Abstract: A method of controlling concurrent users of a distributed resource on a network is disclosed. In one aspect, there are one or more local lock managers executing on corresponding hosts and cooperating as a distributed lock manager. The resource is limited to a maximum number of concurrent users. A user identification for each user is associated with one host. In response to a request associated with a particular user associated with a first host, a lock is requested from a first local lock manager process executing on the first host. A related method of handling a request for a count-limited resource includes receiving a request from a client process for the computer resource. If it is determined that the request exceeds a maximum count for the resource, then it is determined whether a current time is within a retry time period of the client's first request.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an integrated storage appliance is disclosed. The storage appliance includes a storage subsystem, a process cluster coupled to the storage subsystem, and a customizable software stack that includes storage-access application so executed by the processor cluster, wherein subsystem, processor cluster and software stack are integrated such that the storage appliance exhibits greater combined reliability, higher availability, and higher serviceability characteristics than would be provided by a sum of the characteristics unintegrated components.

Abstract: Whether the node to which data has been sent is connected to a bus is determined according to destination information, and, when it is determined that the node is not connected to the bus, predetermined error information is sent to the data transmission source. Therefore, data re-transmission is prevented and thereby the frequency band of a network is efficiently used.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for time controlled network use are provided. A time controller counts an amount of time utilized by a particular user in accessing at least one web page via a network. Then, in response to the counted amount of time reaching at least one time limit for the particular user, the time controller initiates an action to control further accesses via the network by the particular user, such that an amount of time the particular user spends making network accesses is limited.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method and apparatus for a client and server to communicate across a network. The client initiates a communication using a reliable protocol, and transmits in parallel a data request. The data request may be sent using an unreliable protocol. The server begins processing the data request before the connection using the reliable protocol is established. Once the reliable connection is complete, the client retransmits the data request, to which the server responds using the reliable protocol.

Abstract: A method of operating a computing device wherein said device is adapted to perform a supervisory and/or supporting role in relation to peers in a peer-to-peer network, the method including the steps of: a. the computing device establishing contact with a plurality of peers which are to be the subject of the supervision and/or support role; and b. providing said supervision and/or support.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device, system and method a method for applying a certain Quality of Service (QoS) to a data stream (31a–31c, 32a–32b, 33a) of an application (31–33) communicating data over a sockets connection. The method comprises providing a uniquely identifiable identifier (UID, Stream Type) the application (31–33) or to the data stream (31a–31c, 32a–32b, 33a) from or to the application, and associating said identifier (UID, Stream Type) with a particular QoS in order to apply the particular QoS to the particular application (31–33) or to the particular data stream (31a–31c, 32a–32b, 33a), which application or data stream is identified by the identifier.

Abstract: A protocol provides generalized client-server computing by providing a server program that can utilize standard and non-standard ports for applications.

Abstract: A method is described comprising: maintaining a plurality of data relating to client streaming connections across a plurality of servers; and assigning a particular client streaming connection to a first server upon detecting that a second server previously serving a streaming connection to the client has become inoperative.

Abstract: A network that supports VPNs is enhanced to allow users in one VPN to communicate with users in another VPN in the course of executing a predefined application, such as VoIP. This capability is achieved dynamically by enabling a device that can communicate with the network elements that operate to normally prohibit inter-VPN communication to direct those network elements to enable such communication, at least for the purposes the purposes of specific applications.

Abstract: A computer system comprising a number of components which make up an infrastructure with the system having a Directory 10 and an APS which is adapted to centralize and automate information management for online service systems.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for automating a request for access to computer accessible resources. If access to a computer accessible resource is denied, an automated request for access may be forwarded to a provider of the resource without the need for the requestor to know the identity and/or address of the provider. If the provider grants access to the requestor, access may be automatically granted, or access may be granted along with a notification to the requestor of the granted access.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for processing a request in a data processing system. The request is received. In response to a first hash value being present within the request, the first hash value is compared to a second hash value that was computed locally, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for assigning a quality of service. In response to a match between the first hash value and the second hash value, other information in the request is used to establish a quality of service for packets associated with the request.

Abstract: A method for conferencing may include monitoring a status of participants in a conference and recording the conference in response to at least one participant being disconnected or exiting the conference. Another embodiment of the present invention may also include transmitting a re-invite signal to any participant that is disconnected or exits the conference in response to the participant being reconnectable or transmitting a request to rejoin the conference. A further embodiment of the present invention may include replaying a recording of the conference from a disconnect or exit time to a present time for each participant, that is involuntarily disconnected or exits the conference and communicates an indication of an intent to return, in response to a rejoining participant rejoining the conference.

Abstract: A method of automatically generating a markup language message from an application specific interface object, as well as generating an application specific interface object from a markup language message is provided. The method can include receiving an application specific interface object and identifying an object table specified therein. Objects listed in the object table can be automatically identified. The objects can be serialized by representing the objects in the markup language message. The resulting markup language message can be a representation of the application specific interface object.

Abstract: A system and method of reducing data corruption due to recycled Internet Protocol (IP) identification numbers are provided. When IP packets are being fragmented and the IP identification number of the packets is cycling through a specific group of numbers, the size of the first fragment of a packet is decremented each time the IP identification cycles through the numbers. Initially, the size of the first fragment of a packet will be set to a maximum number. This size will be decremented at each pass of the IP identification through the numbers until the size of the first fragment of a packet reaches a pre-defined minimum size. When that occurs, the size of the first fragment of a packet will again be set to the maximum number. By decrementing the size of the first fragment, fragment offset of the other fragments that make up the packet will be changing. This then reduces the likelihood of having two fragments having the same IP identification number be mistaken as being from the same packet.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for configuring a device that is non-conforming with a management system using configurations provided by the management system over a network. A network event generated from the device is detected. In response to the network event, the set of configurations from the management system are retrieved for the device. The set of configurations are converted into a form that is suitable for the device. The device is enabled to use the set of configurations to communicate over the network.

Abstract: Techniques for matching services of a first server with a second server include storing for a translator process transformation rules. The transformation rules transform between hierarchical elements of messages formatted for the first server and hierarchical elements of messages formatted for the second server. When a first message formatted for a particular server of the first server and the second server is received at the translator process, it is determined whether a first element in the first message is associated, in a cache of elements already transformed, with a second element for a second message formatted for a different server. If it is determined that the first element is not associated with the second element in the cache, then the second element is generated using a first rule of the transformation rules. The cache saves substantial processing in messages formatted with a markup language.

Abstract: A secure network outlet for supporting IP device address assigning functionality. A network access request is received from an electronic device communicatively coupled to intelligent hardware. In one embodiment, a device address request is transmitted to a network server. A first device address is received at the intelligent hardware from the network server. The intelligent hardware then assigns a second device address to the electronic device. In another embodiment, the intelligent hardware has a pre-assigned first device address and assigns a second device address to the electronic device, such that the intelligent hardware eliminates the need for a separate device address assigning server. The present invention reduces the consumption of global device addresses within a network, and also provides protection to electronic devices by hiding their device addresses from the external network.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for connecting a portable unit (1) to a particular server unit from among a plurality of server units (5, 6, 7 and 8). The portable unit (1) comprises a first address list and the particular server unit comprises a second address list. The first and the second address lists comprise the attribute of at least one server unit and the address of this server unit. The method comprises the steps of updating the second address list from the first address list and updating the first address list from the second address list. The invention also relates to a server unit and a portable unit.