Abstract: Disclosed is a method and structure for provisioning information within a network which employs an intermediary, such as an intermediary provisioning server, to automatically distribute and maintain provisioning information between network components such as marketplace and vendor server computers and customers.

Abstract: A system and method for metering the use of network-accessible computer resources by multiple users, each user being associated with two or more tenant client computing device connected to a multi-tenant system via a network. The multi-tenant system includes a load balancer and access control device, a server computing device, and a consolidated user store. Requests to use resources of the multi-tenant system are generated by one of the tenant client computing devices and are received by the load balancer and access control device. In response to such requests, the system executes usage measurement initiation instructions, processes usage measurement computation instructions and records usage measurement data, periodically detects recordation of the usage measurement data in said local memory cache, and aggregates said usage measurement data in said consolidated user store.

Abstract: A connection is established between a node on a first network and at least one node on a second network lacking a valid address on the first network by receiving at a gateway a connection request from the node on the first network, sending information related to the connection request to a plurality of nodes on the second network, receiving responses to the sent information from at least one of the nodes on the second network, and establishing at least one connection between at least one of the nodes on the second network from which responses are received, and the node on the first network, according to the order of the received responses or according to priority weighting information or according to priority weighting information concerning the nodes from which the responses are received.

Abstract: A method for collaborative creation of artwork by a plurality of users is presented. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of users log onto the Internet and transmit to a collaboration server partial artwork and location information. Said collaboration server assembles said partial artwork and makes it available for viewing and voting by a plurality of users. A voting mechanism determines which partial artwork submissions are accepted and which are rejected. Said accepted partial artwork submissions are stored by said collaboration server. Said collaboration server continues to receive and store accepted partial artwork submissions for a configurable amount of time. Said collaboration server and voting mechanism mark said plurality of accepted partial artwork as final once enough votes have been received in favor of finalization.

Abstract: A connection is established between a node on a first network and at least one node on a second network lacking a valid address on the first network by receiving at a gateway a connection request from the node on the first network, sending information related to the connection request to a plurality of nodes on the second network, receiving responses to the sent information from at least one of the nodes on the second network, and establishing at least one connection between at least one of the nodes on the second network from which responses are received, and the node on the first network, according to the order of the received responses or according to priority weighting information or according to priority weighting information concerning the nodes from which the responses are received.

Abstract: A connection is established between a node on a first network and at least one node on a second network lacking a valid address on the first network by receiving at a gateway a connection request from the node on the first network, sending information related to the connection request to a plurality of nodes on the second network, receiving responses to the sent information from at least one of the nodes on the second network, and establishing at least one connection between at least one of the nodes on the second network from which responses are received, and the node on the first network, according to the order of the received responses or according to priority weighting information or according to priority weighting information concerning the nodes from which the responses are received.

Abstract: A method for distributing and maintaining network presence information is presented. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a user logs onto the Internet and transmits to an Internet Presence Information Server (IPIS) his/her presence information, a list of peers (individual network users) whose network presence are of interest to the user, and a request for a list of peers interested in the user's network presence. The IPIS then responds to the user with both a list including the last known Internet Protocol (IP) address for each peer the user is interested in and a list of peers interested in the user's Internet presence. No further communication between the user and IPIS is required after the IPIS responds to the user with these two lists. The user then attempts to directly contact the peers on the first list received from the IPIS by confirming and authenticating the received IP addresses.

Abstract: A method for distributing and maintaining network presence information is presented. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a user logs onto the Internet and transmits to an Internet Presence Information Server (IPIS) his/her presence information, a list of peers (individual network users) whose network presence are of interest to the user, and a request for a list of peers interested in the user's network presence. The IPIS then responds to the user with both a list including the last known Internet Protocol (IP) address for each peer the user is interested in and a list of peers interested in the user's Internet presence. No further communication between the user and IPIS is required after the IPIS responds to the user with these two lists. The user then attempts to directly contact the peers on the first list received from the IPIS by confirming and authenticating the received IP addresses.