Abstract: Methods and apparatus for collecting, storing, processing and using data, such a RMON2 network traffic data, are described. Network traffic probes are identified and attempts are made to configure the identified probes to generate network traffic data sets which are as close to a preselected common data format as possible. Application layer traffic data is collected in addition to network layer traffic data when possible. In an RMON2 embodiment, the common data format includes the use of delta count values as opposed to absolute count values. The common data format of the present invention utilizes terminal count mode format as opposed to all count mode format for the presentation of RMON2 application layer information. To minimize the amount of data processing required to put a probe's network traffic data into the desired common format and to maximize the amount of information collected, network data is obtained from a probe using one of the available RMON2 table formats.

Abstract: A disk cartridge has a case including a first planar portion and a second planar portion which are disposed opposite to each other with a given spacing therebetween, and a plurality of walls which join the first planar portion and the second planar portion together. The case contains an information carrying disk in a rotatable manner and has an opening formed in one of the walls through which the disk can be inserted or removed. The disk cartridge has a lid mounted on the case for opening or closing the opening. The lid is formed so that an outer surface of the lid is located inside an outer surface of the wall in which the opening is formed.

Abstract: In a network communication system (300) a method and apparatus includes generating a record of state information (360) associated with a service connection (370), associating the record of state information (360) to a first (320-1) of an N processing units (320-1 through N), storing the associated record of state information (360) at a first (340-1) of an N memory units (340-1 through N) corresponding to the first processing unit (320-1), multicasting the associated record of state information (360) over an area network (310) to be received by at least one of a second through N (320-2 through N) of the N processing units (320-1 through N), and storing the associated record of state information (360) at one of the N memory units corresponding to the least one of the second through N processing units (320-2 through N).

Abstract: A method and system for operating a router in a computer network. When the system receives a request from a client machine connected to the computer network to access data at a remote server location having an address, it accesses the remote server at the address via the computer network. The router causes the data to be transmitted from the server to the router. The system maintains a pre-determined profile at the router, which profile contains storage selection criteria. The system selectively determines whether the data is to be stored at the router by comparing the data and/or the address to the storage selection criteria. If the data conforms to the criteria, it is stored in a mass storage device at the router and transmitted to the client machine which initiated the request. When a subsequent request is received at the router to access the data at the remote server location the router first accesses the data from the mass storage device to determine if the information is already present locally.

Abstract: Route control and resource reservation mechanisms are integrated so as to perform multicast communication efficiently. In response to a connection establishment request from a new receiver (host F) with a sender (host A), resources are temporarily reserved and a route suitable for the receiver initiated request is selected, and the connection establishment request is transferred to an upper node. A similar process is performed in host D, and a connection establishment request is transferred to an upper node. In host C, resources are reserved, a confirmation request is transferred to a lower node, and the confirmation request is transferred to the host F via host D. In host F, the quantity of resources is adjusted, and the establishment of the connection with host A is completed.

Abstract: A system for serving web pages manages a plurality of web servers. The system provides an operator with features and tools to coordinate the operation of the multiple web servers. The system may manage traffic by directing web page requests to available web servers and balancing the web page request service load among the multiple servers. The system may collect data on web page requests and web server responses to those web page requests, and provide reporting of the data as well as automatic and manual analysis tools. The system may monitor for specific events, and may act automatically upon the occurrence of such events. The events may include predictions or thresholds that indicate impending system crises. The system may include crisis management capability to provide automatic error recovery, and to guide a system operator through the possible actions that can be taken to recover from events such as component failure or network environment problems.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for implementing a distributed network system, such as the World Wide Web, in which distributed location services are utilized and include a collection of server processes that map from resource identifiers to a resource's controlling server. In addition, distributed location services provide an architecture for assigning resource identifiers and set of protocols for accessing server processes. The server processes are logically defined to provide a more flexible system. Each of these logical server processes are an abstraction which provides the external view of the server. The logical server processes may be implemented by different numbers of physical processes running on different machines at different points in time.

Abstract: A cluster administration system that is capable of handling a cluster having one or more computing devices. The number of computing devices that may be included in a cluster is limited only by practical considerations rather than software or hardware limitations. A cluster administration system may include a cluster of computing devices, one of the computing devices being an owner. The cluster further includes a resource. Direct access to the resource by the computing devices is controlled by the owner of the cluster. The cluster administration system also includes an arbiter. The arbiter and the cluster are in communication with each other and a network, the cluster providing the network with access to the storage device. The arbiter controls the admission of new computing devices to the cluster when the owner of the cluster is incapable of admitting the new computing device. Having the arbiter outside the cluster provides greater reliability. The arbiter is not affected by failures within the cluster.

Abstract: A Web user interface session is initialized in such a way as to allow certain contextual environmental information associated with a user, including session properties such as user name, user role, and locale, to be shared between all applications invoked during the web user interface session. Application programming interfaces (APIs) are disclosed that provide access to the environmental information for both common gateway interface (CGI) programs as well as Java applets. The sharing of the environmental information between session applications allows a consistent user interface to be presented to the user during the session.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integrating management agents and EM frameworks is provided. For a representative embodiment, the present invention includes an open enterprise management gateway or OEM gateway. The OEM gateway is a software process that functions as an intermediary between one or more management agents and one or more EM frameworks. The OEM gateway includes a set of APIs that allow management agents to export object hierarchies to EM frameworks. The EM frameworks create interactive displays using the exported object hierarchies. The interactive displays allow users to invoke command interfaces for the displayed objects. When command interfaces are invoked, the EM frameworks invoke a callback request API within the OEM server. The OEM server then directs callback processing to an API exported by the appropriate management agent.

Abstract: A method of migrating a mail post office from a first mail server H to a second mail server H2 in a mail network is disclosed. The first mail server H acts as a first mail directory synchronization server (DS Server) and the post office initially acts as a mail directory synchronization requestor (DS Requestor) to the first DS Server. The method comprises the steps of: establishing the second mail server as a second DS Server; establishing a third mail server H3 to act as a DS Requestor to said first DS Server; redirecting mail on said post office to said second mail server; removing the DS requester for said post office from said first server; deleting all user entries for said post office from a mail directory on said first server; and adding said post office as a DS Requester to said second server.

Abstract: A method and system for configuring computers to connect to networks using network connection objects. For each connection to a network, configuration information for connecting to that network is maintained within a connection object. Such configuration information may include device, protocol, and other computer and network property information along with binding information therefor. Connection objects may be stored as files or the like independent of a running network configuration, and be applied to the running configuration to change the network configuration. Also included is a process to reconcile networking components identified in a connection object with those available on a given system.

Abstract: Automatic failover methodology provides a mechanism whereby a central control unit, such as a management station, will automatically takeover interface status polling of objects of a collection station that is temporarily unreachable. This methodology is applicable to any distributed computing environment, such as a data communications network, in which it is desirable to have a central control unit assume the interface status polling operation of a temporarily inaccessible collection station. The collection station may be inaccessible due to the network on which the central control unit and the collection station reside being down or due to the collection station being down for maintenance.

Abstract: A gateway apparatus which transfers voice mail to an electronic mail server as electronic mail so that the voice mail can be accessed from a remote place by a simple operation. The gateway apparatus is connected between the electronic mail server and a public telephone network. The gateway apparatus communicates with a voice mail apparatus via a telephone line. The electronic mail server is connected to at least one personal computer. Voice mail addressed to a selected user is retrieved from the voice mail apparatus. The voice mail is converted into electronic mail, and a voice mail box number corresponding to the retrieved voice mail is converted into an electronic mail address which is assigned for the selected user. The electronic mail converted from the voice mail is transferred to the electronic mail server so that the electronic mail is distributed to a personal computer connected to the electronic mail server in accordance with the converted electronic mail address.

Abstract: A broadband communication system comprises a broadband host digital terminal and a network interface. The host digital terminal connects to a network that is connected to at least one information source that sends information over the network to the host digital terminal. The network interface is configured such that a selection device may be connected to the network interface for requesting a desired information item for reception. The host digital terminal has a profile corresponding to the network interface. The profile indicates a limited set of entitled information items that the network interface is entitled to receive. The host digital terminal sends the desired information to the network interface when the desired information is within the set of entitled information items.

Abstract: A system for providing help contents to a client system on behalf of a web enabled embedded system. A help file is loaded onto a server system, and the location of the server system is communicated to the embedded system. A client system requests a page of data stored in the embedded system. In response to the client system request, the embedded system forms a data page including one or more instructions for displaying a help button. The data page includes one or more instructions associating the help file on the server system with the help button. The embedded system transmits the data page to the client system. The client system then processes the data page to form a view on a display device. In response to assertion of the help button, the client system retrieves the help file from the server system and processes the help file. In an example embodiment, a configuration dialog box is displayed on the client system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for processing an E-mail message in an automatic call processor. The method includes the steps of determining a telephone number of a sender of the E-mail message, setting-up a call connection between the automatic call distributor and sender of the E-mail message based upon the determined telephone number and delivering the call connection to an agent of the call distributor.

Abstract: A remote module control system in which a remote module includes data information management means for managing data information indicative of existence/non-existence of data to be transferred which is to be transferred to a switching system and notifying the switching system of the data information as required and data transmission means for transmitting data to be transferred to the switching system, the switching system includes first storage means for storing data information received from the remote module, second storage means for storing data to be transferred received from the remote module and reception information setting means for setting reception information indicative of the reception of data to be transferred based on data information stored in the first storage means, and a central processor mounted on the switching system obtains data to be transferred stored in the second storage means according to reception information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending a Java Beans Archive file. A key/value pair is added to the manifest file specification to allow an application to determine information about the sub-element composition of a Java Bean. The key provides a unique integer “N” which allows the specification of a Java Bean in the archive file. The value pair provides specification for a tag for indicating the type of a specific sub-element file in the archive file.

Abstract: A method of remotely configuring a network device requires the generation of configuration information for the network device at a central configuration server, which is located remotely from the network device on a network. The configuration information includes a device configuration parameter. On receipt of identification information concerning the network device at the central configuration server, the central configuration server propagates the configuration information to the network device.