Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method that facilitates the assignment of a print job in a printing system that has one of more printers (10,11,12) connected to a computer-based printing system (1) so that the printers economically match the requirements of a print job generated by the printing system. Each printer (10,11,12) has a plurality of different printing configurations and each computer (2,3,4) is capable of generating at least one print job. Each print job has corresponding printing requirements and each printing configuration being capable of satisfying one or more printing requirements. A print job, once created, is notionally assigned across one or more of the printers (10,11,12) in such a way that the printers have printing configurations that are capable of satisfying the printing requirements. The cost for printing the print jobs is then calculated for that notional assignment.

Abstract: A method of canonicalizing an RDF graph having a plurality of blank nodes, the method comprising: generating a representation of the RDF graph and ordering the representation, the plurality of blank nodes being substantially omitted from the ordering process; assigning a label to each of a number of the plurality of blank nodes; modifying the portion of the blank nodes remaining unlabelled; and reordering the representation.

Abstract: A network interface configured to monitor communications between an e-customer and an e-vendor coupled to a network; and an auditable record engine, the auditable record engine including an identity discriminator configured to receive the communications and identify the e-customer and the e-vendor; a communication discriminator configured to receive the communications, extract information indicative of a stage of a e-service transaction; and a record formatter configured to generate an independent summary of the communication session. A representative method includes recognizing that a communication session has been established between at least two parties, identifying one of the parties as the source of the communication, extracting information from a message sent from the source to a destination party to form a communication summary, and appending the communication summary in an independent log.

Abstract: A method of establishing auditable records of the process of agreement of contract by multiple participants in a service which operates over a computer network which has a customer and a vendor which negotiate during a contract formation phase of a transaction and in which a product or service is supplied to the customer during a contract execution phase of the transaction, includes providing a contract manager which monitors communications between the parties relating at least to the contract formation phase of the transaction, and keeps auditable records of the negotiations so as maintain an independent record of the agreed contract.

Abstract: A method of operating a service over a computer network which has a customer and a vendor which negotiate during a contract formation phase of a transaction and in which a product or service is supplied to the customer during a contract execution phase of the transaction, there being a customer interface between the customer and the network to enable messages transmitted on the network according to a network protocol to be utilised by the customer, and to enable messages originating from the customer to be transmitted onto the network according to the network protocol, and a vendor interface between the vendor and the network to enable messages transmitted on the network according to a network protocol to be utilised by the vendor and to enable messages originating from the vendor to be transmitted onto the network according to the network protocol, and wherein the method includes differentiating messages relating to contract formation and contract execution phases of the transaction, messages relating to the

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for controlling multipart print jobs in a printing system having one or more printers connected to a computer system. The computer system has a display (20) for presenting to a user of the system status information (124,125,126,130,131) regarding one or more print jobs (24,25,26) at least one of which (24,26) is split into a plurality of parts (30,31). The parts of the print job are sent to one or more of the printers for printing, and status information (124,125,126,130,131) regarding the print job is displayed on the display.

Abstract: A method is described of ensuring audit integrity in a supply chain for services requested by one node from another in a distributed network of computers, such nodes including an e-service provider and a plurality of product suppliers. The method particularly relates to the supply of a product which utilises valuable data for its production, and contains a negotiating phase for negotiating with at least one of the product suppliers for the production of the product and selecting a product supplier to produce and supply the product. In the negotiating phase, there is provision to the product suppliers of data address reference information relating to the location of the valuable data without the supply of the data to any of the product suppliers. The method also includes a production and supply phase in which the selected product supplier produces or arranges to produce the product and to supply the product, and the valuable data is provided in response to a request for the data.

Abstract: A method of collecting data relating to the usage of computer equipment by a consumer at the consumer's site includes creating data at the consumer's site relating to the use of the item, and transmitting the data to a remote database for analysis, and once the data is received by the remote database, awarding the consumer a reward.

Abstract: This invention concerns an equipment supply method in which a high degree of reliability is assured and in which unscheduled visits by maintenance engineers to end users may be minimized. In a first step, the method comprises making an assessment of predicted user demand over a given time period for equipment usage. In a next step, an oversupply function is applied to the predicted user demand over the given time period to provide a safety factored predicted demand function. From the safety factored predicted demand, a number of equipment units required for supply is calculated and the equipment units supplied to the user. Equipment usage is then monitored over the given time period and if actual user demand deviates from predicted user demand during the time period, then the number of equipment units supplied to the user is modified at the next convenient opportunity.

Abstract: A digital photographic image service process comprises registration of a user data including user name, address and financial account details; capture of photographic image data in response to an activation signal generated by and/or authorized by said user; forwarding of said additional image data to an photographic e-service provider responsible for fulfilment of an order for delivery of said photographic image data, or physical prints generated therefrom; and collection of payment, by electronic means.

Abstract: A complex computing system has a plurality of nodes interconnected by channels through which data messages are exchanged. The underlying principle is that after arrival at a node of a message, delivery of that message is delayed until after delivery and consequences of all more senior messages which affect the node. The messages are progressively timestamped at each node so that each time stamp contains generation by generation indicators of the origin of the associated message. The seniority of that message is uniquely determined thereby and total ordering of the messages can be achieved. When comparing timestamps for such ordering, comparison of respective generation indicators is necessary only until there is a distinction.