Abstract: A method of seamlessly scaling multiple network appliances in an appliance based network. The disclosed method allows a network to automatically utilize the resources of one or more additional appliances without performing extensive installation or calibration routines. In addition, the method includes assigning a new appliance a particular role and sub-role designation such that it is used in the most effective manner to serve the particular needs of the network in which the new appliance is being connected. The new appliance can be used as an expansion appliance to provide additional data storage capabilities, a mirroring appliance, which provides backup data storage capabilities, and/or a range extension appliance that extends the wireless communication range of the existing appliance.

Abstract: The communications management systems manage access to a local area network or network content by external users, applications, and devices. The systems and methods are implemented on a network appliance to manage content within the network and facilitate content transmission through a firewall that separates the network from a larger networking environment, such as the World Wide Web.

Abstract: The communications management systems manage access to a local area network or network content by external users, applications, and devices. The systems and methods are implemented on a network appliance to manage content within the network and facilitate content transmission through a firewall that separates the network from a larger networking environment, such as the World Wide Web.

Abstract: The inventive communications management systems manage access to a local area network or network content by external users, applications, and devices. The systems and methods are implemented on a network appliance to manage content within the network and facilitate content transmission through a firewall that separates the network from a larger networking environment, such as the World Wide Web. Other applications operating on the network appliance are made firewall aware so that existing network appliance identity schemes can be used to also control gate access to and from the network, to and from applications that run on the network appliance, and to and from other applications that run on the local network. Because the firewall is integrated closely with other application on the network appliance, after the external user is granted access to the network, network applications can control and terminate access through the firewall as desired.

Abstract: Remotely communicating data between computers or devices across a wide area network for purposes of redundancy or collaboration. A service brokers the transfer of data between an initiating computer and a destination device, thereby establishing a peer-to-peer architecture by which data of the initiating computer can be stored remotely on the destination device. The process begins as the initiating computer issues a request for permission to store the data remotely on an identified destination device. The permission is granted if the initiating computer properly identifies the destination device using information, such as a network address or a password, that is privately communicated between the users of the destination device and the initiating computer. Accordingly, substantially any computer user having access to the Internet can achieve remote backup of data and remote collaboration of data with the assistance of a trusted third party who also is registered with the service.

Abstract: Post-infection virus protection through data restoration using mirrored data that has been obtained prior to the virus infection. A network appliance in a network mirrors the data of a number of computers in an ongoing manner. An anti-virus module of the network appliance scans data received from a computer to determine whether the computer is infected by a virus. If no virus is identified, the network appliance uses the received data to update a mirrored copy of the computer's data. If, however, the network appliance identifies a virus, the mirrored copy is not updated. Instead, the previous mirrored copy, which represents a pre-infection state of the data, is used to restore the infected computer to its pre-infection state. In this manner, a single copy of an anti-virus utility executed at the network appliance can protect an arbitrary number of computers, which do not require their own anti-virus software.

Abstract: Computer networks for brokering the transmission of data between remote computers for purposes of redundancy or collaboration. A service brokers the transfer of data between an initiating computer and a destination device, thereby establishing a peer-to-peer architecture by which data of the initiating computer can be stored remotely on the destination device. The process begins as the initiating computer issues a request for permission to store the data remotely on an identified destination device. The permission is granted if the initiating computer properly identifies the destination device using information, such as a network address or a password, that is privately communicated between the users of the destination device and the initiating computer. Accordingly, substantially any computer user having access to the Internet can achieve remote backup of data and remote collaboration of data with the assistance of a trusted third party who also is registered with the service.

Abstract: Remotely communicating data between computers or devices across a wide area network for purposes of redundancy or collaboration. A service brokers the transfer of data between an initiating computer and a destination device, thereby establishing a peer-to-peer architecture by which data of the initiating computer can be stored remotely on the destination device. The process begins as the initiating computer issues a request for permission to store the data remotely on an identified destination device. The permission is granted if the initiating computer properly identifies the destination device using information, such as a network address or a password, that is privately communicated between the users of the destination device and the initiating computer. Accordingly, substantially any computer user having access to the Internet can achieve remote backup of data and remote collaboration of data with the assistance of a trusted third party who also is registered with the service.

Abstract: The inventive communications management systems manage access to a local area network or network content by external users, applications, and devices. The systems and methods are implemented on a network appliance to manage content within the network and facilitate content transmission through a firewall that separates the network from a larger networking environment, such as the World Wide Web. Other applications operating on the network appliance are made firewall aware so that existing network appliance identity schemes can be used to also control gate access to and from the network, to and from applications that run on the network appliance, and to and from other applications that run on the local network. Because the firewall is integrated closely with other application on the network appliance, after the external user is granted access to the network, network applications can control and terminate access through the firewall as desired.

Abstract: Remotely storing data between computers or devices across a wide area network for purposes of redundancy or collaboration. A service brokers the transfer of data between an initiating computer and a destination device, thereby establishing a peer-to-peer architecture by which data of the initiating computer can be stored remotely on the destination device. The process begins as the initiating computer issues a request for permission to store the data remotely on an identified destination device. The permission is granted if the initiating computer properly identifies the destination device using information, such as a network address or a password, that is privately communicated between the users of the destination device and the initiating computer. Accordingly, substantially any computer user having access to the Internet can achieve remote backup of data and remote collaboration of data with the assistance of a trusted third party who also is registered with the service.

Abstract: A system, method and software are provided that install a custom configuration profile on one or more target devices, which may be hardwired or wireless devices, and which include personal data assistants, mobile telephones, laptop computers and desktop computers. The custom configuration profile includes a user-specified combination of applications, data, protocols, and policies, suited to a particular target device, and selected in accordance with the desires and requirements of a particular user or group of users. The custom configuration profile can be installed on new devices or on devices that have suffered a catastrophic failure and require reconfiguration. Further, the custom configuration profile is configured to be installed automatically on a target device with little or no involvement on the part of the user, and the installation can be implemented by wireless or hardwire connections between the target device and the backup device where the custom configuration profile is initially stored.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in interconnecting consumer electronic devices in an entertainment system that allow for switching between composite video and S-video formats. The systems and methods support left audio, right audio, and can be selectively adapted to support either composite video or S-video signal formats. The systems and methods further allow for a determination that a consumer electronic device is connected, the type of device that is connected, and the type of signal format that is being utilized for the transmission.

Abstract: Content management systems implement rules for managing and providing access to content in a variety of computing environments. Examples of such computing environments include a single computer, computer network environments, and client-server environments. One example of a rule defines relationships between and among a content event, predetermined content, and action to be taken concerning the predetermined content. Initially, the occurrence of a content event is detected, such as, for example, creation or modification of a file at some location in the environment. After the content event is detected, the associated content is identified. The rules applicable to such content are then consulted and the various actions specified by such rules, such as backup and distribution of the content for example, are implemented with respect to the identified content.

Abstract: Computer networks for brokering the transmission of data between remote computers for purposes of redundancy or collaboration. A service brokers the transfer of data between an initiating computer and a destination device, thereby establishing a peer-to-peer architecture by which data of the initiating computer can be stored remotely on the destination device. The process begins as the initiating computer issues a request for permission to store the data remotely on an identified destination device. The permission is granted if the initiating computer properly identifies the destination device using information, such as a network address or a password, that is privately communicated between the users of the destination device and the initiating computer. Accordingly, substantially any computer user having access to the Internet can achieve remote backup of data and remote collaboration of data with the assistance of a trusted third party who also is registered with the service.

Abstract: A system, method and software for rule-based content management are provided that can be employed in a variety of computing environments. Examples of such computing environments include a single computer, computer network environments, and client-server environments. Generally, the method involves the use of rules to effect content management. One example of a rule defines relationships between and among a content event, predetermined content, and action to be taken concerning the predetermined content. Initially, the method involves detection of the occurrence of a content event such as, for example, creation or modification of a file at some location in the environment. After the content event is detected, the associated content is identified. The rules applicable to such content are then consulted and the various actions specified by such rules, such as backup and distribution of the content for example, are implemented with respect to the identified content.

Abstract: A communications management system, method and software are provided that are configured to automatically and systematically manage the transmission of identified content subject to, for example, the bandwidth requirements of the identified content, the bandwidth required for transmission of such content, and various attributes of the identified content. The system, method and software may be implemented in various environments such as a single computing device or a network. Yet other embodiments are implemented, either in whole or in part, as a fee based communications management service. In general, the system, method and software are initially concerned with identifying the content to be transferred.

Abstract: A method of seamlessly scaling multiple network appliances in an appliance based network. The disclosed method allows a network to automatically utilize the resources of one or more additional appliances without performing extensive installation or calibration routines. In addition, the method includes assigning a new appliance a particular role and sub-role designation such that it is used in the most effective manner to serve the particular needs of the network in which the new appliance is being connected. The new appliance can be used as an expansion appliance to provide additional data storage capabilities, a mirroring appliance, which provides backup data storage capabilities, and/or a range extension appliance that extends the wireless communication range of the existing appliance.

Abstract: Post-infection virus protection through data restoration using mirrored data that has been obtained prior to the virus infection. A network appliance in a network mirrors the data of a number of computers in an ongoing manner. An anti-virus module of the network appliance scans data received from a computer to determine whether the computer is infected by a virus. If no virus is identified, the network appliance uses the received data to update a mirrored copy of the computer's data. If, however, the network appliance identifies a virus, the mirrored copy is not updated. Instead, the previous mirrored copy, which represents a pre-infection state of the data, is used to restore the infected computer to its pre-infection state. In this manner, a single copy of an anti-virus utility executed at the network appliance can protect an arbitrary number of computers, which do not require their own anti-virus software.

Abstract: A service distribution system configured to provide initial and follow-up services to a local device over a distributed data connection. Initial services include downloading software packages and installing them on the device that is remote with respect to the service distribution system. Follow-up services include subscribing to receive updates or notifications about a particular product when they become available. The system analyzes the hardware resources available on the remote device in order to only offer services that are compatible with the remote device's resources. In addition, the system has the ability to analyze the software and hardware resources available on the remote device and suggest available services that would enhance the already existing resources on the remote device. The system is configured to receive new software from an outlet that would enable it to offer new services.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing content management in a network computing environment. The content management is concerned with, for example, content backup, storage, and sharing, local and remote accessibility, security, content consistency, and other network operations. The systems and method incorporate a network appliance in a local area network. The appliance communicates with the various devices in the network and, in at least some embodiments, with a remote content management service. In addition, computing devices in the local area network have installed content management software to allow the network appliance to access, copy for backup, and/or manipulate content on the computing device. The software of the network appliance communicates with the software installed on the client computers to configure itself and the network automatically or with relatively little user input.