Abstract: System, computer implemented method and computer program product for preparing and navigating a query tree including a plurality of query nodes and informational nodes. Each query node is associated with a prompt, branching criteria and keywords. A current query node provides a prompt to a user and a user response is received and analyzed to identify branching criteria and keywords from the user response. The method navigates to another node in the query tree in consideration of the branching criteria received in the user response and a comparison between the keywords received in the user response and the keywords associated with the query nodes. The comparison may validate navigation to a destination node corresponding to the branching criteria or the comparison may indicate incorrect navigation of the query tree. Corrective navigation can be implemented in various ways based upon the keywords received in the user response.

Abstract: System, computer implemented method and computer program product for preparing and navigating a query tree including a plurality of query nodes and informational nodes. Each query node is associated with a prompt, branching criteria and keywords. A current query node provides a prompt to a user and a user response is received and analyzed to identify branching criteria and keywords from the user response. The method navigates to another node in the query tree in consideration of the branching criteria received in the user response and a comparison between the keywords received in the user response and the keywords associated with the query nodes. The comparison may validate navigation to a destination node corresponding to the branching criteria or the comparison may indicate incorrect navigation of the query tree. Corrective navigation can be implemented in various ways based upon the keywords received in the user response.

Abstract: Traffic patterns are monitored for adherence of a user to a suggested route. Deviations from suggested routes are recorded for later upload and/or analysis. Repeated deviations by one, or more, users following similar navigation routes are identified for possible changes in maps and/or routing algorithms.

Abstract: System, computer implemented method and computer program product for preparing and navigating a query tree including a plurality of query nodes and informational nodes. Each query node is associated with a prompt, branching criteria and keywords. A current query node provides a prompt to a user and a user response is received and analyzed to identify branching criteria and keywords from the user response. The method navigates to another node in the query tree in consideration of the branching criteria received in the user response and a comparison between the keywords received in the user response and the keywords associated with the query nodes. The comparison may validate navigation to a destination node corresponding to the branching criteria or the comparison may indicate incorrect navigation of the query tree. Corrective navigation can be implemented in various ways based upon the keywords received in the user response.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products for managing service subscriptions of a plurality of devices over a unidirectional transmission channel, including: assigning, by a subscription management module, one or more group identifiers to a device to be activated for a service subscription, each group identifier being an identification of a group of devices having an activated subscription to the service; activating, by the subscription management module, the device's service subscription including broadcasting an activation message that includes a unique identifier of the device, the assigned group identifiers, and an active subscription period being a period of time during which the device's subscription to the service is to be active; and prior to expiration of the active subscription period, broadcasting a reactivation message including at least one of the group identifiers to which the device is assigned.

Abstract: Mapping computers and ports of power distribution units in a data center, the data center including a plurality of computers and a data center management server, each computer in the data center connected for power to one of a plurality of power distribution unit (‘PDU’) ports of a PDU, each PDU connected through the communications module and a data communications network to the data center management server, including generating, by a power modulating module of a computer, a power consumption signal in the PDU, the power consumption signal encoding a unique identification of the computer; demodulating, by the PDU, the power consumption signal, including retrieving from the signal the unique identification of the computer; and reporting, by the PDU to the data center management server, an association of the unique identification of the computer and a PDU port.

Abstract: Traffic patterns are monitored for adherence of a user to a suggested route. Deviations from suggested routes are recorded for later upload and/or analysis. Repeated deviations by one, or more, users following similar navigation routes are identified for possible changes in maps and/or routing algorithms.

Abstract: A computer program product including computer usable program code embodied on a tangible computer readable storage medium, wherein the computer program product includes computer usable program code for downloading a candidate version of a firmware image for a particular product, computer usable program code for updating incomplete firmware compatibility metadata by downloading additional firmware compatibility metadata for the particular product, and computer usable program code for using the updated firmware compatibility metadata to determine whether the candidate version of the firmware image is compatibility with a current version of a firmware image that is installed within the particular product.

Abstract: Optimizing a business performance forecast includes: projecting, based on a projection algorithm, a performance forecast for a period of time, the projection algorithm including inputs having a weight and the projection algorithm associated with a confidence score; capturing results of actual performance for the period of time; comparing the results to the performance forecast, including determining whether the difference between the results and the forecast is less than a threshold; if the difference is less than the threshold, increasing the confidence score associated with the projection algorithm; if the difference is not less than the threshold: iteratively, until a difference between the results and a new forecast is less than the threshold: modifying the projection algorithm; projecting a new forecast based on the modified projection algorithm; and determining whether the difference between the results of actual performance and the new forecast is less than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products for managing service subscriptions of a plurality of devices over a unidirectional transmission channel, including: assigning, by a subscription management module, one or more group identifiers to a device to be activated for a service subscription, each group identifier being an identification of a group of devices having an activated subscription to the service; activating, by the subscription management module, the device's service subscription including broadcasting an activation message that includes a unique identifier of the device, the assigned group identifiers, and an active subscription period being a period of time during which the device's subscription to the service is to be active; and prior to expiration of the active subscription period, broadcasting a reactivation message including at least one of the group identifiers to which the device is assigned.

Abstract: Optimizing a business performance forecast includes: projecting, based on a projection algorithm, a performance forecast for a period of time, the projection algorithm including inputs having a weight and the projection algorithm associated with a confidence score; capturing results of actual performance for the period of time; comparing the results to the performance forecast, including determining whether the difference between the results and the forecast is less than a threshold; if the difference is less than the threshold, increasing the confidence score associated with the projection algorithm; if the difference is not less than the threshold: iteratively, until a difference between the results and a new forecast is less than the threshold: modifying the projection algorithm; projecting a new forecast based on the modified projection algorithm; and determining whether the difference between the results of actual performance and the new forecast is less than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of determining the compatibility of a firmware version, includes downloading a candidate version of a firmware image for a particular product, updating incomplete firmware compatibility metadata by downloading additional firmware compatibility metadata for the particular product, and using the updated firmware compatibility metadata to determining whether the candidate version of the firmware image is compatibility with a current version of a firmware image that is installed within the particular product.

Abstract: A method of determining the compatibility of a firmware version, includes downloading a candidate version of a firmware image for a particular product, updating incomplete firmware compatibility metadata by downloading additional firmware compatibility metadata for the particular product, and using the updated firmware compatibility metadata to determining whether the candidate version of the firmware image is compatibility with a current version of a firmware image that is installed within the particular product.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and media to protect sensitive information in data storage devices are disclosed. Embodiments comprise a method of transmitting and receiving unique identification information of components of a computer system, comparing the information with previously saved information in the storage device, and not allowing access to the data if the information is substantially different. In some embodiments, the storage device may simply prevent access to the information. In other embodiments, the storage device may erase the information after detecting a change in the computer system. In other embodiments, the storage device may provide various options for effectively resetting the unique identification stored in the data storage device so that the device may be used in an altered system.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for implementing the method are disclosed. The method includes obtaining an e-mail message to be sent and an e-mail distribution list containing prospective recipients of the e-mail message. A subject matter type of the e-mail message to be sent is identified, and one or more user attributes for each prospective recipient is obtained. The method further includes referencing a set of predefined exclusions associating user attributes with subject matter types, to identify any prospective recipients from the e-mail distribution list that have a user attribute that the set of predefined exclusions associate with the subject matter type of the e-mail message to be sent. The e-mail message is sent to the e-mail distribution list except for the prospective recipients identified using the set of predefined exclusions.

Abstract: A system includes an e-mail client for creating an e-mail message to be sent and for selecting an e-mail distribution list containing prospective recipients of the e-mail message. A subject matter database contains a set of predefined subject matter types. A user database associates one or more user attributes with each of the prospective recipients. An exclusions database defines a set of exclusions uniquely associating each user attribute with one of the subject matter types. A screening module comprises control logic for referencing the exclusions database and sending the e-mail message to the e-mail distribution list except for the prospective recipients excluded by the subject matter type of the e-mail message.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include systems and method for determining the location of components in a data center. In one embodiment, a component locating system includes a lattice formed of interconnected hubs and rods. Each hub in the lattice computes its address relative to the address of a reference location, such as the location of an adjacent hub or of an origin hub defining the origin of a reference coordinate system. A plurality of optical transmitters is distributed along the lattice to transmit location information. Optical receivers mounted on top of the racks receive the location information and communicate the location information to rack-mounted components. The racks and rack-mounted components determine their locations from the location information and optionally transmit the location information to a central management server.

Abstract: A system has an optical scanner for reading a printed system configuration code on a printed configuration label. The printed system configuration code includes configuration information that describes a bus speed of a system bus of the system. A processor dynamically configures the system according to the configuration information decoded from the printed system configuration code.

Abstract: A nameplate for power capping a computer including a mounting surface; a module integrated in the mounting surface for providing a machine-readable designation of a power cap for a particular computer; a human readable designation of a power cap for the particular computer integrated in the mounting surface; and a mount for attaching the mounting surface to a chassis of the particular computer such that the human readable designation of a power cap is exposed.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for controlling energy utilization includes receiving user activities from each of a plurality of users into one or more software application, associating each user activity with a defined workspace having one or more remotely controllable electronic devices, and controlling energy utilization of the one or more electronic devices within each defined workspace according to the user activities associated with the defined workspace. Energy utilization is reduced in a defined workspace during a time period that there is no user activity associated with the workspace. Optionally, the step of receiving user activities may include detecting that a user has logged onto a remote computer that is not located within the defined workspace, or users inputting activities into a software application, such as one or more instances of an electronic calendar.