A system for dispensing and redeeming the electronic discount coupons. The system includes a personal computer (PC) having hardware and software for receiving an electronic coupon from the system of computer networks, translating the received coupon into a binary format, and sending the binary-formatted coupon to a card-writing device. The card-writing device writes the coupon data onto a portable customer card ("smart card") approximately the size of a credit card. Subsequently, the customer goes to the store with the card. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting the card into the checkout station. During checkout, the customer is credited with the value of a coupon when UPC data from a bar code reader corresponds to a coupon stored on the card.

System and method for distributing coupons through a system of computer networks

A computer system having a plurality of processors and memory including a plurality of scalable nodes having multiple like processor memory elements. Each of the processor memory elements has a plurality of communication paths for communication within a node to other like processor memory elements within the node. Each of the processor memory elements also has a communication path for communication external to the node to another like scalable node of the computer system.

Advanced parallel array processor (APAP)

A computer network security system and method utilizes digitally signed and centrally assigned policy data, such as password length rules, that is unilaterally enforced at network nodes by node policy enforcement engines. The policy data may be variable on a per client or network node basis through a centralized authority, such as a certification authority. The computer network security system provides variable security policy rule data for distribution to at least one network node through a central security policy rule data distribution source, such as the certification authority. The central security policy rule data distribution source associates a digital signature to the variable security policy rule data to ensure the integrity of the policies in the system. Each network node uses a policy rule data engine and policy rule table to decode policy rule data and enforce the policy rules as selectively determined through the central authority.

Computer network security system and method having unilateral enforceable security policy provision

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for dynamically discovering and utilizing an optimized network path through overlay routing for the transmission of data. A determination whether to use a default network path or to instead use an alternate data forwarding path through one or more overlay nodes is based on real-time measurement of costs associated with the alternative paths, in response to a user request for transmission of message data to a destination on the network. Cost metrics include delay, throughput, jitter, loss, and security. The system chooses the best path among the default forwarding path and the multiple alternate forwarding paths, and implements appropriate control actions to force data transmission along the chosen path. No modification of established network communication protocols is required.

On-demand overlay routing for computer-based communication networks

A system for selecting options for modifying a network architecture in accordance with user preferences using a knowledge base and a database. The knowledge base includes rules to select modification categories and the database includes information on a plurality of equipment and a plurality of tariffs. To select the options, the system generates a base-line simulation from the network architecture, which base-line simulation includes performance data on the network architecture under a predetermined scenario. Modification categories based on the user preferences are selected using rules in the knowledge base, and equipment information and tariff information corresponding to the network modification categories are selected from the database to create modification options for the network modification categories. The modification options are evaluated using rules in the knowledge base. The system then generates a plurality of new simulations of the network architecture as modified by the modification options, and compares the performance data of the base-line simulation with performance data of the new simulations to specify differences in performance data between the base-line simulation and each new simulation. Finally, the modification options (each corresponding to one of the new simulations) are ranked using the specified differences in performance data between the base-line simulation and each new simulation, user preferences, and rules of the knowledge base.

Automated network simulation and optimization system

A communication network having a multiplicity of nodes provides efficient exchange of messages between the nodes. The messages may be originated and received by the computers of a parallel computer system, the processors and associated memories of which are connected to each node. Each node includes a routing system which results in efficient system performance for the parallel computer system associated with the nodes. The messages have control information (a message tag) to which the routing system at each node is responsive. The tag contains data identifying the destination node of the message in the network and prioritization data which, when the message is generated, is initialized to have a value (weight) corresponding to the length (number of links) of the minimal path from the source node where the message originates to the destination node of the message. The routing system utilizes the weights to establish message priority. The routing system receives and sends messages not exceeding the number of links connected thereto on each cycle such that messages flow in and flow out of each routing node on each cycle without being held or stored in queues in the node. Messages of lesser priority are switched by the router to alternate links in accordance with their weights thereby dynamically routing and resolving conflicts among messages.

Mondher Ben-Ayed

Papers

Dynamic routing system for a multinode communications network

Dynamic routing for regular direct computer networks