Abstract: A banking, retail or other transaction network can comprise a number of terminals, for example an ATM, where each terminal comprises a plurality of peripheral devices such as a user interface, card reader, receipt printer and cash dispenser. The applications software for the peripheral devices can be held in a central server located externally of the terminal and linked to the terminal through a communications link. The link can extend to the individual peripheral devices so that they are direct clients of the server. Additionally the individual peripheral devices can be connected to each other over the link to enable them to communicate directly with each other on a peer-to-peer basis. Each peripheral can have an independent control application. In use, the independent control applications may communicate with each other so that a peripheral operates in response to a signal generated by another peripheral. A peripheral for use in such a terminal, and a network of such terminals are also described.

Abstract: A system for a community of multimedia agents (COMMA) is provided comprising an Agent Library and a Development Environment. The former comprises one or more multimedia agents contributed for use as components when developing more sophisticated systems. All contributed multimedia agents are provided in executable or object code format only to protect intellectual property rights of contributors. The Development Environment allows multimedia agents to be presented to users and allows users to build more sophisticated systems by combining the multimedia agents. The Development Environment also handles the coordination of agent execution. Results generated by the agents are visualized in the Development Environment to facilitate comparison of agent performance. Specifications based on the industry standard are provided for agents' inputs and outputs that facilitate communication among agents and allow the construction of hierarchies of agents.

Abstract: Disclosed are a capability broker, a related messaging system and methods. The capability broker is placed in new network architecture between traffic proxies and enabler servers. The capability broker is equipped with a capability interface adapted to receive a capability request pertaining to a request of at least one capability. The capability broker is adapted to use one or more messages to obtain the requested at least one capability from one or more enabler servers responsive to receiving said capability request, and to provide a response to said capability request on the basis of the obtained capability.

Abstract: A system and method for delegating a user authentication process for a networked application to an authentication proxy. A networked application may request a user to provide authentication information in order to access the application. Upon receiving this authentication information from the user, the client side of the networked application sends the information to the server side of the networked application. The server side of the application may then determine an appropriate authentication agent associated with the user to delegate the authentication process to. For example, for each application user, the server side of the application may maintain information associated with the user, such as the user's employer. The application may then match this employer information to an authentication agent running in the employer's network domain, and the authentication process may then be delegated to this authentication agent.

Abstract: Rich multimedia content is provided to a wireless device, particularly in response to a request for directory assistance generated by a client application. The multimedia content is provided as a multimedia message including bundled multimedia elements such as images, sound, text, and video files. The multimedia elements are compiled into a single multimedia presentation or deck that includes multiple screens that are automatically advanced for the convenience of the wireless device user. The user can interact with elements of the multimedia presentation, for example by placing orders, providing payment information, controlling playback, and forwarding or saving the deck to the wireless device. Multiple decks may be retrieved by a single request, and the decks are presented in an order determined by a bidding system or according to user preferences. Elements can be presented visually and/or audibly, and the user can interact using voice commands, manual entries, or stored entries.

Abstract: Detecting the failure of file transfers via a network copy service from a source computer to a destination computer via a network monitoring service. If the network monitoring service determines that the source computer is no longer available, the destination computer initiates a second file transfer request via the network copy service from a second source of the file.

Abstract: A protocol-based method for email forwarding by an email server is performed as follows. An initial email is received from a sender, and checked to ensure that the initial email includes a reusable electronic paying means. If the initial email carries a reusable electronic paying means, the initial email is forwarded to the recipient. An acceptance email containing a reusable electronic paying means is later received from the recipient of the initial email, and forwarded to the sender. Email not carrying an electronic paying means is rejected.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer network is monitored for suspicious activity based on patterns of activity. When a particular pattern of suspicious activity is detected, an action associated with the particular pattern is taken. The activity monitored may include network traffic among peers and data sharing on a peer in the network. The action may be to log information about the suspicious activity and/or to send an alert about the suspicious activity.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing electronic subscriptions are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes monitoring, at an electronic subscription client, receipt of one or more subscription messages associated with an electronic subscription. Interaction with the electronic subscription client by a client may be monitored to determine a viewing frequency of the one or more received subscription messages. Further, a prompt with a control configured for unsubscribing the user from receiving a future subscription message associated with the electronic subscription may be presented based on the determined viewing frequency.

Abstract: A service adapter can be used to connect a client application to an enterprise system, or to connect application components, that otherwise might be unable to communicate with each other. A service adapter can invoke a service in the enterprise system, and can allow requests to be received to, and responses received from, the enterprise system. The service adapter can pass these requests and responses in a format such as XML, and can transform data passing between the enterprise system and an application or application component. An application view component can be used to provide an interface to an enterprise system for an application.

Abstract: Local capacity threshold values for a user e-mailbox and costs are stored for overflow storage devices accessible on a network. The costs provided a ranking of the overflow storage devices. E-mail's are processed responsive to increases in accumulated storage of the e-mails beyond the respective local capacity threshold values to reduce storage space of the e-mails. An e-mail is received that increases the accumulated storage volume of the user's e-mails beyond the maximum local capacity threshold value. A subset of the overflow storage devices is selected by reference to the costs. One of the overflow storage devices of the subset is selected responsive to availability of storage space on the overflow storage devices of the subset and cost ranking among the overflow storage devices of the subset. The received e-mail is sent for storing on the selected overflow storage device, instead of storing the received e-mail in the user's e-mailbox.

Abstract: A protocol provides generalized client-server computing by providing a server program that can utilize standard and non-standard ports for applications.

Abstract: The present invention features a data link layer processor for performing VLAN tagging operations, policing, shaping, and statistics acquisition integrally with one or more media access controllers (MACs). When a plurality of data link layer processors are operated in parallel in a switching device, the computational burden carried by the route engine is significantly reduced. Moreover, the data link layer processor in its several embodiments may be used to introduce various forms of pre-processing and post-processing into network switching systems that employ route engines that do not posses such functionality.

Abstract: The present invention provides a real-time live picture information compression-transmission apparatus and method using a connection-less type protocol for a computer network. The compression-transmission apparatus is constituted to divide frame data output from a real-time encoder compressing live picture information into packets, and to transmit the live picture information in a real time manner according to the connection-less type protocol while suppressing burst transmission by conducting transmission control. The present invention also provides a compressed video data decoding apparatus capable of reducing compressed video decoding processing load without deteriorating picture quality and decreasing the number of played back picture planes when playing back a picture.

Abstract: A NAT data processing system is located behind a NAT enabled network with a NAT device as a gateway to the NAT enabled network. A client system located outside the NAT enabled network queries the NAT device for the address of the NAT data processing system located behind the NAT enabled network. The query is automatically routed through the NAT device to a DNS server. The DNS server then returns an address for the NAT data processing system and source routing for the NAT device. The NAT device forwards the address and source routing to the client system. Then, the client system sends packets to the NAT data processing system at the address with source routing through the NAT device, such that the NAT data processing system behind the NAT enabled network is directly accessed by the client system from outside the NAT enabled network.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with transmission of speech information over mixed networks, particularly over a segment using packet transmission in an otherwise circuit switched data transmission network. According to the invention, PCM transmission lines are connected with a packet based network such as an IP network in such a way, that data from one or more channels of a first PCM transmission line is collected in the payload part of a data packet. Further, the destination address of the data packet is constructed in such a way, that the packet network entity being connected to the second PCM transmission line can determine based on the destination address of the packet, to which channel or channels of the second PCM transmission line the data should be transmitted.

Abstract: An ad hoc wireless communications system and method permits a group of wireless portable communications devices to communicate with each other. The ad hoc network has security systems. A server for the ad hoc network is selected from among the portable communications devices associated with the ad hoc network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for terminating a communication session at a first communication device that had established a communication session with a second communication device in response to a determination that the first communication device has not received any media packets from the second communication device within at least one predetermined time period. In the event the first device determines that no media packets have been received from the second device within a first predetermined time period, a probe is sent to the second device. If a positive response is not received by the first device within a second predetermined time period from the sending of the probe, the first device terminates the session.

Abstract: A configurable protocol engine (CPE) capable of constructing (110) a desired protocol structure (112) according to the received configuration information. In addition, the CPE schedules the processing of received service primitives according to the priority levels thereof. The configuration information may include service requirements (102), indications of hardware and software resources (106, 108), and the required QoS (Quality of Service, 104) level. The CPE may be implemented as software, hardware, or as a combination of both.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a computer-implemented method, computer system and computer program product provide a configuration recommendation. Request-processing performance data of an application is received. The request-processing performance data is collected by an application monitor during an execution of the application on a source hardware system. One or more request-processing performance measurements are determined based on the request-processing performance data. One or more target objectives of the application are received. An analytic engine is invoked to provide a configuration recommendation of a target hardware system on which to execute the application based on one or more request-processing performance measurements and one or more target objectives.