Abstract: A method for providing a security provider for a client comprises providing a service provider interface, that is compatible with a security framework layer, and one or more services. The one or more services include at least one of, authentication, authorization, auditing, role mapping and credential mapping. The one or more services can be exposed through the service provider interface and the framework layer can expose the one or more services to an application program interface.

Abstract: A system for distributing information from a first process to one or more security service modules. The system comprises a remote interface, capable of accepting first information from the first process, and a provisioning service provider (PSP) coupled to the remote interface. The PSP can obtain the first information from the remote interface, and also can provide second information to a local interface. The second information is based on the first information and is tailored for the one or more security service modules. The local interface can provide the second information to the one or more security service modules and the one or more security service modules can accept the second information and perform at least one of the following: adjust a configuration of the one or more security service modules to reflect the second information, and protect access to at least one resource based on the second information.

Abstract: A system and method comprising the steps of, delegating a capability from a first user to a second user, propagating information that includes evidence of the delegation to a plurality of security service modules, wherein each one of the plurality of security service modules is capable of protecting one or more resources, providing the evidence to a first security service module belonging to the plurality of security service modules, enforcing the delegation when the second user attempts to access a resource in the one or more resources wherein the resource is protected by the first security service module, and wherein the enforcement is carried out by the first security service module.

Abstract: A system and method for distributed enterprise security, comprising, a server operable to update information, wherein the information can include one or more of a policy and configuration information, a security control module (SCM) operable to accept the information, at least one security service module (SSM) operable to accept the information from the SCM, and herein the information accepted by the SCM is relevant to one or more of the at least one SSMs.

Abstract: An interoperability system provides highly individualized, on-demand access to a plurality of services by a plurality of users. Each of the plurality of users is associated with one of a plurality of independent enterprises, and the plurality of services are associated with and controlled by a plurality of independent service providers. A directory maps an identity corresponding to each of the users to a policy framework which defines access policies relating to the services. The system can connect with each of the clients and each of the services, and facilitate interaction among the client machines and the services with reference to the directory and the policy framework.

Abstract: A computer system may be configured with software that performs an automated process for identifying intellectual property likely to be owned by a specified entity. The process may include receiving information indicative of the identity of the specified entity. The process may include searching intellectual property ownership data for explicitly-owned intellectual property that is owned by the specified entity. The intellectual property ownership data may be indicative of the identity of intellectual property owned by various entities. The process may include identifying characteristics of the explicitly-owned intellectual property, other than the identity of the specified entity.

Abstract: A computer system may be configured with software that performs an automated process for identifying intellectual property owned by a specified company. The process may include receiving information indicative of the identity of the specified company. The process may include searching parent/subsidiary data for subsidiaries of the specified company. The parent/subsidiary data may be indicative of the identify of subsidiaries of various companies. The process may include searching intellectual property ownership data for intellectual property owned by the specified company and by the subsidiaries of the specified company. The intellectual property ownership data may be indicative of the identity of intellectual property owned by various companies. The process may include generating a report identifying the intellectual property owned by the specified company and by each of the subsidiaries of the specified company.

Abstract: A computer system may be configured with software that performs an automated process for identifying at least potions of the likely employment history of a specified individual. The process may include receiving information indicative of the identity of the specified individual. The process may include searching patent inventor data for patents and/or patent applications that list the specified individual as an inventor. The patent inventor data may be indicative of the inventors of patents and/or patent applications. The process may include searching patent ownership data for owners to whom the specified inventor has transferred the patents and/or patent applications. The patent ownership data may be indicative of owners to whom inventors have transferred their interests in patents and/or patent applications. The process may include generating a report listing the owners in association with the specified individual.

Abstract: A computer system may be configured with software that performs an automated process for identifying likely competitors of a specified entity. The process may include receiving information indicative of the identity of the specified entity. The process may include searching patent ownership data for patents and/or patent applications that are owned by the specified entity. The patent ownership data may be indicative of the identity of owners of patents and/or patent applications. The process may include searching patent citation data for patents and/or patent applications that are cited by and/or that cite to the patents and/or patent applications that are owned by the specified entity. The patent citation data may be indicative of the identity of patents and/or patent applications that cite to or are cited by other patents and/or patent applications.

Abstract: Thermoplastic compositions that reflect ultraviolet light are provided herein, along with articles of manufacture and methods of fluid purification using the same. The thermoplastic compositions preferably comprise a suitable thermoplastic material and microparticles of UV reflective material, such as aluminum or stainless steel. The thermoplastic compositions are useful, for example, in forming articles of manufacture comprising a UV reflective surface that are suitable for use in a water treatment system in connection with a UV light source.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for effectively provisioning services for access by other entities or services. In general, a service manager is configured to manage the provisioning of services between remote entities within a computer network. In general terms, a remote entity offers a service to another remote entity through the service manager. The service manager facilitates formation of the offer to one or more Invitee(s) specified by the service provider. After an offer is formed, it may then be provided to the specified Invitee(s). After an Invitee receives an offer, the Invitee may accept the offer through the service manager or let the offer expire. The service manager also preferably tracks the status of each offer and whether each specified Invitee has accepted such offer. After an Invitee accepts an offer, the service manager preferably records information sufficient for the Invitee to use the offered service.

Abstract: Thermoplastic compositions that reflect ultraviolet light are provided herein, along with articles of manufacture and methods of fluid purification using the same. The thermoplastic compositions preferably comprise a suitable thermoplastic material and microparticles of UV reflective material, such as aluminum or stainless steel. The thermoplastic compositions are useful, for example, in forming articles of manufacture comprising a UV reflective surface that are suitable for use in a water treatment system in connection with a UV light source.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining an inkjet printer printhead in a working state, the printer defining an array of orifices from which in use jets of ink are projected. The apparatus may have a means for applying a pressure pulse to ink with the printhead sufficient to discharge ink from each orifice when not in use to project ink. The pressure pulse may have a relatively rapidly rising leading edge and a relatively slow falling trailing edge.

Abstract: An electronic program guide (EPG) organizes and presents programming information to the viewer and allows for creation of queries to facilitate both simple and complex searches of the programming information. According to one aspect, the EPG is configured to automatically identify programs that a viewer is likely to prefer. The EPG collects viewing preferences of a viewer and, based upon the these viewing preferences, automatically develops queries for identifying programs that the viewer is likely to want to watch. The EPG further enables multiple viewers to merge their individual queries into one composite query or to run queries in background to periodically check for programs and notify the viewer when a program is identified. Queries are saved in an EPG database in a hierarchic structure with directories and sub-directories to make it easy for a viewer to organize and retrieve queries. Another aspect concerns creating queries for a channel, network name or program name using a 10-key keypad.

Abstract: A memory for storing data for access by an application program being executed on a computer system, comprising, a data structure stored in said memory, said data structure including, a name attribute wherein the name identifies an action or a role, a resource attribute wherein the resource attribute specifies a resource in a hierarchy of resources and determines a scope for the name attribute, a subject attribute wherein the subject attribute specifies at least one of, a user and group, and wherein the application program accesses the memory through an interface that is part of a security service module.

Abstract: A system and method for distributed enterprise security, comprising, a security control module (SCM) operable to accept information, wherein the information includes one or more policies, at least one security service module (SSM) operable to accept the information from the SCM, a role mapping module coupled to the at least one SSM, wherein the role mapping module is operable to map a user to at least one role based on the information, and wherein the information accepted by the SCM is relevant to the at least one SSM.

Abstract: A system and method for distributing security information, comprising, a remote interface capable of accepting the information from a distributor wherein the information includes at least one of: policy information and configuration information, a local interface capable of providing the information to at least one services layer, wherein the at least one services layer includes at least one security provider, and wherein the at least one services layer can dynamically configure the at least one security provider based on the information.

Abstract: A system and method for a distributed enterprise security, comprising, a first process capable of providing a second set of information derived from a first set of information, wherein the first set of information includes one or more of: a policy and configuration information, a security control module (SCM) capable of accepting the second set of information wherein the second set of information only includes information from the first set of information that is relevant to the SCM and wherein the SCM is capable of providing a third set of information wherein the third set of information is derived from the second set of information, a security service module (SSM) capable of accepting the third set of information from the SCM wherein the third set of information only includes information from the second set of information that is relevant to the SSM, wherein the SSM is capable of controlling access to one or more resources based on the third set of information, and wherein the SSM is capable of configuring

Abstract: A system and method for a configurable distributed security system, comprising, a security service module capable of dynamically instantiating one or more plugin security provider modules, the one or more security provider modules are coupled to the security service module wherein the one or more security provider modules are capable of responding to one or more changes in configuration information, a first process capable of modifying the configuration information, wherein the security service module is capable of accepting at least one of, security information and the configuration information, and wherein the security service module is capable of controlling access to one or more resources based on the security information.