Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for inferring the busy state of an instant messaging (IM) user. A method for inferring the busy state of an IM user in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: obtaining a plurality of messages from a system of the IM user, wherein the system messages are indicative of a level of activity of the IM user; analyzing the system messages to infer a busy state of the IM user; and providing the busy state of the IM user to at least one other IM user.

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 providing access to a resource over a network includes receiving a series of packets from a sender, assessing a validity of the series of packets in accordance with expected contents of the packets and at least one expected time difference between the packets, and providing access to the resource if the series of packets is determined to be valid.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for configuring network addresses on multiple machines, such that each machine obtains its own unique network address and other network parameters. These parameters may include network mask, default gateway and DNS servers, etc. The invention further provides apparatus, a computer product and an article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer process to be capable of participating in the network configuration and address assignment process. In an example embodiment multiple unconfigured servers are attached to a network together with one or more configured servers. The process is started by one of the configured servers which triggers the unconfigured machines to participate in a distributed protocol whereby the unconfigured servers mutually agree on unique network addresses for themselves.