1115 results about "Management functions" patented technology

Apparatus and accompanying methods for use therein for implementing an integrated, virtual office user environment, through an office server(s), through which a remotely stationed user can access typical office network-based applications, including e-mail, file sharing and hosted thin-client programs, through a remotely located network, e.g., WAN, connected web browser. Specifically, a front end, namely a service enablement platform (SEP), to one or more office servers on a LAN is connected to both the WAN and LAN and acts both as a bridge between the user and his(her) office applications and as a protocol translator to enable bi-directional, web-based, real-time communication to occur between the browser and each such application. During initial operation, the SEP, operating under a default profile, establishes, over an analog connection to the WAN, a management session with the site to obtain customer WAN access information, then tears down the analog connection and establishes a broadband WAN connection through which the SEP re-establishes its prior session and obtains a client certificate and its customized profile. The SEP then re-initializes itself to that particular profile.

The present invention concerns an automated vehicle rental system for a fleet of rental vehicles, where the vehicles are geographically distributed and normally locked when not rented. At least one of the vehicles, when not in use, is parked in an unguarded location. The system has a vehicle communications unit for enabling communication to and from the vehicle, user-carried electronic devices, or other readers, and for interfacing with the user. An on-board unit (OBU) is located on each of the vehicles for interfacing with the vehicle communications unit, and with a door unlocking mechanism. The system further has a central reservations, management and location system (CRMLS) in communication through a communications network with each OBU, the CRMLS performing all reservations and management functions, and being linked to a database containing a location and availability of each of thr vehicles and a rate for rental, the CRMLS also being provided with an allocation manager system for geographically allocating vehicles. In order to access the vehicle, the system also includes a key being borne by the user. The system minimizes the human intervention in the rental process, and is more user-friendly.

In one embodiment, a method and system allows organization terminal (402) to define a group session based upon location and other criteria associated with participating terminals (410). Location criteria may include cell definition (110), group definition (126), and/or sub-group definition (130). Various components (404-408) may be utilized to perform application/location/management functions to determine the qualifications of each terminal of terminal group (410) to join the group. Once terminals (410) have been pre-qualified based upon their location and other group criteria, terminals (410) may accept an invitation to join the location based group session and begin application sharing, group chat sessions, and downloading as required to facilitate the location based group session.

The Electric Power Converter has the qualifications for an uninterruptable power supply, battery management, energy conversion, micro-grid formation, Power Factor Correction including Total Harmonic Distortion correction in real time. Uninterruptable power supply's use is for always-on, real-time, all-time, reduced distortion with functions of load reduction and management during peak load events. The Electric Power Converter as well has the ability to provide maintenance for most types of batteries including charging and discharge regiments to increase the overall lifetime of a battery, the maintenance, incorporating restorative functions that can refurbish dead batteries or can further increase the overall efficiency and useful function of weaker/aged/defective batteries. Energy conversion capabilities allow for the conversion of AC or DC to AC or DC with high efficiency and ability to actively vary the frequency in accordance to the required parameters. The Electric Power Converter is able to establish and sustain a micro-grid with multiple and varying sources of power generation and load conditions. The Electric Power Converter is achieving dynamic, real-time, interactive Power Factor Correction (PFC) function with advanced voltage harmonic distortion correction with a high efficiency ratio. The Electric Power converter is designed to function with the emerging Smart Grid technologies and provide an overall higher level of operating efficiency and higher quality of electrical power.

A data processing system implements a security protocol based on processing data in packets. The data processing system comprises processing packets for storing filter code and processing data packets according to stored filter code, and a policy managing function for generating filter code and communicating generated filter code for packet processing. The packet processing function is arranged to examine, whether the stored filter code is applicable for processing a certain packet. If the stored filter code is not applicable for the processing of a packet, the packet is communicated to the policy managing function, which generates filter code applicable for the processing of the packet and communicates the generated filter code for packet processing.

One embodiment is directed to a method of instructing at least one operator in a best practices implementation of a standards facility for managing at least one standard in an information technology (IT) environment comprising a plurality of standards to be managed, the IT environment being managed in accordance with at least some aspects of the Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF), the at least some aspects of the MOF comprising a change management service management function (SMF) that documents, assesses the impact of, approves, schedules and reviews changes in the IT environment and a configuration management SMF that identifies and documents components of the IT environment and relationships between them. The method comprises an act of: (A) instructing the at least one operator to treat the at least one standard as a configuration item so that changes to the at least one standard are managed in accordance with the change management SMF and so that the at least one standard is tracked in accordance with the configuration management SMF.

A machine-to-machine (M2M) gateway (GW) includes reachability, addressing, and repository (RAR) capability. The GW maintains a local mapping table and local device application repository, performs data aggregation, address/name translation, provides event reporting and establishes GW reachability and wake-up time. The GW supports requests from M2M applications or other capabilities within the GW, and from a network and application (N&A) domain RAR. The GW may include an M2M device and M2M gateway management (MDGM) capability that receives management requests for an M2M device and functions as a network proxy. The MDGM accepts and processes requests from the N&A domain on behalf of the M2M device and performs management functions of the M2M device on behalf of the N&A domain. The MDGM may request the N&A domain for permission to interact with the M2M device, initiate an interaction for device management tasks with the M2M device, and report to the N&A domain.

A Virtual-Memory Device (VMD) driver and application execute on a host to increase endurance of flash memory attached to a Super Enhanced Endurance Device (SEED) or Solid-State Drive (SSD). Host accesses to flash are intercepted by the VMD driver using upper and lower-level filter drivers and categorized as data types of paging files, temporary files, meta-data, and user data files, using address ranges and file extensions read from meta-data tables. Paging files and temporary files are optionally written to flash. Full-page and partial-page data are grouped into multi-page meta-pages by data type before storage by the SSD. ramdisks and caches for storing each data type in the host DRAM are managed and flushed to the SSD by the VMD driver. Write dates are stored for pages or blocks for management functions. A spare/swap area in DRAM reduces flash wear. Reference voltages are adjusted when error correction fails.

Systems of hardware and software are provided for enabling mobile assets to communicate across a wireless network environment. Systems, computer-implemented methods and computer program products are also provided for leveraging wireless communication and/or processing capabilities of mobile assets against a robust software solution to implement enterprise wide asset management functions, to integrate mobile asset data into existing enterprise workflows and/or to enable trusted third party integration into the enterprise for enhanced asset and/or workflow management.

Systems of hardware and software are provided for enabling mobile assets to communicate across a wireless network environment. Systems, computer-implemented methods and computer program products are also provided for leveraging wireless communication and/or processing capabilities of mobile assets against a robust software solution to implement enterprise wide asset management functions, to integrate mobile asset data into existing enterprise workflows and/or to enable trusted third party integration into the enterprise for enhanced asset and/or workflow management.

Embodiments of a location sharing network manager process are described. The process is executed on a server computer coupled to a plurality of mobile communication devices over a wireless network. Each mobile device is a location-aware mobile communication device. The process determines the geographic location of a mobile communication device operated by a user within an area, displays a map representation of the area around the mobile communication device on a graphical user interface of the mobile communication device, and superimposes on the map the respective locations of one or more other trusted users of mobile communication devices coupled to the mobile communication device over the network. A comprehensive network manager process provides management functions to allow communication with mobile phone users outside of the service network and allows for efficient communication with groups of users within the service network.

A network management system for a multi-layer network having multiple architectural or technological domains includes an inter-domain configuration manager arranged between a set of one or more network service management applications and a set of network element domain managers, each of the domain managers being associated with a particular domain of the multi-layer network. The configuration manager implements network service design and provisioning functions across the domains of the network in conjunction with stored connectivity information characterizing the multi-layer network. The network management system further includes an inter-domain fault manager and an inter-domain capacity manager, which provide respective fault management and transport capacity management functions across the domains of the multi-layer network. The inter-domain configuration manager, inter-domain fault manager and inter-domain capacity manager may be interfaced to the set of network service management applications and the set of network element domain managers through corresponding published Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

A multi-application IC card may include a runtime environment for managing executions of a plurality of stored application. Each application may include a set of rules, to be satisfied by their execution, and a corresponding set of reactions, to be taken if the rules are not satisfied. The runtime environment may include security and reaction registers to reference, respectively, the set of rules and reactions associated with the applications. A security policy manager may initialize, for each application, a reference between the security registers and the rules set between the reactions register and the reactions set. Checking the rules set and/or an activation of the reactions set is controlled by the security policy manager through the security registers and reaction registers. The security policy manager may include a registration function for initializing the security and reaction registers. The registration function may be called from the applications or an administrative user.

The invention is directed to network management systems and methods that provide substantially real-time network management and control capabilities of multimedia streaming traffic in telecommunications networks. The invention provides pre-emptive and autonomous network management and control capabilities, and may include shared intelligence of embedded systems—Heterogeneous Sensor Entities (HSE) and the Sensor Service Management (SSM) system. HSEs are distributed real-time embedded systems provisioned in various network elements. HSEs performs fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security network management functions in real-time; and real-time network management control activations and removals. SSM facilitates automated decision making, rapid deployment of HSEs and real-time provisioning of network management and control services. The service communication framework amongst various HSEs and the SSM is provided by the Heterogeneous Service Creation system. The proposed network management procedure provides real-time network management and control capabilities of multimedia traffic in wireless networks and clusters of independent networks respectively.

Methods and apparatus for providing a hierarchical mobility management function for routing packets to mobile nodes are provided. The hierarchical mobility management function may be placed anywhere within the network and provide efficient use of IPv6 addresses. A node implementing the hierarchical mobility management function receives packets intended for the mobile node and routes the packets to the mobile node's current address. Load sharing of packets intended for a mobile node may be implemented across several access routers. Additional, bi-casting of packets is provided to allow for seamless handoff of the mobile node as it switches from one access router to another access router.

A method of thermal management for a thermal management system in a vehicle includes the steps of selecting a thermal management function. The method also includes the steps of adjusting a temperature within the thermal management system using the thermal management function and using the adjusted temperature within the thermal management system to control a temperature within an occupant compartment of the vehicle.

A controller for a Super Enhanced Endurance Device (SEED) or Solid-State Drive (SSD) increases flash endurance using a DRAM buffer. Host accesses to flash are intercepted by the controller and categorized as data types of paging files, temporary files, meta-data, and user data files, using address ranges and file extensions read from meta-data tables. Paging files and temporary files are optionally written to flash. Full-page and partial-page data are grouped into multi-page meta-pages by data type in the DRAM before storage by lower-level flash devices such as eMMC, UFS, or iSSD. Caches in the DRAM buffer for storing each data type are managed and flushed to the flash devices by the controller. Write dates are stored for pages or blocks for management functions. A spare/swap area in DRAM reduces flash wear. Reference voltages are adjusted when error correction fails.

A basic information recording unit 122 stores version data in which the versions of a plurality of application programs stored in a portable information device is written. An update verifying unit 110 receives update status data indicating whether an update to the version of at least one of the plurality of application programs is available. An update identifying unit 112 refers to the update status data and identifies an application program assigned an older version number in comparison with the updated version. A display processor 114 displays a menu screen where a plurality of startup icons for the plurality of application programs are located, and changes the appearance of the startup icon for the application program identified by the update identifying unit 112 to indicate that an update to the version is available.

An exercise management function providing system and method is disclosed having a shoe with built-in sensors for sensing a user's exercise. User exercise information is measured using sensor values from each of the sensors and the measured user exercise information is transmitted to a mobile terminal. Then, the mobile terminal receives the user exercise information so as to grasp a user's exercise state and quantity of motion, and provides an exercise management function in accordance with the user's exercise state and quantity of motion. Accordingly, the present invention provides an exercise program suitable for a user in accordance with a user's quantity of motion so that the user can get exercise suitable for a specific user, and the user can be provided with an exercise program to attain their own desired weight, thereby assisting with health care.

Methods and systems for autonomously managing computer networks are provided. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, management functions are organized in a novel two-layer peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture. The bottom layer organizes management information in a unified object-relationship model, that is instantiated in a distributed transactional object repository. The top layer unifies the traditional roles of managers and elements into a single autonomic management peering layer. Autonomic elements use the repository as a primary management repository, and effect autonomic behavior in terms of transactions over the shared model state. A novel autonomic policy model and language, Object Spreadsheet Language (OSL), in the form of acyclic spreadsheet change propagation rules, and declarative constraints is also provided.

A virtual machine manager (VMM) enables provisioning of services to multiple clients via a single data processing system configured as multiple virtual machines. The VMM performs several management functions, including: configuring/assigning each virtual machine (VM) for/to a specific, single client; scheduling the time and order for completing client services via the assigned client VM; instantiating a client VM at a scheduled time and triggering the execution of services tasks required for completing the specific client services on the client VM; monitoring and recording historical information about the actual completion times of services on a client VM; and updating a scheduling order for sequential instantiating of the multiple client VMs and corresponding client services, based on one or more of (i) pre-established time preferences, (ii) priority considerations, and (iii) historical data related to actual completion times of client services at a client VM.

An online system uses, in various embodiments of the invention, credit report information, loan affordability screening and credit approval and management functionality to facilitate the purchase and finance of products online. The online system may include both sellers of products and lenders that offer financing to buyers seeking to purchase the products. The system may automatically obtain a buyer's credit report information and use that information to determine if the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to obtain financing for a particular product or products. The system also enables use of buyer credit information to identify only those of a seller's products for which the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to finance using one or more loans. The system then enables selection of an identified product or products for purchase, and selection of a loan, for example, for financing of the selected product or products. Credit approval (or pre-approval) may be performed automatically, and along with credit processing, may be performed completely online.

A method, system, graphical user interface, and apparatus are provided for performing a patient management function providing parameter data for delivering a therapeutic signal. A first electrical signal comprising a first therapy parameter is applied to a portion of a patient's body for providing a therapy. At least one patient parameter relating to an effect of applying the first electrical signal is acquired. A second therapy parameter for defining a second electrical signal to provide a therapy is determined in response to the patient parameter. The second therapy parameter is displayed on an external device. An input signal for defining the second electrical signal is received. The input signal includes a signal indicative of the whether the second therapy parameter was accepted or not.

Storage gateway provisioning, configuration, and management functions provide mechanisms to specify and manage parameters and operations associated with storage gateways. The parameters may include any combination of VLAN topology, zoning behavior, LUN masking, bandwidth, and priority. The parameters may also include path information describing initiator to target associations, enabling load-balancing aggregations and multipathing redundancy. Parameters may be specified at relatively low-levels, describing specific HW elements, or may be specified at relatively high-levels, describing desired bandwidth and redundancy requirements, with SW determining low-level HW assignments. Configuration and management functions enable dynamic modification of storage gateway parameters (such as bandwidth between selected initiator and target pairs). Management functions also enable dynamic switchover from a primary path to a secondary path with respect to a storage device.

The mobile device management system provides for administration of mobile devices associated with a customer and supported by multiple service providers or carriers. The system provides a central, customized interface for management of mobile devices. The system aggregates customer policies, service plan information from various service providers and specific end user information to enable management of mobile devices. Management functions include procurement, expense management, billing and invoicing, support and monitoring of mobile devices associated with the customer. This system and method for managing mobile devices and services keeps the customers mobile workforce connected while reducing the total cost of ownership.

In one set of embodiments, a power management system comprises two or more devices, such as POL devices, configured to transmit and receive data over a shared bus, such as an I2C bus, according to the bus protocol of the shared bus. Each device may be configured with at least one respective address register, which may be programmed with an address uniquely identifying the device, and a mask register that may be configured to mask select bits of the respective address register, thereby enabling the device to identify device groups. In one embodiment, one of the devices identifying itself as a master device may distribute information to any of the other devices by transmitting the information, which may include commands and/or data, to itself, in effect targeting the address programmed into its own address register. The devices on the shared bus may be configured to monitor the bus for events, and respond to each event according to the requirements inherent within a transmitted command, thereby performing the necessary tasks to enable power management functions without the need for interconnecting analog signal lines.

A system to facilitate contract procurement and contract management through an online contract procurement and management website over a computer network, program product, and associated methods are provided. The system includes an electronic contracting network server accessible to a computer network, a database accessible to the electronic contracting network server through the computer network, a plurality of plurality of electronic contracting entity member user computers in communication with the electronic contracting network server through the computer network, and a plurality of potential contractor member user computers also in communication with the electronic contracting network server through the computer network. The system also includes an electronic contracting program product stored in the memory of the electronic contracting network server and positioned to perform various contract procurement and contract management functions.

An in-game e-commerce web service system and method is described. The system provides a seamlessly integrated, modular, turn-key solution to in-game commerce on game publisher web sites. Primary publisher-to-player and secondary player-to-player markets are supported along with their associated billing and customer management functions. Modules have been designed to allow the greatest flexibility in choosing the services to which a game publisher subscribes.

Particular embodiments facilitate life-cycle management and utilization of network resources, such as web or other application services. One embodiment provides instancing, virtualization, and dynamic provisioning functionality facilitating management and utilization of web services. One embodiment combines the virtualization and dynamic provisioning functionality to facilitate the development of client application code in routed web services network architectures. One embodiment provides a set of management functions that may be applied to management of computing resources in any IP-based network.

The present invention provides an application programming interface (“API”) to address book management functions for accessing and managing an integrated online address book clearinghouse. The API receives function calls from applications and executes one or more functions in response to the function calls. The address book functions manage address books of the integrated online address book clearinghouse by adding, deleting, updating, and finding address books, contacts, and groups of contacts of the address books. The API also verifies identity information to assure that each function call has authorization to access the desired address book. The API further includes a parameter processing module for processing function-specific parameters passed in data envelopes to the API by the applications. The API also includes a response generating module for responding to the application that sent a function call to the API.