Abstract: Set identifiers for objects are determined based on individual identifiers of the objects. A first identifier is received from a first identification tag associated with a first object. A second identifier is received from a second identification tag associated with a second object. A set identifier corresponding to a set of objects that includes the first object and the second object is determined, based on the first identifier and the second identifier. The set identifier is associated with a virtual object that corresponds to the set.

Abstract: In one embodiment the present invention includes a systems and methods of accessing information across distributed computing components. In one embodiment, a first software component has associated information and references to information associated with other software components that provide inputs to the first software component. Information about downstream software components may be accessed through the references. In one embodiment, a first software service such as a web service may include metadata that describes the service and pointers to other services consumed by the first software service. Embodiments of the invention provide automated auditing and searching across related software components.

Abstract: A process model specified using, for example, UML activity diagrams can be translated into an event-based model that can be executed on top of a coordination middleware. For example, a process model may be encoded as a collection of coordinating objects that interact with each other through a coordination middleware including a shared memory space. This approach is suitable for undertaking post-deployment adaptation of process-oriented composite applications. In particular, new control dependencies can be encoded by dropping new (or enabling existing) coordinating objects into the space and/or disabling existing ones.

Abstract: A process model specified using, for example, UML activity diagrams can be translated into an event-based model that can be executed on top of a coordination middleware. For example, a process model may be encoded as a collection of coordinating objects that interact with each other through a coordination middleware including a shared memory space. This approach is suitable for undertaking post-deployment adaptation of process-oriented composite applications. In particular, new control dependencies can be encoded by dropping new (or enabling existing) coordinating objects into the space and/or disabling existing ones.

Abstract: Autocompletion techniques are described that allow a user to access previous entries to one or more data input fields, simply by typing in a desired term and/or character sequence at one of the data input fields. For example, an autocompletion system may match a current input sequence against words contained within the previous entries, where the current input sequence may not be included in a first word of some or all of the previous entries. In this way, the user may quickly and easily remember, access, and enter previous entries, or variations thereof, into a local input field.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a method that includes receiving data through a non-voice input. The method also includes translating the data into one or more numeric values. The method includes encoding the one or more numeric values into an audio stream, wherein the audio stream is to be transmitted over a transmission medium that is in use for voice communication.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a portable device with a programmable housing that changes appearance in accordance with data inputs. In one embodiment, the portable device comprises a rigid housing having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface forms a contoured outer surface of at least a first portion of said portable device, electronic paper attached to at least a second portion of the outer surface of the rigid housing, the electronic paper having a first input for receiving power and a second input for receiving data, wherein the electronic paper forms an image corresponding to the data received on the second input, thereby changing the appearance of at least the second portion of the portable device.

Abstract: A distributed computer system in several embodiments includes several architectures or configurations. Each configuration exhibits a different degree of coupling between an application that provides data and an application that consumes that data. In an embodiment, a provider application knows the identity of a consumer application, converts data into the format of the consumer application, and transmits the data to the consumer application. In other embodiments, the provider application does not know the identity of the consumer application, and transmits data to the consumer application through an intermediary. In such embodiments, either the provider or the intermediary can perform the data conversion. In another embodiment, a manager object oversees the transformation of the system from one configuration to another in real time.

Abstract: A technique for pushing RSS feeds onto a device allows access to feeds on devices, such as mobile phones, that are not web-enabled. In an embodiment, text messages may be sent to a mobile phone when new feed items are available. The text messages may contain relatively little information about each item because of the limited size of text messages. A recipient of a text message may reply with a text message for more information about items in which the recipient is interested. In response to the request for more information, a voice message could be placed in the recipient's voicemail that includes the full news item, translated by a speech synthesis program.

Abstract: A technique for facilitating coordination of actions by multiple programs involves providing an execution environment for active objects. The execution environment may be an object space. Client programs may write active objects to the object space, which execute on behalf of the client programs. The client programs may obtain the results of the executed active objects, even if the client program is disconnected from the object space while the active object is executing.

Abstract: A technique for enhancing the results of an existing online search engine involves re-ordering the results of a search according to the feedback provided by a user community to previous similar searches. In an embodiment, the technique is fully backward-compatible with existing online search engines. In an embodiment, feedback is collected by an intermediary that sits in-between a client and a server. The intermediary intercepts requests and, for some, modifies the results. In this way, the technique can enhance the results of searches addressed to online search engines such as google.com, while being non-intrusive to an online search engine and a client browser.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for dynamically adapting software components. An enhancement for a component is dynamically detected and installed. The enhancement is dynamically processed for requests directed to the component or for responses generated by the component.

Abstract: Set identifiers for objects are determined based on individual identifiers of the objects. A first identifier is received from a first identification tag associated with a first object. A second identifier is received from a second identification tag associated with a second object. A set identifier corresponding to a set of objects that includes the first object and the second object is determined, based on the first identifier and the second identifier. The set identifier is associated with a virtual object that corresponds to the set.

Abstract: Numerous embodiments of an apparatus and method of a smartcard having a dynamic display portion. In one embodiment, the smartcard includes a dynamic display portion made of an electronic ink, in which the dynamic display portion changes from a first display to a second display in response to an application use of the smartcard.

Abstract: A system and method are described for providing dynamic mobile cache for mobile computing devices. In one embodiment, a cache is created at a server at the time a communication session between the server and a client is initiated. The server then determined whether the client requires the cache. If it is determined the client requires the cache, the server provides the cache to the client.