Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for distributing software packages to one or more clients. Providing software to one or more clients can comprise generating a software package and publishing the package to a media accessible by the one or more clients. A description of the software package can also be generated and published. The description can identify the software package, contents of the software package, and uses of the software package. A client can obtain software packages from one or more servers by reading the description of software packages available on the one or more servers. A determination can be made as to whether the description indicates at least one of the software packages is available for the client. In response to determining at least one of the software packages is available for the client, the software package can be downloaded and installed on the client.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide enhanced authentication solutions, including without limitation methods, systems and software programs for authenticating an entity and/or for facilitating such authentication. In accordance with certain embodiments, an entity (such as a user, a computer, etc.) attempts to authenticate in order to use a resource (such as a server, an application, etc.). Merely by way of example, the entity may provide a username or some other identifier to a computer responsible for authenticating the entity. In response, the authenticating computer may transmit a challenge, such as an authentication code. In particular embodiments, the challenge may be used to derive an authentication reply, which in turn may be used to derive and/or create a password (in one set of embodiments, the authentication reply itself may be the password).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for soliciting and facilitating a response to an electronic communication. According to one embodiment, a method of soliciting and facilitating a response to an electronic communication can comprise receiving from an originator a request for the electronic communication with one or more recipients. Based on the request, a determination can be made as to whether to solicit a response from the one or more recipients. In response to determining to solicit a response from the one or more recipients, one or more possible responses to the electronic communication can be determined, at least one message that includes the one or more possible responses can be generated, and the at least one message can be sent to the one or more recipients to initiate the communication.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for soliciting and facilitating a response to an electronic communication. According to one embodiment, a method of soliciting and facilitating a response to an electronic communication can comprise receiving from an originator a request for the electronic communication with one or more recipients. Based on the request, a determination can be made as to whether to solicit a response from the one or more recipients. In response to determining to solicit a response from the one or more recipients, one or more possible responses to the electronic communication can be determined, at least one message that includes the one or more possible responses can be generated, and the at least one message can be sent to the one or more recipients to initiate the communication.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for distributing software packages to one or more clients. Providing software to one or more clients can comprise generating a software package and publishing the package to a media accessible by the one or more clients. A description of the software package can also be generated and published. The description can identify the software package, contents of the software package, and uses of the software package. A client can obtain software packages from one or more servers by reading the description of software packages available on the one or more servers. A determination can be made as to whether the description indicates at least one of the software packages is available for the client. In response to determining at least one of the software packages is available for the client, the software package can be downloaded and installed on the client.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide enhanced authentication solutions, including without limitation methods, systems and software programs for authenticating an entity and/or for facilitating such authentication. In accordance with certain embodiments, an entity (such as a user, a computer, etc.) attempts to authenticate in order to use a resource (such as a server, an application, etc.). Merely by way of example, the entity may provide a username or some other identifier to a computer responsible for authenticating the entity. In response, the authenticating computer may transmit a challenge, such as an authentication code. In particular embodiments, the challenge may be used to derive an authentication reply, which in turn may be used to derive and/or create a password (in one set of embodiments, the authentication reply itself may be the password).