International Business Machines Corporation

Michael Austin Halcrow

Dustin C Kirkland

Emily Jane Ratliff

Kylene Jo Hall

David B Kumhyr

Herman Rodriguez

Richard J Cardone

Ameet M Paranjape

Steven Michael French

Prasad Venkata Potluri

Serge E Hallyn

Kent E Yoder

Benjamin M Landman

Kylene J Smith

Dynamic language checking includes identifying questionable language usage; creating a query in dependence upon the questionable language usage; querying a search engine with the query; receiving from the search engine search result statistics describing the search results for the query; and determining, in dependence upon search results statistics returned by the search engine, whether the questionable language usage is proper language usage.

Dynamic language checking

Safe deposit boxes, services, and methods for physically secure data storage are provided that include securing a network-enabled computer within a safe deposit box, receiving, in the network-enabled computer, data transmitted from a remote computer coupled for data communications with the network-enabled computer; and storing the data in the memory of the network-enabled computer. Securing a network-enabled computer within a safe deposit box may be carried out by providing a locked safe deposit box having the networked enabled computer stored within. Securing a network-enabled computer within a safe deposit box may be carried out by providing a lockable safe deposit box having the networked enabled computer integrated within.

On-demand physically secure data storage

Verifying ballots that are cast in an election is provided. A mutual attestation procedure is executed between a plurality of devices communicating in a voting system via a network. A number of certificates are published. Each certificate corresponds to one of the plurality of devices and contains a public key and reference election configuration data defining a reference machine execution environment state of its corresponding device. A voter authorization token is generated for each voter. Voting results are generated in response to using a given voter authorization token to cast a given ballot using a specified voting device. Current election configuration data is generated that defines a current machine execution environment state of the specified voting device when the given ballot was cast. The current election configuration data is compared with the reference configuration data to verify a valid machine execution environment state of the specified voting device.

Method and system for verifying election results

Methods, systems, and computer program products are disclosed for dynamic language checking. Embodiments include identifying questionable language usage; creating a query in dependence upon the questionable language usage; querying a search engine with the query; receiving from the search engine search result statistics describing the search results for the query; and determining, in dependence upon search results statistics returned by the search engine, whether the questionable language usage is proper language usage.

Systems, methods and computer program products for generating anonymous assertions. Exemplary embodiments include a method for generating anonymous assertions, the method comprising engaging anonymous role authentication via one or more authenticator services, generating an assertion token on a trusted assertion device that is booted into a trusted configuration, and processing the assertion and validating a right of the user to make the assertion for the event.

Systems, methods and computer program products for generating anonymous assertions

A mechanism for enabling efficient encryption and integrity validation of network files. When a request to read a file stored in a local network file system is received, the local network file system examines cryptographic attributes associated with the file to determine if the file is encrypted or integrity-verified. If the cryptographic attributes indicate the file is encrypted, the local network file system omits the encryption of the file by the local network file system prior to passing the file to the remote network file system. If the cryptographic attributes indicate the file is integrity-verified, the local network file system omits the integrity-verification of the file by the local network file system prior to passing the file to the remote network file system. The local network file system then transmits the file to the remote network file system.

Transparent aware data transformation at file system level for efficient encryption and integrity validation of network files

A method of regulating electronic message traffic is proposed. The method comprises sending an electronic message as part of a thread, receiving a response to the message, and tabulating said response in a counter. A data processing system compares the counter to a threshold and, in response to the comparing step, designates the thread as off-topic.

Dynamic reader-instigated categorization and distribution restriction of mailing list threads

A method, system, and program for user controlled anonymity when evaluating into a role are provided. An anonymous authentication controller enables a user to control anonymity of the user's identity for role based network accesses to resources, without requiring reliance on any single third party to maintain user anonymity. First, a role authentication certificate is received from a role authenticator, wherein the role authentication certificate certifies that the holder of the role authentication certificate is a member of a particular role without allowing the role authenticator issuing the role authentication certificate the ability to track an identity of a user holding the role authentication certificate. Next, an anonymous channel is established for anonymously presenting the role authentication certificate to a resource protector, wherein the resource protector requires the user to authenticate into the particular role to access a resource, wherein the role authentication certificate authenticates the user into the particular role without enabling the resource protector to ascertain the identity of the user, such that the user is in control of maintaining user anonymity for authenticated role-based accesses.

User controlled anonymity when evaluating into a role

An improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions in a portable device for obtaining bids for a task. Access to a task in a set of tasks for bidding is provided through a wireless network. The access to the task includes a specification of a selected distance between a bidding entity and a location of the portable device that the bidding entity is required to be located within for generating bids. A bid for the task is received from an entity through the wireless network if the entity is within a selected distance of a location of the portable device. The bid may be accepted for completing the task.

Method and apparatus for bidding on broadcast service requests and offers from nearby devices

A computer implemented method, a computer program product, and a data processing system are provided for forecasting risks associated with installing software packages. A software package is selected for installation on a data processing system. The number of updates issued for each software package within the package list is determined within a specified past period of time. Based on the number of updates for the package list over the past period of time, an estimate of the number of updates likely to be issued over a specified future period of time is calculated. The number of updates estimated over the future period of time is an indicator of the risk associated with the installation of software packages on the package list.

Method for forecasting risks associated with software packages

Several encoders at a broadcast system encode the same audio content. Packets from the resulting streams are immediately decoded and compared against the packets of the original audio stream. The broadcast system dynamically selects the codec that performs the best for the audio in any given packet. The packet produced by the encoder of the best-performing codec devices is selected to be broadcasted/transmitted.

Method for dynamic selection of optimized codec for streaming audio content

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for conducting a confidential search. The method comprises accessing one or more terms associated with one or more nodes of a network, encrypting the accessed one or more terms and receiving an encrypted search term from a user. The method further comprises comparing the received encrypted search term with at least a portion of the encrypted accessed terms and providing a result of the comparison to the user.

Method and apparatus for conducting a confidential search

Method and system for dynamic reader-instigated categorization and distribution restriction on mailing list threads

A method, system, and computer program product for efficiently generating a substantially accurate list of available hotspots in geographic locations. A computer system configured with a hotspot location utility operates as a Provider. The Provider receives from a mobile device a hotspot operability/availability transmission (HOT), which includes an identification of a currently operating and available hotspot. The Provider concurrently receives a current GPS coordinate of the device transmitting the HOT. Then, the provider stores the HOT and associated GPS coordinate within a hotspot locator database. When the Provider later receives a request from a user searching for hotpots within a particular geographic location, the Provider determines which acceptable entries of the multiple entries are in geographic locations in proximity to the particular geographic location and then provides an output of the acceptable entries to the user.

Growing community of inventors

Pflugerville, TX, United States of America

Michael Austin Halcrow