International Business Machines Corporation

Rackspace Us, Inc.

Autocue, Inc.

Daniel E Morris

Travis M Grigsby

Frank Anthony Nuzzi

Michael Negley Abernethy, Jr

Paul William Bennett

Michael C Thompson

Elisa Ferracane

Daniel Salinas

Michael Basnight

Edward Konetzko

Howard Neil Anglin

Nazgol Sedghi

Steven Michael Miller

Lisa A Seacat

Keith Dawson Bray

Randall Burt

Eric Young

Ronald Sheldon

Updating contact information for a first communication device according to metadata associated with a virtual world is provided. In response to an avatar of a first user interacting with an avatar of a second user in the virtual world, information comprising a name of the avatar of the second user and metadata associated with the avatar of the second user is sent to the first user. In response to receiving the information, contact information associated with the name of the avatar of the second user is determined. The contact information is organized based on the metadata. The organized contact information is prioritized according to the metadata. A speed dial setting corresponding to the prioritized contact information is assigned. The assigned speed dial setting is assigned to the first communication device. The assigned speed dial setting is stored in the first communication device.

Dynamic update of contact information and speed dial settings based on a virtual world interaction

In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a system with multiple computing hosts each having a hypervisor to provide a virtual environment for the host and one or more containers each including a database instance and at least one database. These databases, and the database instance can be provided as a service to a user of a multi-tenant environment.

Providing a database as a service in a multi-tenant environment

Disclosed is a computer implemented method, computer program product, and apparatus to switch security configurations. A data processing system accesses a first security configuration via a thread of execution, wherein a security configuration comprises at least one security parameter. The thread receives an incoming request. The thread switches to a second security configuration that specifies a resource, based on the incoming request, responsive to receiving the incoming request. The thread stores the second security configuration or a reference to the second security configuration to a stack. The thread authenticates the incoming request based on the second security configuration. The thread grants or denies access to the resource. The thread executes a method referenced in the incoming request. The thread restores to a first security configuration, responsive to completing the method.

Dynamic switching of security configurations

The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for updating contact information according to metadata associated with a virtual world. In response to an avatar of a first user interacting with an avatar of a second user in a virtual world, information comprising a name of the avatar of the second user and metadata associated with the avatar of the second user is sent to the first user. In response to receiving the information, contact information associated with the name of the avatar of the second user is determined. The contact information is organized based on the metadata to form organized contact information. The organized contact information is prioritized according to the metadata to form prioritized contact information. The prioritized contact information is stored.

In one embodiment a method for receiving a request from a user to update a pointer record of a domain name system (DNS) in a DNS service includes issuing a query from the DNS service to a resource of a first service of the data center from the DNS service using a uniform resource indicator (URI) of the request corresponding to the resource, receiving a list of Internet protocol (IP) addresses in the DNS service from the first service, determining whether an IP address received in the request corresponds to one of the IP addresses of the list, and if so, enabling the user to update the pointer record.

Validating pointer records in a domain name system (DNS) service

A method, system, and computer usable program product for flexibly assigning security configurations to applications are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An embodiment determines, forming a first determination, whether a first identifier identifying the application is mapped to the security configuration. The embodiment determines, forming a second determination, whether the application participates in a group by determining whether a second identifier identifying the group is mapped to the security configuration. The embodiment assigns, forming a first assignment, the security configuration to the application if either of the first and the second determinations is true. The embodiment assigns, forming a second assignment, the security configuration to the application using a determination by a first policy if the first and the second determinations are false.

Flexibly assigning security configurations to applications

It has been discovered that damage to an optical disc can be used as a damage signature for that optical disc. The damage signature can be digitally represented to uniquely identify the optical disc in combination with other identifying information that identifies the optical disc. Services, such as a restore service, can be provided to a user after validation of a digital damage signature of an optical disc.

Digital damage signature of an optical disc

Mechanisms for providing a social network aware input dictionary are provided. A social network of users is monitored to determine the words and terms utilized by the users as part of their communication and interaction within the social network. Words and terms are ranked, or prioritized, within the social network based on a determined increase/decrease in popularity of the words/terms as determined from the monitoring of the social network. Based on the ranking of these words/terms, individual input dictionaries associated with devices used by the users of the social network may be automatically updated to include/remove these words/terms and/or increase/decrease a relative priority of the words/terms within the input dictionaries. Such automatic updating may be performed regardless of whether the particular user has used the word/term or not.

Providing a social network aware input dictionary

It has been discovered that inaccurate representations of content read from an optical disc can be restored. A representation of content read from a damaged optical disc may include data that corresponds to misread data sections. The data for the misread data sections can be replaced with portions of an accurate representation of the content. The portions can be extracted from an accurate representation maintained online or at a local repository of digital representations of content.

Restoring a digital representation of content read from an optical disc

Aggregated navigation system data can be used by an artifact repository to infer the presence of a static traffic artifact. Static traffic artifact can include traffic lights, traffic signs, special traffic zones, railroad crossings, and the like. Metric data collected from multiple global positioning systems (GPS) devices can provide sampling data for inferring a static traffic artifact on a road. Metrics can include driving behavior, travel direction, velocity, timestamps, delay, and the like. For example, if thirty percent of the data collected about an intersection indicates drivers come to a stop at an intersection, the system can infer a traffic light exists at the intersection. Each traffic artifact can have an associated confidence factor which can indicate the degree of accuracy of the inferred artifact. Confidence factor can be increased or decreased based on the re-evaluation of sample data for the artifact.

Inferring static traffic artifact presence, location, and specifics from aggregated navigation system data

An instrument supporting crane for supporting a camera or the like, the crane being readily assembled, disassembled, and shipped. The crane includes a boom to which a nose assembly is pivotably coupled, and a base unit to which the boom is pivotably coupled. The boom is preferably constructed of a series of sections such that the length of the boom may be varied, depending upon the application. The boom sections are coupled by complementary channels such that the section slide together. An additional mechanical coupling, such as a screw may be provided. Preferably, the boom is a hollow elongated structure with openings extending therethrough to allow the passage of air to minimize movement of the nose assembly when the crane is used in high winds. A platform assembly having a monitor tray for supporting a monitor may be provided at a tail section of the boom. The monitor tray may be pivotably coupled to the tail section and the base unit such that the angle of the monitor varies depending upon the relative positions of the tail section and the base unit. The base unit is likewise readily assembled and disassembled. The base unit includes a head, a plurality of legs and a dolly. A center tie-down rod extends between the head and the dolly such that when the rod is shortened, as by tightening a sleeve, the head and dolly are drawn towards one another and a compressive force is placed on the legs to secure the base unit together.

Growing community of inventors

Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Daniel E Morris