Abstract: A computer system comprising a number of components which make up an infrastructure with the system having a Directory 10 and an APS which is adapted to centralize and automate information management for online service systems.

Abstract: An automated provisioning system for provisioning a service or device in a communications network, which system comprises a listener (2) adapted to receive a request from a user and a driver adapted to control operation of the service or device. The driver supports a describe operation, which enumerates which operations are available for the user and co-operates with a control processor (22), which mediates between the driver and a data store holding information on which operations are available for the user. When a request to provision an available operation is received, the control processor (22) mediates between the data store and driver to determine what information is required to provision the service or device and to permit the driver to provision the service or device. The system dispenses with the table driven approach of known systems.

Abstract: A computer system comprising a number of components which make up an infrastructure with the system having a Directory 10 and an APS which is adapted to centralize and automate information management for online service systems.

Abstract: A computer system comprising a number of components which make up an infrastructure with the system having a Directory 10 and an APS which is adapted to centralize and automate information management for online service systems.

Abstract: A method of locating objects in a distributed electronic environment comprising defining a plurality of object-types, which object-types are assigned a plurality of attributes, one attribute being an object-precedence attribute. A plurality of home locations for objects are defined. When a new object is instantiated, which object has associations with other objects, the new object is located at the home location of the existing object which has the highest precedence value of all the associated objects.

Abstract: A method of recovering the state of a system, which system comprises at least one counter, which counter represents an instantaneous state of an entity in a system. The counter will increase in value in response to an increment request and decrease in value in response to a decrement request, wherein each increment request is paired with a decrement request.

Abstract: An automated provisioning system for provisioning a service or device in a communications network, which system comprises a listener (2) adapted to receive a request from a user and a driver adapted to control operation of the service or device. The driver supports a describe operation, which enumerates which operations are available for the user and co-operates with a control processor (22), which mediates between the driver and a data store holding information on which operations are available for the user. When a request to provision an available operation is received, the control processor (22) mediates between the data store and driver to determine what information is required to provision the service or device and to permit the driver to provision the service or device. The system dispenses with the table driven approach of known systems.

Abstract: A method of management of concurrent sessions within a networked electronic system across multiple servers generally comprises defining a model of the system to be managed, and then defining policies, which policies are applicable to components of the model. Then, system components are modelled as entities in the model with hierarchical relationships between the entities. The entities each comprise a single physical or non-physical object in the system. The model is split into parts such that policy information for a given entity is held on a nominated server, with other servers being informed of where to find the policy information, determination of which policies to apply to a given request being made by a policy checker, which policies are then executed.

Abstract: A computer system comprising a number of components which make up an infrastructure with the system having a Directory 10 and an APS which is adapted to centralize and automate information management for online service systems.

Abstract: A computer system comprising a number of components which make up an infrastructure with the system having a Directory 10 and an APS which is adapted to centralize and automate information management for online service systems.

Abstract: A method of locating objects in a distributed electronic environment comprising defining a plurality of object-types, which object-types are assigned a plurality of attributes, one attribute being an object-precedence attribute. A plurality of home locations for objects are defined. When a new object is instantiated, which object has associations with other objects, the new object is located at the home location of the existing object which has the highest precedence value of all the associated objects.

Abstract: A method of recovering the state of a system, which system comprises at least one counter, which counter represents an instantaneous state of an entity in a system. The counter will increase in value in response to an increment request and decrease in value in response to a decrement request, wherein each increment request is paired with a decrement request.

Abstract: A method of management of concurrent sessions within an electronic system comprising defining a model of the system to be managed, defining policies, which policies are applicable to components of the model. System components are modelled as entities in the model with hierarchical relationships between the entities. The entities each comprise a single physical or non-physical object in the system.