Abstract: A system for protecting data within a portable storage device. A self-destruct unit associated with the portable storage device is enabled. If the portable storage device is not within a pre-specified route tolerance or if the portable storage device is not at a pre-selected identification checkpoint, an alert message is sent. In response to receiving a particular response, a self-destruct signal is sent to the enabled self-destruct unit. Then the enabled self-destruct unit creates an electromagnetic pulse from a xenon flash tube to render confidential data within the portable storage device unusable.

Abstract: In a collaborative environment wherein persons use a specified system to communicate with one another, and a first person receives a request for information from one or more other persons, embodiments of the invention are used to provide a comprehensive measurement of collaboration that indicates the effectiveness of the first person in collaborating with one or more other persons in the environment. In an embodiment directed to a method, the embodiment includes, for each response made by the first person to one of the received requests, determining the value of at least one metric that represents the value of the response. The method further includes deriving one or more additional measurement values, wherein each additional measurement value represents the value of the participation of the first person in each of one or more additional measurable collaborative activities.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for discovering status of a network topology. A network management framework provides the ability to specify a method for determining how to gather status of a data processing system. A data gathering technique (DGT) may be dynamically adjusted to discovery or monitoring of devices within the data processing system. Different data gathering techniques may be employed in an effort to discover or monitor the devices. In addition, results of previous network data gathering may be stored for later use. These stored results may used to develop an order of relative capabilities for a managed device or devices as compared to other device or devices in the same network. Discovery and monitoring information may be obtained about one device or N devices within the network.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and computer instructions for testing compatibility of software versions, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of performing an inventory on an existing set of software modules resident in the data processing system responsive to an installation of a new software module in a data processing system; referring to a knowledge base of versions of respective software modules to determine whether the new software module is compatible with the existing set of software modules; and testing the new software module in a test data processing system in combination with the existing set of software modules in response to a negative determination.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product are presented for management of a distributed data processing system on behalf of a plurality of management customers. A set of logical networks within the distributed data processing system and/or a set of physical networks in the distributed data processing system are associated with an anchor object. A topology map can be generated and displayed in which a root node of the topology map is the anchor object. Each anchor object is uniquely associated with a customer for which the distributed data processing system is managed. The topology display can be restricted such that portions of topology information are displayed to an administrative user in accordance with the authorized security access of the user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for sending a user's availability information to an instant messaging (IM) partner. A user predefines areas of the user's display and associates these predefined areas, or “hotspots”, with user defined messages. If the user is not available to immediately respond to an incoming message, the user may move the IM dialog window to a “hotspot” in the display. Depending upon the user-defined message associated with the “hotspot”, the IM application generates an automated response indicating the user's availability to respond to the message, and sends the message to the IM partner. The user also may predefine and associate the user's IM status with a “hotspot”. Moving an IM dialog window into a “hotspot” automatically changes the user's status based on the associated “hotspot”. This change is communicated to only the particular IM dialog window partner while other IM partners are unaffected.

Abstract: A system for establishing and maintaining inventories of computing environment assets comprising one or more custom collector interfaces that detect movement of assets from one environment to another, and an inventory scanner which modifies inventories for each environment based on monitored asset movements. The present invention is of especial benefit to autonomic and on-demand computing architectures.

Abstract: Environment asset inventories of computing environment assets are arranged into computing environments, and at least one collector interface is disposed between the environments to detect movement of an asset and to produce asset movement reports. Upon receipt of a movement report, one or more backup copies of a environment asset inventory are accessed, and compared a modified environment asset inventory. A history of each asset in each inventory is maintained. A history report regarding the life of an asset from first introduction into an environment throughout movements between environments is produced, including any applicable patches and upgrades configured into an environment. A discrepancy report is generated including assets, locations, status, and a revision level indicators.

Abstract: Enabling automated provisioning on a data processing network includes providing the network with access to an automated provisioning controller. The controller enables a user to specify resource allocation priorities and uses the user-specified priorities, in conjunction with a resource stabilization policy, to resolve conflicting resource requests. The resource allocation priorities include priorities for demand-based resource requests and maintenance-based resource requests. The stabilization policy includes a policy for constraining allocation of a resource based on forecasted demand and a policy for constraining allocation of a resource based on a scheduled maintenance task.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product is presented for management of a distributed data processing system. The network management framework is able to monitor multiple sources of network packets on various subnets within the distributed data processing system; distributed packet snoopers are deployed from a packet usage manager to monitor the multiple sources of network packets. The system administrator can request packet filtering based upon selected active users or active applications. A bandwidth history database is compiled from bandwidth usage data associated with multiple entities within the data processing system, including users, applications, and/or endpoints within the data processing system. In response to a requested action within the data processing system, bandwidth usage for the requested action can be predicted with reference to the bandwidth history database.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product is presented for management of a distributed data processing system. The network management framework is able to monitor multiple sources of network packets on various subnets within the distributed data processing system; distributed packet snoopers are deployed from a packet usage manager to monitor the multiple sources of network packets. The system administrator can request packet filtering based upon selected active users or active applications. A bandwidth history database is compiled from bandwidth usage data associated with multiple entities within the data processing system, including users, applications, and/or endpoints within the data processing system. In response to a requested action within the data processing system, bandwidth usage for the requested action can be predicted with reference to the bandwidth history database.

Abstract: A server publishes a poll to one or more attendee clients to an electronic conference. The poll permits each attendee to select one of several choices as the vote of the respective attendee. Initially an attendee may have a default choice assigned to him, for example, undecided. The server may show a hypertext page that includes an image or persona icon of the attendee located within a panel that has the current vote that an attendee has chosen or, by default, been assigned.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product is presented for management of a distributed data processing system. The network management framework is able to monitor multiple sources of network packets on various subnets within the distributed data processing system; distributed packet snoopers are deployed from a packet usage manager to monitor the multiple sources of network packets. The system administrator can request packet filtering based upon selected active users or active applications. A bandwidth history database is compiled from bandwidth usage data associated with multiple entities within the data processing system, including users, applications, and/or endpoints within the data processing system. In response to a requested action within the data processing system, bandwidth usage for the requested action can be predicted with reference to the bandwidth history database.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for discovering status of a network topology. A network management framework provides the ability to specify a method for determining how to gather status of a data processing system. A data gathering technique (DGT) may be dynamically adjusted to discovery or monitoring of devices within the data processing system. Different data gathering techniques may be employed in an effort to discover or monitor the devices. In addition, results of previous network data gathering may be stored for later use. These stored results may used to develop an order of relative capabilities for a managed device or devices as compared to other device or devices in the same network. Discovery and monitoring information may be obtained about one device or N devices within the network.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for installing software in a network data processing system. An event is detected in the network data processing system indicating that a software module is to be installed in a set of data processing systems in the network data processing system. A configuration of each data processing system in the set of data processing systems is discovered, and a set of instructions is created using a knowledge base of prior installations. The set of instructions is tailored for each data processing system in the set of data processing systems based on the configuration for the each data processing system in the set of data processing systems. The set of instructions for the software module to be installed is sent to the set of data processing systems.

Abstract: An implementation for the generation of a surrogate Web browsing session at a Web receiving display station by a user who does the basic browsing or searching for a principal user, e.g. the physically limited individual or the executive/professional ordering the browsing session. A user to is enabled to interactively navigate the Web through a sequence of linked hypertext documents in a browsing session at a receiving display station in combination with recording on a real-time basis, keystroke by keystroke and mouse point and click by point and click, page by page and selected hyperlink by selected hyperlink, the interactive navigation of said user in said browsing session.

Abstract: A system for protecting data within a portable storage device. A self-destruct unit associated with the portable storage device is enabled. If the portable storage device is not within a pre-specified route tolerance or if the portable storage device is not at a pre-selected identification checkpoint, an alert message is sent. In response to receiving a particular response, a self-destruct signal is sent to the enabled self-destruct unit. Then the enabled self-destruct unit creates an electromagnetic pulse from a xenon flash tube to render confidential data within the portable storage device unusable.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for installing software in a network data processing system. An event is detected in the network data processing system indicating that a software module is to be installed in a set of data processing systems in the network data processing system. A configuration of each data processing system in the set of data processing systems is discovered, and a set of instructions is created using a knowledge base of prior installations. The set of instructions is tailored for each data processing system in the set of data processing systems based on the configuration for the each data processing system in the set of data processing systems. The set of instructions for the software module to be installed is sent to the set of data processing systems.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product are presented for management of a distributed data processing system on behalf of a plurality of management customers. A set of logical networks within the distributed data processing system and/or a set of physical networks in the distributed data processing system are associated with an anchor object. A topology map can be generated and displayed in which a root node of the topology map is the anchor object. Each anchor object is uniquely associated with a customer for which the distributed data processing system is managed. The topology display can be restricted such that portions of topology information are displayed to an administrative user in accordance with the authorized security access of the user.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product are presented for a distributed port firewall system. The distributed port firewall system provides mapping of port usage to application needs, application action object (AAO) used to identify the use of ports. Application action object may be opened based on endpoint and user. Port firewall “properties” are added in order to configure firewall which are only configurable by certain trusted users or applications. Different policies applied to usage and the opening of ports based on both a collection of endpoints, managed regions, or on a per endpoint basis. Beyond just allowing an application to open a port, the allowed packet types are also configured to work in conjunction with a distributed packet snooper session.