Abstract: method of matching computer wild card patterns involves comparing first and second character strings associated with named objects residing on a computer system to determine whether the first character string defines a first group of computer objects which is a logical subset of a second group of computer objects defined by the second character string. The first character string is provided by a user; such as in a command line, and the second character string is pre-defined, such as by a network administrator. The method can be performed by examining whether the second character string has any wild card character which can substitute for one and only one character, or by examining whether the second character string has any wild card character which can substitute for any number of characters, including no characters (a universal character). The second character string can further be examined to see if it contains any embedded sequence of characters having no universal wild card character.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for tagging a service request and the responses to a service request in a pipeline program running on a task in a multitasking computer system. Each service request made to a service supplier from a pipeline stage is tagged with a unique identifier string that is automatically returned to the pipeline with the response to the service request. A time manager stage monitors the unique identifiers appended to responses directed into the pipeline and uses the identifiers to correlate each response to a specific, previously sent request. The time manager then directs the responses to the appropriate destination stage. The time manager also discards responses that are no longer needed either because the appropriate destination stage or pipeline is no longer active, or because a user specified time-out interval has elapsed.