Abstract: A system for synonym generation and/or identification can be utilized to make a search engine more effective in finding relevant search results. In embodiments, a synonym generation system includes a phrase vector module, a vector similarity module, and a vector filter module. Candidate synonym phrase pairs are selected from data sources for analysis. Data sources may include a log of search queries, a corpus of web text, and a set of merchant descriptions of products. The data sources may be analyzed with respect to the phrase pairs to generate vector representations of the phrase pairs. The vector representations may then be analyzed to determine a similarity vector. The similarity vector allows the synonym generation system to filter synonyms from the candidate phrase pairs.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for effecting payments via a mobile phone. A purchase request is received from a merchant on behalf of a customer. A code is provided to the customer via the merchant, via a first communication path. A purchase confirmation is directly received from the customer, the purchase confirmation being prompted by provision of the code to the customer. The purchase is validated via using the purchase confirmation from the customer via a second communication path different from the first communication path. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing access of user information by third party applications are provided herein. A method includes compiling a set of user instructions for providing access of user resources to one or more third party applications, wherein the set of user instructions specifies a context in which each of multiple items of the user resources at one or more application programming interface providers can be accessed by the third party applications; mapping a request from one of the third party applications for access to one or more items of the user resources to the application programming interface providers, which correspond to one or more entities maintaining the user resources; and granting access to the one or more items of the user resources to said one third party application through the application programming interface providers based on the set of user instructions.

Abstract: Techniques, a system and an article of manufacture for social network-assisted electronic payments. A method includes determining one or more members of a user's social network to query for a financial contribution towards payment of a real-time transaction between the user and a merchant, querying said one or more members in an order based on descending likelihood of member financial contribution until sufficient funds for payment of the transaction are received or all of said one or more members have been queried, and processing a money transfer from the user and/or each of said one or more members to the merchant to complete the real-time transaction.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for centralized policy management of multiple security domains in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. A policy enforcement point component in the data processing system receives an access request. The policy enforcement point component is managed by a plurality of security domains. The policy enforcement point component queries a policy broker component in the data processing system. The policy broker component determines an access decision that complies with policies of the plurality of security domains. It does so by orchestrating a workflow that involves the policy decision, administration, and information components of those domains. The policy broker component returns the access decision to the policy enforcement point component.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for effecting payments via a mobile phone. A purchase request is received from a merchant on behalf of a customer. A code is provided to the customer via the merchant, via a first communication path. A purchase confirmation is directly received from the customer, the purchase confirmation being prompted by provision of the code to the customer. The purchase is validated via using the purchase confirmation from the customer via a second communication path different from the first communication path. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein.

Abstract: Techniques, a system and an article of manufacture for social network-assisted electronic payments. A method includes determining one or more members of a user's social network to query for a financial contribution towards payment of a real-time transaction between the user and a merchant, querying said one or more members in an order based on descending likelihood of member financial contribution until sufficient funds for payment of the transaction are received or all of said one or more members have been queried, and processing a money transfer from the user and/or each of said one or more members to the merchant to complete the real-time transaction.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for managing mobile transactions. A mobile number of a customer is registered with a mobile telephone network operator. An alternate mobile number is assigned to the customer, and the mobile number is associated with the alternate mobile number. The alternate mobile number is employed in communication between the customer and a service provider.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for managing mobile transactions. A mobile number of a customer is registered with a mobile telephone network operator. An alternate mobile number is assigned to the customer, and the mobile number is associated with the alternate mobile number. The alternate mobile number is employed in communication between the customer and a service provider.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for centralized policy management of multiple security domains in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. A policy enforcement point component in the data processing system receives an access request. The policy enforcement point component is managed by a plurality of security domains. The policy enforcement point component queries a policy broker component in the data processing system. The policy broker component determines an access decision that complies with policies of the plurality of security domains. It does so by orchestrating a workflow that involves the policy decision, administration, and information components of those domains. The policy broker component returns the access decision to the policy enforcement point component.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements for handling web-based purchase requests. A customer request for content of a third party content provider is received at a charging service provider. An authorization code on behalf of the content provider is generated and returned to the customer via a channel other than a channel which links the customer with the third party content provider. The authorization code is accepted from the third party content provider as received by the third party content provider from the customer, the authorization code is verified, and charging for the requested content is executed.

Abstract: A proxy directory server discovers the topology of distributed directory server immediately after starting up and before accepting client requests. Immediately after starting up, the proxy server executes queries to extract the structured data corresponding to directory distribution information from the distributed directory servers. Dynamic topology reconfiguration of the distributed directory is achieved by any dynamic configuration changes made to the topology information directly at the proxy during operation being propagated by means of directory update operations to the distributed directory servers.

Abstract: A proxy directory server discovers the topology of distributed directory server immediately after starting up and before accepting client requests. Immediately after starting up, the proxy server executes queries to extract the structured data corresponding to directory distribution information from the distributed directory servers. Dynamic topology reconfiguration of the distributed directory is achieved by any dynamic configuration changes made to the topology information directly at the proxy during operation being propagated by means of directory update operations to the distributed directory servers.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and products relating to displaying, in a shared user-interface object, system-administration-related content from a heterogeneous group of resources associated with a computing device and/or executing software operable to cause a system-administration task to be performed. In one embodiment, a user interface for a local program executing on a computing device is presented as a part of a Web page that is supplied from a remote server.

Abstract: A proxy directory server discovers the topology of distributed directory server immediately after starting up and before accepting client requests. Immediately after starting up, the proxy server executes queries to extract the structured data corresponding to directory distribution information from the distributed directory servers. Dynamic topology reconfiguration of the distributed directory is achieved by any dynamic configuration changes made to the topology information directly at the proxy during operation being propagated by means of directory update operations to the distributed directory servers.

Abstract: A proxy directory server discovers the topology of distributed directory server immediately after starting up and before accepting client requests. Immediately after starting up, the proxy server executes queries to extract the structured data corresponding to directory distribution information from the distributed directory servers. Dynamic topology reconfiguration of the distributed directory is achieved by any dynamic configuration changes made to the topology information directly at the proxy during operation being propagated by means of directory update operations to the distributed directory servers.

Abstract: A replication model has replicas store selected entries from subtrees. Only entries satisfying a particular search criterion specified by a filter are stored. Query containment is used to determine whether the query can be answered locally, or a referral to a remote server is required.

Abstract: A method for reducing device discovery delays in frequency hopping based ad-hoc networks is disclosed. According to the method, an activity being performed is periodically interrupted to scan for inquiry messages from other devices for a pre-determined period time period. Processing of a received inquiry message, in accordance with normal procedures applicable to the particular frequency hopping based ad-hoc network, occurs after expiry of a random time period. At the end of the predetermined time period, the original activity is returned to. A device for use in frequency hopping based ad-hoc networks that embodies the described method and a computer program product for such a device, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A replication model has replicas store selected entries from subtrees. Only entries satisfying a particular search criterion specified by a filter are stored. Query containment is used to determine whether the query can be answered locally, or a referral to a remote server is required.

Abstract: A framework for answering Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) queries from previously cached queries includes a proxy server configured to receive client directory queries. The proxy server maintains a cache of data (entries) and semantic information associated with a query. In response to a query received from client, the proxy invokes a query containment procedure which uses the semantics of the incoming and stored queries to determine whether the query can be answered from cached queries. The proxy answers queries from the local cache when possible, and for other queries it sends the request to a directory server. The semantics of the new query and the resulting data (entries) are added to the cache. The method and apparatus can be used for positive conjunctive queries for answering equality, range and substring queries.