Abstract: What is provided is a system, user interface and computer implemented method of building a customized query for a student database. The query is built using filtering criteria and parameters associated thereto, which may be in natural language, yet capable of implementing BOOLEAN or set theory searching functionality without requiring user knowledge of such functionality. Query results may be modified without rebuilding the query, by adding a further filtering criteria and/or parameter, or removing a filter and/or parameter.

Abstract: Expert system supported interactive product selection and recommendation. The invention assists an agent to interact with a customer and to provide selection and recommendation of available products and/or services that offer a workable solution for the customer. The invention allows for the use of agents of varying skill levels, including relatively low skill level, without suffering deleterious performance. From certain perspectives, an expert system employed using various aspects of the invention allows the agent to provide real time interaction with a customer and to provide a real time recommended solution to that customer. Many traditional approaches dealing in complex industries require that agent's have a high degree of skill and expertise. The invention allows even a novice agent to service a customer's needs without requiring a high skill level or up-front training that is often at the expense of the provider seeking to market its products and/or services.

Abstract: Expert System supported interactive product selection and recommendation. The invention assists an agent to interact with a customer and to provide selection and recommendation of available products and/or services that offer a workable solution for the customer. The invention allows for the use of agents of varying skill levels, including relatively low skill level, without suffering deleterious performance. From certain perspectives, an expert system employed using various aspects of the invention allows the agent to provide real time interaction with a customer and to provide a real time recommended solution to that customer. Many traditional approaches dealing in complex industries require that agent's have a high degree of skill and expertise. The invention allows even a novice agent to service a customer's needs without requiring a high skill level or up-front training that is often at the expense of the provider seeking to market its products and/or services.

Abstract: Expert System supported interactive product selection and recommendation. The invention assists an agent to interact with a customer and to provide selection and recommendation of available products and/or services that offer a workable solution for the customer. The invention allows for the use of agents of varying skill levels, including relatively low skill level, without suffering deleterious performance. From certain perspectives, an expert system employed using various aspects of the invention allows the agent to provide real time interaction with a customer and to provide a real time recommended solution to that customer. Many traditional approaches dealing in complex industries require that agent's have a high degree of skill and expertise. The invention allows even a novice agent to service a customer's needs without requiring a high skill level or up-front training that is often at the expense of the provider seeking to market its products and/or services.

Abstract: A bidirectional metadirectory agent a data source converter layer; a filters and rules layer for blocking disallowed changes; a mapping layer for translating attributes in change commands from a local set of attribute names to a set of metadirectory attribute names, and vice versa, and for converting change commands between said agent-internal common format and a directory change protocol; an extensible user customization layer for implementing custom metadirectory agent functions; and a metadirectory interface for sending and receiving said change commands in said directory change protocol.

Abstract: A system and method which propagates change operations to data items within a metadirectory on a differential basis in order to minimize or eliminate redundant updates to attributes within data items that have not changed, as well as conserve computing resources and transmission bandwidth consumed by update activities in large organizations of data items. A best match entry in the metadirectory is selected using a weighted score process, a determination is made as to exactly which attributes are changed by the update operation, and a differential update is propagated throughout the metadirectory via direct joiner access to the data items, or through remote access such as through LDAP.

Abstract: An expert system adapted dedicated Internet access guidance engine. The invention allows an agent to interact with a customer and to provide selection and recommendation of data network products and/or services for the customer. The invention allows for the use of agents of varying skill levels, including relatively low skill level, without suffering deleterious performance. The dedicated Internet access guidance engine is operable to perform selection and rating of Internet access products and/or services to provide a solution that meets the needs of a customer. The dedicated Internet access guidance engine is operable to select recommended solutions from among a number of potential solutions that may include compatible solutions. The dedicated Internet access guidance engine is one of the underlying engines within the expert system that allows the agent to provide real time interaction with a customer and to provide a real time recommended solution to that customer.

Abstract: An expert system adapted data network guidance engine. The invention allows an agent to interact with a customer and to provide selection and recommendation of data network products and/or services for the customer. The invention allows for the use of agents of varying skill levels, including relatively low skill level, without suffering deleterious performance. The data network guidance engine is operable to perform generation and selection of configurations that are generated using various heuristics. If desired, numerous iterations are performed within each of the heuristic operations. The data network guidance engine is operable to select recommended configurations from among a number of potential options. In addition, compatible configurations may also be identified. The data network guidance engine is one of the underlying engines within the expert system that allows the agent to provide real time interaction with a customer and to provide a real time recommended solution to that customer.

Abstract: A bidirectional metadirectory agent a data source converter layer; a filters and rules layer for blocking disallowed changes; a mapping layer for translating attributes in change commands from a local set of attribute names to a set of metadirectory attribute names, and vice versa, and for converting change commands between said agent-internal common format and a directory change protocol; an extensible user customization layer for implementing custom metadirectory agent functions; and a metadirectory interface for sending and receiving said change commands in said directory change protocol.

Abstract: A system and method which propagates change operations to data items within a metadirectory on a differential basis in order to minimize or eliminate redundant updates to attributes within data items that have not changed, as well as conserve computing resources and transmission bandwidth consumed by update activities in large organizations of data items. A best match entry in the metadirectory is selected using a weighted score process, a determination is made as to exactly which attributes are changed by the update operation, and a differential update is propagated throughout the metadirectory via direct joiner access to the data items, or through remote access such as through LDAP.

Abstract: A system and method maintains session states in a plurality of server computers forming a server computer group. Upon an initial customer access of a first server computer of the server computer group, a first server computer creates a session state for the customer. The first server computer then transmits a command to the other server computers in the server computer group that cause the customer's session state to be created on the other server computers of the server computer group. Session states are stored in the dynamic or static memory of the server computers of the server computer group. Session state updates are made in the computer servers via broadcasted commands. On a subsequent access of the server computer group, the customer may access a different server computer of the server computer group. Upon this access, the customer computer provides the session state ID to the different server computer.

Abstract: An expert system adapted dedicated Internet access guidance engine. The invention allows an agent to interact with a customer and to provide selection and recommendation of data network products and/or services for the customer. The invention allows for the use of agents of varying skill levels, including relatively low skill level, without suffering deleterious performance. The dedicated Internet access guidance engine is operable to perform selection and rating of Internet access products and/or services to provide a solution that meets the needs of a customer. The dedicated Internet access guidance engine is operable to select recommended solutions from among a number of potential solutions that may include compatible solutions. The dedicated Internet access guidance engine is one of the underlying engines within the expert system that allows the agent to provide real time interaction with a customer and to provide a real time recommended solution to that customer.