Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for object based systems management of a computer network. An object based representation of the network is stored in a memory of a computer. The object-based representation comprises one or more objects linked together in the memory to form a hierarchy, wherein each of the objects represents the network, one or more nodes within the network, or one or more components executed by each of the nodes within the network. Each of the objects stores systems management information about the network, node, or component. A utility interface selects the objects to be manipulated by the computer to perform systems management functions for the network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for linking real-time data with audiovisual content to enable a user to make selections, manipulate data, and to execute functions interactively through an audiovisual display unit based upon audiovisual content being displayed at the time. Audiovisual content is synchronized with the available interactive functions so that the user has the ability to interact with and perform functions related to the audiovisual content being shown at the time. In a preferred embodiment, actionable events in audiovisual programs are synchronized with associated overlay functions and interface data. A method is provided to make overlay functions available to the user through an audiovisual display during the actionable events that occur in a program being viewed by the user. A user interface for each overlay function that may be performed, which user interface may or may not be visible to the user, is overlaid on and synchronized with the program being shown.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus executing in a pipelined manner a plurality of instruction including first and second instructions, the first instruction having first register address information and the second instruction having a second register address information, the data processing apparatus has a register file 110 including a plurality of registers, execution means 117, 118 for receiving and executing the first instruction to produce memory address information in a first pipeline cycle and for receiving and executing the second instruction to produce processed data, which is to be stored in the register file 110, in a second pipeline cycle succeeding to the first pipeline cycle, a memory circuit including a data memory 124 and an access control circuit reading out memory data, which is to be stored in the register file, from a memory area of the data memory 124 designated by the memory address information in the second pipeline cycle, and control means 133 for allowing the processed data to be stored in th

Abstract: An electronic system using collectors, rosters, notifiers, and links provides a uniform system for communications, information management and human organization. Since the collectors have unique addresses, each collector belonging to a user can be used as a separate email inbox to provide a single user account with multiple email inboxes. Furthermore, collectors can have access control attributes to limit access to the collectors. The notifier provides a uniform location to view incoming new messages and documents. The links can be used to automatically transfer information between collectors as well as providing access authorization to collectors. For example, a link in subscription mode from a first collector to a second collector would automatically copy all documents placed in the second collector to the first collector. Similarly, if the same link were in forwarding mode, documents placed in the first collector are copied to the second collector. Rosters contain links to multiple collectors.

Abstract: In an electronic mail system environment, a system and method for automatically checking recipients' names, providing message flags, providing custom forms, and providing an autoresponse feature. Recipients' names are resolved in the background, while the user of the e-mail system is composing the message. The user easily resolves ambiguous names by using a context menu. The resolved ambiguous names are automatically used to create nicknames, which are used to resolve ambiguous names in the future. Message flags allow a sender or recipient to identify required follow-up action and a deadline. The recipient may use the message flags to quickly determine which messages require follow-up action. The e-mail system notifies a recipient when a due date is approaching or when a follow-up action is past due. A custom forms feature allows a user to create and share custom forms without requiring the form to be published or installed by other user.

Abstract: An optimized design for a multi-user server architecture for disseminating a variety of real-time application data, such as audio, video, text and motion, while supporting general purpose tools. A general server system without an imposed GUI enables the end purchaser to customize the user interface as well as execute tools to monitor and control the operation of the system.

Abstract: A communication system featuring a plurality of nodes in which at least one node is implemented with adaptive driver software following a load balancing scheme that takes into account packet characteristics associated with the data traffic load before dynamically distributing the data traffic among multiple communication channels. Of these communication channels, only one channel is allowed to receive data requests and all of the channels are allowed to transfer data packet(s) to the data requesting node.

Abstract: A system and method are provided, for use with network communication systems such as Internet terminals having World Wide Web browsers, for indicating to the user a parameter related to a piece of remote information, such as an estimation of a length of time required to download a given piece of information resident at a remote site. Hyperlinks, icons, or menu items are displayed, as in conventional systems. Also provided are indicia which give the user the length of time estimate. The indicia may be displayed concurrently with the displayed hyperlink, or otherwise provided, such as by audio or tactile user feedback. In one preferred embodiment, each hyperlink is accompanied by a red, yellow, or green dot, the color of the dot being representative of the estimated download time.

Abstract: Heterogeneous resources of an integrated network environment are managed from a single network management station by correlating information pertaining to those resources. The integrated network environment is generally managed by a predetermined application tool executing on the management station that provides an application-centric map of the network for communicating with resources conversant with the application tool. Information pertaining to other protocol-specific resources are overlaid on the map to facilitate monitoring of those specific resources by the application tool. As a result, the station can interactively access the application-centric resources while also obtaining status information from the protocol-specific resources of the network.

Abstract: Spell checking of network addresses such as Uniform Resource Locator (URL) addresses is provided at three levels. Each is invoked when a connection to the specified network address is unable to be established. At a client level, the specified URL is compared with URL's previously successfully used to find candidate misspellings. At a server level, directory and file names are checked against corresponding components of the URL to which connection was requested to return a list of candidate correct spellings to the requestor. Excluded from the list returned to the requestor are the correct spellings of "hidden" files to which general access is not desired. At a network access provider level, information about URL's successfully used by all customers is accumulated and used to provide a candidate list of correct spellings to a user. Older entries are periodically pruned from the database to control size.

Abstract: A digital parallel processing system wherein a plurality of nodes communicate via messages sent over an interconnection network. Messages are maintained in strict chronological order even though sent by nodes where several sources are generating messages simultaneously. A network adapter is described for interconnecting the processor and its associated memory to a network over a bus. The adapter includes an adapter associated memory programmable into a plurality of functional areas, said functional areas including a send FIFO for storing and forwarding messages to said network from said processor; a stack list for queueing in strict message order activation commands for said send FIFO; and an adapter program area for storing adapter program instructions which control the storing of messages to said send FIFO; and control means responsive to said stack list for executing said adapter program instructions in said strict message order without processor intervention.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method for organizing the execution of Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP) requests in an Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) environment by providing main threads and sub-threads within each main thread for simultaneous processing of multiple CMIP requests. In brief, a main thread is started sequentially for executing incoming CMIP requests, the main thread checks whether a particular managed object is available, i.e. not locked, lock it, and starts a sub-thread to process the CMIP request in this managed object. This allows the main thread to start another sub-thread, thus providing for the parallel execution of a plurality of CMIP requests.

Abstract: A VLAN memory access system to provide VLAN address table look-ups with the ability to simultaneously do processor read cycles or processor write cycles to the same memory structure with anatomical accesses. The system encompasses the interaction between a memory look-up table that stores the slot allowed transition bit mask for a multi-slot hub based VLAN switch, a switch processor interface that is used to upgrade the memory access table by writing entries into the table or reading the table to verify its contents, and a look-up processor that uses the VLAN table to make forwarding decisions on the destination of a packet based on the value read from the VLAN memory look-up table. The VLAN table accesses must be arbitrated between the look-up processor, which has the highest priority, and read or write accesses from the switch processor. The look-up processor takes the VLAN ID field of a packet and uses this as the address of the slot allowed transmit bit mask to be applied to the destination slot bit mask.

Abstract: A control system comprises a plurality of peripheral devices represented as objects, and a controller connectable to the plurality of peripheral devices via a common communication line for unitarily controlling the plurality of peripheral devices. The controller is arranged to be connected to an arbitrary number of peripheral devices selected from among the plurality of peripheral devices, read control information stored in the arbitrary number of peripheral devices via the communication line into a predetermined memory area of the controller in a predetermined format so that the controller can control the arbitrary number of peripheral devices. The controller is also arranged to issue a command and transmit the command to each of the arbitrary number of peripheral devices via the communication line.

Abstract: Two or more user applications executing on one or more processors, each controlled by an operating system, share use of a list and subsidiary list structure within a Structured External Storage (SES) facility to which each processor is connected. One of the applications registers interest in particular state transitions affecting one or more subsidiary lists within the list structure, causing a process within the SES to notify the appropriate processor when a list operation causes the particular state transition, without interrupting processing on the processor. The application receives notice of the state transition by periodically polling a vector within the processor, or by receiving control when a test by the operating system of a summary indicator for the vector causes an application exit to be driven.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for communicating data and control information between two systems, each system including a communication protocol stack, such as an advanced program to program communication (APPC) protocol stack which includes an I/O interface layer with modules for OPEN, GET, PUT, UPDATE, RELEASE, DELETE, CLOSE, and an OPC interface to a serial optical bus. Dual control and data paths are established from, for example, a client system to a single agent on a target system, the control path including a protocol stack and a data path avoiding at least one layer of the protocol stack. Packets of control information for a given process are transferred on the control path, and packets of data information are transferred on the data path. Communications are sychronized so that the client and target systems send and receive communications packets on the same one of the two paths.

Abstract: A deficiency in a link in a messaging system is detected by sending across the link a request message that includes a coded data string, receiving across the link a reply message that includes the coded data string, and determining whether the travel time involved is excessive. To maximize the likelihood that the coded data string is included in the reply message, the coded data string is preferably included in both the subject and body fields of the request message.

Abstract: A distance learning system consists of a plurality of multi-cast clients of various classes and priorities with one multi-cast client as a primary multi-cast client, a multi-cast server, arbitrator and a distance learning session coordinator. The primary multi-cast client provides the default or primary Audio-Visual Material (AVM) stream. The Multi-Cast Server (MCS) setups a multi-cast over a point to multi-point connection which connects all multi-cast clients that are to take part in a particular distance learning session, along with the Primary multi-cast client. Additionally, the primary multi-cast client is connected to the MCS via a point-to-point link. The multi-cast clients and the primary multi-cast client receive an AVM material stream from the multi-cast server via the point to multi-point connection. When a multi-cast client wishes to speak, a speaking request is sent to the arbitrator, the arbitrator determines whether to grant or deny the speaking request.

Abstract: An event log forwarder accesses a set of one or more filters and checks whether a new event in one or more event logs satisfies the set of one or more filters. The event log forwarder also provides an indication if there is a new event which satisfies the set of one or more filters. Additionally, the event log forwarder automatically repeats, at periodic intervals, checking whether a new event in one or more event logs satisfies the set of one or more filters and providing an indication if there is a new event which satisfied the set of one or more filters.

Abstract: A message passing system for an MIMD parallel processing computer system utilizing a CSP programming model is relatively simple and inexpensive, yet allows for deadlock-free message passing, as well as the ability to support irregular connection topologies among nodes in the computer system. Messages are passed from node to node utilizing buffers at intermediate nodes to temporarily store the messages. In accordance with the CSP programming model, the user code is divided into multiple concurrent user processes which communicate with each other via channels. Each user process executing at a node is also provided with a corresponding, but separate, router process which uses a set of N-1 virtual channels to communicate with all other processes in the system, where N is the number of processes. The router process is preferably provided with a routing table that implements an acyclic sub-graph solution for interconnecting nodes in any arbitrary network topology, including irregular network topologies.