Abstract: A communication system for monitoring and/or controlling communication parameters of a remote communication device. The communication system monitors a communication channel that is created between the remote communication device and controls the communication device by adjusting internal settings of the communication device that represent communication parameters. The communication device is communicatively coupled to a communication channel to carry out ongoing communications between the communication device and the communication channel. Further, a software module is associated with the communication device, and the software module accesses the internal settings of the communication device from a remote location via the communication channel and performs diagnostics such as monitoring, controlling, and configuring the communication device using the internal settings of the communication device.

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: A web interface system (10) for a debit card service in a telecommunications network includes at least one service logic program (28) implementing the debit card service expressed in a web browser readable format, and a web server (30) adapted to store the at least one service logic program (28) and provide access thereto, in the form of at least one web page, by users via a web browser (36). A call scripting process (54) residing in the web server (30) continuously receives user inputs (52) entered on the at least one web page (34) and communicates the user inputs (52) to a predetermined node in the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A network-computer-based personal contact manager system is disclosed wherein users of networked clients maintain and update a set of user information which is stored in a relational database on a networked server. The personal contact manager system allows each user to specify on an individual basis which of their contacts are permitted to access respective datums of their user information. In some cases, and assuming permission is granted, the system will issue notifications (e.g., by e-mail) to a user's contacts when the user changes his information or when a preset event, such as a birthday, as defined by the user, is to occur. The system also allows users to find contacts based on common group affiliations and notifies users when there are coincidences in their data (e.g., travel plans, astrological compatibility).

Abstract: An enterprise email management system is disclosed. The enterprise mail system is designed to handle large volumes of email quickly and efficiently, responding through enterprise email system users or automated means. The enterprise email system processes incoming email using a set of configurable rules that examine each message for a specific attribute state condition and invoke a configurable action when the attribute satisfies the condition. A number of actions may be invoked such as routing a message to a specific mail queue. The enterprise email system assigns a mail queue timer when a message is moved into a mail queue. Each mail queue has a different mail queue timeout value that specifies the maximum amount of time that a message may sit idle within a mail queue. The enterprise email system may automatically move a message from a mail queue into a mailbox of an enterprise email system user that subscribed to the mail queue.

Abstract: A high impedance tap for monitoring traffic over a communication link of a fast Ethernet local area network (LAN). The circuit of the present invention is advantageously used for tapping into a fast Ethernet communication link (e.g., bi-directional communication channel) of a LAN using, for instance, {fraction (10/100)} BaseT Ethernet communication protocol. The novel circuit is particularly useful in point to point communication links (e.g., supporting fast Ethernet communication) where two communication nodes are coupled together using a bi-directional communication link (e.g., two twisted pair cables). Unlike the prior art monitoring probes, the probe of the present invention does not insert itself in series between the communication link, but rather taps onto the communication link in parallel using a high impedance termination circuit thereby leaving the existing communication link undisturbed electrically.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using a computer controlled microscope system to provide a reconstructed, seamless image from several contiguous fields of view to show the architecture and spatial relationship of biological material in a specimen. The specimen is scanned with a microscope and a digital scanner to provide digitized titles of contiguous, fields of view at a predetermined magnification, optical resolution and pixel resolution. Preferably, an automated X, Y stage with higher positional spatial resolution than the spatial pixel resolution of the digital scanner is used to acquire the contiguous fields of view and the image registration information which is used to reconstruct and to display on a monitor the reconstructed image formed of the contiguous multiple fields of view. Preferably, a macro image of contiguous image tiles at a low magnification and optical resolution is obtained and the user navigates within the macro image and selects areas.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for executing a request from a client application. Unlike conventional networks in which a client application transmits several data access transactions to several server applications, the client application of these preferred embodiments merely sends a single request to a gateway application, which converts the request into appropriate data access transactions. The preferred embodiments provide the advantage of allowing a client application to communicate with a plurality of server applications without knowing the server application's format or syntax requirements. Further, unlike environments in which a client application compiles data received from each contacted server application, in the environment of the preferred embodiments, the client application is presented with a single integrated response.

Abstract: A plurality of boxes are provided in a memory region of the system. Each message is registered and stored in a designated box and fetched from this box. Each box is owned by a user so that a message addressed to this user is stored in his/her box. Predetermined preprocessing and/or postprocessing are executed before and after the message is registered into or fetched from the designated box.

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: A next update prediction time storage section receives the present time from a clock section and transfers part or all of the links whose corresponding next update prediction times are earlier than the present time to a transmission/reception section. The transmission/reception section communicates via a network and acquires the data specified by a link. An update history storage section extracts the latest update time when information on the latest update time exists in the acquired data. The update history storage section adds the extracted latest update time to the update history corresponding to the link and calculates the next update prediction time from the added and updated update history. The update history storage section sends the calculated next update prediction time to the next update prediction time storage section. The next update prediction time storage section replaces the next update prediction time corresponding to the link with the calculated next update prediction time.

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: When a program transmission apparatus divides a program into a plurality of partial programs before transmission, a program reception execution apparatus executes a partial program when the partial program has already been received, and, when the execution needs to proceed to from a present partial program to a next partial program, executes the other partial program when the next partial program has been received.

Abstract: A software intelligent Agent, and rules provided thereto by a user, screen and process data objects, for example an e-mail message, in accordance with said rules. Actions taken by the Agent to process a data object in accordance with rules associated with the object are entered into an activity record and the activity record is injected into the body of the data object, for example pre-pended into an e-mail message as the first body part of the message. This obviates the need for a user to remember the rules or to remember what actions were taken by the Agent.

Abstract: A method for accessing a shared resource is provided. An assigned usage rate is received from a resource coordinator and a desired usage rate is determined. When it is determined that the desired usage rate is higher than the assigned usage rate, a shared resource may be accessed at an enhanced usage rate if a usage reserve has been accumulated. When a shared resource is accessed at an enhanced usage rate, the usage reserve is decremented by an amount based on a difference between the enhanced usage rate and the assigned rate. When there is no usage reserve accumulated, access to the shared resource is limited to the assigned usage rate. When the desired usage rate is not higher than the assigned usage rate, a shared resource is accessed at the desired usage rate. When the desired usage rate is less then the assigned usage rate, the usage reserve is accumulated up to a reserve maximum. The reserve maximum may be based on configuration data.

Abstract: A digital delay line, comprising adjustable digital delay elements coupled in series, receives and buffers a packet bit stream. The outputs of selected adjustable digital delay elements are tapped for determining in parallel the destination address bits of the packet. The packet is routed at the end of the digital delay line to the destination indicated by the destination address bits.

Abstract: A computerized method for load balancing in a geographically distributed or clustered system is disclosed. An arbiter assigns clients to nodes. The arbiter partitions clients into groups based on their request load. Each group is dynamically scheduled among nodes, thus avoiding high load groups from being allocated to the same node and overloading the system. If one of the nodes becomes overload, an alarm is generated, so that fewer or no new clients are allocated to the overloaded node.

Abstract: A computer network having multiple remotely located human interfaces which share a common computing system which appears, to each of the human interfaces, as a virtual computer dedicated to that human interface. The computer network includes a processor subsystem and a plurality of nodes, each coupled to the processor subsystem and having a remotely located human interface comprised of a video monitor and an I/O device coupled thereto. Each one of the nodes further incudes a first interface device coupled to the processor subsystem and to a transmission line while each of the human interfaces further includes a second interface device coupled to the video monitor, the I/O device and the transmission line. The computer network further includes a memory subsystem coupled to the processor subsystem and having a plurality of memory areas, each corresponding to one of the plurality of nodes.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for the reassignment of communications sessions to a primary network communications path from a secondary network communications path are provided, which detect the availability of the primary network communications path and reroute existing transferable communications sessions to the primary network communications path from the secondary network communications path. Non-transferable communications sessions are maintained over the secondary network communications path until such non-transferable communications sessions are terminated. Upon termination of all such non-transferable communications sessions, the secondary network communications path may be deactivated. Additionally, new communications sessions may be assigned to the primary network communications path if the availability of the primary network communications path has been detected.

Abstract: The quality of service provided by a connection in transferring data units (19) between first and second points (A, B) across a network (10), is measured by a method involving monitoring the normal connection traffic at the first and second points (A, B) to detect the occurrence of the same events at each point (unit 22). An event is deemed to have occurred at a monitored network point when a predetermined set of criteria concerning one or more data units is satisfied by the connection data-unit traffic at the point concerned. Whenever an event is detected, an event report or "digest" is generated (unit 25), this digest including a signature based on the contents of the data units giving rise to the event. Digests from both monitored network points (A, B) are sent to a correlation unit (30) where digests relating to the occurrence of the same event at the two network points are matched up. The matched digest pairs are then passed to a measurement unit (31) to derive quality of service measurements.