Abstract: In an embodiment of a method of establishing a computer-based communication session involving a user of a computer, notification may be received from the user of a desired participant and a desired communications application for the session. A participant identifier effective to identify the desired participant to the desired communications application may then be retrieved, and the retrieved identifier may be provided to the communications application. An embodiment of a system for computer-based communications includes means for receiving notification of a desired participant in a communications session and a desired communications application for the session, means for retrieving a participant identifier appropriate to identify the desired participant to the desired communications application, and means for providing the retrieved participant identifier to the communications application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically building a context sensitive composite icon are provided. A base icon is used to represent a particular object in a graphical user interface. This base icon has addition points where icon additions may be attached to the base icon, such as through an icon overlay process. By adding icon additions at the addition points of the base icon, a composite icon is generated and then registered with the graphical user interface. The icon additions that are used to generate the composite icon are selected based on a particular context in which the object associated with the base icon is being used. The use of icon additions with the base icon is determined dynamically as the context of the corresponding object changes. In this way, the same base icon may be used to represent a particular object with additions to the base icon being used to provide additional information that is important to the current context of the corresponding object.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing system operators to collaborate and coordinates efforts through an action diary. The operators communicate directly with each other through a chat page in the appropriate action diaries. The dialog may be saved for archive, copy commentary to action diary notes, or deleted. Two or more operators may work on solving the same root problem. Coordinating operator efforts includes capturing the coordinated best practice solution. Two operators working on the same root problem may access two different action diaries or a common action diary. Pre-set event rules cause both operators to be notified of the other operator's actions. The updates to both action diaries are coordinated as appropriate. Each diary may reference the other's path allowing individual customization. In other cases, the paths may be duplicated.

Abstract: A method of display with a graphical user interface includes arranging selectable navigation points along a line configured on a display screen. In some embodiments, the selectable points correspond to pieces of information to be displayed, such that selection of a selectable point causes the corresponding piece of information to be displayed. The selectable points may be arranged along the line according to a priority sequence of the corresponding pieces of information. In other embodiments, the selectable points correspond to functions useful in using an application program. Selection of a selectable point in this embodiment causes the corresponding function to be executed. The line with selectable navigation points may therefore be used in place of other display tools such as toolbars or pull-down menus, and may allow rapid selection of desired options, commands, or information while using a minimum amount of screen space.

Abstract: A hierarchical traffic control system is disclosed. The traffic control system comprises a primary controller. The primary controller receives information about traffic in an area. The system further includes a plurality of subsidiary controllers. The subsidiary controllers provide information to and receive information from the primary controller. Each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers is associated with a cell within the area. Each of the subsidiary controllers receives and provides information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell. The primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions. In this system, at least one vehicle within the traffic includes a third-party permission for operation.

Abstract: A system and method to create child objects from parent objects in an action diary. Child objects are created with increasing specificity regarding a system situation. A method is provided for associating an action diary based on the parent class of an object, even if there are no instances of objects of the parent class. A knowledge expert creates an action diary and associate that diary with a parent class object. The children of that class have the class generic action diary available to assist the operator in handling new situations. As the operators improve the handling of a specific situation, a new action diary is created by including information and actions in from the original action diary and can be associated with the specific child object. Thus the evolution of knowledge can orderly proceed from a general type to a specific.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically creating and cleaning up correlation circuits connecting effect events, such as a system failure, with their corresponding cause events. Object instances are created to act upon cause and effect events. A particular object instance can be both a cause event for another object as well as an effect event for another causal event and adapted to monitor network devices. When a cause event occurs in the system, it publishes messages to other objects subscribed to it. A correlation circuit is dynamically created by linking effects with their causes, those causes with their causes, until a root cause is located. Correlation circuits dynamically change depending upon the events occurring in the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically building a context sensitive composite icon are provided. A base icon is used to represent a particular object in a graphical user interface. This base icon has addition points where icon additions may be attached to the base icon, such as by superimposing the icon additions over the base icon. By adding icon additions at the addition points of the base icon, a composite icon is generated and then registered with the graphical user interface. The icon additions that are used to generate the composite icon are selected based on a particular context in which the object associated with the base icon is being used. The use of icon additions with the base icon is determined dynamically as the context of the corresponding object changes. In this way, the same base icon may be used to represent a particular object with additions to the base icon being used to provide additional information that is important to the current context of the corresponding object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically building a context sensitive composite icon are provided. A base icon is used to represent a particular object in a graphical user interface. This base icon has addition points where icon additions may be attached to the base icon, such as through an icon overlay process. By adding icon additions at the addition points of the base icon, a composite icon is generated and then registered with the graphical user interface. The icon additions that are used to generate the composite icon are selected based on a particular context in which the object associated with the base icon is being used. The use of icon additions with the base icon is determined dynamically as the context of the corresponding object changes. In this way, the same base icon may be used to represent a particular object with additions to the base icon being used to provide additional information that is important to the current context of the corresponding object.

Abstract: A method of configuring information for display includes assigning continuum labels to pieces of information, or information units, accessible by a computer system. The continuum labels may be used in arranging the information units into ordered sequences, or continuum arrangements. The method may include using a graphical user interface to establish sequences of icons representing information units. Forming continuum arrangements to configure information may allow display of the information in a form allowing rapid, convenient viewer access to desired pieces of information. In a method of displaying information, three axes are configured on a display screen, and selectable regions are configured in the vicinity of the axes, where each selectable region corresponds to an information unit. The position of the selectable region corresponding to an information unit is determined by a set of coordinates corresponding to x-axis, y-axis and z-axis continuum labels assigned to the information unit.

Abstract: A method of monitoring transmissions across a network by recording a history of user-selected network transmission requests to a network client in a trace object, wherein the history of user-selected network transmission requests includes a trace of one or more network links, assigning a unique identifier to the trace object, and saving the trace object. In the embodiment wherein the network is the Internet, the method records a sequence of links to sites on the World Wide Web. A web browser can allow toggling between a logging mode and a non-logging mode, in order to start and stop recording of link traces. Multiple traces from different network sessions can thus be merged into a single link sequence which can thereafter be used to revisit a network link contained in the history of network transmissions. Different link sequences can be combined to form procedures. Supervisors (e.g.

Abstract: Cause and effect event objects are created in response to conditions occurring in a system. The object space may be contained on a single system or may span across several systems connected with a computer network. As system events change, a correlation circuit may be changed or removed as a result. Individual objects may not be properly removed from the object space and may be orphaned from their correlation circuits. A orphan handler identifies objects that may be potential orphan objects based on factors. Factors may include the amount of time the object exists in the object space and whether the object is not currently correlated with other objects in the object space. When an orphaned object is identified, it can be automatically removed from the object space. Orphaned objects can be viewed by system administrators to determine whether the object exists in response to a particular system event.

Abstract: A system and method for blindly sharing biological data is provided. Biological data, such as such as genome data, proteome data, and genetic data is licensed by a data provider to one or more data consumers without compromising the identity of either party. A trusted third party, or data broker, is used to manage the biological data developed by data providers. The trusted third party/data broker receives requests from data consumers, such as researchers, and matches the requests against available data. If the data consumer decides to license the data, the data broker digitally signs the license agreement on behalf of each party in accordance with the intellectual property and pricing terms specified by the data provider. In addition, the trusted third party/data broker may be used to manage the data consumer's access of the data.

Abstract: A hierarchical traffic control system is disclosed. The traffic control system comprises a primary controller. The primary controller receives information about traffic in an area. The system further includes a plurality of subsidiary controllers. The subsidiary controllers provide information to and receive information from the primary controller. Each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers is associated with a cell within the area. Each of the subsidiary controllers receives and provides information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell. The primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions. In the present invention, at least one vehicle includes roles and permission sets. The traffic control system can then determine the appropriate route for the vehicle based upon the roles and permission sets.

Abstract: In a system and method for displaying status of critical indicators or variables, icons representing the indicators are displayed in superposition with a reference shape. The reference shape is divided into “higher-interest” and “lower-interest” portions, such that display of an icon over the higher-interest portion of the reference shape indicates a higher-interest value of the corresponding variable. The reference shape is preferably elongated horizontally, with its upper portion designated as the higher-interest portion and its lower portion designated the lower-interest portion. Each monitored variable may be allocated a vertical “slice” of the reference shape, such that the position of the corresponding icon when the variable is in the higher-interest state is laterally aligned with the position of the icon when the variable is in the lower-interest state.

Abstract: A parking control system is disclosed. The parking control system comprises a plurality of vehicles. A portion of the plurality of vehicles occupies parking spaces in a parking lot. At least one of the vehicles is attempting to park in a parking space of the parking lot. At least one of the plurality of vehicles is capable of a two-way communication. The parking control system also includes a parking controller. The parking controller receives and provides information to the plurality of vehicles. The parking controller can communicate the most appropriate parking space to the vehicle that is attempting to park. In a method and system in accordance with the present invention, a parking controller monitors a parking lot and can be in direct contact with the vehicles. The parking controller receives and transmits information to and from the vehicles and allows for an overall view of the parking lot to be understood.

Abstract: In a system and method for displaying status of critical indicators or variables, icons representing the indicators are displayed in superposition with a reference shape. The reference shape is divided into “higher-interest” and “lower-interest” portions, such that display of an icon over the higher-interest portion of the reference shape indicates a higher-interest value of the corresponding variable. The reference shape is preferably elongated horizontally, with its upper portion designated as the higher-interest portion and its lower portion designated the lower-interest portion. Each monitored variable may be allocated a vertical “slice” of the reference shape, such that the position of the corresponding icon when the variable is in the higher-interest state is laterally aligned with the position of the icon when the variable is in the lower-interest state.

Abstract: A hierarchical traffic control system is disclosed. The traffic control system comprises a primary controller. The primary controller receives information about traffic in an area. The system further includes a plurality of subsidiary controllers. The subsidiary controllers provide information to and receive information from the primary controller. Each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers is associated with a cell within the area. Each of the subsidiary controllers receives and provides information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell. The primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions. In a method and system in accordance with the present invention, each of the subsidiary controllers monitors a finite portion of the route and can be in direct contact with the vehicles.

Abstract: A traffic control system is described. The traffic control system comprises a primary controller. The primary controller receives information about traffic in an area. The traffic control system further includes a plurality of subsidiary controllers providing information to and receiving information from the primary controller. Each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers is associated with a cell within the area. Each of the subsidiary controllers receives and provides information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell. The primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions. The at least one vehicle is granted a permission based upon its role.

Abstract: A hierarchical traffic control system is disclosed. The traffic control system comprises a primary controller. The primary controller receives information about traffic in an area. The system further includes a plurality of subsidiary controllers. The subsidiary controllers provide information to and receive information from the primary controller. Each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers is associated with a cell within the area. Each of the subsidiary controllers receives and provides information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell. The primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions. In this system, at least one vehicle within the traffic includes a third-party permission for operation.