Abstract: The present invention refers to systems and methods for electronic data interchange messaging, i.e. for the interchange of electronic messages comprising and transferring data provided in a predefined, preferably standardized structure or form in such a way that said data may be identified and used as data element values or strings in further processing functions by the receiving system or application. According to the invention, a process to be executed in a computer system and comprising electronic data interchange is defined in relation to a corresponding data defining, comprising a set of data elements for electronic data to be successively interchanged or processed in each execution of said process, wherein said process is arranged to automatically write data included in a received electronic data interchange message into, and read data for electronic data interchange message sending from, predefined data elements of a data instance of the data definition during the execution of said process.

Abstract: According to a broad aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention, a Customer Interface Process is provided. First, a service level agreement is received for a hybrid network customer. Next, the service level agreement is stored after which inquiries are received from network customers reflecting occurrences related to the hybrid network. Thereafter, events are generated based on the customer inquiries and the service level agreement.

Abstract: A computer network server using HTTP (Web) server software combined with foreground view composer software, background view composer software, a view tile cache, view tile cache garbage collector software, and image files provides image view data to client workstations using graphical Web browsers to display the view of an image from the server. Problems with specialized client workstation image view software are eliminated by using the Internet and industry standards-based graphical Web browsers for the client software. Network and system performance problems that previously existed when accessing large image files from a network file server are eliminated by tiling the image view so that computation and transmission of the view data can be done in an incremental fashion. The view tiles are cached on the client workstation to further reduce network traffic. View tiles are cached on the server to reduce the amount of view tile computation and to increase responsiveness of the image view server.

Abstract: An service management system for an advanced intelligent network includes a plurality of gateways in communications with a plurality of network nodes and service clients which may issue service requests. The service requests are received by the gateways, which convert the service requests to orders having a predetermined format containing the service requests. An order distribution server in communication with the plurality of gateways receives and distributes the orders. A plurality of management programs receive the orders from the order distribution server and execute the service requests contained in the orders. Responses may be generated by the management programs and sent to the order distribution server for delivery to the network nodes and service clients.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for coupling a single computer, or small network of computers, and associated peripheral devices, to a wide area network, such as the Internet. The apparatus enables the devices to share a one or more IP addresses. The apparatus further enables remote access to the associated peripheral devices.

Abstract: A transmission system for transmitting a signal from a host to a transmission medium is disclosed. The transmission system includes a current-mode digital-analog converter, an on-chip low-pass filter, a line driver, and output impedance control. Further, a method for transmitting a signal from a host to a transmission medium using on-chip filtering is disclosed. The transmission system and method can be used in transmission of Ethernet signals onto an unshielded twisted pair cable. In addition, with appropriate modification, the transmission system and method can be used for transmitting ATM or other signals onto a transmission medium.

Abstract: A processor is connected to one or more controlled devices (e.g., ASICS) using an interface that has a plurality of bandwidth distribution devices (i.e., a controller device and one or more adjunct devices) configured in an architecture having two or more levels. Each bandwidth distribution device receives an allocation of address bandwidth from a device in the next higher level and distributes that allocation of address bandwidth to one or more devices in the next lower level, each of which is either another bandwidth distribution device or a controlled device. Each bandwidth distribution device can be configured independently in different configuration modes that determine how its available address bandwidth is distributed to devices in the next lower level. The different configuration modes allow the number of devices in the next lower level to be traded off with the amount of bandwidth available to a particular device in the next lower level.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a transparent load direction mechanism between multiple host computers that enables continued processing of client requests notwithstanding failure of individual host computers. A client computer system is provided with two URLs for a given web site, including a primary URL and a reference URL; the reference URL is the generic address for the web site, and is used for bookmarks and URL display, e.g., "www.website.com;" the primary URL is used for actual communication with an assigned one of several parallel servers which service the web site, i.e., "www.website4.com." The client computer normally directs communications to the assigned server, but if a failure condition is detected, i.e., server "website4" goes off-line, the reference URL is used for re-entry to the web site and a new server assigned to service the client computer (i.e., "www.website2.com").

Abstract: A generic management framework for a network management system enables management services and management agents to be added in use as required. Management services can be loaded or plugged into the framework dynamically. As a result a management structure can be provided which is scalable and dynamic and can evolve as requirements change. Management information is modelled as management beans. Network management adaptors can also be added as required to the framework to support protocols such as HTTP, SSL, RMI, SNMP. Remote applications can thereby control the management beans remotely through different protocols.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for transmitting multiple copies of a frame from a network switch in a packet switched network stores a single copy of the frame received at the switch into external memory. The frame is stored at a location in memory pointed to by a frame pointer. In queuing multiple transmissions of the stored frame in the switch, the frame pointer, and not the frame itself, is replicated and queued for transmission in the network switch.

Abstract: A method is provided for graphically depicting detailed state and status information for network objects, particularly network objects forming part of a telecommunications network. A graphical representation of a network is displayed in which a basic icon is displayed for each network object. More commonly occurring state and status combinations are conveyed by imparting attributes to the basic icons such as dashed, solid, or three dimensional outlines. Less commonly occurring state and status combinations are conveyed by attaching modifier icons to the basic icons. The method is particularly suited to providing a detailed visual representation of the states and statuses included in the OSI standard.

Abstract: A prediction information system for use between a user and an electronic rating broker is provided. The prediction information system includes a user interface for presenting items as information to the user. An input mechanism receives data input by the user. A processor in cooperation with the user interface and the input mechanism performs an algorithm for: obtaining a particular implicit measure, generating an implicit rating as a function of the particular implicit measure, submitting the implicit rating to the rating broker, receiving prediction results for other items from the rating broker, and presenting the prediction results to the user through the user interface. In addition, a method for operating an electronic rating broker on a computer system in order to provide prediction information to a user based on implicit ratings is provided. Also, a storage device readable by a computer system for implementing this method is provided.

Abstract: A method and system server software architecture incorporates a series of software interfaces which allows porting and running of the particular ported software used for managing server components to operate in conjunction with other network operating systems/hardware platforms in addition to allowing for expanding the types of instrumentation components used on such systems which are uniquely constructed for managing newly attached server devices or functions with minimal additional programming effort.

Abstract: Reliable and secure transmission of information over the Internet is provided in a financial transaction processing system. The system electronically integrates data captured in heterogeneous information systems and transmits that data reliably and securely over the Internet between multiple diverse servers. The system includes at least one local computer system which electronically captures information input by a user of the computer system. The local computer system can access one or more remote servers via the Internet for form a dynamically reconfigurable wide area network (WAN). The remote servers electronically transfer data to heterogeneous information systems translated into their natural communications protocol and data format.

Abstract: An apparatus and method retracts a mobile agent from a second execution environment back to a first execution environment, the retraction being performed by the first environment sending a retraction request, and the second execution environment establishing a connection to the first execution environment in response. The second execution environment searches for an agent under its control corresponding to an agent identity in the retraction request, and converts the corresponding agent, if located, to a bit sequence and returns the bit sequence to the first execution environment via the connection. Sending the bit sequence through the established connection safely alleviates firewall issues because a connection is established from the inside of the firewall to the outside.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically re-configuring network interconnections to achieve a more efficient utilization of the network's resources in light of the current intercommunication traffic. In one embodiment of the invention, a first computer system selects and disconnects a first decentralized direct network connection between the first computer system and a second computer system. The first connection is selected from a plurality of connections between the first computer system and a plurality of computer systems, and the first connection is selected based on a predetermined criterion. In addition, the first computer system selects and establishes a second decentralized direct network connection between the first computer system and a third computer systems, in place of the disconnected first decentralized direct network connection.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a distributed directory service. The method includes defining a plurality of objects operative to maintain information about a plurality of partitions in a MIB, implementing the MIB in an agent, loading the agent on a managed server, interfacing the agent with a directory service, and sending a management request from a management station to the agent to access one of the objects. The MIB maintains information about each partition on the managed server, and allows access to such information through conventional network management software.

Abstract: A programmable output interface in an Open System Interconnection (OSI) enables a Media Access (MAC) Layer to access a variety of Physical (PHY) Layer implementations without redesign of the interface. The programmable interface includes a control signal generator; an output clock gating generator, and an output polarity control device coupled to the PHY layer. The interface receives media access Start; media access Done signals; a Data Rate clock signal and a data signal. The control signal generator provides control signals for the physical layer components via the polarity control device. The active signal polarity and the relative timing of the control signals are controlled by programmable registers. The output clock gating generator provides clock signals to the physical layer components via the polarity control in response to the Start; Done and Data Rate signals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided that supports continuous media for conventional networked workstations and PC's. Described are user-level mechanisms and policies designed to give good, efficient multimedia service under the mild assumption that the operating system provides a preemptive real-time scheduling class that can be used to give CPU cycles to the multimedia processes in preference to other processes that are not time sensitive. There are no modifications to the operating system kernel and isochronous networks are not required. It suffices for an application to state that it wants to play a particular stream of a type known to the server (e.g. a file containing MPEG-1 video 320.times.240 pixels, 8-bit color, 30 frames per second), or for the application to specify a frame rate and an index describing the offset of each frame in a file.

Abstract: An intelligent data service unit (DSU) which terminates a digital subscriber loop is provided and includes a digital subscriber loop interface which receives incoming data from a DDS line of the service provider, a framing and signal converter for taking the incoming data and formatting the data for output, an output interface, a processor connected to the framing and signal converter and to each of the interfaces, and a data memory buffer coupled to the processor. All data provided to the DSU from the digital subscriber loop is reformatted by the framing and signal converter and propagated to the output interface as it is received. At the same time, a copy of the data is buffered into the memory, and the processor scans the memory to find and synchronize with an networking protocol frame (e.g., an IP frame) Once synchronized, the processor compares the destination address in the IP frame to the network address of the DSU. If the addresses match, the IP frame is stored for processing (e.g.