Abstract: A system and method for controlling access to downloadable resources on a network. Content download requests are received from a network service, where the content download request includes access information. An access ticket is created based on the access information, which includes various ticket fields to store access parameters parsed from the access information. The access ticket associated with a transaction request is retrieved using a ticket identifier accompanying the transaction request. A download of desired content is authorized based on the access parameters of the retrieved access ticket. When authorized, the content is delivered to a user terminal identified by the access ticket.

Abstract: There is provided a system for selecting advertisement contents which are suitable for ad-user attributes, and for distributing the advertisement contents data and its corresponding advertisement attribute information through a computer communications network. Of a plurality of advertisements provided by an advertisement provider, a server computer selects a suitable advertisement for each advertisement user, in accordance with advertisement providing condition based on advertisement attribute information and advertisement user condition based on ad-user attributes of each ad user. The server computer transmits the selected advertisement data to each ad user through the communications network. Upon reception of the advertisement data form the server computer, the advertisement user print and issues the received advertisement on a receipt which is to be given to customer after each business transaction.

Abstract: Network interconnection apparatus and method capable of efficiently guaranteeing optimum QoS suited to the status of actual traffic and network, whereby high-performance network interconnection is achieved without entailing lost calls. Routing information managing means manages routing information of an ATM network, and statistical information managing means manages statistical information on the traffic of a LAN. QoS setting means sets QoS which the ATM network ought to guarantee, based on the statistical information, and QoS guarantee determining means determines based on the routing information whether or not the set QoS can be guaranteed. If it is judged that the QoS cannot be guaranteed, QoS adjusting means adjusts the QoS so that the QoS can be guaranteed. Call connection control means connects call according to the QoS which can be guaranteed.

Abstract: A method for electronic tracking of an electronic device. Identifying information is received about the electronic device, wherein the identifying information uniquely identifies the electronic device. An electronic transmission is received from the electronic device. Provided the electronic transmission is a request to access a component of the electronic device, an access key is transmitted to a system contact, wherein the access key is for providing access to the component.

Abstract: A system and method for collecting and analyzing electronic discussion messages to categorize the message communications and the identify trends and patterns in pre-determined markets. The system comprises an electronic data discussion system wherein electronic messages are collected and analyzed according to characteristics and data inherent in the messages. The system further comprises a data store for storing the message information and results of any analyses performed. Objective data is collected by the system for use in analyzing the electronic discussion data against real-world events to facilitate trend analysis and event forecasting based on the volume, nature and content of messages posted to electronic discussion forums.

Abstract: Messages with a valid range are selected by a message filter unit among the messages received through a network by a message reception unit, and the selected messages with a valid range are temporarily stored in a message storage unit. A message delivery assessment unit compares periodically the valid range of the stored message with a valid range with a current position obtained by a positioning unit, and a message delivery unit delivers the message with a valid range for which the current position is in the valid range, to a user. As a result, the message reception device can deliver the message valid in a specific location to the user with an appropriate timing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a network switch that determines when specific content is hot and directs flow to one or more cache servers. The architecture of the present invention includes a decryption processor for authenticating clients and decrypting and encrypting transaction requests before the transaction requests are routed by the switch.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for configuring a gateway device for a modem over packet network session is disclosed. For example, a system may include a first gateway device coupled to a first client device and a second gateway device coupled to a second client device, where the first gateway device is coupled to the second gateway device over a packet network. The trans-compression types and capabilities of the first and second gateway devices are determined and used to generate a set of negotiation parameters. The first gateway device then negotiates with the first client device using the negotiation parameters to select a first compression algorithm. A second compression algorithm selected between the second gateway device and the second client devices is also determined by the first gateway device.

Abstract: A managed network storage apparatus comprising a plurality of storage service management devices, a storage device, a multi protocol label switching network and a plurality of client groups performs a label distribution method that insures that clients and service providers are provided with network Quality of Service, storage performance, and network security. A network management device calculates alternative best routes for the data in order to satisfy the Quality of Service parameters and the storage performance requirements.

Abstract: One embodiment of an event management system, operating on a computer system having event producers and event consumers, includes an initial event handler program and an event queue having a first event. The initial event handler program retrieves the first event from the event queue for event processing. This event processing returns a first response to the initial event handler program, wherein the initial event handler program manages the first event on the event queue based on the first response.

Abstract: A system for protocol processing in a computer network has a TCP/IP Offload Network Interface Device (TONID) associated with a host computer. The TONID provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multi-packet messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The TONID also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the TONID to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the TONID as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The TONID contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.

Abstract: A directory server provides a media session channel for communication of real time streaming media data from a remote client to a client served by an address translation firewall. The directory server includes a client registration module for receiving a registration datagram originated by the client, source network address and a source port number from the registration datagram, and providing a session signaling message from the remote client to the client utilizing the extracted source network address and source port number.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and computer program product for developing distributed applications, integrating component programs, integrating enterprise applications and managing change. The invention provides for an infrastructure where component programs that are the computational logic of the distributed application are installed over a network of computing units having controller programs running on each of these computing units. The invention provides for separating the concerns of computation, installation, execution and monitoring of the distributed application in terms of time, space and people involved. This is accomplished as the component programs simply perform the computation task and the communication between the component programs and their monitoring is handled by the controller programs.

Abstract: Peers (p) monitor responses received from other peers (s, q) to requests for information and rate the responding peers on their ability to provide information of interest. When a responding peer (s) is discovered to frequently provide good results, the requesting peer (p) attempts to move closer to the responding peer (s) by creating a direct connection (p-s) with that peer and thereby promote the “good” peer to an “immediate” peer. If such a promotion would result in too many direct connections, the least important immediate peer is demoted to an “indirect” peer. The criteria (Imp) used for evaluating the relative importance of at least the immediate peers is preferably a time weighted average (Imp*(t)=?·Imp(t)+?·Imp*(t?1)) that also measures consistency and reliability and preferably includes factors not only representative of the peer's ability to provide requested information (Hits), but also of its proximity to the source of that information (1/Hops) so that it can prove that information efficiently.

Abstract: An interfacing logic is implemented in one or more processors and a memory controller in a multiprocessor system. The interfacing logic enables all processors to receive snoops and snoop responses substantially at the same time by delaying data transmitted over faster busses before the data is provided to a local logic at a receiving end of the faster busses. The interfacing logic comprises two or more paths of a multiplexer component connected to a storage component. The storage components are connected to another multiplexer component for selecting one of the two or more paths. Preferably, a bus control logic in the receiving end determines how much delay is performed to compensate for delay differences between data busses.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides an apparatus for caching data in a network, with the apparatus including a proxy cache configured to receive request for an object from a client and to fetch data blocks from a server. The proxy cache may be configured to cache the data blocks in a hierarchical relationship within the object. The object may be, for example, a data file or a directory. The data blocks that are cached in the proxy cache define an active data set which is based upon a request from a client.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for extending a standard-based remote file access protocol and maintaining compatibility with the standard protocol stack. Network file system (NFS) remote procedure calls (RPCs) that are submitted by an NFS client application are intercepted in a manner that is transparent to the client operating system. The intercepted NFS-RPCs are sent to a file interface card. The file interface card includes a processor that executes code that implements the standard NFS-RPC protocol, along with extensions to the standard NFS-RPC protocol. Non-NFS RPCs are sent to a conventional network interface card for processing.

Abstract: A method that enables multiple spam detection solutions to be deployed in a manageable and rational manner to determine if a message is spam is presented. A framework invokes one or more anti-spam filters to analyze the message and return a confidence level of whether a message is spam and that confidence level is added to a summary of confidence levels. The framework evaluates a summary of confidence levels against a set of defined thresholds. If the summary of confidence levels is greater than the highest threshold set by the administrator, the action specified for the highest threshold is taken. Otherwise, subsequent filters are used to evaluate the message until either the maximum threshold is exceeded or all filters have evaluated the message. After all filters have evaluated the message, the summary of confidence levels is compared against all thresholds and the action associated with that matching threshold is taken.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture suitable for transmitting a programmable message in place of or intermixed into a streaming media data stream to a receiving device upon receipt of an event is disclosed.

Abstract: Method for efficiently exploiting an upstream channel bandwidth of full-duplex connection between a user and network. Data from the network is received by a user. The data is stored on the user's storage device, for a predetermined period of time for further use. The received data is then re-transmitted to other users, during download time or after downloading is completed. The data from the user's location may be re-transmitted to the users through the upstream channel bandwidth, in response to a request, or according to pre-defined operation instructions.