Abstract: Techniques to make e-mail correspondent-centric rather than message-centric, and reduce junk e-mail. Tabulates, maintains, and updates useful information about the user's chosen correspondents, and the history and status of each correspondence series. Filters incoming messages from an unrecognized sender, asking user whether to add sender to correspondent list, and if so prompts user for needed information. Eliminates the need to search for e-mail addresses. Facilitates viewing sequential messages to and from a correspondent. Provides an effective tool to eliminate junk-mail by making it simpler and more practical to screen messages or change one's e-mail address. When user changes his e-mail address, automates notification of user's chosen correspondents, and in some cases can automatically update such correspondents' e-mail address lists. Eliminates need to manually create and maintain mailboxes or folders. Allows automated organization of e-mail by correspondent.

Abstract: A technique for providing communication between two computers through a network in a way to allow one computer to control the other.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes one or more “HOME”s where there is a (1) “DAD” computer and software system for human User interaction to initiate Jobs (Transcription, Translation, Data Entry, and Transaction Creation) and to utilize voice-mail through real-time voice and tone signal input and (2) “HIS” computer and software system or keeping the databases used to process Jobs and for keeping the statistical records of jobs for analysis, general ledger, payroll and billing. In addition the system includes one or more “MOM”s where there is a software system server on a computer set on the backbone of a global communication network (e.g. Internet) that (1) receives Job packets from its HOMEs, (2) selects Scribes for work (e.g.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a network using a policy tree which includes a plurality of levels (e.g., two levels, five levels, etc.) is described. When the network receives a request to provide an action to a particular source, the network determines if the action is available as a function of at least one level of the plurality of levels. If the action is available, the network determines if the particular source is authorized to be provided with the action as a function of at least one rule of at least one further level of the plurality of levels. If the particular source is authorized, the network provides the action to the particular source.

Abstract: A client-based system has a scheduling subsystem to schedule a time to obtain the Web content from the server. When the client reaches the scheduled time, the scheduling subsystem generates an event notification that contains sufficient information explaining how to retrieve the Web content. The client-based system has a delivery subsystem that is responsive to the event notification to obtain the Web content at the time set by the scheduling subsystem. The delivery subsystem preferably has multiple delivery modules that enable different types of distribution mechanism. In addition to the Web content or data itself, the delivery subsystem obtains an index to the Web content. The index summarizes the Web content to facilitate local search and find tasks. The index and Web content are stored in a cache at the client. An indexing subsystem presents the index to a user and enables the user to select from the index portions of the Web content that they prefer.

Abstract: A scalable cluster system that provides scalable services for client applications is provided with client affinity. The scalable services are transparent to the client application. To facilitate this transparent scalability, the system provides different types of client affinity to different services for the client applications. Services may have no client affinity, so that different packets sent during different connections could be sent to different nodes on the cluster. Services may have single service client affinity, which causes packets for a single service from different connections from the same source to be sent to the same node. Services may have multiple service client affinity, which causes packets for different services from different connections from the same source to be sent to the same node. Services may have wild card client affinity, which causes packets for different destination ports from different connections from the same source to be sent to the same node.

Abstract: A system determines whether to grants access to a network server by a user. Initially, a user attempts to gain access to a network server, such as a web server. Prior to granting access to the network server, the network server authenticates the user by sending an authentication request to an authentication server. The authentication server determines whether the user was already authenticated by the authentication server. If the user was already authenticated by the authentication server, then the network server is notified that the user is authenticated. The network server then grants the user access to the network server. If the user was not already authenticated by the authentication server, then login information is retrieved from the user and compared to authentication information maintained by the authentication server. If the retrieved login information matches the authentication information, then the network server is notified that the user is authenticated.

Abstract: A method executed by one or more digital devices operating in a networked environment includes the step of storing a network address for each digital device of a set of digital devices within a networked environment. A Uniform Device Descriptor file is associated with each digital device of the set of digital devices. Each Uniform Device Descriptor file characterizes a set of attributes associated with its corresponding digital device. Specified attributes in a search request are matched with attributes in a Uniform Device Descriptor file to render a selected digital device.

Abstract: A feedback-based adaptive network is described wherein at least a portion of the network elements report operating information relating to network conditions to a centralized data store. The information which is reported to the data store is analyzed by a policy engine which includes a plurality of application specific plug-in policies for analyzing selected information from the data store and for computing updated control information based upon the analysis of the information. The updated control information is fed back to selected network elements to thereby affect operation of the selected elements. Typically, when the operation of a network element has been affected, its corresponding operating information will change. The new or changed network element operating information is then reported to the data store and analyzed by the policy engine. The policy engine may then generate new or updated control information for affecting the operation of selected elements in the network.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for regulating a flow of information to one or more users is disclosed. A system includes a relevancy threshold for a user and an incoming message having a relevancy score, the relevancy score indicating a relevancy of the incoming message to the user. A method for regulating a flow of information to a user of the system is disclosed. The method determines whether the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold, and delivers to the user message information derived from the incoming message and adjusting the relevancy threshold when the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold. The method adjusts the relevancy threshold by an amount determined by a time-dependent function when the relevancy score of the incoming message does not satisfy the relevancy threshold.

Abstract: A method of composing an electronic mail so that an expression appropriate for a receiver of the electronic mail can be included in the contents of the outgoing electronic mail. The method includes the steps of setting an electronic mail ID of the of receiver in the outgoing electronic mail and inserting a mail expression corresponding to a category attribute of the electronic mail ID of the receiver into the body of the outgoing electronic mail.

Abstract: A method for sending data to a client to provide data-on-demand services comprises the steps of: receiving a data file, specifying a time interval, parsing the data file into a plurality of data blocks based on the time interval such that each data block is displayable during a time interval, determining a required number of time slots to send the data file, allocating to each time slot at least a first of the plurality of data blocks and optionally one or more additional data blocks, such that starting from any of the time slots, (i) the data file can be displayed by accessing the first of the plurality of data blocks; (ii) at a consecutive time slot, a next data block sequential to a prior displayed data block is available for displaying; and (iii) repeating step (ii) until all of the plurality of data blocks for the data file has been displayed, and sending the plurality of data blocks based on the allocating step.

Abstract: A method of asynchronous physical layer initialization. The method includes scheduling a callback function, wherein the callback function performs a function of the physical layer initialization process that requires a waiting period. Then, the callback function is executed. Next, at least one other system software code is executed when the callback function encounters the waiting period. Whether the callback function was completed is determined after at least one other system software code is executed. The callback function is rescheduled if the callback function was incomplete, and another callback function is scheduled if required to complete the physical layer initialization. These operations are repeated until callback functions are no longer required for the physical layer initialization process.

Abstract: A hardware-based policy engine that employs a policy cache to process packets of network traffic. The policy engine includes a stream classifier that associates each packet with at least one action processor based on data in the packet, and the action processor further acts on the packets based on the association determined by the stream classifier.

Abstract: Java bytecode for having home appliances perform a cooperative operation is developed by a development computer and is sent via a communications satellite from the development computer to a TV tuner&home server provided in a home. After the TV tuner&home server receives the Java bytecode, a bytecode converting unit of the TV tuner&home server determines which home appliance is the target appliance of the Java bytecode and converts the Java bytecode into native code for the microprocessor provided in the target appliance. The native code is downloaded into the target appliance via a home appliance network and the target appliance executes the downloaded native code.

Abstract: Methods for processing a media flow at an end of a tunneling association in a data network. One method includes receiving a data packet on a public network, such as the Internet, and recognizing that it encapsulates another data packet for a virtual connection to an application. The virtual connection is addressed by private network addresses. Another method includes constructing a data packet for a virtual connection to the application and encapsulating it for transmission on the public network. The methods provide for hiding the identity of the originating and terminating ends of the tunneling association from the other users of the public network. Hiding the identities may prevent interception of media flow between the ends of the tunneling association or eavesdropping on Voice-over-Internet-Protocol calls. The methods increase the security of communication on the data network without imposing a computational burden on the devices in the data network.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for correct interoperation of multiple diverse file server or file locking protocols, using a uniform multi-protocol lock management system. A file server determines, before allowing any client device to access data or to obtain a lock, whether that would be inconsistent with existing locks, regardless of originating client device or originating protocol for those existing locks. A first protocol enforces mandatory file-open and file-locking together with an opportunistic file-locking technique, while a second protocol lacks file-open semantics and provides only for advisory byte-range and file locking. Enforcing file-locking protects file data against corruption by NFS client devices. A CIFS client device, upon opening a file, can obtain an “oplock” (an opportunistic lock).

Abstract: A content provider manager has been develop for use in an information services such as a portal or desktop application to provide for “pluggable” content that may be modified simply through changes to the set of content provider components encoded in a repository therefor. Content providers served to clients (e.g., browsers) by an information service are dynamically loaded and instantiated within the execution environment of the information service in correspondence with changes in the repository. In some configurations, a single repository provides a mechanism for additions to, removals from and/or changes in the set of content providing components served by multiple information service installations. Although the techniques described are more generally applicable, they are particularly useful in implementations of dynamic content applications, including user customizable web portal and personalized desktop, e.g.

Abstract: A network address is captured from a source document or signal and is stored in a data structure such as a list for subsequent use. When a network resource at the network address is subsequently visited, the network address is automatically deleted from the list. The list storage and deletion functions are integrated into a World Wide Web browser. If a connection cannot be established using the network address, the connection is retried, and the network address is marked for delection after a pre-determined number of retries. Thereafter, if another connection attempt fails, a user may delete the network address or retain it for another retry after a user-defined time. Identified network addresses are accessed over the network to validate their correctness and a snapshot of the page displayed is stored and related to the network address.

Abstract: An Internet portal system for accomplishing a multi-component task involving interaction with one or more Internet Web sites includes an Internet-connected server having access to client-related data, an internet-capable client station usable by a client, and software executing on the server for managing individual component tasks in execution of the multi-component task. The software, in response to initiation of a multi-component task specified by the client, defines the component tasks, identifies Internet Web sources for completion of the tasks, manages interaction with the identified Web sites gathering results of the interactions, integrates the gathered results, and communicates final results to the client at the client station. Tasks may be such as trip planning and may include payment for services rendered at Web sites, such as airline reservations, car rentals and the like.