Abstract: An application program interface system and method for automating high speed network access ordering and provisioning processes, particularly involving business to business interactions, such as automating interactions between ISPs and ILEC/CLECs for xDSL service ordering and provisioning processes, are disclosed. The method for automating communications between service providers in connection with providing a high speed network access service generally comprises electronically receiving a request message relating to the high speed network access service from a service provider via a network, processing the request message from the service provider using a computer system to automatically generate a response message to the request message, and electronically transmitting the response message to the service provider via the network.

Abstract: Previous systems and methods for personalizing web content presented to a user has been achieved in a decentralized manner by storing personal data relating to the user repeatedly by different content providing servers. Consequently, the consistency of the data stored can be inconsistent and, in some cases, incomplete. Additionally, the user does not have any control over the dissemination of the content. The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method whereby web related data is modified in communications between user equipment units and content providing servers. The modification to the web related data is carried out by a proxy server (20) having access to centrally stored personal data in a data store (22). Consequently, data provided to content providing servers is consistent, complete and the information provided by the content providing servers to the user has a higher degree of relevance to the user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide an architected way for a web server to access a user registry in a directory service such as LDAP. In the preferred embodiments, the logic for presenting and processing a web page is encapsulated from the logic that interacts with the directory service, making it easy for a programmer to make changes to the a user registration form without having to have a detailed knowledge of the directory service and its interfaces.

Abstract: Data migration from an existing NAS to a new NAS and processing of access from a client are executed in parallel. A migration destination NAS inherits the host name and IP address of a migration source NAS. The network environment parameters of the migration source NAS are changed to different values. The migration destination NAS causes data to migrate from a migration source storage region, in which a shared file system of the migration source NAS is mounted, to a migration destination storage region. In a case where there is an access request from the client during data migration, the migration destination NAS selects one of the storage region in correspondence to the migration status of the requested data and provides that data. Data of a “not copied” status is provided from the migration source storage region. Data of a “copied” status is provided from the migration destination storage region.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates transferring data between a data device and a data terminal across a network. The system initializes itself by establishing connections between the controller, multiplexer, and data device. The system operates by receiving a request at a multiplexer from a controller to transfer data from the data device to the data terminal. The multiplexer forwards this request to the data device that has the requested data. The multiplexer then receives a set of parameters from the data device, including the location of the outgoing data within the data device. The multiplexer moves the data from the data device into an outgoing data stream, thereby removing the necessity of first copying the data into the controller.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring data across a network protocol bridge is disclosed. In one embodiment, a multi-processing engine configuration is used wherein processing engines are tasked with carrying out specific data transfer operations. In another embodiment, this multi-processing engine configuration is implemented in a protocol bridge in which data is being transferred between Fibre Channel and a network bus that is coupled to a host system. In one embodiment, the network bus is a PCI/PCI-X bus.

Abstract: An arrangement for inserting advertisement media into a streaming multimedia file destined for an end-user uses a caching inserter including a first cache for storing a loaded advertisement file and a second cache for holding the streaming multimedia file that needs to be buffered as the advertisement file is sent to the end-user. The advertisement file may be inserted at the beginning of the multimedia file, the end, or at any point during the stream. Once the advertisement begins to be sent to the end-user, the incoming multimedia stream is cached and then is played out of the cache once the advertisement has ended. As a result of the time delay associated with the advertisement, the remainder of the multimedia file must be cached then played out until the stream is complete.

Abstract: Tracking changes made in a directory server by establishing plural multicast groups for a respective plurality of change categories. Change information is submitted for multicast responsive to a change in the directory server, the change information being submitted to a selected one of the plural multicast groups, for multicast by the selected group, in correspondence to the category of the change. The change information may be submitted to the multicast group utilizing a connectionless protocol. Clients register with at least one of the plural multicast groups in order to obtain the change information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implementing location-based identification in a communication network. The method comprises establishing a network connection between a host and a network, transmitting network data packets from the host through a connection port, transmitting data packets from the host through a location-specific connection port and identifying the port at an access concentrator in the form of a port identifier. The port identifier is then communicated to a network device, typically a gateway device, and stored in a database in communication with the network device. The method may include tagging the network packets at the access concentrator with a port identifier that corresponds to a media access control (MAC) address. The access concentrator and the network device will tag and communicate port numbers by assigning VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) identifiers to the ports.

Abstract: The present invention provides several methods and apparatuses for transmitting multimedia data using streaming media protocols such as real-time transfer protocols (RTP) and real-time streaming protocols (RTSP) in a computer network environment. In one exemplary embodiment, a request for RTP data and its associated extension is sent from the caching proxy server to the server. The request may be for one specific type of data or multiple unrelated types of data. The server responds to the request indicating its support for the requested RTP extension data. The caching proxy server determines whether to proceed or terminate the data transmission process based on the response provided by the server. If it is determined to proceed with the data transmission process, the caching proxy informs the server to send the requested and supported RTP data. The server sends the requested data in a variable and extendible header format.

Abstract: A message system for delivering data in the form messages between message clients comprises a server cluster with a group of client manager nodes and a group of independent message manager nodes. The client manager nodes have the function of managing client connections, whereas the message manager are configured to store and distribute messages. The system further comprising communication channel means in the form of a multicast messagebus for providing a multicast communication channel between said at least one client manager node and said at least one message manager node. The system guarantees delivery of a message by storing it until a receiver is ready to consume it.

Abstract: A data processing system and method for scheduling a sequential execution of multiple commands. The data processing system includes an environment which executes the commands concurrently. Execution of the plurality of commands is scheduled in the environment so that the commands execute sequentially in programming order. When the commands are scheduled, a first one of the commands in the order begins and completes executing prior to a second one of the commands in the order beginning executing. When scheduled, the commands execute in the environment sequentially in programming order. In order to execute the commands sequentially, a process is spawned within which to execute the command. The execution status of the process is checked periodically by checking a process table. When the process has completed executing, a new process is spawned within which to execute the next command in the sequential order.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates single sign-on services in a hosting environment. The system operates by first receiving a request from a user to access a partner application at an application server. The system then determines if the user holds a token granting access to this partner application. If the user does not hold this token, the system redirects the request to a single sign-on server. This single sign-on server requests a user authentication credential from the user. Upon receiving the user authentication credential, including an entity identifier, the single sign-on server verifies if the user is authorized to access the partner application based on the entity identifier. If the user is authorized to access the partner application, the single sign-on server issues a token to the user, which grants the user access to the partner application.

Abstract: A method and system for obtaining a network address stored in a peripheral device, and accessing a remote device at the network address to obtain information related to the peripheral device. When the peripheral device is connected to a host computer, the stored network address is read by the host computer. The network address is preferably determined by the host computer when a peripheral device, such as a USB device, is initially connected to the host device, or when the host device with a newly connected USB is energized. The network address is then used by the host device to communicate with a remote device so that information pertaining to the peripheral device, such as a device driver for the peripheral device, can be accessed by the host device at the remote device.

Abstract: What is disclosed is acquiring information regarding a web page, without having to commit to downloading that page. In one embodiment, after a current web page is downloaded from one source, and information regarding web pages linked to by links in the current web page are downloaded from a second source, when a user hovers a cursor over a link on a current web page, an informational region is displayed by the link that includes the information from the second source. The informational region may include, for example, a text box that apparently floats by the link. The information in the region can include, for example, keywords in the meta tags of the web page; paragraph headings of the web page; links on the web page to other pages; etc.

Abstract: A data processing system and method are disclosed for automatically installing a device driver on a plurality of client computer systems which are each executing a different operating system. The data processing system includes a server computer system coupled to the client computer systems via a network. These client computer systems are the systems which are to receive and install the device driver. Different versions of the device driver are created and stored within the server computer system. One of the different versions is copied to one of the client computer systems. The version of the device driver that is copied is the version which is executable by this operating system being executed by the client. The server computer system then causes the client computer system to install this version of the device driver on the client.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for intelligently assigning a portion of a cluster's traffic (e.g., buckets) to a cache system to minimize overloading of such cache system. In general terms, when a new cache system enters a cache cluster and/or starts up, the new cache system's full bucket allocation is not immediately assigned to the new cache system. Instead, only a portion of the full bucket allocation is initially assigned to the new cache system. In one embodiment, the new cache system's bucket assignment is gradually increased until the cache system is handling it's full bucket allocation or it becomes overloaded. The cache system's load is also checked periodically to determine whether it has become overloaded. When the cache system becomes overloaded, buckets are immediately shed from the cache system. In sum, the new cache system's load is adjusted until it is handling an optimum number of buckets.

Abstract: A system and method of provide real-time monitoring and control of a production environment. Manufacturing equipment having proprietary or non-standard digital interfaces provide a plurality of data streams having incompatible communication protocols that are converted to a common communication protocol by a translator and aggregated on a local area network. The resulting aggregated data stream is transmitted across an open network such as the internet or via a wide area network to a remote network. Virtual remote engineering of the production environment is possible from the remote network through monitoring, analysis and control of the production environment.

Abstract: A system and method for remote monitoring and control of a Foundation Fieldbus process network utilizes an applet/servlet pair, the applet residing on a remote node on a wide area network such as the Internet, the servlet residing on a node communicably linked to the wide area network and to the process network. The servlet is operative to collect data via the FMS layer from one or more process devices such as field devices residing on the process network and to have translated the collected data and to transmit the translated data via the wide area network to the applet residing on the remote node. The information is displayed to the user by an appropriate interface such as the graphical interface of a browser running on the remote node. The user may initiate communications by instantiating the applet via a hyperlink in a web page or otherwise, and may input and receive information via the browser's graphical interface.

Abstract: A management station includes a management application that controls zoning within devices manufactured or provided from different vendors within a network, such as a data storage network. The management application receives a generic zone control command from a user to control zoning within a device in the network. The management application translates the zone control command to one or more vendor specific device zone control commands in a vendor specific device command set that is specifically designed to control zoning within devices from a specific vendor. To perform the translation, the management application identifies the vendor of one or more devices that are affected by the zone control command. Based on this identification, the management application selects an appropriate vendor specific device command set that contains vendor specific zone control commands.