Abstract: A method for determining a recrawl schedule of items on an intranet using a search appliance includes estimating, using the search appliance installed on the intranet, a change period for items on the intranet using a history of crawl information for the items. The change period for an item may be a frequency of change in content of the item. The method includes calculating a crawl period for each of the items, where the crawl period for an item is set relative to the change period for the item. The method includes determining whether to adjust the calculated crawl period for each of the items using adjustment criteria, adjusting the calculated crawl period for selected items determined for adjustment using the adjustment criteria and creating a recrawl schedule of the items on the intranet using a recrawl time for each of the items.

Abstract: A system for multi-protocol communication in the computer network has a user interface layer with a common data structure to permit instant messaging communication with multiple service providers that each have different communication protocols. Message data and commands are transferred to a conversion platform layer using an application programming interface (API). Within the conversion platform layer, the data and commands transformed to conform with the messaging requirements and communication protocol of the different service providers. The conversion process is transparent to the user and permits instant messaging to recipients regardless of the recipient's service provider. Incoming messages received from a recipient are received by the conversion platform layer and converted from the messaging requirements and communication protocol of the recipient's service provider to the common data structure of the user interface.