Abstract: A method and a system for resolving problems in an enterprise system which contains a plurality of servers forming a cluster coupled via a network. A central controller is configured to monitor and control the plurality of servers in the cluster. The central controller is configured to poll the plurality of servers based on pre-defined rules and identify an alarm pattern in the cluster. The alarm pattern is associated with one of the servers in the cluster and a possible root cause is identified by the central controller with labeled alarm pattern in a repository and a possible solution is recommended to overcome the identified problem that has been associated with the alarm pattern. Information in the repository is adapted based on feedback about the real root cause obtained from the administrator.

Abstract: A user's preference structure in respect of alternative “objects” with which the user is presented is captured in a multi-attribute utility function. The user ranks these competing objects in order of the user's relative preference for such objects. A utility function that defines the user's preference structure is provided as output on the basis of this relative ranking. This technique can be used to assist a buyer in selecting between multi-attribute quotes or bids submitted by prospective suppliers to the buyer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of providing targeted video promotional material is disclosed. The method includes transmitting a promotional item for display on a video terminal, determining whether the promotional item was skipped, and updating a profile corresponding to the promotional item or a viewer of the promotional item based on whether or not the promotional item was skipped.

Abstract: At a client, a video is received. The video includes one or more advertisement slots. The video is played back to a user. During the playback of the video, an impending advertisement slot is detected. One or more advertisements are requested for placement in the advertisement slot. The one or more advertisements are received and placed in the advertisement slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating bids for bidding agents in an auction. Bids are sorted by decreasing bid amount for regular bids and upper limit for order bids to form a sorted set of bids, wherein each bid includes a quantity and wherein the bids include order bids. A first bid is identified requesting a quantity in which an unallocatable portion is present. A number of order bids is selected from the bids, wherein the number of order bids are higher in the sorted set of bids than the first bid and have an allocation requirement less than the unallocatable portion of the of the first bid. A price is set for the order bids higher than the first bid and not in the aforementioned selected bids.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an absorption spectroscopy method for sensing hydrogen gas in a sample atmosphere and an associated hydrogen sensor. A light beam, having a wavelength corresponding to a vibrational transition of hydrogen molecules from a ground vibration state to any excited rotational vibration state via a quadrupole interaction, is introduced into an optical cavity adapted to receive a sample atmosphere to be tested for the presence of hydrogen gas. The light is introduced into the cavity in an off-axis alignment to systematically eliminate cavity resonances, while preserving the absorption signal amplifying properties of such cavities. Hydrogen absorption is measured is terms of cavity output, as in the ICOS technique.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and program product for optimizing a distributed (software) application are provided. Specifically, a configuration of a target computing environment, in which the distributed application is deployed, is discovered upon deployment of the distributed application. Thereafter, based on a set of rules and the discovered configuration, one or more optimization techniques are applied to optimize the distributed application. In a typical embodiment, the set of rules can be embedded in the distributed application, or they can be accessed from an external source such as a repository.

Abstract: A distributed bid processing method uses a number of computers to process bids for a given open-cry auction or descending price auction in a distributed manner. The computers examine a set of bids and quickly filter out the losing bids. This helps in achieving faster processing and reduces response times. Two methods are developed for open-cry auctions and one for descending price auction. The methods apply to a distributed web server where some servers may be placed far apart geographically.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for on-the-fly alteration of apparent playback rate for content sent to a client based on a request from the client to alter the playback speed of the content. The system and method can use existing, open protocols and the media files served are playable by standard media playback clients. The method includes receiving a request for media content from a client, including instructions for adjusting the number of frames of the requested content to affect an apparent change in the playback speed of the content. The adjustment to the frames may include inserting frames, removing frames, and/or inserting markers to trigger the client device to duplicate frames.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for on-the-fly adaptation of a send rate for content sent to a client based on a detected read rate of the client system for data previously sent. The system and method work within the bounds of simple, existing, open protocols and the media files served are playable by standard media playback clients. The method is driven by a request for media content from a client, in response to which the server provides portions of the media content and monitors the reception rate of the content as it is sent to the client. This method allows for dynamic modification of the send rate of the content after the server has calculated an adjustment to correct for the difference between the reading rate and sending rate, thereby allowing for a send rate most compatible with the client.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for dynamic generation of media content at the point that content is served. The system and method work within the bounds of simple, existing, open protocols and the media files served are playable by standard media playback clients. The method is driven by a request for media content from a client specifying an edit list. The server opens one or more source files and selects portions of one or more files to transmit based on edit list instructions, and sequentially writes those portions to an output for serving to the client. The server sorts the selected portions of one or more source media files, combines the selected portions to form a combined media shot, and serves the combined media shot to the client. The method allows for various modifications of the content before serving.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for dynamic generation of media content at the point that content is served. The system and method work within the bounds of simple, existing, open protocols and the media files served are playable by standard media playback clients. The method is driven by a request for media content from a client specifying an edit list. The server opens one or more source files and selects portions of one or more files to transmit based on edit list instructions, and sequentially writes those portions to an output for serving to the client. The method allows for various modifications of the content before serving.

Abstract: The serving of advertisements with (e.g., on) video documents may be improved in a number of ways. For example, a system may (a) accept information defining at least one ad spot associated with at least one instance of an video document, (b) accept offers to have advertisements served in the ad spot(s), and (c) arbitrate among competing advertisements, using at least the offers, to determine at least one advertisement to be served in that ad spot(s). As another example, a system may (a) accept relevance information for an advertisement, (b) determine at least one video document using the accepted relevance information, (c) present information about the video document(s) to an advertiser associated with the advertisement, and (d) accept, from the advertiser, an offer to have its advertisement served with at least one of the video document(s) accepted.

Abstract: A computer system and method for compiling a program, where the program executes pointer assignments from a source object to a destination object, each source object being addressable through a first pointer and each destination object being addressable through a second pointer. The system and method eliminate write barrier code from association with compiled program code when the first pointer points to a source object whose type is prolific, eliminate write barrier code from association with compiled program code when the second pointer points to a destination object whose type is non-prolific, and associate write barrier code with compiled program code when the source object is non-prolific and the destination object is prolific. Additionally, the system and method can determine not to associate write barrier code with a compiled program code if the second pointer points to a destination object whose type is non-prolific and if the first pointer points to a source object whose type is prolific.

Abstract: A composite door structure especially suitable for use as a door facing is provided. The structure comprises about 40 weight percent to about 80 weight percent thermoplastic polymer; up to about 30 weight percent glass fibers; and a filler selected from (a) about 5 weight percent to about 40 weight percent mineral filler and (b) about 10 weight percent to about 50 weight percent organic fibrous additive. A composite door comprising the door facing, and methods of making the same are also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure describes an absorption spectroscopy method for sensing hydrogen gas in a sample atmosphere and an associated hydrogen sensor. A light beam, having a wavelength corresponding to a vibrational transition of hydrogen molecules from a ground vibration state to any excited rotational vibration state via a quadrupole interaction, is introduced into an optical cavity adapted to receive a sample atmosphere to be tested for the presence of hydrogen gas. The light is introduced into the cavity in an off-axis alignment to systematically eliminate cavity resonances, while preserving the absorption signal amplifying properties of such cavities. Hydrogen absorption is measured is terms of cavity output, as in the ICOS technique.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for detecting a workload imbalance in a dynamically scheduled cluster of computer servers are disclosed. One such method comprises the steps of monitoring a plurality of metrics at each of the computer servers, detecting change points in the plurality of metrics, generating alarm points based on the detected change points, correlating the alarm points and identifying, based on an outcome of the correlation, one or more of the computer servers causing a workload imbalance. Systems and computer program products for practicing the above method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining whether to provide a requested service includes steps of receiving a current request for at least one secure service; searching a cache for a stored decision on whether to provide the at least one secure service, wherein the stored decision was made responsive to a prior request that is equivalent to the current request; using the stored decision when the stored decision is found; and performing a security check to determine whether a requested secure service can be granted, if the stored decision is not found. According to other embodiments, the method can be implemented as a computer readable medium including program instructions for performing the method or as an information processing system comprising a processor and memory for performing the method.

Abstract: A problem determination system and method reduces the time and effort required by system administrators to trouble shot transaction processing difficulties in a large distributed I/T environment by monitoring system component performance and computing operational performance threshold limits based on dependency graphs for the system. Using this data, a prioritized list of suspect components for the I/T system is generated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an impact resistant door facing. The facing includes a rectangular sheet of molded hardened polymeric material having first and second opposing major surfaces. A mat having a continuous structure is integrally molded into the sheet. The mat is sufficiently porous to allow the polymeric material to permeate the mat prior to the polymeric material having hardened. The mat is disposed within the sheet so that at least one of the major surfaces is unbroken. The present invention also relates to a method of forming the disclosed door facing, and a door formed therewith.