Abstract: A method for reducing Domain Name System (DNS) lookup traffic in a computer data network in a system including a router in communication with a client computer includes the steps of receiving a DNS lookup request through a web browser when the user requests to open a particular URL. The router sends the DNS lookup request for a hostname of the web server to a DNS server and receives a corresponding IP address. The router forwards the IP address to the web browser and the web browser sends a network connection request with a file transfer request to the router. The router forwards the request to the web server. The web server responds to the request by sending an HTML document for the web page. Upon receiving the HTML document, the router examines the HTML document for the URLs associated with image elements to be downloaded for display of a web page and sends one DNS lookup request for each of the distinct hostnames, regardless of how many times that distinct hostname appears in the HTML document.

Abstract: A method for reducing Domain Name System (DNS) lookup traffic in a computer data network in a system including a router in communication with a client computer includes the steps of receiving a DNS lookup request through a web browser when the user requests to open a particular URL. The router sends the DNS lookup request for a hostname of the web server to a DNS server and receives a corresponding IP address. The router forwards the IP address to the web browser and the web browser sends a network connection request with a file transfer request to the router. The router forwards the request to the web server. The web server responds to the request by sending an HTML document for the web page. Upon receiving the HTML document, the router examines the HTML document for the URLs associated with image elements to be downloaded for display of a web page and sends one DNS lookup request for each of the distinct hostnames, regardless of how many times that distinct hostname appears in the HTML document.

Abstract: To reduce Domain Name System (DNS) lookup traffic in a computer data network, a client computer requests a DNS lookup. A router or other means then sends the request for a hostname of a web server to a DNS server and receives a corresponding IP address. Next, the router forwards the request to the web server. In response, the web server sends an HTML document. Upon receiving the HTML document, the router examines the document for URLs and sends one DNS lookup request for each of the distinct hostnames, regardless of how many times that distinct hostname appears in the HTML document. The router receives IP addresses, each of which corresponds to one of each of the distinct hostnames and modifies the HTML document by replacing the each of the distinct hostnames, including recurrences, in the URLs associated with the image elements with their corresponding IP addresses.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide notification information of a telephone voicemail message over a computer and/or hybrid communications network. A table of updated voicemail subscriber message information is generated that includes voicemail subscriber identifier information and voice mailbox message status for each respective subscriber. Web-based requests (or alternate communications standards communicating the requests) are received from subscribers for voice mailbox status information. For each request from a subscriber, subscriber-specific data is retrieved from the table and a data communications notification that incorporates the retrieved information is communicated to a voice/data communications device to provide an updated voice mailbox message status.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an indication of a telephone voicemail message over a computer network is provided. A table of updated voicemail subscriber message information is generated that includes voicemail subscriber identifier information and voice mailbox message status for each respective subscriber. Web-based requests are received from subscribers for voice mailbox status information. For each request from a subscriber, subscriber-specific data is retrieved from the table and an Internet web page incorporating the retrieved information is provided. A web page is then generated for a subscriber and downloaded over the subscriber's web browser to provide an updated voice mailbox message status. An additional embodiment is described in which a cache in the router is utilized to store updates of the voice mailbox message status.

Abstract: A system for reducing Domain Name System (DNS) lookup traffic in a computer data network includes a router and a cache database associated with the router. The cache database includes at least one hostname and an IP address corresponding to the hostname. The router receives a request for name resolution including a hostname from a client computer. The router compares the hostname with the information in the cache database. If the cache database includes an entry corresponding to the hostname, the router responds to the request by providing an IP address corresponding to the hostname to the client computer. Otherwise, the router forwards the request to a DNS server and receives a response including the IP address corresponding to the hostname from the DNS server. Upon receiving the IP address corresponding to the hostname, the router stores the information in the cache database and sends the IP address to the client computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for facilitating end user support communications in a computing environment, wherein a product request may be initiated, and forwarded to a product administrator for review and resolution. The product request may be either initiated by the end user, or may automatically be initiated by the end user's computer in response to a serious error. In the latter case, diagnostic information is automatically captured and included in the product request, so that the product administrator may know the state of the end user's machine when determining the cause of the problem. In one embodiment, if the product administrator is unable to resolve the problem, he may access a database maintained by the vendor of the software and/or forward the product request to the vendor for resolution.

Abstract: A new computerized information flow technology is provided where information in an organization may be logically and automatically routed through a predefined sequence of activities to users who need the information. A user selects an activity from a list of available activities revealed by the computer system of the present invention. Upon the user completing the activity, the computer system selects an event associated with the activity. The event then performs a decision making process to determine which next steps are to be logically selected based upon predefined conditions set in the computer system and the information input by the user. The next steps determine the subsequent user or users responsible for performing a next activity (task) in the predefined sequence of activities. The computer system of the present invention then adds a message, representative of the next activity, to a subsequent user's or users' To Do List.