Abstract: Disclosed is a method, a computer system and a computer readable media product that contains a set of computer executable software instructions for directing the computer system to execute a process for determining a non-replicative behavior of a program that is suspected of containing an undesirable software entity. The process causes execution of the program in at least one known environment and automatically examines the at least one known environment to detect if a change has occurred in the environment as a result of the execution of the program. If a change is detected, the process automatically analyzes the detected change (i.e., the process performs a side effects analysis) to determine if the change resulted from execution of the program or from execution of the undesirable software entity. The process then uses the result of the analysis at least for undoing a detected change that results from execution of the undesirable software entity.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for circumventing profiling and targeting of World Wide Web users is disclosed. A number of fictitious web “personae” are established. A user wishing to perform a particular web transaction assumes a persona that best fits the user's current needs. The user's actions are then attributed to the persona, rather than the user. When the user wishes to perform another transaction, a different persona may be assumed, depending upon the circumstances, so that any disadvantage attributable to performing the same web transaction multiple times may be eliminated. This has the dual advantage of both protecting the user's privacy and taking advantage of special offers and incentives that may be targeted to first-time customers.

Abstract: Electronic contracts or “eContracts” for representing service level agreements are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the eContract may comprise information pertaining to: (a) descriptions of business transactions in IT terms; (b) financial implications of business transaction service levels; and (c) reporting to be done in business terms. Of course, the eContract may comprise other terms and conditions. In an illustrative aspect of the invention, a system for managing IT resources in terms of business financials comprises an electronic contract authoring system or “ecAuthoring system,” an electronic contract manager module or “ecManager,” and one or more electronic contract agent modules or “ecAgents” that may run on IT elements (e.g., components of the network) that are being managed. Analysts interact with the ecAuthoring system to construct eContracts.

Abstract: A method for operating a data communication system comprises the steps of (a) originating an electronic commerce transaction at a first party, (b) transmitting the electronic commerce transaction through the data communications network towards a second party, (c) during the step of transmitting, inputting the electronic commerce transaction to an electronic commerce transaction filter that is interposed between two network components, and (e) operating the electronic commerce transaction filter to take some action with respect to the electronic commerce transaction.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of forming conductive structures comprising the steps of providing a silicon substrate having a first surface of atomically clean (111) silicon, forming an epitaxial CaF.sub.2 insulating layer on the first surface, the insulating layer having an exposed surface opposing the first surface, positioning a metallic mask on the exposed surface, irradiating a predetermined portion of the exposed surface so as to decompose the insulating layer beneath the predetermined portion to thereby form a workpiece having a metallic Ca layer on the first surface of the (111) silicon substrate, removing the mask, annealing the workpiece at a predetermined temperature so as to form an epitaxial CaSi.sub.2 conductive structure, wherein a plane coincident with the first surface bisects the conductive structure. According to one aspect of the invention, the energetic ion beam can be a beam of ionizing radiation.