Abstract: A system and method for allowing access to data or processing on a remote computer. An authorizing computer provides client computers with a data specification and remote computer address along with an authorization code that is digitally signed or encrypted and that may only be used for a limited number of times. A client computer then accesses the remote computer by providing the digitally signed authorization code. The remote computer responds with the data or processing if the digital signature is successfully verified and the authorization code has been used fewer than the limited number of times.

Abstract: A system, method and computer-readable medium are disclosed for providing support for a non-persistent service. According to a preferred method, a request for a transaction associated with a non-persistent service is received. It is determined whether the transaction can be executed, and a message associated with the request is placed in a queue. If the transaction can be executed, the message is sent to the non-persistent service and removed the message from the queue. Preferably, if the transaction cannot be executed, the message is removed from the queue without being sent to the non-persistent service. Also provided is a web application server that includes a queue for storing a message associated with a request for a transaction associated with a non-persistent service, and an interface for sending the message to the non-persistent service if the web application server can execute the transaction.

Abstract: A method, system and program product for control of regeneration of pooled objects in an object oriented programming environment. Objects in the pool are regenerated according to various schemes that define dependencies that need to be observed in scheduling a regeneration. According to the invention, an object that is marked “reserved” (in use) can be deferred for regeneration so as not to disrupt an active application for example.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for interactively scheduling and negotiating meetings wherein an active agent program accepts meeting criteria from a meeting requester and interacts with invitees to resolve availability according to the meeting criteria. The agent transmits the negotiated meeting schedule to invitees and optionally requires confirmation from invitees.

Abstract: A method, system and computer readable medium for providing an editing mode for a graphical user interface (GUI) is described. A toggle widget is provided to a user of a GUI during execution of the application presenting the GUI. When the user presses the toggle widget, the GUI is placed in an editing mode, whereby the normal functions of all of the widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget, are suspended. While in editing mode, the user is allowed to modify the locations of all of the widgets of the GUI, except for the toggle widget. The user subsequently modifies the locations of widgets of the GUI. Then, the user presses the toggle widget again and the GUI is exited from editing mode. Once exited from editing mode, the normal functions of all of the widgets of the GUI are restored and the new locations of the widgets are fixed.

Abstract: A method and system that allows definition of software agent packages that include software agent processing code and identification of zero or more processing extensions and of a runtime environment. In a preferred embodiment, an XML document is generated that identifies the files containing the agent code, identifies the runtime environment and extensions to be used by the agent, and that includes configuration data for the runtime environments and the extension modules. The agent software package includes descriptions of agent methods that are exposed through extensions and are available to external processes. The XML document and agent code form an agent package that is transmitted to an agent server for installation. The developer transmitting the agent package can optionally specify that an instance of the agent is to be started after installation.

Abstract: A structured software agent hosting environment that supports installing software agents, runtime environments and agent software extensions along with bindings of those objects that are to occur at runtime. According to a method that is provided for hosting software agents, there is accepted an agent package associated with an agent. The agent package includes an agent module, a runtime specification and zero or more extension specifications. The runtime specification specifies a runtime module required by the agent module. The agent module is prepared for execution, and there is stored a runtime reference that includes an association of the runtime specification and the agent module. This allows a single software agent manager to provide uniform security processing, agent maintenance functionality and operational control of agents that are developed with a variety of software tools and that operate under disparate runtime environments.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing access to data or processing on a remote computer. An authorizing computer provides client computers with a data specification and remote computer address along with an authorization code that is digitally signed or encrypted and that may only be used for a limited number of times. A client computer then accesses the remote computer by providing the digitally signed authorization code. The remote computer responds with the data or processing if the digital signature is successfully verified and the authorization code has been used fewer than the limited number of times.

Abstract: A method and system enter a correction for a previously sent message, determine whether to send a complete corrected message or a message correction specification, and send the selected message to a messaging server. The messaging server receives the message correction specification and a message identifier (ID), and sends the message correction specification and the message ID to a recipient client system if a message with a corresponding message ID has previously been sent to the recipient client system. Then, the recipient client system receives the message correction specification and message ID, retrieves the message with a corresponding message ID from its conversation log, corrects the message, updates the conversation log, and activates an alert to notify a user of an update. If the message has not previously been sent, the messaging server corrects the message and sends the corrected message and the message ID to the recipient client system.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing client computers to access data or processing on remote computers without requiring the remote computer's recognition of the client computer. An authorizing computer provides client computers with a data specification and remote computer address along with an authorization code that may only be used for a limited number of times. A client computer then accesses the remote computer to access secure data. The authorization codes of the example embodiment are stored on the authorizing computer and the remote computer and simple look up and comparison is used to validate the authorization code on the remote computer.

Abstract: A system and method for routing instant messages uses a user presence service to aid a user in determining to send an instant message to an intended recipient based on user availability information. The method also uses a configurable delivery manager that defines, at runtime, a delivery policy to be used to route the instant message to an intended recipient of the message. The delivery policy is based upon a configuration of the delivery manager, a user configuration of the intended recipient, and one or more available delivery mechanisms. The delivery manager is configured by means of an ordered list of one or more available delivery mechanisms. The delivery manager routes the instant message by dispatching the message by selecting sequential delivery mechanisms, in the order of appearance on the ordered list, until the user presence service indicates the intended recipient is available using the selected delivery mechanism.

Abstract: Configurable, pluggable delivery managers are responsible for routing instant messages to intended recipients. A delivery manager is selected for a particular message, and that delivery manager defines, at runtime, a delivery policy to be used to route the instant message to an intended recipient of the message. The delivery policy is based upon a configuration of the delivery manager, a user configuration of the intended recipient, and one or more available delivery mechanisms. The delivery manager routes the instant message using the delivery policy.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating an online marketplace. According to the method, a request for bid for a good or service that does not identify the purchaser is received from a purchaser and transmitted to a plurality of sellers via an electronic network. At least one offer for the good or service is received from at least one of the sellers via the electronic network, with the sellers sending the offers not knowing the identity of the purchaser that will receive the offers. The offers are transmitted to the purchaser. In one preferred embodiment, a purchase order identifying the purchaser is communicated from the purchaser to one of the sellers that submitted an offer in order to purchase the good or service. Also provided are methods for communicating between a purchaser and one or more sellers in an online marketplace.

Abstract: A method is provided for responding to a resource request from a requesting user node in a network of user nodes. According to the method, a response to the resource request is received at a first user node of the network, and it is determined (e.g., randomly) whether or not to send the response back to the requesting user node. When it is determined not to send the response to the requesting user node, the response is forwarded to a second user node of the network through a direct connection. When it is determined to send the response to the requesting user node, the response is sent back to the requesting user node. Also provided is a user node for use in a computer network having user nodes that are each connected to other user nodes through direct connections.

Abstract: A method is provided for discovering resources in a network of user nodes. According to the method, a resource request to be published is received at a first user node of the network, and it is determined (e.g., randomly) whether or not to send the resource request to a server node. When it is determined not to send the resource request to the server node, the resource request is forwarded to a second user node of the network through a direct connection. When it is determined to send the resource request to the server node, the resource request is sent to the server node for publication. Also provided is a user node for use in a computer network of the type that includes user nodes and at least one server node, with each user node being connected to at least one other user node through a direct connection.