Abstract: A method and system for authenticating a user to a target server. A request is received from a user computer system to authenticate the user for access to a target server at level N of N levels (N?2). Each record of a stored authentication plan associated with the user has authentication records each having information relating to authentication of the user for access to N?1 target servers at respective levels 1 through N?1. Each record of a received current authentication plan for the user has authentication records each having current information relating to authentication of the user for access to the N?1 target servers at respective levels 1 through N?1. It is determined that there is at least a partial match between the stored and current authentication plans, and in response, the user is authenticated for access to the target server at level N.

Abstract: Systems and methods for advertising, and, more particularly, systems and methods for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe. A method for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe (VU) includes causing a computer infrastructure to: render an ephemeral location upon a triggering in the VU; teleport a VU user avatar to the ephemeral location; permit the user avatar to interact in the ephemeral location; teleport the user avatar out of the ephemeral location; and un-render the ephemeral location.

Abstract: Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices are provided for linking and utilizing monetary and carbon credit accounts through a programmable arbitrating device providing a transaction interface to the buyer. A composite price is set for an item having a monetary portion and a carbon credit portion, a buyer executing a purchase of the item through an input to the arbitrating device transaction interface, the arbitrating device automatically charging a monetary payments from the buyer's monetary account, carbon credit payments from the buyer's carbon credit account, a difference between the payments and the composite price debited to the buyer's carbon credit account balance for a monetary value of the difference as a function of a monetary-carbon exchange rate, or to the buyer's monetary account for a carbon credit value of the difference as a function of the monetary-carbon exchange rate.

Abstract: A feedback application may be executing on a data processing system to transmit a screen update to at least two computers. The feedback application receives an indication of completion from a first computer, in response to transmitting the screen update. The feedback application updates a completion gauge to indicate a partial completion among participants, in response to receiving the indication of completion from the first computer. The feedback application receives a second indication of completion from a second computer, in response to transmitting the screen update. The feedback application updates the completion gauge to indicate a completion among participants, in response to receiving the indication of completion from the second computer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes: generating a first list of uniform resource locators (URLs) available on a page when accessed using privileged credentials; storing one or more first URL outputs associated with the first list of URLs including the content of webpages accessed using the privileged credentials; generating a second list of URLs when accessed using non-privileged credentials; generating a third list of URLs, wherein the third list of URLs includes URLs included in the first list of URLs and not included in the second list of URLs; storing a second URL output including content of a webpage mapped to a particular URL in the third list of URLs when the particular URL is accessed using the non-privileged credentials; determining that the second URL output matches a particular first URL output associated with the particular URL; and outputting an alert identifying that the webpage is accessible by an unauthorized user.

Abstract: An approach for integrated development environment (IDE)-based program code library searching and selection in multiple programming languages in a networked computing environment is provided. In a typical embodiment, a search request (e.g., to locate a desired program code library) will be received in an IDE and parsed. The search request generally includes a set of annotations corresponding to at least one of: a primary program code language of the program code library, an alternate program code language of the program code library, or a method pair associated with the program code library. A search of at least one program code library repository will then be conducted based on the set of annotations, and a set of matching results will be generated. The set of matching results may include one or more program code libraries, and may be provided to a device hosting the IDE.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the rendering of one or more objects based on payment and account options. The system includes a computer infrastructure configured to control enhancement rendering of an object in a virtual universe by providing at least one augmentation attribute to a tag of the object. The method includes providing enhancement rendering of an object in a virtual universe by augmenting the object based on a status of a user viewing the object.

Abstract: A method and associated system for managing web page images. After detection of a modification to a web page, the method attempts but fails to retrieve an image from a first location pointed to by a path included in a first link in a list of links included in the web page and in response, an image placeholder is stored at the first location. A request, for a replacement image to replace the image placeholder at the first location, is published. The request specifies that the replacement image must have specified resolution dimensions and a larger size than a size of the image placeholder. The replacement image, which is received in response to the request, is determined to have the specified resolution dimensions and a larger size than the size of the image placeholder and in response, the image placeholder is replaced with the replacement image at the first location.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose optimizing resources of distributed database replicas in which one or more processors receive resource information associated with a plurality of database replicas hosted on a plurality of servers, the resource information includes identification of indexes of database tables of each database replica. The instances of indexes residing in memory of the plurality of servers is determined, based on the state of each index, which indicates whether the index resides in memory. The instances of indexes that reside in memory and are redundant among the plurality of database replicas are determined, and in response to receiving a query directed to a database replica, if an index of a database table having the query-requested data resides in memory, the query is routed to the database replica on which the index resides in memory.

Abstract: An approach for integrated development environment (IDE)-based program code library searching and selection in multiple programming languages in a networked computing environment is provided. In a typical embodiment, a search request (e.g., to locate a desired program code library) will be received in an IDE and parsed. The search request generally includes a set of annotations corresponding to at least one of: a primary program code language of the program code library, an alternate program code language of the program code library, or a method pair associated with the program code library. A search of at least one program code library repository will then be conducted based on the set of annotations, and a set of matching results will be generated. The set of matching results may include one or more program code libraries, and may be provided to a device hosting the IDE.

Abstract: In a method for transferring session data from a first application accessible via at least one DNS name in a first DNS domain to a second application accessible via at least one DNS name in a second DNS domain, a computer receives via the first application a first HTTP request from an HTTP client, and in response, the computer establishes a first session with the HTTP client. The computer receives, from the HTTP client, a second HTTP request comprising an identifier of the second application, and in response, the computer stores in a memory a data structure identifiable by a data structure identifier and containing data pertaining to the first session. Responsive to storing the data structure, the computer transmits, to the HTTP client, an HTTP response comprising the data structure identifier, a redirection status code, and a URI comprising a DNS name in the second DNS domain.

Abstract: An invention for the alteration of avatar appearances based on avatar population in a virtual universe is provided. In one embodiment, there is a degradation tool, including an identification component configured to count an amount of a plurality of avatars within a region of a virtual universe. The degradation tool further comprises a modification component configured to degrade the appearance of a set of avatars from the plurality of avatars in the virtual universe based on the amount of the plurality of avatars within the region of the virtual universe.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for item inquiry and information presentation via standard communication paths. More particularly, the method and system detects an item associated with an avatar of a virtual universe (VU) user in a VU and determine information associated with the item. Additionally, the method and system are operable to display the information in the VU in a high-resolution component of the VU.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the rendering of one or more objects based on payment and account options. The system includes a computer infrastructure configured to control enhancement rendering of an object in a virtual universe by providing at least one augmentation attribute to a tag of the object. The method includes providing enhancement rendering of an object in a virtual universe by augmenting the object based on a status of a user viewing the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to directed communication between avatars in a virtual environment controlled by end-users from outside the virtual environment. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: determining a relative location of a first avatar and a second avatar in a virtual environment, wherein at least one end-user of the first avatar and the second avatar wears a headset configured to track head movements thereof, wherein the head movements of the end-user translate to their avatar and influence volume of voice communication from their avatar; adjusting aspects of a voice communication between the first avatar and the second avatar based on the relative location and the track head movements; referring to a list of avatars whose audio characteristics are to be portrayed differently in a voice communication; and further adjusting the audio characteristics of one of the first avatar and the second avatar in accordance with the list.

Abstract: Systems and methods for advertising, and, more particularly, systems and methods for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe. A method for managing ephemeral locations in a virtual universe (VU) includes causing a computer infrastructure to: render an ephemeral location upon a triggering in the VU; teleport a VU user avatar to the ephemeral location; permit the user avatar to interact in the ephemeral location; teleport the user avatar out of the ephemeral location; and un-render the ephemeral location.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for providing a virtual universe in which unsolicited advertisements are embodied in automated avatars. A system is provided that includes: a registration system for introducing an advertisement avatar into the virtual universe; a targeting system for targeting a user avatar for delivery of advertising content by the advertisement avatar; a movement system for defining how the advertisement avatar is to move within the virtual universe; and an advertisement delivery system for defining how the advertisement avatar is to deliver the advertising content to the user avatar.

Abstract: A tool for retargeting content from a web page to one or more devices. The tool issues, by one or more computer processors, a request to configure preferences for retargeting content from the web page. The tool receives, by one or more computer processors, a file from a first device. The tool determines, by one or more computer processors, at least one characteristic of the file. The tool matches, by one or more computer processors, the at least one characteristic of the file to an additional device. The tool outputs, by one or more computer processors, the file to the additional device.

Abstract: Programmable devices selectively allocate file content portions between cloud and secured hardware device storage mediums. A confidential portion of a first file is stored as a second file on a first device, and a remainder portion of content of the first file that is different from the confidential portion and is not designated as confidential is stored on a cloud storage system. A uniform resource indicator is generated that includes a routing identifier to the first device, and a section routing identifier to the second file stored on the first device. A revised version of the first file is stored to the cloud storage system wherein the confidential portion of the first file is replaced with the generated uniform resource indicator within the revised version of the first file at a location of the confidential portion within the content of the first file.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for item inquiry and information presentation via standard communication paths. More particularly, the method and system detects an item associated with an avatar of a virtual universe (VU) user in a VU and determine information associated with the item. Additionally, the method and system are operable to display the information in the VU in a high-resolution component of the VU.