Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to representing network performance information using a network map by partitioning a graphical affordance representing a network element in the network map into segmented sections in accordance with a temporal encoding scheme to encode temporal information in the network map. The segmented sections are encoded using a performance encoding scheme to identify a level of performance associated with the segmented sections so that the network map depicts a performance of the network element over time.

Abstract: The presently disclosed embodiments are directed to representing network performance information using a network map by partitioning a graphical affordance representing a network element in the network map into segmented sections in accordance with a temporal encoding scheme to encode temporal information in the network map. The segmented sections are encoded using a performance encoding scheme to identify a level of performance associated with the segmented sections so that the network map depicts a performance of the network element over time.

Abstract: A method for validating an electronic payment by a credit/debit card in a transaction system. The method includes registering a purchase of an article by a buyer using a credit/debit card associated with at least one PIN code, checking that the at least one PIN code is associated with the number of said credit/debit card provided by said buyer to said seller terminal, checking, by said electronic payment center, whether or not said at least one PIN code is valid, and one of: after the at least one PIN code is found to be valid, checking, by said electronic payment center, whether the electronic payment center has received a pre-validation from a third party; after the at least one PIN code is found to be valid, contacting a third party via a communication network and requesting that the third party validate the purchase; and after the at least one PIN code is found to be valid, contacting a third party via a communication network and requesting said at least one PIN code from the third party.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling interconnection of VPNs is disclosed. An interconnection device manages an interconnection process at one or more facilities including, for example, a gateway device. The gateway device has information relating to a plurality of VPNs, and may facilitate interconnection between devices on at least two of the VPNs by determining that one device is in fact a member of a first one of the VPNs, and by forwarding connection parameters of the first VPN to the second VPN on an as-needed basis. In this way, the gateway allows interconnection without the need for a completely centralized decision-making process, and does so independently of the type of device and/or VPN(s) being used. Moreover, the gateway may implement only those VPN parameters needed by both VPNs to communicate with one another with a desired level of security, thereby simplifying the routing and forwarding processes associated with the actual communication occurring via the interconnection.

Abstract: A method and system of transmitting data frames from a sending unit (10) to a receiving unit (12) in a data transmission network comprising at least a backbone (14) wherein the data are transmitted over high speed links enabling long Maximum Transmission Units (MTU) between an ingress node (18) connected to the sending unit by a first access link (16) and an egress node (22) connected to the receiving node by a second access link (20), with at least one of the first and second access links being a low speed access link requiring the data frames to be segmented into short MTUs between the sending unit and the ingress node and between the egress node and the receiving unit.

Abstract: A method and system for reserving a virtual connection from a source workstation to a destination workstation. Packets of data are transmitted over a network between an ingress node of the source workstation and an egress node of the destination workstation. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a reservation request is delivered from the source workstation to a reservation server. The reservation server includes a user database for storing the identification of each user allowed to access to the reservation server and also stores the rights of each user. The reservation server further includes a network database for storing the information describing a network capacity required to set up the virtual connection. A verification is then performed to determine whether or not the reservation request may be validated in view of user information within said source workstation.

Abstract: A security system for preventing unauthorized use of a computer device. An extractable security piece includes an extractable main private key and a main PC public key. A PC security area which is a non-extractable part of the computer device includes a PC private key and an extractable main public key, which, together with the keys of the extractable security piece, constitute a Public Key Infrastructure. The extractable security piece and the PC security area include processing means for mutual authentication of the extractable security piece and the PC security area after the extractable security piece, which had been previously removed, has been reinserted in the computer device, thereby enabling the authorized user to access data stored in the computer device.

Abstract: In a remote computer, a method for providing a file comprises the steps of receiving a request for this file, identifying this file as being stored in a distant server, requesting the distance server to send the file, identifying this file as being used, and forwarding this file. Further, in a local server, a method for transferring a file from a home server comprises the steps of receiving a request for this file, this request comprising the home server identification, checking that this file is not locally stored, requesting this file to the home server, identifying the file as being locally used, and forwarding this file.

Abstract: Method for validating an electronic payment by a credit card in a transaction system comprising a seller terminal (12) for registering a sale of one or several articles by a buyer (10 or 11) using a credit card associated with a plurality of PIN codes and an electronic payment center (14) connected to the seller terminal by the Internet network (16). The method consists for the electronic payment center to check that a buyer PIN code which is provided by the buyer to the center is associated with the number of the credit card provided by the buyer to the seller terminal and is characterized in that it comprises a step automatically carried out by the electronic payment center of checking with a third party whether the buyer PIN code is valid.

Abstract: A method for validating an electronic payment by a credit/debit card in a transaction system. The method includes registering a purchase of an article by a buyer using a credit/debit card associated with at least one PIN code, checking that the at least one PIN code is associated with the number of said credit/debit card provided by said buyer to said seller terminal, checking, by said electronic payment center, whether or not said at least one PIN code is valid, and one of: after the at least one PIN code is found to be valid, checking, by said electronic payment center, whether the electronic payment center has received a pre-validation from a third party; after the at least one PIN code is found to be valid, contacting a third party via a communication network and requesting that the third party validate the purchase; and after the at least one PIN code is found to be valid, contacting a third party via a communication network and requesting said at least one PIN code from the third party.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for generating and using a virus-free file certificate integrated in a file.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a file utilizing information according to which the file is locally stored when the file is received from a remote server are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method is provided which comprises receiving a request for the file, where the request comprises data identifying the remote server. The described embodiment further comprises checking that the file is locally stored, forwarding the file to the remote server when the file has been locally modified, and deleting the information according to which said file is locally stored.

Abstract: Data transmission system for transmitting packets of data from a source workstation (10) to a destination workstation (40) wherein the packets of data are transmitted over at least a first IP network (14) and a second IP network (30) between an ingress node (20) connected to the source workstation in the first network and an egress node (38) connected to the destination workstation in the second network. The system comprises a local reservation server (26) in the first network accessible by the source workstation and a remote reservation server (42) in the second network accessible by the local reservation server. The local reservation server includes connection setup means for setting up a virtual connection meeting a predefined requirement of Quality of Service from the ingress node to the egress node in response to a request from the source workstation and bandwidth request means for requesting additional bandwidth in the second network to the remote reservation server.

Abstract: Data transmission system for transmitting packets of data from a source workstation (10) to a destination workstation (18) wherein the packets of data are transmitted over at least an IP network (14) between an ingress node (16) connected to the source workstation and an egress node (20) connected to the destination workstation, wherein each router within the intermediary nodes along the data path from the ingress node to the egress node determines the best route in a routing table defined by the contents of a field contained in each packet of data being received. For this, the router of the ingress node comprises a configuration table which defines the contents of the TOS field in function of information associated with the 4/5 level protocol such as TCP or UDP.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for generating and using a virus-free file certificate. The method, for use in a virus-free certificate authority (102), includes the steps of: receiving (300) a virus-free certificate request for a file from a server (101) or a client (100) system; determining (301) whether the file is virus-free or not; if the file is declared virus-free by the virus-free certificate authority (102): generating (303, 304) a virus-free certificate (200) including a file signature (207) for certifying that said file is declared virus-free by the virus-free certificate authority (102); sending (306) back in response to the virus-free certificate request the virus-free certificate (200).

Abstract: A method and system of transmitting data frames from a sending unit (10) to a receiving unit (12) in a data transmission network comprising at least a backbone (14) wherein the data are transmitted over high speed links enabling long Maximum Transmission Units (MTU) between an ingress node (18) connected to the sending unit by a first access link (16) and an egress node (22) connected to the receiving node by a second access link (20), with at least one of the first and second access links being a low speed access link requiring the data frames to be segmented into short MTUs between the sending unit and the ingress node and between the egress node and the receiving unit.

Abstract: A method and system of transmitting data frames from a sending unit (10) to a receiving unit (12) in a data transmission network comprising at least a backbone (14) wherein the data are transmitted over high speed links enabling long Maximum Transmission Units (MTU) between an ingress node (18) connected to the sending unit by a first access link (16) and an egress node (22) connected to the receiving node by a second access link (20), with at least one of the first and second access links being a low speed access link requiring the data frames to be segmented into short MTUs between the sending unit and the ingress node and between the egress node and the receiving unit.

Abstract: A file manager (and method) provided for locating a file identified by a path referring to a logical unit and an identifier, includes a table associating the file with a priority list of physical units. The file manager can be incorporated into the controller of peripheral devices in a computer system or an operating system of the computer system.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data frames with compressed headers in a multiprotocol data transmission network comprising at least one ingress node transmitting data to egress nodes. Each frame of data includes data bytes and a header which defines the transmission protocols.

Abstract: A system for providing prioritized queue management within a data transmission network node that supports different types of data frame traffic is disclosed herein. The system includes a frame buffer for storing an incoming frame that has an identifiable frame type. A queue is pre-associated with the frame type of the incoming frame such that upon arrival of the frame at the network node, the queue stores a location address at which the frame is stored within the frame buffer such that the frame is maintained within the queue. The queue that contains the frame is stored within a frame table. Processing means are provided for determining a time at which the queue forwards the frame from the frame buffer in accordance with a pre-determined sub-queue priority list. The system further includes time metering means associated with the frame for temporally assigning the frame to a virtual sub-queue among multiple virtual sub-queues that are associated with the queue.