Abstract: The present invention relates to sending control or monitoring information between two hardware devices utilizing email. Control information relating to either a first hardware device or a second hardware device is determined. This information is incorporated into an email message. Directing information for directing the control information is incorporated into the email message. Two hardware devices can then operate cooperatively over different remote networks. These networks only need to be compatible in the ability to exchange email for communication to persist between the two hardware devices. The control information and/or the directing information can be encrypted. The control information and/or the directing information can be encoded. In embodiments of the present invention the encoding map is encrypted.

Abstract: Customer e-mail service requests are allocated to plural working groups for response through virtual queues that store unanswered e-mail and meter the unanswered e-mail to working queues that make the e-mails available to associated working groups. The working queues are replenished from the virtual queues to maintain above a minimum and up to a maximum number of e-mails. The virtual queues are manipulated to control e-mail flow rates by allocating e-mails to virtual queues based on desired factors and by moving e-mail between virtual queues as needed to manage working groups. The virtual queues allow tracking of e-mail response metrics and monitoring of working group performance and timeliness.

Abstract: A method of converting internet messages is provided. A first message database is provided on a first computer which is coupled to the Internet and accessible by users thereof. Internet messages from an Internet discussion forum such as a standard e-mail users group, message forum or newsgroup database can be transferred from the first database to a more specialized forum in a second database on a second computer, also coupled to the Internet, utilizing a protocol provided on the second computer. The messages can be edited and revised for further discussion and eventual publishing as a book, web page or other known publishing format.

Abstract: A subscription-based system for providing caption information for one or more mobile devices includes a communication network. Some techniques employed feature a system for providing subscription services for near-real time caption information for one or more mobile devices. The system includes a communication network for communicating to the one or more mobile devices, a transcriber connected with the communication network and configured for transcribing an event to generate caption data. The caption data includes transcribed data and control code data. The system includes a subscription gateway configured for near real time transfer of the transcribed data over the communication network to the one or more mobile devices. The subscription gateway is configured to provide access for the transcribed data to the one or more mobile devices.

Abstract: A node (101, FIG. 1), within a networked computer system (100), is capable of supporting communications with other nodes relating to operating multiple application instances in a master-slave configuration. Each node periodically generates and sends (520, 526, FIG. 5) a Heartbeat message (FIG. 8) that indicates the operational status for one or more application instances being managed by the node. When a node receives a Heartbeat message from a remote node, it evaluates (FIG. 10) the Heartbeat information for each application instance reported in the message, and takes any appropriate actions. The node also determines (1206, FIG. 12) whether new configuration information should be obtained for each of the application instances the node is managing, and requests (1210, FIG. 12) that new configuration information, when necessary.

Abstract: A network system connects with processes P1 to P5 that can mutually send and receive a broadcast message specified with no destination and a message specified with a specific process portion and change their states to parent or child processes. For example, process P1 is a parent process and processes P2 to P4 are child processes. When processes P1 to P4 constitute a group, each of child processes P2 to P4 stores parent process P1. Parent process P1 stores each of child processes P2 to P4 that store itself (P1). When process P5 in another group is connected, parent process P1 exchanges a message with process P5 for negotiation to determine either to be a parent process and change the other to a child process.

Abstract: A smart card enabled mobile personal computing environment system stores a user's personalized, fully functional, computing environment in a smart card. The user to specifies information required to configure the client to the user's preferred personal computing environment. The user's personal computing environment data is also used for interfacing with the user's Web browser. As the user browses the Web, the Web pages are analyzed to determine if the Web page is a logon or registration form. If the form is a registration form, the system fills in the form using the user's information from the user's personal computing environment data. If the form is a logon form, the system either captures the user's user name and password if the system has not recorded them, or inserts the user name and password in the form if the information for the Web page is in the user's personal computing environment data.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, system and computer program product for caching dynamic portal pages without changing the existing caching proxy infrastructure or the transportation protocol used by providing an advanced caching component. An advanced caching component provides the functionality that additional dynamic page specific cache information is provided as part of the response including the portal page. Each component in the portal that dynamically contributes page fragments to be aggregated to a portal page provides dynamic component specific cache information which includes component specific cache scope and expiration values. The component specific cache scope and cache expiration values are used to calculate dynamic page specific cache information resulting in a common minimum cache scope and a common minimum cache expiration values for a portal page to be aggregated.

Abstract: The invention presented here is a method and system for providing rich media content over a computer network. In accordance with the invention, a server on a physical or wireless computer network polls the software, hardware, or appliance of an end user on the network, for the availability of software and/or hardware necessary for the display of rich media content. This polling is transparent to the end user and requires no action on the part of the end user. Based on the client's response, the server sends an appropriately formatted version of the rich media file. The user is not necessarily aware that this transfer is taking place, as it is taking place in the background, while the user is performing other tasks or viewing content other than that which is being transferred. Once the rich media has been transferred in its entirety and stored, or cached, in the local memory of the client, the rich media content is displayed automatically in a designated display area.

Abstract: A service/device discovery protocol which allows a customer premise device (CPD) to automatically discover other CPDs sharing common service related characteristics, and techniques for self-configuration of the service are described. For example, when a new customer site or CPD is to be added to an existing shared service, the service discovery protocol allows a CPD at the new customer site to automatically discover the other customer sites and/or CPDs associated with the existing shared service. The self-configuration techniques allow the new CPD to automatically configure itself as a member of the shared service, and also allow the existing CPDs to update their service configuration information to include the new customer site and/or CPD.

Abstract: Multiple devices within a data communication network can be configured according to a single configuration profile. Configuration profile data is stored in a configuration file. Connections are made to individual devices, and the data in the configuration file is transformed into device-specific commands.

Abstract: An interface permitting users (i) to create a group (also referred to as a “source”) containing configuration statements and (ii) to direct the inheritance of that group's statements in the rest of the configuration information (also referred to as a “target”). The same group can be applied to different sections of the configuration information. Different sections of one group's configuration statements can be inherited in different places in the configuration information. Supporting such configuration groups allows users to create smaller, more logically constructed configuration files, thereby making it easier to configure and maintain data forwarding device software. For example, users can group together statements that are repeated in many places in the configuration, such as when configuring interfaces, and thereby limit updates to just the group.

Abstract: Context-aware computing systems and methods are described. In particular embodiments, location aware systems and methods are described. In the described embodiments, hierarchical tree structures are utilized to ascertain a device context or location. The tree structures can be stored on or accessible to mobile computing devices so that the devices can determine their own particular context or location. In one embodiment, one of the tree structures comprises a Master World tree structure that contains nodes that represent geographical divisions of the Earth. Another of the tree structures can comprise a so-called Secondary World that contains nodes that represent physical or logical entities that are organization or company specific views of the world. A computing device can automatically determine its context or location by ascertaining a node on one or more of the tree structures and then traversing the tree structure to ascertain the complete context.

Abstract: Techniques are described for centralized management of quality of service (QoS) characteristics of network data flows. A service management system maintains a database that associates access information, such as a username and password, with QoS information. A router of other network device associates a data flow with access information, and queries the service management system with the access information to obtain the QoS information. The router forwards data of the data flow in accordance with the QoS information obtained from the service management system. As the access information may be a username and password, an existing system, such as a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) system, may easily be adapted for use as the service management system. As a result, QoS information may easily be centrally managed for numerous routers or other network devices.

Abstract: A method, system, and product in a data processing system are disclosed for providing centralized management of an INFINIBAND distributed system-area network that includes multiple end nodes. A manager application is established in one of the end nodes. An agent application is established in one or more end nodes. Each agent application is independent from the manager application. The manager application maintains a current list of active agent applications and uses the list to manage the agent applications in the end nodes.

Abstract: A network protocol distributes control and lookup functions among various network elements. Plural servers are permitted to service the same domain name without requiring re-mapping. Each client or server is permitted to have a different network quality of service level that is provided by one or more network elements of a network or server quality of service level that is provided by a server.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for collecting information to uniquely identify an application on a client computer upon the occurrence of a reporting event, such as a crash. The method is implemented by providing a client computer having access to a network. In order to uniquely identify the application, the method generates an inventory of selected files stored in at least one directory, normally including the directory containing the application executable file. The method further generates an inventory of system properties for the client computer. The inventories are transmitted via the network to a server computer. Upon receipt by the server computer, the inventory information is compared with corresponding information in a database to determine whether the application can be uniquely identified. If the application can be identified, the user can be notified of a solution or other information in response to the reporting event.

Abstract: According to the present invention, improved techniques for monitoring and managing access and activity at individual devices in a networked environment. Specific embodiments can provide individual and workplace productivity enhancement through self-regulation enforced by peer-group monitoring of network and application usage. In accordance with the specific embodiments of the present invention, techniques that reveal activity of individual users at any device, such as a computer telephone, or other device, within the network environment can be used to analyze flows of information within an enterprise, workplace productivity, network security and other applications in enterprises, including business entities, technical entities, and governmental entities. Specific embodiments provide systems, methods, computer programs and apparatus for monitoring activity at networked entities, such as individual devices, computers, other devices, or other networked computing entities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating one or more computer systems via an operations-computing arrangement. The operations-computing arrangement includes a plurality of workstations coupled to a plurality of operations servers, and each operations server is coupled to at least one computer system. Each workstation executes software that provides a user interface for operating a computer system, and each operations server provides an interface to a computer system. A first operations server registers with a second operations server for the second operations server to forward event reports received by the second operations server to the first operations server. The second operations server generates event reports in response to computer system events. Event reports are transmitted from the second operations server to one or more workstations coupled to the second operations server, and also to the first operations server.

Abstract: A method of recovering orphaned network resources in a network service having a network model. An audit state for each resource of the network service that is included in the network model can be identified. The audit states can include confirmed, unconfirmed, and suspect. The confirmed audit state indicates that evidence has been gathered for a resource of the network service that verifies the accuracy of the network model, the suspect audit state indicates that evidence has been gathered for a resource of the network service that challenges the accuracy of the network model, and the unconfirmed audit state indicates that no evidence has yet been gathered to indicate a resource of the network service as confirmed or suspect. The audit state for each resource can be stored and this information can be coupled with other information regarding the resource. The network service can be redesigned using only resources with a confirmed audit state and then reconfigured to correspond with the redesign.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates transferring data between system components. During operation, the system receives a transfer session object at a data sink component through a universal data transfer interface, wherein the transfer session object contains mobile code that implements a source-specific data transfer protocol for communicating with a data source component. Next, the system retrieves data from the data source component through the transfer session object. In this way, the data sink component can retrieve data from the data source component without having to be preconfigured with the source-specific data transfer protocol for communicating with the data source component.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring hardware information associated with a network device in an enterprise system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for monitoring hardware information associated with a network device in an enterprise system includes retrieving hardware information associated with a network element, the hardware information including information on one or more hardware characteristics. A display dynamically presents the information.

Abstract: A method and system for retransmitting messages using an alternate mode of communication when an original mode of communication is determined to be unsuccessful. A message is first transmitted using a connectionless-mode of communication such as by using an Internet electronic mail message. A request for acknowledgment of receipt of the message and/or individual operators within the message is requested. If the acknowledgment of receipt of the message is not received within an appropriate time determined based on an urgency level of the reply, the message is retransmitted using a more reliable mode of communication such as a connection-mode of operation which includes a direct telephone connection over a public telephone network using a modem, using an ISDN line, or a cable with a cable modem.

Abstract: A method and system for balancing the load of computer resource(s) among a plurality of computers having consumers consuming the resource(s) is disclosed. After defining the lower threshold of the consumption level of the resource(s) and obtaining the consumption level of the resource(s) for each of the consumers and for each of said computers, the consumption level for each of the computers is compared during a period with its associated lower threshold. Whenever a computer having a consumption level of the resource(s) higher than the lower threshold is identified, a new layout of computer resource(s) for each of the consumers is determined. Consumer(s) are then shifted from their current location in the computer to a corresponding location in another computer according to the layout, so that the consumption level of the resource(s) for a computer may be reduced.

Abstract: A system and method for handling an electronic communication such as an email, an instant message or a chat room statement. Instructions receive and parse the electronic communication. URLs within the parsed electronic communication are identified and categorized as appropriate or inappropriate. The electronic communication is routed as a function of the categorized URLs—appropriate electronic communications are routed to the addressee; inappropriate electronic communications have controlled access. Also included is a system and method for controlling access by third parties to web pages including instructions for parsing a web page, identifying URLs within the parsed web page, categorizing the identified URLs, and permitting third parties to access the web page as a function of the categorized URLs.

Abstract: A method is provided for predicting and/or setting a lease time for packet-switched data communication network resources based on historical usage data of a network system provider subscriber. The packet-switched data communication network resources may include, but are not limited to, IP addresses and bandwidth. As a result, network resources may be allocated more prudently and network traffic may be reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for grid computing access control and a system thereof. A command is received from a user. The authorization of the user to execute the command is verified. A system parameter is monitored during execution of the command.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with the present invention allow for messages to be delivered from one application to another over a network in discrete groupings or communication sessions. For example, a sending computer system sends a group of related messages to a queue at a recipient computer system. The recipient computer system identifies that the messages of the group are related, and initiates a session-oriented communication channel. The recipient computer passes the group of messages to an appropriate application, and opens a different, new session-oriented communication channel for a new group of messages that are not necessarily related to the first group of messages. In one implementation, an order identifier in each of the received messages instructs the recipient computer system on what order, if any, the messages in a group are to be processed by the specific application.

Abstract: A method and structure for managing resources in a storage system that is based on server resource usage is disclosed. The method allocates a command window to each of the servers accessing the resources, achieves an equilibrium state that balances the size of each server's command window and the amount of free resources, and maintains the equilibrium state by continually adjusting the size of each command window. The command window defines a limit on the number of outstanding storage requests that each server may maintain. The invention initially allocates a minimum sized command window.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing multiple authentication types within an authentication protocol that supports a single type of authentication for a client in communication with an authorization server over a network. One or more authentication request packets compliant with an authentication protocol are sent to the client. Each of the packets comprises a type value that specifies multiple authentication, and a data field having a value that is structured in compliance with the authentication protocol. Each of the packets is associated with one of a plurality of different authentication conversations with the client. A plurality of responses is received from the client for each of the authentication conversations. The sending and receiving steps are repeated until results are determined for the authentication conversations. The client is authenticated based on results of each of the plurality of authentication conversations.

Abstract: A member information unit, a service history unit and a log information unit for acquiring information from a company's member terminal hold respectively member information including a URL indicating the location of the company's own website, questionnaire information and log information. A predicting unit derives an area of the company's purchase orientation based on the member information, the questionnaire information and the log information. A searching unit accesses the company's own website based on the URL to extract orientation area descriptions belonging to the area of the company's orientation derived by the predicting unit. An analysis instructing terminal displays the extracted orientation area descriptions.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a first computing device receives first information that has been formed according to application software instructions. Independent of the application software instructions, the first computing device forms second information for causing a second computing device to perform an operation. In response to receiving the first information, the first computing device executes protocol stack instructions to form a packet including at least the first and second information. The first computing device outputs the packet to the second computing device.

Abstract: The present invention concerns load balancing for control plane traffic of a network element comprising multiple CPU nodes assigned to a common external IP address in a packet data enabled telecommunication network. IP messages addressed to the network element are received, and received IP messages comprising GTP-C messages are identified. A TEID-C value of a GTP-C message is identified and the GTP-C message is forwarded to a CPU node based on its identified TEID-C value, if its identified TEID-C value does not equal zero.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for transmitting AV/C data over one or more transports. Further disclosed is a system and method for transmitting AV/C data over non-FCP communication media. The disclosed system and method includes an AV/C transaction delivery system which operates in conjunction with communicatively coupled AV/C protocol layers, AV/C transport layers, and AV/C transport controllers to effectuate transmission of AV/C transaction data without regard to protocol.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of improving the playback of streamed media on a client device by overcoming problems caused by variations in the transmission delay of packets due to network and transport protocol operation and variations in encoding/server specific delays. In an embodiment of the invention, a client device has a decoder (120) and a predecoder buffer (110) which receives streamed packets from source server via a packet network. The pre-decoder buffer is variable in size and has a variable initial buffering time for receiving the transmitted packets from the source server prior to decoding in the decoder. The initial buffering time and pre-decoder buffer size can be dynamically adapted for improved playback performance by the source server. In a further aspect of the invention, a post-decoder buffer operates in conjunction with the pre-encoder buffer to reduce decoding-related delay variations.

Abstract: A system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention provides Quality of Service (QoS) for Storage Access. Such QoS is partially enabled in one embodiment by the automatic pooling of storage devices and provisioning virtual targets from those pools. QoS is enforced in one embodiment by keeping the bandwidth for each connection within a specified range, and particularly, by controlling the number of allowed concurrent requests from an initiator. Load balancing is also provided in one embodiment, improving response times for requests, further easing the ability to provide QoS.

Abstract: A computer network has links for carrying data among computers, including one or more client computers. Packet loss rates are determined for the client computers and, a system of equations is set up expressing the relationship between the loss rates at the client computers and the loss rates at the links. The system of equations is then solved using one or more linear programming techniques, and optimized by making an effort to find the most parsimonious solution.

Abstract: In a computer system in which a computer, storage devices, and a storage management device are connected by a network, the computer or a first storage device accesses a second storage device using a plurality of paths in the network, and the computer or the first storage device performs load balancing among the plurality of paths on the basis of a ratio set in advance, it is detected that congestion has occurred on a path, a ratio at the time of congestion of the path is calculated, and a difference between the ratio at the time of congestion and the ratio set in advance is allocated to a ratio of the other paths between the computer or the first storage device and the second storage device.

Abstract: Known protocols for supporting mobility in relation to Internet Protocol (IP) networks are not able to efficiently support distribution of Binding Update messages to Correspondent Nodes (104) in a set of fixed IP networks (102). Consequently, the present invention makes use of a multi-cast service provided by the IPv6 protocol in order to deliver Binding Update messages to the Correspondent Nodes (104). The use of the multi-cast service to deliver Binding Update messages avoids a proliferation of such messages which would occur under know protocols requiring a mobile node (106,107) to send the Binding Update message to each Correspondent Node (104). Consequently, use of bandwith in the set of fixed IP networks (102) is more efficient.

Abstract: A URI pointer system and method are provided for the referencing of MPEG-4 data resources carried in an American ATSC MPEG-2 TSFS. The method comprises: receiving an MPEG-2 TS, with a packetized ATSC TSFS; locating a URI in the TS; in response to the URI, accessing an address such as a lid or an http address; retrieving MPEG-4 resources from the ATSC TSFS; and, decoding the MPEG-4 resources. Accessed lid URIs provide a binding name and access scheme to the objects in the ATSC TSFS, as a lid URI embedded in an Initial Object Descriptor (IOD) is used to locate resources in the TSFS such as a BIFS scene description stream and/or an object descriptor stream. Receiving an MPEG-2 TS, with a packetized ATSC TSFS, means that MPEG-4 resources are formed in a hierarchical directory structure of BIOP objects including a DSM::ServiceGateway, a DSM::Directory, and a DSM::File.

Abstract: A message that is to be processed according to an electronic messaging protocol is associated with a sender of the message. The message also includes an attachment from an attaching entity. The attachment is associated with a unique property of the attaching entity. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A system and method of operation are provided for using a network interface to process incoming messages sent by a client device to a network server. The network interface includes a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) buffer for assembling the incoming messages from a serial to a parallel form and a regular-expression pattern matching circuit connected to the FIFO buffer. The regular-expression pattern matching circuit is adapted to, concurrent with the assembly of the incoming messages from a serial to a parallel form, perform HTTP message header recognition and parsing, and provide to the server parsed HTTP message headers in a compact form. The regular-expression pattern matching circuit generates client response messages automatically based on a content of the parsed HTTP message headers. The system performance and quality of service of the network server is improved.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to remotely activate options resident on a multi-vendor supported device. The technique includes receiving, at a centralized facility, an activation key sent from a first location and configured to activate an option of an in-field device located in a second location, and sending the activation key and a verification script, from the centralized facility, to the in-field device at the second location. The technique also includes receiving, at the centralized facility, a report generated by the verification script and, if the report is satisfactory, installing the activation key in the in-field device to activate the option and, if the report is not satisfactory, aborting activation of the option.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment may include operating an integrated circuit in a selected mode of operation. The integrated circuit may include processor circuitry and interface circuitry. The processor circuitry may include a plurality of processor cores. The interface circuitry may be capable of communicating in accordance a plurality of different protocols. At least one of the processor cores may be capable of issuing a command to the interface circuitry to communicate in accordance with at least one of the plurality of different protocols that corresponds to the selected mode of operation of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A processor has a central processing unit and a first interface. The central processing unit sets a communication parameter in a configuration register in the communication interface. A direct memory access controller or a data transfer controller then sets the same parameter in a register in a communication setup interface or an output port controller, which transmits the parameter to an external device with which the processor communicates through the communication interface. Alternately, the central processing unit sets the communication parameter in the communication setup interface or output port controller, and the direct memory access controller or data transfer controller sets the same parameters in the configuration register in the communication interface. Either scheme reduces the load on the central processing unit.

Abstract: Provided is a method, wherein in certain embodiments an I/O command from a host is received at a first storage unit. An identifier is generated that identifies a destination to which the I/O command is to be transmitted from the first storage unit. The I/O command is augmented with the generated identifier at the first storage unit. The augmented I/O command is transmitted. In certain other embodiments, an I/O command is received at a storage unit, wherein the storage unit is associated with a storage unit identifier. A determination is made at the storage unit, whether the I/O command is associated with an identifier that identifies a destination for which the I/O command is intended. A further determination is made, at the storage unit, whether the identifier is the same as the storage unit identifier, in response to determining that the identifier associated with the I/O command identifies the destination for which the I/O command is intended.

Abstract: An I/O controller having separate command and data paths, thereby eliminating the bandwidth used by the commands and thus increasing bandwidth available to the data buses. Additionally, the I/O controller uses multiple dedicated data paths, for example, dedicated distributed buses, and provides increased speed due to improved hardware integration. The I/O controller employs distributed processing methods that decouple the external microprocessor from much of the decision-making, thereby providing improved operating efficiency and thus more useable bandwidth at any given clock frequency. Accordingly, the I/O controller is capable of maximizing I/O operations (IOPS) on all I/O ports by functioning at the rate of I/O connections to hosts and storage elements without becoming a bottleneck.

Abstract: A method and device of synchronizing interrupts of a processor with, for example, signals from a synchronization unit such as, for example, a slot timer. In advance of the start of a slot as may, for example, be indicated by a signal from, for example, a slot timer, a state machine may schedule the function that will be permitted to interrupt a processor. Only the scheduled function may interrupt the processor during the slot. Time dependent functions that may be waiting to be processed may have to wait until the start of a next slot. Background functions that are too large to be processed within the time available in a slot may, for example, be divided into segments, each of such segments capable of being processed within the time available in a slot.

Abstract: Techniques for transmitting and receiving FIFO status signals on a hard intellectual property (HIP) block of a programmable logic integrated circuit are provided. The FIFO status signals are demultiplexed after being received in the HIP block and then stored in a per port context. The FIFO status signals are retrieved from a storage block in a per port context and transmitted out of the HIP block through a multiplexer. The demultiplexing and multiplexing reduces the number of input and output ports that are needed to transmit the status signals into and out of the HIP block, yet providing the necessary status throughput for a full-rate SPI4.2 status channel implementation.

Abstract: An interfacing system facilitating user-friendly connectivity in a selected operating mode between a host computer system and a flash memory card. The interfacing system includes an interface device and a flash memory card. The interfacing system features significantly expanded operating mode detection capability within the flash memory card and marked reduction in the incorrect detection of the operating mode. The interface device includes a first end for coupling to the host computer and a second end for coupling to the flash memory card, while supporting communication in the selected operating mode which is also supported by the host computer system. The flash memory card utilizes a fifty pin connection to interface with the host computer system through the interface device. The fifty pin connection of the flash memory card can be used with different interface devices in a variety of configurations such as a universal serial mode, PCMCIA mode, and ATA IDE mode.