Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for storing and searching computer node addresses in a computer network system. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a frame forwarding device such as a switch. The switch includes two MAC address tables including a primary MAC address table and secondary MAC address table both for storing and searching MAC addresses. The primary table stores records that contain compressed values of MAC addresses. The records are contained in storage locations that are referenced using the compressed value of the MAC address as a search index. In order to account for searching collisions that may result from different MAC addresses compressing to the same value, each record in the primary address table is linked to a chain of records in the secondary table. The records in the secondary table store the full value of the MAC address. Each chain of records in the secondary address table contains MAC addresses the present invention.

Abstract: An agent employment system comprising at least one data terminal and at least one server computer. The data terminal is connected to a communications network and having a display device. The sever computer is connected to the data terminal by the communications network and having a community (67) for storing an agent (63). The server computer has agent-transmitting means for transmitting the agent (63) to the data terminal at a first timing. The data terminal has agent-receiving means for receiving the agent (63) transmitted from the server computer and second agent-transmitting means for transmitting the agent 63 back to the server computer at a second timing. Thus, the invention can provide a novel information management system, agent employment system, information management method, agent employment method, data-providing apparatus and data-recording medium, in which a user can easily obtain an electronic pet that acts as an agent satisfying desired conditions.

Abstract: The host name to be used in responding to the reverse look-up request from the correspondent is generated at the name server side and returned as a response, and/or the IP address to be used in responding to the normal look-up request from the correspondent is generated at the name server side and returned as a response, so that the communications can be carried out without exposing the privacy of the communication host or the user to danger.

Abstract: To provide an integrated IP network containing therein a plurality of separated IP networks with a variety of characteristics, such as IP telephone network, IP video network, IP electronic text network, best effort network, IP data multicast network and IP-based TV broadcast network. In the integrated IP network there are virtually installed a plurality of IP networks with various features, such as IP telephone network, IP video network, IP electronic text network, best effort network, IP data multicast network and IP-based TV broadcast network. An address management table is set in each of the network node devices installed at input points through which the integrated IP network is accessed from outside. The address management table is registered beforehand with terminal addresses and port numbers identifying the application programs (AP) in the terminal.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and signal-bearing media for determining the name of a remotely attached device. A server discovers the devices attached to it and extracts the device names in a first protocol format. The server encodes the device names into a second protocol format. When a client requests a list of supported devices, the server sends the device names found in the second protocol format. The client decodes the names into the second protocol format back into the first protocol format and presents the device names to a host attached to the client. In this way, the host is freed from manually predetermining the device names, and the host need have no knowledge of the server or the second protocol.

Abstract: A medium is set in a computer, and identification information of the set medium is read out. Related information about the medium is obtained in accordance with the identification information read from the medium. The obtained related information is displayed on a display.

Abstract: A proxy computer of a network can receive incoming telephony messages from one or more computers outside of the network and proxy them to computers within the network. Similarly, the proxy computer can receive outgoing telephony messages from within the network and proxy them to computers outside of the network. To set up inbound calls, a proxy program on the proxy computer looks for the presence of an alias in the call signaling messages, references a data structure to determine which computer on the network is associated with the alias, and proxies the call signaling and control messages between the callee computer and the calling computer based on the association, thereby creating a logical connection between the calling computer and the callee computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus associates a domain name of a home gateway with one or more PVCs. After the PVC is established, a tunneling protocol is used to request the domain name of the home gateway, and the domain name is associated with the PVC. When a user logs on via an access communication device, the user will provide a domain name of a home gateway with which the user desires to communicate. A PVC associated with the home gateway is then used to allow the user to communicate with the home gateway. The domain name of the home gateway may be periodically verified to detect any changes.

Abstract: According to an approach for assigning network addresses to network devices, an authentication request that requests authentication of identification data that uniquely identifies a network device is generated and sent to an authentication mechanism. An authentication response is received from the authentication mechanism that indicates whether the network device is authorized to access a first network. If the authentication response indicates that the network device is authorized to access the first network, then a first network address on a first network is assigned to the network device. If the authentication response indicates that the network device is not authorized to access the first network, then a second network address on a second network to the network device is assigned. If no authentication response is received from the authentication mechanism, then the second network address on the second network is assigned to the network device.

Abstract: A system and method for the optimized storage and retrieval of video data at distributed sites calls for the deployment of “Smart Mirror” sites throughout a network, each of which maintains a copy of certain data managed by the system. User addresses are assigned to specific delivery sites based on an analysis of network performance with respect to each of the available delivery sites. Generalized network performance data is collected and stored to facilitate the selection of additional delivery sites and to ensure the preservation of improved performance in comparison to traditional networks.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to processing communication packets. A communication packet belongs to a communication data structure (called “conn”) which is unique to a connection including the communication packet. The conn also contains an event list which is a sequential list of functions necessary to process the packet. An event list is selected from a database based on the protocol layers necessary to process the packet and typically contains as many functions as there are layers in between. Therefore, each layer has a functional entry point as an event in the event list. The event list identifies a plurality of communication modules specific for the connection and an ordering thereof. The packet is processed through the plurality of modules based on the ordering. The event list is manipulated to enable a module of the plurality of communication modules to enter one of a plurality of its operational states.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for performing a data transfer operation with respect to a source and target storage devices in a network, wherein storage devices in the network are assigned temporary network addresses. Device information is maintained and includes for each identified device a fixed address that does not change and a temporary network address. A data transfer request is received to transfer data between a source and target devices. The network is queried to determine changes to the temporary network addresses of the storage devices in response to receiving the data transfer request and the device information is updated to include any changed determined temporary network addresses for the storage devices. A data transfer command is constructed to transfer data between the source and target storage devices, wherein the data transfer command includes the temporary network addresses of the source and target devices in the device information.

Abstract: A method and system for connecting a computer user with an information provider over a digitized speech connection. By determining what information a computer user is viewing, the system determines a telephone number associated with that information. The telephone number can be determined via (1) database lookup, (2) parsing of the information, and (3) a directory service using a portion of the name of the information as the query string. The telephone number can then be used to form a telephone connection with the information provider.

Abstract: A method of detecting the type of network address translator utilizes the SIP standard structure and protocol between a user agent and a call manager; wherein after receiving a request message sent from the user agent, the call manager uses different step to reply, and then detects the network type of NAT according to the reply message sent by the user agent.

Abstract: A communication network for detecting and regulating identifier overlap generated after subnet is created includes a communication module including a starting means for starting a subnet creation sequence; identifier generating means for generating at least two type of identifiers; a transceiver for broadcasting an identifier hail signal including at least two types of identifiers over a communication network; comparing means for comparing at least two types of identifiers included in the identifier hail signal with corresponding identifiers identifying its home subnet; identifier setup means for generating the identifiers acknowledged as unique among subnets existing within an open communication range; and an identifier storing means for storing generated identifiers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of transferring required messages for acquiring a temporary MAC address in a wireless local area network. In a first device in the local area network, a first identifier is determined to identify the first device. A message comprising the first identifier is transmitted from the first device to a second device to arrange a temporary MAC address. A response message relating to the acquisition of the MAC address and comprising the first identifier is transmitted from the second device to the first device. The first device identifies on the basis of the first identifier that the response message is intended for it.

Abstract: A method and system for resolving domain names of web sites with dynamic addresses. The resolution system, which may execute as part of a domain name server, receives a domain name associated with a web site. The resolution system then identifies a dynamic address name associated with the received domain name. The resolution system then sends to a dynamic address system the identified dynamic address name. The dynamic address system then returns an address associated with the dynamic address name to the resolution system. Upon receiving the identified address, the resolution system then returns the identified address as the address of the received domain name. Methods and systems for mapping an unregistered domain name to an address and for placing telephone calls via a network are also provided.

Abstract: The capability to transfer files to and edit files in an integrated development environment is disclosed. The source files may be located on a remote computer system across a network, such as the Internet. The local system upon which the integrated development environment is executing and the remote system having the source files may have different operating systems, different geographical locations with different human languages, and/or different programming languages. The disclosure herein requests the source file on the remote system and then encodes the differences between the languages and/or the operating system by reading the extension of the source file. These encoded differences are translated when the remote file is opened in the local integrated development environment with an editor. The editor may be a LPEX editor if the files are members of an OS/400 operating system, or the editor may be an operating system editor for a file having the source file's extension, or a default text editor.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method whereby each module is determined from the address of the module located immediately upstream in the networked relative to the central unit, the detected address being transmitted by the upstream module in an attribution message, which triggers off an automatic search phase for the module without address, nearest downstream to a module with an address, during which each downstream module without address receives (50) the address attribution message, triggers (52) a delay whereof the duration is so much longer if the received message reception is low, and if at the end (54) of the delay, no address capture message is detected (53), it transmits (56) such a message, stores (57) the received address, determines the address of the nearest downstream module without address, and triggers (30) the search phase for the nearest downstream module without address.

Abstract: A content delivery network (CDN) for providing content objects and domain resolution. The CDN includes a connection with a terminal device, a second domain name service (DNS) system, an IP address store for holding authoritative Internet protocol (IP) addresses, and a content store holding at least one of the first or second content object. A first request to resolve a first domain name is received by the second DNS system at a second location. A second request to resolve a second domain name is received by the second DNS system at the second location. The first domain name is associated with a first content object, and the second domain name is associated with a second content object. The first and second requests are relayed with the terminal device, which receives Internet access from an access network. The access network comprises a first DNS system that functions in a recursing DNS mode. The content object is realized in a first location that is different from the second location of the terminal device.

Abstract: A shared I/O subsystem for providing network protocol management for a plurality of computer systems. The shared I/O subsystem includes a plurality of I/O interfaces where each of the I/O interfaces operatively couples one of the computer systems to the shared I/O subsystem. The shared I/O subsystem also includes an I/O management link that operatively interconnects the I/O interfaces, and a link layer switch that communicatively couples to each of the I/O interfaces. The link layer switch receives a data packet from one of the I/O interfaces and directs the data packet to one or more of the other ones of the I/O interfaces. The I/O interfaces may form a local area network within the shared I/O subsystem.

Abstract: A method for detecting and regulating subnet identifier overlap on a power line communication network includes a communication module. The communication module includes an identifier generating means for generating at least two identifiers for identifying a home subnet; an identifier setup means for generating an identifier different from identifiers of outside subnets; an identifier storing means for storing the generated identifiers; a transceiver for broadcasting a data packet including at least one identifier among at least two identifiers over a communication network; a comparing means for comparing the identifiers included in the received data packet with corresponding identifiers identifying its home subnet; and an overlap detecting means for determining whether more than one subnet uses the corresponding identifier when a part of at least two identifiers included in the received data packet is the same as the identifier identifying its home subnet and the remaining part is different.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment determine the active partitions of an application and assign the active partitions among servers via a routing table. The routing table is sent to a client, who uses the routing table to send requests and/or messages to the active partitions. In an embodiment, the routing table includes identifiers of the active partitions and the associated partitions. If one of the servers fails or if the partitions have a loading imbalance, the partitions are reassigned via the routing table.

Abstract: An address translation unit is provided for use in a computer system. The unit contains a set of page table entries for mapping from a virtual address to a packet address. Each page table entry corresponds to one page of virtual memory, and typically includes one or more specifiers. Each specifier relates to a different portion of the page, and maps from that portion of the page to a corresponding range of packet addresses. Accordingly, the unit allows for address translation to be performed with a sub-page granularity.

Abstract: In an access network which supports a mobile IP protocol, a mobile station may perform several handovers between access nodes during a long session which may cause inefficient mobile IP routing. In the present invention, an access node, which is the target of a handover during an IP session, is arranged to check the preferred mobility agent in respect of the optimal routing on the mobile IP level, and if a more preferred mobility agent is available and not the same as a current mobility agent, the connection to the current mobility agent is closed, and a new connection to the preferred mobility agent of the respective access node is opened. In merit of the new connection established by the access node to the preferred mobility agent, the agent advertisement messages sent by the new mobility agent can be received by the mobile node, and thereby the mobile node is able to detect the change of the attachment point (i.e. mobility agent) and to initiate standard mobile IP registration.

Abstract: An in-band signaling method that enables secure updates of a care-of-IP address for a mobile host that roams between access networks. In the illustrative embodiment described herein, a mobile host includes an intelligent interface that handles IP networking functions and tunnels IP packets between the mobile host and the mobile host's home agent/remote access server (HA/RAS) transparently, as if the mobile host established a connection to a communicating or destination host (DST) from the home network (where the HA/RAS resides). In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided an in-band signaling method that employs encrypted three-way handshake signaling messages that are embedded in encapsulated IP packets to enable care-of IP address updates. This method can effectively protect mobile hosts from denial-of-service attacks and is transparent to NAT/NAPT firewalls.

Abstract: A system and method are described for generating a unique name for a particular subordinate resource of a computer system having a plurality of subordinate resources associated with superior resources. A superior resource is identified that is associated with the particular subordinate resource, and the name of that superior resource is ascertained. A portion of the superior resource name is selected and combined with a unique counter value from a global counter, where the global counter provides a different counter value to each subordinate resource of the plurality of subordinate resources. In this manner, the generated subordinate resource name for the particular subordinate resource is unique across all subordinate resources of all superior resources, not only across subordinate resources of one of the superior resources.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a node comprises at least one processor core and a plurality of coherence units. The processor core is configured to generate an address to access a memory location. The address maps to a first coherence plane of a plurality of coherence planes. Coherence activity is performed within each coherence plane independent of other coherence planes, and a mapping of the address space to the coherence planes is independent of a physical location of the addressed memory in a distributed system memory. Each coherence unit corresponds to a respective coherence plane and is configured to manage coherency for the node and for the respective coherence plane. The coherence units operate independent of each other, and a first coherence unit corresponding to the first coherence plane is coupled to receive the address if external coherency activity is needed to complete the access to the memory location.

Abstract: A data retrieval system and method includes a data server, a client terminal, and a web server. The client terminal performs a data retrieval operation. The web server handles data processed between the data server and the client terminal. The client terminal has a socket communications program for communicating with the web server without using the web browser of the web server. The web server communicates with the data server and sends data received from the data server back to the client terminal, in accordance with a request for data retrieval sent from the socket communications program of the client terminal.

Abstract: An information management system within a client/server based computer system is disclosed. The information management system manages information as to the dynamic locations and continuous changes relating to services offered within the computer system. The information management system utilizes a service point map (SPM) that monitors such changes. The SPM tracks changes relating to services, sphere, location, port, and epoch value. The SPM may be hierarchical in nature. Parallel or duplicate services may also exist within the system.

Abstract: An IP address assignment scheme is described. The IP address assignment scheme is well suited for enabling an Internet Data Center (IDC) to assign IP addresses to its customers such that the IDC's network address space is efficiently utilized. The IP address assignment scheme utilizes variable length subnetting and class-less addressing. Moreover, the IP address assignment scheme ensures that customers are provided sufficient IP addresses for the customers' future expansion needs.

Abstract: Enabling the user to link a selected sequence of hypertext World Wide Web (Web) documents into a string and to store the string at his receiving Web display station so that these documents will be available for his use. An implementation at a receiving display station is provided for designating a received Web document as a starter document and for selecting a subsequently received Web document as a first next document. An implementation is provided for creating a hyperlink in the starter document to the first next document, together with means for storing said starter and next documents at said receiving display station. The invention further provides for an extension of the selected documents into a string through selecting one or more subsequently received Web documents as a subsequent next document and creating a hyperlink in the first next document to the subsequent next document.

Abstract: A system, an apparatus, and a method for dividing an address into at least two parts and searching for an address from a table that matches at least a significant portion of one of those parts. Where a table address having an exact match to a part of the address is found, additional parts of the address may be matched to one or more table addresses iteratively.

Abstract: Provided are a method and system for automatic tunneling using Network Address Translation (NAT).

Abstract: A system and method for a virtual mailbox, in which a user e-mail identity, such as an e-mail address for example, is decoupled from any specific e-mail account, or optionally from any specific action required to authorize the user of the e-mail address to access messages on the server, for example to send or receive messages.

Abstract: There is provided a method, system, and computer program product for extracting information related to a monitored device communicatively coupled to a network using an HTTP communication protocol. The method includes: retrieving, from a first memory, vendor and model information of the monitored device; determining vendor and model through the web page from the monitored device; obtaining the device state information; and storing, in a second memory, the device information obtained in the accessing step, in association with the vendor and model information.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) telephone apparatus and a communication system for carrying VoIP traffic. In a particular embodiment, the VoIP telephone apparatus includes an encoder and decoder module responsive to a handset of the VoIP telephone apparatus, a data processor responsive to the encoder and decoder module, a point to point over Ethernet (PPPoE) client software module responsive to the data processor; a memory to store PPPoE session information, and a PPPoE function key that is used to launch a PPPoE communication session.

Abstract: A request for an information object at an address identified by a uniform resource locator (URL) is received; and the URL is mapped to a corresponding unicast address for the information object. Thereafter, the unicast address for the information object may be used as an anycast address.

Abstract: A domain name is associated with the IP address of a first, URL forwarding web server within the domain name system (DNS) so that a request for a website or other resource associated with the domain name is presented to the URL forwarding web server. The URL forwarding web server accesses a file stored on a file server and determining from the contents of the file the IP address to which the domain name should resolve. The file associated with that domain name may contain information that initiates display of static or dynamic content from the URL forwarding web server. Alternately, the file may contain instructions to associate the requested domain name with the IP address of a second, destination web server that has the requested content or resource. Most preferably, the URL forwarding web server performs this access to the file server directly, without executing a script or other interface program supplementary to the URL forwarding web server.

Abstract: A method for operating a network of computing devices is disclosed. The method includes analyzing a network with a computing device having an addressing system to determine if a second addressing system is present on the network. The method also includes selectively providing a network address to a second computing device based on whether a second addressing system is present on the network.

Abstract: Secure communications are provided over a network in a distributed workload environment having target hosts which are accessed through a distribution processor by a common network address. Secure communications are provided by routing both inbound and outbound communications with target hosts which are associated with a secure network communication through the distribution processor. Both inbound and outbound secure network communications are processed at the distribution processor so as to provide network security processing of communications from the target host and network security processing of communications to the target host.

Abstract: A method and a Fibre Channel switch element are provided that allows communication between a host system and a target device attached to a proprietary switch fabric in a network. The Fibre Channel switch element includes a first port that communicates with the target device through the proprietary switch fabric by logging on behalf of the host system so that the proprietary switch behaves as if it was directly communicating with the host system; and a second port that communicates with the host system and collects host bus adapter (“HBA”) identification information, wherein the HBA identification information is used to map the first port to the second port so that when the host system communicates with the target device the Fibre Channel switch element is transparent to the proprietary switch fabric.

Abstract: A network system that can easily carry out remote access of a different network. The network system comprises a first image processing apparatus connected to a first network and a second image processing apparatus connected to a second network having a network address different from that of the first network.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that communicates with an external apparatus via a network is provided with a management unit, an obtaining unit, a discrimination unit, and a changing unit. The management unit manages fixed information and variable information of the external apparatus. The obtaining means obtains the fixed information and the variable information from the external apparatus via the network. The discrimination unit discriminates whether the obtained fixed information coincides with the managed fixed information, and discriminates whether the obtained variable information coincides with the managed variable information. If it is discriminated that the obtained fixed information coincides with the managed fixed information, but the obtained variable information does not coincide with the managed variable information, then the changing unit changes a setting of a control program for controlling the external information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A local proxy in a home network may identify the device class to which a particular device in the home network belongs based on the receipt of a message requesting a network address for use by the device. A device class may include a broad category to describe the device (such as, a gaming device, a personal computer, an appliance, or a PDA), the type of platform (e.g., the type of hardware, such as a Macintosh™ personal computer, a Windows™-based personal computer, a Linux™-based personal computer, a PDA, a home appliance, or an entertainment device), and/or the operating environment (e.g., operating system type and/or version). The local proxy associates the device class with the device. The local proxy may process a request from a device in a home network based on the device class of the device that sent the request. For example, access to a game available on the home network may be restricted to a gaming device or personal computer.

Abstract: A system and method for delivering asynchronous callbacks from a network server to clients that are unreachable by the network server. The system provides a callback server that receives callback registration requests from clients. The callback server generates a web service based on the description of the service that is being invoked by the client and an associated URL address based on its own address. The network server uses the dynamically generated service accessible at this URL address to deliver the asynchronous callbacks. The callbacks are either delivered to the clients by the callback server, if they are reachable inside the network domain, or made available on the callback server for the clients to poll. In addition, the callback server provides functionality that may be too expensive for the clients to provide locally.

Abstract: The Shared Internet Storage Resource provides Internet-based file storage, retrieval, access, control, and manipulation for a user. Additionally, an easy-to-use user interface is provided both for a browser or stand-alone application. The entire method provides means by which users can establish, use, and maintain files on the Internet in a manner remote from their local computers yet in a manner that is similar to the file manipulation used on their local computers. A high capacity or other storage system is attached to the Internet via an optional internal network that also serves to generate and direct metadata regarding the stored files. A web server using a CGI, Java®-based, or other interface transmits and retrieves TCP/IP packets or other Internet information through a load balancer/firewall by using XML to wrap the data packets. File instructions may be transmitted over the Internet to the Shared Resource System.

Abstract: In order to deliver information from an information transmission terminal to multiple user terminals in a specific area regardless of a type of an access network, a system includes managing location information of areas that the plurality of user terminals are located in association with multiple URIs; sending, in response to a first inquiry, the plurality of URIs associated with the plurality of user terminals in the specific area, the first inquiry being created based on the location information of the specific area entered from the information transmission terminal; managing the plurality of URIs of the user terminals in association with multiple IP addresses; and sending, in response to a second inquiry from the information transmission terminal, the plurality of IP addresses associated with the plurality of user terminals in the specific area, the second inquiry being created based on the URIs sent in response.

Abstract: A computerized method for identifying, ranking, and auditing configurable providers is described. The method receives and stores information about plural providers including provider name, provider icon, provider contact information, landing URL, configurables offered, geographical locations, and descriptions of configurables. The method receives a request from a computer that includes a geographic location. The method searches the stored information about providers in order to identify a list of provider servers that auto-configure configurables in the geographic location. The method sends information and the list of provider servers to the computer, and the sent information includes provider names, provider rank, provider landing URL, and descriptions of configurables. The method receives auditing information from the computer including a provider server selected from the list, a transaction for a selected configurable, and an indication that the selected configurable is operational.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for performing network address translation (NAT) in a fully connected mesh with NAT virtual interface (NVI). In general terms, mechanisms (e.g., within a combination router/NAT device) are provided for translating network addresses of traffic going between two private domains or realms. These mechanisms may also be used to translate traffic going between a private and public domain. When a particular private address is translated into a public address, a binding is formed between the pre-translation address, the post-translation address, and the interface associated with the private or public address (e.g., an interface of the router/NAT device). Since bindings of different interfaces are tracked, a private address and its associated particular interface may be associated with a particular public address.