Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for diagnosing network protocol errors using an XML document are provided. Data packet exchanges are captured and used to generate an XML document. In one embodiment, the XML document is passed through parser to diagnose the errors. In another embodiment, the network protocol errors are diagnosed by visually inspecting the XML document.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for generating an XML document to represent network protocol packet exchanges are provided. Each data packet consists of different internal fields. The fields are identified are used to generate the XML document. Specifically, the different fields are used as tagged element of the XML document.

Abstract: A method, computer program, and data processing system for billing vehicle-related services using ad hoc networks is disclosed. A device associated with the vehicle operator is discovered in an ad hoc network. Billing information is obtained from the device, and the operator is billed for whatever services are being utilized at present (e.g., parking or a toll road).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing a fine granularity alerting mechanism for alerting customers of the status of an order are provided. With the apparatus and methods, a customer selects a supplier of a good or service and places an order with the supplier. Upon submitting the order to the supplier, a session between the supplier and the customer is initiated such that the customer may be provided with one or more alerts of the current status of the customer's order. The one or more alerts may be periodic or may be based on the occurrence of one or more certain events. The alerts may include an estimated time of travel from a customer's current location to a location at which the order is to be completed along with an estimated time of completion of the order.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and system that can provide information on the rules, regulations and laws that will govern a particular business transaction. The rules, regulations and laws could be for a domestic business transaction between two states or for an international transaction between nations. This invention will enable a user that desires to participate in a business transaction to access information on the particular government rules and regulations that would apply to the transaction. The user would not only receive information rules and regulations that cover the proposed transaction, but the invention would also generate a summary of the activities and costs (such as tariffs) that would occur during the proposed transaction based on the governing rules and regulations.

Abstract: A methodology is presented for a communication service that allows a user of a wireless mobile personal area network (PAN) to securely connect to a remote PAN. An operator of a wireless PAN network access provider (WPNAP) service activates a stationary PAN. In response to a determination that a wireless mobile PAN has entered a service area of the stationary PAN, the WPNAP service is offered to the wireless mobile PAN. Upon acceptance of the offer of its service, the WPNAP service allows the wireless mobile PAN to connect to a global communication network via the stationary PAN; a secure communication session may be established with a remote PAN. The communication session is monitored by the WPNAP service, and a financial transaction is then generated to charge usage fees to the user of the wireless mobile PAN for use of the WPNAP service during the monitored session.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for providing products to a user via an automated product dispensing machine is provided. In once embodiment, an automatic product dispensing machine in a micronetwork of proximally located diverse automatic product dispensing machines receives a request for an item. Responsive to a determination that the item is unavailable at a current automatic product dispensing machine, the automatic product dispensing machine provides a user with an alternative redemption product, such as, for example, a coupon that may be redeemed at another automatic product dispensing machine or at a nearby store.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for augmenting the mail header of a message with a list of digital signatures representing the chain of contributors to the message. The augmented header may also encode the actual contributions corresponding to each digital signature. The list is appended every time a message is forwarded. If a message has a portion with no corresponding digital signature or if one or more of the digital signatures is not trusted, the user may handle the message accordingly. Furthermore, a mail server or client may discard a message if the number of digital signatures exceeds a threshold to filter out unwanted messages, such as e-mail chain letters.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for monitoring test question response time from a remote location are provided. More specifically, the present invention provides a mechanism by which tests may be proctored to users from a remote location as a test administration service and providing alert notifications to the users based on the amount of time that has elapsed during the test taking process as well as the amount of time remaining to take the test. With the present invention, test progress data is obtained from the user and forwarded to a proctor workstation. A proctor device may monitor the user's test progress to determine if expected progress on the test is being attained. The testing progress data may be recorded along with test input data from the user's client device for later use. Moreover, the administering of the test may be done by a third party as a test administration service to which a test developer may subscribe.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for creating a software facility that charts the history and development of software programs. This facility would a location on a global computing network that would contain a database storing and maintaining a collection of software programs that span time from the introduction of computers and software beginning in the 1950's to the explosion of various software products being developed today. The intent is for each software version to be stored in an executable form to enable the separate execution of any program stored in the database.

Abstract: A method, system and program product are provided for enabling a third party to instantly notify a remotely located vehicle owner by sending a message to an IP addressable onboard vehicle computer, which in conjunction with a vehicle alert server, retrieves owner supplied contact information, which may be an IP address and/or telephone number, and forwards the third party message to a device with the IP address or telephone number previously supplied by the owner.

Abstract: The present invention describes a delivery method and system that enables deliveries to arrive at destination within the time period specified by the entity responsible for ordering the delivery. This invention provides an initial supplier of an item and also an alternate supplier of the item. The alternate supplier is preferably located in the proximity of the destination location. During the delivery process, the progress of the shipment is tracked and periodic determinations are made as to whether the shipment will be delivered at the predetermined time. If during the delivery process, there is a determination that the shipment will not reach the designated destination at the predetermined time, the alternate supplier will be contacted to supply to the item to be delivered to destination. Since, this alternate supplier is in close proximity to the destination location, this supplier should be able to deliver the order within the specified time period.

Abstract: A method and a computer program product for promoting collaborative, consensus-driven decisions from a plurality of decision-making entities using electronic communications in a real-time forum. The inventive instant messaging application can be used for registering participants, developing forum pages, communicating queries, receiving messages and tallying responses that can enable implementation of online trading transactions. The application module and support databases are maintained by one or more central coordinators that reside as software objects on a server. Setpoint values are used for measuring the extent to which the participants' cumulative response satisfies one or more decision parameters. Arbitration and intra-group caucussing can also be initiated as a means to promote consensus and arrive at a collective decision. The collective decision can be used to initiate a specific course of action that may involve further communications with one or more remote trading networks.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided in which a user processing device, which includes input means and display means, is selectively operable to enable users to scan or otherwise identify products being offered for sale or lease. When a selected product is scanned or otherwise identified by a user input, the product code is transmitted by the processing device to a server which, in turn, provides a listing of all available coupons and other special offers available for the identified product or type of product. The user is then enable to select, from among the displayed coupons, which coupons the user wishes to redeem. The listing is displayed on the user's processing device and the user is enabled to select the particular coupon or offer desired. In a first example, the user's processing device is a portable device while in another example, the user's processing device is in the form of a kiosk.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for port sharing among a plurality of server processes are provided. The apparatus and method provide an intermediate layer between the communication port and the server processes. This intermediate layer provides a port mapping such that data messages received via a shared communication port are mapped to separate ports based on the domain of the data message. Each server process is configured to listen to a different virtual communication port. The mapping of the present invention maps data messages received in the shared communication port to one of these virtual communication ports based on the domain to which the data message belongs. This mapping is also performed with outgoing messages from the server as well.

Abstract: Facilitating customs planning and clearance including creating in an international customs server, in response to a signal communicated through a client device coupled for data communications through at least one internet connection to the international customs server, a master customs planning record; creating a related customs planning record wherein the related customs planning record is related to the master customs planning record; calculating duty on the goods described in the related customs planning record; storing the amount of the calculated duty in the related customs planning record; incrementing the total amount of duty stored in the duty total field in the master customs planning record; submitting, to the destination country, payment of the duty; creating, in dependence upon the related customs planning record, a customs declaration form for a destination country; and submitting the customs declaration form to a customs declaration forms database for the destination country.

Abstract: A method, program, and system for managing traffic flow on a road system are provided. The invention comprises associating a user fee with a particular lane on a road, monitoring all vehicles within the lane, and charging the user fee to all vehicles within the lane. In one embodiment, monitoring vehicles within the designated lane is done by means of radio frequency A identification (RFID) readers which interrogate transponders within a vehicle and identify the driver or vehicle. The driver/vehicle is associated with a user account and the user fee is charged directly to the account.

Abstract: According to demographic or other web site visitor characteristics, selection is made of two or more graphic images and/or web objects to be dynamically combined into a single composite advertisement to render a highly targeted advertisement message. This allows a smaller database of advertisement data objects to be maintained, while producing advertisements which more closely match a consumer's characteristics. Further, effectiveness tracking of each combination allows for the system to self-optimize for the creation and delivery of the most effective advertisements.

Abstract: A method, program, and system for creating and validating an electronic identification document are provided. The invention comprises providing an electronic document to a user, wherein the electronic document contains input fields for personal identification information, and receiving the user's personal identification information in the input fields of the electronic document. Next an electronic signature is received from the user and attached to the electronic document. An electronic certificate is added to the document, and the entire document is encrypted. The electronic document is then downloaded to a pervasive computing device, such as a PDA, palm pilot, or mobile phone. The electronic document acts as a legally valid form of identification, such as a passport. To validate the document, the document is uploaded from the pervasive computing device to an authorizing machine which decrypts the document.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implementable instructions for insuring delivery of an electronic document in a data processing system. A request is received from a requestor to insure delivery of the electronic document. In response to receiving the request, a payment amount to insure delivery is identified based on network characteristics of a network in which the electronic document is to be transmitted. An acknowledgment of the electronic document is sent to the requestor, wherein the acknowledgment includes the payment amount. The electronic document is delivered in response to receiving a reply to the acknowledgment from the requestor accepting the identification of the payment amount. The requestor is notified of a successful delivery of the electronic document in response to receiving an acknowledgment from the recipient.