Abstract: Automatically managing database applications, including identifying, by a management extension, an SQL server host connected to a storage system, wherein the SQL server host comprises an SQL server managing an SQL database supported by the storage system; identifying, by the management extension, the SQL database supported by the storage system based on the identified SQL server host; and scheduling, by the management extension, a backup of the SQL database.

Abstract: Asynchronous voice messaging is employed to enable individuals to send voice clips back and forth over a network. In at least some embodiments, the voice clips reside in the form of discrete, manageable objects that can be easily managed by the user. In addition, some embodiments described provide hand-free/eyes-free functionality that can permit a user to create and send (or receive and play) a voice message without having to physically enter an intended recipient's address or otherwise digitally manipulate the device over which the message is sent or received.

Abstract: A method of supporting all raster-based image manipulations described in vector-based terms. The present invention has the benefits of providing clean transformation that vector-based manipulations yields, and providing a broad selection of all image transformation operations that raster-based manipulations yield. In one aspect of the invention a vector-defined shape is drawn on top of a raster-based image by replacing the contents of the vector image with the bits from the raster image. In another aspect of the present invention, a copy of the portion of the raster image that overlaps with the vector-defined portion is made, the transformation operation is performed on the copy, and then the portion of the raster image is replaced with the transformed copy.

Abstract: A transponder used in conjunction with a computer software product discourages unauthorized copying. The transponder is attached to or embedded in the computer-readable media (e.g. the CD-ROMs, DVDs) that comes with the product. Before the software product can be installed on a user's computer, the installation software may activate a radio-frequency (RF) device and query the transponder for an identification number. The identification number is associated with the particular copy of the software that the user is attempting to install. The installation software attempts to verify the identification number and, if successful, proceeds with the installation of the software.