Abstract: An operator guidance system is provided for an administrator managing a computer network such as a distributed computer system. Fault events reported by a fault management system in the network are enhanced to include topology information about other nodes (such as neighbor nodes, path nodes and/or service nodes) that may have been responsible for the fault. The enhanced events are correlated with configuration commands used in the past to correct faults. A set of guidance rules are developed based on the actions that were taken by the operator in handling previous faults of a similar nature. The guidance rules can be displayed to the administrator to facilitate network fault resolution. Using a set of predefined policies, some of the corrective actions can be performed automatically.

Abstract: A method of analyzing log data related to a software application includes: selectively collecting data log entries that are related to the application; agnostically categorizing the data log entries; and associating the categories of the data log entries with one or more operational states of a model.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting malicious behavior in mobile ad-hoc wireless networks. The mobile ad-hoc network contains a plurality of actual nodes and a plurality of decoys that are derived from the actual nodes using duplicate instances of the operational software of the actual nodes in combination with a virtual interconnection topology created to make the decoys appear as actual nodes within the mobile ad-hoc network. The interconnection topology includes routing characteristics indicating that the most efficient path of communication to any given decoy is through at least one actual node in the network. The decoys are used to identify malicious behavior in the network and in particular to identify attempt to communicate directly with decoys in contradiction to the created interconnection topology. When the malicious behavior is associated with an identifiable node, corrective action is taken that includes quarantining that node from the other nodes in the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing storage area network fabric. Preferably included are an arrangement for collecting user requirements on data flows to be supported by the fabric, an arrangement for grouping the data flows into flow groups according to at least one physical location parameter, an arrangement for designing components of fabric for the flow groups, the components being associated with at least one geographical region, and an arrangement for obtaining fabric by joining the fabric components via interconnection fabric, whereby flow groups over a plurality of geographical regions are supported.

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing storage area network fabric. Preferably included are an arrangement for collecting user requirements on data flows to be supported by the fabric, an arrangement for grouping the data flows into flow groups according to at least one physical location parameter, an arrangement for designing components of fabric for the flow groups, the components being associated with at least one geographical region, and an arrangement for obtaining fabric by joining the fabric components via interconnection fabric, whereby flow groups over a plurality of geographical regions are supported.

Abstract: The invention is directed to user-friendly multi-lingual text entry using a dynamically reconfigurable keyboard. A method for dynamically reconfiguring a keyboard according to an embodiment of the invention includes: displaying a first set of characters on the keyboard; providing language settings to an upper level system manager of a keyboard driver; communicating reconfiguration information corresponding to the language settings from the upper level system manager of the keyboard driver to a lower level device driver of the keyboard driver; and dynamically reconfiguring the keyboard to display a second set of characters.

Abstract: A method for selecting a best performing binding for a server and a client in a service-oriented architecture includes: discovering configuration information about the service and the operating environment of the server and the client; selecting the best performing binding between the client and the server based on the discovered information; enabling the selected binding in a binding proxy for communication between the client and the server.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for propagating contextual data in an audio communication by storing the contextual data obtained from a calling party in an extensible mark-up language formatted text document. A telephone call between a first party and a second party is converted to a session initiation protocol based voice over internet protocol communication, and the stored text document is attached to session initiation protocol messages that control the voice over internet protocol communication. The document is attached to the signaling messages by embedding the text document in a session description payload associated with the session initiation protocol message. The attached document is propagated with the audio communication, including when the signaling messages are used to transfer the audio communication from the second party to a third party or to add one or more addition parties to the audio communication.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for distributed policy evaluation. One embodiment of a method for evaluating a systems management policy, where the policy includes a condition and an action to be taken when the condition evaluates to TRUE, includes forwarding the policy, by a first autonomic manager, to at least a second autonomic manager and receiving at least partial evaluation results for the policy from at least the second autonomic manager.

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing storage area network fabric. Preferably included are an arrangement for collecting user requirements on data flows to be supported by the fabric, an arrangement for grouping the data flows into flow groups according to at least one physical location parameter, an arrangement for designing components of fabric for the flow groups, the components being associated with at least one geographical region, and an arrangement for obtaining fabric by joining the fabric components via interconnection fabric, whereby flow groups over a plurality of geographical regions are supported.

Abstract: The invention is directed to user-friendly multi-lingual text entry using a dynamically reconfigurable keyboard. A method for dynamically reconfiguring a keyboard according to an embodiment of the invention includes: displaying a first set of characters on the keyboard; providing language settings to an upper level system manager of a keyboard driver; communicating reconfiguration information corresponding to the language settings from the upper level system manager of the keyboard driver to a lower level device driver of the keyboard driver; and dynamically reconfiguring the keyboard to display a second set of characters.

Abstract: A solution for managing a computer infrastructure is provided. In particular, the solution can generate a set of tentative recovery segments for the computer infrastructure based on a related resource graph and a set of partition rules. The related resource graph can be generated based on a managed resource graph, which includes resource type information for each node in the managed resource graph. The set of tentative recovery segments can be used to manage the computer infrastructure and/or a set of recovery segments, which includes recovery characteristic(s) for each segment can be generated based on the set of tentative recovery segments and a set of recovery segment templates. In any event, the invention provides a solution that fully and/or partially automates the identification of recovery segments within a computer infrastructure, thereby enabling a more effective management of the computer infrastructure.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for generating documentation of a customized execution of a task of a process are disclosed. A documentation program is associated with the task. When the task is executed, an execution time of the task execution is detected, which triggers an execution of the documentation program. In the case that a process includes multiple tasks, documentation of the multiple tasks is generated in an order based on the detected execution times of the multiple tasks within the process.

Abstract: A method (and system) of providing preferred access to a service includes linking an authorization server of a service provider with a certification scheme provided by a business enterprise.

Abstract: A system for defining, disseminating, and evaluating policies in a policy-based decision system includes a unit for defining a hierarchy of policy groups, a unit for associating a group of orthogonal parameters with at least one policy group, a unit for defining at least one policy for one or more policy groups in said hierarchy, a unit for disseminating policies to one or more decision making component for at least one policy group in said hierarchy, and a unit for evaluating policies for at least one policy groups in the hierarchy.

Abstract: An adaptive data replication and caching system configured for deployment at the network edge. This system can include a data caching system configured to cache application data in a data store and to satisfy queries for application data from the cache. The system also can include a data replication system configured to replicate application data in the data store and to satisfy queries for application data against the replicated application data. Finally, the adaptive data replication and caching system can include a configurator for configuring portions of the data store for exclusive use by the data caching system and the data replication system.

Abstract: An adaptive data replication and caching system configured to enforce service terms at the network edge. Service terms can include, but are not limited to established quality of service (QoS) terms, as well as the terms of a service level agreement (SLA). This system can include a data caching system configured to cache application data in a data store and to satisfy queries for application data from the cache. The system also can include a data replication system configured to replicate application data in the data store and to satisfy queries for application data against the replicated application data. Finally, the adaptive data replication and caching system can include a configurator for configuring portions of the data store for exclusive use by the data caching system and the data replication system based upon the service terms.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring liveliness includes a management device which has an application layer where applications are executed. A connection monitor is located other than on the application layer, and the connection monitor is configured to receive requests from clients and deliver the requests to components on the application layer. The components include a generic application monitor which responds to liveliness monitor requests from the clients for all applications monitored, and one or more applications which response to requests to that application.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and program product for optimizing a distributed (software) application are provided. Specifically, a configuration of a target computing environment, in which the distributed application is deployed, is discovered upon deployment of the distributed application. Thereafter, based on a set of rules and the discovered configuration, one or more optimization techniques are applied to optimize the distributed application. In a typical embodiment, the set of rules can be embedded in the distributed application, or they can be accessed from an external source such as a repository.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and apparatus for web switching without connection termination while providing content routing functionality. Content-aware web switches terminate incoming TCP connections and inspect the HTTP header to recognize the URL (content) being requested from a web server farm. This invention maps application layer information (URLs) to MPLS labels. This allows a standard MPLS switch to provide web switching functionality without terminating TCP connections. In addition to content routing, this method is applied for client session affinity, server load balancing and service differentiation. This invention also relates to using TCP port numbers instead of MPLS labels to achieve web-switching functionality through the use of a TCP router that translates IP address and port numbers.