An intelligent automated assistant system engages with the user in an integrated, conversational manner using natural language dialog, and invokes external services when appropriate to obtain information or perform various actions. The system can be implemented using any of a number of different platforms, such as the web, email, smartphone, and the like, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the system is based on sets of interrelated domains and tasks, and employs additional functionally powered by external services with which the system can interact.

Intelligent Automated Assistant

A solution to the general problem of Secure Storage and Retrieval of Information (SSRI) guarantees that also the process of storing the information is correct even when some processors fail. A user interacts with the storage system by depositing a file and receiving a proof that the deposit was correctly executed. The user interacts with a single distinguished processor called the gateway. The mechanism enables storage in the presence of both inactive and maliciously active faults, while maintaining (asymptotical) space optimailty. This mechanism is enhanced with the added requirement of confidentiality of information; i.e., that a collusion of processors should not be able to learn anything about the information. Also, in this case space optimality is preserved.

Method and apparatus for the secure distributed storage and retrieval of information

A seamless solution transparently addresses the characteristics of nomadic systems, and enables existing network applications to run reliably in mobile environments. The solution extends the enterprise network, letting network managers provide mobile users with easy access to the same applications as stationary users without sacrificing reliability or centralized management. The solution combines advantages of existing wire-line network standards with emerging mobile standards to create a solution that works with existing network applications. A Mobility Management Server coupled to the mobile network maintains the state of each of any number of Mobile End Systems and handles the complex session management required to maintain persistent connections to the network and to other peer processes. If a Mobile End System becomes unreachable, suspends, or changes network address (e.g., due to roaming from one network interconnect to another), the Mobility Management Server maintains the connection to the associated peer task—allowing the Mobile End System to maintain a continuous connection even though it may temporarily lose contact with its network medium. In one example, Mobility Management Server communicates with Mobile End Systems using Remote Procedure Call and Internet Mobility Protocols.

Method and apparatus for providing mobile and other intermittent connectivity in a computing environment

The various methods and devices described herein relate to devices which, in at least certain embodiments, may include one or more sensors for providing data relating to user activity and at least one processor for causing the device to respond based on the user activity which was determined, at least in part, through the sensors. The response by the device may include a change of state of the device, and the response may be automatically performed after the user activity is determined.

Automated Response to and Sensing of User Activity in Portable Devices

A system and method for maintaining security in a distributed computing environment comprises a policy manager located on a server for managing and distributing a security policy, and an application guard located on a client for managing access to securable components as specified by the security policy. In the preferred embodiment, a global policy specifies access privileges of the user to securable components. The policy manager may then preferably distribute a local client policy based on the global policy to the client. An application guard located on the client then manages access to the securable components as specified by the local policy.

System and method for maintaining security in a distributed computer network

A communication interface for providing asynchronous and telephonic communications is disclosed. The interface enables software applications, which are independent of any hardware or physical addresses, to operate on the interface. In this manner, the software applications can be written independent of hardware implementation and protocol implementation. A set of configuration parameters is defined for both an asynchronous and telephonic communication function set. Additionally, a set of interrupt conditions is defined for both the asynchronous and telephonic communication function sets. These parameters and interrupt conditions control the interaction of the software applications across the interface with the system hardware. Means are provided for directing commands coming from a software application across the interface to the system hardware. Likewise, means are provided for generating interrupts and handling these interrupts from the system hardware across the interface back to an interrupt routine within the software application.

Signal processor communication interface

An improvement relating to the security of an operating system for either a stand alone computer system or for a networked computer system. The operating system provides improved security for programs available on the computer system having different security protocols. The operating system unifies these security protocols for each user based on unique user credentials. The system operates, upon request to start a program procedure by the user, to authenticate the identity of the user based on information unique to that user. Following which, the system generates a user handle associated with the user. The system then notifies each of the security protocols of the user handle associated with the user. The system then generates new user credentials for each of the security protocols. These user credentials are associated with the user handle and then the user handle is mapped to the unique user's credentials for each program procedure. Once this is accomplished, the system invokes an alternate process and tags the process with the user handle. Once a request from the alternate process for access to an object accessed through the server is requested, the system then grants access to the object based on the new user credentials associated with the user handle. The new user credentials are typically based on an association of the user identifier, the user handle, and the unique user credentials from before.

Method and system for providing a user access to multiple secured subsystems

A Transport Layer Protocol Boundary (TLPB) architecture is described which will permit an application program to run over a non-native transport protocol without first generating a protocol compensation package tailored to the transport protocols assumed by the program's application programming interface and by the available transport provider. All transport functions required by the program are converted to standardized or TLPB representations. When a connection between the first application program and a second remote application is requested, the individual required TLPB transport functions are compared to corresponding functions supported by the transport provider. Compensations are invoked only where there is a mismatch. The node on which the remote application program runs is informed of the compensations so that necessary de-compensation operations can be performed before the data is delivered to the remote application program.

Compensation for mismatched transport protocols in a data communications network

@ The method provides a separate trace table (TT) for each CPU in an MP (multiprocessor) to avoid inter-CPU interference in making trace table entries (16) for explicit and implicit tracing instructions enabled by flag bits (E, A, B) in a control register (CR). Explicit tracing entries are made for an enabled explicit tracing (TR) instruction (11). Implicit tracing entries are made for predetermined instructions (when enabled for tracing) which do not have tracing as their primary purpose. A storage operand (12) of the trace instruction (11) contains a disablement field (T) and optionally may contain an enablement- controlling class field (4 ... 7) to improve the integrity of traceable programs. A time stamp and a range of general register (R1... R3) contents is provided in each trace table entry for a tracing instruction. The time stamp enables all trace tables in an MP system to be later merged into a single trace table whenever required.

Efficient trace method adaptable to multiprocessors

A report generation control system for operating a text processor to produce output reports containing inter-report summary data from data processing-type files. The system is compatible with text pagination functions and is useable by a text entry/revision operator with no programming skills. The system permits the operator to describe the desired report by keying an example page of the report in the exact desired format and then editing the example page by replacing the required variable file data examples with descriptive instructions such as (FRP) (DCG) (RCD) and by inserting summary instructions such as (CGS) (FRS). The system scans the edited example page for instructions, breaks it down into logical components and compiles the components into program routines which will produce the desired output renort.

John Hayden Wilson

Papers

Signal processor communication interface

Method and system for providing a user access to multiple secured subsystems

Compensation for mismatched transport protocols in a data communications network

Efficient trace method adaptable to multiprocessors

Report generation control system for text processing machines