Abstract: A method for managing multimodal interactions can include the step of registering a multitude of modality components with a modality component server, wherein each modality component handles an interface modality for an application. The modality component can be connected to a device. A user interaction can be conveyed from the device to the modality component for processing. Results from the user interaction can be placed on a shared memory area of the modality component server.

Abstract: The present solution can include a SQL coprocessor. The SQL coprocessor can comprise silicon-based logic within which a set of machine-readable instructions that are associated with one or more silicon-based components of a database architecture can be implemented. A silicon-based component can include a protocol interface component, a SQL parsing component, a calculation engine component, and/or an I/O handing component.

Abstract: The present solution can include a method for automatically loading navigational information into a rental vehicle's navigation system. A rental agency's system can acquire navigational information from a user that is associated with a particular rental occurrence prior to a rental vehicle being assigned to that user's rental request. The navigational information can then be stored in a data store that can be accessed by rental agency's system. At some time after the collection of the navigational information for the rental occurrence, the rental agency can assign a rental vehicle to the user's rental occurrence. Once a rental vehicle is assigned, the navigational information can be loaded into the in-vehicle navigation system of the assigned rental vehicle.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for specifying Web service behavior that includes a step of exposing an internal logic flow of a Web service to clients. The internal logic flow can include at least one activity, which is defined by a set of machine-readable instructions. A special invocation command for the Web service can be received from a client. The special invocation command can specify a modification for the activity. An instance of the Web service can be invoked for the client, where the Web service instance implements the modification instead of the activity.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a chat tool including a chat window configured to permit a user to simultaneously receive chat messages for two or more different chat sessions, thereby permitting side discussions within a secondary chat session. Each of the different chat sessions can correspond to a session specific chat channel. Different chat sessions can include private and public sessions. The participants of a private chat session can be participants of the public chat session and/or can be able to view discussions occurring in the public chat session. Further, members of the public chat session can be unaware of the existence of the private chat session. Any number of private chat sessions can be spawned from a public chat session using an invitation option, which automatically establishes new private sessions for invited individuals.

Abstract: A method for providing driving directions can include the step of within a mobile telephone device, associating one or more of audio files with enabling GPS coordinates. The audio files can include digitally encoded speech that specify driving instructions. Current GPS coordinates for the mobile telephone device can be ascertained. When the current GPS coordinates match enabling GPS coordinates, the audio file associated with the enabling GPS coordinates can be played.

Abstract: A method of processing a request for a plurality of Web services can include receiving a request specifying at least two Web services, storing an object pattern from the request in a common memory, and scanning the common memory with a plurality of watchers. Each watcher can be associated with a Web service and can specify a rule for invoking an associated one of the Web services. The method also can include detecting that the object pattern matches a rule of at least two of the watchers, wherein each watcher having a rule matching the object pattern invokes an associated one of the Web services.

Abstract: A system for presenting telecommunication services to potential customers can include a distributed, platform independent registry disposed within a publicly accessible network. The registry can include a plurality of entries, each entry specifying at least one telecommunication service, wherein selective ones of the telecommunication services can be provided by two or more providers. Each entry can further contain connectivity information for contacting an associated one of the providers across a publicly accessible network in order to obtain the telecom service from the provider. Each of the telecommunication services can be configured to function within multiple switch environments.

Abstract: A method for providing driving directions can include the step of within a mobile telephone device, associating one or more of audio files with enabling GPS coordinates. The audio files can include digitally encoded speech that specify driving instructions. Current GPS coordinates for the mobile telephone device can be ascertained. When the current GPS coordinates match enabling GPS coordinates, the audio file associated with the enabling GPS coordinates can be played.

Abstract: A method of modifying services can include reading a plurality of beliefs and a plurality of rules. The beliefs can describe at least one of data and a function available from a plurality of service providers. The rules can define conditions for combining different ones of the plurality of beliefs. The method further can include automatically combining at least two beliefs from the plurality of beliefs according to the rules to create a service.

Abstract: A method of modifying an existing standard-based system using collaborative annotations can include associating an annotation with a message of the standard-based system. The message can correspond to a first service and the annotation can specify at least one of a second service. The method further can include intercepting the message and executing the annotation. At least one of the second service can be automatically invoked according to the annotation.

Abstract: A method (50) of dynamic creation of service flows includes exposing (51) a flow of a service being built to other service providers in a network, soliciting (52) for modification of at least a portion of the flow, and selectively enabling (56) other service providers to modify at least a portion of the flow. The step of soliciting can optionally include advertising (53) BPEL files to indicate flows or portions of flow that are modifiable by other services providers and tagging (54) such BPEL files to indicate such modifiable or reusable portions of the flow. The BPEL files can also be published (55) in a UDDI-like directory. New flows can be created by incorporating (57) the modifications into at least a portion of the flow. Optionally, solicitations for modifications can be removed (59) once the new flow is created.

Abstract: A method (50) of dynamic creation of web services includes exposing (51) a flow of a service being built to other service providers in a network, soliciting (52) for services needed by a flow node of the flow, and enabling (55) other service providers to fill-in the services needed for the flow node. The method can further include incorporating (56) the services filled-in by the other service providers and optionally removing (57) any solicitation for services needed by the flow node once the services are filled-in and incorporated by the flow. The method can then complete (58) all the nodes of the flow, and create and deploy the service. Note, the step of soliciting can include advertising (53) WSDL files for the services needed by the flow node. The step of soliciting can also optionally include publishing (54) needed WSDL files in a UDDI-like directory.

Abstract: An information replication method for sharing information among a community of distributed, autonomous software entities. The method can include the step of within a particular one of the entities, detecting an information replication event. The particular entity can randomly select an entity from a community list specific to the particular entity. The community list can include entities within the community that the particular entity is aware of. Data can be replicated from a problem solving space of the particular entity to a problem solving space of the selected entity. After a specified interval, the randomly selecting step and the replicating step can be repeated.

Abstract: A method of modifying an existing standard-based system can include automatically identifying at least one message of the standard-based system at runtime. A constraint can be associated with a selected message of the standard-based system at runtime. The constraint can be one that is not a specifiable option within the standard-based system. The method also can include intercepting the selected message and applying the constraint to the selected message.

Abstract: A method for managing multimodal interactions can include the step of registering a multitude of modality components with a modality component server, wherein each modality component handles an interface modality for an application. The modality component can be connected to a device. A user interaction can be conveyed from the device to the modality component for processing. Results from the user interaction can be placed on a shared memory are of the modality component server.

Abstract: A method for managing application modalities using dialogue states can include the step of asserting a set of activation conditions associated with a dialogue state of an application. Each of the activation conditions can be linked to at least one programmatic action, wherein different programmatic actions can be executed by different modality components. The application conditions can be monitored. An application event can be detected resulting in an associated application condition being run. At least one programmatic action linked to the application condition can be responsively initiated.

Abstract: A method of scheduling a request for a plurality of Web services can include providing service activation rules. Each service activation rule can specify a trigger condition and a state condition for causing a watcher to invoke a particular Web service. The method also can include receiving an event indicating a change in a common memory, wherein each event specifies trigger information, comparing the trigger conditions of the service activation rules with the trigger information of the event, adding the service activation rules that match the event to a trigger list, and comparing the state conditions of service activation rules in the trigger list with a state of the common memory. The service activation rules of the trigger list that match the state of the common memory can be selected thereby causing the invocation of at least one watcher and corresponding Web service.

Abstract: A method of processing a request for a plurality of Web services can include receiving a request specifying at least two Web services, storing an object pattern from the request in a common memory, and scanning the common memory with a plurality of watchers. Each watcher can be associated with a Web service and can specify a rule for invoking an associated one of the Web services. The method also can include detecting that the object pattern matches a rule of at least two of the watchers, wherein each watcher having a rule matching the object pattern invokes an associated one of the Web services.

Abstract: A method of processing a request for a plurality of Web services can include storing, in a cache, a pattern object from a request for Web services and a list of watchers that invoked Web services responsive to detecting the pattern object. The method also can include receiving a new request for Web services specifying a new pattern object and determining whether the new pattern object matches the cached pattern object. If so, each watcher in the list of watchers can invoke an associated Web service. If no match with the cached pattern object is determined, each watcher can analyze the new pattern object, such that any watcher determining that the new pattern object matches a provisioned rule invokes an associated Web service.