Abstract: A universal serializer/deserializer (“ser/des”) is disclosed that provides hardware implemented modules of those functions determined to be most applicable to a communications protocol. Functionality that is determined to be more unique for a given protocol is implemented in software. Accordingly, a universal ser/des is provided that is able to be used for a plurality of different protocols now known, and configured to communicate with protocols that may be developed in the future.

Abstract: In an electronic mail system environment, a system and method for automatically checking recipients' names, providing message flags, providing custom forms, and providing an autoresponse feature. Recipients' names are resolved in the background, while the user of the e-mail system is composing the message. The user easily resolves ambiguous names by using a context menu. The resolved ambiguous names are automatically used to create nicknames, which are used to resolve ambiguous names in the future. Message flags allow a sender or recipient to identify required follow-up action and a deadline. The recipient may use the message flags to quickly determine which messages require follow-up action. The e-mail system notifies a recipient when a due date is approaching or when a follow-up action is past due. A custom forms feature allows a user to create and share custom forms without requiring the form to be published or installed by other user.

Abstract: A bandwidth boost system is disclosed that increases the bandwidth to a client by transmitting data over both a wireline communication path and a wireless communication path. A control system receives a request from the client over the wireline communication path for a first and second data set. The control system processes the request to generate first and second transmit instructions. The control system transfers the first data set and the first transmit instructions to a wireline transfer system and transfers the second data set and the second transmit instructions to a wireless transfer system. The wireline transfer system transmits the first data set to the client over the wireline communication path. The wireless transfer system establishes the wireless communication path with the client and transfers the second data set to the client over the wireless communication path.

Abstract: A system and method for real time search that matches a plurality of client queries against a plurality of terms extracted from a plurality of information packets. The method and system allows implementation of complex matching techniques in real time. The method and system provides that a group of information packets originating from a single information source is checked in order to provide a query result. In addition, it provides that received information packets and information representative of a reception of extracted terms are stored in a manner that allows fast insertion and deletion of content.

Abstract: In an electronic mail system environment, a system and method for automatically checking recipients' names, providing message flags, providing custom forms, and providing an autoresponse feature. Recipients' names are resolved in the background, while the user of the e-mail system is composing the message. The user easily resolves ambiguous names by using a context menu. The resolved ambiguous names are automatically used to create nicknames, which are used to resolve ambiguous names in the future. Message flags allow a sender or recipient to identify required follow-up action and a deadline. The recipient may use the message flags to quickly determine which messages require follow-up action. The e-mail system notifies a recipient when a due date is approaching or when a follow-up action is past due. A custom forms feature allows a user to create and share custom forms without requiring the form to be published or installed by other user.

Abstract: A system for selecting a data communications provider. A decision making agent establishes a framework for making the decision based on specific criteria and specific logic. The decision making agent draws on databases which store the quality of service requirements and the parameters regarding each service provider. This information may be updated automatically. When a decision is reached, it is suggested to the user who either accepts it or overrides it and manually inputs his own decision. The connection is then made automatically or scheduled for later connection.

Abstract: The invention relates to Internet telephony, and in particular an arrangement of gatekeepers in a H.323 network to reduce signalling during call set-up procedures. This is achieved by arranging the gatekeepers hierarchically, that is each gatekeeper knows a number of lower level gatekeepers (except the “bottom” nodes) and a higher level gatekeeper (except the “top” node). During set-up of a call, the gatekeeper connected to the calling user performs a user location algorithm on its attached users and lower level gatekeepers. If this procedure fails, it will proceed to its higher level gatekeeper.

Abstract: A personal Web view is created that includes a plurality of Web clippings. Each Web clipping contains information from a user-selected Web page, which can be essentially any Web page that is accessible on any Web server. In creating the page, the user loads a personalization applet into his browser and retrieves each Web page of interest. The applet then generates an access script for automatically accessing that Web page and the user specifies the attributes of the Web clipping derived from that Web page. A specification of the Web view is then stored in a file. When the Web view specification is later replayed, the Web page for each Web clipping is retrieved and the specified information is extracted. The plural Web clippings are then displayed in a browser in accordance with the specified layout.

Abstract: A system for managing licenses for protected software on a communication network is disclosed. The system includes at least one client computer that is capable of being coupled to or decoupled from the communication network. While coupled to the communication network, a user of the client computer may request a commuter authorization to use the protected software. At least one license server is also coupled to the communication network. Each license server is programmed for managing a distribution of allocations to use the protected software. In addition, at least one of the license servers is programmed for granting a commuter authorization in response to a request for a commuter authorization from a client computer if there is an available authorization. After a commuter authorization is received by a client computer, the client computer stores a commuter authorization lifetime representing a time period for which the commuter authorization is valid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of parsing a message including a string of characters comprises defining at least one character as a delimiter and setting a starting indicator and a closing indicator. A portion of the string between the starting and closing indicators is collected by a parser method, the portion including at least one delimiter character. The delimiter character is ignored by the parser method so that the portion (the token) of the string may be extracted in its entirety. Additional starting and closing indicators may be nested, with the parser method recursively calling itself with each encounter of a new nested starting indicator.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing unnecessary alert messages is achieved by allowing a user agent to store alert, and alert update, messages in storage remote from the alert generation system. Typically, these alerts would come from a central source, such as a rule engine. Without local storage of prior alerts, the rule engine would have to generate new alerts for each new user entering the system.

Abstract: A method for correlating an electronic mail message with related (e.g., reply or forwarded) electronic mail messages is disclosed. When a user initiates a reply to an electronic mail message on an electronic mail system, the system checks for reply or other (e.g., forwarded) messages which are related to the original electronic mail message and are received by the user at a later time.

Abstract: Processing data packets includes comparing an actual arrival rate of data packets to a first threshold value, comparing the number of data packets stored in a queue to a second threshold value, and transmitting the data packets in the queue if the actual arrival rate is at least as great as the first threshold and the number of data packets in the queue is at least as great as the second threshold value.

Abstract: A node for a storage area network has a processor, at least one port for connection to a storage area network, and a memory system. The memory system contains machine readable instructions for managing the at least one port, including instructions for determining a status associated with the at least one port capable of holding at least failed, probationary, normal and active status. For any failed port, the instructions include instructions for detecting a repair and when repair is detected for advancing the status to active or probationary status—probationary status being set when no exchange is pending to a target node reachable only through the repaired port. For probationary ports, the instructions detect when the port operates without error for a predetermined period and advances the status from probationary to active or normal. Network exchanges are preferentially routed over an active or normal port, rather than transmitting them over probationary ports.

Abstract: A system for disseminating information over a wide area network includes a central caching unit for storing data to be made available over the wide area network. Local access give users access to the wide area network. Distributed caching units associated with the local access nodes for store cacheable material. A satellite communications system establishes satellite communications between the central caching unit and the local caching units for the transfer of cacheable material from the central caching unit to the local units. A router at the local access nodes routes packets from users to a destination address. The router includes local routing tables containing the addresses of material cached at the associated local node and responds to routing requests for locally cached material by directing the requests to the local cache.

Abstract: In a public internet access terminal, the combination comprising an access station, and computer apparatus at the station and including a user keyboard and data display means, and a user credit card reader at the station, and the computer apparatus including circuit means operatively connected to the card reader to be responsive to reading of user credit card data to enable user access to the internet via the computer apparatus at the access station.

Abstract: A method of rapidly determining the transmission time and range of a position message under an Internet virtual reality environment is employs a timer scheme for updating the virtual reality environment by using a timer to count a time value. A virtual scene is divided into plural blocks. A block where a user is in and blocks neighboring to the block are defined as a low interactive area of interest, which is divided into plural sub-blocks. A sub-block where the user is in and sub-blocks neighboring to the sub-block are defined as a high interactive area of interest. A message is transmitted to update the virtual reality environment based on different settings of the low interactive area of interest and the high interactive area of interest when the timer is up and the virtual reality environment reaches a predetermined inconsistency, wherein the time value for the high interactive area is shorter than that for the low interactive area.

Abstract: Gathering data and providing messages concerning a networked appliance. A software application in the appliance detects the occurrence of events and records indications of the events in real-time or near real-time. Certain events such as appliance errors, or events for which a user desires notification, are associated with alert messages. Upon detecting one of those events, the software application captures a snapshot or set of the events and transmits to a user machine, system server, or web site the set of events along with the alert message and a link to the system server or web site. Upon viewing the alert message, such as via a web page, the user can enter a command to send the events and alert message to the system server or web site for use in servicing the appliance.

Abstract: A medium is set in a computer, and identification information of the set medium is read out. Related information about the medium is obtained in accordance with the identification information read from the medium. The obtained related information is displayed on a display.

Abstract: The invention provides an electronic equipment controlling apparatus and method and an electronic equipment controlling system by which functions of an electronic equipment can be utilized effectively. AV equipments are connected to a PC module by an IEEE 1394 cable. Each of the AV equipments includes a ROM in which information of function units built in the AV equipment is stored. Upon initialization, the PC module receives transmission of and stores the information of the function units of the AV equipments from the AV equipments. When an instruction to record data reproduced from a first one of the AV equipments onto a second one of the AV equipments is received, the PC module transfers data in accordance with the information of the function units stored therein and automatically searches for function units to be processed.