Google Acquires More IBM Patents In September

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Google seems to be making a regular habit of acquiring patents from IBM, with a new acquisition of 39 granted patents and two pending patent applications on September 30th, recorded at the USPTO today. Like the earlier transactions this year of 1,030 patents tranferred in May, and 1,023 patents assigned in August, there’s a wide range of technology included in the transaction between Google and IBM.

The list of patents includes one filed in 1996 involving the use of an API and a java applet, which sounded pretty interesting (I listed it first), especially considering the ongoing Oracle-Google litigation involves java and APIs. Some of the other patents included are listed in that patent as being related to it. Other inventions include such things as file archiving approaches, distributed database information systems, encryption, user authentication, and managing configurations of computer systems.

Google and Oracle are set to go to trial on October 31st on claims that Google infringed java related patents held by Oracle, in which Oracle is claiming more than $1 Billion in damages.

The financial terms of the purchase are unknown, but Google’s acquisition of 18 patents from Mosaid Technologies (and related filings in other jurisdictions) which I wrote about a few days ago appear to have cost $11 Million.

The patents involved in the transaction are:

WWW client server interactive system method with Java (.TM.)
Invented by Richard Michael Rogers and Konrad Charles Lagarde
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,974,441
Granted October 26, 1999
Filed: December 6, 1996

Abstract

A World Wide Web browser makes requests to web servers on a network which receive and fulfill requests as an agent of the browser client, organizing distributed sub-agents as distributed integration solution (DIS) servers on an intranet network supporting the web server which also has an access agent servers accessible over the Internet. DIS servers execute selected capsule objects which perform programmable functions upon a received command from a web server control program agent for retrieving, from a database gateway coupled to a plurality of database resources upon a single request made from a Hypertext document, requested information from multiple data bases located at different types of databases geographically dispersed, performing calculations, formatting, and other services prior to reporting to the web browser or to other locations, in a selected format, as in a display, fax, printer, and to customer installations or to TV video subscribers, with account tracking.

Intrepretive language based programs or applets are downloaded from the web server to the client and executed on the client machine for online analytical processing from a web browser. The Web client accesses a web server and downloads HTML and a Java applet(s). This enables use of multiple databases of different types using a single request from a client for Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) from a web browser.

Method for fulfilling requests of a web browser
Invented by Richard Michael Rogers and Konrad Charles Lagarde
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,701,451
Granted December 23, 1997
Filed: June 7, 1995

Abstract

A World Wide Web browser makes requests to web servers on a network which receive and fulfill requests as an agent of the browser client, organizing distributed sub-agents as distributed integration solution (DIS) servers on an intranet network supporting the web server which also has an access agent servers accessible over the Internet. DIS servers execute selected capsule objects which perform programmable functions upon a received command from a web server control program agent for retrieving, from a database gateway coupled to a plurality of database resources upon a single request made from a Hypertext document, requested information from multiple data bases located at different types of databases geograhically dispersed, performing calculations, formatting, and other services prior to reporting to the web browser or to other locations, in a selected format, as in a display, fax, printer, and to customer installations or to TV video subscribers, with account tracking.

Method, System and Program for Archiving Files
Invented by Christopher John Stakutis, William Robert Haselton, Kevin Michael Stearns, Alan L. Stuart and Toby Lyn Marek
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent Application 20100228700
Published September 9, 2010
Filed: May 21, 2010
Patent 8,041,698 is scheduled to be Issued on 10-18-2011

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and program for archiving files. A hierarchical file system having directories is provided. An archival retention policy is associated with at least one of the directories in the hierarchical file system, wherein the retention policy applies to files included in the associated directory, and wherein the retention policy specifies a retention time indicating a time period during which a file is subject to the retention policy.

Computerized system and process for interactively managing a distributed database system
Invented by Thomas E. Conrad and Garry L. Haas
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,539,870
Granted July 23, 1996
Filed: October 5, 1992

Abstract

An interactive graphical display of object relationships and instances is implemented by means of a table driven process. The user can select one or more object occurrences and then select an action to be performed on the selected object occurrences using a dynamic menu of actions. Changes are made to the tables without modifying the processes. The process can be used in managing a distributed database system to provide a user with increasingly detailed levels of information about object types and occurrences in the database systems.

Method for distributed task fulfillment of web browser requests
Invented by Konrad Charles Lagarde and Richard Michael Rogers
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,710,918
Granted January 20, 1998
Filed: June 7, 1995

Abstract

A World Wide Web browser makes requests to web servers on a network which receive and fulfill requests as an agent of the browser client, organizing distributed sub-agents as distributed integration solution (DIS) servers on an intranet network supporting the web server which also has an access agent servers accessible over the Internet. DIS servers execute selected capsule objects which perform programmable functions upon a received command from a web server control program agent for retrieving, from a database gateway coupled to a plurality of database resources upon a single request made from a Hypertext document, requested information from multiple data bases located at different types of databases geograhically dispersed, performing calculations, formatting, and other services prior to reporting to the web browser or to other locations, in a selected format, as in a display, fax, printer, and to customer installations or to TV video subscribers, with account tracking.

Method for distributed task fulfillment of web browser requests
Invented by Richard Michael Rogers and Konrad Charles Lagarde
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,761,663
Granted June 2, 1998
Filed: May 15, 1997

Abstract

A World Wide Web browser makes requests to web servers on a network which receive and fulfill requests as an agent of the browser client, organizing distributed sub-agents as distributed integration solution (DIS) servers on an intranet network supporting the web server which also has an access agent servers accessible over the Internet.

DIS servers execute selected capsule objects which perform programmable functions upon a received command from a web server control program agent for retrieving, from a database gateway coupled to a plurality of database resources upon a single request made from a Hypertext document, requested information from multiple data bases located at different types of databases geograhically dispersed, performing calculations, formatting, and other services prior to reporting to the web browser or to other locations, in a selected format, as in a display, fax, printer, and to customer installations or to TV video subscribers, with account tracking.

Method and apparatus to force a thread switch in a multithreaded processor
Invented by John Michael Borkenhagen, Richard James Eickemeyer, William Thomas Flynn, and Andrew Henry Wottreng
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 6,076,157
Granted June 13, 2000
Filed: October 23, 1997

Abstract

A system and method for performing computer processing operations in a data processing system includes a multithreaded processor and thread switch logic. The multithreaded processor is capable of switching between two or more threads of instructions which can be independently executed. Each thread has a corresponding state in a thread state register depending on its execution status. The thread switch logic contains a thread switch control register to store the conditions upon which a thread will occur.

The thread switch logic has a time-out register which forces a thread switch when execution of the active thread in the multithreaded processor exceeds a programmable period of time. Thread switch logic also has a forward progress count register to prevent repetitive thread switching between threads in the multithreaded processor. Thread switch logic also is responsive to a software manager capable of changing the priority of the different threads and thus superseding thread switch events.

Joined table expression optimization by query transformation

Invented by Yao-Ching Stephen Chen, Fen-Ling Lin, Jerry Mukai, Hong Tie, and Yun Wang
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 6,385,603
Granted May 7, 2002
Filed: June 14, 1999

Abstract

A query optimizer analyzes a query and triggers a sequence of transformations to achieve optimal performance for joined table expressions. The transformations include pushing down predicates for joined table expressions and pushing down non-null predicates to simplify join operators for joined table expressions.

Apparatus and method for managing configuration of computer systems on a computer network
Invented by Kenneth Edgar Brown, Gregory Richard Hintermeister, Michael Bill Murphy
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,171,458
Granted January 30, 2007
Filed: June 12, 2001

Abstract

A system configuration manager provides a graphical user interface that allows a system administrator to easily administer configuration settings for different computer systems and platforms on a computer network. The system configuration manager of the present invention allows identifying one system configuration or a settings profile as a “model system”. Once the model system is defined, other computer systems may be compared to the model system. Differences between the selected computer systems and the model system are then displayed, and the system configuration manager may be used to update the selected computer systems with configuration settings specified in the model system.

Cross-platform support is provided by a configuration mapping mechanism that maps configuration information from one platform to corresponding configuration information for another platform. The configuration mapping mechanism effectively hides the differences between platforms by translating the configuration information from a selected platform to corresponding configuration information for the model system.

Patterned based query optimization
Invented by John M. Santosuosso
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,031,958
Granted April 18, 2006
Filed: February 6, 2003

Abstract

Methods, articles of manufacture, and systems for improving the efficiency of executing queries are provided. Rather than automatically running an optimizer to determine an access plan for each issued query, an access plan may be selected from a series of access plans used for prior executions of the same or a similar query. The series of access plans used for prior queries may define a pattern that may be used to accurately predict the behavior (e.g., execution time) of a future query.

For some embodiments, a query group may be established to identify a set of similar queries, for which the optimizer is likely to determine the same access plans. In response to determining an issued query fits within an established query group, an access plan associated with the query group may be selected for executing the query, thus avoiding the processing overhead of wastefully running the optimizer only to determine a previously used access plan.

Query optimization via a partitioned environment
Invented by Eric L Barsness and John M. Santosuosso
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,130,838
Granted October 31, 2006
Filed: September 11, 2003

Abstract

Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for improving the efficiency of executing a query are provided. Queries frequently issued in a primary processing environment (e.g., a primary logical partition) may be run in a background processing environment (e.g., a background logical partition) with different access plans to determine the access plan that results in the least execution time.

For some embodiments, in an effort to avoid executing queries that may have an adverse system-wide impact, selected queries may be analyzed in the background processing environment prior to being executed. This analysis may be performed to ensure the execution time of the query will not exceed a specified threshold, and/or will not result in excessive contention when executed in the primary processing environment.

Method and system for authorizing a restricted callable status in an instant messaging system
Invented by Craig Ardner Swearingen and Alan Richard Tannenbaum
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,606,862
Granted October 20, 2009
Filed: March 31, 2004

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, a system, and a computer program product are presented for managing availability status values in an instant messaging application. A user of the instant messaging application is able to select a “do not disturb” status that is to be associated with the user, thereby preventing most users from being able to initiate an instant messaging session with the user. In addition, the user of the instant messaging application can selectively authorize a subset of users to have the privilege of being able to start instant messaging sessions with the user while maintaining an indication to all other users that the user is in a “do not disturb” status.

Apparatus and method for managing configuration of computer systems on a computer network
Invented by Kenneth Edgar Brown, Gregory Richard Hintermeister, Michael Bill Murphy
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,398,332
Granted July 8, 2008
Filed: March 14, 2006

Abstract

A system configuration manager provides a graphical user interface that allows a system administrator to easily administer configuration settings for different computer systems and platforms on a computer network. The system configuration manager allows identifying one system configuration or a settings profile as a “model system”. Once the model system is defined, other computer systems may be compared to the model system.

Differences between the selected computer systems and the model system are then displayed, and the system configuration manager may be used to update the selected computer systems with configuration settings specified in the model system. Cross-platform support is provided by a configuration mapping mechanism that maps configuration information from one platform to corresponding configuration information for another platform. The configuration mapping mechanism effectively hides the differences between platforms by translating the configuration information from a selected platform to corresponding configuration information for the model system.

Method for implementing retention policies to archive records
Invented by Alan L. Stuart, Toby Lyn Marek, Avishai Haim Hochberg, David Maxwell Cannon, and Howard Newton Martin
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,526,621
Granted April 28, 2009
Filed: August 18, 2006

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and program for receiving a request to remove a record. A determination is made as to whether a state associated with the record includes at least one hold state and whether the state associated with the record includes at least a retention period that has not expired. The request to remove the record is denied in response to determining that the state associated with the record includes at least one of at least one hold state and one retention period that has not expired.

Method, System, and Program Implementing Retention Policies to Archive Records
Invented by Alan L. Stuart, Toby Lyn Marek, Avishai Haim Hochberg, David Maxwell Cannon, and Howard Newton Martin
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent Application 20090119354
Published May 7, 2009
Filed: January 7, 2009

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and program for receiving a request to remove a record. A determination is made as to whether a state associated with the record includes at least one hold state and whether the state associated with the record includes at least a retention period that has not expired. The request to remove the record is denied in response to determining that the state associated with the record includes at least one of at least one hold state and one retention period that has not expired.

Personal key archive
Invented by Mark H. Linehan, Nicholas J. Simicich, and Gene Y. Tsudik
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,495,533
Granted February 27, 1996
Filed: April 29, 1994

Abstract

A computing system is described having an automated management system for managing keys to encrypt and decrypt stored data on the computing system. The computing system has an authentication server; a key client; a key generator; a key server; a key database; and an encrypted data file memory. The authentication server authenticates the user and in response to the user accessing the computing system the authentication server provides the user with a ticket validating the user. The key client of a creating user when creating a data file invokes the generator to generate a key corresponding to the data file.

The key is provided to the key server and the key client uses the key to encrypt the data file which is stored in the encrypted data file memory. The key client of an accessing user sends its ticket and data file identification data to the key server. The key server checks the ticket and sends the key corresponding to the data file to the key client of the accessing user. The key client of the accessing user uses the key to decrypt the encrypted data file. The stored data can further include a header containing the key and owner and permitted user identification data. The ticket can contain a key to encrypt messages sent between the client server and key client.

Sub-agent for fulfilling requests of a web browser using an intelligent agent and providing a report
Invented by Konrad Charles Lagarde and Richard Michael Rogers
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,745,754
Granted April 28, 1998
Filed: June 7, 1995

Abstract

A World Wide Web browser makes requests to web servers on a network which receive and fulfill requests as an agent of the browser client, organizing distributed sub-agents as distributed integration solution (DIS) servers on an intranet network supporting the web server which also has an access agent servers accessible over the Internet. DIS servers execute selected capsule objects which perform programmable functions upon a received command from a web server control program agent for retrieving, from a database gateway coupled to a plurality of database resources upon a single request made from a Hypertext document, requested information from multiple data bases located at different types of databases geograhically dispersed, performing calculations, formatting, and other services prior to reporting to the web browser or to other locations, in a selected format, as in a display, fax, printer, and to customer installations or to TV video subscribers, with account tracking.

Hot plugging of an adapter card
Invented by John J. Carey, Fred Parnell and Jeffrey Buchanan Williams
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,680,288
Granted October 21, 1997
Filed: June 7, 1995

Abstract

A circuit senses an insertion of an adapter card into a connector coupled to a processor by an MCA bus and signals control logic, which forces all other adapter cards coupled to the MCA bus off of the bus with a preempt signal, driving the bus into an arbitration mode. This may be done while the system is powered. An analog switch divides the preempt signal into one that goes to the adapter cards and a second one that is sent to the processor so that it can perform memory refresh cycles.

Supporting dynamic tables in SQL query compilers
Invented by Yao-Ching Stephen Chen, Jyh-Herng Chow, Roberta Jo Cochrane, Gene Y.C. Fuh, Nelson Mendonca Mattos, Mir Hamid Pirahesh, Jeffrey D. Richey, Brian Thinh-Vinh Tran and Tuong Chanh Truong
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,930,795
Granted July 27, 1999
Filed: January 21, 1997

Abstract

A framework for a query compiler and run-time environment for resolving a table reference to a dynamic table that is first identified at run-time but is initially unknown at compile-time. A parser parses the table reference and creates a parsed representation for the table that identifies the type of dynamic table. A code generator creates executable plans containing run-time table object representations (TAOB), from the parsed representations, that contain the type of dynamic table.

The TAOB is also extended to provide for parameters that are definable at run-time, including a table ID of the actual table entity being referenced. A routine is embedded in a run-time routine that checks the type of dynamic table in the TAOB and dispatches control to one of a plurality of corresponding routines, depending upon the type of dynamic table. The corresponding routines use the extended TAOB to dynamically link the table reference to the dynamic table, depending upon the type of dynamic table. Once the dynamic table has been linked to the table reference, query processing continues as if that table were a base or derived table.

Optimal storage mechanism for persistent objects in DBMS
Invented by Gene Y. C. Fuh, Bruce Gilbert Lindsay, Nelson Mendonca Mattos, Brian Thinh-Vinh Tran and Yun Wang
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 6,065,013
Granted May 16, 2000
Filed: August 19, 1997

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer implemented storage mechanism for persistent objects in a database management system. A statement is executed in a computer. The statement is performed by the computer to manipulate data in a database stored on a data storage device connected to the computer. It is determined that an object is to be stored in an inline buffer. When the object can be entirely stored in the inline buffer, the object is stored in the inline buffer. When the object cannot be entirely stored in the inline buffer, a selected portion of the object is stored in the inline buffer and the remaining portion of the object is stored as a large object.

Altering thread priorities in a multithreaded processor
Invented by John Michael Borkenhagen, William Thomas Flynn and Andrew Henry Wottreng
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 6,212,544
Granted April 3, 2001
Filed: October 23, 1997

Abstract

A system and method for performing computer processing operations in a data processing system includes a multithreaded processor and thread switch logic. The multithreaded processor is capable of switching between two or more threads of instructions which can be independently executed. Each thread has a corresponding state in a thread state register depending on its execution status. The thread switch logic contains a thread switch control register to store the conditions upon which a thread switch will occur.

The thread switch logic has a time-out register which forces a thread switch when execution of the active thread in the multithreaded processor exceeds a programmable period of time. Thread switch logic also has a forward progress count register to prevent repetitive unproductive thread switching between threads in the multithreaded processor. Thread switch logic also is responsive to a software manager capable of changing the priority of the different threads and thus superseding thread switch events.

Method and apparatus for pipelining the transformation of information between heterogeneous sets of data sources
Invented by George Colliat, Marina D’Cruz, Steve Lyon, Jonathan Scott and Stefan Sieradzki
Assigned to DataMirror Corporation
US Patent 6,449,619
Granted September 10, 2002
Filed: June 23, 1999

Abstract

The invention provides a method and apparatus for pipelining the transformation of information between heterogeneous sets of data sources. The invention avoids intermediate data staging by constructing metadata that allow the acquisition of data in an order that matches the order in which the target data must be delivered. In a further feature of the invention, the acquisition, transformation, and delivery stages of an interface between two applications are pipelined as three processes that execute simultaneously on a continuous flow of data. Pipelining is a well-known technology that has been in use in operating systems, such as UNIX pipes and more recently by Torrent systems, to optimize the usage of multiprocessor machines. Uniquely, the invention applies pipelining technology to data transformation between heterogeneous data sources.

Method, system, and program for optimizing database query execution
Invented by Terry Dennis Allen, Paramesh S. Desai, Akira Shibamiya, Hong Sang Tie and Annie S. Tsang
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,146,365
Granted December 5, 2006
Filed: January 27, 2003

Abstract

Disclosed is a method, system, and program for database query execution. A range of data pages is assigned to each of multiple parallel tasks. For each of the multiple parallel tasks, the range of data pages is mapped to one or more physical partitions, and a data partitioned secondary index partition associated with each of the one or more physical partitions is identified. Each of the multiple parallel tasks is executed to process the database query against the assigned range of data pages using the one or more data partitioned secondary index partitions.

Method, system, and program for managing database operations with respect to a database table
Invented by RamanaKumari M. Croisettier, Paramesh S. Desai and Julie Ann Watts
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,158,996
Granted January 2, 2007
Filed: May 16, 2003

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and program for managing a database. A request is processed to create an index on at least one key column of a table in a computer readable medium. A determination is made of table partitions in which rows of the table are stored. One index partition is generated for each determined table partition, wherein each index partition includes nodes, wherein each node in each index partition includes a key value from at least one column in a corresponding table row in the table partition associated with the index partition and a location identifier identifying the corresponding table row in the corresponding table partition. In certain embodiments, a technique is implemented during queries to limit the search to a subset of the multiple index partitions when possible and return rows in the order of the key columns of the index while the same range of key values can exist across multiple index partitions.

Method, system, and program for archiving files
Invented by Christopher John Stakutis, William Robert Haselton, Kevin Michael Stearns, Alan L. Stuart, and Toby Lyn Marek
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,146,388
Granted December 5, 2006
Filed: October 7, 2003

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and program for archiving files. A hierarchical file system having directories is provided. An archival retention policy is associated with at least one of the directories in the hierarchical file system, wherein the retention policy applies to files included in the associated directory, and wherein the retention policy specifies a retention time indicating a time period during which a file is subject to the retention policy.

Apparatus and method for managing configuration of computer systems on a computer network
Invented by Kenneth Edgar Brown, Gregory Richard Hintermeister and Michael Bill Murphy
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,379,985
Granted May 27, 2008
Filed: April 15, 2005

Abstract

A system configuration manager provides a graphical user interface that allows a system administrator to easily administer configuration settings for different computer systems and platforms on a computer network. The system configuration manager of the present invention allows identifying one system configuration or a settings profile as a “model system”. Once the model system is defined, other computer systems may be compared to the model system.

Differences between the selected computer systems and the model system are then displayed, and the system configuration manager may be used to update the selected computer systems with configuration settings specified in the model system. Cross-platform support is provided by a configuration mapping mechanism that maps configuration information from one platform to corresponding configuration information for another platform. The configuration mapping mechanism effectively hides the differences between platforms by translating the configuration information from a selected platform to corresponding configuration information for the model system.

Method, system, and program for retention management and protection of stored objects
Invented by Avishai Haim Hochberg, Toby Lyn Marek, David Maxwell Cannon, Howard Newton Martin, Donald Paul Warren, Jr., Mark Alan Haye, and Alan L. Stuart
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,600,086
Granted October 6, 2009
Filed: August 18, 2006

Abstract

Provided is a method for managing retention of stored objects, comprising: receiving a modification request with respect to an attribute or archive policy for an object; determining whether an attribute modification protection flag or setting is set in response to the modification request requesting to modify the attribute for the object; allowing the modification of the attribute object in response to determining that the attribute modification protection flag or setting is not set; determining whether a protection retention mechanism or setting is set in response to the modification request requesting to modify the archive policy for the object; and allowing the modification of the archive policy for the object in response to determining that the protection retention mechanism or setting is not set.

Apparatus and method for managing configuration of computer systems on a computer network
Invented by Kenneth Edgar Brown, Gregory Richard Hintermeister, and Michael Bill Murphy
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,441,051
Granted October 21, 2008
Filed: August 29, 2006

Abstract

A system configuration manager provides a graphical user interface that allows a system administrator to easily administer configuration settings for different computer systems and platforms on a computer network. The system configuration manager allows identifying one system configuration or a settings profile as a “model system”. Once the model system is defined, other computer systems may be compared to the model system.

Differences between the selected computer systems and the model system are then displayed, and the system configuration manager may be used to update the selected computer systems with configuration settings specified in the model system. Cross-platform support is provided by a configuration mapping mechanism that maps configuration information from one platform to corresponding configuration information for another platform. The configuration mapping mechanism effectively hides the differences between platforms by translating the configuration information from a selected platform to corresponding configuration information for the model system.

Program storage device and computer program product for interactively managing a distributed database system
Invented by Thomas E. Conrad and Garry L. Haas
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,748,929
Granted May 5, 1998
Filed: June 5, 1995

Abstract

An interactive graphical display of object relationships and instances is implemented by means of a table driven process. The user can select one or more object occurrences and then select an action to be performed on the selected object occurrences using a dynamic menu of actions. Changes are made to the tables without modifying the processes. The process can be used in managing a distributed database system to provide a user with increasingly detailed levels of information about object types and occurrences in the database systems.

Service agent for fulfilling requests of a web browser
Invented by Richard Michael Rogers and Konrad Charles Lagarde
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,752,246
Granted May 12, 1998
Filed: June 7, 1995

Abstract

A World Wide Web browser makes requests to web servers on a network which receive and fulfill requests as an agent of the browser client, organizing distributed sub-agents as distributed integration solution (DIS) servers on an intranet network supporting the web server which also has an access agent servers accessible over the Internet. DIS servers execute selected capsule objects which perform programmable functions upon a received command from a web server control program agent for retrieving, from a database gateway coupled to a plurality of database resources upon a single request made from a Hypertext document, requested information from multiple data bases located at different types of databases geograhically dispersed, performing calculations, formatting, and other services prior to reporting to the web browser or to other locations, in a selected format, as in a display, fax, printer, and to customer installations or to TV video subscribers, with account tracking.

Agent for replicating data based on a client defined replication period
Invented by Josephine M. Cheng, HongHai Shen, and Shu-jen Wang
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,884,324
Granted March 16, 1999
Filed: July 23, 1996

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for replicating data stored in source database tables in a database management system implemented by a server at a remote client implemented on a client computer. The method comprises the steps of receiving a subscription message from the client computer, wherein the subscription message specifies a remote client database table and a data replication period, receiving a change log from the database management system at the data replication agent, generating a table of changed data by using the change log, data replication period, and source database table to reconstruct changes to the remote client database table, and transmitting the changed data table to the remote client.

Generic user authentication for network computers
Invented by Patrick Samuel Botz, Thomas Michael Moskalik, Devon Daniel Snyder, and Carol Jean Woodbury
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 5,908,469
Granted June 1, 1999
Filed: February 14, 1997

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method of performing user authentication on web based applications, such as IBM’s Network Station Configuration Preference Manager. In particular, the system and method saves and continuously passes user information back and forth between a web client and a web server. The user information can then be used by CGI programs being executed on the web server for authentication purposes. Specifically, each CGI program will examine the user information, determine the authority privileges of the user, run the CGI program under a non-default user mode, return user information back to the web client, and return the CGI job to run in a default user mode.

Method of creating and using notes decision capsules
Invented by Richard Michael Rogers,Konrad Charles Lagarde, Lisa Norma Schenkewitz, Steven Brian Rubin, Douglas A. Jones
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 6,094,655
Granted July 25, 2000
Filed: September 18, 1997

Abstract

A World Wide Web browser makes requests to web servers on a network which receives and fulfills requests as an agent of the browser client, organizing distributed sub-agents as distributed integration solution (DIS) or intelligent decision server (IDS) servers on an intranet network supporting the web server which also has access agent servers accessible over the Internet. DIS or IDS servers execute selected capsule objects which perform programmable functions upon a received command from a web server control program agent for retrieving, from a database gateway coupled to a plurality of database resources upon a single request made from a Hypertext document, requested information from multiple data bases located at different types of databases geographically dispersed, performing calculations, formatting, and other services prior to reporting to the web browser or to other locations, in a selected format.

The system is now a group software environment such as Notes for assisting work in a group software environment. Executable capsules are strung together capsule elements which are objects like DIS capsules or Java Beans and these are stored in a Notes control database as an application which can process files created within said group software environment. Upon request processing an appropriate output for the request using these strung together executable capsules and information provided during the request process and stores the final output of the process as a form in a Notes database which will contain the information produced by the execution of the strung together capsule.

Web server with integrated scheduling and calendaring
Invented by Paul Haverstock, Miguel Estrada, and Julio Estrada
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 6,064,977
Granted May 16, 2000
Filed: June 19, 1998

Abstract

A system for enabling access to non-HTML objects from a web browser. The system includes a database for storing non-HTML objects. A system user requests a non-HTML object from a database using a web browser. The web browser transmits the request to a server via a HTTP server and module. The server locates and retrieves the document requested. The module translates the document to a format supported by the web browser. The HTTP server communicates the translated object to the web browser over a network. The web browser then presents the translated object to the system user. The server also includes a schedule and calendar application which provides electronic scheduling and calendaring capabilities directly from the browser without having to open another application or display window.

WWW client server dynamic interactive system method
Invented by Richard Michael Rogers, and Konrad Charles Lagarde
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 6,604,135
Granted August 5, 2003
Filed: August 6, 1999

Abstract

A control program agent at a Web server receives a browser request by way of a server side API and fulfills requests as an agent of the browser client. Program capsules are utilized by distributed integration solution (DIS) servers for retrieving, from a database gateway coupled to a plurality of database resources, requested information from multiple data bases, performing calculations, formatting, and other services on the information and reporting results to the web browser or to other locations, in a selected format, as in a display, fax, printer, and to customer installations.

Data management system that provides intelligent access plan caching
Invented by Craig Stephen Aldrich, Mark John Anderson, Lynnette Elaine Carston, Brian Robert Muras, and Thomas James Schreiber
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,099,858
Granted August 29, 2006
Filed: January 30, 2003

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus, method, and program product for performing efficient database access plan caching. Unlike prior art mechanism that automatically discard stored access plans whenever the need for a different access plans is detected, stored plans are intelligently retained despite the handling of one or more infrequent queries that call for the use of a different plan.

Method, system, and program for retention management and protection of stored objects
Invented by Avishai Haim Hochberg, Toby Lyn Marek, David Maxwell Cannon, Howard Newton Martin, Donald Paul Warren, Jr., and Mark Alan Haye
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,117,322
Granted October 3, 2006
Filed: September 8, 2003

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and program for managing retention of stored objects. A modification request is received with respect to a stored object. A determination is made as to whether a retention protection mechanism is set and a storage policy associated with the stored object is processed to determine whether the stored object has expired according to the storage policy in response to determining that the retention protection mechanism is set. The modification request is allowed to proceed in response to determining that the stored object has expired.

Method, system, and program for implementing retention policies to archive records
Invented by Alan L. Stuart and Toby Lyn Marek
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,107,416
Granted September 12, 2006
Filed: December 15, 2003

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and program for receiving a request to remove a record. A determination is made as to whether a state associated with the record includes at least one hold state and whether the state associated with the record includes at least a retention period that has not expired. The request to remove the record is denied in response to determining that the state associated with the record includes at least one of at least one hold state and one retention period that has not expired.

Managing configuration of computer systems on a computer network
Invented by Kenneth Edgar Brown, Gregory Richard Hintermeister, and Michael Bill Murphy
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,487,231
Granted February 3, 2009
Filed: April 15, 2005

Abstract

A system configuration manager provides a graphical user interface that allows a system administrator to easily administer configuration settings for different computer systems and platforms on a computer network. The system configuration manager of the present invention allows identifying one system configuration or a settings profile as a “model system”. Once the model system is defined, other computer systems may be compared to the model system.

Differences between the selected computer systems and the model system are then displayed, and the system configuration manager may be used to update the selected computer systems with configuration settings specified in the model system. Cross-platform support is provided by a configuration mapping mechanism that maps configuration information from one platform to corresponding configuration information for another platform. The configuration mapping mechanism effectively hides the differences between platforms by translating the configuration information from a selected platform to corresponding configuration information for the model system.

Method, system and program for archiving files
Invented by Christopher John Stakutis, and William Robert Haselton, Kevin Michael Stearns, Alan L. Stuart, and Toby Lyn Marek
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,765,177
Granted July 27, 2010
Filed: August 18, 2006

Abstract

Provided are a method, system, and program for archiving files. A hierarchical file system having directories is provided. An archival retention policy is associated with at least one of the directories in the hierarchical file system, wherein the retention policy applies to files included in the associated directory, and wherein the retention policy specifies a retention time indicating a time period during which a file is subject to the retention policy.

Managing configuration of computer systems on a computer network
Invented by Kenneth Edgar Brown, Gregory Richard Hintermeister and Michael Bill Murphy;
Assigned to International Business Machines Corporation
US Patent 7,836,214
Granted November 16, 2010
Filed: May 16, 2008

Abstract

A system configuration manager provides a graphical user interface that allows a system administrator to easily administer configuration settings for different computer systems and platforms on a computer network. The system configuration manager allows identifying one system configuration or a settings profile as a “model system”. Once the model system is defined, other computer systems may be compared to the model system.

Differences between the selected computer systems and the model system are then displayed, and the system configuration manager may be used to update the selected computer systems with configuration settings specified in the model system. Cross-platform support is provided by a configuration mapping mechanism that maps configuration information from one platform to corresponding configuration information for another platform. The configuration mapping mechanism effectively hides the differences between platforms by translating the configuration information from a selected platform to corresponding configuration information for the model system.

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