Abstract: One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for processing a search request message received over a network includes computing a threshold value in accordance with the search request message and returning at least one search result to a user in response to the search request message, if a rank of the at least one search result at least meets the threshold value.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present method and program for establishing peer-to-peer karma and trust by a first user in a network includes engaging in a transaction with at least a second user in the network, where the engaging includes: sending to the second user an initial transaction envelope including a first set of transaction details, wherein the initial transaction envelope is signed using a private key for the first user, receiving from the second user an appended transaction envelope, the appended transaction envelope including the first set of transaction details and a second set of transaction details, and executing the transaction in accordance with the appended transaction envelope. Feedback is exchanged with the second network user regarding the transaction, where a copy of the feedback is maintained locally by at least one of the first user and the second user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for transparent TCP negotiations. In one embodiment, endpoint machines (e.g., clients and servers) negotiate network characteristics through use of TCP header fields, which provide backward capability. Negotiations may be requested or initiated by either endpoint, and if the receiving endpoint is not capable of negotiating, the existing TCP connection will continue to operate as normal.

Abstract: A method for network communication privacy between network devices includes communicating first and second network enabled devices with a network, the first and second network devices in communication via a main communication channel. Respective network addresses of the first and second network enabled devices are dynamically and automatically changed while maintaining the main communication channel between the first and second network enabled devices. Subsequent network addresses of the first and second network enabled devices are created in one of a symmetric manner using a secret key or predetermined list shared between the first and second network enabled devices or created in an asymmetric manner. The asymmetric manner includes communicating the subsequent network addresses of the first and second network enabled devices over a back channel separate from the main communication channel.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for efficiently expanding a P2P network includes receiving a search request message from a requesting node and sending a response message to the requesting node on behalf of a node that has the requested data, where the response message originates at an intermediate node. The intermediate node may respond on behalf of the “responding” node, for example, in cases where the responding node is too far away from the requesting node to receive the search request message.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for assisting a peer-to-peer connection between a first node and a second node includes receiving, at a third node, a request for connection assistance from one of the first and second nodes. The third node then connects to both the first node and the second node, receives the data from the first node and delivers the data to the second node. In this manner, data may be transferred between the first and second nodes even if the first and second nodes are unable to directly connect to each other (e.g., due to permanent or temporary limitations).

Abstract: One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for user-moderation of an online chat room in which a plurality of users are exchanging messages includes providing the chat room and controlling a manner in which the users send and receive the messages in the chat room in accordance with user feedback relating to the messages. In one embodiment, the user feedback is received in the form of user chat profiles, which describe the respective users' participation in the chat room, and flags, which users may be given in response to messages that are deemed inappropriate for the chat room.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for reducing spam in peer-to-peer networks includes forming a search message including at least one decoy word and sending the search request message, including the decoy word(s), to one or more nodes in the network. Embodiments of the present invention make it possible to weed out nodes in the network that send spam in response to every search message (e.g., regardless of the search message's content).

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for inferring the read status of instant messages. One embodiment of the inventive method involves displaying the instant message on the receiver's computing device and sending a message to the sender indicating a probability with which the receiver has viewed the instant message. In one embodiment, this probability is based at least in part on an amount of the instant message that is in view on the receiver's computing device and on user input that is received by the receiver's computing device, e.g., from the receiver.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for improving data transfers in peer-to-peer networks includes receiving a search request message from a requesting node, where the search request message requests specific data. A responding node then sends a response message to the requesting node including a referral message comprising at least one referred node that is expected to have the requested data, based on knowledge of the referred node's previous incoming and outgoing data transfers. The responding node may also indicate that the responding node has the requested data. In addition to increasing the requesting node's view of the peer-to-peer network, this also enables the identification of nodes (e.g., referred nodes) with which the requesting node may wish to establish direct peer-to-peer connections, e.g., to build peer-to-peer communities of nodes having similar interests.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for processing a search request message received over a network includes computing a threshold value in accordance with the search request message and returning at least one search result to a user in response to the search request message, if a rank of the at least one search result at least meets the threshold value.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for creating searches in peer-to-peer networks includes forming clusters comprising data from a user's media library and formulating at least one search request message in accordance with the clusters. Formation of the clusters may be guided at least in part by data attributes that the user indicates are important. In this way, the user's media library may be “mined” for information that will aid in creating searches for data that the user may be interested in, but may not necessarily know how to search for or may not necessarily know exists.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfers between a first endpoint and a second endpoint in a network includes receiving, from a first node, the identity of a second node connected to the first node, where at least the first node is a neighbor node. A third node (a neighbor node) is then selected, and instructed to connect to the second node in order to establish a link for the path. In this manner, the first endpoint and the second endpoint remain unknown at least to each other (e.g., where “unknown” means that neither endpoint knows any identifying information, such as network address, about the other endpoint), and likely to all other nodes in the path as well. In another embodiment, a failure is detected at a neighbor node, where the neighbor node is part of an original path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer products for profile-based identity verification over the Internet. Exemplary embodiments include a method for profiling a user on a network, the method including receiving an input of streams corresponding to network activities associated with the user, wherein the input of streams are received from one or more layers of the network, in response to receiving a request to supply specified-input, receiving a score function and a list of attributes to be monitored, classifying the input of streams into network-activity classifications, extracting values and attributes for the network-activity classifications, and placing the extracted values and attributes into data sets, calculating a score of the data sets, comparing the data sets to a database of activity-specific attributes and mapping the data sets to a class of individuals based on a value of the score and the comparison of the database of activity-specific attributes.

Abstract: A method, system and program storage device for browsing hyperlinked documents are provided. A method in one aspect may include enabling navigating from a document having a plurality of hyperlinks to a document associated with one of said plurality of hyperlinks; and enabling navigating directly from said document associated with one of said plurality of hyperlinks to another document associated with another one of said plurality of hyperlinks using one or more of a plurality of defined elements. System and program storage device for performing the above methods are also provided.

Abstract: An exemplary method for identifying process elements includes the steps of obtaining a plurality of relevant request-response pairs including request identifiers, mapping the request identifiers to corresponding artifacts, identifying actions based on the artifacts, and mapping the actions to process elements such that each given one of the process elements has an associated artifact

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus that improve the perceived responsiveness of a multi-server web site or web environment to web requests issued by web browsers. In one aspect, the methods and apparatus operate by determining a likely sequence of web pages to be accessed by users. The methods and apparatus then incorporate information identifying web pages and web page content likely to be requested later in the sequence in web pages responsive to web page requests received earlier in the sequence. In one such method, the URL of a second web is incorporated in a first web page that is expected to be requested before the second web page. A web client receiving the first web page will then issue a DNS request for address information corresponding to the URL of the second web page even if no request has been received for the second web page.

Abstract: A method and system for multi-modal fusion of physical and virtual information channels include a virtual information channel and physical information channel and also provide for tracking virtual events and physical events corresponding to the virtual event and altering delivery of virtual space content via the virtual information channel upon determining the tracked at least one virtual event meets predetermined criteria. These also provide for dynamic adaptability of content and corresponding channels via information sprite clusters presented to a user as well as providing a virtual display and populating each of a plurality of sprites with information content correlated to the user; and presenting on the virtual display at least one information sprite cluster containing a plurality of information sprites. The cluster is presented and rotated on the virtual display to improve user accessibility of the plurality of sprites according to derived, and or detected, user personalization factors.

Abstract: A method and system for multi-modal fusion of physical and virtual information channels is provided. The method and system include a virtual information channel and physical information channel. The method and system also provide for tracking virtual events and physical events corresponding to the virtual event and altering delivery of virtual space content via the virtual information channel upon determining the tracked at least one virtual event meets predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A method and system for in-context assembly of user interactive actionable insights and modalities in a plurality of multi-modal stages is provided. The method and system include tracking a virtual event in a first stage and also tracking a physical event corresponding to the virtual event in the first stage. The method also includes determining if the tracked virtual event and the physical event are internal or external to the first stage and altering content upon determining the tracked virtual event and the physical event are internal to the first stage. The method and system include returning at least one stage of the multi-modal stages to a quiescent state after a predetermined time correlated to quiescent user activity.