Abstract: A system and method of managing a network provides for distributed storage and retrieval. In one embodiment, information such as a text message is stored by calculating an actual destination node based on a subscriber identifier and a current addressing function, which corresponds to a current topology of a network. The message is sent to the actual destination node for storage. Messages can be retrieved by calculating a plurality of destination nodes based on a subscriber identifier and a plurality of addressing functions, where each addressing corresponds to a topology of the network at a particular moment in time. In one embodiment, the addressing functions are hash functions.

Abstract: Systems and methods of processing incoming data provide for receiving incoming data and determining whether to employ stateless routing of the incoming data based on one or more destination hosts associated with the incoming data. In one approach, stateless routing involves storing the incoming data only in volatile memory and withholding confirmation of receipt of the incoming data until confirmation of delivery is received from either the destination host or a downstream router. The determination as to whether stateless routing should be employed can take into consideration historical data for the destination host as well as control data. The determination can also be based on the number of destination hosts.

Abstract: A mail message, sent by a subscriber of a Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network (MSISDN)-restricted messaging service, may be intercepted by a network gateway. A unique ID number, which may be in the form of a standard MSISDN number, may be assigned to the restricted subscriber, and used to send the mail message as a multimedia mail service (MMS) message to a recipient subscriber of an MSISDN-based messaging service. In one embodiment, the ID number may be used as the sender's MSISDN number. In another embodiment, the recipient may reply to the message without ever seeing the sender's actual MSISDN such that privacy is protected but communication is enabled.

Abstract: A system for presenting dynamic content to a user of a client device is implemented in a method including the steps of presenting a requested data object to the user; and automatically presenting dynamic content to the user in addition to the presentation of the requested data object, wherein the dynamic content includes information provided by a dynamic executable module running on the client device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of processing incoming data provide for receiving incoming data and determining whether to employ stateless routing of the incoming data based on one or more destination hosts associated with the incoming data. In one approach, stateless routing involves storing the incoming data only in volatile memory and withholding confirmation of receipt of the incoming data until confirmation of delivery is received from either the destination host or a downstream router. The determination as to whether stateless routing should be employed can take into consideration historical data for the destination host as well as control data. The determination can also be based on the number of destination hosts.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a common resource shared by a plurality of entities, wherein the common resource contains a plurality of entries each of which is associated with one of the plurality of entities, includes the steps of determining an amount of the common resource occupied by entries associated with a given one of the plurality of entities; and removing a number of the associated entries from the common resource to reduce the occupied amount if the occupied amount exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A system for presenting dynamic content to a user of a client device in a non-intrusive manner is implemented in a method including the steps of retrieving dynamic content to be presented to a user, and presenting the dynamic content to the user at a time selected in accordance with a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A system and method of managing a network provides for distributed storage and retrieval. In one embodiment, information such as a text message is stored by calculating an actual destination node based on a subscriber identifier and a current addressing function, which corresponds to a current topology of a network. The message is sent to the actual destination node for storage. Messages can be retrieved by calculating a plurality of destination nodes based on a subscriber identifier and a plurality of addressing functions, where each addressing corresponds to a topology of the network at a particular moment in time. In one embodiment, the addressing functions are hash functions.

Abstract: A method for dynamically filtering a data object to be rendered on a client device includes the steps of scanning the data object for content satisfying a predetermined selection criterion, and selectively providing the data object to the client device in accordance with a predetermined filtering preference if the predetermined selection criterion is satisfied.

Abstract: A system for dynamically transcoding data transmitted between computers is implemented in an apparatus for use in transmitting data between a network server and a network client over a communications link. The apparatus includes a parser coupled to a transcode service provider. The parser is configured to selectively invoke the transcode service provider in response to a predetermined selection criterion.

Abstract: A dynamically-chainable network proxy is implemented in a method for chaining a network proxy to a destination device, wherein the network proxy is coupled to a source device and a plurality of destination devices, including the step of receiving a request from the source device at the network proxy. The network proxy then selects one of the plurality of destination devices to serve the request, with the selection made according to a predetermined selection criterion. The network proxy reformats the request to designate the selected destination device, and then forwards the reformatted request to the selected destination device.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a user-controlled parameter from a client device arranged behind a network proxy includes the steps of receiving a request originated by the client device; transmitting a responsive request to the client device, where the responsive request includes a query mechanism to elicit a user-controlled parameter from the client device; and receiving the user-controlled parameter from the client device.

Abstract: A system for determining whether an entity that issued a message is pre-configured to receive a response according to an enhanced communications protocol is implemented in a method which includes the steps of receiving a message and parsing the message to selectively classify the entity as an enhanced entity if the message conforms to the enhanced communications protocol.

Abstract: A system for collecting and displaying performance improvement information for a computer is implemented in a method for providing performance improvement information to a client device. The method includes the steps of receiving a request from the client device for network content, retrieving the requested network content, and transmitting the network content to the client computer with information relating to a performance improvement associated with the retrieval and/or transmission of the network content.

Abstract: A system for dynamically controlling a network device is implemented in a network device including a parser and a service provider. The parser includes instructions for selectively invoking the service provider in response to a command parsed from an external input received by the network device.

Abstract: A method for determining effective link speed for communications from a first device to a second device coupled by a communications link includes the steps of transmitting a packet from the first device to the second device; receiving a responsive packet at the first device; and determining an effective link speed for communications between the first device and the second device using a period of time between the transmission and receipt.

Abstract: A system for enhancing data access over a communications link is disclosed. In accordance with a particular embodiment, a system for retrieving an object over a computer network includes a network client with a browser for rendering an object to a user and a user interface enabling the user to establish an encoding preference. A remote scaling server is coupled between the network client and the computer network, and includes a remote proxy and an encode service provider. The remote scaling server is configured to request a user-specified encoding preference from the network client, retrieve an object from the computer network using the remote proxy, encode the object using the encode service provider in accordance with the requested user-specified encoding preference, and transmit the encoded object to the network client using the remote proxy. The disclosed system thus enables users to dynamically influence the trade-off between quality of content and download speed.

Abstract: A system for preventing multiple instances of a dynamic executable module from being loaded on a device is implemented by a method including the steps of maintaining state information for the device; and providing a dynamic executable module to the device if the state information indicates that no other instance of the dynamic executable module is already loaded on the device.

Abstract: A system for virus checking a data object to be downloaded to a client device is implemented in a method including the steps of retrieving a data object to be downloaded, scanning the data object for a computer virus, and downloading the data object to the client device if no computer virus is detected.

Abstract: A template engine generates a context-sensitive text message corresponding to an input text string. The input text string is first decomposed into a set of search words. The template engine then uses those search words to search a database of predefined templates to identify a template that is contextually appropriate for the input text string. The identified template may then be used to generate a responsive text message. The template engine is also able to "learn," dynamically updating the template database to reflect user preferences with respect to templates identified by the template engine as being contextually appropriate for particular search words.