Abstract: A client sends a first message (such as a stored procedure function call) to a server relational database identifying notifications concerning database access related events of interest. Responsive to this first message, logic within the server relational database monitors instances of database accesses, determines whether any of those accesses relate to events of interest, and then stores those determined events. The client also sends a second message (such as blocking stored procedure function call) requesting that it be notified of any stored events of interest. Responsive to this second message, the logic within the server relational database checks to see whether any events have been stored, sends a notification message containing an identification of those stored events to the client, and then clears the stored events. These notifications concerning external events of interest may then be processed by a service management application executed within the client.

Abstract: An opening part of an extensible and replaceable network-oriented component system opens asynchronous information by maintaining a placeholder until an actual data type determination is made. While this placeholder is being maintained, the progress of the opening process may be monitored and displayed. Upon determining the actual data type of the asynchronous information, the appropriate display part for the data type may be obtained. The network-oriented system includes a novel application programming interface for the opening part that facilitates integration with an underlying software component architecture. Such a highly-modular cooperating layered-arrangement between the network component system and the component architecture allows the opening part to be replaced, extended or modified by other opening-type components, while ensuring that these latter components "seamlessly" interact with existing components and component editors of the system.

Abstract: A system for obtaining information from a plurality of computer users (7 to 12), comprising a processing apparatus (2) including an input mechanism (3 and 4) via which a survey author may input data, and a survey authoring mechanism (FIG. 2) enabling construction of a survey questionnaire document including at least one question formulated from data input by the survey author, transmission mechanism (6) for transmitting the survey questionnaire document to a plurality of respondent users (7 to 12); and a processing apparatus (2) including a collating mechanism arranged to receive transmissions from the transmission mechanism, to identify response documents which include responses to the at least one question from the plurality of respondent users and to load a database in accordance with the responses.

Abstract: In a computer including at least one client and at least one file system having an associated format, a system and method are provided for filtering requests for metadata from the client in a manner which is transparent to the client. An interface receives the client's request for metadata from the file system and forwards the request to a dispatcher. The dispatcher forwards the request to a format agent which fulfills the request. A third party filter system filters the requested metadata. If the filter system requires metadata to perform the filtering, the filter system requests additional metadata, and the format agent fulfills the client's request and the filter system's request. The format agent fulfills portions of the client's request and the filter system's request regarding metadata which is contained in the associated format of the file system directly from the file system.

Abstract: The invention is a generalized solution for management of multimedia assets. Generalized interfaces are used between a browser component, indexing server, archive server, tertiary storage manager, and method player components. The generalized interface defines a communication protocol that can be used by any browser, indexing server, archive server, tertiary storage manager, or method player component. Thus, system components supplied by multiple vendors can be interconnected to form a multimedia system that communicates using the generalized interfaces of the invention. A browser component can accept input such as search requests and display multimedia data. An indexing server component includes a data catalogue that catalogues multimedia data. The catalogue can be used to identify catalogue elements associated with data that can satisfy a search request. A search mechanism is used to identify the desired multimedia data.

Abstract: A digital data processing system comprises a host information generating device, a mass storage subsystem, and a back-up information storage subsystem. The host information generating device generates information and provides it to the mass storage subsystem for storage. The mass storage subsystem receives and stores the generated information from the host information generating device and transfers the generated information to the storage element for storage, and further transfers the generated information to the back-up information storage subsystem. The back-up information storage subsystem receives and stores the generated information from the mass storage subsystem's storage subsystem receives and stores the generated information from control element. The back-up information storage subsystem includes a filter/buffer module, a tape log module and a reconstruction module.