Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a content aggregation system for intelligent searching of indexed content based on extracted security identifiers. An example method includes obtaining content items from content providers based on authorization information associated with one or more users. Collectors are configured to transform content items into articles representing a normalized form associated with a content item. The method includes obtaining a plurality of articles and storing them in one or more databases. The method includes assigning security identifiers to the articles. A security identifier represents an abstraction of a discrete access right or permission associated with user access to an article. The method includes generating respective indexing messages for execution. The indexing messages are included in a queue and each indexing message includes a reference to an article.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a content aggregation system for intelligent searching of indexed content based on extracted security identifiers. An example method includes obtaining content items from content providers based on authorization information associated with one or more users. Collectors are configured to transform content items into articles representing a normalized form associated with a content item. The method includes obtaining a plurality of articles and storing them in one or more databases. The method includes assigning security identifiers to the articles. A security identifier represents an abstraction of a discrete access right or permission associated with user access to an article. The method includes generating respective indexing messages for execution. The indexing messages are included in a queue and each indexing message includes a reference to an article.

Abstract: A method for sub-optimizing interactions in data communications network environments. The method includes the steps of deeming certain activities which involve interactions between a user and a data communication system to be less important than other activities, and introducing a degradation in response time for the interactions belonging to the certain activities deemed less important compared to a response time for the interactions belonging to the other activities.

Abstract: A method for sub-optimizing interactions in data communications network environments. The method includes the steps of deeming certain activities which involve interactions between a user and a data communication system to be less important than other activities, and introducing a degradation in response time for the interactions belonging to the certain activities deemed less important compared to a response time for the interactions belonging to the other activities.

Abstract: A method for sub-optimizing interactions in data communications network environments. The method includes the steps of deeming certain activities which involve interactions between a user and a data communication system to be less important than other activities, and introducing a degradation in response time for the interactions belonging to the certain activities deemed less important compared to a response time for the interactions belonging to the other activities.

Abstract: Strategic modifications in traffic shaping, load balancing or the like are associated with the managing of aspects or characteristics of the transfer of data communications in a network environment. The present system is directed to changing the way humans interact with data communications technologies; and circumstantially to effecting modifications in those automated portions of data communications systems which are sensitive to response time metrics. This changing is accomplished through the introduction of selective increasing of delay in response time which serves to pedagogically discourage human users of data communications systems from economically disadvantageous interactions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating information. In particular, a method of communicating data between a plurality of applications, comprising the following steps. A first list is encoded. The first encoded list includes a first set of data objects. Each of the data objects includes data to be communicated. Next, the first encoded list is transmitted to a first of the plurality of applications and decoded for the first application. The first application accesses a first subset of data objects from the first encoded list. The first subset of data objects does not necessarily include all data objects in the first set of data objects. Next, the first application generates a second encoded list, where the second encoded list corresponds to the first encoded list. Then, the first application causes the second encoded list to be transmitted to a second application and decoded for the second application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring the performance of a dedicated communications medium in a switched data networking environment wherein a probe having a bypass circuit allows promiscuous monitoring of all traffic between a switch and a network device, such as a file server, in either direction, and in full duplex mode. Additionally, the bypass circuit eliminates the requirement for a separate repeater between the switch and the network device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correlating faults in a networking system. A database of fault rules is maintained along with and associated probable causes, and possible solutions for determining the occurrence of faults defined by the fault rules. The fault rules include a fault identifier, an occurrence threshold specifying a minimum number of occurrences of fault events in the networking system in order to identify the fault, and a time threshold in which the occurrences of the fault events must occur in order to correlate the fault. Occurrences of fault events in the networking system are detected and correlated by determining matched fault rules which match the fault events and generating a fault report upon determining that a number of occurrences for the matched fault rules within the time threshold is greater than or equal to the occurrence threshold for the matched fault rules.

Abstract: A method for determining the topology of a mixed-media network is provided. According to the method, the network is divided into communities of devices that support a common topology mechanism ("spheres"). On each sphere, one or more sphere topology agents generate and accumulate topology data for the devices on the sphere using the topology mechanism that is supported by the devices within the sphere. A global topology agent collects the topology data for each sphere from the various sphere agents and assembles the data to determine the global topology of the mixed-media network. The global topology agent begins by collecting data from a current sphere and identifies additional spheres based on data stored in boundary devices within the current sphere. The global topology agent then repeats the same process with the additional spheres until topology data has been collected from all of the spheres in the mixed-media network.

Abstract: A networking system and automatic method in a networking system comprising at least one switching device and a plurality of at least one end-station interconnected with the at least one switching device, wherein the at least one switching device and at least one end-station are interconnected in a topology. A configuration device is included which has a configuration modification detection circuit for detecting the modification of the topology. A configuration policy maintenance circuit is provided for storing policies related to reconfiguring the at least one switching device upon the modification of the topology. A policy evaluation circuit is provided for determining which at least one end-station and ports should be grouped together upon the detection of the modification of the topology in a first manner. A reconfiguration circuit is provided for reconfiguring the at least one switching device in the first network to enable at least one end-station and ports to be grouped together in the first manner.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus for determining a topology of a network. Signals are received from all source hubs in the network, wherein each of the signals contains connection information for the source hubs including destination hubs to which the source hubs are coupled, and a corresponding connection port on the source hubs through which the destination hubs are coupled. The connection information is processed by locating all unitary connections in the connection information and iteratively performing certain steps until there are no more unitary connections in the connection information. Subsequently, if the connection information is not empty and there are additional unitary connections in the connection information, then the foregoing steps are repeated until there are or more unitary connections or the processed connection information is empty. The resolved connection information is then stored for a complete topology.