Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a computerized market and integrated service chain for the aviation industry by use of a plurality of participant terminals using software tools and electronic devices. The present invention provides suppliers with specialized marketing and pricing tools for participating and non-participating aircraft operators and offers aircraft operators tools for displaying, managing, and analyzing suppliers' pricing and service offerings. The invention additionally creates a means for aircraft operators to integrate scheduling activities with the purchase of fuel and services in a paperless, detailed reporting environment, while using one or more credit providers but without the need for pilots to present any physical form of payment. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, suppliers are provided a method to display, manage, and integrate service requests from all aircraft operators.

Abstract: The present invention provides tools and techniques for manipulating virtual partitions in a virtual engine environment without necessarily committing each partition manipulation by actually modifying on-disk system structures. A virtual engine, virtual partitions, virtual drives, and other structures in the virtual engine environment permit users to experiment with different partition manipulations in a safe and efficient manner. A batch manager manages a resulting list of partition manipulation operations, which may be optimized. The batch list may also be executed automatically by a conventional partition manipulation engine without requiring additional user input at the end of each list entry. The present invention also provides the ability to manipulate extended partitions automatically and provides support for remote partition manipulation through a two-part user interface architecture.

Abstract: A system and method of providing associations between resources and actions in a network includes the steps of providing, in a database schema an action object class defining the structure and attributes of actions available in the network. During operation, action objects are created and stored in a database. When a user enters the system, an internal list is created at that user, identifying the resources available to that user and the action objects capable of being performed on those resources. When a user selects an resource object, the action objects associated with that resource object are displayed, the user selects the action, and the action is performed at the resource. In one example the selection of an action objects cause an associated application to be launched. Each action object represents a string of executable code.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for management of application programs in a computer network are disclosed. A modified hierarchical database which includes application objects that represent applications and their execution environments is utilized. Administrator tools support the creation, deletion, and modification of application objects. Each application object includes the location of an executable code for a given application, an icon, a working directory name, drive mappings, printer port captures, command line parameters, and similar information. An application launcher queries the database and updates a list of available applications which is kept in the user's desktop. The launcher automatically launches specified applications when a user runs the launcher. The launcher also uses the information in the application object to setup resources needed by the application, to create a process that executes the application, and to clean up after the application terminates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for management of application programs in a computer network are disclosed. A modified hierarchical database which includes application objects that represent applications and their execution environments is utilized. Administrator tools support the creation, deletion, and modification of application objects. Each application object includes the location of an executable code for a given application, an icon, a working directory name, drive mappings, printer port captures, command line parameters, and similar information. An application launcher queries the database and updates a list of available applications which is kept in the user's desktop. The launcher automatically launches specified applications when a user runs the launcher. The launcher also uses the information in the application object to setup resources needed by the application, to create a process that executes the application, and to clean up after the application terminates.