Abstract: The present invention discloses a digital rights management (DRM) system and method based on device proximity for controlling what devices can utilize DRM protected content. DRM data and DRM protected content are copied from a first device to a second device such that the DRM protected content on the first device becomes locked out and the copied DRM protected content is not locked out on the second device. The first device periodically performs a proximity check between the first and second devices such that if the first and second devices are determined to be within a short range of one another the DRM lockout of the first device is disabled.

Abstract: In a computer system including a set of resources for allocation to, and access by, a plurality of consumers, a method for allocating a resource to a requesting consumer comprising: calculating a suitability rating for each resource in the set of resources as a value in a range from least suitable to most suitable, the suitability rating being calculated from: a) a measure of recency of access to the resource; b) a measure of a number of times the resource has been accessed by a consumer other than the requesting consumer since a previous access to the resource by the requesting consumer; and c) a measure of a number of times the resource is accessed by a different consumer since the previous access to the resource by the requesting consumer; identifying a resource having a suitability rating which is closest to most suitable; and allocating the identified resource to the requesting consumer.

Abstract: A high-performance queueing method to implement a shared queue for collaborative clusters of servers, where each cluster of servers maintains a local queue, and those queues are networked to form a unified (or shared) queue for all those servers in clusters. Requests in an overcrowded queue are forwarded to some other queues, with a randomized algorithm and a message-exchange algorithm between the networked queues. Requests may be forwarded between clusters multiple times. A request is to be accepted with a higher probability by a cluster if the cluster is visited earlier in the order and if the cluster itself has a higher probability to accept the received request. This technique ensures that the requests are forwarded to a queue that has a shorter length (thus a shorter waiting time for first-in-first-out queues) and is closer to the original cluster with a higher probability.

Abstract: Method and systems to resolve IP addresses in response to domain name resolution requests on a packet-switched network. A request to resolve the domain name is received at a CDN in a second location. The domain name is associated with a content object and is relayed with a terminal device, which receives Internet access from an access network. The access network comprises a first DNS system that functions in an authoritative DNS mode. The content object is realized in a first location of the terminal device, different from the second location. An IP address for the domain name is returned from the second DNS system, wherein the second DNS system alternatively operates in both the authoritative and a recursing DNS mode. The content object is delivered from the second location with the CDN toward the terminal device.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for creating, maintaining and destroying virtual environments. Preprogrammed software objects that perform predetermined functions are created and stored in a repository, the desired objects are selected and configured with user defined parameters to create a customized call processing system. The use of preprogrammed software objects allows the rapid and accurate configuration, manipulation and destruction of virtual environments that networks subscribers together, processes calls, enables messaging, and provides disaster avoidance.

Abstract: Techniques for network-initiated session recovery are described. A relationship is maintained between two identifiers both associated with a session between a first device and an access terminal in a wireless network. The first identifier is associated with the first device, and the second identifier is associated with a second device in communication with the first device. After a breach of the session, communications associated with the session are preserved based on the relationship between the first and second identifiers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for distributing connections among a plurality of servers at an Internet site. All connections are made to a single IP address and a local director selects the server from among the plurality of servers which is to receive the connection. Thus, the DNS server is not relied upon to distribute connections, and the connection distribution scheme is not avoided when DNS is bypassed. In one embodiment, a session distribution scheme is implemented such that connections are distributed to the server in the group of servers which has the fewest connections of the group. In other embodiments, other session distribution schemes which route connections based on the predicted response times of the servers or according to a round robin scheme are used.

Abstract: A system includes an information processing apparatus and a peripheral which are connected to each other. Initially, the information processing apparatus transmits, to the peripheral, a request to use a service provided by the peripheral. The peripheral determines whether to grant use permission to the received request, and notifies the information processing apparatus which has transmitted the request of the determination result. The peripheral stores information associated with the information processing apparatus to which use permission is granted in response to the request. The information processing apparatus then receives, from the peripheral, a response to the request.

Abstract: A facility is described for managing parallel requests in a communications environment having devices or applications (“request handlers”) that support serial and parallel message processing. In various embodiments, the facility receives messages directed to a recipient from an application and sends a first message to the recipient without sending subsequently received messages to the recipient. Upon receiving a response from the recipient to the first message, the facility determines whether the recipient supports parallel or serial message processing. When the recipient supports parallel message processing, the facility sends the subsequently received messages to the recipient without awaiting a response to a message before sending another message. When the recipient supports serial message processing, the facility sends a subsequent message after receiving a response to a previously sent message.

Abstract: Time zone data is obtained from clients, such as web browsers, which interact with a server, and used to classify metrics of the clients such as response times. This classification technique does not require that a mapping of IP addresses to geographic location is available. Metrics from the clients are communicated from the server to a manager, which aggregates the metrics for each time zone. The manager can automatically associate geographic descriptors, such as names of cities, with the metrics in a report such as in a user interface display. If a partial mapping of IP address to location is available, the report can aggregate metrics which are grouped by IP address separately from metrics which are not grouped by IP address. The user interface display can be automatically populated with selectable nodes which allow a user to selectively view the metrics.

Abstract: Systems and techniques to enable access of an application through a network portal to integrate that network application into the portal services provided to a user. In general, in one implementation, the technique includes using a template to identify a correspondence between a first parameter associated with a portal and a second parameter associated with a network resource and to generate a network address for the network resource, where the network address includes a value for the first parameter.

Abstract: The present invention provides for flow and congestion control mechanisms in accordance with a Reliable Message protocol for Web Services (RM-WS). For flow control, one endpoint informs another endpoint of its available buffer size by including buffer size information in response messages. The response messages, typically RM-WS infrastructure messages, are then used to determine an upper limit on the number of messages that can be sent to the acceptor in order to prevent resending messages due to buffer overrun. In the case of congestion control, embodiments provide for increasing the number of in-flight messages until a failure point is found. The last successful rate below the failure point is the closest known point to the optimum point. Example embodiments then reset and try again raising the rate back to the last known good point and fine tuning from there using an algorithm that asymptotes the optimum rate.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically acquiring MAC addresses in a virtualized Network environment. A server may be partitioned into a plurality of logical partition. Each logical partition may be associated with a logical adapter to provide network access to the partition. A MAC address may be dynamically allocated to a logical adapter from a predefined range of MAC addresses. Furthermore, the MAC addresses may be unique within a particular subnet, therefore the same MAC address may be assigned to adapters in different subnets.

Abstract: A modified form of the UDP multicast protocol is disclosed to implement a one-way notification method between a server and one or more clients. The UDP multicast notification method enables UDP messages to be sent only to registered clients, not broadcasted to all clients. This architecture minimizes network traffic and enhances system security, since only registered clients receive the UDP message. The configuration of the UDP multicast notification method does not require the configuration of network devices in order to support a UDP multicast. Furthermore, any number of the clients may be on a different network domain than the DCM engine.

Abstract: Methods and systems of processing a data stream are disclosed. A developer may develop a service only by programming a Service Unit (SU) including a service logic (SL) and including a Service Unit Description Language (SUDL) file, so that the developer may not need to program complicated stream processing code, such as stream source connection code, network input/output (I/O) code, and buffering code. In addition, the stream source connected dynamically to the service and a service execution mode (such as push and pull modes) may be converted by simply changing setting files based on the service model. The system includes modules for managing and processing the stream in reality, such as stream source connection modules, network I/O processing modules, and stream buffering modules, the modules operating the developed program through the service model.

Abstract: A method of creating a synthetic bridge (100) has select data (406) logically extracted from an application layer of a first network (12A) which contains one or more first data streams to be transported to a second network (12B). Select data (406) is logically extracted from an application layer of the second network (12B). Select data (406) is logically extracted from an application layer of the second network (12B) which contains one or more second data streams to be transported to the first network (12A). The two or more first and second data streams are transported over separate sets of non-network media link interfaces (130-133) that only allow for limited information encoding and inherently prevent any network protocol information from being passed with the two or more first and second data streams until after the two or more first and second data streams are in the control of the opposite network from which they were transported.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating and utilizing control plane congestion information in a communication network that utilizes a source routed signaling protocol is presented. When control plane congestion is detected at a network element within the communication network, a congestion notification message is generated corresponding to the detected control plane congestion. The congestion notification is then provided to at least one additional network element within the communications network. The at least one additional network element can then utilize this knowledge of the congestion within the network to perform various network functions, including the routing a connection set-up message.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a timer is disclosed. The method includes adjusting a timer activation period based on a characteristic of a network and setting the timer using the timer activation period. The timer is used in communicating information over the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inter-module communication is disclosed. The method includes forming a message that includes customer relations management system information. The customer relations management system information may include, for example, agent information, work item information, queuing information, statistical information, connection information or rule information, among other such information. The message can be communicated in order to perform a function, such as an agent-related function, a work item-related function, a statistics-related function or an administrative function, for example. The message can be, for example, a command, a request or a notification.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for sharing resources across a plurality of computing platforms. Firmware provided on each platform is loaded for operating system runtime availability. Shared resources are presented to operating systems running on the platforms as local resources, while in reality they are generally hosted by other platforms. An operating system resource access request is received by a requesting platform and rerouted to another platform that actually hosts a target resource used to service the resource access request. Global resource maps are employed to determine the appropriate host platforms. Communications between the platforms is enabled via an out-of-band (OOB) communication channel or network. A hidden execution mode is implemented to effectuate data rerouting via the OOB channel such that the method is performed in a manner that is transparent to operating systems running on the platforms. The shared resources include storage, input, and video devices.

Abstract: A multi-layered network for transporting data comprises a first network layer that provides a first session topology, and a second network layer that provides a second session topology. The second network layer uses the first network layer to transport data. In one embodiment of the invention, the data sent by the second layer is real-time audio data, such as voice. Each session topology may be either peer-to-peer or client/server. The first and second layers may have different topologies and/or different session hosts. A deterministic algorithm is provided whereby a new session host is selected when the current host leaves the session.

Abstract: Routing in a peer-to-peer network is described. In an implementation, a method includes receiving at one of a plurality of nodes in a peer-to-peer network, an indication of a change in membership in the peer-to-peer network by another node in the peer-to-peer network. A report is broadcast that describes the change. The report is for receipt by each node referenced in a routing table included in the one node.

Abstract: An approach is provided for communicating in a meshed network including a first terminal and a second terminal. A request from the first terminal for obtaining address information of the second terminal is submitted to a hub. The hub generates a response including the address information and the context information that specifies capabilities of the second terminal. This arrangement has particular applicability to a satellite network (e.g., Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) network) that provides data communication services.

Abstract: Various embodiments utilize information contained in a message, such as addressing and other information, to derive a unique identifier. The unique identifier is then used as a means to route an associated message to an appropriate component for processing. In at least some embodiments, the unique identifier is derived using hash-based techniques which are applied to various portions of the message header. Once the hash-based techniques have been used to produce the unique identifier, the unique identifier can be used in a look up process to look for the appropriate component to which the message is to be routed.

Abstract: A method for creating a virtual MAC address, the method includes receiving an Internet Protocol address that is to be associated with a virtual MAC address. The method creates a virtual MAC address by setting an OUI portion of the virtual MAC address to an OUI value and setting the non-OUI portion of the virtual MAC address to a subset of the Internet Protocol (IP) address. In one embodiment, the lower three bytes of the IP address are used. Additionally, a method of migrating a virtual MAC address includes detecting a migration event on a first system; creating a virtual MAC address on a second system; and issuing a gratuitous ARP packet containing the virtual MAC address.

Abstract: A method and system for routing data of an source type to a target type is provided. The system has various routines for converting data in one type into data in another type. In one embodiment, the system receives an indication of a source type and identifies various sequences of routines that can convert the data from the source type to a target type. The system then coordinates the processing of the data by each routines in the sequences to the conversion of the data to the target type. The process of identifying the routines is referred to as “discovery.” The system also provides an aliasing mechanism by which compatible types can be identified. When identifying a sequence of routines, the system may check for routines that support compatible types. When a sequence of routines is identified, the system caches the identity of the sequence to facilitate identifying that sequence when the data of the source type is to be converted to the target type.

Abstract: A message transformation selection tool and method for use in a distributed message processing system running applications on subsystems using incompatible message formats, selects the most appropriate output message format for a given input message format. Firstly, the tool determines compatibility of each field of the input message format with fields of all possible output message formats. Next, it statistically analyses the values of message fields in messages stored in message logs for each of the subsystems. On the basis of this analysis, the tool selects the best fit output message into which to transform a given input message.

Abstract: An object-based storage may employ a transactional interface and a copy on write protocol. The inode for the file (which is identified by the I-number and indicates one or more blocks storing the file data) may be copied to a working copy of the inode, and the working copy may be updated to indicate the newly allocated blocks. In response to a file commit (e.g. a file close or a file synchronization command), the working copy of the inode may be atomically written to a non-volatile storage. In this manner, the updates performed during the transaction may be atomically committed to the file. The inode itself may be stored in a file (referred to as the inode file), and the storage may perform updates to the inode file atomically as well. The inode file may be modified using the copy on write protocol described above, and the master inode (mapping the blocks of the inode file) may be atomically written to non-volatile storage to atomically update the inode file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for selecting an optimal communication path between an IB computer and a non-IB computer. All gateways that join the network multicast their presence on the network. The data associated with the multicast transmission are retained by each member of the network in the associated cache. The retained multicast data is leveraged to select an optimal transmission protocol between the host and target computers, and a gateway configured to support the selected transmission protocol.

Abstract: A network connection manager detects entry-portal-only network connections. The network connection manager requests content from at least one remote location through a network connection. The network connection manager examines the received content, and determines whether the network connection is an entry-portal-only network connection. In response to detecting an entry-portal-only condition, the network connection manager prompts the user to logon through the entry portal and establish a general purpose network connection.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to communication and controlled sharing of digital content among networked users, and is more particularly concerned with creation of an improved sharing network for relaying data among linked nodal members of a social network. An ad hoc network may be a hybrid P2P network that conforms to a virtual peer representation accessible as a single node from outside the given social network nodes. Members of a pre-existing social network may selectively activate embedded latent peers and link to an aggregation node to form a hybrid P2P network. Content may be shared in a controlled distribution according to level rights among participating network nodes. Playlists and/or specialized user interfaces may also be employed to facilitate content sharing among social network members of a virtual peer.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for accelerating data transfer between networked databases. First provided are a plurality of databases coupled by a network. At least one laser unit is coupled to each database. In operation, such laser units are capable of communicating data between the databases via free space by way of a laser beam. This allows data communication at a rate faster than that which the network is capable.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide for automated client-computer connection to NAS objects within a networked computer system. In certain embodiments of the present invention, a master-agent process is continuously executed on one or more computers of the networked computer system. The master agent is connected to, manages, and exchanges information with a NAS-object repository. When a client computer is booted, or reinitializes, a client agent running on a client computer communicates with the master agent in order to receive at least one executable code block for each NAS object designated for access by the client computer. By executing these executable code blocks, the client computer can automatically connect to the NAS objects. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the master agent also provides an administration interface that allows a system administrator to configure a networked computer environment with respect to client computers and NAS objects.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product is provided that passively detects the existence of wireless networks in proximity to a wireless signal detector. A determination is made as to whether the detected wireless networks are encrypted or unencrypted. For those wireless networks that are unencrypted, a restriction level that applies to the unencrypted network is identified. The user is then notified when an unencrypted and unrestricted wireless network is detected.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for broadcasting communication within a rendezvous federation. Embodiments of the invention include inter-ring and intra-ring communication. Inter-ring communication includes sending a message to destination rings included in a node's Collateral Ring Set entry table. When a node identifies a destination ring that has not yet received a message, the node can send a ring notification message. The ring notification message propagates towards a publishing node until a responsible node in the message path to the publishing node is identified. The responsible node updates its entry table to include the ring and forwards the message to the destination ring. Intra-ring communication can include recursively partitioning ranges of nodes within a ring and forwarding the message to nodes included the partitioned ranges.

Abstract: A network controller with a bootable Host Bus Adapter, particularly suitable for iSCSI applications is described. In one example, this includes, a host bus interface, a register to the host bus indicating a mass storage device, a network interface, and a boot memory extension including a driver for the mass storage device that binds to a BIOS.

Abstract: The disclosed technology can be used to develop systems and perform methods that receive and process I/O requests directed to at least a part of a logical unit of storage. The I/O requests can be associated with different times corresponding to when such I/O requests were received. Nodes that include non-overlapping address ranges associated with the logical unit of storage can be formed in response to receiving the I/O requests and such nodes can be subsequently organized into a tree data structure. The tree data structure can serve as a basis for determining address overlap, for example to enable processing a first operation associated with a first one of the I/O requests in accordance with the first I/O request's receipt time, while one or more other operations associated with a different I/O request may be processed irrespective of that different I/O request's receipt time.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for managing and controlling networked devices. A system comprises a host application executing on, for example, a personal computer, and one or more networked devices executing a client application. A networked device includes a consumer appliance equipped with network capability, a digital device such as MP3 players and DVRs, an electronically-controlled device such as a light circuit or other type of circuit, and the like. The host application automatically establishes communication with the networked device. The networked device configures a user interface for user control of the networked device. The host application provides a graphical layout of the networked device.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an information processing apparatus which has a recognition function for recognizing connected peripheral devices and can make the connected peripheral devices available, comprises a holding unit adapted to hold the upper limit of device drivers to be installed, and an install controlling unit adapted to install device drivers by the upper limit held by the holding unit when device drivers corresponding to peripheral devices recognized by the recognition function are installed.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire, from a plurality of image forming apparatuses, application information indicating a type of each application program installed on the plurality of image forming apparatuses, an application selection receiving unit configured to receive selection of an application program corresponding to the acquired application information, a setting information selection receiving unit configured to receive selection of setting information used in the application program whose selection has been received, an apparatus selection receiving unit configured to receive selection of an image forming apparatus as a destination to which to transmit the setting information from among image forming apparatuses installed with the application program whose selection has been received, and a transmission control unit configured to control processing for transmitting, to the image forming apparatus whose selection has been received, the setting inform

Abstract: A multiple protocol address register method between a communication terminal and the register server includes transmitting a first register request for requesting to register a first protocol address from the communication terminal to the register server; storing the first protocol address and the identification to the register server; transmitting a response to the first register request from the register server to the communication terminal together with a first communication rule; transmitting the second register request from the communication terminal to the register server on the basis of the first communication rule; storing, when the second register request is created based on the first communication rule, the second protocol address in the register server; and transmitting a response to the second register request from the register server to the communication terminal.

Abstract: A mechanism and method for redefining an application specific integrated circuit's I/O bus structure in real-time. The mechanism includes an address map block, a state machine block, and a bus arbitration block. At initialization, the address map is configured to divide the address space into regions and type of bus structure. When an I/O access is requested by a client (e.g., CPU, DMA controller, etc.), the request is mapped into a region and type of bus structure by the address map block. The region and type of bus structure is used by the state machine. The state machine determines the syntax and protocol for the region and type of bus. The state machine signals the bus arbitration block to grant I/O bus ownership when it is available. Once ownership is granted, I/O bus pins are defined and access is granted.

Abstract: A system provides dual use of a general purpose input/output (I/O) line. In an embodiment, the system comprises a controlling circuit having a dual purpose I/O line that is selectively operable in a serial transmit mode or an I/O mode. A first circuit that receives a serial data stream when the controlling circuit operates in the serial transmit mode is coupled to the I/O line. A second circuit that generates and transmits a signal when the controlling circuit operates in the I/O mode is also coupled to the I/O line. Finally, a third circuit is disposed between the second circuit and the I/O line. In an embodiment, when the controlling circuit operates in the serial transmit mode, the third circuit maintains the second circuit in an idle state, and when the controlling circuit operates in the I/O mode, the third circuit permits the second circuit to transmit the signal to the controlling circuit.

Abstract: Determining an active/standby state for an interface unit includes determining an entity active/standby state for each entity of one or more entities of the interface unit. If each entity active/standby state is standby, then an aggregated active/standby state of the interface unit is established to be standby.

Abstract: Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise a plurality of interfaces to pass control frames; a memory to store configuration information; a select circuit to select one of the interfaces according to the configuration information; and a timing circuit to determine a time of passage of each control frame passing through the selected one of the interfaces.

Abstract: A data transfer interface system is provided that directly transfers data from one data storage drive to another data storage drive under the control of a host. The host and data storage drives are jointly connected to one another with data lines and control lines. Each data storage drive is connected separately to the host with a read/write command line. The host initializes the data storage drives providing initialization data to the drives where the data may include position information and commend information. After initialization, the host concurrently instructs one data storage drive to read the data from the drive while the other data storage drive writes the data to memory.

Abstract: A data transfer method and system are provided that prevent the length of a time required for writing to a flash memory from appearing on the surface as a system operation when the flash memory is used in place of an SRAM. The method of transferring data includes the steps of writing data from a controller to a volatile memory, placing the volatile memory in a transfer state, transferring the data from the volatile memory in the transfer state to a nonvolatile memory, and releasing the volatile memory from the transfer state in response to confirming completion of the transfer of the data.

Abstract: A data transfer control device includes an ATA device-side I/F which transfers data between the data transfer control device and an ATA host through a bus ATABUS1, an ATA host-side I/F which transfers data between the data transfer control device and an ATA device through a bus ATABUS2, a first interface which transfers data through a first bus, and a transfer controller which controls data transfer among the device-side I/F, the host-side I/F, and the first interface.

Abstract: A command decoding system includes a main processor, an instruction memory, a memory controller, and a device controller. The main processor provides a command, and the instruction memory stores an instruction block corresponding to the command. The instruction block includes micro-commands for executing the command. The memory controller controls an access to the instruction memory, and the device controller receives the command, and sequentially fetches the micro-commands included in the instruction block corresponding to the command through the memory controller to execute the fetched micro-commands.

Abstract: A storage apparatus is provided that is capable of reducing data maintenance management costs with a performance that is both highly reliable and fast. The present invention is storage apparatus where an intermediary device is arranged between a controller and a plurality of disk devices of different performances arranged in a hierarchical manner. The controller unit carries out I/O accesses to and from the disk devices via the intermediary devices based on access requests sent from host apparatus. The intermediary device includes a power saving control function for the disk device and carries out operation control such as spin off and spin up of disk devices in accordance with conditions set in advance.