Abstract: Described is a technology in a distributed configuration network management environment, in which constitutional (governing, authoritative) documents are used to perform management tasks. The constitutional documents are structured so as to be consistent, self-contained and independently validated, yet may be combined with other constitutional documents to perform a management task. A constitutional document includes a schematic language statement, data transformation statements, and rule statements. In usage, the structured document is distributed to an agent on a client machine, which processes the structured document by transforming data and applying rules, such as to enforce network policy on client machines.

Abstract: Described is a technology in a distributed configuration network management environment, in which action-style documents are used as guides in processing structured documents to perform management tasks. For example, the action-style documents may be used by a standard stylesheet processor to validate a constitutional document, and process input lines of that constitutional document into output lines of a document. When executed, the output lines perform a management task. In this manner, for example, policy statements of an administrator are transformed into a single type of self-contained document that is consistently interpreted, and thus consistently executed, regardless of its source or when it was authored.

Abstract: A golf tee made of an elastomeric material includes a base section for positioning on a ground surface, and a concave head section for supporting a golf ball thereon. The tee can be made of a polymeric foam, such as polyurethane foam orethylene vinyl acetate foam. The tee can have a generally frusto-conical shape, with the base section having a larger diameter than the head section. A notch can be formed in the tee for exposing the ball to a golf club head. The tee can include a pointing member extending outwardly from, such that the pointing member points in a direction of a golf green and provides a visual cue to a user of the tee as to the direction of the golf green while swing at the ball.

Abstract: Registering a client with a distributed service. A method may be practiced, for example, in a network computing environment including a client at a local site and a number of distributed services at a number of remote sites. The method includes pinging one or more distributed services at one or more remote sites. A message is received from a distributed service from among the one or more distributed services. The message specifies an optimal remote site. The method further includes registering with a distributed service at the optimal remote site.

Abstract: Communicating with a distributed service in the network computing environment. A method for communicating with a distributed service includes referencing a configuration registry to determine resources and permissions in a potential distributed service entry. A potential distributed service entry identifies a distributed service corresponding to the potential distributed service entry that is authorized to exist by virtue of an entry in the configuration registry for the potential distributed service entry specifying that the distributed service may exist, whether or not the distributed service corresponding to the potential distributed service entry exists. The method further includes using the resource information, attempting to contact the distributed service corresponding to the potential distributed service entry. Permissions of the distributed service corresponding to the potential distributed service entry are verified to match permissions of the potential distributed service entry.

Abstract: A network computer maintains a directory of objects having multi-valued attributes. The attributes are comprised of individual linked values having conflict-resolution data that indicates a change to an object at an attribute-value level. A second network computer stores a replica of the directory in which a replica of the objects is maintained. The computers replicate the objects in the directories and update the individual linked values of the attributes. Replication conflicts are identified and resolved with the conflict-resolution data at the attribute-value level of the objects.

Abstract: A method for designating communication paths in a computer network is provided, in which communication paths are designated for the transmission of data throughout a network. The network may have both recipient computers, which are the intended recipients of the data, and intermediary computers, which are not the intended recipients, but merely relay the data. Each intermediary computer is grouped with the “closest” recipient computer (i.e. the recipient computer with whom it is “least expensive” to communicate). Communication paths between the resulting groups are then identified. A representation of the network is then created. The representation replaces the intermediary computers with the inter-group communication paths, so that the inter-group communication paths appear to pass directly through the locations occupied by the intermediary computers. The created representation is then further processed so that the “least expensive” communication paths may be designated.

Abstract: A network computer maintains a directory of objects having multi-valued attributes. The attributes are comprised of individual linked values having conflict-resolution data that indicates a change to an object at an attribute-value level. A second network computer stores a replica of the directory in which a replica of the objects is maintained. The computers replicate the objects in the directories and update the individual linked values of the attributes. Replication conflicts are identified and resolved with the conflict-resolution data at the attribute-value level of the objects.

Abstract: A method for designating communication paths in a computer network is provided, in which communication paths are designated for the transmission of data throughout a network. The network may have both recipient computers, which are the intended recipients of the data, and intermediary computers, which are not the intended recipients, but merely relay the data. Each intermediary computer is grouped with the “closest” recipient computer (i.e. the recipient computer with whom it is “least expensive” to communicate). Communication paths between the resulting groups are then identified. A representation of the network is then created. The representation replaces the intermediary computers with the inter-group communication paths, so that the inter-group communication paths appear to pass directly through the locations occupied by the intermediary computers. The created representation is then further processed so that the “least expensive” communication paths may be designated.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying network endpoints that provide a service of interest orders endpoints according to their network proximity to a requesting client. The requesting client may then contact the closest available providing endpoint, thus increasing the efficiency of usage of network resources while decreasing latency and enhancing reliability. In an embodiment of the invention, when a connection to the nearest providing endpoint cannot be established, a mechanism for locating a next-closest alternative endpoint is provided.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for replicating database changes among servers of a database system that effectively removes the inconsistency problems encountered after restoration from backup and due to removal and re-addition of partitions by assigning a new GUID to a server after it has been restored or after the partition has been re-added. This new GUID is used for identifying new changes made by the server after restoration or partition re-addition. By virtue of the use of the new GUID, new changes made after restoration will not be confused with any changes made by the server after the backup and before the restoration, which are identified by the old GUID of the server, thereby ensuring convergence of the servers' data through replication. Similarly, by virtue of the use of the new GUID, new changes made after re-addition of a partition will not be confused with any changes made prior to the re-addition of the partition.

Abstract: A replication occurs upon the re-configuration of a partial database to update an additional attribute of an object, and is divided into two sub-requests for replication. The first requests the new attribute from update sequence number zero and the second requests the existing attributes according to their known up-to-date vectors. To facilitate this request, a destination server sends an up-to-date vector table to a source server along with the request for replication. Because the existing attributes are requested from their known up-to-date vectors, rather than from update sequence number zero, this replication request results in less attributes being sent between servers and therefore, provides a more efficient replication.

Abstract: A replication occurs upon the re-configuration of a partial database to update an additional attribute of an object, and is divided into two sub-requests for replication. The first requests the new attribute from update sequence number zero and the second requests the existing attributes according to their known up-to-date vectors. To facilitate this request, a destination server sends an up-to-date vector table to a source server along with the request for replication. Because the existing attributes are requested from their known up-to-date vectors, rather than from update sequence number zero, this replication request results in less attributes being sent between servers and therefore, provides a more efficient replication.

Abstract: A method for designating communication paths in a computer network is provided, in which communication paths are designated for the transmission of data throughout a network. The network may have both recipient computers, which are the intended recipients of the data, and intermediary computers, which are not the intended recipients, but merely relay the data. Each intermediary computer is grouped with the “closest” recipient computer (i.e. the recipient computer with whom it is “least expensive” to communicate). Communication paths between the resulting groups are then identified. A representation of the network is then created. The representation replaces the intermediary computers with the inter-group communication paths, so that the inter-group communication paths appear to pass directly through the locations occupied by the intermediary computers. The created representation is then further processed so that the “least expensive” communication paths may be designated.

Abstract: A network computer maintains a directory of objects having multi-valued attributes. The attributes are comprised of individual linked values having conflict-resolution data that indicates a change to an object at an attribute-value level. A second network computer stores a replica of the directory in which a replica of the objects is maintained. The computers replicate the objects in the directories and update the individual linked values of the attributes. Replication conflicts are identified and resolved with the conflict-resolution data at the attribute-value level of the objects.

Abstract: A trophotropic response system which aids a user in achieving a relaxation response. In one embodiment the system includes a control unit and an audio-visual unit. The control unit includes a processor and associated hardware and software to control the audio-visual unit. The audio-visual unit includes a light producing unit having a pair of earphones coupled thereto. The light producing unit includes a plurality of light sources which direct light toward a diffuser screen disposed between the eyes of a user and the light sources. This arrangement permits the user to see light from the light sources diffused over a large visual angle. The light sources produce light and the earphones produce sound in response to audio and light control signals provided by the processor of the control unit. The signal characteristics of the light and sound control signals may be varied within predefined limits to aid the user in performing a relaxation exercise.

Abstract: A trophotropic response system which aids a user in achieving a relaxation response. In one embodiment the system includes a control unit and an audio-visual unit. The control unit includes a processor and associated hardware and software to control the audio-visual unit. The audio-visual unit includes a light producing unit having a pair of earphones coupled thereto. The light producing unit includes a plurality of light sources which direct light toward a diffuser screen disposed between the eyes of a user and the light sources. This arrangement permits the user to see light from the light sources diffused over a large visual angle. The light sources produce light and the earphones produce sound in response to audio and light control signals provided by the processor of the control unit. The signal characteristics of the light and sound control signals may be varied within predefined limits to aid the user in performing a relaxation exercise.

Abstract: A wristwatch mounting an animated head of a figure and including a moveable nose overlying a watch face and formed by one end of a moveable member, the opposite end forming an armature. The moveable member is mounted on a laterally extending pivot pin such that magnitude of the torque due by the gravitational pull on such centers of mass on the opposite sides of such pivot pin are equal. A integrated circuit is provided which combines the capability to control clock functions, actuate the animation feature, synthesize speech and drive a dynamic speaker to provide overall control of the animation from a single actuation. Firmware incorporated in the integrated circuit includes means to selectively vary the message and comment in order to provide enhanced animation and novelty.