Abstract: A mobile device and an apparatus and method for the mobile device, in which intercept information about contents intercepted by a user is stored in the mobile device and is transmitted together with a request for contents from the user, so that the user can use only the selected contents. The mobile device includes a content analysis unit analyzing predetermined contents and extracting selection information by which a user can determine whether to intercept the predetermined contents; an intercept information storage unit storing intercept information about intercepted contents intercepted by the user based on the extracted selection information; and a control unit transmitting the stored intercept information to a content-providing device.

Abstract: To make a payment to a payee on behalf of a payor, the payment service provider receives, via a network, a first payment request to make a first payment to a payee on behalf of a first payor and a second payment request to make a second payment to the payee on behalf of a second payor. The first request has first identity information identifying the payee and the second request has second identity information identifying the payee. The payment service provider accesses first data associated with the first payor to identify a first unique payee identifier associated with the payee based on the first payee identity information and second data associated with the second payor to identify a different second unique payee identifier associated with the payee based on the second payee identity information.

Abstract: In association with identification information for identifying a representative of a community site, personal information about the representative and theme information are registered in a basic information database, while in association with identification information for identifying a member, member information about the member is registered in a member information database. Commodity information about commodities to be provided to the community site is registered in a commodity database in association with the theme information. The central apparatus extracts the optimal commodity information from the commodity database based on the theme information registered in the basic information database and then transmits the extracted commodity information to a terminal device.

Abstract: A method and system for processing a Web service request in a distributed computing environment. In one embodiment, the Web service request is processed in a Web service requester. A packet having a header containing an internationalization context of the Web service requester is generated. The packet is then attached to the Web service request. The packet is then sent with the Web service request to the distributed computing environment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for streaming an XML document/content in a structured manner that allows the receiver to decode prioritized portions of an XML document. Document models, such as XML Schemas, are utilized in converting XML documents into prioritized portions that are transmitted according to a predefined scheme. Thus, the present invention allows the XML receiver to begin processing the most important XML portions of an XML stream first as well as in mid-transmission and allowing a user to end the transmission before lower priority XML portions are received.

Abstract: A boot process for a computer comprising, in a client environment, a) generating, using a non-volatile data storage medium, a boot image request, b) passing the boot image request to a boot image repository, c) receiving, from the boot image repository, the requested boot image and d) booting the computer using the received boot image, characterised in that e) the boot image request is passed using an Internet Protocol and is sent to a predetermined location.

Abstract: Methods and systems for prioritizing content are described. A request for a first content object is received at a caching proxy. A search of an access log of the proxy cache for a portion of the first content object is then performed. The size of the portion of the first content object on the proxy cache is calculated and the normally utilized size of the segment of the first content object is derived. A comparison is then made between the size of the portion of the first content object on the proxy cache and the normally utilized size of the first content object requested.

Abstract: Geo View is a three-dimensional virtual universe in which a real-world or virtual object may be represented by one or more virtual objects whose attributes are derived from attributes of the real-world object via a flexible user-specifiable mapping. Typically a two-dimensional plane located in three-dimensional space is used to visualize the universe of interest. The placement of virtual objects in the universe typically having a shape is governed by the absolute or relative geographical location of the real-world objects, and also by a flexible set of user-specified layout rules. In addition to the visualisation of various objects, the human observer can attach sounds to objects. The representation of real-world objects with rapidly time-changing attributes may be simplified by the use of Synthetic Strobes, flexible user-specified filters which shift changes in the visual attributes of a shape from one time-domain to another.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining whether to transfer an audio, video, or text data file, requested to be transferred through a mobile station, based on a specified transfer condition and/or file size, and transferring the data file to a destined mobile terminal connected through a mobile communication network. The method stores a data file and transfer conditioning information thereof, which contains information on file size and/or transfer blocking time zone and a destination terminal, received from a calling mobile terminal connected through the mobile communication network, selects a data file to transfer and determines whether to transfer the selected data file based on the transfer conditioning information, and transmits the selected data file to a called mobile terminal specified as destination by the transfer conditioning information.

Abstract: Requests from a client to put messages into an input queue are intercepted before reaching the input queue. The intercepted requests which refer to a message destined for the server application are established. Information associated with the server application indicates that the server application will process such a message according to a predetermined manner. A request associated with the server application for retrieving such a message is transactional, and the server application uses a one-phase commit for retrieving such a message. Such a message can then be matched with the server application's request such that the server application can retrieve the message. In this way, such messages by-pass the input queue, and are, therefore, not logged, resulting in a reduction of I/O.

Abstract: A method for transmitting web page source data over a computer network. The method typically includes receiving a request for the web page source data from a remote client. The web page source data contains renderable and non-renderable data. The request is received at an acceleration device positioned on the computer network intermediate the web page source data and an associated web server. The method further includes filtering at least a portion of the non-renderable data from the requested web page source data, thereby creating modified web page source data, and sending the modified web page source data to the remote client. The non-renderable data is selected from the group consisting of whitespace, comments, hard returns, meta tags, keywords configured to be interpreted by a search engine, and commands not interpretable by the remote client.

Abstract: Systems and procedures are described for an imaging device to download media parameters from a remote server computer that is connected to the imaging device across a network. Specifically, the imaging device detects a media ID from print media. Responsive to detecting the media ID, the imaging device downloads a set of media parameters that correspond to the Media ID from the server computer. The imaging device uses these downloaded media parameters to automatically configure itself.

Abstract: A system and method for deploying a software build from a plurality of software builds is presented. A target computer sends a request for the software build to a build master. The build master authenticates the request, permitting only authorized requests. If the request is authorized, the build master identifies a build server that stores the requested software build. The build master generates request data that identifies the build server and authentication information, and returns the request data to the target computer. The target computer submits the request, with the request data, to the build server. The build server authenticates the request according to the request data. If the request is an authorized request, the build server returns the software build to the target computer.

Abstract: There is provided a service control system including a service side system and a customer side system including a service target machine, and the service side system includes a service client terminal which converts set data relative to the service target machine into XML data and edits it and a mail server which transmits to the customer side system an email concerning service setting including the set data, and remotely manages the service target machine by including a predetermined command in the email concerning the service setting.

Abstract: Preferred embodiments include associating surface material samples with a business entity within one or more computer databases wherein at least one of the surface material samples are labeled with information specified by the business entity. Data requests are received for at least one of the surface material samples and include an identifier of the business entity. A response to the data request includes at least one of the surface material samples and associated label information. The response to the data request may be layered based upon supply chain layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively enforcing network security policy using group identifiers are disclosed. One or more access controls are created and stored in a policy enforcement point that controls access to the network, wherein each of the access controls specifies that a named group is allowed access to a particular resource. A binding of a network address to an authenticated user of a client, for which the policy enforcement point controls access to the network, is created and stored. The named group is updated to include the network address of the authenticated user at the policy enforcement point. A packet flow originating from the network address is permitted to pass from the policy enforcement point into the network only if the network address is in the named group identified in one of the access controls that specifies that the named group is allowed access to the network.

Abstract: Image processing operations, such as settings of copying conditions of a copier, are facilitated, with the setting being made on a terminal such as a personal computer or other copier. Data of the image processing operation settings to be executed by an image processing apparatus, are set on a terminal such as a personal computer which is interconnected with the image processing apparatus through LAN, and to which a user has been accustomed in operation. The set data are transmitted to the image processing apparatus and names of the image processing operations are displayed on a display window of the image processing apparatus, as candidates to be executed by the apparatus.

Abstract: An approach for caching an electronic product generally involves the use of confirmation data that indicates that an electronic product was successfully provided from a cache to a user. A request to provide an electronic product to a user is received at a cache. In response to receiving the request to provide the electronic product to the user, the cache provides electronic product to the user. If the electronic product was successfully provided by the cache to the user, then the cache generates confirmation data that indicates that the electronic product was successfully provided by the cache to the user. The cache may also provide the confirmation data to a confirmation recipient. The confirmation data may also specify other information, such as an identity of the user, a location of the user and/or a time at which the cache provided the electronic product to the user.

Abstract: This invention allows easy update of an image to be included in a document which is submitted on the network. For this purpose, data that set the image sensing times and image sensing states of a camera (111) the pan angle, tilt angle, and zoom ratio of which can be varied, are stored in an HD (106). If one of the stored times has been reached, image sensing is done in accordance with the set contents, and the obtained image is stored in the HD (106). Upon launching a candidate edit program, an old document inserted with images is displayed on a CRT (103). When a desired image is designated, it is substituted by a new, sensed image candidate corresponding to that designation position. The created document is then uploaded to a WWW server.

Abstract: A client is authenticated to a network resource wherein the client is coupled to a biometric sensor. The client signals a request to the network resource (e.g., by connecting to an access point). The network resource initiates a point-to-point LAN authentication protocol between the network resource and the client. The network resource requests biometric data from the client via the LAN authentication protocol (optionally either before or after authenticating with other credentials). The client captures biometric data of an attendant user of the client. The client transmits the captured biometric data to the network resource via the LAN authentication protocol. The network resource encapsulates the biometric data in the LAN authentication protocol into an authentication server protocol and forwards the encapsulated biometric data to an authentication server.

Abstract: The present invention implements a mechanism for reliably communicating transaction messages between source and destination devices connected across an unreliable network, where a transaction is an operation requested by a source device of a destination device and where a plurality of messages are exchanged between source and destination in order to ensure completion of the transaction. Because the network linking the source and destination is unreliable, the source and destination operate to preserve data regarding the transaction messages which they have received and transmitted. If responsive messages are not timely received, they are generally resent. A dual timing system is preferably implemented to ensure that there are never two identical messages simultaneously in transmission through the network.

Abstract: A method and system for the automatic harvesting and qualification of dynamic database content for efficiently providing highly relevant and timely information in response to a user's queries. The method includes obtaining an initial categorization structure for organizing a plurality of subject areas of information, obtaining a plurality of parametric information lists for optimizing operation to a user's requirements, acquiring a listing of qualified databases from candidate database listing by matching candidate databases to a plurality of subject areas, obtaining a query from the user, the query being associated with a subject area, submitting a query to the qualified databases, acquiring a collection of responsive content from the qualified databases, indexing the responsive content to form an index for facilitating searching the collection, and publishing a summary of the collection for review by the user.

Abstract: A structure and method for processing a one-to-one request from a client program to multiple instances of a server program over a protocol includes transferring the request from the client program to a multiplexor, generating a plurality of instances of the request using the multiplexor (wherein each of the instances of the request corresponds to a different instance of the server program), transferring the instances of the request from the multiplexor to the instances of the server program, transferring a plurality of responses from the instances of the server program to the multiplexor, converting the responses to a uniform response; and transferring the uniform response to the client program.

Abstract: In an autonomous message transmission control system and method, a network management system including a management server stores whether an autonomous message is allowed to be received by at least one management client connected to a network element transmitting the autonomous message corresponding to a predetermined event when the event occurs. The network element transmits the autonomous message only to the management client permitted receipt of the autonomous message upon receipt of the autonomous message from the network element. Accordingly, when a generation inhibition command is issued on a specific autonomous message by an arbitrary management client, other management clients can actively select whether receipt of the autonomous message is permitted, so that more convenient and safer network management can be implemented.

Abstract: A server subsystem is presented for mobile communication that provides for efficient and logical movement between applications on different servers. Multiple applications may be used simultaneously and interactively using the server system presented herein.

Abstract: A music performance system includes plural music stations communicable through a communication network and a server computer, and music data codes, which express a performance on one of the music stations, are transmitted to another music station through a packet switching: in order to make the original performance synchronized with the performance on another music station, the time stamp indicative of a time to produce a music data code is impressed on the music data code, and the time intervals between the tones are maintained by using internal clocks for the time stamp; however, time difference is unavoidable between the internal clocks; the time setting work is carried out during any packet is not transmitted for a predetermined time period so that the music stations are well synchronized without disturbance of the performance.

Abstract: An HTTP server for an image input device is provided in which when an image is input and a file for the image is created for access by the server, an HTML link to the file is automatically generated by which a web browser can retrieve the file over a TCP/IP network. An HTTP server for an image input device is provided, in which an identification code is obtained for an image file created for an image input by the image input device. An HTML page which includes an HTML link to the image file created for the input image is automatically generated upon receipt by the server of a TCP/IP packet which includes a request to retrieve an identified web page, the identified web page having a predetermined relationship to the identification code for the image file. A TCP/IP packet which includes the generated HTML page is caused to be sent over a TCP/IP network.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods which afford a technical application for insuring, bonding, and underwriting a transmission of a data set, streaming data, and/or document over the Internet through TCP/IP and all other electronic media such as WAP, VOIP, fiber optic channels, microwave channels, and through standard electrical switches, electrical outlets and power lines. The present invention includes a computer readable medium having computer executable instruction to cause a system perform a method for insuring, bonding, and/or underwriting data transmission. The method includes enabling a first remote client coupled to a communications network to insure, bond, and/or underwrite a transmission of an electronic data set, streaming data, and/or document, with a selected coverage type for a selected coverage amount, from the first remote client to one or more second remote clients. The method includes charging a fee to an appropriate account for the selected coverage type and amount.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for coordinating a competitive sporting event. The present invention comprises receiving information from multiple users regarding the user's willingness to consider participation in a potential competitive sporting event. The present invention organizes the received information from the multiple users into an electronically searchable format. The invention also provides access to the organized information to the multiple users and, optionally, third parties.

Abstract: A Virtual Access Core (VAC) manages and controls access to virtual machines. A Virtual Instruction Routine (VIR) protocol is used by all components of the system to pass instructions and information about a Virtual Session. The VAC issues commands in the VIR protocol language causing virtual machines to start and stop. A VIR host that hosts virtual machines responds to VAC commands. Web clients access the system via links, which a web server uses to send access requests to the VAC. The VAC responds by searching through process memory and database tables for information about free slots on a plurality of VIR hosts grouped into a Host Array. When one or more free slots have been identified, the VAC issues VIR Protocol commands instruction one or more VIR Hosts to load and start specific virtual machines in Specific Slots.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and business techniques are disclosed for use in mobile network communication systems. A mobile unit such as a smart phone is preferably equipped with a wireless local area network connection and a wireless wide area network connection. The local area network connection is used to establish a position-dependent ecommerce network connection with a wireless product or service access device supplied by a vendor. A negotiation sequence is carried out to electronically contract the services of the negotiated wireless peripheral from the vendor using a prepaid ecommerce protocol. The negotiated wireless peripheral is a general product or service vending device and the mobile unit acts as a digital authentication and payment device with digital pre-paid payment capabilities. The techniques are useful in many applications to include ticketing and admission systems to events and other types of services that involve ticketing.

Abstract: A method for controlling and tracking access to disseminated information involves encrypting data using a key that is maintained in a key repository. A user requests a message ID and key from the key repository. The key repository issues a message ID and key to the user. The user generates an encrypted message using the key. The encrypted message is then distributed with the message ID to one or more recipients. To read the encrypted message, a particular recipient obtains the key for the message from the key repository by providing the message ID to the key repository. The particular recipient then decrypts the message using the key provided by the key repository. Messages are deleted, in the sense of becoming unusable, by deleting the corresponding key from the key repository. A log is provided to track key repository activity including the issuance of keys and key requests from message recipients.

Abstract: A computer monitoring system in which a management console and a plurality of computers are connected to each other via a communication path, the plurality of computers constitute one or more computer groups and the one or more computer groups are logically associated by a tree structure having the management console as the root, wherein each of the plurality of computers has a monitoring element for performing mutual monitoring by mutual communication with other computers in the own computer group on the basis of computer addresses registered in an address list, and a trouble detecting element for detecting any trouble, the result of trouble detection being notified to all the computers belonging to a computer group which constitutes the parent node.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for knowledge management. The method discloses the elements of: generating a client profile on a client computer connected to a network; storing the profile on the computer; receiving a new message; scoring the new message with respect to the client profile; counting a number of message responses to the new message; and re-transmitting the new message to a first sub-set of client computers on the network, based on the response count. The system discloses means for implementing the method.

Abstract: A method and system for providing enhanced services for a network. The enhanced services use information about the network which is available to a subnet of communicating processors (such as a set of routers), collectively executing a common distributed technique for disseminating that network information. The router subnet collects network topology information and provides a service using that network topology information, responsive to requests from non-routers coupled to the network (such as a set of host processors). The router subnet also collects information advertised by hosts coupled to the network, and disseminates that host information to substantially all routers, using the common distributed technique for disseminating network topology information.

Abstract: A method and system for notifying an administrator when a user of a document processing device, such as a multifunction peripheral device, requests a change in the configuration of the document processing device. A user accesses the document processing device via a user interface, requesting that the configuration of the device be altered. The user then provides identification information verifying the identity of the user. An authentication server then determines whether or not the identified user is authorized to make the change in the device configuration. Access is denied to unverified or unauthorized users attempting to change the configuration of the document processing device. In the event that the user is verified, but not authorized to make the requested change, the authentication server rejects the requested change and notifies the administrator of the attempt to change the configuration.

Abstract: A remote operation system includes a server and a client. In the server, a video-audio data conversion-into-common-format section converts data in a format unique to application software into data in a common format. A video-audio distributing section outputs audio-accompanying video data and moving-picture area data from the data in the common format. A section, which processes the transmission of the data of audio-accompanying moving-picture, adds a synchronizing data to video data and audio data, thereby obtaining a data stream. A video-audio data converting section outputs data including the moving-picture area data, operation-related audio display data. A remote control section outputs this data and the data stream. The client controls the application software of the server in response to an operation related to the video and the audio obtained from those data.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for implementing a sleep proxy. The system starts by receiving a request at the sleep proxy for information pertaining to a service provided by a device. In response to this request, the system determines if the device is a member of a list of devices for which the sleep proxy takes action. If so, the system determines if the sleep proxy can answer the request. If so, the sleep proxy sends a response to the request on behalf of the device. In a variation on this embodiment, if the system cannot answer the request on behalf of the device, the system sends a wakeup packet to the device, wherein the wakeup packet causes the device to exit a power-saving mode so that the device can respond to the request directly.

Abstract: An application can be dynamically composed and maintained by creating the application within a component framework. The component framework includes components that each implement an integration interface. The integration interface has a number of methods that allow the component framework to manage the lifetime of the component, and which give the component the ability to communicate with the component framework, other components, and external entities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for navigating screens in a legacy host system. In a preferred embodiment, requests for specific legacy host screens are received by a server. The server then navigates to the appropriate screen within the legacy host system and retrieves the host screen. Any intermediate screens navigated by the server in reaching the host screen are not displayed to the user. If variable data need be entered to access the host screen, the server sends the user a submittable form on which to enter the appropriate information, which, once entered and sent to the server, is used by the server to retrieve the host screen. Once the host screen has been retrieved, the server formats it into a web page format using a hypertext language and sends the screen to the user. Other screens within the legacy host system are accessed by user selection of selectable links displayed to the user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for processing an aggregate function. Rows that contain a reference to intermediate result structures are grouped to form groups. For each group, aggregate element structures are formed from the intermediate result structures and, if the aggregate function specifies ordering, the aggregate element structures are sorted based on a sort key.

Abstract: The present invention relates to display of visual content on a client device using server-side rasterization of visual content. Visual content is rendered on a server system, transformed into bitmaps compatible with the display attributes of a client device, and transmitted for display on the client device. The invention allows the server to perform, in effect, as a remote browser for displaying Web pages, e-mail, e-mail attachments, electronic document and forms, database queries and results, drawings, presentations, and images at the client device. The approach is “remote” because the server does the rendering and the client provides the interface; “multi-level” because rendered visual content is represented as a multi-level set of raster representations; and constitutes a “browsing system” because the client and server share data about the source visual content element being browsed, and the client performs a specific browsing function assisted by the server.

Abstract: A client-server based system for providing location related information and services to mobile users is disclosed. A plurality of servers, wherein a server is a provider of information and services related to a specific predefined geographical coverage area, operate in a tree-shaped network. An operating mobile client, preferably operating in a mobile phone or PAD of a mobile user, establishes upon connection to the network an association, based on client location information, with one server at a time. A server association can be transferred from one server to another on an existing network connection as the user relocates from one server coverage area to another, and a user profile stored with the client or a special user profile server is applied to the standard user interface in the current server to provide the client with a personal user interface adapted at any time to the requirements of the user and to the information and/or services available at the current server.

Abstract: A method for processing a computer software process including a task file is provided. The method includes designating a group of available processing resources to execute the task file that includes task groups with each task group including a plurality of tasks. The method also includes scheduling the task groups in the task file for execution with a plurality of remaining processing resources, each running a client controller component code. Further included is obtaining access to a set of free remaining processing resources of the plurality of remaining processing resources, each having a set of criteria matching a set of requirements of each task in a particular task group. The method also includes executing tasks in the particular task group when access to all the free remaining resources in the set of the free remaining processing resources have been granted. Also included is generating an execution result report.

Abstract: A system is disclosed in which a data processing device is completely synchronized with a messaging service. One embodiment of the system comprises a wireless data processing device; a messaging service to maintain messages and other information on behalf of a user; and synchronization logic for maintaining synchronization of the messages and other information between the wireless device and the messaging service.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing, retrieving and distributing multimedia information having frequently accessed multimedia information stored in solid state memory and less frequently accessed multimedia information stored in a mass storage device.

Abstract: A method of fulfilling a request for information content with a user-selectable version of a file containing that information content. Selection of a hyperlink to information content results in generation of a menu of versions of files containing that information content. The menu displays options for versions which are derivable therefrom by a computer program for converting files from one version to another version. Selection of an option for a materialized version results in transmission of the materialized version. Selection of an option for a version which is not materialized results in derivation of the user-selected version from either a materialized version or any other version from which the user-selected version may be derived. Apparatuses for carrying out the inventive method are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling devices within a home network, and a home network system employing the same. The apparatus for controlling a plurality of devices connected in the home network includes a batch processing portion for generating a batch command for a certain service of services provided by the plurality of devices, to process the certain service as one job, and a control portion for controlling when a batch command is selected, the control portion for controlling a certain device that is designated by the selected batch command operates in accordance with the selected batch command. Accordingly, operations of the devices within the home network for providing the service can be processed as one job.

Abstract: A storage system connected to a network is provided which is capable of managing other devices connected to the network. A storage system (400) is connected via a switch (200) to a network (500) to provide clients (100) with data. The storage system has a control unit which sets the switch (200) and a setting command preserving unit which keeps a command for setting the switch (200). The control unit uses the preserved command to set the switch (200).

Abstract: A contents database in which data of contents enciphered by a C key is stored and provided for a contents server, wherein the contents data enciphered by the C key are enciphered by an M key and sent to a user machine. In the user machine, the contents data enciphered by the C key are stored in a storage device. Upon reproduction, the contents data enciphered by the C key from the storage device are sent to an enciphering/decoding processing unit and decoded and charging is performed in accordance with the C key. A dynamic authenticating code which dynamically changes with the elapse of time is added to the C key.