Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for improved handling of alternative content selection. Using these techniques, content designers specify alternative content views that are designed for use under different conditions, and a particular alternative view is programmatically selected (according to applicable conditions) when preparing content for delivery to a target. Preferably, the alternative views are provided on a component-level basis, where the selected component view or version then forms part of a larger view (such as a Web page). Optionally, more than one component may be designed to vary simultaneously. In this case, the components may vary independently of one another.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for efficiently updating rendered content (such as content of a Web page) using a “slow-loading” content element, such as a slow-loading image. A reference is embedded within the markup language notation for the content to be rendered, where this reference identifies the source of the slow-loading content element. Delivery of the slow-loading content therefore begins automatically, when the content is rendered. Event handling attributes are specified with the reference, where values of these attributes identify client-side logic to be invoked when the associated event occurs. If the server determines that the rendered content, or some portion thereof, should be asynchronously updated, it abruptly terminates delivery of the slow-loading content. This termination triggers an event handler, which operates to automatically request reloading of the content.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for displaying a selection based action bar to a user that the user is able to use to perform actions using selected data. A user selects one or more displayed selections using a selection device. After the user selections have been made, the system determines which actions can be used with the selected data. Graphical components that correspond to the allowed actions are placed in an action bar and the action bar is displayed proximate to at least one of the user's selections. The action bar is not removed and remains visible as a result of the user scrolling display or performing unrelated actions. Providing a persistent action bar in location proximate to the user's selection helps the user maintain focus on the selected data. In addition, the selection based action bar can be used as a visual placeholder are marking mechanism.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a heuristics service using a generically-consumable, reusable heuristics manager object. This heuristics manager object provides a “black box” approach to statistically-triggered heuristics, and eliminates the need to write application-specific code for compiling statistics and performing complicated analysis of those statistics within each application program. In one embodiment, the heuristics manager object is provided as a web-accessible service, which may be registered in a network-accessible registry such as a UDDI registry. Enterprises may subscribe to this service for monitoring and analyzing statistics pertaining to one or more of the enterprise's applications, thereby providing a novel method of doing business for the provider of the heuristics service.

Abstract: Improved caching of content at caching proxy (“CP”) servers is disclosed. In one aspect, negotiations occur before content is dynamically distributed, whereby an entity such as a Web server selects content and at least one target CP server, and sends a content distribution request to each target, describing the content to be distributed. Preferably, the selection is made by dynamically prioritizing content based on historical metrics. In another aspect, a CP server that receives a content distribution request during these negotiations determines its response to the distribution request. Preferably, content priority of already-cached content is compared to priority of the content described by the content distribution request when making the determination. In yet another aspect, a CP server selectively determines whether to cache content during cache miss processing.

Abstract: Improved caching of content at caching proxy (“CP”) servers is disclosed. In one aspect, negotiations occur before content is dynamically distributed, whereby an entity such as a Web server selects content and at least one target CP server, and sends a content distribution request to each target, describing the content to be distributed. Preferably, the selection is made by dynamically prioritizing content based on historical metrics. In another aspect, a CP server that receives a content distribution request during these negotiations determines its response to the distribution request. Preferably, content priority of already-cached content is compared to priority of the content described by the content distribution request when making the determination. In yet another aspect, a CP server selectively determines whether to cache content during cache miss processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selective routing of a multi-recipient communication from an origin domain to a destination domain within a communications network. An exit routing station added to the origin domain receives a datagram including content data intended for multi-recipient delivery in the destination domain. The exit routing station modifies the datagram for routing to the destination domain, and transmits it to the entry routing station. This enables delivery to the destination domain by other than multi-recipient techniques. An entry routing station added to the destination domain modifies the datagram for multi-recipient delivery in the destination domain and initiates multi-recipient delivery. The destination domain's entry routing station may modify the datagram with information specific to the destination domain and unknown to the origin domain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for synchronizing security credentials of users and/or groups of users between directories, operating system platforms, and/or registries. A user's security credentials at a master registry are to be securely set (or reset). To ensure that the user has the required permission for this operation, the user is first authenticated with a trusted authenticating domain. The authenticating domain may be identified by the user, or the identification of the domain may be obtained from the master registry. The master registry may store an identification of the authenticating domain on a per-user basis, or for groups of users, or for the master registry as a whole. The credentials may be propagated to other registries, in addition to the master.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for synchronizing security credentials of users and/or groups of users between directories, operating system platforms, and/or registries. The credentials stored at a master registry are used to authenticate whether a user requesting propagation of security credentials has the required permission. If the authentication process succeeds, the user's credentials may be securely propagated to one or more targets. This technique enables synchronizing multiple copies of a user's security credentials without requiring access to a plaintext version thereof, and without forcing the credentials to a new value as part of the synchronization process. The master registry may stored an identification of the targets of the propagation on a per-user basis, or for groups of users, or for the master registry as a whole.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for improving globalization of document content. A globalization model is defined which enables separating and externalizing translation-sensitive resources. A content translation expert can then operate efficiently to provide translated content, and a content designer can more easily focus on the task at hand using a resource-neutral document format. Using the disclosed techniques, translation-sensitive resources identified in a structured document can be programmatically translated by resolving references to a particular supplemental document in which the translated content for a target language has been specified.

Abstract: A method and system for alerting a computer user about an event requiring user action using a lighted mouse pad. The lighted mouse pad is operable to lighting-up in one of several different light alert modes. Each light alert mode corresponds to a different type of event requiring the user's action. The different light alert modes include different parameters such as light of different color, intensity, flashing mode, etc. A user can assign different light alerts modes to each different type of event. In addition, a user can specify the conditions under which to enable the light alerts. The user can choose to completely disable or enable the alerts. Alternatively, the user can choose to enable the alerts only when the mute function has been activated, only when the screen saver function has been activated, or when either the mute or the screen saver functions have been activated.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a menu, upon a user's initial request, initially having only a first set of menu items and displaying a second set of menu items upon a user's subsequent request. After receiving the user's initial menu request, the first set of menu items is determined and displayed. The first set of menu items includes menu items that correspond to actions on the local computer, menu items that are frequently selected by the user, etc. If a request for additional menu items is received from the user, a second set of menu items is determined and displayed. The second set of menu items includes menu items that correspond to actions on one or more remote computers such as a server, menu items that are infrequently selected by the user, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for filtering non-invasive data collection is presented. A server segments a web page into regions and sends the segmented web page along with a data collector program to a client. The client loads the web page whereupon the data collector program detects a user event corresponding to one of the regions. The data collector program uses one or more collection threshold settings to filter user event data corresponding to the user event. The server receives collected user event data and sends an acknowledgement message to the client whereby indicating that the server received the user event data intact. The server may also adjust one or more collection threshold settings and include the adjusted collection threshold settings in the acknowledgement message.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasive collection of data is presented. A server segments a web page into regions and sends the segmented web page along with a data collector program to a client in response to receiving a client request. The client displays the web page and loads the data collector program which initiates particular event handlers to monitor user event activity corresponding to the displayed web page. When the user performs a user event, such as moving his mouse into a particular web page region, the data collector program collects user event data and associates the user event data with the particular web page region. When the user event is complete, the data collector program sends the collected user event data to the server.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for displaying a selection based action bar to a user that the user is able to use to perform actions using selected data. A user selects one or more displayed selections using a selection device. After the user selections have been made, the system determines which actions can be used with the selected data. Graphical components that correspond to the allowed actions are placed in an action bar and the action bar is displayed proximate to at least one of the user's selections. The action bar is not removed and remains visible as a result of the user scrolling display or performing unrelated actions. Providing a persistent action bar in location proximate to the user's selection helps the user maintain focus on the selected data. In addition, the selection based action bar can be used as a visual placeholder are marking mechanism.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for more enabling users to define one or more areas of a graphical user interface (“GUI”) as being “glue-like”. When the user moves a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, joystick, track ball, etc.) and as a result, the graphical pointer moves into a painted area, the speed at which the graphical pointer will then traverse the GUI is programmatically slowed. Upon exiting the painted area, the graphical pointer speed is preferably restored to its prior setting. In this manner, the user achieves user-specific, application-independent control over the speed at which the graphical pointer moves.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for efficiently updating rendered content (such as content of a Web page) using a “slow-loading” content element, such as a slow-loading image. A reference is embedded within the markup language notation for the content to be rendered, where this reference identifies the source of the slow-loading content element. Delivery of the slow-loading content therefore begins automatically, when the content is rendered. Event handling attributes are specified with the reference, where values of these attributes identify client-side logic to be invoked when the associated event occurs. If the server determines that the rendered content, or some portion thereof, should be asynchronously updated, it abruptly terminates delivery of the slow-loading content. This termination triggers an event handler, which operates to automatically request reloading of the content.

Abstract: A system and method that provides platform independent retrieval of software component data is provided. The discovered system and method manage conflicts, co-requisites, and pre-requisites associated with installing a software component by including such information in a software description which is retrieved in a platform-neutral manner. The system and method can be initiated by the target computer system or it can be driven by a application server that connects to the target computer system through a computer network. In a target initiated environment, the target computer system resolves conflict and co-/pre-requisite issues identified in the component description before installing the component software. In a server-initiated process, the server resolves the identified conflict and co-/pre-requisite issues on behalf of the target system and installs the software component on the target system.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a heuristics service using a generically-consumable, reusable heuristics manager object. This heuristics manager object provides a “black box” approach to statistically-triggered heuristics, and eliminates the need to write application-specific code for compiling statistics and performing complicated analysis of those statistics within each application program. In one embodiment, the heuristics manager object is provided as a web-accessible service, which may be registered in a network-accessible registry such as a UDDI registry. Enterprises may subscribe to this service for monitoring and analyzing statistics pertaining to one or more of the enterprise's applications, thereby providing a novel method of doing business for the provider of the heuristics service.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for improving globalization of document content. A globalization model is defined which enables separating and externalizing translation-sensitive resources. A content translation expert can then operate efficiently to provide translated content, and a content designer can more easily focus on the task at hand using a resource-neutral document format. Using the disclosed techniques, translation-sensitive resources identified in a structured document can be programmatically translated by resolving references to a particular supplemental document in which the translated content for a target language has been specified.