Abstract: Frenzied bidding in an electronic auction is avoided or prevented by receiving by a proxy bidding agent computer one or more counter-bidding control parameters from a bidder console, wherein the counter-bidding control parameters identify an item to watch, counter-bid conditions, and counter-bid patience parameters; during an electronic auction, monitoring one or more conditions of an item in the auction while automatic counter-bidding is performed by the proxy bidding agent; during the monitoring detecting counter-bid conditions being unmet or violated; and responsive to the detecting, preventing counter-bidding by the proxy bidding agent.

Abstract: Vigilance monitoring and a navigation aid are provided to a user in an electronic auction by receiving by a computer a command to watch similar items to a first item in an online or electronic auction; extracting by a computer from the command, from the auction, or from both the command and the auction one or more item descriptive parameters; using by a computer the extracted parameters to query one or more online or electronic sales sources for similar items matching the extracted parameters, the sales sources being electronic sources other than the auction; receiving by a computer at least one price for an available similar item from at least one sales source; and causing prompting by a computer a user of the auction with the similar item price and sales source.

Abstract: A license handling information handling system receives an electronic message from a first computer system utilized by a first user. The first user's message requests a license to a licensed product that has previously been purchased by the organization. The license handling information handling system identifies a second user in the organization that currently has a license to the licensed product, and requests that the second user relinquish the license to the licensed product. The second user indicates that the second user's license will be relinquished for a temporary time period. The licensing handling information handling system sends an electronic message, including the temporary time period, to the first user. In response to the first user accepting the temporary time period, the second user's license to the licensed product is revoked, and the first user is granted a license to the licensed product.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for placing data in shards on a storage device may include determining placement of a data set in one of a plurality of shards on the storage device. Each one of the shards may include a different at least one performance feature. Each different at least one performance feature may correspond to a different at least one predetermined characteristic associated with a particular set of data. The data set is cached in the one of the plurality of shards on the storage device that includes the at least one performance feature corresponding to the at least one predetermined characteristic associated with the data set being cached.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for placing data in shards on a storage device may include determining placement of a data set in one of a plurality of shards on the storage device. Each one of the shards may include a different at least one performance feature. Each different at least one performance feature may correspond to a different at least one predetermined characteristic associated with a particular set of data. The data set is cached in the one of the plurality of shards on the storage device that includes the at least one performance feature corresponding to the at least one predetermined characteristic associated with the data set being cached.

Abstract: A system for heat-treatment of large metallic samples including a microwave heating apparatus with a wave guide, means for monitoring and measuring temperature, holding means for holding the metallic sample. The holding means comprises a casket configuration made of low density alumina fiber board and wrapped with low density alumina fiber material to define a cavity and provided with susceptors along the inner walls of the cavity.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for managing digital video recorder storage for one or more users. Each user in the multi-user environment is assigned an amount of program storage in the digital video recorder. Responsive to receiving a request to record a new program from a user in the multi-user environment, an associated amount of program storage assigned to the use is determined. Responsive to a determination that addition of the new program will not exceed the associated amount of program storage assigned to the user, the new program is recorded to the program storage.

Abstract: An approach that smoothes a cryptographic function's timing footprint is presented. A processor includes a “function timing smoother” that smoothes out spikes in the amount of time that a particular cryptographic function requires to execute. When a cryptographic function executes, the function timing smoother tracks the amount of time that the cryptographic function executes (current execution time) and compares the time with the amount of time that the same cryptographic function took for a previous execution (previous execution time). When the current execution time is less than the previous execution time, the function timing smoother adds instructions or varies an execution unit's clock speed in order to increase the cryptographic function's current execution time. Using this approach, a malicious user is not able to decipher sensitive information from the cryptographic function's timing footprint.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for managing digital video recorder storage for one or more users. Each user in the multi-user environment is assigned an amount of program storage in the digital video recorder. Responsive to receiving a request to record a new program from a user in the multi-user environment, an associated amount of program storage assigned to the use is determined. Responsive to a determination that addition of the new program will not exceed the associated amount of program storage assigned to the user, the new program is recorded to the program storage.

Abstract: An approach is provided in which an electronic message is received from a source at a network interface that is accessible from the information handling system. A source address corresponding to the electronic message is identified, wherein the source address also corresponds to a legitimate source. Current usage patterns are extracted from the received electronic message and historical usage patterns are retrieved that correspond to the identified source address. The historical usage patterns being previously gathered from previous messages received from the legitimate source. The extracted current usage patterns and the retrieved historical usage patterns are compared. A user of the system is notified in response to the comparison revealing that the source is an imposter.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for selecting, in real time, a leading view of a multi-angle television program. A video recorder receives a program view selection. The video recorder then transmits a viewer data request for the currently selected program view to a service provider. The video recorder may then receive requested viewer data of the selected program view and one or more alternate views of the selected program. The video recorder may then determine if the selected program view is the leading view of the selected program. When the selected view is not the leading view and the video recorder is configured for automatic view switching, the video recorder may autonomously switch to the leading view of the selected program. Alternatively, the video recorder may present vote totals of all views of the selected program and enable a selection of a desired alternate view.

Abstract: An approach is provided that receives a message from a first user. The first user's message requests a license to a licensed product that has previously been purchased by the organization. The system identifies current users in the organization that currently have licenses to the licensed product. A need score is calculated that reflects a needs analysis of the first user to the licensed product. Current user need scores are calculated and these need scores correspond to the needs of the current users pertaining to the licensed product. The first user's need score is compared to the current user product need scores and a second user is selected based on the comparison where the first user's need score is better than the second user need score. The second user's license to the licensed product is revoked and the first user is granted a license to the licensed product.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a multi-focus remote control session (RCS) within a computer system. A unique identifier (UserID) of each user and associated input devices are registered to the RCS. The users have shared concurrent control of a computer screen via the input devices. Responsive to selection of windows within the computer screen by the input devices, concurrently operative focus is provided to each selected window and is specific to the UserID associated with the input device that selected the window. Each selected window having focus may be accessed and manipulated by only the input devices associated with the UserID to which the focus provided to each selected window is specific. The selected windows to which focus has been provided are recording in a computer readable medium in association with the UserID specific to the selection of the windows.

Abstract: A computer determines an optimal route to a destination. The computer identifies the present position of a navigation device with a user selecting a destination. The computer acquires current information comprising road, business hour, traffic congestion patterns, a plurality of conveyance modes, and time buffer information relative to the present position and the selected destination to store in the memory. A route identification unit identifies, from the acquired current information, an optimal route from the current position to the selected destination. The computer stores the acquired information in the memory of the navigation device and identifies an optimal route from the current position to the selected destination.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a multi-focus remote control session (RCS) within a computer system. A unique identifier (UserID) of each user and associated input devices are registered to the RCS. The users have shared concurrent control of a computer screen via the input devices. Responsive to selection of windows within the computer screen by the input devices, concurrently operative focus is provided to each selected window and is specific to the UserID associated with the input device that selected the window. Each selected window having focus may be accessed and manipulated by only the input devices associated with the UserID to which the focus provided to each selected window is specific. The selected windows to which focus has been provided are recording in a computer readable medium in association with the UserID specific to the selection of the windows.

Abstract: A license handling information handling system receives an electronic message from a first computer system utilized by a first user. The first user's message requests a license to a licensed product that has previously been purchased by the organization. The license handling information handling system identifies a second user in the organization that currently has a license to the licensed product, and requests that the second user relinquish the license to the licensed product. The second user indicates that the second user's license will be relinquished for a temporary time period. The licensing handling information handling system sends an electronic message, including the temporary time period, to the first user. In response to the first user accepting the temporary time period, the second user's license to the licensed product is revoked, and the first user is granted a license to the licensed product.

Abstract: A method in a distributed computer system includes a server and a client and is for delivering Web content within a body section of electronic mail messages. The method includes receiving at a server, at least one mail message containing an embedded hyperlink. The method includes downloading Web content associated with the hyperlink into the message store at the server. The method also includes transmitting the mail message and at least one of a link to the Web content downloaded into the message store at the server and the corresponding Web content for display at the client. The method includes determining whether the client has a preset time for downloading messages containing Web content. In response to determining that a preset time for downloading Web content exists, the method includes caching the message and Web content at the server until the preset time is reached.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing files in a data processing system. An attribute for a file is specified as having a special designation. The file with the attribute having the special designation is processed, by the operating system, in a different manner from other files when performing operations, such as, for example, copying the file to a removable media, printing the file, or sending the file over a network.

Abstract: A distributed computer system including a server and a client, the server including a message store, a method for delivering Web content within a body section of electronic mail messages is provided. At least one mail message containing an embedded hyperlink is received at the server. Web content associated with the hyperlink is downloaded into the message content store at the server. The mail message and the corresponding Web content are then transmitted for display at the client.

Abstract: A method includes, with a first computing device, receiving contact information for an entity from a connector, the connector being a human operator of a peer computing device that stores a contact information database for contacts of the connector, the contact information being contact information for the entity, where the connector is providing the contact information to put an operator of the first computing device in communication with the entity, after receiving the contact information, receiving a communication with the first computing device from the entity, and in response to receiving the communication from the entity, displaying at least some of the contact information in an introduction tag along with notification of receiving the communication.