Abstract: A computer-based method and system for processing data obtained from documents retrieved from a computer network during a gathering project is disclosed. Plugging in modular active and consumer plug-ins into the gathering project configures the information processing capability of the gathering process that retrieves the documents. The gathering process retrieves a copy of an electronic document from a server connected to the computer network and returns a document data stream that includes the retrieved document's data and its “properties.” One or more active plug-ins plugged-in to the gathering process is used to add, delete or modify the properties in the document data stream based on the document's contents or properties. The modified document data stream is then passed to one or more consumer plug-ins that use the properties in the modified document data stream to process the document in some manner.

Abstract: A distributed digital data processing system includes a server and a client that transmit messages over a virtual circuit in a network, the virtual circuit being defined by server virtual circuit information and client virtual circuit information. The server includes a server memory and a server interface. The server includes a server memory and a server interface. The server memory stores server virtual circuit control information and the server interface engages in message transfers over said network using the server virtual circuit control information in said server memory. The client includes a client memory, a client interface, and a purging mechanism. The client memory stores client virtual circuit control information that the client interface uses in connection with message transfers engaged by it over the virtual circuit.

Abstract: A distributed digital data processing system includes a server and a client that transmit messages over a virtual circuit in a network, the virtual circuit being defined by server virtual circuit information and client virtual circuit information. The server includes a server memory and a server interface. The server memory stores server virtual circuit control information and the server interface engages in message transfers over said network using the server virtual circuit control information in said server memory. The client includes a client memory, a client interface, and a purging mechanism. The client memory stores client virtual circuit control information that the client interface uses in connection with message transfers engaged by it over the virtual circuit.