Abstract: Disclosed is a method, apparatus and computer program for sampling a data feed of messages at regular time intervals. A current sample point is identified. A time interval is also identified which is defined by the current sample point and at least one of the previous sample point and the subsequent sample point. At least one message is selected to associate with the current sample point. The selection is made from the identified time interval.

Abstract: In a messaging system, pruning messages from a data store according to similarity of topics and the number of requests for the individual messages and the time intervals between requests of messages of similar topic.

Abstract: Provided are methods, apparatus and computer program products for switching between data streams. The data streams include a matching set of data items in a consistent sequence. One data stream may be a superset of the other, and which data stream is running ahead of the other may not be known in advance. It is desired to synchronize the data streams so that a data receiver can be switched from a first to a second data stream without loss of data. For a time period of interest, characteristics of a first data item on one stream are compared with characteristics of each latest-received data item on the other stream until a match is identified. This match is used to identify a synchronization point for the switch between data streams.