Abstract: This invention generally relates to one or more computer networks having computers like personal computers or network servers with microprocessors linked by broadband transmission means and having hardware, software, firmware, and other means such that at least one parallel processing operation occurs that involve at least two computers in the network. More particularly, this invention relates to one or more large networks composed of smaller networks and large numbers of computers connected, like the Internet, wherein more than one separate parallel processing operation involving more than one different set of computers occurs simultaneously and wherein ongoing processing linkages can be established between virtually any microprocessors of separate computers connected to the network.

Abstract: A closure seal for a storage device, such as a disk storage device, to block the flow of air into and out of the storage device. The storage device includes a base to support and contain mechanisms for accessing a storage medium, a cover to cover the base, and a single sheet closure seal to seal a boundary between the base and the cover, and to seal apertures in the base and cover. To prevent the formation of bubbles in the closure seal, at least one of the closure seal, the cover, and the surface to which the closure seal is affixed include at least one ventilation hole to release air during the operation of affixing the closure seal.

Abstract: A multi-service network switch capable of providing multiple network services from a single platform. The switch incorporates a distributed packet forwarding architecture where each of the various cards is capable of making independent forwarding decisions. The switch further allows for dynamic resource management for dynamically assigning modem and ISDN resources to an incoming call. The switch may also include fault management features to guard against single points of failure within the switch. The switch further allows the partitioning of the switch into multiple virtual routers where each virtual router has its own wet of resources and a routing table. Each virtual router is further partitioned into virtual private networks for further controlling access to the network. The switch supports policy based routing where specific routing paths are selected based on a domain name, a telephone number, and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for providing, accessing, and using bookmark data to supplement information in a search engine database. The bookmark data indicates saved user selected network addresses, e.g., URLs, that are capable of being selected to access observable data, e.g., a page of text, images, sound file, movie file, etc., at the selected network address. A user computer receives user modifications to bookmark data and transmits the modifications to the bookmark data to a server over a network. A server gathers bookmark data indicating saved user selected network addresses that the user is capable of selecting to access observable data at the selected network address. A search engine server receives bookmark data gathered from multiple Internet users and determines an importance rating for at least one network address from the received bookmark data. The determined importance rating is included in the search engine index.

Abstract: A computer network for providing an information delivery service for a plurality of participants over the network is disclosed. Each participant has connections to at least three neighbor participants. An originating participant sends data to the other participants by sending the data through each of its connections to its neighbor participants. Further, each participant sends data that it receives from a neighbor participant to its other neighbor participants. The network is m-regular where m is the exact number of neighbor participants of each participant and the network is an incomplete graph.

Abstract: Protecting open Web sites from known malicious users in a World Wide Web (Web) communication network with access to a plurality of open Web sites responsive to requests from users at IP addresses throughout the Web. There is provided in association with a protected open Web site, a stored list of the IP addresses of known malicious users combined with means for comparing the IP addresses of each user requesting access to the protected open Web site to said list of IP addresses of the known malicious users. There are also implementations responsive to the comparing means for diverting to an alias address for the protected Web site any request from the IP address of a malicious user. The alias address is provided by a function associated with the protected open Web site. The present invention is applicable in circumstances where the malicious users or “crackers” are already known.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for write-back caching in a data storage and processing system has been described. The method comprises the steps of receiving a write request including write data from a compute node in a first I/O node, forwarding the write data from the first I/O node to a second I/O node, and sending an acknowledgment message to the compute node from the second I/O node after the write data is received by the second I/O node. After the data is written into non-volatile storage of the first I/O node, a purge request or command is sent to the second I/O node to purge the write data from the volatile memory of the second I/O node. In one embodiment, the purge request is not sent until the first I/O node receives a second write request, in which case, the purge request is sent in the same interrupt as the write data for the second write request.

Abstract: A multi-resource system dynamically allocates its resources amongst multiple task streams to provide quality of service guarantees to the task streams. A quality of service manager maintains quality of service requirement information for a plurality of task streams, and requests processing of received tasks. An arbitrator assigns tasks streams and their tasks amongst various servers providing access to resources. The assignment is such that the total quality of service guarantees of the task streams assigned to each server does not exceed the total availability or capacity of the resource. When all assigned tasks for a server are blocked, the server notifies the arbitrator, which transfers an unblocked task to it. When a blocked task unblocks on a server handling a transferred task, the arbitrator transfers back the previously transferred task to its originating server.

Abstract: A method for providing e-mail communication is provided in which an e-mail user interface is generated on a display device. The e-mail user interface implements e-mail messaging for a root e-mail address that includes a domain name and a username. Upon receiving a request from a user, the method generates a first suffix e-mail address, and creates a first directory on the e-mail user interface for the first suffix e-mail address. The first suffix e-mail address includes the domain name, the username, and a first suffix name. Upon receiving an e-mail message having a destination address including the domain name and the username, the method stores the e-mail message in the first directory if the destination address includes the first suffix. In accordance with further aspects of this embodiment, a plurality of suffix e-mail addresses can be created, each having a corresponding directory on the e-mail user interface.

Abstract: A technique for saving bandwidth that is otherwise used by the transmission of continual administrative message traffic in an intranet. A data packet originating from one host computer (18A) and addressed another (18B) is first sent to a local router (16A), which broadcasts a request for the address of the destination node. Another router (16B) local to the destination host (18B) recognizes the destination host in the data packet and supplies a response with the correct address for the destination host. The broadcast request and its response are transmitted over an auxiliary channel, which avoids depleting the bandwidth capacity of the intranet. When the response is received, the local router (16A) associated with the first host computer 18A sets up a switched virtual circuit to the other router (16B), after which the data packet and others following it can be delivered efficiently to the destination host (18B).

Abstract: A system for optimizing server response time to polling for new e-mail messages by a client. A cache of memory storing information about a user for responding to polling queries is maintained by the server. When a polling session is established, the client transmits a query to the server. The server receives the query and reads the cache to retrieve the user information that includes the response to the query. The response read from the cache is then transmitted to the client.

Abstract: A system for managing messages so that redundant messages need not be reviewed by a user. The system monitors electronic messages received by a user, and determines whether the received electronic messages are related to pending electronic messages for the user, such as by being a part of the same message thread. Redundant messages among the related messages are then identified, and are indicated in one or more ways such as by deleting the redundant messages or by altering the visual indicators of the messages presented to the user.

Abstract: A broadcast technique in which a broadcast channel overlays a point-to-point communications network is provided. The broadcasting of a message over the broadcast channel is effectively a multicast to those computers of the network that are currently connected to the broadcast channel. In one embodiment, the broadcast technique provides a logical broadcast channel to which host computers through their executing processes can be connected. Each computer that is connected to the broadcast channel can broadcast messages onto and receive messages off of the broadcast channel. Each computer that is connected to the broadcast channel receives all messages that are broadcast while it is connected. The logical broadcast channel is implemented using an underlying network system (e.g., the Internet) that allows each computer connected to the underlying network system to send messages to each other connected computer using each computer's address.

Abstract: A method for network address maintenance in a data-over-cable system. The method includes receiving a message containing a first network address, such as an Internet Protocol address, to be stored in a network address table, such as an Address Resolution Protocol table. If the first network address equates to a second network address stored in the network address table, one or more network addresses associated with the second network address are deleted from the network address table. A third network address is then stored in the network address table. The method provides for the removal of stale network addresses, freeing memory space and increasing security in the data-over-cable system.

Abstract: The method is provided for creating, transmitting, extracting and storing an end user profile on the end user's computer which is reaccessible and comprises the steps of: determining if a profile for the end user exists on the website server and if not; polling the end user and obtaining input desired for creating the profile on the server; creating the profile; embedding a copy of the profile into an action tag pointing to a download package through a data filter on a server; generating a download package comprising the desired data and a profile extraction program; generating an HTML page including the action tag for actuation by the user for downloading selected data; upon execution of the action tag by the user beginning operation of the data filter to transfer the user profile from the tag into the download package and downloading the package; upon opening of the package running the extraction program to extract the profile from the download package and saving the profile to a predetermined file loc

Abstract: A computer implemented Virtual Sensor Object includes an abstract class of Objects, and an actual software instantiation of which performs an abstract observation, evaluation, and expression method in either a static, a synchronous, or an asynchronous Form. The evaluation method of the Virtual Sensor Object allows the substantive meaning of the observations to be expressed in a Form which clarifies the Substance of the observations, so that the substantive meaning of the observations may be perceived directly, with little or no cognitive interpretation being required. The methods of expression and evaluation are dependent on the observation, whereas they are independent as to how they use and express meaning.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing configuration information is provided in a network computing environment having a plurality of hosts and at least one Gateway attachment and a channel interface, using a QDIO device. A set of special tables and commands are provided at initialization time over the channel interface which provide all configuration information. The tables can map any Host images and Host Device Addresses which will be using the QDIO Interface to the specific bits defined in a SIGA vector, the SIGA Vector giving initiative to said QDIO connected Gateway device.

Abstract: A data processing method for a data processing system having: a server comprising an application program constructed from a plurality of objects, an execution environment constructed from a plurality of objects for specifying operations of the application program and an application program interface for specifying an interface between the application program and the execution environment; and a client for being downloaded with the application program from the server, the data processing method comprising the steps of: having the server execute a check whether or not the client has the execution environment for the application environment to be downloaded when the application program is to be downloaded to the client; and having the server download the application program to the client in accordance with the results of the check.

Abstract: A method of determining if one web site has the same information as another web site includes receiving a signal to select a form configured to find data in a file containing information displayed on a web site and accessed via a network, applying the selected form to the file and selectively identifying item information available in the file, copying identified item information to a first data file, the identified item information being related to a specific product or service, and comparing the first data file and a second data file to determine if the specific product or service of the first data file is related to the specific product or service of the second data file.

Abstract: A desktop application program provides a single entry point for indicating that a file is to be sent to a recipient. In response to an indication that the file is to be sent, a determination is automatically made as to whether the file should be sent as a link, as an attachment, or as both a link and an attachment. If the file has not been saved to a disk location or if the file has not been saved to a shared disk location, the file is sent as an attachment to an e-mail note. If the file has been saved to a shared disk location, the file is sent to the recipient as a link in an e-mail note. In order to determine if the file saved to the shared disk location should also be sent as an attachment, a registry is checked for a send preference regarding shared files. If a send preference indicates that shared files are to be sent as attachments, the file is sent as both a link and an attachment. If a send preference indicates that shared files are not to be sent as attachment, the file is sent only as a link.