Abstract: A method is provided for exploring alternative architectures for partitioning computer system resources to execute multiple task specifications. An initial master task graph is formed from the multiple task specifications, the initial master task graph including at least one hierarchical task with pointers to either AND sub-task graphs or XOR sub-task graphs. The initial master task graph is processed to provide a selected number of final master task graphs, each of the final master task graphs comprising a list of AND task graphs. A family of architectures is generated for each of the final master task graphs, each of the architectures generated for a given master task graph being capable of executing every AND task graph included therein.

Abstract: A hardware/software system for developing a software application by component modeling and instantiation is disclosed. The system has at minimum a computerized workstation with a GUI for enabling user control of system entities, a data repository for storing data particulars necessary for application development, a server application for providing data particulars and functionality required for component development, a processor for hosting the server application, and a modeling program accessible to the workstation and to the server application for design, construction, and testing application components. In a preferred embodiment, the application components are separately defined, built and tested using the modeling program and server functions wherein the coding required to generate and enable each application component from model information is automatically generated by the modeling program.

Abstract: An e-mail system is described that includes a mass-mail accelerator (MMA), which is particularly suited for processing mass e-mailings. Instead of being posted to a message transfer agent (MTA), outgoing messages are instead passed to the MMA for carrying out highly parallel e-mail delivery/routing. The MMA employs a plurality of queues, which may either be general or specific. A specific queue is configured to handle only e-mail destined for a particular domain, such as the AOL.com domain; a general queue is configured to handle all other e-mail. Each queue manages a pool of MTA threads. During MMA operation, once a message has been passed to a queue, that queue examines its MTA threads to see if one is ready to accept the message. If an MTA thread is ready, the queue will assign the message to that MTA. The MTA thread proceeds to handle the work of the SMTP exchange between the MMA and the target real-world MTA (e.g., an AOL MTA).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for allocating processing resources, such as instruction execution which can be measured in MIPs or memory capacity, or other resources of a processor itself or resources used in the process of performing operations, such as memory resources, busses, drivers and the like, to functions in a queue waiting to be executed. This method includes the steps of determining the amount of processor resources available to be assigned, determining an estimate of the amount of resources needed for each function waiting in the queue to execute, and allocating the available resources to the functions using a hierarchical priority scheme. The hierarchical priority scheme assigns priority based on the environmental conditions, the achieved performance, and the amount of resource recently consumed by the function.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for allocating processing resources, such as instruction execution which can be measured in MIPs or memory capacity, or other resources of a processor itself or resources used in the process of performing operations, such as memory resources, busses, drivers and the like, to functions in a queue waiting to be executed. This apparatus includes a capacity determining device for determining an amount of the processor resource available to be assigned, a load determining device for determining an estimate of an amount of the resource needed for each function waiting in the queue to execute, a prioritization device for prioritizing each of the functions in the queue waiting to be executed, and an allocating device, which receives information from the capacity determining device, the load determining device, and the prioritization device, for allocating the available resource to the functions based on a hierarchical priority scheme.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing dynamic workload transition. A servlet can be configured as a core (main) workload driver that dynamically monitors certain system parameters to determine the current state of the system. A servlet is a Java program that can extend the functionality of a Web server, generating dynamic content and interacting with web clients using a request-response paradigm. Here, the web clients can include external applications each of which can issue hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) requests for workload processing. Based on the monitored system parameters, the servlet can dynamically determine whether a particular workload should be processed or whether a lighter workload should be processed in order to prevent further system overload.

Abstract: A method and system for allowing multiple streams of media to be played back in synchrony among machines distributed on a network and allowing for on-the-fly redundant backup if one or more machines fail, while minimizing downtime in event of failure.

Abstract: Embodiments of a decentralized, distributed trust mechanism that may be used in various networking platforms including peer-to-peer platforms, to implement trust relationships between and among nodes on a network and to implement trust relationships between nodes and content and data (codat). Protocols and methods may be provided for determining, disseminating and updating trust. For participating nodes, trust may be biased towards data relevance. Trust may have multiple components or factors, which may include node confidence, codat confidence and risk components, and embodiments may provide for the inclusion of factors of trust based on groups of nodes' common interests and/or group content relevance. Embodiments may be used for a variety of applications in which trust may be based on the norm for social interaction between participating nodes.

Abstract: A system and method for using strip information elements to provide secure data exchange and efficient bandwidth utilization is presented. When a person attends an event, an agent is downloaded into the persons' handheld device. The agent receives and manages strip information elements. The strip information elements do not carry the complete information, but carry the elements necessary to retrieve, format, and display the information. The agent authenticates the strip information elements, and scans the different fields in the strip information elements to make decisions according to the content of the field. Strip information elements include identifiers to distinguish between multiple events and also to determine whether a previously transmitted strip information element should be replaced with a newly received strip information element.

Abstract: A system processes and stores electronic messages, voice, facsimile, and other data, in a common network architecture having high availability, high throughput, modularity, and linear scalability. The system has the ability to split processing among multiple server machines without having to split data. Electronic messages and other data are organized into folders for individual usernames. A folder daemon resident on a server utilizes a hashing algorithm to convert a username into a hash value corresponding to the folder under a directory of folders for the network's storage devices under which the electronic messages and other data are stored. Using the hashing algorithm, the folder daemon produces a statistically even distribution of folders across the network's storage devices. The folder daemon acts as a file system abstraction layer for the network. Unique numeric identification numbers are associated with the messages and other data in each folder.

Abstract: A mobile teaching system is disclosed which allows the use of personal computing devices in a learning environment. A plurality of portable computers may communicate with a portable network center to undergo lesson plans, testing, and other educational tasks. The portable computers may be stored in a fixed or mobile storage unit that may also serve as a network communications center, and may also provide power connections for the computers. The computers may include removable, rechargeable batteries, which may be recharged at the storage unit.

Abstract: A system and method to transfer an application to a destination server module in a predetermined storage format are described. A property name associated with a path name for each application component of the application is retrieved from a property file containing multiple property names including the retrieved property name and multiple path names including the corresponding path name for each application component. The corresponding property name is then applied to each application component to store the application and the property name associated with each application component in the predetermined storage format.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of file transfer between computer entities in a networked (e.g. internet connected) community of computer entities, whereby a local data storage requirement on a computer entity may be less than a file size of a file to be transferred between computer entities. File transfer is effected by dividing the file into portions, which are transferred separately over the internet from computer to computer. Each computer entity may apply pre-processing to the file portion, prior to subsequent delivery to a destination computer entity. File transfer commences once a request from a destination computer entity is made for the file to intermediate computer entities, and a source computer entity where the file is stored. Processing of the file is made “on the fly” as it is transported between the source computer entity and the destination computer entity, with each intermediate computer entity within the chain applying data processing as appropriate.

Abstract: A method for dynamically self-adjusting rendering functionality in a browser includes providing a stimulus to the browser, and reacting to the stimulus using the browser so as to direct a change in a rendering module inventory associated with the browser. The stimulus may include a user interaction, a memory threshold trigger, a freshness logic trigger, a change in IP address and/or a change in a browser connection type. The change in the rendering module inventory may be downloading a rendering module and/or removal of a rendering module. A rendering module may be downloaded from a remote server over the Internet.

Abstract: A terminal (140) attaches a client ID and a whole or a part of LT to a backup request and sends them to a right management server (710). A right management server (710) verifies the client ID to see when the entity originating the request is an registered user, and it also verifies data identification ID on the LT to see when right data is the one issued by the server for the registered user, and then performs backup for the right data when the right data is the one issued by the server. The terminal (140) attaches the client ID to a restoration request and sends them to the right management server (710). The right management server (710) checks a user ID from the client ID, and then restores the right data to the terminal (140), which is backed-up in association with the user ID.

Abstract: Communication channels among users in a collaborative computing system are automatically adjusted based on users' current states detected by various sensing devices. The collaboration system that includes an awareness system for evaluating, monitoring, and controlling, in real-time, the collaboration environment by having events and occurrences with properties. The awareness monitoring system includes (1) receiving and analyzing real time data from input sensors and (2) an elastic spring energy model for automatically adjusting a distance according to a level of privacy desired by individual users, the requirement of the organization, and a need of the collaborative project to have some shared information about individual user activities. When a spring energy model is difficult to obtain, a matrix looks up model is used to automatically adjust a distance according to a level of privacy desired by individual users, the requirement of the organization, and the need of the collaborative project.

Abstract: System and method for managing membership of a group of jobs in a computing environment is provided. In one embodiment, a domain group, a set of interfaces to manage the domain group, and cluster-assigned member names to identify the members in a group is provided. The interfaces allow a group to be created and allow members to be added, removed and joined. A copy of the domain group is associated with each member job and indicates each job that is a member of a particular group. Management of a group is made by configuring each of the jobs of the group to assess its respective copy of the domain group in order to service requests, such as a request to join the group.

Abstract: A browser-enabled system of software and services that focuses on connecting people across spatial, temporal, and organizational barriers to achieve specific objectives. The system includes a client server system that provides a virtual meeting place for a learning community and a structure through which that community can achieve its goals.

Abstract: A community server categorizes and accumulates messages exchanged by users on a virtual community for respective topics. The community server includes a user access limiting control unit. The user access limiting control unit determines user's access authority of each client terminal for each community as an access destination. For this purpose, the user access limiting control unit manages a community type indicating the open level of each community, and a member type indicating the participation attribute of each user to the virtual community, using community management information, and limits access to a community as an access destination for each client terminal on the basis of the combination of the community type and member type.

Abstract: A data structure defining two-level identification allows the integration of mobile instant messaging to Internet based instant messaging, for instance, by providing an identification of both a user of the IM system (IM user) and an IM client used to access an IM system (IM client). The client may be a hardware device, software, or a combination thereof. A method, a terminal device with the client installed, a server and a system are shown for communicating such identification information between the terminal device and the server with a primitive having such two-level identification contained in information elements.

Abstract: Methods and system are disclosed for archiving and forwarding multimedia data. A server can receive multimedia data for a project from any number of users. The server can archive or store the multimedia data in a database for later access. The server can distribute the received multimedia data to users associated with the project. The server can also distribute the multimedia data in the database to individual users associated with the project at different instances in time.

Abstract: A method and system for a communication scheme between a plurality of applications over heterogeneous networks. The method and system include sending an alias identifier via a first application, an alias mechanism resolves and/or translated the alias identifier using a data storage medium. The data storage medium can be accessed via a management interface. The alias identifier is associated with a command and an application layer address. The alias mechanism then can execute the command to provide a communication arrangement. Access to the data storage medium could further require an access code from an entity, user, device and/or application.

Abstract: An electronic mail file access system and associated methods permit a person who originates or maintains a file (a file manager) to allow a person authorized to view or edit a file (a file accessor) to access the file by transmitting an electronic message to the file accessor. The file manager can conveniently select whether the file accessor will be able to modify the file or just view it. A file manager can grant one or more accessors viewing or editing access to a file (or multiple files) through transmission of a common electronic message, or through transmission of a separate message for each file or accessor. Variations and methods with different advantageous features are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present information relate to a method and apparatus for providing interactive text messages to a user's device during a voice call. In one embodiment, information is received from a client and at least a portion of the received information is converted into a text format. Non-converted information is transmitted to the user's device on a voice portion of a communications channel and the converted information is transmitted to the user's device on a data control portion of the communications channel. Accordingly, interactive text messages are presented to a user's device during a voice call.

Abstract: A messaging system support service advantageously allows various types of messaging systems to send intelligent notification alerts to message recipient(s). The Short Message System (SMS) can be used with Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) cellular telephone networks to send an intelligent alert to a mobile phone after a voice message has been delivered to the recipient's voice mail box. In reply, the recipient can respond with a SMS message that directs the voice mail box to take one or more predetermined directions in relation to the message.

Abstract: The invention provides the user of a unified messaging mailbox with efficient, intelligent, media and device sensitive methods and apparatus for automatically summarizing messages stored in a unified multimedia mailbox. Additionally, the invention provides methods and apparatus that convert non-text messages to text to facilitate summarization utilizing predefined keywords and/or lists of keywords, where each list of keywords is linked to one of a message subject and a message sender. Further, the invention provides for the prioritization of messages via the application of filtering techniques.

Abstract: The invention provides users of either a unified messaging mailbox or simple plain text storage mailbox, with media and device sensitive methods and apparatus to convert messages from one medium to another (when necessary) taking into account the type of target device (for example, cell phone, PDA, pager, etc.), being used to access a stored message Additionally, the invention provides methods and apparatus for determining target device type and for summarizing message content based on target device type.

Abstract: A method of facilitating interactive communication between clients providing services and/or products and prospective users thereof. The method provides access to a database of at least one client's user interest data on a network, permits network access to the user interest data by a user via a remote interface, and receives a selection by the user of the client's user interest data and receives entry by the user of user-specific data. Access is provided to processing software which processes the user-specific data and the selected user interest data to produce response data, and at least one recipient nominated by the client is provided with access to equipment which automatically exports the response data.

Abstract: A service module incorporated within the network infrastructure intercepts packets communicated between a client and a server to determine whether the connection corresponds to an email service. If so, the service module breaks the connection by terminating the connection with the client at the service module and opening a separate connection between the service module and the server. Packets communicated between the client and the server may then be redirected to an email compression application that monitors messages communicated between the client and the server and processes the messages in accordance with the state of the email session. For messages corresponding to connection establishment, user authentication and other protocol-specific messages, for example, the email compression application may be configured to forward the messages to the originally intended destination. Messages corresponding to an email message data, however, are buffered within the email compression application.

Abstract: Method and systems are described which can be used to track and manage the states of electronic media in a communications network. The electronic medium can be restored, archived, and used to create new electronic media. Moreover, the electronic medium can be superseded and deleted. Additionally, notification processes can be used to prioritize and emphasize certain portions of the electronic medium. Access to the electronic medium may also be blocked or limited to certain recipients of the medium.

Abstract: Delivering electronic content includes providing instructions that cause a computer to collect information including an e-mail address and transmitting the collected information to a receiving computer. The computer that receives the transmitted information selects electronic content based on the received information and e-mails the selected electronic content to the e-mail address included in the received information.

Abstract: A distributed system for computer interaction; the system including

Abstract: A network-based file-sharing system includes a first host computer and a plurality of other host computers, each host computer having a processing unit and a storage. The first host computer is programmed to generate from the plurality of other host computers a list of other host computers where a user-selected file is stored. The first host computer is further programmed to select a second host computer from the list of other host computers based on an indication of a transfer time from the second host computer to the first host computer and to retrieve at least a portion of the particular file from the second host computer using User Datagram Protocol data packets.

Abstract: A multi-task, multi-location networking system (10) which operates in combination with an internet service provider (42) known as Globalink AccessSM to allow persons remotely located in a hotel room, to easily and conveniently request a variety of data provided by the hotel and Globalink AccessSM. The system (10) consists of three major elements: a central data-processing subsystem (12) that is linked to a remote data-processing subsystem (40) by means of the Internet and a software program (60). The subsystem (12) is designed to receive, process and transmit the requested data to the remote data-processing subsystem (40) from where the requested data is viewed on a computer terminal (52).

Abstract: Server services are provided by a mobile server having a master server portion and a virtual server portion. The master server portion resides in a wireless communication device and is responsible for the overall function of the mobile server and communicates with a data network through base stations and a support node that supports packet radio service communications. The virtual server portion is wireline coupled to the data network and acts as the foreground server responsible for client interactions on behalf of the mobile server. Accordingly, server services are available even when the wireless communication device is not available.

Abstract: A method for recording an audio broadcast by user preference has been developed. The method includes recording an audio broadcast and then converting the broadcast to text. The text is then scanned for content that has been designated as preferred by the user. If such content if found in the text, the recording of the audio broadcast is saved for future use.

Abstract: A computer-readable portable storage medium that stores information to certify access to a remote computer and a program used to utilize a remote storage device managed by the remote computer. The program executes a procedure of being driven when the medium is mounted to the local computer, determining whether the local computer is connected to the network, reading a URL of the remote computer from the storage medium, connecting the local computer to the remote computer, reading and transmitting a certification key from the storage medium to the remote computer, and registering the remote storage device as an auxiliary memory of the local computer when access to the remote computer is allowed.

Abstract: A networked camera includes an I/F circuit so that it can be directly connected to a communication line L of the network. A computer connected to the network can control the imaging operation of the camera independent of any other computer. A desired network address can be attached to image data to send to the communication line L, and image data can be transferred to any other computer or device connected to the communication line L.

Abstract: A congestion control and avoidance method including a method check step of determining whether the request contents is cacheable or uncacheable on the basis of the request inputted from the client terminal, a first URI check step of, when it is determined that the request contents is cacheable in the method check step, checking a URI included in the request from the client terminal to determine whether the request contents is cacheable or uncacheable, a first URI hash search step of, when it is determined that the request contents is cacheable based on determination of the first URI check step, searching a URI hash to determine to execute any of regular caching, priority caching and access limitationing operation, and a step of executing any of the regular caching, priority caching and access limitationing operation according to determination in the first URI hash search step.

Abstract: The entirety of a web page, including clickthroughs, is cached at a location within a network intermediate a client requesting the page and the host web site for the page. Activation of a clickthrough, whether held in session cache on the client machine, or in the network cache causes a javascript program to generate an activation identifier giving the IP address of the machine activating the clickthrough and the time. This ID, together with an ID giving the IP address from which the web page originally hosting the clickthrough was retrieved is sent to the host web site, enabling them to prove their role in the establishment of communication between the client and the site targeted by the clickthrough. The generation of such identifiers also has applicability in the field of text messages, e.g. sent out by a publicity agent, and actuable to connect to a telephone number held by an enterprise within the telephone network.

Abstract: Content for publication is obtained. Publishable content is stored within at least one content server. Each item of the publishable content includes specific criteria pertaining to publication of the item. A publishing system generates a request for publishing content. The request for publishing content includes requested criteria for the requested publishing content. The publishing system the requested publishing content to a service location system. The service location system uses the requested criteria for the requested publishing content to obtain first publishing content that satisfies the requested criteria from the at least one content server. The service location system returns the first publishing content to the publishing system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for a panel for use in a graphical user interface in a data processing system. The panel includes a set of data objects for a panel and a set of navigation objects for the panel. The panel also includes a first list of data objects within the set of data objects, wherein the first list contains an identification of a data type for each data object within the first list. A second list of navigation objects is included in the panel in which the second list includes an event, a target object associated with the event, and a target object action associated with the target object in which the target object action is applied to the target object for each navigation object within the list.

Abstract: A method of handling a data request by exporting data from at least one database to at least one receiver via an intermediary server, the intermediary server comprising at least one database adapter and a memory buffer for temporary storage of data, the method including the steps of transmitting a data request to the database, retrieving the data from the database and assigning it with a unique ID, transmitting the data and the unique ID to the intermediary server, passing the data through the database adapter to transform the data into receiver readable format and transmitting the transformed data and unique ID number to the receiver when the receiver is next enabled to receive the data. There is furthermore provided a computer implemented system for accessing databases operated by independent electronic processing devices.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for managing subscriber presence, location and availability (“PLA”) information across one or more communications networks. “Presence” requires both that a device be physically present within a network and that the device be in a state in which it can communicate. “Location” refers to the geographical coordinates associated with a communication device. “Availability” refers to a state characterizing whether a subscriber controlling a device desires to be contacted by another communicating entity. The presence, location and availability system (“PLAS”) provides interfaces between third party applications, third party suppliers of presence and location information, other PLA systems, subscribers and service provider administrators and enables subscribers to dictate and control access to subscriber presence, location and availability information.

Abstract: A management server (5) manages usage rules in accordance with which terminals use contents, and includes a usage rule database (52), a parental control unit (56), a parental database (53), and a ticket producing unit (54). The usage rule database (53) stores usage rule information (13˜14) that associates each user with the usage rules. The parental control unit (56) obtains, from a parent terminal (6), parental information (15˜16) that is a request made by the parent terminal (6) for placing a restriction on content usage by a child terminal (7), and the parental database (53) stores the obtained parental information (15˜16).

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates receiving content at a client from one or more servers that can potentially provide the content. The client starts by sending a request for the content to a directory server. In response to the request, the client receives a list of candidate servers that can potentially provide the content from the directory server. Once the client has received the list of candidate servers, the client sends a request to one or more of the candidate servers for the content, and subsequently receives the content from one or more of the candidate servers.

Abstract: A virtual management system for a network facility, such as a data center, or any facility having a plurality of components which can be organized as objects for presentation in a virtualized environment, is disclosed. The system includes a management topology presenting devices, facilities, subscribers, log servers, and services as objects to an administrative interface; and a configuration manager implementing changes to objects in the topology responsive to configuration input from an administrator via the administrative interface. In an exemplary embodiment, the user interface is a graphical user interface designed to work in a platform independent environment. The system may include a management server coupled to the plurality of objects. In one aspect, the management server communicates with the devices, downloading configuration data to and uploading configuration data from, the devices. The management server and the interface may communicate via a LAN, WAN or the Internet.

Abstract: A method of dynamically configuring access to services (114, 130) between a remote communications node (104) and a remote communications device (106) includes determining if the remote communications node (104) is communicating with a distributed communications system (100). The remote communications node (104) is configured as a primary gateway (301, 401) if the remote communications node (104) is communicating with the distributed communications system (100) and configured as a secondary gateway (303, 403) if it is not. A remote communications device (106) is initialized and the remote communications node (104) and remote communications device (106) are dynamically configured to optimally access services (114, 130) in a serial configuration.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates dynamically configuring communication parameters for an application on a network node. During operation, the system monitors activities on the network node that are external to the application. If the level of the activities exceeds a specified threshold, the system adjusts the communications parameters for the application, so that activities external to the application on the network node are not adversely affected by communication activities of the application.

Abstract: A system and method for using an adaptable agent for downloading information to a handheld device in conjunction with the admittance to an event is presented. When a person attends an event, a generic bootstrap agent is downloaded into the persons' handheld device. The bootstrap agent downloads a lifecycle control agent that is the primary agent that requests and receives information corresponding to the event. Both agents monitor each other and restart each other if an agent is determined to not be operating properly. The agent is temporary and is removed when the event concludes. Information, or content, that is downloaded to the user's handheld device may be stored for later retrieval after the event, or the information may be removed following a certain time limit as determined by the information vendor.