Abstract: A system maintains a communication connection between a client computer and a server computer connected over a network. The system that has a server application runs on the server computer and a client application runs on the client computer. Also, the client application will periodically send a status signal to the server application. The status signal informs the server computer that the client computer has maintained a connection with the server computer. Further, the server application will maintain statistics on client computers connections based on status signals received from the client application.

Abstract: To provide an integrated IP network containing therein a plurality of separated IP networks with a variety of characteristics, such as IP telephone network, IP video network, IP electronic text network, best effort network, IP data multicast network and IP-based TV broadcast network. In the integrated IP network there are virtually installed a plurality of IP networks with various features, such as IP telephone network, IP video network, IP electronic text network, best effort network, IP data multicast network and IP-based TV broadcast network. An address management table is set in each of the network node devices installed at input points through which the integrated IP network is accessed from outside. The address management table is registered beforehand with terminal addresses and port numbers identifying the application programs (AP) in the terminal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for accelerating data communication by reducing network latency particularly by data compression in which requested data is recursively compressed by an encoder and sent to the requester in codes which may or may not be understood by the requester. The requester can subsequently request data corresponding to unknown codes. The request-reply sequence is also recursive and continues until the requested data is present at the requester. To further accelerate communication, a persistently connected network is employed, together with a new socket layer capable of combining multiple messages from different machines, threads, and/or processes into single TCP/IP packets to be relayed along message hubs in the persistent network. These features are introduced singly and combined to create a new caching network. A new content distribution network can take advantage of these data communication improvements since requested content can be distributed in caches in a caching network.

Abstract: A communication system on an IP network between an automation equipment and one or more remote devices. The communication system is based on the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) for the. purpose of providing the remote device with automation equipment supervision, display, control, configuration or programming functions. The automation equipment comprises at least one WEB service and/or one WEB client able to interact with a program of the automation equipment, capable of decoding messages received from the IP network encoded according to the SOAP protocol and capable of encoding messages to be sent according to the SOAP protocol. A service description document, accessible to a remote device describes the capacities of one or more WEB services implanted in an automation equipment. This document may be stored or constructed dynamically by a generator.

Abstract: A method for improving a link schedule used in a communications network is disclosed. While the method applies generally to networks that operate on a scheduled communications basis, it is described in the context of a Foundation FIELDBUS. The method includes: scheduling sequences and their associated publications according to their relative priority, per application; minimizing delays between certain function blocks, and between certain function blocks and publications; and grouping certain publications. Accordingly, advantages such as latency reduction, schedule length reduction, and improved communications capacity are gained.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for filtering various voice protocols. A plurality of voice protocols is initially displayed. Next, an indication is received from a user as to the selection of the voice protocols. It is further determined as to a particular filtering mode that is currently operating. Next, the selected voice protocols are filtered in the determined filtering mode.

Abstract: Data communication is carried out between nodes each not having a global address. In a network management system in which a first network and a second network which have the different address systems are connected to each other through an address translator, each of the first and second networks has a node and a management protocol proxy; and each of the management protocol proxies includes a management protocol proxy data generating unit for treating, as management protocol proxy data, a transmission source address, a transmission destination address and data in a protocol data unit which are contained in a packet of a management protocol sent from the associated one of the nodes, and an address translation unit for translating the address information in the protocol data unit contained in the management protocol proxy data sent from the other management protocol proxy.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus, system and method for use in remotely diagnosing electronic devices and/or providing content. The method for use in remotely diagnosing includes the initiating a diagnostic analysis of an electronic device, identifying the electronic device, receiving scripts communicated over a distributed network for diagnosing, remotely initiating diagnostic instructions with the scripts and receiving a response based on the instruction. The method can further determine further diagnostic instructions based on responses, and remotely initiate further instructions with the scripts. Additionally, a system for use in remotely diagnosing electronic devices includes a script generator coupled with a distributed network, and a remote diagnostic controller coupled with the distributed network and with an electronic device. The script generator compiles scripts and forwards them over the distributed network.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for reducing unsolicited electronic messages by using immutable email identities in place of traditional email addresses. Over any of various protocols, an address generation server receives an electronic message requesting a disposable address for an intended recipient having an immutable email identity. The request also includes a return address for the sender, which discourages unsolicited messages because most senders of unsolicited messages prefer to remain anonymous. After receiving the request, the address generation server creates the disposable electronic message address, which may be limited in use. A challenge must be completed before the address may be discovered or used. This challenge further discourages unsolicited electronic messages because it imposes a burden that many senders of unsolicited messages are unwilling to bear.

Abstract: In a distributed system, a resource such as a storage device is protected by an owner node's exclusive access to it, wherein exclusive access is established via a persistent reservation on the resource. A persistent reservation is never removed, however the owner node's persistent reservation may be challenged in an arbitration process, to take it away from a failed owner node. A challenger node challenges by changing an owner's access key (that establishes the persistent reservation) to a challenge key, delaying, and determining whether the owner restored the owner's access key during the delay, because a properly operating owner replaces a challenge key with its owner access key. If the owner fails to restore its owner access key, the challenger node becomes the new resource owner by replacing the challenge key with an owner access key of the challenger node. The key may include additional information to provide extensibility.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for creating virtualized storage in a storage area network using distributed table-driven input/output mapping. The present invention distributes the virtualization mapping in multiple parallel, mapping agents that are separate from a controller. This allows the performance-sensitive mapping process to be parallelized and distributed optimally for performance, while the control of the mapping may be located in a controller chosen for optimal cost, management, and other implementation practicalities. The mapping agents store the virtual mapping tables in volatile memory, substantially reducing the cost and complexity of implementing the mapping agents. The controller is responsible for persistent storage of mapping tables, thereby consolidating the costs and management for persistent mapping table storage in a single component.

Abstract: A service providing method and system according to which a stable access condition is maintained, losses of service providing opportunities to users are reduced and a stable service is provided via a network are provided. When an access request is sent from a user to a service providing server and an accessible number is exceeded, the server indicates information of the number of accesses to a user without immediately executing the access to said server, updates the information periodically and connects the user with the server when the server becomes accessible.

Abstract: Cascaded policing methods and systems are provided which allow lower priority traffic to benefit from otherwise unused capacity allocated to higher priority traffic of a given customer/service with multiple classes of service. The method involves policing packets of a first class in accordance with at least one policing parameter associated with the first class, and policing packets of a second class in accordance with at least one policing parameter associated with the second class in a manner which gives to the second class at least a portion of a traffic throughput afforded to the first class by at least one of said at least one policing parameter, such as a rate guarantee or burst tolerance, associated with the first class of traffic which is not being used by the packets of the first class. The method is easily adapted to an arbitrary number of different traffic classes.

Abstract: A server/client system provides packet communications between a server and a client by way of a network such as the Internet. The server inputs data such as MIDI data in a sporadic manner while storing timing data representing their input timings. Then, the server performs packetizing of the sporadically input data, which accompany the timing data and are subjected to transmission to the client. The client receives the packetized input data and then outputs them at timings based on the timing data. Thus, it is possible to completely secure the same time relationship of data during transmission and reception of the sporadically input data even though the client differs from the server on a time-axis basis.

Abstract: The invention provides quality assured network services in a multi-domain network and comprises a network service management device for managing device clusters incorporated within the operations management network of each provider network and receiving service orders, and a multi-domain service broker for providing a broker function for achieving agreement between a plurality of providers, and the multi-domain service broker further comprises a device for collecting domain information and information relating to the services each provider is able to provide from the network service management devices, and a device which on receipt of a network service request from a customer, extracts the network service management device of the domain which is able to satisfy the required quality level, and then issues instructions for the setting of the required information within the extracted network service management device.

Abstract: A small edge node in an internet broadcasting system that receives satellite delivered content, redelivers the content to a last mile internet service provider, and performs other edge node functions from a single computer. The edge node handles multiple content formats, such as live and non-live, simultaneously and is particularly useful for serving 500 or fewer users.

Abstract: A communications service provision support system supports multiple different types of services during a service session. The system when in use comprises a session manager which performs functions generic to each of the multiple different types of services during service sessions. For each of the multiple types of services, the session manager is arranged during a service session to generate event messages indicating at least one discrete change which has just occurred in the session-related status of individual users of the system without any historical data, and to transmit the event messages to an event handler for processing.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for a user to access an intranet from within a systems interface to back-end legacy systems. A user logs a computer into a systems interface which permits access to back-end legacy systems. The computer accesses the systems interface over a wireline or a wireless communications network. Preferably, the systems interface is located on at least a first network address. Preferably, the systems interface includes a first server with middleware for managing the protocol interface, the first server being located at the first network address. Preferably, the systems interface includes a second server for receiving requests and generating legacy transactions. When the user is logged on, a client application for the systems interface is running on the computer. Next, the user launches a shared network software application, preferably a browser. The user may or may not minimize the client application, but the user remains logged-on.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for creating a virtual network identity, by using a virtual IP address and hostname, in a software application for the express purpose of making the application node-independent (where node is defined as a particular machine running a given operating system at a specific moment in time) is disclosed. By virtualizing the IP address and hostname, a running software application can be moved from one node to another within a computer network, allowing for process migration and the reallocation of system resources.

Abstract: A system where pieces of information equipment are connected via a network, including a memory unit and a compensating device. The memory unit stores position information that represents a physical position of each piece of information equipment. The compensating device compensates a physical distance from one piece of information equipment to another piece of information equipment based on the position information, according to a frequency of information exchange between the former and the latter.