A computer network and a database are used to provide a hardware-independent, dynamic information system in which the information content is entirely user-controlled. Requests are received from individual users of the computer network to electronically publish information, and input is accepted from the individual users. Entries from the users containing the information to be electronically published are automatically collected, classified and stored in the database in searchable and retrievable form. Entries are made freely accessible on the computer network. In response to user requests, the database is searched and entries are retrieved. Entries are served to users in a hardware-independent page description language. The entries are password protected, allowing users to retrieve and update entries by supplying a correct password. Preferably, the process is entirely automated with any necessary billing being performed by secure, on-line credit card processing. The user making a database entry has complete control of that entry both at the time the entry is made and in the future after the entry has been made. The entry, when served to a client, is transformed on-the-fly to the page description language. Where the page description language is HTML and the computer network is the World Wide Web, the entry may function as a “mini” homepage for the user that made the entry. Provision is made for graphics and other kinds of content besides text, taking advantage of the content-rich nature of the Web.

Automated on-line information service and directory, particularly for the world wide Web

A Message Storage and Deliver System (MSDS) is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and receives incoming calls with these calls being facsimile, voice, or data transmissions. The MSDS detects the type of call and stores the message signal in a database. The MSDS is also connected to the Internet and has a hyper-text transfer protocol deamon (HTTPD) for receiving requests from users. The HTTPD forwards requests for certain files or messages to a network server which transmits at least part of the message to the HTTPD and then to the user. In addition to requests for certain documents, the HTTPD may also receive a request in the form of a search query. The search query is forwarded from the HTTPD to an application program for conducting the search of the database. The results of the search are forwarded through the HTTPD to the user. The user may then select one or more files or messages from the search results and may save the search for later reference.

Systems and methods for storing, delivering, and managing messages

A delivery system (12) and method allows a financial institution to provide financial services to a plurality of remote devices (24), such as personal computers (PCs) (18), personal data assistants (PDAs) (20), and screen phone (14). In addition to providing services to these remote devices (24), the system and method provide services to automatic teller machines (ATMs)(16), external service providers (22), and internally within the financial institution to staff terminals (26) and to the individual branches of the financial institution. The system is comprised of a set of re-usable global components which are modular and are organized into services sets. By separating the components of the system into independent components, the system and method can be developed and tested on a component level rather than the entire system level, thereby substantially reducing the development and maintenance cycle time.

System and method for delivering financial services

A method for operating a server system adapted to provide information files to a plurality of subscribers over communications network, such as Internet. A plurality of publishers store their publishing material such as newspapers, magazines or software files in a database server. The database server maintains a schedule of events file adapted to contain information relating to predetermined downloading schedules to the subscribers of the database server. The schedule of events file or the relevant portions of it are then transmitted to individual subscribers so that requests for information can be launched from the subscribers terminals at a predetermined time in accordance with the schedule of event file. The server then transmits to each requesting subscriber a set of predetermined data files as authorized by a corresponding one of the publishers, including each file's name, size and identification code in response to said information request from each one of the subscribers. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the database server keeps a track of information file transmittals and makes sure that a file has been successfully downloaded. If not, the database server keeps a track of the portion of the files that have been successfully transmitted and attempts to retransmit the portion that has not been received successfully, several times until the entire file is successfully received.

Client-server system for delivery of online information

A method, system, and apparatus for accessing a plurality of storage devices in a storage area network (SAN) as network attached storage (NAS) in a data communication network is described A SAN server includes a first interface and a second interface The first interface is configured to be coupled to the SAN The second interface is coupled to a first data communication network A NAS server includes a third interface and fourth interface The third interface is configured to be coupled to a second data communication network The fourth interface is coupled to the first data communication network The SAN server allocates a first portion of the plurality of storage devices in the SAN to be accessible through the second interface to at least one first host coupled to the first data communication network The SAN server allocates a second portion of the plurality of storage devices in the SAN to the NAS server The NAS server configures access to the second portion of the plurality of storage devices to at least one second host coupled to the second data communication network

System and method for accessing a storage area network as network attached storage

A management system for a file server having a system board, an expansion board, a disk storage system and a server manager for collecting management information from the system board. The management system arranges MIB information for the file server into a first manageable device specific subsystem containing management information describing the system board, a second, manageable device specific, subsystem containing management information describing the expansion board, a third, manageable device specific, subsystem containing management information describing the disk storage system, a fourth, non-manageable device specific, subsystem containing management information describing the configuration of the file server, a fifth, non-manageable device specific, subsystem containing management information describing the security configuration for the file server, a sixth, manageable device specific, subsystem containing management information describing the server manager, a seventh, non-manageable device specific, subsystem containing management information describing I/O ports of the file server, an eighth, non-manageable device specific, subsystem containing management information describing internal environmental conditions of the file server. The management information for each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth subsystems may then be selectively accessed using a series of GUIs.

Graphical user interface for computer management system and an associated management information base

A method of managing a plurality of networked manageable devices which include at least one file server having a system board, a drive array subsystem associated with the file server and a server manager installed in the file server for monitoring the system board from a manager console using a management information base or "MIB". First, second and third plurality of objects which describe the system board, the drive array subsystem and the server manager, respectively, are collected and assembled into a MIB. The assembled MIB is then used to manage the file server.

Computer management system and associated management information base

A first storage controller that is part of a cluster of storage controllers includes an interface to communicate with at least one storage subsystem having a storage volume, where the first storage controller is initially assigned to process requests for the storage volume. The first storage controller further includes a processor to receive requests to access the storage volume, where the requests include client requests from one or more client computers and proxy requests from one or more other storage controllers in the cluster. Based on monitoring the client requests and the proxy requests, it is determined that a second of the storage controllers in the cluster is to be assigned to process requests for the storage volume. In response to the determining, control of the storage volume is transferred from the first storage controller to the second storage controller.

Transfer control of a storage volume between storage controllers in a cluster

Storage volumes are provided across a plurality of storage devices, where the storage volumes include at least a first storage volume and a second storage volume. A storage controller detects fault in a portion of a particular one of the plurality of storage devices, where the portion corresponds to the first storage volume. The storage controller identifies the particular storage device as faulty for the first storage volume without identifying the particular storage device as faulty for the second storage volume.

Identifying a storage device as faulty for a first storage volume without identifying the storage device as faulty for a second storage volume

Examples disclosed herein relate to variable cache flushing. Some examples disclosed herein a storage controller may detect a cache flush failure and, in response, may execute a first reattempt of the cache flush after a first time period has elapsed. The storage controller may adjust durations of time periods between subsequent reattempts of the cache flush based on various factors.

Daniel J. Mazina

Papers

Graphical user interface for computer management system and an associated management information base

Computer management system and associated management information base

Transfer control of a storage volume between storage controllers in a cluster

Identifying a storage device as faulty for a first storage volume without identifying the storage device as faulty for a second storage volume

Variable cache flushing