Abstract: Techniques for distributing MIDI tracks across a network using non-real-time protocols such as TCP/IP. Included are techniques for producing MIDI tracks from MIDI streams as the MIDI streams are themselves produced and distributing the MIDI tracks across the network, techniques for dealing with the varying delays involved in distributing the tracks using non-real-time protocols, and techniques for saving the controller state of a MIDI track so that a user may begin playing the track at any point during its distribution across the network. Network services based on these techniques include distribution of continuous tracks of MIDI music for applications such as background music, distribution of live recitals via the network, and participatory music making on the network ranging from permitting the user to "play along" through network jam sessions to using the network as a distributed recording studio.

Abstract: A method of performing workload management within an object-oriented client/server computing environment wherein one of a plurality of servers is chosen to satisfy a client request based on at least one workload management policy, said method, which takes place within the client, includes steps of: deciding whether a client application program has issued a request for a server to do some work; forming an extended object reference based on said request, said extended object reference having, in addition to a server address field and an object key field, at least one additional field; accessing workload management policy data based on said extended object reference; and selecting one of said plurality of servers based on said accessed workload management policy data.

Abstract: A method for filtering an internetwork packet wherein multiple paths to a destination network are provided. The method comprises the step of providing a forwarding list that comprises a plurality of entries selected by a user. The forwarding list indicates a plurality of possible paths to a selected destination. One of the entries is selected by the user as a primary entry that indicates a default path. When an internetwork packet is destined for the destination network is received, the packet is forwarded to the destination network via the default path if the primary entry indicates a valid path. Otherwise, the packet is forwarded to the destination network via another path as indicated by another entry. According to an alternative embodiment, a different forwarding list is provided for each subnetwork of a source network, and the forwarding list is selected based on the source address of the packet.