Abstract: A data communications network may be browsed using one or more tokens by receiving an input keyword string from a user, determining whether there is a match between the input keyword string and a database of keyword strings, determining a category of the keyword string, rendering to the user at least one service identifier associated with the category, receiving a user-selected service identifier in response to the rendering, substituting at least one variable in a resource locator template associated with the service with a string based at least in part on the keyword string entered by the user and launching the resource locator. According to one aspect, a special rendering of a hyperlink corresponding to the resource locator is used to indicate private data will be disclosed upon launching the resource locator.

Abstract: A data communications network may be browsed using one or more tokens by receiving an input keyword string from a user, determining whether there is a match between the input keyword string and a database of keyword strings, determining a category of the keyword string, rendering to the user at least one service identifier associated with the category, receiving a user-selected service identifier in response to the rendering, substituting at least one variable in a resource locator template associated with the service with a string based at least in part on the keyword string entered by the user and launching the resource locator. According to one aspect, a special rendering of a hyperlink corresponding to the resource locator is used to indicate private data will be disclosed upon launching the resource locator.

Abstract: A data communications network may be browsed using one or more tokens by receiving an input keyword string from a user, determining whether there is a match between the input keyword string and a database of keyword strings, determining a category of the keyword string, rendering to the user at least one service identifier associated with the category, receiving a user-selected service identifier in response to the rendering, substituting at least one variable in a resource locator template associated with the service with a string based at least in part on the keyword string entered by the user and launching the resource locator. According to one aspect, a special rendering of a hyperlink corresponding to the resource locator is used to indicate private data will be disclosed upon launching the resource locator.

Abstract: A data communications network may be browsed using one or more tokens by receiving an input keyword string from a user, determining whether there is a match between the input keyword string and a database of keyword strings, determining a category of the keyword string, rendering to the user at least one service identifier associated with the category, receiving a user-selected service identifier in response to the rendering, substituting at least one variable in a resource locator template associated with the service with a string based at least in part on the keyword string entered by the user and launching the resource locator. According to one aspect, a special rendering of a hyperlink corresponding to the resource locator is used to indicate private data will be disclosed upon launching the resource locator.

Abstract: An electronic device that has a lower portion that unfolds to reveal an extendable keyboard. When the keyboard is folded closed, a number pad is visible and the device looks similar to a traditional portable or cellular telephone. The device can be used as a personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone or as the handset of a traditional wire line telephone. The fold-out keyboard of the electronic device can be used for easy entry of text data while a communication channel is active. The keys comprising the keyboard include tactile indicia to facilitate typing.

Abstract: A data communications network may be browsed using one or more tokens by receiving an input keyword string from a user, determining whether there is a match between the input keyword string and a database of keyword strings, determining a category of the keyword string, rendering to the user at least one service identifier associated with the category, receiving a user-selected service identifier in response to the rendering, substituting at least one variable in a resource locator template associated with the service with a string based at least in part on the keyword string entered by the user and launching the resource locator. According to one aspect, a special rendering of a hyperlink corresponding to the resource locator is used to indicate private data will be disclosed upon launching the resource locator.

Abstract: A method and system for recovering transparently from a network interface failure. The method is to be run in a computing device on a network with multiple peer computing devices, having redundant network interfaces connected with redundant cables. The method transparently recovers from network failures by first establishing an address list of the peer computing devices on the subnet. The computing device then periodically tests the communication link with one or more of the peer computing devices until at least one peer device responds thereby sending its network address. The computing device then uses the peer network address to retest the communication link with the peer device until the peer device does not respond. If there is no response, the computing device reassigns the network address of the computing device from the primary network interface to the redundant network interface.

Abstract: A method of preparing a group distribution graph for multicast transmission of a packet to a group of nodes in a computer network is disclosed. The method includes first preparing a spanning tree that includes every node in the computer network.A group distribution graph patterned after the spanning tree is then prepared by evaluating a node in the group distribution graph to determine whether the node is included in the group of nodes. If the node is not included in the group of nodes, and if the node has exactly one neighboring node, the node is removed from the group distribution graph. Likewise, if the node is not included in the group of nodes, and if the node has exactly two neighboring nodes, the node is removed from the group distribution graph by prescribing direct communication between the neighboring nodes, thus bypassing the removed node. In this manner, packet transmission and processing capacity of the network is more efficiently managed.

Abstract: A method for validating a message packet communicated from a source node to a destination node in a computer network is disclosed. The source node and destination node have access to a clock mechanism synchronized with a common time frame. The method comprises generating a first security key using a time reference obtained from the clock mechanism and a password known by the source node and destination node, communicating the first security key with a message packet from the source node to the destination node, and when the first security key and message packet are received by the destination node, generating a second security key using the password and the time reference and comparing the second security key with the first security key. The message packet is discarded if the second security key does not correspond with the first security key.

Abstract: An improved computer network and methods for determining current configurations of abstract nodes is accomplished by using era values in the configurations of the abstract nodes. Abstract nodes which represent network components within the network have access to databases containing recorded node configurations. Associations between nodes are established when a node configuration is advertised and recorded in another node's database. Database information on node configurations is kept current by comparing the era value of each advertised node against the era value of the same node as recorded in the database. Since era values indicate a relative time reference for which the node configuration is operative, a more current era value indicates a more current node configuration. Abstract nodes are completely independent entities. As a result, a node's configuration may be independently modified by more than one component in the network. Application of the network in a hot-standby system is also disclosed.