Abstract: A media stream aggregation mechanism receives and analyzes multiple media streams and creates an aggregate media stream output based on user preferences. In this manner a media provider that uses the media stream aggregation mechanism potentially may provide a customized presentation to each user based on user preferences. By providing the aggregation of multiple media streams to a user, the user's experience is customized according to user preferences.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting streams in a mixed infrastructure includes determining processing elements that are to access a data stream in a stream processing environment and determining a security level for each processing element. Keys are generated per stream per processing element in accordance with the security level. The keys are associated with processing elements in an access control list in a location accessible by producing and consuming processing elements. The stream is decrypted for processing using keys released upon authenticating processing elements in accordance with the access control list. At security boundaries, the stream is re-encrypted in accordance with a next processing element.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting streams in a mixed infrastructure includes determining processing elements that are to access a data stream in a stream processing environment and determining a security level for each processing element. Keys are generated per stream per processing element in accordance with the security level. The keys are associated with processing elements in an access control list in a location accessible by producing and consuming processing elements. The stream is decrypted for processing using keys released upon authenticating processing elements in accordance with the access control list. At security boundaries, the stream is re-encrypted in accordance with a next processing element.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting streams in a mixed infrastructure includes determining processing elements that are to access a data stream in a stream processing environment and determining a security level for each processing element. Keys are generated per stream per processing element in accordance with the security level. The keys are associated with processing elements in an access control list in a location accessible by producing and consuming processing elements. The stream is decrypted for processing using keys released upon authenticating processing elements in accordance with the access control list. At security boundaries, the stream is re-encrypted in accordance with a next processing element.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for tracking data processing in an application carried out on a distributed computing system, the distributed computing system including a plurality of computing nodes connected through a data communications network, the application carried out by a plurality of pluggable processing components installed on the plurality of computing nodes, the pluggable processing components including a pluggable processing provider component and a pluggable processing consumer component, that include: identifying, by the provider component, data satisfying predetermined processing criteria, the criteria specifying that the data is relevant to processing provided by the consumer component; passing, by the provider component, the data to the next pluggable processing component in the application for processing, including maintaining access to the data; receiving, by the consumer component, the data during execution of the application; and sending, by the consumer component, a receip

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for arranging virtual objects within an immersive virtual environment. In one embodiment, avatar characteristics, viewport/display characteristics, and object/location characteristics may be analyzed to determine a degree of visibility of various locations within a virtual space to a user. Further, past user interactions within the immersive virtual environment may be analyzed to determine which portions of the user's viewport, when including virtual objects that are offered for sale, are most likely to result in a sale to the user. A set of virtual objects may then be assigned to locations within the virtual space based on the determined visibility to the user, past purchases by the user, and characteristics of the virtual objects.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for suggesting actions to users of an immersive virtual environment based on previous user actions within the virtual environment. Generally, characteristics of actions performed by various users of the virtual environment may be stored in a searchable actions index. Subsequently, the actions index may be used to suggest actions based on similarity of the stored characteristics to those of a current user and/or actions. The suggested actions may be presented to the user as graphical indications visible within the user's view of the virtual environment.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for managing the performance of an application carried out using a plurality of pluggable processing components, the pluggable processing components executed on a plurality of compute nodes, that include: identifying a current configuration of the pluggable processing components for carrying out the application; receiving a plurality of performance indicators produced during execution of the pluggable processing components; and altering the current configuration of the pluggable processing components in dependence upon the performance indicators and one or more additional pluggable processing components.

Abstract: A system and method for composing a stream servicing environment which considers all stakeholders includes identifying service component requirements needed for processing a data stream, and determining available service elements for processing the stream. Feasible service environments are constructed based upon the available service elements and the service component requirements. Efficiency measures are computed for each feasible service environment considering all stakeholders. A best service environment is determined based upon the efficiency measures.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for presenting a virtual world to sight-impaired users. In one embodiment, the user may indicate an area of focus within the virtual world. The user may then be provided with audio descriptions of objects or avatars included within the area of focus. The descriptions may be provided at varying levels of detail, enabling the user to “zoom in” on particular items of interest. Further, the user may select an audio description to navigate an avatar to the location of the corresponding object.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for integrating web browsing with a three dimensional (3D) immersive environment. In one embodiment, characteristics describing a user's web browsing history may be used to identify objects that are of interest to the user. The objects of interest may be matched to objects included in a virtual environment. The virtual objects may then be presented to the user within an interface to the virtual environment. In another embodiment, characteristics of user interactions with virtual objects may be used to determine related web content. The related web content may be presented to the user in a web browser.

Abstract: A method of matching one or more software plug-ins to a user, the method including: defining one or more trigger events based on one or more actions of an application; monitoring a use of the application for the one or more trigger events; generating a suggestion of one or more plug-ins based on the use of the application; and generating a notification including the suggestion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for protecting a user from being followed by an avatar within an immersive virtual environment. To detect a following avatar, any avatars within a specified range of the user may be identified. Historical data may then be examined to determine if any of the identified avatars has been in the same recent virtual locations as the user. In order to rule out coincidental movements, the likelihood of both avatars being in the same places at the same time may be evaluated. Further, the following avatar may be tested by transporting the user to another location, and then monitoring to determine whether the following avatar also transports to the same location. Upon confirming that the following avatar is actually following the user, avoidance actions may be performed in order to avoid the following avatar.

Abstract: A system and method for securely processing sensitive streams in a mixed infrastructure includes analyzing a stream to determine data sensitivity. A likelihood that processing elements employed to process the stream would result in a risk to sensitive information is determined. At least a portion of the data stream having sensitive information is transferred to a secure processing environment to ensure security of the data stream during processing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for protecting a user from being followed by an avatar within an immersive virtual environment. To detect a following avatar, any avatars within a specified range of the user may be identified. Historical data may then be examined to determine if any of the identified avatars has been in the same recent virtual locations as the user. In order to rule out coincidental movements, the likelihood of both avatars being in the same places at the same time may be evaluated. Further, the following avatar may be tested by transporting the user to another location, and then monitoring to determine whether the following avatar also transports to the same location. Upon confirming that the following avatar is actually following the user, avoidance actions may be performed in order to avoid the following avatar.

Abstract: Apparatus and articles of manufacture are provided for governing the transfer of data characterizing a user's behavior, physiological parameters and/or psychological parameters. One embodiment provides a computer readable storage medium containing a program which, when executed, performs an operation for handling a request, from a requesting application, for emotion data characterizing an emotional state of a user. A firewall ruleset defining rules governing the transfer of the emotion data to requesting applications is accessed to determine whether to provide the emotion data the requesting application. The request is denied if the firewall ruleset rules are not satisfied.

Abstract: A movement-based filtering mechanism in a graphical user interface allows a user to filter search results by simply moving a pointer, such as a mouse. One or more attributes are displayed to the user in a graphical format. By selecting the pointer (such as clicking on a mouse button), the user may dynamically filter the search results according to the attribute(s) under the pointer. Weighting of multiple attributes may be performed according to the time the pointer spends in each attribute area in the display, or according to a path length of the pointer in each attribute area in the display. In addition, the speed of the dynamic filtering may be directly controlled according to the speed of the movement of the pointer. A timeline may also be displayed that allows the user to go back to any suitable point in time in the filtering process.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to the dynamic activation and deactivation of a spell check feature option for instant message chat session features within a virtual environment. As such, the spell check feature can be activated and deactivated within the virtual environment based upon the identity of an engaged party to chat session or the identities of other parties that are in proximity to the chat session parties within the virtual environment.

Abstract: A facility is provided for transitioning a database service from a failing, primary server to another server of a computing environment including a plurality of servers, at least some of which have a common database service capability, but not commonly replicated supporting databases. The facility includes, responsive to detection of failure at the primary server, selecting another server of the plurality of servers to function as database service backup for the primary server, updating at least one configuration file of the computing environment to indicate that the another server is to function as database service backup for the primary, failing server, and dynamically creating at least one database structure at the another server. The dynamically created at least one database structure supports the database service backup function at the another server and corresponds to a database structure of a database supporting the database service at the primary server.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for filtering and presenting elements of an immersive virtual environment. The elements may be filtered according to importance to the user, based on user-specified importance of each element, the number and type of past interactions with the elements, and the like. Further, the filtering may be performed on the basis of the user's preference for density of element presentation. The user may then be presented with a view of the virtual world in which elements having a higher degree of interest to the user are highlighted visually, and in which elements having a lesser degree of interest to the user are made partially transparent or invisible.