Abstract: A computer implemented method of monitoring the performance of a computer comprises determining the value of an activity metric of the monitored computer. The contribution(s) to the said value of one or more predetermined activities is/are determined In one embodiment, the said contribution(s) are subtracted from the said total value to provide a net value representing a measure of the performance of the computer. A predetermined data set may be used to identify the one or more predetermined activities. In another embodiment, the value of at least one activity metric of the monitored computer is determined excluding contributions to that value from the said one or more predetermined activities identified from the said data set to provide a net value representing a measure of the performance of the computer. The net value may be used to control the power consumption of the computer.

Abstract: A computer implemented method to monitor the distribution of software to computers on a network is provided. The network has a data source, for example a systems management tool, which stores data relating to downloads of software. It is desirable for the purpose of operating the network economically to monitor the distribution of software to users. The systems management tool is accessed to determine the number of the computers on the network which have received a particular item of software. That number is compared with a threshold number which is small compared to the number of computers on the network. If the number is less than the threshold that is taken as an indication that the particular item of software has been distributed to the computers by a download as a result of one or more individual requests by users of the computers.

Abstract: A computer implemented method monitors a computer to determine values of a plurality of activity metrics of the monitored computer. A weighted combination of functions of the determined values is calculated as a measure of performance of the monitored computer. The weighted combination may be a weighted combination of net values of the activity metrics. In one method, the net values are calculated as the determined values of the plurality of activity metrics of the monitored computer excluding contributions to the values from one or more predetermined activities. In another method, the net values are calculated as total values of the respective activity metrics from which the total values of the one or more predetermined activities are subtracted. The weighted combination may be used to control power consumption or otherwise take action in relation to the computer.

Abstract: A computer implemented method to monitor the distribution of software to computers on a network is provided. The network has a data source, for example a systems management tool, which stores data relating to downloads of software. It is desirable for the purpose of operating the network economically to monitor the distribution of software to users. The systems management tool is accessed to determine the number of the computers on the network which have received a particular item of software. That number is compared with a threshold number which is small compared to the number of computers on the network. If the number is less than the threshold that is taken as an indication that the particular item of software has been distributed to the computers by a download as a result of one or more individual requests by users of the computers.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of monitoring the performance of a computer comprises determining the value of an activity metric of the monitored computer. The contribution(s) to the said value of one or more predetermined activities is/are determined In one embodiment, the said contribution(s) are subtracted from the said total value to provide a net value representing a measure of the performance of the computer. A predetermined data set may be used to identify the one or more predetermined activities. In another embodiment, the value of at least one activity metric of the monitored computer is determined excluding contributions to that value from the said one or more predetermined activities identified from the said data set to provide a net value representing a measure of the performance of the computer. The net value may be used to control the power consumption of the computer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method (1900) of forming a printable representation of a document (1800) having framed content (1808). The method includes recording (1904) the position, height and width of each frame of the document in a display window in which the document is presented. The dimensions of a printing medium associated with the printable representation are also identified. A height of content of each frame is determined and, for each frame, a record of any corresponding dependency frames, each dependency frame being above the frame in the display window. The records are then interpreted to establish a display order of the frames.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of monitoring the performance of a computer comprises monitoring the computer to determine the values of a plurality of activity metrics of the monitored computer. A weighted combination of functions of the determined values is calculated as a measure of performance of the monitored computer. The weighted combination may be a weighted combination of net values of activity metrics. In one embodiment, the net values are calculated as the said values of the plurality of activity metrics of the monitored computer excluding contributions to the values from the one or more predetermined activities. In another embodiment, the net values are calculated as follows. The total values of the respective activity metrics of the monitored computer are determined. The contribution(s) to the said total values of the said one or more predetermined activities are determined The said contribution(s) are subtracted from the said total values to provide net values.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of controlling a computer comprises periodically determining the total value of at least one activity metric of the controlled computer. The contribution(s) to the said total value(s) of one or more predetermined activities are determined. In one embodiment, the said contribution(s) are subtracted from the said total value(s) to provide respective net value(s). The net values are compared with respective preset values and the power state of the computer is controlled in dependence on the comparison. The one or more predetermined activities may be identified using a predetermined data set. In another embodiment the net value of at least one activity metric of the monitored computer is a net value excluding contributions to the said value(s) from the said one or more predetermined activities identified from the said data set.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of printing documents comprising a plurality of pages sourced from a computer network. The methods provide a zoom property attribute to scale the document (FIG. 10). In one implementation a preview window (1702,1703) is displayed which shows the pages in the document scaled based on the zoom property attribute. A user selection (1701), within the preview window, is then determined for the pages of the scaled document. A subset (1804 cf. 1802) of the pages according to the user selection are then printed. In another implementation it is determined whether an amount of content (1008) on a last page of a scaled multi-page document (1002), which is scaled based on the zoom property attribute, is less than a predetermined amount. When the amount of content (1008) is less than the predetermined amount, the scaled multi-page document is further scaled down to fit to a nearest whole page. The further scaled multi-page document (1010) may then be printed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus is disclosed, the printing apparatus comprising: an input for receiving a plurality of first documents in electronic form, each first document including an identifier of a respective one of a plurality of groups, and a controller adapted to generate a first print instruction for printing each received first document with first differentiation means between successively printed first documents having a different identifier, or category of identifier, the identifiers having been assigned to a plurality of categories, and without first differentiation means between successively printed first documents having the same identifier or category of identifier. A method of operating a printing apparatus, and a computer software product for implementing the method, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of downloading or uploading data via a client-server communications network, which network comprises a plurality of clients (A, B, 8, 9, 10) each having a local cache storing data downloaded via the network. The method comprises responding to a data request made to the network by a first client (A, 8) by uploading data from the cache of a second client (B, 9, 10) and transmitting that data across the network to the first client (A, 8). Also disclosed are client-server networks operating in accordance with the method and to the related servers (3), client terminals (A, B, 8, 9, 10), browsers loaded on client terminals, and plug-ins for such terminals and browsers.

Abstract: A method of downloading or uploading data via a client-server communications network, which network comprises a plurality of clients (A, B, 8, 9, 10) each having a local cache storing data downloaded via the network. The method comprises responding to a data request made to the network by a first client (A, 8) by uploading data from the cache of a second client (B, 9, 10) and transmitting that data across the network to the first client (A, 8). Also disclosed are client-server networks operating in accordance with the method and to the related servers (3), client terminals (A, B, 8, 9, 10), browsers loaded on client terminals, and plug-ins for such terminals and browsers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method (1900) of forming a printable representation of a document (1800) having framed content (1808). The method includes recording (1904) the position, height and width of each frame of the document in a display widow in which the document is presented. The dimensions of a printing medium associated with the printable representation are also identified. A height of content of each frame is determined and, for each frame, a record of any corresponding dependency frames, each dependency frame being above the frame in the display window;. The records are then interpreted to establish a display order of the frames.

Abstract: A method of downloading or uploading data via a client-server communications network, which network comprises a plurality of clients (A, B, 8, 9, 10) each having a local cache storing data downloaded via the network. The method comprises responding to a data request made to the network by a first client (A, 8) by uploading data from the cache of a second client (B, 9, 10) and transmitting that data across the network to the first client (A, 8). Also disclosed are client-server networks operating in accordance with the method and to the related servers (3), client terminals (A, B, 8, 9, 10), browsers loaded on client terminals, and plug-ins for such terminals and browsers.

Abstract: A method of conducting an online auction on a communications network, and a corresponding online auction system, involve: a first user terminal generating an offer to sell or to buy an item in accordance with first offer criteria; a second user terminal generating an offer to buy or to sell a corresponding item in accordance with second offer criteria; comparing the offer criteria to match an offer to sell and an offer to buy if any or all of their criteria match; in response to a match between the offers, opening a peer to peer communication channel between the user terminals that made the matching offers; and conducting an auction between those user terminals via the communication channel.

Abstract: A method of downloading or uploading data via a client-server communications network, which network comprises a plurality of clients (A, B, 8, 9, 10) each having a local cache storing data downloaded via the network. The method comprises responding to a data request made to the network by a first client (A, 8) by uploading data from the cache of a second client (B, 9, 10) and transmitting that data across the network to the first client (A, 8). Also disclosed are client-server networks operating in accordance with the method and to the related servers (3), client terminals (A, B, 8, 9, 10), browsers loaded on client terminals, and plug-ins for such terminals and browsers.