for example, on a collection of service parameter values for availability, reliability, security, integrity and response time. A service level agreement is a contract between a supplier and a customer that identifies services supported by a network, service parameters for the services, and service levels (e.g., acceptable levels) for each service parameter.

Abstract: Reducing the amount of input required by a user to enter an electronic message. When an electronic message is received, one or more language expressions associated with the electronic message are displayed to a user. The user may select one or more of the language expressions and have the full text of all the selected language expressions included in a reply electronic message. Icons, which represent a user's capability to engage in an electronic messaging session, may also be displayed. When a user changes their capability to engage in an electronic messaging session, for instance when they go offline, a command may be sent to other users. This command may take the form of a character sequence not normally occurring in written language, which is interpreted by network devices and changes the display of the icon associated with a the user who went offline.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automated mechanism for technicians located remotely from a network operations center to query a communications system for the status of communications paths. An automated capability is also provided for the remote management and testing of network components along a communications path in order to more efficiently diagnose network anomalies.

Abstract: A method of executing a transaction task within a transaction processing system includes, responsive to an event, the steps of identifying a workflow associated with the event. A transaction task, that at least partially executes the workflow, is distributed to an available thread within a pool threads operating within a multiprocessor system, that may be a Symmetrical Multiprocessor (SMP) system.

Abstract: A job scheduling device providing a consistent set of application programming interfaces (APIs) compiled and linked into an individual or suite of programs to provide scheduling services on a single computer or across multiple computing platforms, includes a GUI API for retrieving and validated job parameters, a job scheduling API for allocating jobs based on the job parameters, and an enterprise scheduling agent hosted on one or more nodes of the computer platforms. An enterprise communication agent sends messages containing jobs from a computer executing a program utilizing the job scheduling device to the enterprise scheduling agent on a selected node where the job is to execute. Then, the enterprise scheduling agent retrieves job parameters and launches the job on the selected node.