Abstract: An internal network (16) is protected from being overloaded by an excessive number of data packets that originate from a source in an external network (10). In a preferred embodiment, data packet gate (20) receives each incoming data packet and determines whether it came from a trusted source. If it was not from a trusted source, and the number of data packets received recently from the same source exceeds a threshold, then data packets from that source are rejected. Preferably, when incoming data packets from all non-trusted sources exceed another threshold, additional data packets from all non-trusted sources are rejected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a software tool that permits creation of electronic surveys and the automatic collection and tabulation of survey results corresponding to user responses. Using the tool, a survey is automatically created and posted at a Web site address. With a Web client, or browser, computer users access the URL and complete the survey via the Web. Survey results are collected in a relational database as each user completes the survey. Thereafter, statistical tools or other analytical software applications may be applied to data mine the tabulated results. In another preferred embodiment, the software tool is utilized to access remote servers running relational databases from an internet computer via the Web. Advantageously, the computer does not require the computational processor power or memory (i.e. system memory or disk storage capacity) normally required to load and operate the applicable relational database application software.

Abstract: A system for remotely managing computers includes a plurality of managed computers coupled to a management computer. At least one managed computer generates management data and provides one or more display templates, and transmits the management data and display templates to the management computer. The management computer provides information regarding the managed computers by displaying the management data in accordance with the display templates.

Abstract: A method of communicating from a personal computer via an internet by way of a service provider. The method includes transmitting, in a first frame from the personal computer to the service provider, an indicator to indicate one of a new bandwidth assignment and a default bandwidth assignment, a personal computer transmission format, and a description of personal computer capabilities. In a second frame, the service provider transmits to the personal computer an acknowledgement of the new bandwidth assignment when received and a service provider transmission format. In a third frame, the service provider transmits to the personal computer information according to the service provider transmission format and the personal computer capabilities. In a fourth frame, the personal computer transmits to the service provider information according to the personal computer transmission format.

Abstract: A system and method for generating unsupported network information indicators for monitoring and managing a network having at least one network manager resident within a network station and at least one network agent resident within a network device. The method and system accomplish their objects as follows. Network parameters of interest are selected. Network parameters accessible by the at least one network agent are determined. And, in response to the determining, the selected network parameters of interest are construed by utilizing the determined network parameters accessible to the at least one network agent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing a wireless/wired computer network in an indoor environment with inherent reliability is disclosed. A master network box connected to an AC power network and a master computer generates an RF field around the computer, the home, and AC power network. The integration and implementation of additional devices to the established network is made through additional appliance boxes. Once introduced into the generated RF field, or connected to the AC power network, the additional device is automatically and seamlessly registered and configured into the network without requiring any user intervention. The network is capable of multiple modulation schemes for providing robust wired or wireless communication for various devices which have different power and data rates.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and managing a network having at least one network manager resident within a network station and at least one network agent resident within a network device. The method and system accomplish their objects as follows. One or more network parameters of one or more network devices are grouped. In response to the grouping, a group monitor is constructed wherein any changes of the grouped one or more network parameters are reflected by the constructed group monitor. The constructed group monitor can thereafter be monitored for indications of changes in any of the grouped network parameters.

Abstract: A cluster computer system including multiple network accessible computers that are each coupled to a network. The network accessible computers implement host computer programs which permits the network accessible computers to operate as host computers for client computers also connected to the network, such that input devices of the client computers can be used to generate inputs to the host computers, and such that image information generated by the host computers can be viewed by the client computers. The system also includes a cluster administration computer coupled to the multiple network accessible computers to monitor the operation of the network accessible computers.

Abstract: Data pages of an interactive program guide (IPG) for television are transmitted according to a shuffle function which allows different television receivers to retrieve particular segments of the data pages based on the day and time of program listings which a viewer wishes to see. A page of data, which corresponds to a full-screen image, is divided into segments and retrieved by the receivers over time. The segments are shuffled to provide an optimal separation in the data stream. The optimal separation corresponds to the receiver's input buffer size and processing speed. The pages may be arranged sequentially, or with the even-numbered pages separated from the odd-numbered pages. The pages are partitioned into a number of subsets, and, within the pages of each subset, the segments are shuffled according to a perfect shuffle function such that respective adjacent segment pairs are arranged in an order which maximizes a minimum of their inter-segment distance after shuffling.

Abstract: An improved method and system for initializing the logical units (LUs) in a Gateway between an SNA network having a mainframe host computer and another network. An activation procedure derives the Table of Boundary LUs on the mainframe host computer by noting the device logical unit numbers within the set of ‘Activate Logical Unit’ (ACTLU) SNA Request Units. If the mainframe host computer includes an LU in its Table of Boundary LUs, then the activation procedure creates a corresponding LU in the Gateway. The activation procedure also marks each of the created LUs in the Gateway as active. The newly created LUs are then added to the resource pool of LUs available to the network. Additional aspects include a method for assigning a logical unit type to an LU based upon whether a Bind request is received from the mainframe host computer within a certain amount of time after sending a positive sense code to the mainframe host computer.

Abstract: An object-oriented method and apparatus for delivering information from one component to another across a network of computers includes the steps of loading implementation libraries for adapter and information provider components into memory and creating factory objects for those components. When a request arrives over the network, the factory objects are called and stream objects are created by the factory objects. Data is then streamed from an information provider source to the original requester using the stream objects.

Abstract: A server services client requests in an improved manner by a utilizing a combination of sending an id of the last article that has been previously sent to the client, load balancing servers to provide efficient servicing of clients and providing redundant servers so that a failure of any one server does not result in the termination of server services to clients.

Abstract: In shared media communication systems, such as an Ethernet network, certain quality of service guarantees, such as a bandwidth “reservation,” are negotiated between a source node, a destination node, and every intervening node that will facilitate the transport of a packet. A packet scheduler insures that a node operates in accordance with the previously negotiated resource guarantee. In order to test the performance of a packet scheduler, a capture of packets is started, and while the capture is proceeding, intermittent triggering packets are inserted into the capture. After terminating the capture, the extensible network monitoring software will analyze the packets and transfer interpretative control to extensible modules, such as a DLL, based on packet type. When a special triggering packet is encountered, the corresponding triggering DLL is called and will access a file defining the various packet flows of interest.

Abstract: An improved method and system for initializing the logical units (LUs) in a Gateway between an SNA network having a mainframe host computer and another network. An activation procedure derives the Table of Boundary LUs on the mainframe host computer by noting the device logical unit numbers within the set of ‘Activate Logical Unit’ (ACTLU) SNA Request Units. If the mainframe host computer includes an LU in its Table of Boundary LUs, then the activation procedure creates a corresponding LU in the Gateway. The activation procedure also marks each of the created LUs in the Gateway as active. The newly created LUs are then added to the resource pool of LUs available to the network.

Abstract: This invention relates to computer networks having computers like personal computers (1) or network servers (2) with microprocessors linked (5) by transmission means (4, 14) and having hardware, and other means such that at least one parallel processing operation occurs that involve at least two computers in the network. This invention also relates to large networks composed of smaller networks, like the Internet (3), wherein more than one separate parallel processing operation involving more than one set of computers occurs simultaneously and wherein ongoing processing linkages can be established between microprocessors of separate computers connected to the network.

Abstract: A host computer is operated as a gateway interfacing a plurality of network interfaces in a communication system including local area networks and wide area networks. A redistribution parameter is maintained in a configuration file for each of a plurality of network interfaces, with the redistribution parameter defaulted to *full for local area network interfaces and to *limited for wide area network interfaces. Responsive to receiving a routing update (a route) from a wide area network interface, the route is advertised to interfaces having a redistribution parameter of *full and not to those interfaces having a redistribution parameter of *limited.

Abstract: A computerized subsystem starts multiple user-defined threads, each of which is a virtual browser for a web site server application under test and executing on a web server. Each individual virtual browser requests and posts data to the server and corresponding server application under test at a rapid rate. Actual returned data is not saved but time of transaction and whether page is found and returned is logged. The server and port to test are user-specified in an input data file or can alternatively, by command line option. A repeat option causes the subsystem to loop through the input file a specified number of times, hours, and an indefinite repeat. User-specified sleep values slow down requests to simulate actual users. A wait option creates a semaphore causing all threads to wait for the semaphore which appear only after all threads are created, whereupon such threads begin execution simultaneously to maximize stress on the server and application.

Abstract: An access control device controller and method of operation are provided which provide in a first aspect of the invention, a novel way in which to set controller network addresses providing a visually perceivable digital readout to assist installers in setting the correct address, in a second aspect of the invention, automatic configuration of end of line termination resistors, line biasing resistors and earth ground connection to the network medium shield, in a third aspect of the invention, automatic configuration of a controller/host computer data communications link, in a fourth aspect of the invention, a novel method and apparatus for monitoring ambient RF noise levels, and in a fifth aspect of the invention, a novel method of detecting environmental conditions likely to lead to a system failure.

Abstract: A method for specifying a system comprising a plurality of interconnected functional modules each representing a respective abstract-state based machine, and a system so specified. A system is specified to include various interconnected functional modules at respective hierarchical levels. Each module represents an abstract state-based-machine. Each non-top level first module connects to a single second module at a next higher level by a transformer link from the second module for enabling a relevant change-of-state of the first module, by an observer link for a state enquiry signal from the second module, and by an event link for a solicited event signal to the second module. The first module retrosignals an internal autonomously executed step. Each non-bottom module enables one or more lower level modules to function as such first module. A top module can exchange signals with an environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the speed and quality of end-to-end data or real-time media transmissions over an internet is disclosed. A data stream representing a media signal at a given level of compression is processed just before the data stream enters the internet. A less compressed data stream representing the same media signal is generated transmitted through the internet. Due to the lower level of compression, the underlying media signal is less sensitive to packet loss in the internet and, as a result, the media signal that arrives at the receiving end will tend to be more continuous and clear.