Abstract: The invention provides a method and a computer usable medium including a program for maintaining files on a computer grid. At least one member of the computer grid is detected. A usage profile of the member is determined. A fingerprint is determined for files stored on the member. The fingerprint is stored with an associated file name in a database. A maintenance function is performed based on the database.

Abstract: A calling service is provided within a conventional Internet operating environment wherein client machines connect to the Internet via an Internet service provider (ISP). The ISP provides Internet access to the users for a time-based or usage-based service fee. According to the invention, a client machine user is provided an option to make a telephone call to a Web site operator during a browsing session. The charges for the telephone call preferably are invoiced by the ISP (or some third party on the ISP's behalf). Thus, when a user elects to make a “one-click” telephone call to the Web site, the charge for the call preferably shows up on the user's ISP billing statement.

Abstract: A multi-user system, method, and computer-usable medium facilitate time-shifting of television program viewing for users. Each user is identified by an associated user profile, and a program schedule, including a list of desired programs to be recorded, is maintained for each user. The television programs are recorded and stored on a hard disk, or other nonvolatile storage, for later viewing by the users. The television programs are preferably stored in a compressed format. Each user can log into the system, at his convenience, and view any of the television programs that have been recorded for him. There is no shuffling through numerous videocassette tapes or skipping over other users' recorded programs to find a desired television program. An option may be used to specify how long to save a recorded television program before it can be erased and overwritten with another program. A master user or users, such as a parent or parents, can add a new user to the system by setting up a new user profile.

Abstract: An alternate boot record is stored on a hard disk drive in a data processing system at the opposite end of the hard disk from a master boot record. Extended boot records stored before each logical partition are employed for that partition when the master boot record or alternate boot record is utilized for system initialization. The alternate boot record is utilized to initialize the data processing system when attempts to initialize the data processing system utilizing the master boot record are unsuccessful. The alternate boot record thus forms part of an automatic recovery mechanism in the data processing system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed that allows a participant in a conference call to receive conference call roster information at a telephone display unit, at a computer display or at both types of display. The conference call information is updated during the call and includes identification of the speaker during a conference call. The conference callers are connected together and identified either by standard caller identification or by other identification provided by the operator. The conference callers' identifications are then transmitted in two ways. First, a coded signal is sent over the telephone connection to a telephone display unit. Second, an information packet is transmitted over the Internet to a conference call participant's computer. A server computer monitors the conference call and the identification of parties involved is updated a parties are added or disconnected. The speaking party is identified in one two ways.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed that allows a participant in a conference call to receive conference call roster information at a telephone display unit, at a computer display or at both types of display. The conference call information is updated during the call and includes identification of the speaker during a conference call. The conference callers are connected together and identified either by standard caller identification or by other identification provided by the operator. The conference callers' identifications are then transmitted in two ways. First, a coded signal is sent over the telephone connection to a telephone display unit. Second, an information packet is transmitted over the Internet to a conference call participant's computer. A server computer monitors the conference call and the identification of parties involved is updated a parties are added or disconnected. The speaking party is identified in one two ways.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed that allows a participant in a conference call to receive conference call roster information at a telephone display unit, at a computer display or at both types of display. The conference call information is updated during the call and includes identification of the speaker during a conference call. The conference callers are connected together and identified either by standard caller identification or by other identification provided ID by the operator. The conference callers' identifications are then transmitted in two ways. First, a coded signal is sent over the telephone connection to a telephone display unit. Second, an information packet is transmitted over the Internet to a conference call participant's computer. A server computer monitors the conference call and the identification of parties involved is updated a parties are added or disconnected. The speaking party is identified in one two ways.

Abstract: A method for providing control accesses between a device on a non-proprietary bus and a device on a proprietary bus is disclosed. A gateway controller is connected between a proprietary bus and a non-proprietary bus. A message originated from a device on the non-proprietary bus intended for a device on the proprietary bus is checked by the gateway controller to determine if a transmission of the message should be permitted according to a permitted message bitmap. The permitted message bitmap contains a list of devices on the non-proprietary bus that are previously registered as able to communicate with devices on the proprietary bus and a list of permitted messages associated with each of the devices on the non-proprietary bus. The transmission of the message to the device on the proprietary bus is denied if the message is not registered within the permitted message bitmap.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided in which selected information is embedded within computer program structures without requiring separate bit strings. In an exemplary embodiment, the embedded selected information includes an identification of a licensed user together with a serial number of the associated licensed program. That information is converted into a binary representation, and a transfer function is used to embed the binary representation into the structure of the licensed program. In the example, when a licensed program is compiled, linked and downloaded over an interconnection network, the order or sequence of the modules of the licensed program is arranged in a manner to correspond to the embedded selected information. The embedded information can then be extracted from the program by analysis of the organization of the modules comprising the program.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided in which selected information is embedded within computer program structures without requiring separate bit strings. In an exemplary embodiment, the embedded selected information includes an identification of a licensed user together with a serial number of the associated licensed program. That information is converted into a binary representation, and a transfer function is used to embed the binary representation into the structure of the licensed program. In the example, when a licensed program is compiled, linked and downloaded over an interconnection network, the order or sequence of the modules of the licensed program is arranged in a manner to correspond to the embedded selected information. The embedded information can then be extracted from the program by analysis of the organization of the modules comprising the program.

Abstract: A system and method for expediting service to a user by automatically defaulting to the typical preferences of the user for a remote point of purchase action at a facility which permits such actions is described. In one version, the user utilizes a credit or debit card to make a purchase at the facility. After the card is authorized, the user's profile of his or her routine selections at such facilities is retrieved. After the user's profile is obtained, the user is allowed to immediately complete the transaction rather than proceed through the option selection process. The system utilizes the user profile to automatically default the prompts and inquiries of the interface terminal to the typical selections chosen by the user. This feature expedites service to users by allowing them to bypass the interactive option selection process with the terminal. The user may deviate from his or her typical selections by entering alternate selections in a conventional manner at any time.

Abstract: A portable electronic device that can obtain position information despite lacking GPS reception capability includes data storage that stores a reference position, a plurality of inertial motion sensors, and computational circuitry. The inertial motion sensors detect movement of the portable electronic device and output motion signals to the computation circuitry indicative of the sensed movement. In response to these motion signals and the stored reference position, the computational circuitry computes a position of the portable electronic device.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a desired distribution of machines with respect to a stationary map is disclosed. Each machine determines its location via a global positioning system calculation. Next, the machine determines a cell corresponding to the determined location. Each machine broadcasts a message at a time slice allocated for the cell. A central control center receives the broadcasted messages from a plurality of machines and uses the received broadcasted messages to determine the locations of the plurality of machines. It then matches the determined locations of the machines against a desired distribution of machines. Responsive to a finding that the determined locations do not adequately match the desired distribution, the central command center issues commands to respective machines to bring the machines into compliance with the desired distribution.

Abstract: An addressable display device comprising a light transparent body having a plurality of spheroidal balls supported therein. Each ball has an electrical dipole moment and a magnetic dipole moment. An addressing circuit is provided for applying an electric field and a magnetic field across a selected portion of the body to position a given ball. Preferably a given ball is multichromal and includes longitudinal ranges of different colors. A given color within a longitudinal range may include regions of variable saturation as a function of latitude.

Abstract: A reversible, wireless pointing device for a data processing system may be operated as either a handheld remote or in conjunction with a surface in the manner of a conventional mouse. A force sensor projects from one surface of the wireless point device body. Manipulation of the force sensor may be detected by measurement of a capacitive or resistive value dependent upon the position or orientation of the force sensor. Infrared signals representative of the manipulation are emitted by the pointing device and detected by the data processing system from control of a display cursor's movement by the operating system. The force sensor may be manipulated directly by a user's thumb or other appendage, or indirectly by contact between the force sensor and an underlying surface and actual or attempted movement of the pointing device relative to the surface. The force sensor may be slightly elastomeric with a rubbery texture to “grip” the underlying surface.

Abstract: A user sets preference parameters that filter web page contents from being stored in the cache. The preferences relate to the web page's contents and attributes. Before caching the web page, the contents and attributes of the web page are filtered solely as a function of the web browser. Cache filters take a variety of forms, such as ratings filters, web page identifier filters, and key word filters, which scan accessed contents of a web page for user selected terms. The filtered web page is then blocked from entry in the browser's cache based on the filtering process. Conversely, a user sets preference parameters that filter web page contents to override the block from cache preferences. The browser responds by storing the filtered web pages that were previously designated as web pages not to be cached.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving postponing reception of data by a pager during an airline flight. A pager is registered prior to the beginning of an airline flight. A data collector monitors for data directed to the pager. Responsive to detecting data directed to the pager, the data is stored. Responsive to a termination of the airline flight, the data is transmitted to the pager at the destination by a transmitter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a distributed data processing system for locating a facility from a plurality of facilities. Data is collected from the plurality of facilities. The collected data is compared with current data regarding the facilities. Changes present between the collected data and the current data are identified. The current data is updated using the changes. Responsive to a request from a mobile computing system for a location of a facility, a response is sent to the mobile computing system based on the current data and the request.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating a keyword search request initiated at a client station within a multilevel data network, wherein the multilevel data network includes multiple local sites each containing multiple data pages. Multiple keywords from each of the data pages within the local sites of the multilevel data network are stored locally and indexed such that each of the keywords points to one or more of the data pages in which the keywords are contained. The keywords and their index associations are locally updated. A central database is utilized to compile and index the locally indexed keywords from each of the local sites, such that each of the keywords in the central database points to one or more local sites from which those keywords came in response to a keyword search initiated at the client station.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for notifying the user of a power management delay is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the notification is by means of a change in a mouse cursor in a graphical user interface.