Abstract: A method for managing authorization to access Internet services. A session object is created when a user logs onto a web site. The session object includes authorization-privilege information for N services. The user selects the service desired from the web site, at which point the server checks the session object. If the session object does not include authorization to access the selected service, the server consults a directory service. If the user is authorized according to the directory service, authorization-to-access information is incorporated into the session object. When authorization is conditional, a listener object is created within the session object. The listener object registers with a broadcast object and receives information germane to conditions of authorization. The listener object analyzes the information according to conditions of authorization, and terminates access to the selected service when conditions of authorization are not satisfied.

Abstract: A method for providing secure access to information held in a shared repository, for example to electronic business cards stored on a server. A data owner registers with the server and provides information to be shared with selected data users. The server returns public-key cryptography keys. To access the information, a data user sends its public key to the data owner. The data owner encrypts the public key using the data owner private key, and sends the result to the server, along with permission to transfer information to the data user. The server decrypts the received result using the data owner public key, and compares the outcome with the data user public key. If they match, the server records permission on an access list. In response to a request for information the server checks the access list to determine whether the data user has permission. If so, the server encrypts the information using the data user public key, and transfers the result to the data user.

Abstract: An improved method for enabling an electronic commerce web server to provide commercial promotions. Modules of selectively executable compiled web server code are included within the web server's larger body of compiled code. A database contains the terms of each promotion and an association of each promotion with one of the modules. When a commercial transaction arrives at the server, the transaction is checked for a qualifying value that matches one of the qualifying values of the promotions in the database. When a match is found, the associated module of selectively executable compiled web server code is executed, thereby providing the promotion.

Abstract: A caching system includes a caching profile that records a file identifier and an entry time for each file that enters the caching system, and a predictive modeling engine that analyzes the profile to determine metrics for members of a set of caching algorithms. The metrics may be measures of clustering or scattering of the file identities entering the caching system. The algorithm with the most favorable metric is selected as the preferred caching algorithm, and the file is processed according to the preferred algorithm. In one embodiment of the invention, the set of caching algorithms includes a most-used caching algorithm, a least-used caching algorithm, a most-recently-used caching algorithm, and a least-recently-used caching algorithm.

Abstract: A method for providing secure access to information held in a shared repository, for example to electronic business cards stored on a server. A data owner registers with the server and provides information to be shared with selected data users. The server returns public-key cryptography keys. To access the information, a data user sends its public key to the data owner. The data owner encrypts the public key using the data owner private key, and sends the result to the server, along with permission to transfer information to the data user. The server decrypts the received result using the data owner public key, and compares the outcome with the data user public key. If they match, the server records permission on an access list. In response to a request for information the server checks the access list to determine whether the data user has permission. If so, the server encrypts the information using the data user public key, and transfers the result to the data user.

Abstract: An improved method for purging abandoned shopping carts from an electronic commerce web server. Periodically, the number of shopping carts that belong to guest shoppers is determined and compared with a threshold. When the number shopping carts that belong to guest shoppers exceeds the threshold, a guest shopper garbage collection routine applies to the shopping carts that belong to guest shoppers, and an established shopper garbage collection routine applies to carts that belong to established shoppers. In one embodiment of the invention, the guest shopper garbage collection routine purges shopping carts that have been inactive for a first period of time, whereas the established shopper garbage collection routine purges shopping carts that have been inactive for a second period of time that is longer than the first.

Abstract: A messaging system and method suitable for use with wireless mobile terminals. The system includes a message server for receiving and sending messages and converting messages to a baseline such as an XML representation; a message processor for controlling the system's operation; a database for storing information about messaging capabilities of mobile terminals; and a transcoder for filtering the baseline representation according to the capability of a mobile terminal. A subscriber enters a profile that includes the messaging capability of the mobile terminal, which is stored in the database. When the server receives a message for the subscriber's terminal, it converts the message to the baseline. The transcoder filters the baseline according to the capability of the terminal, and returns the result to the server for format and protocol conversion and sending to the terminal.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the privacy of recipients of personalizing text messages such as advertisements delivered to communication terminals such as cellular telephones. A common carrier such as a cellular telephone service provider gathers personal information from a subscriber at the time the subscriber signs on for service and receives a communication terminal. The carrier loads the terminal with a table that assigns variables to elements of personal information. The carrier accepts messages such as advertisements for distribution to subscribers. These messages use the variables that the carrier has loaded into the subscribers' terminals. When such a message is received, a subscriber's terminal replaces the variables with the elements of personal information by referring to the table.

Abstract: A messaging system and method suitable for use with wireless mobile terminals. The system includes a message server for receiving and sending messages and converting messages to a baseline such as an XML representation; a message processor for controlling the system's operation; a database for storing information about messaging capabilities of mobile terminals; and a transcoder for filtering the baseline representation according to the capability of a mobile terminal. A subscriber enters a profile that includes the messaging capability of the mobile terminal, which is stored in the database. When the server receives a message for the subscriber's terminal, it converts the message to the baseline. The transcoder filters the baseline according to the capability of the terminal, and returns the result to the server for format and protocol conversion and sending to the terminal.

Abstract: A method for providing secure access to information held in a shared repository, for example to electronic business cards stored on a server. A data owner registers with the server and provides information to be shared with selected data users. The server returns public-key cryptography keys. To access the information, a data user sends its public key to the data owner. The data owner encrypts the public key using the data owner private key, and sends the result to the server, along with permission to transfer information to the data user. The server decrypts the received result using the data owner public key, and compares the outcome with the data user public key. If they match, the server records permission on an access list. In response to a request for information the server checks the access list to determine whether the data user has permission. If so, the server encrypts the information using the data user public key, and transfers the result to the data user.

Abstract: An improved method for purging abandoned shopping carts from an electronic commerce web server. Periodically, the number of shopping carts that belong to guest shoppers is determined and compared with a threshold. When the number shopping carts that belong to guest shoppers exceeds the threshold, a guest shopper garbage collection routine applies to the shopping carts that belong to guest shoppers, and an established shopper garbage collection routine applies to carts that belong to established shoppers. In one embodiment of the invention, the guest shopper garbage collection routine purges shopping carts that have been inactive for a first period of time, whereas the established shopper garbage collection routine purges shopping carts that have been inactive for a second period of time that is longer than the first.

Abstract: A method for managing authorization to access Internet services. A session object is created when a user logs onto a web site. The session object includes authorization-privilege information for N services. The user selects the service desired from the web site, at which point the server checks the session object. If the session object does not include authorization to access the selected service, the server consults a directory service. If the user is authorized according to the directory service, authorization-to-access information is incorporated into the session object. When authorization is conditional, a listener object is created within the session object. The listener object registers with a broadcast object and receives information germane to conditions of authorization. The listener object analyzes the information according to conditions of authorization, and terminates access to the selected service when conditions of authorization are not satisfied.

Abstract: A personality type indicator is determined for a user who interacts with a server. The determination is made by analyzing information gathered by observing the user's interactions with the server rather than by asking the user to answer explicit questions. The content or the style of an information presentation is customized according to the user's personality type indicator. In one embodiment of the invention, the personality type indicator is a Myers Briggs Type Indicator.

Abstract: A scrolling mode for an Internet web browser, wherein a viewer controls the browser by operating the scrolling input mechanism of a scroll mouse, for example a scroll wheel. The viewer engages the scrolling mode while viewing one of a set of linked web pages. The browser awaits detection of scrolling output from the scroll mouse. When scrolling output is detected, the browser determines the sense of direction of the scrolling output. The browser then determines the URL of another of the pages in the set of linked web pages, and accesses that page. In one embodiment of the invention, the URL may be the URL that is associated with the page's previous button or next button. In another embodiment, the URL may be the URL that is associated with the browser's back button or forward button.

Abstract: An improved method for enabling an electronic commerce web server to provide commercial promotions. Modules of selectively executable compiled web server code are included within the web server's larger body of compiled code. A database contains the terms of each promotion and an association of each promotion with one of the modules. When a commercial transaction arrives at the server, the transaction is checked for a qualifying value that matches one of the qualifying values of the promotions in the database. When a match is found, the associated module of selectively executable compiled web server code is executed, thereby providing the promotion.

Abstract: Servlets within a web server maintain state information concerning requests made by users of the server. The servlets associate each user with an HTTP session object. The session object is configured to include information that identifies the last-N web pages requested by the user. Periodically, or in response to a triggering event, the server analyzes the contents of the session objects, for example by tabulating the frequency with which each web page has been requested in the recent past. From the results of the analysis, web-page caching priorities are determined, and the contents of the server's cache are altered accordingly.

Abstract: An electronic-commerce (e-commerce) customer is provided with a convenient way of calling for a shopping summary. The customer's web browser awaits a right-click from the customer's mouse upon an e-commerce web page. Upon detection of a right-click, the browser checks to see if a shopping summary is currently shown. When the shopping summary is shown at the time of the right-click, the web browser moves to a state wherein the summary is not show. When the shopping summary is not shown, the web browser moves to a state wherein the shopping summary is shown. In one embodiment, the summary appears as an overlay upon the web page. In another embodiment, the summary appears in a second web page that the browser opens upon detection of a right-click. The shopping summary may include a shopping cart, or an auction-bid summary, or a summary of other kinds of on-line purchasing, bidding, selling, or renting activity.

Abstract: A caching system includes a caching profile that records a file identifier and an entry time for each file that enters the caching system, and a predictive modeling engine that analyzes the profile to determine metrics for members of a set of caching algorithms. The metrics may be measures of clustering or scattering of the file identities entering the caching system. The algorithm with the most favorable metric is selected as the preferred caching algorithm, and the file is processed according to the preferred algorithm. In one embodiment of the invention, the set of caching algorithms includes a most-used caching algorithm, a least-used caching algorithm, a most-recently-used caching algorithm, and a least-recently-used caching algorithm.

Abstract: A method is described for tailoring information to characteristics of a user of an application program such as a web browser. An arbiter receives a request object from the application program. The request object contains profile elements that convey characteristics of the user. The profile elements are analyzed by the arbiter, and, based on the outcome of the analysis, the arbiter selects a personalization engine from a plurality of personalization engines. The request object is passed to the selected personalization engine, which accesses a content database to retrieve a personalized content object comprising information tailored to the user. The personalized content object is sent to the application program, which interprets it for the user. Various embodiments include an expert-system arbiter, and an arbiter comprising computer code that is provided according to conventional object-oriented analysis and design methods executing on a programmable processor.