Abstract: A method for performing a soft-handoff in a mobile streaming media system, and a method for performing a hard-handoff in a mobile streaming media system are is disclosed. In the soft-handoff embodiment, the present invention detects that a channel quality between a mobile client and a first base station remains above a drop threshold and that a channel quality between the mobile client and a second base station increases from below to above an add threshold. The present embodiment then sends a first multiple description bitstream from the first base station to the mobile client and sends a complementary second multiple description bitstream from the second base station to the mobile client. This method thereby provides improved utilization of wireless bandwidth during soft-handoffs, in contrast to conventional systems where the same bitstream is transmitted from each base station.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a system for linking together multiple registries and aggregating data from the multiple registries. The system includes a plurality of local resource or service (resource/service) registries, a distributed index storage and retrieval system, and at least one proxy registry. The proxy registry is configured to receive a search query from a client system, retrieve information from the distributed index storage and retrieval system as to which of the local resource/service registries are relevant to the search query, and obtain pertinent entries from said relevant resource/service registries. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for adaptively prefetching objects from a network has been disclosed. The invention includes adaptively tuning a prefetch engine to prefetch a plurality of objects from within the network. Because the prefetch engine is adaptively tuned, the prefetch process is optimized, thereby reducing the number of idle cycles that would otherwise be required to retrieve objects from the network. The method and system includes monitoring at least one proxy server within the network, the at least one proxy server comprising a prefetch engine and adaptively tuning the prefetch engine to prefetch a plurality of objects from within the network.

Abstract: A request for a remote desktop session is received. A remote desktop session performance model is generated based on the applications to be used in the remote desktop session, and resources are assigned to the remote desktop session using the remote desktop session performance model.

Abstract: Network position information for a node in a network is determined. An infrastructure node in the network is identified for storing the network position information for the node based on a network distance to the infrastructure node.

Abstract: A scheduler for a grid computing system includes a node information repository and a node scheduler. The node information repository is operative at a node of the grid computing system. Moreover, the node information repository stores node information associated with resource utilization of the node. Continuing, the node scheduler is operative at the node. The node scheduler is configured to determine whether to accept jobs assigned to the node. Further, the node scheduler includes an input job queue for accepted jobs, wherein each accepted job is launched at a time determined by the node scheduler using the node information.

Abstract: Nodes in a network are operable to provide an information service. A set of the nodes having a highest workload are identified by routing a list of workloads for the nodes through the network to a final destination. Each node receiving the list determines whether to include a workload of a respective node in the list.

Abstract: A node is identified from a set of nodes in a peer-to-peer network having the highest workloads in the peer-to-peer network. The workload of the node is split with another node using a splitting algorithm.

Abstract: A method for handing off to a second server, in either a fixed or mobile streaming media system, a multiple description streaming session between a first server and either a fixed or mobile client. In one embodiment, the present invention recites selecting a second server to receive a handoff of a multiple description streaming media session between the first server and the client. In this embodiment, the multiple description streaming media session is comprised of a first multiple description bitstream and a second multiple description bitstream. The present embodiment further recites receiving at the second server, the second multiple description bitstream for streaming to the client. This embodiment further recites sending the second multiple description bitstream from the second server to the client.

Abstract: A request is received from a first node in a network. The request includes a request for a service node operable to provide a desired service. At least one service node is identified that is operable to provide the desired service based at least on location information for the first node.

Abstract: A method for assigning servers to provide multiple description bitstreams to a mobile client (in a mobile client environment) or to a fixed client (in a fixed client environment). In one embodiment, the present invention, upon receiving a request from a mobile client to have media data streamed thereto, analyzes a plurality of servers to determine a first candidate server for providing a first multiple description bitstream to the base station along a first path. The present method also determines a second candidate server for providing a second multiple description bitstream to the base station along a second path. The present method then sends a request to the first candidate server to provide the first multiple description bitstream to a mobile client through a base station along the first path, and also sends a request to the second candidate server to provide the second multiple description bitstream to the mobile client through the same base station along a second path.

Abstract: In brief, the invention provides a method and system for admission control in a grid computing environment. When a user request for a global session is received from a submission node, applications to be launched through the global session are identified, and resource requirements are determined. A execution node is then allocated, and the global session is established between the execution node and the submission node. A user then requests an application session through the established global session, and the application session is established with the execution node.

Abstract: A server-proxy-client network delivers web content objects from servers to clients from cache content at a proxy server in between. Multiple, moving-window buffers are used to service content requests of the server by various independent clients. A first request for content is delivered by the server through the proxy to the requesting client. The content is simultaneously duplicated to a first circulating buffer. Once the buffer fills, the earlier parts are automatically deleted. The buffer therefore holds a most-recently delivered window of content. If a second request for the same content comes in, a check is made to see if the start of the content is still in the first buffer. If it is, the content is delivered from the first buffer. Otherwise, a second buffer is opened and both buffers are used to deliver what they can simultaneously. Such process can open up third and fourth buffers depending on the size of the content, the size of the buffers, and the respective timing of requests.

Abstract: A special-purpose appliance (SPA) works in conjunction with a server farm consisting of multiple caching server appliances (CSAs) to supervise a local storage medium (i.e., a shared cache) that is accessible by all the CSAs for storing at least some of the remote objects such as web pages and their embedded objects and/or streaming media objects that have been and/or will be served by one or more of the CSAs to its respective clients. The SPA preferably also determines when to prefetch remote objects such as web pages and their embedded objects and/or streaming media objects that are not currently stored in the shared cache, but which the SPA has determined are likely to be requested in the future by one or more of the CSAs one behalf of one or more of the CSA's respective clients.

Abstract: A computer system is provided including a processor, a persistent storage device, and a main memory connected to the processor and the persistent storage device. The main memory includes a compressed cache for storing data retrieved from the persistent storage device after compression and an operating system. The operating system includes a plurality of interconnected software modules for accessing the persistent storage device and a filter driver interconnected between two of the plurality of software modules for managing memory capacity of the compressed cache and the buffer cache.

Abstract: A method and system for the resource allocation for an interactive session on a grid computing system. When a user-request for an interactive session is received, the particular applications needed to be launched in the interactive session are identified, as are resource requirements for the interactive session including processor, network bandwidth, executables and files requirements. A contract is then generated for the interactive session specifying resource allocations and authorizations, and resources for the interactive session are allocated in accordance with the contract. The system includes a distributed resource management node, a contract generation engine, and a contract repository.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is used for accessing a remote desktop from a local computer. Accessing the remote desktop includes requesting a remote desktop to be displayed on the local computer and computed by a remote computer having selected computer resources, identifying the remote computer having the selected computer resources available for immediate use, instructing the remote computer identified to reserve the selected computer resources for use on the local computer, and notifying the local computer to commence communication with the identified remote computer and displaying a desktop from the remote computer on the local computer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for grid computing access control and a system thereof. A command is received from a user. The authorization of the user to execute the command is verified. A system parameter is monitored during execution of the command.

Abstract: A method and system for streaming media data to a fixed client and/or a mobile client. In one method embodiment, the present invention recites encoding media data to be streamed to a client into a first multiple description bitstream and into a second multiple description bitstream. The present method then determines the appropriate plurality of servers from a network of servers onto which the first and second multiple description bitstreams should be distributed. The present embodiment then recites distributing the first and second multiple description bitstreams to the appropriate plurality of servers positioned at intermediate nodes throughout a network such that a client is provided with access to the media data via a plurality of transmission paths. The present method is also well suited to redistribution of multiple description bitstreams to servers based upon time-varying demand, client movement, and the like.

Abstract: Methods and systems for transferring an event from a server to a remote client are described. An event is received from a driver. The event is dispatched into an event queue according to the event type. The event is processed according to the event type. The processing includes encoding the event when the event comprises multimedia data. The event is transferred to the remote client when triggered. The transfer occurs according to a protocol corresponding to the event type.