Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes identifying encoded content to be presented. The method also includes loading the content into a content player. The content player is configured to dynamically identify a local decoder that is operable to decode the content. The method further includes providing the identified content to the local decoder during playback of the content; and presenting the decoded content.

Abstract: Which device in a first home network is a master device is dynamically established based on the device reporting successful communication with a master device in a second home network, to ensure that the networks have master devices that can “se” each other for, e.g., managing bandwidth.

Abstract: Load balancing manager assigns to each cluster member a filter rule so as to divide traffic processing by a predetermined rule. According to the assigned rule, each cluster member obtains a packet multicast by a neighbor node, on a data link with the neighbor node. Each cluster member detects a session of the obtained packet to perform predetermined processing such as recording and updating of a state and application of a firewall packet filter.

Abstract: A method of controlling concurrent users of a distributed resource on a network is disclosed. In one aspect, there are one or more local lock managers executing on corresponding hosts and cooperating as a distributed lock manager. The resource is limited to a maximum number of concurrent users. A user identification for each user is associated with one host. In response to a request associated with a particular user associated with a first host, a lock is requested from a first local lock manager process executing on the first host. A related method of handling a request for a count-limited resource includes receiving a request from a client process for the computer resource. If it is determined that the request exceeds a maximum count for the resource, then it is determined whether a current time is within a retry time period of the client's first request.

Abstract: A CD-ROM that records programs for setting up a general-purpose computer as an IP telephone terminal by using a CPU, a memory, an input, a network card, a sound card, and a CD-ROM drive except an HD drive, the program including parts for: making the computer start to deploy the programs in the CD-ROM over the memory by a CD-ROM boot method without booting from an HD; making the computer obtain user identification data respectively and correspondingly inputted by the users through the input; making the computer send the user identification data to a management server via a network based on a location data recorded onto the CD-ROM; making the computer receive an IP telephone terminal setup data sent from the management server via the network; and making the computer function as an IP telephone terminal by setting up the computer as such.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for specifying ranges using a paper document. Each range is characterized by a start time and an end time. One or more ranges may be specified by a user using the paper document. Portions of recorded information corresponding to the ranges are then determined. One or more actions may be performed on the portions of information determined for the ranges.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product are provided that identifies a remote stored procedure stored in a remote database management system, and automatically generates a local stored procedure stored in a local database management system. To automatically generate the local stored procedure, local and remote metadata are gathered corresponding, respectively, to a local database management system and a remote database management system. The remote metadata is used to create a call statement to the remote stored procedure. The created invocation method maps input values, input to the local stored procedure, to input parameters of the remote stored procedure. Results in the local stored procedure are set by mapping the data returned from the remote stored procedure to the corresponding return values (e.g., parameters and result sets) in the local stored procedure values.

Abstract: A method of grouping nodes within a distributed network is provided. The example method includes performing a leader node self determination operation by which each node within the distributed network determines whether to become a leader node or a non-leader node, each leader node being the leader of a group including at least one node. Next, requests are sent, from each leader node, requesting at least one non-leader node to join the group associated with the leader node. First received requests are accepted, at each non-leader node, such that accepting non-leader nodes transition from a non-leader node to a dependent node dependent upon the requesting leader node. A next set of requests are sent, from each remaining non-leader node, requesting to join the group associated with at least one leader node. A determination is made, at each requested leader node, as to whether to accept the non-leader node into the group associated with the requested leader node.

Abstract: A controller which exits between a client apparatus and an image processing apparatus and which controls access from the client apparatus such that the client apparatus can use a network server function of the image processing apparatus, its control method and control program and storage medium. To accomplish this, the controller which exists between a client terminal and an image processing apparatus and which controls data transmitted from the client terminal to the image processing apparatus comprises information providing unit which provides setup information of the controller to the client terminal and transfer unit which transfers setup information of the image processing apparatus to the client terminal.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method of processing packets by a network stack. A first data packet is received from a client via a network, and a network buffer is allocated for the data packet. An indication is given that the data packet is ready for reading by an application. In addition, the network buffer is cached in a network buffer cache. Subsequently, response data may be received from the application, and the network buffer may be re-used from the network buffer cache. The response data may be sent in a second data packet to the client via the network. Finally, the network buffer may be freed. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed.

Abstract: A digital copying machine is connected to at least another one of digital copying machines with which data communications can be performed. The digital copying machine has a link copy function that a document is set in the machine itself or another digital copying machine and at least two units of the digital copying machines share the job of executing copy operation on the document, and a printer function of printing according to a print request from the outside. When receiving the print request from the outside during the copy operation based on the link copy function from its start to finish, the digital copying machine puts the print request on hold.

Abstract: A networked object delivery system for a personal computing device includes a network, a personal computing device at least part time coupled to the network, and a service agent server at least part time coupled to the network. The personal computing device is preferably a PDA or the like, but can also include personal computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, etc. The personal computing device locally operates on a requested document with at least one downloaded application module from the network. The service agent server will download a requested document and at least one application module to the personal computing device over the network in response to a request for the document and in response to a desired action to be performed on that document.

Abstract: A media management system for managing a user's media files and information related to such media files and a method of the same. In one aspect, the system and method are operable on a user's computing device. In one aspect, the system comprises a storage management component, a server communication component, a media player component, an instant messaging component, and a media engine component. In one aspect, the method allows a user to browse and/or exchange media files with other users via a network using an instant messaging component.

Abstract: A system and method that allows a user to concurrently connect to multiple wireless networks with a single network interface card is presented. The networks may be infrastructure (“IS”) networks and ad hoc (“AH”) networks. A driver is inserted into a device's networking stack and exposes a plurality of virtual wireless network adapters, one for each network. The adapters are enabled and disabled in accordance with which network is presently activated. Packets for a network are queued when the network is not enabled. The wireless driver controls the switching of the network card. In one embodiment where multiple wireless cards are switching in and out of AH networks, the method converges the switching times for the cards in an AH network to ensure concurrent connectivity in the AH network for at least a brief time period every switching cycle of the wireless cards.

Abstract: A secondary device receives an instruction message accompanied by a counted value and compares the received counted value with a counted value stored in an internal memory. Thus, it is determined whether the currently received instruction message is the same as a previously received instruction message and an execution of a process based on the previous instruction message was completed. When the received instruction message is not the same, the secondary device transmits a response message after executing a process according to the received instruction message. In contrast, when the instruction message is the same, the secondary device transmits a response message based on a process history in the internal memory without executing the process according to the received instruction message.

Abstract: Data is synchronized among multiple web servers, each of which is coupled to a common data server. Each web server retrieves a scheduled activation time from the data server. If the current time is prior to the scheduled activation time, then each web server retrieves updated data from the data server into a staging cache in the web server. At the scheduled activation time, each web server copies data from its staging cache to an active cache in the web server. If a new web server is added or an existing web server is initialized, then data is copied from an active cache in the data server to an active cache in the new or initialized web server. The multiple web servers may be arranged to form a web farm.

Abstract: A system for supervisor partitioning of client resources in a subnet communications environment includes a plurality of client nodes, each receiving an allocated set of resources determined by a central authority, which assigns resources to a supervisor key associated with each supervisor of the plurality of client nodes. At each of the client nodes, the allocated set of resources are partitioned using a local supervisor associated therewith, with each supervisor associating one or more resource keys with one or more resources allocated to the corresponding client node, and assigning the one or more resource keys to the one or more applications. The supervisor keys are configured so as to prevent a given supervisor from partitioning resources not allocated to the client node associated therewith. Following the partitioning, communication packets are issued from the one or more applications to a resource provider node without inspection by the corresponding supervisor.

Abstract: An on-chip network interfacing apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of on-chip network ports; a switch receiving data from a first on-chip network port of the on-chip network ports and transmitting the received data to a second on-chip network port of the on-chip network ports; and an interface unit interfacing an advanced microcontroller bus architecture (AMBA) signal received from an module, which is designed according to an AMBA on-chip bus protocol, and outputting the interfacing result to the first on-chip network port; and interfacing the on-chip network signal received from the first on-chip network port, and outputting the interfacing result to the module. Accordingly, it is possible to establish communications at increased speeds by interfacing a signal according to the AMBA 2.0 on-chip bus protocol with a signal according to the on-chip network protocol.

Abstract: A secure communication channel between first and second radio frequency communication devices is indicated by the synchronized indicators on each of the two devices. The indicator may be a light or speaker. After a secure channel is established, the indicators may be simultaneously operated so that a user may definitively and positively determine that the two devices are securely connected to each other. Any interloper devices would not be indicating on the same pattern and thereby be identified.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide formation and management of intelligent application clusters in a storage area network. Disk arbitration mechanisms ensure that a cluster is owned by a single member. In the event of a network partition, each cluster member involved arbitrates to gain ownership of a cluster. High availability mechanisms allow monitoring of system resources and effective failover capabilities.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and analyzing at least one signal are disclosed. An abstract of at least one reference signal is generated and stored in a reference database. An abstract of a query signal to be analyzed is then generated so that the abstract of the query signal can be compared to the abstracts stored in the reference database for a match. The method and system may optionally be used to record information about the query signals, the number of matches recorded, and other useful information about the query signals. Moreover, the method by which abstracts are generated can be programmable based upon selectable criteria. The system can also be programmed with error control software so as to avoid the re-occurrence of a query signal that matches more than one signal stored in the reference database.

Abstract: Presented is a system and method for determining a user's intent. Specifically, constituents and a topology are derived from the user's expression of intent, which can be stated broadly or stated in specific detail. The intent is expressed verbally, written, or in an XML format. The constituents and topology are resolved into a configuration based upon contexts. The contexts, which include a resource context, a user context, and an application context, includes information about the user's preferences, location, restrictions, device and network availability, and content availability. The configuration is then implemented.

Abstract: A roaming method for maintaining connectivity between a client and a server through heterogeneous wireless networks includes the steps of establishing an initial connection between the client and the server through a first selected one of the heterogeneous wireless networks, detecting disconnection of the initial connection, and establishing a current connection between the client and server through a second selected one of the heterogeneous wireless networks upon detecting that the initial connection has been disconnected. A system, which includes the client and the server, for realizing the roaming method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fault tolerant capability for the reliable collection and aggregation of disparate data from multiple processing units. Data of a processing unit is collected and locally aggregated at that processing unit. The locally aggregated data is stored in a local database, and periodically forwarded to a central manager. In response to receiving the data, the central manager determines whether the data should be included in a total aggregate of data for the processing environment.

Abstract: A plurality of separate DNS zones are combined to form a composite DNS zone. The composite DNS zone is viewed as a single DNS zone by other elements on the network. Each of the separate DNS zones becomes a component DNS zone within the composite DNS zone but can still be separately owned and managed using standard DNS protocols. As such, the composite DNS zone provides a transparent method of combining DNS data owned by separate parties into a single location that can be searched using a DNS request of the prior art. DNS requests directed to the composite DNS zone may result in a plurality of answer candidates. Some embodiments include algorithms for searching the composite DNS zone and assembling a DNS answer from the plurality of answer candidates. The composite DNS zone may include telephonic DNS data according to the ENUM standard.

Abstract: A multi-processing system-on-chip including a cluster of processors having respective CPUs is operated by: defining a master CPU within the respective CPUs to coordinate operation of said multi-processing system, running on the CPU a cluster manager agent. The cluster manager agent is adapted to dynamically migrate software processes between the CPUs of said plurality and change power settings therein.

Abstract: To provide a technology for, if a first distribution destination printing device cannot continue printing according to a print job, causing a second distribution destination printing device to execute an unexecuted print job without using a server. The first distribution destination printing device, used for a printing system, includes a print job processing module that acquires a distributed print job supplied from a distribution source device and gives the distributed print job to a printing execution module. The print job processing module acquires, from the distribution source device, device identification information for identifying the second distribution destination printing device among a plurality of distribution destination printing devices, the second distribution destination printing device belonging to the same group as the first distribution destination printing device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a plurality of network elements for reinitiation, wherein the network elements are operative to manage at least one child element; selecting a first network element from the plurality of network elements, transmitting a disable message to the first network element; determining whether the at least one child element has migrated to one or more alternate network elements; and conditionally transmitting a reinitiation message to the first network element.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a system, having a control unit defined as a master and a number of control units defined as slaves, with the aid of a monitoring module, in which in reply to an inquiry from the master and the slaves a response is given in each instance and a joint response provided on the basis of these responses is checked by the monitoring module.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for managing electronic records on a computer network is provided. The method provides the steps of creating an electronic tag that uniquely identifies an electronic record, storing the electronic tag, and distributing the electronic record. The method further performs the steps of analyzing a network user's workstation specifications, analyzing a network user's user profile, and generating a reference code, wherein the electronic tag is generated from information analyzed in the network user's workstation specification, the network user's user profile and the reference code.

Abstract: A distributed testing platform tests network traffic filtering rules. A control point receives a network traffic filtering rule and test parameters describing how to test the rule. The control point distributes the rule and parameters to a plurality of testing nodes. The testing nodes are located on a network at locations where they receive a variety of different network traffic. The testing nodes test the rule against traffic received by the nodes according to the test parameters. The traffic can include real-time traffic and corpora of traffic designed to test different types of rules. The testing nodes return test results describing the testing to the control point. The control point analyzes the test results to determine the accuracy and performance of the rule.

Abstract: A system for optimizing an ad-hoc network. The system includes a plurality of nodes, wherein each node includes a computer implemented application configured to determine whether the present node is a link node such that the present node is the only node connecting at least one pair of nodes in the ad-hoc network, determine a connection number for the present node, wherein the connection number is the number of pairs of nodes connected by the present node not including pairs of nodes connected by link nodes, and determine whether the present node should be classified as an artery node based on the link node and connection number classifications.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method of network loop detection and recovery. In one embodiment of the invention, a networked node contains a loop detection and recovery agent. The loop detection and recovery agent may include a loop detection module and a loop recovery module. The loop detection module may be independent of a redundancy protocol implemented by the networked node. In contrast, the loop recovery module may be embedded in the redundancy protocol implemented by the networked node.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to providing a plurality of logical nodes in a telecommunications node. A plurality of control processors are configured to manage data routing paths for the logical nodes. Each logical node can be associated with a different entity.

Abstract: A method and system for configuring information for a distributed computing environment is provided. The method and system comprises providing a job containing a list of tasks to a controller, the tasks including a bootstrap tool and configuration information related to the computer network. The method and system also comprises providing a task to each of a plurality of agents on the distributed computer network, each task being based on one of the tasks of the job. The method and system further comprises executing code by each of the plurality of agents based upon the tasks process, wherein the code provides configuration information for a master process and a plurality of slave processes within the distributed computer network. The present invention allows processes run on a distributed set of computers to be provided with appropriate configuration files without requiring the master node to pre-generate those files ahead of time.

Abstract: A continuous play broadcast system includes a distributed communications system and a playback control device that is connected to the distributed communications system. The playback control device includes an output device, memory that stores digital media files and a continuous play program, and a controller that outputs the digital media files to the output device according to the continuous play program. The media files include at least one of audio, video and announcements. A computer is connected to the distributed communications system. A web server is connected to the distributed communications system and to a master library of the digital media files. The computer accesses the web server via the distributed communications system to alter the continuous play program for the playback control device. The computer includes a browser module for accessing the web server and the web server transmits executable files to the computer for creating the continuous play program.

Abstract: A system and method are provided in which communication adapters, which are used for the transfer of message packets from and amongst a plurality of data processing nodes, are provided with internal storage which is used to indicate the status of a particular adapter as a master, as a slave or as a backup up adapter. This information provides the adapters with the ability to be called into service to take over the operations of another adapter in the event of node or adapter failure.

Abstract: A system and method for configuring a plurality of processing nodes into a parallel-processing database system are described herein. Each of a plurality of processing nodes connected by a network receive software and one or more configuration files related to the intended function of the processing node. The software may include homogeneous agent software, one or more library dynamic-link libraries (DLL), and the like. The configuration file is used to configure the homogeneous agent to operate as the intended node in a global-results processing matrix, a general-purpose query processing matrix, or a index-base query processing matrix. Another node or nodes may be configured to convert query-based programming code to intermediary source code in a common programming language and then compile the intermediary source code into a dynamic link library (DLL) or other type of executable.

Abstract: A HCPS (hierarchically clustered P2P streaming system) comprising peers grouped into clusters and hierarchies. The HCPS actively balances the uploading capabilities among clusters and executes an optimal scheduling algorithm within each cluster to ensure that system resources are optimally utilized. The HCPS comprises an architecture which can be used in practical applications, yet can achieve the streaming rate close to the theoretical upper bound.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring and analyzing at least one signal are disclosed. An abstract of at least one reference signal is generated and stored in a reference database. An abstract of a query signal to be analyzed is then generated so that the abstract of the query signal can be compared to the abstracts stored in the reference database for a match. The method and system may optionally be used to record information about the query signals, the number of matches recorded, and other useful information about the query signals. Moreover, the method by which abstracts are generated can be programmable based upon selectable criteria. The system can also be programmed with error control software so as to avoid the re-occurrence of a query signal that matches more than one signal stored in the reference database.

Abstract: A system and method for instant voice messaging in a telecommunication system. Users are able to compose, store, retrieve or listen to short messages. The instant voice messaging system provides two operating modes: auto mode and prompt mode. In auto mode, the instant voice message is played on the destination telephone set without user intervention. In prompt mode, the user at the destination telephone set controls playback of the instant voice message. According to another aspect, the instant voice messaging system provides a whisper mode of operation which allows voice messages to be sent and received when the user at the originating set and/or destination set is involved in another call.

Abstract: A method and system for security key agreement is disclosed. The method may include broadcasting a first connectivity association discovery message and receiving a message from a second node on the network; if the second node is not a member of a connectivity association and the message from the second node is a second connectivity association discovery message, one of the first or second nodes may be assigned as a master node. The method may further include the master node sending an authentication request message, receiving an authentication response, sending a session key indication message, receiving a session key acknowledgement message, and broadcasting a connectivity association augment message.

Abstract: A communication system is provided that includes a controller system (1), a master control (2) and at least one slave control (3). The controller system and the master control (2) are connected via a multipole connection (4). The master control (2) is adapted to receive a multipole signal via the multipole connection (4) and output an addressed signal to at least one slave control (3) via an addressable connection (7, 17). This application also discloses a method of controlling a plurality of fluid flow controls using an output (40) comprising an actuation signal arrangement (41, 41?) and an actuator (42, 42?) associated with each fluid flow control.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining if a system is compatible with an upgrade to a hardware resource of the system, receiving instructions from a remote server to upgrade the hardware resource if the system is compatible, and programming the hardware resource based on the instructions. In one such embodiment, the hardware resource may be programmed via programmable fuses to enable circuitry of the hardware resource. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A messaging scheme to synchronize processes within a distributed memory multiprocessing computer system having two or more processing nodes interconnected using an interconnect structure of dual-unidirectional links. Each unidirectional link forms a point-to-point interconnect to transfer packetized information between two processing nodes. A lock acquisition request from a lock requesting node is placed into service by an arbitrating node when no previous lock requests are pending for service. The arbitrating node transmits a broadcast message to all nodes in the system, which, in turn, respond with a corresponding probe response message to inform the arbitrating node of cessation of issuance of new requests by the node sending the probe response message. The arbitrating node informs the lock requesting node of the requesting node's lock ownership by transmitting a target done message thereto.

Abstract: The digital network modem has a built-in Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) mechanism for dynamically assigning network addresses to clients on the local network. To prevent confusion with a potentially existing DHCP server on the local network, an autosense mechanism is provided to detect the existence of a DHCP server and disable the internal, built-in DHCP mechanism. At power-on, the modem has no knowledge of clients on the local network, and the addresses in use are checked prior to operation. Addresses in use are placed in a list in a store of unknown addresses, and are not assigned to clients requesting DHCP addresses. When a DHCP client requests an address and has as its current address one of the addresses on the list, the current address is removed from the list. The list of unusable addresses is thus minimized and the same address will not be used for two clients.

Abstract: A system comprising a personal computer configured to operate with another computer connected to a network of computers. The personal computer includes a microchip having a microprocessor with a control unit and at least two processing units, the control unit being configured to allow a user of the personal computer to control the two processing units, and the microchip including a power management component. The personal computer includes an internal firewall configured to allow and/or deny access to portions of the microchip both to the user of the personal computer and to a user of the microchip from the network of computers during a shared use of the microchip; and the internal firewall is configured to deny access to portions of the microchip from the network of computers.

Abstract: A network and a method for updating a plurality of devices in a network are described. A primary master device provides update information for slave devices. One or more first predetermined slave devices are enabled to operate in a temporary master mode. The primary master device downloads the update information to the first predetermined slave devices. The first predetermined slave devices switch, when the download is completed, into the temporary master mode for downloading the update information to second slave devices.

Abstract: A method and system for configuring information for a distributed computing environment is provided. The method and system comprises providing a job containing a list of tasks to a controller, the tasks including a bootstrap tool and configuration information related to the computer network. The method and system also comprises providing a task to each of a plurality of agents on the distributed computer network, each task being based on one of the tasks of the job. The method and system further comprises executing code by each of the plurality of agents based upon the tasks process, wherein the code provides configuration information for a master process and a plurality of slave processes within the distributed computer network. The present invention allows processes run on a distributed set of computers to be provided with appropriate configuration files without requiring the master node to pre-generate those files ahead of time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing automated load and usability testing via an application delivery appliance can include methods where a browser having a unique identifier is detected and a script is injected into the HTML response generated by the page displayed within the browser. The injected script renders the page and the links on the page, and then selects a link within the rendered page. Upon selecting a link, the script then waits for a period of time before calling a function associated with the selected link. In situations where the browser is a control browser, the calling of a function associated with the link is followed by the spawning of one or more slave browsers, where each slave browser further executes the above-listed steps beginning with the execution of the injected script and ending with the calling of the function associated with the selected link.