Miscellaneous Patents (Class 719/310)
  • Patent number: 7080380
    Abstract: A system receives an indication to generate a filter graph representing a user-defined development project. Media sources that are to be used in the user-defined development project are identified and a programming grid is establishing that incorporates a user's editing instructions. A matrix switch filter is generated based, at least in part, on the programming grid. The filter graph is assembled and comprises a plurality of individual filters. Buffer size and attribute characteristics are negotiated between an input/output of the matrix switch filter and an input/output of adjacent filters. Negotiated buffers are utilized to communicate media content between the matrix switch filter and adjacent filters by sharing a common buffer between inputs and outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Miller, Eric H. Rudolph
  • Patent number: 7073178
    Abstract: A method and system can comprise a software architecture that allows different applications in the same or different communications protocols to interact with shared resources. More specifically, code for a computer program may be written to increase the amount of code that is generic to (i.e., shared by) more than one application or communications protocol and reduce the amount of code that handle application-specific or protocol-specific actions. In one embodiment, a transaction may be broken down into a set of discrete actions. The discrete actions may include functions that are common to more than one application. These functions may be part of the shared resources. Each application may have its own set of software plug-in modules for the discrete actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: MobiTV, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy S. de Bonet, Todd A. Stiers, Phillip Alvelda, VII
  • Patent number: 7065767
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for auditing and tracking changes in a managed hosting server. Embodiments of the present invention track changes made to systems in a server farm or data center. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention track changes to the operating system, file system, registry, application software files, and other important files and maintain the changes in a database. This database of changes can then be queried to identify the root cause of problems and aid in systems and applications management in the data center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Venkatesh Kambhammettu, John J. Theisen, Ryan C. Faris
  • Patent number: 7058954
    Abstract: A stub retrieval and loading subsystem is disclosed for use in connection with a remote method invocation system. The stub retrieval and loading subsystem controls the retrieval and loading of a stub for a remote method, into an execution environment, to facilitate invocation of the remote method by a program executing in the execution environment. The stub retrieval subsystem includes a stub retriever for initiating a retrieval of the stub and stub loader for, when the stub is received by the stub retriever, loading the stub into the execution environment, thereby to make the stub available for use in remote invocation of the remote method. In one embodiment, the stub retrieval and loading subsystem effects the retrieval and loading for a program operating in one address space provided by one computer, of stub class instances to effect the remote invocation of methods which are provided by objects operating in another address space, which may be provided by the same computer or a different computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ann M. Wollrath, James H. Waldo, Roger Riggs
  • Patent number: 7051333
    Abstract: The illustrative embodiment of the present invention provides a method for extending a programming language to interact with foreign object systems. Through the use of an opaque interface, a requesting unit may interact with multiple foreign object systems. The requesting unit is an executable piece of code such as a script, applet or application. A single set of procedures written into the opaque interface and accessible by the requesting unit enable the requesting unit to interact with the foreign object systems. The foreign object systems register with the opaque interface. The registration process for the object systems includes the creation and registration of a defined set of functions, the format for which is provided by the opaque interface. The defined set of functions are called by the procedures in the opaque interface and execute in the object system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: The MathWorks, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles G. Nylander, Cheryl L. Jones, David A. Foti
  • Patent number: 7047532
    Abstract: A messaging system that isolates application programs from the underlying transport and routing mechanisms that are actually used to convey messages. This isolation is provided in part through the use of directory files. The directory files contain all of the specific details (e.g. conversion and routing parameters) necessary to interface with the transport and routing mechanisms. As the transport and routing details change (e.g. due to updated versions or new mechanisms) only the directory files need to be changed. The present invention further includes Message Processing Servers (MPSs) which provide additional messaging functionality such as message storage, tracing, reconciliation, statistical auditing, reformatting, content based routing and multicasting. As additional functionality is developed, this functionality can be flexibly incorporated into a new MPS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: The Chase Manhattan Bank
    Inventor: Thomas Connelly
  • Patent number: 7043565
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring data over an external transmission medium. A host computer is coupled to a device through a serial bus. A transfer object is configurable to encapsulate data transfer-related functionality, providing a generic interface for transmission of data over a variety of external transmission media and protocols. A user makes one or more transfer requests. Transfer objects corresponding to each request are built and linked together to form a sequential chain. The requests of the transfer objects are executed sequentially. If the current transfer object is the first in the chain, the request is executed on a current thread at passive level or higher, otherwise the request is executed on a system (kernel) thread at dispatch level. When a response to the request returns, control is returned to the current transfer object. The process is repeated until all transfer objects are processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: National Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Madden, Aljosa Vrancic
  • Patent number: 7043458
    Abstract: A charging process management system includes image input/output devices which are connected to a network, each image input/output device having software components that are charged for service fees. A broker is connected to the image input/output devices through the network, the broker providing integrated management and services to the image input/output devices. A service center is connected to the broker through the network, the service center collecting charging information through the broker, the charging information being generated according to respective use conditions of the software components of the image input/output devices. In the management system, when adding a new image input/output device to the management system, either the service center or the new image input/output device transmits a request to the broker, so that software components of the new image input/output device are registered to the broker as charged objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Miki Kimura
  • Patent number: 7043732
    Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the present invention, management of a data replication system is provided by a three-tiered arrangement. The lowest, or agent, tier comprises Common Information Model (CIM) provider objects that reside in the hosts providing the data replication service and that can make method calls on the low-level kernel routines. The middle, or logic, tier is a set of federated Java beans that communicate with each other, with the management facades and with the upper tier of the system. The upper, or presentation, tier of the inventive system comprises web-based presentation programs that can be directly manipulated by management personnel to view and control the data replication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chhandomay Mandal, Jillian I. DaCosta, Lanshan Cao, Roberta A. Pokigo
  • Patent number: 7039918
    Abstract: A service processor is provided for a computer system that includes a host processor and the service processor. The service processor includes a management interface including a first port forming an external user interface and a second port forming an internal console interface. The service processor is operable to provide system management functions within the computer system. It is also operable to respond to external mode switching commands received via the user interface to operate one of two modes. The first mode is a management mode in which commands received via the user interface are processed by the service processor. The second mode is a console mode in which commands received via the user interface are passed by the service processor to the console interface for processing by the host processor. The service processor can be implemented by a dual-ported microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rhod J Jones, James E King
  • Patent number: 7035916
    Abstract: A communication path is established that allows for communication between a filter graph space and a network driver space in a system. The communication path allows bi-directional communication between a filter graph driver in the filter graph space and a network driver in the network driver space. Addresses of data can be passed from the network driver to the filter graph driver, which allows the filter graph driver to communicate with a filter graph manager as necessary to configure the filter graph space to obtain data from the requested address. The data obtained from the address is then passed from the filter graph driver to the network driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Terje K. Backman, Thaddeus C. Pritchett, Peter F. Porzuczek, John A. Elliott, IV, Sivaramakrishnan Rajagopalan, Patrick C. O'Hanlon
  • Patent number: 7036129
    Abstract: A hardware access layer interface for performing diagnostics in a computer system having an operating system and at least one hardware device. The interface is a registering and synchronizing agent in the given operating system. The interface has a device driver for managing the hardware device, a kernel module for communicating with the device driver and the operating system, and a diagnostic module for coordinating with the kernel module and/or the device driver in order to perform diagnostics on the hardware device. The interface enables the device driver to publish its capabilities to interested diagnostic modules or the module responsible for managing the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: PC-Doctor, Inc.
    Inventor: Aki Korhonen
  • Patent number: 7036126
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided by which a logical volume manager may allow features to be added and modified without having to modify the logical volume manager code. The present invention provides an logical volume manager engine, which attempts to load feature plug-ins that are stored as dynamic link libraries. The logical volume manager also includes application program interfaces to make it possible for user interfaces and other programs that communicate with the LVM Engine to communicate with features created by third parties. The logical volume manager is also modified to eliminate assumptions about the number and order of features being applied to the volume. Features may be selected and ordered by a user at the time of volume creation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Peloquin, Benedict Michael Rafanello, Cuong Huu Tran, Cristi Nesbitt Ullmann
  • Patent number: 7032223
    Abstract: A transport convergence (TC) subsystem for use as a form of logical pipeline processor is disclosed. The TC subsystem includes a number of ASIC computing blocks interconnected through a local bus for transferring data objects used as a form of common data I/O for each ASIC. The data object includes both control and data portions. A TC scheduling circuit coordinates transfer of data objecst to and from a TC data object memory that is local or external. The TC data object memory is shared in common with all the ASIC blocks so that computation results from each ASIC TC signal processing circuit can be passed between other ASICs to form a logical pipeline. The data objects output from the TC subsystem are used by other processing subsystems in an xDSL communications system, including a software based ATM TC subsystem, and a physical medium dependent subsystem. In addition, the architecture of the TC subsystem is configured so that it can be shared by multiple ports in an xDSL system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Ming-Kang Liu
  • Patent number: 7027997
    Abstract: A flexible interface and a method for employing the same are provided for interconnecting a client program with a workflow server running a workflow management system having workflow-type functionality. The interface includes a set of predefined protocol user interface pages including at least one control page. At least one first workflow platform-dependent object is provided for accessing the workflow functionality. At least one second workflow platform-independent object is provided for providing data to the first workflow platform-dependent object. At least one server program is provided that is callable by the control page to access the workflow functionality by invoking at least one of the first workflow platform-dependent object and the second workflow platform-independent object to promote data translation and exchange between the client program and the workflow management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignees: Verizon Laboratories Inc., Level 3 Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: William Brewster Robinson, Benjamin Hurwitz, Jin Jing, Himanshu Shekhar Sinha
  • Patent number: 7028304
    Abstract: A system server is used to manage communication over a network between the system server and a plurality of physical devices of a passenger entertainment system. The system is configured and operated using software to provide passenger entertainment. The system server comprises software for instantiating a dispatch object to open a framework network addressable unit objects, for instantiating one or more virtual line replaceable unit objects to manage communication between a network address unit and physical devices, and for communicating network messages through the dispatch object to the physical devices. The dispatch object tracks messages to the physical devices utilizing a queue and tracks messages from the physical devices utilizing a queue. The dispatch object maintains the status of related devices. The dispatch object also adds and removes one or more of the virtual line replaceable units. The network addressable unit objects move data from one storage location to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins
    Inventors: Alan J. Weinberger, Rick Neugaubauer, Mark Ackland
  • Patent number: 7028306
    Abstract: Systems and methods for building multi-modal browsers applications and, in particular, to systems and methods for building modular multi-modal browsers using a DOM (Document Object Model) and MVC (Model-View-Controller) framework that enables a user to interact in parallel with the same information via a multiplicity of channels, devices, and/or user interfaces, while presenting a unified, synchronized view of such information across the various channels, devices and/or user interfaces supported by the multi-modal browser. The use of a DOM framework (or specifications similar to DOM) allows existing browsers to be extended without modification of the underling browser code. A multi-modal browser framework is modular and flexible to allow various fat client and thin (distributed) client approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Boloker, Rafah A. Hosn, Photina Jaeyun Jang, Jan Kleindienst, Tomas Macek, Stephane H. Maes, Thiruvilwamalai V. Raman, Ladislav Seredi
  • Patent number: 7028305
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for creating an application software environment without changing an operating system of a client computer, the system comprising an operating system abstraction and protection layer, wherein said abstraction and protection layer is interposed between a running software application and said operating system, whereby a virtual environment in which an application may run is provided and application level interactions are substantially removed. Preferably, any changes directly to the operating system are selectively made within the context of the running application and the abstraction and protection layer dynamically changes the virtual environment according to administrative settings. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the system continually monitors the use of shared system resources and acts as a service to apply and remove changes to system components. The present thus invention defines an “Operating System Guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Softricity, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart Schaefer
  • Patent number: 7024672
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products that, by defining a common interface, allow for a single implementation of operations common to both kernel mode and user mode processing, relative to a hardware adapter. Corresponding kernel mode and user mode implementations of the operations are provided. For a given process, a call to the common interface is mapped to the kernel mode implementation for kernel mode processes and to the user mode implementation for user mode processes. The mapping may be performed at runtime or may be static. The common operation may provide a user mode process direct access to a hardware adapter, such as for sending and receiving information, without switching to kernel mode. A kernel mode implementation for operations unique to kernel mode processing, such as specifying security parameters for the hardware adapter to enforce, or initiating and terminating communication through the hardware adapter, also may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Robin L. Callender, Narayanan Ganapathy
  • Patent number: 7020882
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and program for generating user interface output on an output device attached to a remote computer. The remote computer communicates over a network to at least one server. The remote computer and server may comprise any computing device known in the art or any appliance or device including an embedded computing device. An object is transmitted to the remote computer including user interface components and data. The remote computer generates user interface output from the user interface components and data in the object. The computer further transmits to the remote computer standard application program interfaces (API) that are a member of a set of standard APIs in a first format. The remote computer converts the standard APIs in the first format to user interface APIs in a second format to manipulate the object and generate further user interface output from the components and data in the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Richard Lewallen
  • Patent number: 7020880
    Abstract: An interchange server for coupling with a plurality of connectors comprises an application collaboration module for defining the generic portion of the inter-operability function. The application collaboration module comprises a transaction service responsive to a trigger for initiating the inter-operability function and being activated upon receipt of data from one or more connectors. The trigger and the transaction deliver data to one or more connectors for transfer to an associated application whereby the inter-operability function is realized while each application is executing independently in an unmodified state. The connectors are configured for communicating with a like plurality of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Katrina A. Mellen-Garnett, Prashant Gupta
  • Patent number: 7017159
    Abstract: Users of small footprint devices such as smart cellular phones, personal data assistants, etc. may create and store bookmarks referencing various types of objects and/or data sources. Each bookmark may comprise a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) which may be used to refer to the object/data source. The bookmark system may be open-ended, allowing virtually any type of object or data source to be bookmarked. The bookmarks may later be used by a user or application to reference the respective data source to perform some type of action on the data source, such as displaying or editing it. A lightweight application/service containment framework is described which enables services to run on small footprint devices. A bookmark service may cooperate with an activation framework capable of encapsulating various types of entities. In one embodiment, a bookmark service operates in conjunction together with the JavaBeans™ Activation Framework (JAF) to implement the bookmark functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Baker
  • Patent number: 7013468
    Abstract: A method and apparatus relating to a CAD system that enables communication between a first CAD application and a second CAD application in a manner providing associative interoperability is provided. In one illustrative example, a method is provided in at least one electronic device of communicating between a first CAD application and a second CAD application. The method begins by storing native data and a sub-set of native data. A plug-in is provided having an application program interface API and being accessible by the second CAD application. The plug-in conveys the sub-set of native data to the second CAD application. The system for carrying out the method includes a first CAD application and a second CAD application. Native data and a sub-set of native data relating to an object modeled on the first CAD application are stored in a first memory store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Parametric Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Phil J. Abercrombie, Blake Z. Courter
  • Patent number: 7010796
    Abstract: A system can analyze an application programming interface definition to automatically produce software string generator and parser software components allowing remote access to functions within the application programming interface definition by processes that are not natively compatible with the computing system environment in which the application programming interface operates. A first string generator processes can produce an encapsulated function call from a first process, such as a Java-based process, that calls a first function in a first computing environment. A second parser process operates in a second computing environment to receive the encapsulated function call and to invoke a second function call in a second process, such as a C-based process. Results from the second function call are returned to a second string generator which produces an encapsulated response that is returned to a first parser process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Strom, Ohad Zeliger
  • Patent number: 7010780
    Abstract: A system and method for software modularization and automatic code generation for embedded systems is disclosed. An embedded systems software application module is disclosed comprising an initialization/shutdown unit that allows for shutdown and initialization of the module, and a module proper that provides the functionality of the module and having a management/configuration manager interface used to communicate between the module proper and a configuration manager and one or more configuration management units such that the module proper is management access type independent. Optionally, the module may further comprise one or more configuration management units that provide specific management of and interaction with the module proper. There is also provided a toolset to facilitate code generation and development for creating an embedded systems software application from one or more such modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Krzysztof S. Perycz, Adam Golichowski, Bohdan T. Iwanojko, Adam Kaminski, Jaroslaw Kogut, Mariusz Oriol, Zbigniew Przekop
  • Patent number: 7003774
    Abstract: The present invention is a software architecture that provides high versatility and performance. This architecture is composed of two dimensions: the first one belongs in the application level, and the second in the multicore dimension. The application dimension is related to the different applications based in the conceptual model of abstractions exposed in this patent. The multicore dimension is related to the applications dimension instantiated several times in the same computer (multiple processors) or in several computers. All the cores within the multicore dimension are related in order to share information and integrate all the architecture''s applications. The multicore architecture avoids bottlenecks in the simultaneous execution of multiple applications on the same computer by means of a large virtual core composed of small interconnected cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Smartmatic
    Inventors: Antonio Mugica, Carlos Alonso, Lino Iglesias
  • Patent number: 6993768
    Abstract: A system and method define a multi-parameter configuration using an identifier. The identifier involves assigning values to available options for parameters of a configuration and using the assigned values to construct an identifier representing the configuration. The constructed identifier may then be used for identification purposes, stored in a field in a database or as an entry in a list or an array, easily searched and easily sorted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Harold Sasnowitz
  • Patent number: 6990661
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of downloading data in the form of a device type generic “download entity” (or data object) for use by an electronic device. The device type of the electronic device is determined and any data in the download entity which is not associated with the determined device type is discarded such that only the data which is associated with the determined device type is retained by the electronic device. Installation code is also incorporated into the download entity such that, once downloaded, the installation code is executed by the electronic device to “unpack” and store the data associated with the device type from the download entity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey J. Dobbek
  • Patent number: 6988269
    Abstract: A component of a system receives a first instruction at a server to execute a target program that is unsupported by a server application. The server application is located on the server. A component of the system employs a second instruction in the supported program to cause execution of the target program. The second instruction is based on the first instruction. The supported program is supported by the server application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Litton Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Phillip Kenney
  • Patent number: 6988270
    Abstract: A system and method featuring a collection of model objects which hold data to be shared, and supporting interfaces to read and write the data, to create and destroy collaboration relationships and to attach “view objects” containing application code which will be automatically notified of value changes. Each user environment is provided with a model object control entity, referred to herein as a Collaboration Manager, which creates model objects, executes transactions, and creates association objects related to the collaboration. A concurrency control mechanism records the reads and updates of the data and of collaboration relationships within a single transaction site and guarantees that they are applied atomically and consistently to both the local and to all remote replica objects of the collaboration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Guruduth Somasekhara Banavar, Kevan Lee Miller, Atul Prakash, Robert Evan Strom, Michael James Ward
  • Patent number: 6981263
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for a converged service creation and execution application. In an embodiment, an application is coupled to an application server. One or more open application programming interfaces are coupled to the application server, and service session management logic is also coupled to the application server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Corp.
    Inventors: Li Zhang, Jeffrey P. Cassanova, Robert B. Collicott
  • Patent number: 6981262
    Abstract: A digital rights management system for the distribution, protection and use of electronic content. The system includes a client architecture which receives content, where the content is preferably protected by encryption and may include a license and individualization features. Content is protected at several levels, including: no protection; source-sealed; individually-sealed (or “inscribed”); source-signed; and fully-individualized (or “owner exclusive”). The client components include a script of instructions that provides individualization information to a distributor of content so that the content may be individualized for the client and/or its operating persona.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Marco A. DeMello, Attila Narin, Venkateshaiah Setty
  • Patent number: 6981264
    Abstract: A method for providing a program which executes a sequence for handling a suspended task. The method includes the steps of performing a security check on a mainframe server. The program then detects a response from the suspended task, and then monitors and handles the response. Finally, the program re-activates the suspended task with the response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Kung Yi Lin, Subramaniam Ramamurthi
  • Patent number: 6976259
    Abstract: A system and method employ a client-server architecture that abstracts from the client the states of objects and transitions between the states. As a result, the server maintains objects, along with associated states, and state transitions that are provided to clients on demand. The client is only provided with a set of valid transitions between states that are based on the current state of the object and valid transitions out of that state. The states may be additionally filtered based on the permissions granted to the client. In this way, the client is relieved of prior knowledge of valid object states and state transitions. Hence, in a document management system, for example, new states and transitions for objects may be added at the server and propagated through to the clients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Tanmoy Dutta, Jeremy Mazner
  • Patent number: 6973655
    Abstract: A system for integrating services in a system includes a plurality of services, wherein each service includes a software component associated with the system and provides at least one functionality. A user interface, such as a web browser, displays the plurality of services, wherein each service has a link associated with it for accessing the service directly. A scripting shell, responsive to selection of a first service and a second service from the plurality of services, pipes the first and second services together to form a scenario such that output from the first service is provided as input to the second service. A link may be associated with scenario for accessing the scenario directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thierry Jacquin, Michel Gastaldo
  • Patent number: 6971107
    Abstract: A system and method for client/server communications, the method including the steps of loading to a client browser a frame set including a function frame and a content frame; loading application code to the function frame; and responsive to user interaction with the content frame, executing the application code. The frame set may also include navigation frame and a data accumulation frame. By using the frame set to store executable application code, collect and store data, and interact with a user, an application may be executed at a client browser substantially without client/server interaction beyond initializing the frames and communicating the end results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Montgomery Sjostrom, Russell Thomas White, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6971105
    Abstract: Disclosed are server features for allowing a client user to defer completion of multi-step user transaction applications (“MUTAs”) and later resume the MUTA. One disclosed feature is providing a selectable deferral action in a page implementing part of the MUTA, e.g., HTML, XML, JavaScript/ECMA Script document. If the client user selects to defer completion, a state object is created by the server and stores state information including information previously entered during the MUTA. The server provides a resumption object to the user including a resource for resuming the deferred MUTA. When the user selects the resource, state information stored in the state object is loaded and the use may complete the remainder of the MUTA. An additionally disclosed aspect is automatic state saving where sate information is stored automatically during multiple steps in the MUTA; the user then need not select deferral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Rehle Visual Communications LLC
    Inventors: Jay C. Weber, Todd Lash, Suzanne Stefanac
  • Patent number: 6971106
    Abstract: A system for transferring data between application systems. The system comprises a mediating system centrally located among a plurality of application systems configured to function in an application operating environment. The mediating system supports data transfers between any two of the configured application systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Nakamura, Hiroyuki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 6970949
    Abstract: A computer program or the like is provided for reducing changes to the setting information by the computer. A management apparatus is provided for managing devices connected to a computer using a layered structure including a managing section for setting information associated with each of the devices by recording it in a setting information database using a layered structure; an adding section, if an existing device has been replaced by a new device for adding the setting information for the new device into the setting information database; a condition deciding section to determine whether the existing device and the new device have a predetermined relationship; and a changing section, if the existing device and the new device have the predetermined relationship, for managing the setting information for a low level device, which is a device managed as a lower layer of the existing device, as the lower layer of setting information for the new device and recording it in the setting information database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Inui, Noritoshi Yoshiyama, Naoki Takahashi, Takashi Yomo
  • Patent number: 6968372
    Abstract: A system and method of synchronizing at least one variable such as a counter among a network of distributed computers where the computers communicate via asynchronous message passing. The distributed computers are organized as nodes in a tree. Each computer in the tree is capable of functioning as a parent, child, or both. For each variable to be synchronized, each parent receives a contribution from a child which includes contributions from any children of the child and returns other contributing values to the child. The child then updates the local value of the variable with the returned contributing values. The returned contributing values include contributions to the variable from all computers in the tree other than the child and other than any children subordinate to the child in the tree. Each computer can have multiple children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Thompson, Ernest R. Ewert
  • Patent number: 6968535
    Abstract: A method for modeling an enterprise application to be performed over multiple tiers in a distributed computer system. The method includes generating a model, such as a sequence diagram, of the enterprise application showing the tiers with standard responsibilities assigned to a client tier, a Web tier, a business logic tier, and an enterprise information system tier. The standard functions are assigned by identifying protocol services and mapping these to the tiers. Business functions for the application are identified with use cases. The basic business services are then mapped to the enterprise application model. This model is then further modified, such as by subdividing the tiers into subtiers, and mapping the detailed business services to the appropriate tiers. The method continues with identifying of architectural goals or capabilities and modifying of the enterprise application model to map or implement the architectural services associated with each goal to the tiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Stelting, Katherine J. Sierra
  • Patent number: 6961941
    Abstract: A computer architecture includes a first operating system (COS), which may be a commodity operating system, and a kernel, which acts as a second operating system. The COS is used to boot the system as a whole. After booting, the kernel is loaded and displaces the COS from the system level, meaning that the kernel itself directly accesses predetermined physical resources of the computer. All requests for use of system resources then pass via the kernel. System resources are divided into those that, in order to maximize speed, are controlled exclusively by the kernel, those that the kernel allows the COS to handle exclusively, and those for which control is shared by the kernel and COS. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one virtual machine (VM) runs via a virtual machine monitor, which is installed to run on the kernel. Each VM, the COS, and even each processor in a multiprocessor embodiment, are treated as separately schedulable entities that are scheduled by the kernel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nelson, Scott W. Devine, Beng-Hong Lim
  • Patent number: 6961938
    Abstract: Remote management of a plurality of network devices is described wherein each device is managed with its own unsigned Java™ applet. Unsigned applets launched from different devices operate within the same shared environment of a webpage. Furthermore, a transmitting applet communicates with a recipient applet. In one embodiment, the recipient applet is a central management applet that combines data from a plurality of devices into one data pool, which can then be used to provide higher level management capabilities. A combination of centralized management and distributed management is allowed within the Java security model, without having to resort to signed Java applets or Java applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. Carwile, Shannon L. Kohl
  • Patent number: 6959441
    Abstract: A system for intercepting API calls in a virtual memory system comprises an activation module comprising an executable program and an interception module comprising a dynamic link library (DLL). The activation module is first executed at system initialization time, its prime purposes being to: parse user configuration information supplied in a configuration file; act as a daemon to launch and thus retain the interception module in shared memory; and hook system APIs to redirect calls via the interception module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Richard John Moore
  • Patent number: 6959262
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for monitoring a computer system when the computer system executes a user application using a production operating system (OS) is disclosed. The method includes providing a diagnostic monitor, the diagnostic monitor being configured to be capable of executing even if the OS kernel fails to execute, the diagnostic monitor having a monitor trap arrangement. If a trap is encountered during execution of the user application, the method includes ascertaining using the diagnostic monitor whether the trap is to be handled by the OS kernel or the diagnostic monitor. If the trap is to be handled by the OS kernel, the method includes passing the trap to the OS kernel for handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: John W. Curry, III
  • Patent number: 6959442
    Abstract: Software in a computer which accesses one or more software-intensive devices, such as a digital copier or printer, is organized in a set of layers. A device-dependent layer converts data transferred over various means, such as a modem or network, to a uniform data format. A protocol layer converts data from a particular accessed machine to a set of function calls. A system interface associated with the computer restricts a user of the computer to seeing only a subset of function calls, depending permissions granted to a particular user. The modular architecture of the software enables a system administrator to restrict a user to viewing machine status for a specific set of machines on a network, or limits the user to viewing only a certain set of functionalities from a particular machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Khalid M. Rabb, Barbara E. Malinowski
  • Patent number: 6959436
    Abstract: An exemplary method for intelligently providing application and data in a mobile device system comprises the steps of collecting user operation history of at least one user, generating user and application registration information, selectively caching application or data at a mobile device and a gateway based on the user operation history, differentially updating the application or data at the mobile device and the gateway, and synchronizing the user operation history and user and application registration information among a plurality of gateways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: InnoPath Software, Inc.
    Inventor: Luosheng Peng
  • Patent number: 6952829
    Abstract: An adaptive view mechanism can dynamically adapt to changing conditions and provide the benefits of both optimistic and pessimistic notifications. This can, for example, provide a consistent and jitter-free GUI to display the state of distributed replicated data objects in the presence of concurrency control conflicts and losses. In a Model-View-Controller architecture of building distributed collaborative applications where model objects are replicated at distributed sites, adaptive views can dynamically switch between behaving like pessimistic views and like optimistic views. When the number of concurrent updates is low, the adaptive views can be made to operate in an optimistic mode—providing good responsiveness to users. However, during those periods of heavy activity, when the number of concurrent updates becomes high, the adaptive view can be made to operate in a pessimistic manner—providing more reliable response to users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Guruduth Somasekhara Banavar, Kevan Lee Miller, Michael James Ward
  • Patent number: 6944863
    Abstract: In a computer system a system of exchanging tokens for queue banks is created that permits a requester to directly specify which queue bank is wanted. Only the desired queue bank is withdrawn from a queue bank repository to accomplish this and no sorting or FIFO handling of queue banks is needed. The system uses a schema similar to a coat check room, where the requester is given a token when the requestor wants to deposit a queue bank into the queue bank repository. The queue bank repository returns the queue bank when the token is returned by the requester. In its most efficient form, two machine-level instructions handle the entire operation, a withdraw instruction and a deposit instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne D. Ward, David R. Johnson, David C. Johnson, Charles R. Caldarale
  • Patent number: 6944864
    Abstract: A hybrid technique for exchanging data files is described, i.e. dynamic architecture technique (DAT). Using the inventive technique, the producer and consumer applications work within the constraints of a “super schema”. Consumers and producers of data are not required to know a priori the exact definition of data needed to be exchanged. Consumers and producers negotiate a data exchange format as a subset of the “super schema”. DAT is a dynamically defined application integration technique to help consumer applications handle dynamically changing input data formats. DAT covers the scenario where the producer application publishes the data and any application can subscribe to it. DAT also accounts for the scenario where a consumer application requires a different data exchange format and requests the producer application to create data files having a new format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Alok Kumar