1217 results about "Network computing" patented technology

Embodiments of a decentralized, distributed trust mechanism that may be used in various networking platforms including peer-to-peer platforms, to implement trust relationships between and among peers and to implement trust relationships between peers and content and data (codat). Protocols and methods may be provided for determining, disseminating and updating trust. For participating peers, trust may be biased towards data relevance. Trust may have multiple components or factors, which may include peer confidence, codat confidence and risk components, and embodiments may provide for the inclusion of factors of trust based on a peer group's interests and / or group content relevance. Embodiments may be used for a variety of applications in which trust may be based on the norm for social interaction between participating peers.

A system and method for providing an open network computing platform designed for peer-to-peer computing. The peer-to-peer platform may provide protocols for peer-to-peer services and applications that allow peers to discover each other, communicate with each other, and cooperate with each other to form peer groups. The protocols may include a peer membership protocol, a peer discovery protocol, a peer resolver protocol, a peer information protocol, a pipe binding protocol, and a peer endpoint protocol. Services and applications that participate in the protocols may be provided to deal with higher-level concepts. Advertisements may be used to publish peer resources. The peer-to-peer platform provides the ability to replicate information toward end users and may enable peers to find content that is closest to them. The peer-to-peer protocols and unique peer identifiers may allow peer nodes to move to different locations and access services and other content independent of network physical addresses.

Embodiments of a decentralized, distributed trust mechanism that may be used in various networking platforms including peer-to-peer platforms, to implement trust relationships between and among peers and to implement trust relationships between peers and content and data (codat). Protocols and methods may be provided for determining, disseminating and updating trust. For participating peers, trust may be biased towards data relevance. Trust may have multiple components or factors, which may include peer confidence, codat confidence and risk components, and embodiments may provide for the inclusion of factors of trust based on a peer group's interests and / or group content relevance. Embodiments may be used for a variety of applications in which trust may be based on the norm for social interaction between participating peers.

A node (101, FIG. 1), within a networked computer system (100), is capable of supporting communications with other nodes relating to operating multiple application instances in a master-slave configuration. Each node periodically generates and sends (520, 526, FIG. 5) a Heartbeat message (FIG. 8) that indicates the operational status for one or more application instances being managed by the node. When a node receives a Heartbeat message from a remote node, it evaluates (FIG. 10) the Heartbeat information for each application instance reported in the message, and takes any appropriate actions. The node also determines (1206, FIG. 12) whether new configuration information should be obtained for each of the application instances the node is managing, and requests (1210, FIG. 12) that new configuration information, when necessary.

A communications system consisting of a server system that stores software applications, a broadcast system that broadcasts the software applications, and a multiplicity of portable clients that each include a receiver having a tuner that is selectively tunable to receive a selected one of the software applications broadcasted by the broadcast system. The portable clients can be any type of portable data communications device, such as a hand-held, palm-top, or notebook computing device, a PDA, an intelligent cellular phone, or any other personal multimedia appliance or Network Computer (NC). The broadcast system can be any suitable satellite or terrestrial air or cable broadcast system. The software applications can consist of a broad spectrum of different software applications, such as word processing, video games, spreadsheets, address books, calendars, and the like. Each of the portable data communications devices includes a receiver that has a tuner that is selectively tunable to receive a selected one of a plurality of software applications broadcasted by a broadcast system, a user-interface that enables a user to select one of the broadcasted software applications for downloading, a processor for executing the downloaded software applications, and a modem for establishing a two-way communications link with a network control system. The two-way communications link includes a forward channel over which the portable data communication device can transmit client data to the network control system, and a return channel over which the network control system can transmit system data to the portable data communication device. The client data can include requests for unrecoverable software application data and client software download request data.

In a network computing environment, a user-centric system and method for controlling access to user-specific information maintained in association with a web-services service. When a web-services client desires access to the user-specific information, the client sends a request. The request identifies the reasons / intentions for accessing the desired information. The request is compared to the user's existing access permissions. If there is no existing access permission, the request is compared to the user's default preferences. If the default preferences permit the requested access, an access rule is created dynamically and the client's request is filled, without interrupting the user. If the default preferences do not permit the request to be filled, a consent user interface may be invoked. The consent user interface presents one or more consent options to a party with authority to grant consent, thereby permitting the user to control whether the client's access will be filled.

User and network computer client device (NC) registration with an internet service provider (ISP) occurs in two phases: the first phase with the relationship server and the second phase with the ISP. In the first phase, the NC sends the relationship server a unique identifier of the NC manufacturer, such as the manufacturer identification number. In the preferred embodiment, the NC also transmits an enterprise identification number from a smart card uniquely specifying the ISP to which the user wishes to connect. The relationship server queries a relationship database using the manufacturer and enterprise identification numbers. In the preferred embodiment, the relationship server determines whether the specified manufacturer has authorized connection to the specified ISP; if no authorization exists in the relationship server database, then the relationship server disconnects from the NC. Otherwise, the relationship server transmits NC connection information and initial registration contents for the ISP to the NC. The NC preferably writes the initial registration contents to the user's smart card. In the preferred embodiment, the initial registration contents is identical for all users of the same ISP and is digitally signed by the ISP. The second phase of the user registration is entirely governed by the ISP. Upon authentication of the ISP using the authorized usage certificate for the ISP within the NC, the ISP is free to overwrite the user's initial registration contents user specific ISP account information that the ISP digitally signs. In the preferred embodiment, although the initial registration contents for the ISP on the user's smart card is overwritten during the second phase of user registration, the NC connection information remains the same after registration with the ISP. Although the ISP is allowed to overwrite this data (either the smart card contents or the NVRAM contents) at anytime.