Abstract: A software tool and database that enables a user to view information, on the one hand, pertaining to hardware and software product inventory and usage, and, on the other hand, to license agreement information in such way that the two sets of information are correlated and associated. The tool presents inventory and usage information based on agreement criteria and/or agreement information based on inventory and usage criteria in an integrated fashion that permits the user to switch from one kind of information to the other kind in a variety of convenient ways. The main functional blocks of the software tool include a data acquisition tool, a reconciliation and association tool, and a processing/display/output tool.

Abstract: A software tool and database that enables a user to view information, on the one hand, pertaining to hardware and software product inventory and usage, and, on the other hand, to license agreement information in such way that the two sets of information are correlated and associated. The tool presents inventory and usage information based on agreement criteria and/or agreement information based on inventory and usage criteria in an integrated fashion that permits the user to switch from one kind of information to the other kind in a variety of convenient ways. The main functional blocks of the software tool include a data acquisition tool, a reconciliation and association tool, and a processing/display/output tool.

Abstract: A universal asset and relationship manager, allows interaction and correlation between user-based data records—which define, list and catalogue user-based assets, comprising both physical assets and information assets—with vendor-based data records, in a manner which enables users to manage, track and service their assets for organizational, upkeep, inventory and business purposes.

Abstract: A website constructing tool for retailers streamlines and substantially automates the task of creating a website for retailers that buy their merchandise from a plurality of vendors. The system avoids the laborious, painstaking, unstructured and unformatted approach to the creation of a retailer website by enabling a retailer website to be constructed by resetting certain criteria and formats for the graphic design and merchandise categories and selection. Thereafter, the system enables substantially automatic selection of the relevant merchandise information from the databases or websites of the vendors, in a manner which populates and inserts into the retailer website the relevant information about available merchandise meeting the criteria, format and organization of the retailer website.

Abstract: A system that enables creation of URL addresses in which the path information is partially or entirely symbolic. The symbolic path information is maintained even after the physical path information is altered, whereby users do not have to learn or provide constantly changing URL addresses to accommodate changes in the organization and presentation of evolving or changing web sites. To this end, web servers interface with a URL resolution database tool that contains information that enable the conversion of the symbolic path information to physical path information. Alternatively, the conversion from symbolic to physical path information is carried by augmented web browsers which have access to symbolic path information conversion servers located on the Internet at a centrally distributed location, or even locally, so that web servers receive only physical path information.

Abstract: The invention provides for tracking and day-to-day management of technical requirements, costs and environmental details of existing computer data centers, and the creation of scenarios for determining the optimum acquisition, expansion and reconfiguration strategies of the data centers as well as the forecasting of technical requirements, costs and environmental requirements of existing and proposed configurations of the data centers. A knowledge base comprises technical and financial specifications of various storage devices and other computer hardware as provided. A modeling tool allows for the creation of various “What-If” scenarios of possible data center configurations for long term projections of the technical and financial requirements of existing, modified or proposed data center configurations. The cost of individual devices, systems or data center locations, as well as the cost of proposed new equipment including software are tracked.

Abstract: A method and system for auditing software systems by monitoring the use and non-use of software programs in a computer. An operating system of the computer controls execution of software products through the invocation of respective load modules thereof. A monitor is periodically triggered to collect load module execution information, which is filtered by a filtering module, and a correlator correlates load module execution information with data that associates load module names with corresponding software products and develops a list of products executed in the computer over the course of a given time period.

Abstract: A license compliance verification system and method includes a license manager that internally monitors the use of licensed property and gathers data over specified time periods about the usage of the licensed property relative to a plurality of parameters including a parameter that defines the licensors of the licensed property. License compliance verification software interfaces with the license manager and extracts from its data logs licensor specific data that is subsequently forwarded to licensors. The collected data is authenticated to assure licensors that it has not been tampered with.

Abstract: A software monitoring and auditing system which determines the inventory of software products on a computer includes data reducer software which processes detailed software usage data gathered by a monitoring component of the software to create a condensed usage database. The reducer software contemporaneously converts the data records in a manner which reduces the amount of data records by at least a factor of 100, consuming less computer memory and allowing users of the software monitoring and auditing system to review usage data on a desktop PC or the like.

Abstract: A software processing method enhances the functionality of job-step, charge-back systems by providing accurate charge-backs based on cognizance of software products actually being used. In the invention, a license manager operating directly or via a plurality of agents interfaces with software clients and/or process-data collectors to correlate the process-related information with the software product use information.

Abstract: A process is provided for facilitating the migrating of a user's overall software environment from a first computer to a second computer. The process includes enhancing the operating system on the computer or adding additional functionality to the original and new computers such that software products are identified and their subsequent operation tracked. This tracking operation is used to identify user data files and other files, settings and data which might be potentially moved to the new computer. The method then causes the appropriate programs, settings and files to be packed and moved. The files and programs are unpacked, and the new computer is ready for use such that its appearance and operating environment are identical to that of the original computer.

Abstract: The invention provides for tracking and day-to-day management of computer data centers. A knowledge base comprises technical and financial specifications of various storage devices and other computer hardware as provided. A modeling tool allows for the creation of various “What-If” scenarios of possible data center configurations for long term projections of the technical and financial requirements. The management and day-to-day tracking system receives information from an auditing tool that inventories the software products that are stored on the data center.

Abstract: A process is provided for facilitating the migrating of a user's overall software environment from a first computer to a second computer. The process includes enhancing the operating system on the computer or adding additional functionality to the original and new computers such that software products are identified and their subsequent operation tracked. This tracking operation is used to identify user data files and other files, settings and data which might be potentially moved to the new computer. The method then causes the appropriate programs, settings and files to be packed and moved. The files and programs are unpacked, and the new computer is ready for use such that its appearance and operating environment are identical to that of the original computer.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring and for obtaining statistical information about the level of readership of promotional materials, includes providing with promotional materials RF ID tags which only become deactivated when a reader has opened the promotional material. Non-opened promotional material which has been discarded is scanned with a receiver/scanner device which identifies the promotional material pieces that have not been opened, including, optionally, the identity of the addressees who have not opened the promotional materials. Thus, statistical information and profile information is developed which improves the ability of targeting individuals for receipt of promotional materials.

Abstract: A computer program providing an output which is used to profile one or more operational characteristics of another computer program. The computer program being evaluated is defined by a group of events. In order to provide a user with a useful way to evaluate the performance of the computer program under evaluation, data is gathered corresponding to one or more of the group of events. A path map is constructed from the gathered event data in which the path map represents program operation performance relationships between the gathered events, and the path map is arranged in order of execution. The output is created based on the path map. The output is presented in such a manner that a user can quickly evaluate the performance of the program under evaluation.

Abstract: A software processing method enhances the functionality of job-step, charge-back systems by providing accurate charge-backs based on cognizance of software products actually being used. In the invention, a license manager operating directly or via a plurality of agents interfaces with software clients and/or process-data collectors to correlate the process-related information with the software product use information.

Abstract: The invention is a data retrieving system for a computer, including a plurality of application programs that operate with license manager handles issuance of license certificates to the plurality of applications programs and the data logger of the license manager creates log records containing data reflecting usage of application programs. The log records include parametric fields by which license certificate transactions are classified. A search formulating facility responds to user inputs by formulating parametric criteria in the form of log data searching specifications which are then used by a data collection facility to search through the log records to retrieve records that comply with the searching specification created by the data retrieving facility.

Abstract: An Internet-related invention comprising hardware and software constructs that operate substantially interactively and, to a degree, automatically, to produce search categories and search attributes that facilitate the creation, indexing and searching for physical and informational items stored on Internet databases and the like. Thereby, hosts of databases or the listers of information on databases, are able to interactively and dynamically, modify, augment or correct attributes based on the activity of end searchers, business needs of listers and hosts and the like.

Abstract: A method and system for centralizing and harmonizing the operation of plural software license managers operates in one embodiment thereof by providing a central license manager that replaces the plural license managers by duplicating and replicating their functionality in an manner that is transparent and automatic from the perspective of application programs which require and call for license certificates. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the invention comprises translation procedures that interface and harmonize API calls from application programs requesting license certificates and license certificate information obtained by the cental license manager.

Abstract: A universal asset and relationship manager, allows interaction and correlation between user-based data records—which define, list and catalogue user-based assets, comprising both physical assets and information assets—with vendor-based data records, in a manner which enables users to manage, track and service their assets for organizational, upkeep, inventory and business purposes.