1991 results about "Client system" patented technology

A multidimensional energy decision system, comprising a plurality of server systems, including at least a statistics server and an interface adapted to receive and send digital information from at least a client system, and further adapted to optionally communicate with the digital exchange via a packet-based data network, wherein the multidimensional energy decision system periodically optimizes operational parameters of client system for a specific time period and a specific energy asset from client system based on forecasted conditions, and directly, or upon decision confirmation from a client system, procures or makes dispatchable energy resources, related externalities, or related derivative financial products, available to a digital exchange or other parties, wherein upon the purchase of a listed asset by another party or across digital exchange, implements dispatch procedures to satisfy the issued contract and, optionally, provides monitoring and verification of performance, is disclosed.

A smart electronic receipt system that provides intelligent receipts, called Smart Receipts, that electronically document a transaction between two parties and maintains a persistent connection between the two parties following a successful online transaction. A Trusted Agent on the Buyer's client system creates an order record which is stored in a database on a Trusted Agent Server and starts the transaction process with the merchant. A Smart Receipt is delivered by a Smart Receipt Agent over a secure connection from the merchant to the Trusted Agent Server upon successful completion of a purchase and reflects the details of the transaction. It is stored in a secure database on the Trusted Agent Server and is made available to the Buyer (user) through a Trusted Agent located on his machine. The Trusted Agent Server compares the order record Limited Edition Digital Objects (LEDOs) stored in database with the Smart Receipt's LEDO to find the corresponding order record. The Smart Receipt provides the customer with detailed information about an online purchase in a standardized format. Hyperlinks embedded in the Smart Receipt enable the customer to access customer service and order status. The merchant may also embed addition-al services within the Smart Receipt, including special offers for future purchases. Offers provided in a Smart Receipt can be personalized to a user's preferences which are stored on the Trusted Agent Server. Each Smart Receipt is comprised of a chain of LEDOs with each LEDO object having a unique owner. A Smart Receipt is a dynamic entity and is continuously updated until the Buyer deletes it from the Trusted Agent Server.

A method of buying or selling items having at least one market and its associated processes are disclosed. The method includes the steps of, under control of a client system, displaying information identifying at least one item and a bid and / or ask price for the item in the market; and specifying transaction conditions based on a user directed position of a moveable icon, where the transaction conditions are related to the buying or selling of the identified item in the active market. Then, in response to an action of the user sending a user transaction request at the transaction conditions displayed at the time of said action, facilitating financial transactions for the user in accordance with the transaction conditions to complete the transaction. In this manner, the item may be bought or sold by the user at the transaction conditions specified. A user interface to facilitate this method is also disclosed. A quantity recommendation system to facilitate the quantity decision of a financial transaction is further disclosed.

A network caching system for streamed applications provides for the caching of streamed applications within a computer network that are accessible by client systems within the network. Clients request streamed application file pages from other client systems, proxy servers, and application servers as each streamed application file is stored in a cache and used. Streamed application file page requests are broadcast to other clients using a multicast packet. Proxy servers are provided in the network that store a select set of streamed application file pages and respond to client requests by sending a response packet containing the requested streamed application file page if the streamed application file page is stored on the proxy server. Streamed application servers store all of the streamed application file pages. Clients try to send requests to streamed application servers as a last resort. Clients can concurrently send requests to other clients, to a proxy server, and to a streamed application server. Clients measure the response time to the clients requests placing a positive weighting on the more responsive request path and sending subsequent requests to the more positively weighted request path first.

A method of managing documents related to a patent application. In one embodiment the method includes generating an invention disclosure from a first client system coupled to a server system over a first communication network, where the first client system is associated with a first technology developer; storing the generated invention disclosure in a database accessible to the server system; drafting a patent application for the invention disclosure from a second client system coupled to the server system over a second communication network, where the second client system is associated with a patent practitioner; storing the drafted patent application in the database; generating an instruction to file the patent application from a client system associated with either the technology developer or the patent practitioner; and receiving the instruction at the server system and causing the patent application to be filed in a patent office.

The disclosed embodiments disclose techniques for managing a global namespace for a distributed filesystem. Two or more cloud controllers collectively manage distributed filesystem data that is stored in a cloud storage system; the cloud controllers ensure data consistency for the stored data, and each cloud controller caches portions of the distributed filesystem. Furthermore, a global namespace for the distributed filesystem is also split across these cloud controllers, with each cloud controller “owning” (e.g., managing write accesses for) a distinct portion of the global namespace and maintaining a set of namespace mappings that indicate which portion of the namespace is assigned to each cloud controller. During operation, an initial cloud controller receives a request from a client system to access a target file in the distributed system. This initial cloud controller uses the namespace mappings for the global namespace to determine a preferred cloud controller that will handle the request.

A method for providing access to a computing environment includes the step of receiving a request from a client system for an enumeration of available computing environments. Collected data regarding available computing environments are accessed. Accessed data are transmitted to a client system, the accessed data indicating to the client system each computing environment available to a user of the client system. A request is received from the client system to access one of the computing environments. A connection is established between the client system and a virtual machine hosting the requested computing environment.

A system for presentation and management of energy-related information and securities, comprising a digital exchange, a client system comprising a plurality of display and input modalities, a communications interface software adapted to allow communications between the client system and the digital exchange, and a control interface within the client system adapted to drive the display and input modalities, wherein the control interface, on receiving input from a user, causes data from the digital exchange to be retrieved and displayed in one or more of the display modalities to the user, and upon receipt of a request from the user via an input modality of the client system after the user has retrieved and reviewed data from the digital exchange, an order to execute a transaction is transmitted to the digital exchange by the client system, and on receipt of an order to execute a transaction from a client system, the digital exchange combines the ordered transaction with other similar transactions from a plurality of users and thereby creates or modifies a marketable security visible to at least one other user via the digital exchange, is disclosed.

Novel methods, components, and systems that enhance traditional techniques for detecting malicious software are presented. More specifically, methods, components, and systems that use important contextual information from a client system (such as recent history of events on that system), machine learning techniques, the automated deployment of generic signatures, and combinations thereof, to detect malicious software. The disclosed invention provides a significant improvement with regard to automation compared to previous approaches.

An client-side performance optimization system for streamed applications provides several approaches for fulfilling client-side application code and data file requests for streamed applications. A streaming file system or file driver is installed on the client system that receives and fulfills application code and data requests from a persistent cache or the streaming application server. The client or the server can initiate the prefetching of application code and data to improve interactive application performance. A client-to-client communication mechanism allows local application customization to travel from one client machine to another without involving server communication. Applications are patched or upgraded via a change in the root directory for that application. The client can be notified of application upgrades by the server which can be marked as mandatory, in which case the client will force the application to be upgraded. The server broadcasts an application program's code and data and any client that is interested in that particular application program stores the broadcasted code and data for later use.

A computer implemented online music distribution system provides for the secure delivery of audio data and related media, including text and images, over a public communications network. The online music distribution system provides security through multiple layers of encryption, and the cryptographic binding of purchased audio data to each specific purchaser. The online music distribution system also provides for previewing of audio data prior to purchase. In one embodiment, the online music distribution system is a client-server system including a content manager, a delivery server, and an HTTP server, communicating with a client system including a Web browser and a media player. The content manager provides for management of media and audio content, and processing of purchase requests. The delivery server provides delivery of the purchased media data. The Web browser and HTTP server provide a communications interface over the public network between the content manager and media players. The media player provides for encryption of user personal information, and for decryption and playback of purchased media data. Security of purchased media data is enhanced in part by the use of a personal, digital passport in each media player. The digital passport contains identifying information that identifies the purchaser, along with confidential information, such as credit card number, and encryption data, such as the media player's public and private keys. The media player encryption data is used to encrypt purchased media data, which is decrypted in real time by the media player. The media player also displays confidential information, such as the purchaser's credit card number, during playback.

The disclosed embodiments disclose techniques for executing a cloud command for a distributed filesystem. Two or more cloud controllers collectively manage distributed filesystem data that is stored in one or more cloud storage systems; the cloud controllers ensure data consistency for the stored data, and each cloud controller caches portions of the distributed filesystem. During operation, a cloud controller presents a distributed-filesystem-specific capability to a client system as a file in the distributed filesystem (e.g., using a file abstraction). Upon receiving a request from the client system to access and / or operate upon this file, the client controller executes an associated cloud command. More specifically, the cloud controller initiates a specially-defined operation that accesses additional functionality for the distributed filesystem that exceeds the scope of individual reads and writes to a typical data file.

A multi-party online collaboration system that optimizes both the participation of the collaborators and the universality of membership is described. The system satisfies the two requirements for networked collaboration by providing shareable objects and a means of notifying the collaborators whenever the state of the shared objects has changed. For an open network (i.e., the Internet), the preferred embodiment uses two open standards mechanisms: URL-addressable networks for the accessible shareable objects, and asynchronous messaging for notification of changes to the objects that do not occur in real-time. The preferred embodiment employs these two open standards systems to ensure universal access, and obviates the need for the collaborators to install / maintain proprietary client systems. The preferred embodiment monitors the state of the objects, and automatically dispatches notification messages, along with addresses (e.g., URLs) to those URL-addressable objects, to only those collaborators who responded to the previous notification. Because the system automatically handles the asynchronous messaging notifications and because these messages are dispatched only to those participants who are actively keeping current with the latest changes, the preferred embodiment precludes the generally chatty nature of asynchronous messaging systems. Whenever a collaborator does decide to use a notification link to visit the URL-addressable network site, he or she is further presented with a message describing an interface to all of the shared objects.

An intelligent network streaming and execution system for conventionally coded applications provides a system that partitions an application program into page segments by observing the manner in which the application program is conventionally installed. A minimal portion of the application program is installed on a client system and the user launches the application in the same ways that applications on other client file systems are started. An application program server streams the page segments to the client as the application program executes on the client and the client stores the page segments in a cache. Page segments are requested by the client from the application server whenever a page fault occurs from the cache for the application program. The client prefetches page segments from the application server or the application server pushes additional page segments to the client based on the pattern of page segment requests for that particular application. The user subscribes and unsubscribes to application programs, whenever the user accesses an application program a securely encrypted access token is obtained from a license server if the user has a valid subscription to the application program. The application server begins streaming the requested page segments to the client when it receives a valid access token from the client. The client performs server load balancing across a plurality of application servers. If the client observes a non-response or slow response condition from an application server or license server, it switches to another application or license server.

A method and apparatus for controlling document access and application usage using centrally managed rules. The rules are stored and manipulated in a central rule database via a rule server. Policy enforcers are installed on client systems and / or on servers and perform document access and application usage control for both direct user document accesses and application usage, and application program document accesses by evaluating the rules sent to the policy enforcer. The rule server decides which rules are required by each policy enforcer. A policy enforcer can also perform obligation and remediation operations as a part of rule evaluation. Policy enforcers on client systems and servers can operate autonomously, evaluating policies that have been received, when communications have been discontinued with the rule server.

A technique is described for delivering contextual information to end users of a data network which includes at least one client system associated with an end user. According to a specific embodiment, the technique of the present invention provides a contextual-based platform for delivering to an end user in real-time proactive, personalized, contextual information relating to web page content currently being displayed to the user. A portion of web page content relating to a web page intended for display on the client system is received. According to a specific embodiment, the web page corresponds to a URL associated with a content provider. The portion of web page content is analyzed for keyword information. A portion of keyword information associated with the portion of web page content is identified. According to a specific embodiment, the portion of keyword information includes at least one keyword. Contextual information to be delivered to the end user is selected using the portion of keyword information. According to a specific implementation, the contextual information corresponds to ad information which is provided by a campaign provider server system. A set of web page modification instructions is generated using the contextual information. According to a specific embodiment, the set of web page modification instructions includes instructions for modifying the web page content to include the selected contextual information. The set of web page modification instructions is provided to the client system to thereby cause the portion of contextual information to be delivered to the user. According to a specific embodiment, when the client system implements the web page modification instructions, the web page content is caused to be modified in a manner which results in a display of contextual information on the client system.

A computer-implemented method of managing documents related to a patent application. In one embodiment the method includes storing a first workflow rule on a server system where the first workflow rule causes the server system to generate a message that requests approval to prepare a patent application for an invention disclosure and route the message to a second client system upon receipt of a first signal indicating a request to submit the invention disclosure for approval. The method also includes storing a first invention disclosure in a database accessible by said server system; receiving, at the server system, a first signal from a first client system indicating a request to submit the first invention disclosure for approval. Upon receipt of the first signal, the server system then executes the first workflow rule to generate a message requesting approval of a second client system to prepare a patent application from the first invention disclosure and communicate the message to the second client system.

Transaction scoring is performed in a distributed manner across a client-server computing system. A computing system for processing a transaction includes a server system and a client system. The server system is arranged to process information associated with the transaction, while the client system communicates with the server system and includes a key engine which is arranged to generate keys. The client system and the server system are arranged to cooperate to make probabilistic determinations associated with the transaction. The client is arranged to send the keys generated by the key engine as a transaction to the server system.

An optimized server for streamed applications provides a streamed application server optimized to provide efficient delivery of streamed applications to client systems across a computer network such as the Internet. The server persistently stores streamed application program sets that contain streamed application file pages. Client systems request streamed application file pages from the server using a unique set of numbers common among all servers that store the particular streamed application file pages. A license server offloads the streamed application server by performing client access privilege validations. Commonly accessed streamed application file pages are stored in a cache on the streamed application server which attempts to retrieve requested streamed application file pages from the cache before retrieving them from persistent storage. Requested streamed application file pages are compressed before being sent to a client as well as those stored in the cache.

A secure music distribution system securely distributes digital products such as music, video, and / or computer software along with related media over a public telecommunications network, such as the Internet, employing a client-server architecture. The digital products are stored and controlled by a content manager computer system and are sold by separate merchant computer systems. The secure music distribution system includes a music distribution center which operates with any number of client systems and with any number of merchant systems. The music distribution center includes a content manager and at least one delivery server. The content manager maintains a media information database, a master media file system, and a transaction database. In addition, the music distribution center interfaces with a media licensing center, which in turn communicates with one or more distributed rights agent servers and the merchant servers. The merchant server executes in a merchant computer system, which also includes an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) server. The merchant servers interface with various payment processing systems. The client systems include a media player and a Web browser. Additional delivery servers and media licensing centers operate independently and externally to the music distribution center and interface with the music distribution center.

An client-side performance optimization system for streamed applications provides several approaches for fulfilling client-side application code and data file requests for streamed applications. A streaming file system or file driver is installed on the client system that receives and fulfills application code and data requests from a persistent cache or the streaming application server. The client or the server can initiate the prefetching of application code and data to improve interactive application performance. A client-to-client communication mechanism allows local application customization to travel from one client machine to another without involving server communication. Applications are patched or upgraded via a change in the root directory for that application. The client can be notified of application upgrades by the server which can be marked as mandatory, in which case the client will force the application to be upgraded. The server broadcasts an application program's code and data and any client that is interested in that particular application program stores the broadcasted code and data for later use.

A system for storing, accessing and displaying HTML-encoded documents relating to an object being worked upon in a work environment by a human operator. The human operator wears a body-wearable http-enabled client system equipped with a code symbol reader programmed to read a URL-encoded symbol on the object pointing to a HTML-encoded document stored on one or more http-enabled information servers. The http-enabled client system is connected to the information network by a two-way wireless telecommunication link. The code symbol reader is programmed for reading the URL-encoded symbol affixed to the object and automatically produces symbol character data representative of the read code symbol and the URL encoded therewithin. The http-enabled client system also includes a network accessing mechanism and a display device. The network accessing mechanism is programmed for automatically accessing one or more of the HTML-encoded documents from one or more of the http-enabled information servers in response to symbol character data being produced by the code symbol reader. The display device is operably connected to the network accessing mechanism, for visually displaying HTML-encoded documents accessed from the http-enabled information servers in response to symbol character data being produced by the code symbol reader. As a result of the present invention, the human operator is enabled to freely review the HTML-encoded documents displayed on the display device while working with the object in diverse work environments involving, for example, inventory management, assembly-line and / or plant inspection, and craft or vehicle inspection and / or repair.

A server-based desktop-virtual machines architecture may be extended to a client machine. In one embodiment, a user desktop is remotely accessed from a client system. The remote desktop is generated by a first virtual machine running on a server system, which may comprise one or more server computers. During execution of the first virtual machine, writes to a corresponding virtual disk are directed to a delta disk file or redo log. A copy of the virtual disk is created on the client system. When a user decides to “check out” his or her desktop, the first virtual machine is terminated (if it is running) and a copy of the delta disk is created on the client system. Once the delta disk is present on the client system, a second virtual machine can be started on the client system using the virtual disk and delta disk to provide local access to the user's desktop at the client system. This allows the user to then access his or her desktop without being connected to a network.

A computing system for the publication of actions associated with the current context of an entity, such as a business object is provided. The computing system has a component that stores entities, a component that stores the actions associated with the entities, and a software component that provides information about the current context or contexts of an entity and actions associated with the current contexts of the entity. The computing system may further include a client system that requests and displays the actions associated with the current contexts of an entity. A method for contextual publication of actions associated with an entity is also provided. The method provides the current contexts of the entity. The method further provides the actions associated with the current contexts of the entity. Multiple user interfaces are provided for the management of and access to actions associated an entity.

An electronically accessible server receives, stores, and sends value information from customers. The server or other digital medium stores the value information generated by independent users. Triggers or interactions can be used to determine when value information would be useful for a user of a client system. The value information can include customer assessments, usage frequency, navigational pointers, executable program code, instructions, product information, and service information. A digital medium is used to store value information generated by independent users. The medium can be coupled to an electronic communication network to allow for interchange of information.

The disclosed embodiments disclose techniques that facilitate of avoiding client timeouts in a distributed filesystem. Multiple cloud controllers collectively manage distributed filesystem data that is stored in one or more cloud storage systems; the cloud controllers ensure data consistency for the stored data, and each cloud controller caches portions of the distributed filesystem in a local storage pool. During operation, a cloud controller receives from a client system a request for a data block in a target file that is stored in the distributed filesystem. Although the cloud controller is already caching the requested data block, the cloud controller delays transmission of the cached data block; this additional delay gives the cloud controller more time to access uncached data blocks for the target file from a cloud storage system, thereby ensuring that subsequent requests of such data blocks do not exceed a timeout interval on the client system.

A client-side multimedia content targeting system schedules the recording, storing, and deleting of multimedia content on a client system storage device. The invention accepts as input a prioritized list of program viewing preferences which is compared with a database of program guide objects that indicate when programs of interest are actually broadcast. The viewer may request that certain content be captured, which results in the highest possible priority for those content. The viewer may also explicitly express preferences using appurtenances provided through the viewer interface. Preferences may additionally be inferred from viewing patterns. The viewer's client system locally retains the viewer's preferences and other personal information that the viewer has entered and is sent targeting information relating to program guide objects by a server. Using the viewer's preferences and personal information, the client system creates a viewer profile, which is used with the targeting information by the client system to record content that is within the viewer profile. The invention's client-based form of targeting can be applied to almost any multimedia situation, including, but not limited to: TV shows, movies, advertisements, product and service offerings, music, radio, audio, etc.

A client-server authentication method for use where a server process has access to a repository storing cipher-protected client passwords. The method includes applying the same cipher function to the client's copy of its password as was previously applied to generate the stored cipher-protected client passwords. This ensures that both the client and server have access to an equivalent cipher-protected client password-providing a shared secret for driving a mutual challenge-response authentication protocol without having to convert the password into cleartext at the server. The invention can be implemented without significant additional software infrastructure in a UNIX environment. Client passwords are typically stored in the UNIX password repository under the protection of the crypt( ) function applied to the combination of the password and a random number (a "salt'). By sending the salt to the client system together with the server's initial challenge of the authentication protocol, a process at the client is able to apply the crypt( ) function to the client password with the same salt such that the client and server have a shared secret for use as, or to generate, a common session key for the authentication.