Abstract: A synchronization controller in a network of devices, provides content synchronization between the available content in the network and the content on another device. When the synchronization controller identifies the device for content synchronization with the home network, the synchronization controller attempts to match the device's content with content available in the home network. When there is a mismatch, the content manager starts a content session to transfer content from the device to the home network, or vice versa. During this process, the device need not know which home device it synchronized to, nor does it need to know what kind of format the content is stored in.

Abstract: A system for switching between computer hardware configurations is provided. The system may include multiple processors and an operating system that facilitates switching between a lock step or fail-over processing operation configuration and a multiprocessor operation configuration.

Abstract: A user identity authentication system in a network is implemented on a device or multiple devices in the network. The authentication system employs a map that translates device-specific user IDs to system-wide user IDs and vice versa. A user is authenticated on a device with a device-specific authentication method. Once a user is authenticated on a specific device, a device-specific user ID is translated into a system-wide user ID. This system-wide user ID is further translated into other device-specific user IDs such that other devices can authenticate the user based on the device-specific user IDs. Further, if a device is not capable of authenticating a user, it can delegate authentication to another device or a proxy.

Abstract: A method of unifying the different, device-specific and platform-specific access control lists (ACL) for different users and user groups in a home network. The home network has networked heterogeneous devices and hosting where a user is presented with a consistent, single view of ACL on home-wide users and user groups. Users in the home network, therefore, do not need to control ACL for device-specific users and user groups on each individual device. Instead, a user controls the home-wide ACL for home-wide users and user groups. The changes to home-wide ACL for home-wide users and user groups are propagated to individual devices. Further, changes on individual devices can be made to device-specific ACL for device-specific users and user groups. Such changes are subsequently propagated to the home-wide ACL for home-wide users and user groups.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for extending functionality of a first set of classes and methods in an application hosted by a computing arrangement. A mapping is established that maps original class names in the first set to corresponding substitute class names of classes in a second set. The classes in the second set change the functionality of the classes in the first set. In response to loading a class file of a class in the first set, the original class names are replaced with corresponding substitute class names in the class file. Classes referenced by the substitute class names are then instantiated in lieu of classes referenced by the original class names.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a group of networked, heterogeneous devices, wherein the group of devices are regarded as a logically single “device”. This method separates the state management aspect from control aspect, such that applications using this method need not manage the devices and data directly, and as a result can interact with a simplified, single ‘device’, or focus on controlling the simplified, single ‘device.

Abstract: A system and method in a network of devices, which ascertains the user's context to suggest the most preferred task for the user to perform. User's context includes his/her location, the content he/she is interested in, the devices which are being used by him/her, and the devices and content allowed to be used by the user. Using this context, the system suggests tasks to the user that are appropriate to that context. The determination of context and the suggestion of tasks are performed by keeping track of the content and the devices available to the user at any given time. The suggestion of tasks is performed in accordance with certain policies. For example, the user can control the behavior of the system by changing the rules in the policy. Tasks are in the form of simple sentences that can be easily understood by the user. If, based on certain context, more than one task is possible, the system suggests the task with the highest priority to the user.

Abstract: A method and system that facilitates prioritization of tasks available through the devices in a home network. The tasks are user level descriptions of the high-level actions a user and underlying devices can perform. By prioritizing tasks for a user, the present invention aims to minimize the effort required to compare and comprehend the usefulness and feasibility of tasks. In doing so, the number of tasks possible to a user can be reduced and the highest priority task for a given user and device can be used by the application software as the suggested ‘most likely’ task for the user.

Abstract: A system for providing single view of content in a network of devices includes a communication module that detects devices connected to the network, a directory module that discovers content in each detected device via the communication module and maintains a directory of such available content providing a single view of the discovered content for access thereto, and a content manager that provides access to the single view.

Abstract: A method of representing user tasks to be performed by one or more of a plurality of electronic devices in a task orchestration system. Each device includes therein a function description specifying a function that the device can perform. The function descriptions are obtained from one or more of the devices, task descriptions that describe device functionalities required for certain tasks are obtained, and task suggestion are generated based on the obtained device function descriptions and task descriptions. Each task suggestion represents a user task as an abstraction of on or more of the obtained device descriptions and task descriptions. The tasks suggestion are displayed on a display for the user to select from, wherein the user selected task suggestion is to be performed by orchestration (automation) of one or more of the devices based on task descriptions that use device functionalities described in the device function descriptions.

Abstract: A system and method for memory failure recovery is disclosed. The method discloses the steps of maintaining a predetermined number of duplicate and primary processes; keeping the processes in synchronization; managing the processes so that a single process image is presented to an external environment; detecting a computer system exception which affects one of the processes; and terminating the affected process. The system discloses, a primary process memory space which hosts a primary process; a duplicate process memory space which hosts a duplicate process corresponding to the primary process; a synchronization buffer which keeps the duplicate process in synchronization with the primary process; a processor which generates an exception signal in response to detection of a memory failure condition which affects the primary process; and an operating system which receives the exception signal, terminates the affected primary process, and maintains a predetermined number of primary and duplicate processes.

Abstract: A method of representing user tasks to be performed by one or more of a plurality of electronic devices in a task orchestration system. Each device includes therein a function description specifying a function that the device can perform. The function descriptions are obtained from one or more of the devices, task descriptions that describe device functionalities required for certain tasks are obtained, and task suggestion are generated based on the obtained device function descriptions and task descriptions. Each task suggestion represents a user task as an abstraction of on or more of the obtained device descriptions and task descriptions. The tasks suggestion are displayed on a display for the user to select from, wherein the user selected task suggestion is to be performed by orchestration (automation) of one or more of the devices based on task descriptions that use device functionalities described in the device function descriptions.

Abstract: A method of representing user tasks to be performed by one or more of a plurality of electronic devices in a task orchestration system. Each device includes therein a function description specifying a function that the device can perform. The function descriptions are obtained from one or more of the devices, task descriptions that describe device functionalities required for certain tasks are obtained, and task suggestion are generated based on the obtained device function descriptions and task descriptions. Each task suggestion represents a user task as an abstraction of on or more of the obtained device descriptions and task descriptions. The tasks suggestion are displayed on a display for the user to select from, wherein the user selected task suggestion is to be performed by orchestration (automation) of one or more of the devices based on task descriptions that use device functionalities described in the device function descriptions.

Abstract: A method for offloading execution load from a resource-constrained device to allow the device to run a resource intensive software program. A program is accessed using a first device and determines whether execution of the program will exceed resources of the first device. If the execution will exceed the resources of the first device, a load split is determined to split the program into a first portion and a second portion. The second portion of the program is offloaded to a second device, while the first portion of the program is retained on the first device. The first portion and second portion communicate via a network connection. Full program functionality is provided using the first device, wherein the functionality is provided by the first portion and second portion executing respectively on the first device and the second device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing memory of a data processing system. In one embodiment, memory objects are allocated in response to memory allocation requests. Each object has an associated plurality of addresses. Type-identifier codes are respectively stored in association with the memory objects. Upon detection of a transient memory error at a memory address a recovery action is selected and performed based on the type-identifier code of the object that is associated with the erring memory address.

Abstract: A method and system for pushing notifications to devices in a network including client devices and server devices. A connection is established between a client device and a server device. The client device sends a request for data to the server device. The server device sends a reply to the client device in response to the request, such that the reply contains a notification request for the client device to request further information from the server device. Further, the server device automatically notifies the client device that an event has occurred.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for selecting a combination of devices from a plurality of available devices, each device having service description information associated therewith. A user request is received into a coordinating device which processes the service description information for any available electronic devices to identify functionally responsive combinations of electronic devices, each functionally responsive combination responsive the user request. A score is calculated for each functionally responsive combination, using user preference information. One of the functionally responsive combinations is selected according to it having the best scores. A user preferences and experience computer-implemented method is provided for selecting an ad-hoc combination of electronic devices.

Abstract: Partitioning of programs that exploits the granularity of structured programs and enables partitioning and re-partitioning of a program at run-time. A run-time executable is partitioned according to the present techniques by building a graph of an execution history of the run-time executable such that the graph includes a set of nodes each corresponding to a software component of the run-time executable and a set of weighted edges that indicate a level of interaction among the software components. A set of intermediate partitionings of the nodes is then determined in response to the weighted edges and one of the intermediate partitionings is selected that meets a partitioning goal.

Abstract: A method for partitioning a graph structure takes into account external information that influence the desirability of partitionings. A method according to the present techniques includes determining a set of intermediate partitionings of the graph structure and determining a set of partitioning metrics for each intermediate partitioning in response to a set of external information pertaining to the graph structure. A partitioning is selected from among the intermediate partitionings using a partitioning policy that combines the partitioning metrics.

Abstract: A method for user-centric content storage that enables the permanent storage of content without user concern for data location or layout, and for ensuring data integrity transparently based on available secondary storage. A content storage device according to the present techniques includes mechanisms for mapping input content into one or more data entities according to content type; mechanisms for maintaining the mapping as content in added or changed; mechanisms for placing data entities transparently in accordance to data type; and mechanisms for transparently determining when and what data entities should be replicated without user concern.