Abstract: A messaging system and associated computer program product. The messaging system includes a plurality of browsers connected through a common server. The server includes a message engine for receiving from a first user browser a request to enter chat mode with a second user browser; then receiving asynchronously from the second user browser a request to download any content from the common server or any other intranet or Internet server; and responding to the request from the second user browser with content modified to instantiate a chat session between the first and second user browsers.

Abstract: A client-server application is provided to clients across a network. Requests from the client are accepted by a reliable proxy and sent to master and standby configurations of the client-server application. Each configuration processes the request to produce master and standby responses respectively. The proxy selects one response based on various criteria including a length being greater than the other response by more than a fixed value. The selected response is returned to the client over the internet. The configuration producing the selected response is thereafter designated as the master configuration. A recovery process may be initiated on the unselected configuration.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for processing a database query by a proxy server that is adapted to communicate with at least one database server. The database servers are respectively coupled to corresponding databases having tables that include a data isolation field pertaining to a group having subgroups. The data isolation field identifies a subgroup. The proxy server receives the query from an application server. The query is a request for data stored one of the databases. The proxy server determines whether the query has a data isolation problem. If the query does not have a data isolation problem, then the proxy server obtains a response to the query from one of the database servers and forwards the response to the application server. Otherwise, the proxy server records that a query error has occurred and returns an error code and/or empty dataset to the application server.

Abstract: A messaging system and associated computer program product. The messaging system includes a plurality of browsers connected through a common server. The server includes a message engine for receiving from a first user browser a request to enter chat mode with a second user browser; then receiving asynchronously from the second user browser a request to download any content from the common server or any other intranet or Internet server; and responding to the request from the second user browser with content modified to instantiate a chat session between the first and second user browsers.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing a cost of ownership of a portfolio of N software applications (N?2). A regression function is identified for each application. Each regression function expresses an approximate cost of ownership of the applications in terms of parameters and coefficients. J applications A1, A2, . . . , AJ are selected from the N applications such that a remaining N-J applications are unselected (J<N). The coefficients for the N-J unselected applications constitute a subset of the coefficients for the J selected applications. Fj represents the approximate cost of ownership of the application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J. An actual cost of ownership Gj of application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J is provided. The coefficients for the J selected applications are determined so as to minimize a function H=?jWj|Fj?Gj|P (P>0). ?j represents a summation over j from j=1 to j=J. Wj are predetermined weights.

Abstract: A messaging system includes a plurality of browsers connected through a common server. The server includes a message engine for receiving from a first user browser a request to enter chat mode with a second user browser; then receiving asynchronously from the second user browser a request to download any content from the common server or any other intranet or Internet server; and responding to the request from the second user browser with content modified to instantiate a chat session between the first and second user browsers.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing a cost of ownership of a portfolio of N software applications (N?2). A regression function is identified for each application. Each regression function expresses an approximate cost of ownership of the applications in terms of parameters and coefficients. J applications A1, A2, . . . , AJ are selected from the N applications such that a remaining N-J applications are unselected (J<N). The coefficients for the N-J unselected applications constitute a subset of the coefficients for the J selected applications. Fj represents the approximate cost of ownership of the application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J. An actual cost of ownership Gj of application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J is provided. The coefficients for the J selected applications are determined so as to minimize a function H=?jWj|Fj?Gj|P (P>0). ?j represents a summation over j from j=1 to j=J. Wj are predetermined weights.

Abstract: A method for managing a cost of ownership of a portfolio of N software applications (N?2). A regression function is identified for each application. Each regression function expresses an approximate cost of ownership of the applications in terms of parameters and coefficients. J applications A1, A2, . . . , AJ are selected from the N applications such that a remaining N?J applications are unselected (J<N). The coefficients for the N?J unselected applications constitute a subset of the coefficients for the J selected applications. Fj represents the approximate cost of ownership of the application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J. An actual cost of ownership Gj of application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J is provided. The coefficients for the J selected applications are determined so as to minimize a function H=?j Wj|Fj?Gj|P(P>0). ?j represents a summation over j from j=1 to j=J. Wj are predetermined weights.

Abstract: A client-server application is provided to clients across a network. Requests from the client are accepted by a reliable proxy and sent to master and standby configurations of the client-server application. Each configuration processes the request to produce master and standby responses respectively. The proxy selects one response based on various criteria including a length being greater than the other response by more than a fixed value. The selected response is returned to the client over the internet. The configuration producing the selected response is thereafter designated as the master configuration. A recovery process may be initiated on the unselected configuration.

Abstract: A client-server application is provided to clients across a network. Requests from the client are accepted by a reliable proxy and sent to master and standby configurations of the client-server application. Each configuration processes the request to produce master and standby responses respectively. The proxy selects one response based on various criteria including a length being greater than the other response by more than a fixed value. The selected response is returned to the client over the internet. The configuration producing the selected response is thereafter designated as the master configuration. A recovery process may be initiated on the unselected configuration.

Abstract: A method for managing a cost of ownership of a portfolio of N software applications (N?2). A regression function is identified for each application. Each regression function expresses an approximate cost of ownership of the applications in terms of parameters and coefficients. J applications A1, A2, . . . , AJ are selected from the N applications such that a remaining N?J applications are unselected (J<N). The coefficients for the N?J unselected applications constitute a subset of the coefficients for the J selected applications. Fj represents the approximate cost of ownership of the application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J. An actual cost of ownership Gj of application Aj for j=1, 2, . . . , J is provided. The coefficients for the J selected applications are determined so as to minimize a function H=?j Wj|Fj?Gj|P(P>0). ?j represents a summation over j from j=1 to j=J. Wj are predetermined weights.

Abstract: A client application server includes a client server, a proxy authentication server, and an authentication server. The proxy authentication server maintains a set of one or more authentication rules and an authentication request table. The client server is responsive to an authentication request from a user including a user identifier for directing the authentication request to the proxy authentication server for searching the authentication request table for entries for the client; responsive to finding one or more entries, applying the filter rules; responsive failing a filter rule, rejecting the authentication request in a response message to the client server; and responsive to passing all relevant filter rules, directing the authentication request to the authentication server for authenticating the user.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for processing a database query by a proxy server that is adapted to communicate with at least one database server. The database servers are respectively coupled to corresponding databases having tables that include a data isolation field pertaining to a group having subgroups. The data isolation field identifies a subgroup. The proxy server receives the query from an application server. The query is a request for data stored one of the databases. The proxy server determines whether the query has a data isolation problem. If the query does not have a data isolation problem, then the proxy server obtains a response to the query from one of the database servers and forwards the response to the application server. Otherwise, the proxy server records that a query error has occurred and returns an error code and/or empty dataset to the application server.

Abstract: A messaging system includes a plurality of browsers connected through a common server. The server includes a message engine for receiving from a first user browser a request to enter chat mode with a second user browser; then receiving asynchronously from the second user browser a request to download any content from the common server or any other intranet or Internet server; and responding to the request from the second user browser with content modified to instantiate a chat session between the first and second user browsers.

Abstract: A client-server application is provided to clients across a network. Requests from the client are accepted by a reliable proxy and sent to master and standby configurations of the client-server application. Each configuration processes the request to produce master and standby responses respectively. The proxy selects one response based on various criteria including a length being greater than the other response by more than a fixed value. The selected response is returned to the client over the internet. The configuration producing the selected response is thereafter designated as the master configuration. A recovery process may be initiated on the unselected configuration.