Abstract: A scheduling circuit of the present invention includes an IP (Internet Protocol) scheduling/format converting section for scheduling input IP packets and converting each of them to ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) cells. The IP scheduling/format converting section includes a plurality of packet FIFOs (First-In First-Out memories). The ATM cells output from each packet FIFO are written to corresponding one of a plurality of cell FIFOs. An ATM scheduling section schedules the ATM cells received from each cell FIFO cell by cell.

Abstract: A service system in which a server offers a service in response to a request from a client. The system can offer the stable service even in the case of an access from the client and also can offer a preferential service under certain conditions. The request from the client to the server is carried out via a data communication forwarding apparatus, the apparatus has a unit for queuing the request with a priority and has a unit for changing the forwarding sequence of the request according to the priority. Thereby the number of simultaneous requests to the server can be suppressed to within the processing ability of the server with the stable service. Further, the request can be preferentially processed according to the user, transaction, wait time, etc.

Abstract: A thin-client device broadcasts a configuration request message over a network. In response to the configuration request message, the thin-client device receives a configuration response message including a first set of configuration information. The thin-client device determines if the configuration response message includes a second set of configuration information. If the configuration response message does not include the second set of configuration information, the thin-client device broadcasts a status message over a network. In response to the status message, the thin-client device receives a status response message with the second set of configuration information.

Abstract: The determination of node and/or adapter liveness in a distributed network data processing system is carried out via one messaging protocol that can be assisted by a second messaging protocol which is significantly less susceptible to delay, especially memory blocking delays encountered by daemons running on other nodes. The switching of protocols is accompanied by controlled grace periods for needed responses. This messaging protocol flexibility is also adapted for use as a mechanism for controlling the deliberate activities of node addition (birth) and node deletion (death).

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring, controlling and diagnosing operation of a machine such as a business office machine including a facsimile machine, a copier, and a printer. When the speed of communication between the remote device and machine is not urgent, a connectionless mode of communication may be used. The form of connectionless communication is an electronic mail message transmitted over the Internet. However, when a condition needs urgent action, a direct connection is used for communication such as communication via a telephone or ISDN line. The information obtained from the machine is stored in one or more data bases within a company and information of the machine is shared between a service department, engineering and design department, manufacturing department, and marketing department. As communication over the Internet via electronic mail is not secure, the connectionless-mode messages transmitted using Internet electronic mail are encrypted.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a transforming switch, is provided that includes a transformer to transform a message from a first format to a second format, and a switch to switch the message to a selected server or processing node. The apparatus may also include a security accelerator to decrypt and encrypt messages and a validation accelerator to pre-validate the received messages.

Abstract: An ATM I/F for transmitting data to a data transmission destination via a communication network, a data transmission server, and a data transmission managing device for calculating a network necessary for data transmission on the basis of the data quantity of the data to be transmitted and the transmission completion time indicating the time of completion of data transmission to the data transmission destination are provided. Accounting information is generated on the basis of the calculated network band and transmission time. The data is transmitted to the data transmission destination by using the calculated network band. The data transmission to the data transmission destination is completed by the transmission completion time, and accounting information is generated. Thus, when transmitting data via the communication network, the data transmission completion time is designated in advance for data transmission.

Abstract: A method for generating a unique subordinate resource name is disclosed where the method includes the steps of identifying a subordinate resource and the name of a related superior resource, truncating the superior resource name to form a truncated name, obtaining a counter number from a global counter, and appending the counter number to the truncated name to form an appended name which is assigned to the subordinate resource.

Abstract: A handheld computing device is used to copy files from the screen of a fixed computer. The display of the handheld device is linked to that of the underlying computer and file and directory icons together with their underlying files are copied to the handheld device. Files from the handheld device can also be transferred to the fixed computer. When a user is running a program on the fixed computer, he may capture the state of that computer and transfer everything needed to permit execution of that program to continue uninterrupted on the handheld device. Thus files and executing programs may be lifted from the fixed computer and used on the handheld device.

Abstract: Real-time information associated with a telecommunication network is obtained. A computing system includes one or more computers having one or more processors for executing logic instructions associated with one or more computer programs and a first memory for storing the logic instructions to be executed; a database server, in communication with the computing system, and having a second memory for storing logic instructions to be executed thereon and a storage device in communication with the database server or the computing system for storing the information associated with the telecommunication network. Access to the information associated with the telecommunication network is enabled to one or more computer software programs stored in a storage device that is in communication with a computing system; and the one or software programs are enabled to access the modifications on a real-time basis when any of the information associated with the telecommunication network is modified.

Abstract: A packet network is arranged into a hierarchy, having one organization-level portion (CS, P, R2) and three site-level portions (S1, S2, S3). By using forwarding computers and assigning multicast addresses in respect of each portion, the total number of multicast addresses required to send multicast messages to all possible subsets of potential recipients is reduced. This alleviates routers in the network of the burden associated with storing and processing a large amount of multicast addresses.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to determine, when installing a program in a terminal through the Internet, whether the program is operable or not, and notify the result of the determination to the terminal. In a system of the present invention, the operating environment of an image forming apparatus is determined, a program list showing programs operable in the operating environment is generated at a server, and the program list is supplied to the image forming apparatus. A program selected from the program list is requested from the server, and then the program is supplied from the server to the image forming apparatus. That is, a program is selected from a list of programs determined operable in the operating environment of the image forming apparatus, and is supplied to the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method for providing resources to networked devices for participating in a peer-to-peer environment. In one embodiment, a peer computing system on a network may include one or more bootstrap nodes that may provide, to devices coupled to the network, mechanisms for accessing resources for participating in the peer-to-peer environment. The bootstrap nodes may be peer nodes. The resources may give the devices access to services each of which may implement peer-to-peer platform protocols. The devices may be pre-configured to access one or more predefined peer nodes for information on bootstrap nodes. Alternatively, devices may use a bootstrapping mechanism to locate bootstrap nodes on the network.

Abstract: A handheld computing device is used to copy files from the screen of a fixed computer. The display of the handheld device is linked to that of the underlying computer and file and directory icons together with their underlying files are copied to the handheld device. Files from the handheld device can also be transferred to the fixed computer. When a user is running a program on the fixed computer, he may capture the state of that computer and transfer everything needed to permit execution of that program to continue uninterrupted on the handheld device. Thus files and executing programs may be lifted from the fixed computer and used on the handheld device.

Abstract: A multistage interconnect network (MIN) capable of supporting massive parallel processing, including point-to-point and multicast communications between processor modules (PMs) which are connected to the input and output ports of the network. The network is built using interconnected switch nodes arranged in 2 ?logb N? stages, wherein b is the number of switch node input/output ports, N is the number of network input/output ports and ?logb N? indicates a ceiling function providing the smallest integer not less than logb N. The additional stages provide additional paths between network input ports and network output ports, thereby enhancing fault tolerance and lessening contention.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adding a node to a network where the network includes a plurality of nodes connected by first and second rings formed by two or more transmission media. The method includes connecting the node to each of the first and second rings, determining a ring identifier for each of the first and second rings coupled to the node after connection, discovering topology information for the network including the identity of each node coupled to each ring, storing the topology information and determining routing decisions for one or more packets received at the node along each of the first and second rings using the ring identifier information.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing a data backup to an information handling system using software updates. The information handling system has one or more applications included thereon and is capable of being communicatively coupled to a remote server through a network connection. A data package is created based upon configuration data and application data stored on the server. The configuration data includes data previously obtained from the information handling system, such as settings and user data. The application data includes data corresponding to the applications included on the information handling system. The data package is formatted into a software update format and transmitted over the network connection to the information handling system. The data package is suitable for restoring the information handling system after failure, and may be utilized by the information handling system as a software update to restore itself.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a distributed environment including a plurality of hosts capable of executing multiple copies of a scalable application includes a first device for generating first data corresponding to performance of all copies of the scalable application; a second device for generating second data corresponding to performance of all host in the distributed environment; and a third device for generating performance metrics based on the first and second data.

Abstract: A handheld computing device is used to copy files from the screen of a fixed computer. The display of the handheld device is linked to that of the underlying computer and file and directory icons together with their underlying files are copied to the handheld device. Files from the handheld device can also be transferred to the fixed computer. When a user is running a program on the fixed computer, he may capture the state of that computer and transfer everything needed to permit execution of that program to continue uninterrupted on the handheld device. Thus files and executing programs may be lifted from the fixed computer and used on the handheld device.

Abstract: A originating terminal sends an ATM address interrogation request to a server if the ATM address of another party's terminal is unknown at the time of communication. Upon receiving the ATM address interrogation request from the terminal, the server refers to an ATM address table, searches the table for an ATM address corresponding to a protocol address contained in the interrogation request and notifies the originating terminal of this ATM address. If an ATM address corresponding to the protocol address has not been registered in the ATM address table, the server transfers (broadcasts) the ATM address interrogation request to all terminals. The server notifies the originating terminal of an ATM address obtained by an answer in response to this interrogation request and registers the ATM address in the ATM address table.