Abstract: A system for managing a fleet of robotic vehicles comprising a plurality of robotic vehicles, each including a processor controller operating under algorithmic control, wherein the processor controller of each vehicle is configured to prevent operation of the robotic vehicle by an unauthorized user and a central controller operating on a remote processor, wherein the remote processor is configured to interface with the plurality of robotic vehicles and to modify data associated with an authorized user for each of the plurality of robotic vehicles.

Abstract: A system for controlling a vehicle comprising a vehicle condition monitor coupled to the vehicle and configured to generate a plurality of vehicle operational data signals and a predictive behavior system coupled to the vehicle condition monitor and configured to generate vehicle control data as a function of the vehicle operational data signals and operator historical data.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer accessible medium for an identity based user interface. An identity based user interface may display user interface elements including communication-related information for a plurality of identities. The communication related information may indicate multiple communication mechanisms for each identity. In response to selection of one of the communication mechanisms, an identity based user interface may initiate communication with the corresponding identity using the selected mechanism. An identity based user interface may also display information regarding the presence, reach-ability or future availability for one or more of the identities and may request and receive such information from an identity framework. An identity based user interface may utilize shared identity objects to store and maintain the communication related information.

Abstract: A multi-grid mechanism using peer-to-peer (P2P) platform protocols. An autonomic grid computing mechanism may be used to implement a multi-grid grid computing system. In the multi-grid grid computing system, there may be multiple master nodes, and thus multiple smaller grids (or grid cells) each including one or more compute nodes, in a single (larger) grid. A job submitter node may use one or more P2P platform protocols to discover the master nodes and to obtain information about the grid cells, including information that may be used by the job submitter to automatically select one of the grid cells that is suitable to execute a particular job. After selecting the grid cell, the job submitter may submit the particular job to the master node of the grid cell using the P2P platform protocols.

Abstract: A load-balancing mechanism for grids in a multi-grid network. Using embodiments, one or more job submitters may distribute jobs to grids in a multi-grid network according to the load of the grids, thus spreading the load of jobs to be processed among the grids and helping to insure that jobs are handled in a timely fashion. In one embodiment, a job submitter may use peer-to-peer platform protocols to obtain load information about the grids, and then use the information about the grids to select one of the grids to perform a particular job according to the load of the grids. Determining the load on the grids may be based on information acquired from the grids including one or more of, but not limited to, how many jobs are pending in a grid's job queue and estimated time for completing the jobs in the grid's job queue.

Abstract: Orchestrated group communication may facilitate communication with a group of contacts. A user may define a group of contacts reachable via different communication mechanisms. A communication framework may determine an appropriate method for communicating the information to each member of a group. The user may not know how the communication framework is communicating with each group member. A user may specify preferred communication mechanisms or a particular order of communication mechanisms for communicating with particular contacts. Orchestrated group communication may also provide a user interface allowing a user to request communication with every member of a contact group via a single user interface action. A user desiring to communicate with a group may drag a document, or other file, and drop it onto an icon for the group and a group communication framework may communicate that document to each member of the group.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer accessible medium for an identity based user interface. An identity based user interface may display user interface elements including communication-related information for a plurality of identities. The communication related information may indicate multiple communication mechanisms for each identity. In response to selection of one of the communication mechanisms, an identity based user interface may initiate communication with the corresponding identity using the selected mechanism. An identity based user interface may also display information regarding the presence, reach-ability or future availability for one or more of the identities and may request and receive such information from an identity framework. An identity based user interface may utilize shared identity objects to store and maintain the communication related information.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer accessible medium for an identity based user interface. An identity based user interface may display user interface elements including communication-related information for a plurality of identities. The communication related information may indicate multiple communication mechanisms for each identity. In response to selection of one of the communication mechanisms, an identity based user interface may initiate communication with the corresponding identity using the selected mechanism. An identity based user interface may also display information regarding the presence, reach-ability or future availability for one or more of the identities and may request and receive such information from an identity framework. An identity based user interface may utilize shared identity objects to store and maintain the communication related information.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer accessible medium for maintaining and sharing identity information for identities. Multiple types of identity information, including communication-related information, for multiple identities may be aggregated, stored in, and accessed through, a corresponding shared identity objects. Aggregated identity information for an identity may be stored in a corresponding shared identity object. Aggregated identity information may be accessed by applications through shared identity objects. Communication-related information may include indications of communication mechanisms. Communication with an identity may be initiated through a corresponding shared identity object using the communication mechanisms. The communication related information may also include an indication of the reach-ability of the identity through each of the communication mechanisms and may be requested and received form remote system associated with the identity.

Abstract: A self-healing grid mechanism using peer-to-peer platform protocols. In one embodiment, two or more nodes on a grid may be configured as master nodes. One of the configured master nodes may serve as the actual master node, and one may be backup or “shadow” master node, not actively serving as a master node. If the active master node goes down, the peer-to-peer protocols may be used to detect that the master node is not active and the backup master node may take over the master node operations for the grid. The backup master node may “shadow” the master node, keeping updated information about the grid configuration and operations via the peer-to-peer platform protocols, so that it can assume grid management operations seamlessly.

Abstract: A first collaboration framework on a first computer system may intercept, via an operating system event handling mechanism on the first computer system, local input events for a first application executing on the first computer system. The first collaboration framework may also send messages including the intercepted input events to other collaboration frameworks executing on other respective computer systems. In response to receiving a message including an intercepted input event, each of the other collaboration frameworks may deliver the input event, via an operating system event handling mechanism to another application. A collaboration framework may deliver an input event intercepted on another computer system to a local application as if the input event were input locally. Delivered input events may cause applications on other computer systems to perform the same one or more actions as performed by the application for which the input event was originally intended.

Abstract: A method, device and computer accessible medium for an adaptive contact list. An adaptive contact list may maintain one or more contact entries for corresponding identities. An adaptive contact list may detect context information for a user and may identify context appropriate contact entries according to the current context information and may supply the context appropriate contact entries. Context appropriate contact entries may be supplied to other applications or processes. Further, an adaptive contact list may detect, either periodically or on demand, a change in context information for the user, identify different context appropriate contact entries according to the changed context information, and supply the different context appropriate contact entries. Maintained contact entries may be stored in shared identity objects and an adaptive contact list may request and receive contact entries from an identity framework.

Abstract: Embodiments of a peer-to-peer-based content sharing/distribution network (CDN). In embodiments, some peers are content publishers while other peers are content consumers. When a consumer peer gets content from a content publisher, the consumer peer may become a content publisher that may be accessed by other peers. If a peer desires a particular content, the peer may get the content from a nearby content publisher, saving access to a central server. The more a content is in demand, the more likely it is to be replicated, and hence more likely to be found by consumer peers on nearby content publisher peers. If a content publisher peer does not have all of a requested content, the requesting peer may be redirected to another content publisher peer to obtain the missing content. Embodiments may be implemented in peer-to-peer networks implemented according to a peer-to-peer platform.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for providing peer-to-peer (p2p) capabilities to devices with limited resources (e.g. wireless devices). A mechanism is described that allows the devices to participate as peer nodes in p2p network environments through wired or wireless connections. In one embodiment, the p2p network environment may be implemented according to a p2p platform, and the mechanism may be interoperable with p2p platform devices in the p2p network environment. A relay/proxy node on the network may serve as an interface to the p2p environment for devices using the mechanism to participate as peers in the p2p network. The relay/proxy node may be accessed using the mechanism to perform one or more p2p network environment functions on behalf of the devices.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise techniques to detect support for a given input device by a screen element of a graphical user interface (GUI). In one embodiment of the invention, a runtime version of a screen element's program code is examined to detect an ability to process a device's events. In another embodiment of the invention, a determination is made at runtime whether a screen element delegated processing of a given input device's events to other program code. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the runtime version of a screen element's program code is examined to detect a declaration of program code that is indicative of a screen element's support or non-support of a given input device. In yet another embodiment of the invention, one or more of the previously-identified embodiments can be combined.

Abstract: A meeting facilitation tool may perform and/or facilitate the planning, scheduling, holding, and/or following up of meeting related activities. A meeting facilitation tool may schedule a meeting time by interacting with meeting participants to determine a time range during which all the participants are available. Additionally, a meeting facilitation tool may programmatically interact with calendar data to schedule the meeting with each participant. A meeting facilitation tool may also allow reviewing of information for previous meetings. Additionally, a meeting facilitation tool may configure and/or initiate teleconferencing or video conferencing as well as the audio and/or video recording of the meeting. A meeting facilitation tool may also track and completion of action items assigned during a meeting.

Abstract: Embodiments of a distributed instant messaging system that uses a distributed index in peer-to-peer networks. A distributed index may be used to implement an instant messaging system in a group of participating peers. The distributed index may be used, for example, to route messages between participating peers, in identifying and authenticating peers wishing to participate, in notifying peers of newly joined peers, and in notifying joining peers of participating peers. In one embodiment, zones of the distributed index may be moved to joining peers. In one embodiment, zones of the distributed index stored on departing peers may be moved to participating peers. One embodiment may be implemented in peer-to-peer networks implemented according to a peer-to-peer platform including one or more peer-to-peer platform protocols for enabling peer nodes to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups and share network resources.

Abstract: A self-updating grid mechanism using peer-to-peer platform protocols. A compute node may send another node information about its compute node configuration using peer-to-peer platform protocols. The other node may be a master node configured to manage a grid of one or more compute nodes, another compute node, or some other peer node. In one embodiment, the other node may be a logically nearby node to the compute node. In one embodiment, the compute node may discover the other node using peer-to-peer platform protocols. The other node may determine if the compute node configuration needs to be updated from the compute node configuration information. If the compute node configuration needs to be updated, the other node may send update information to the compute node using peer-to-peer platform protocols. The compute node may then update its compute node configuration according to the update information.

Abstract: An autonomic grid computing mechanism. In embodiments, peer-to-peer platform protocols may be integrated with a grid computing system. Embodiments may use peer-to-peer platform protocols as the transport for the grid computing system. Embodiments may provide one or more of, but not limited to, the following capabilities to grid computing systems: self-deployment and self-configuration, self-updating, self-healing, node removal, master node backup, monitoring, administration, load balancing, grid brokering, decentralized grid, and multi-grid support. Peer-to-peer platform protocols may be used to automatically configure compute nodes. When a node comes up, the node searches for a master node using the peer-to-peer platform. When the node finds a master node, it provides node information to the master node using the peer-to-peer platform. The master node may send the node grid configuration information using the peer-to-peer platform and the node may self-configure as a compute node.

Abstract: A system and method for providing advertisements in a peer-to-peer networking environment is described. In one embodiment, the peer-to-peer protocols may use advertisements to describe and publish the existence of peer resources. An advertisement may be defined as a structured, language neutral metadata structure that names, describes, and publishes the existence of a peer-to-peer platform resource, such as a peer, a peer group, a pipe, or a service. In one embodiment, user-defined advertisement subtypes (for example, using XML schemas) may be formed from these basic types. A peer in a peer-to-peer network may publish a resource advertisement to make the resource corresponding to the advertisement available to other peers on the network. Peers may discover published advertisements by broadcasting discovery query messages. Other peers may respond to discovery query messages by sending response messages that may include advertisements.