Abstract: A method for conducting a buyer-initiated variable price online auction comprises receiving from a buyer a description of an item; starting an auction for the item; providing the description to a first and a second potential seller; accepting a first and a second bid for the item from the first and the second potential seller, respectively; and ending the auction, whereupon a winner of the auction is automatically determined from among the first and the second potential seller based on an association of the winner with a winning bid automatically determined based on the first and the second bid. Auction result notifications may be automatically provided to the buyer, the winning bidder and bidders who do not win the auction. The buyer may specify a maximum price the buyer is willing to pay for the item. The online auction may be facilitated by a network auction facility in communication with network nodes used by the buyer and potential sellers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for authorizing multicast group membership based on network policies, such as machine and user identities. An end station communicates with a LAN switch over a LAN link. The LAN switch inhibits the end station from joining any multicast group before the end station or a user on the end station becomes authenticated. Once the end station or a user on the end station becomes authenticated, the LAN switch authorizes the end station to join one or more multicast groups in conformance with a multicast group authorization specified for the end station or the user. The LAN switch enforces the multicast group authorization attendant to “snooping” of IGMP membership reports received from the end station or processing of CGMP join messages received from a router.

Abstract: A method and instrument for allowing public investment in an intellectual property (IP) business, such as a patent business, of a publicly held corporation. An exemplary method comprises defining an IP business within the corporation, and issuing a stock to the public that tracks the performance of the IP business. An exemplary instrument comprises a stock issued to the public for tracking the performance of an IP business within the corporation. The IP business may be defined to be coextensive with the corporation's intellectual property business division (IPBD). Alternatively, the IP business may be defined to be coextensive with the corporation's IP, or a part of its IP, such as issued and pending patents.

Abstract: A communication network infrastructure for implementing wavelength-oriented virtual networks. Packets are identified to virtual networks and are forwarded/filtered by reference to the wavelength on which they are transmitted. Such virtual networks may be considered “lambda area networks” in that virtual network classification and forwarding/filtering decisions are made based on whether ports of the network infrastructure support, or do not support, the wavelength, or lambda, on which packets are transmitted by other ports of the network infrastructure.

Abstract: An N-rate, N+1-precedence meter/marker for a data communication switch or router where N is a configurable number which is at least three. The N rates are limit rates which include a high boundary rate, a low boundary rate and at least one intermediate rate. The meter measures the rate of a data stream and assigns one of the N+1 precedences to packets in the data stream based on the measured rate. The marker marks packets based on the assigned one of the N+1 precedences. The data communication switch or router provides packets different levels of assurance based on their marked one of the N+1 precedences. Packets within a data stream operating at above the high boundary rate are assigned and marked with a first precedence. Packets in a data stream operating at below the high boundary rate and above the at least one intermediate rate are assigned and marked with a second precedence which is serviced with a more favorable drop profile than the first precedence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining packet order integrity in a switching engine wherein inbound packets are forwarded to different ones of parallel processing elements for switching. Order preservation for packets relating to the same conversation is guaranteed by checking for each inbound packet whether a previous packet from the same source is pending at a processing element and, if the check reveals that such a packet is pending, forwarding the inbound packet to the same processing element as the previous packet.

Abstract: A local private authentication system for a semi-public LAN is provided through introduction local to the semi-public LAN of authentication servers dedicated to foreign provider domains. Such a local private authentication system authenticates members of foreign provider domains solely with local message exchanges, thereby reducing authentication delays. Such a local private authentication service further authenticates members of foreign provider domains with authentication servers dedicated to foreign provider domains, thereby protecting member privacy.

Abstract: A user-prioritized search system. A user inputs keywords and keyword priorities. The keyword priorities are based on the user's assessment of the relative importance of the keywords to the search. The keyword and keyword priorities are applied to produce prioritized queries which are in turn applied in a querying session to produce prioritized search results. The querying session terminates when conformity of the prioritized search results with a target result parameter is confirmed. The user may input the target result parameter as well.

Abstract: A search system returns improved search results though recursive querying. Recursive querying is accomplished using a search agent interposed between a search client, such as a Web browser, and a search server, such as a Web search engine query server. In response to a search parameter, such as a document identifier or keyword, received from the search client, the search agent queries the search server recursively until a search result conforming to a target result parameter, such as a target Web page count, is determined. The search agent inhibits the return of intermediate, nonconforming search results to the search client, and returns the final, conforming search result to the search client.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly automated method for locating patent-relevant Web pages and a search agent for use therein. The search agent mediates between a search client, such as a Web browser, and a Web search server, such as a Web search engine query server, to increase automation in locating patent-relevant Web pages and improve the relevancy of located Web pages. The search agent receives patent identifiers from end-user systems, identifies patent data for the patent identifiers, shapes the patent data into search terms and submits the search terms to the Web search server. The Web search server identifies Web page locations relevant to the search terms and the Web page locations are returned to the end-user systems via the search agent.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining patent license fee data in a networked computing environment. The method and apparatus involve algorithmic determination of an exposure rate to be applied in determining the patent license fee data. The exposure rate may be determined in function of a licensor patent count, alone or in combination with other factors bearing on the strength of the licensor's patents.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining patent license fee data in a networked computing environment. The method and apparatus involve an interactive process that provides the user of an end-user station an opportunity to modify patent license data generated by the networked computing environment for application in determining the patent license fee data.

Abstract: A method for valuing patent assets in function of a “cash out” profits stream. The method hypothesizes a patent holder that grants fee-based licenses under its patent assets to all interested third parties, thereby retaining no exclusionary rights from which to reap excess profits for its own sale of patented articles. Applying this “cash out” hypothesis, the value of the patent assets is determined in function of the sum of the projected licensing fees from such fee-based licenses, i.e. the projected “cash out” licensing profits stream. Through invocation of the “cash out” hypothesis, which removes excess profits determinations from patent asset valuation, the method: (i) simplifies and reduces information barriers to patent asset valuation; and (ii) yields owner-independent patent asset valuations more useful in comparative patent portfolio analysis.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates identification of candidate and qualified patent licensing targets through the expedient of assessing technological overlap between patent assets of the licensing entity and third party entities. By using third party patenting activity to drawn inferences about third party business activity, the invention allows a threshold identification of third parties as candidate licensing targets to be made and a further identification of candidate licensing targets as qualified licensing targets to be made without requiring any direct knowledge concerning third party business activity. Moreover, the present invention may be applied in a networked computing environment to allow such identifications to be made with relatively small cost and time commitment.

Abstract: Automated search technique for discovering patent-relevant publications on the Internet. A search client resident on an end-user station initiates linked searches for patent language and Web documents in a manner transparent to a user. From the user's perspective, a patent-identifying attribute, such as an inventor name, assignee name or patent number, input on an end-user station automatically returns Web document identifiers, such as Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). The Web document search may be conducted in a database including Web document summaries or in a database including full-text Web documents.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining patent license fees improves rationality in fee determination by overcoming information and automation obstacles. The method and apparatus use, in one aspect, a licensee's patenting activity in a technological field as a proxy for the licensee's sales activity in the field and, in another aspect, make the fee determinations in a computer-database environment.