International Business Machines Corporation

Ebay, Incorporated

Paypal, Inc.

William M Houston

James A Martin, Jr

Scott Denison Hicks

Douglas George Murray

Carol I DelGaudio

Diane Christy Rauch

Jeffrey E Prince

Victoria A Locke

Eric J Morin

Donald P Mummey

Rachele Shannon Kurtz

Richard R Pritsky

Jo-Ann M Geuss

Raymond A Rupert

Matthew Jay Bangel

Victoria A Hanrahan

Christian Toft-Nielsen

Martina L Kim

Randy B Klipstein

Joseph L Simons

David M Filiberti

Diana C Rauch

Stanely P Hirsch

Daniel J Finley

Louis Guglielmo

Disclosed are a method, system and computer program for collecting inventory data about a group of machines at an office. This method comprises the steps of running an inventory tool on each of the machines, and the tool presenting dialog displays on each of the machines, filling in or changing data in the dialogs presented by the tool, and submitting the collected information to a server. Also disclosed are a method, system and computer program for customizing an inventory data collection tool for a plurality of logical groups of users. Each of the logical groups of users is provided with a copy of the inventory data collection tool and with a first copy of a common control file. Each of the groups of users uses the first copy of the common control file to customize the tool for the group of users.

Method and system for network connectivity migration management

Method and system for enterprise-wide migration

A method and system for updating a database structure. The database structure includes a dynamically changing list of control documents. A control document specifies tasks to be performed on the database structure. An agent finds an approved control document on the list such as by looking into a view of control documents. Processing the approved control document includes causing an execution of at least one task on the approved control document. Execution of a such task includes updating of the database structure, and may be implemented by the agent that found the control document or by another agent called by the agent.

Use of agents and control documents to update a database structure

A method and computer system for transforming a portion (e.g., a view) of a database into a custom spreadsheet. The transforming includes determining whether to omit in the custom spreadsheet a column that is in the view, determining whether to add to the custom spreadsheet a column that is not in the view, or both. The transforming may also include implementation of rules that control how various portions of the custom spreadsheet are configured.

Transforming a portion of a database into a custom spreadsheet

The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for the on-demand creation and distribution of customized dynamic contracts. At least one business opportunity is extracted from an opportunity database. For each extracted business opportunity, a credit score for a customer associated with the extracted business opportunity is obtained and a dynamically modifiable contract for the extracted business opportunity is generated. The dynamically modifiable contract is distributed to a contact associated with the extracted business opportunity, who presents the dynamically modifiable contract to the customer associated with the extracted business opportunity. The contact can modify the dynamically modifiable contract, if necessary, during negotiations with the customer, to provide a contract that is acceptable to the contact and the customer.

Method, system, and computer program product for on-demand creation and distribution of customized dynamic contracts

Disclosed are a method, system and computer program for collecting inventory data about a group of machines at an office. This method comprises the steps of running an inventory tool on each of the machines, and the tool presenting dialogue displays on each of the machines, filling in or changing data in the dialogues presented by the tool, and submitting the collected information to a server. Also disclosed are a method, system and computer program for customizing an inventory data collection tool for a plurality of logical groups of users. Each of the logical groups of users is provided with a copy of the inventory data collection tool and with a first copy of a common control file. Each of the groups of users uses the first copy of the common control file to customize the tool for the group of users.

Disclosed are a method of and system for enterprise-wide migration. The method comprises the steps of creating instances of databases for a migration, for billing and reporting, and repositing reports; gathering information on the organization, location, hardware, and software affected by said migration into a database for planning said migration; and building an inventory of the affected hardware and software using an inventory tracking tool or an inventory mailer. Migration hardware and software is ordered based on said planning and said inventory, using an inventory tool; and labor, hardware, and software as installed are tracked and billed, using said billing and reporting database. Agents for said creating, gathering, building and tracking are enabled using an agent control facility.

Under the present invention, an initial distribution list of electronic message recipients within an organization undergoing an IT migration is generated using a personnel directory of the organization and at least one selection criterion. Once initial electronic message recipients are known, messages will be generated and sent using information from a mailing database and a designated schedule. User records for each of the initial electronic message recipients will be created in an inventory database and will include user information from the personnel directory as well as message information. Based on responses to the initial electronic message, follow-up and final electronic messages can be sent to respective distribution lists, and corresponding information stored in the user records of the inventory database.

Method, system, and program product for managing communications pursuant to an information technology (IT) migration

A system, method and program product for centrally managing agents are provided. Specifically, under the present invention, master agents stored in a control database of a control system are scheduled to execute remote agents stored in remote databases of remote systems. Once executed by the master agents, the remote agents will implement functions thereto. By providing centralized management of agents in this manner, agent scheduling conflicts are prevented.

System, method and program product for centrally managing agents

A system and method for controlling access to an ACL list protected database. Each of one or more access control documents includes a start time or an end time, and a start access control list or an end access control list. An access control agent permits access to the database after the start time by reference to the start access control list and after the end time by reference to the end access control list.

System and method for dynamically controlling access to a database

A method and computer system for generating and maintaining database instances. A template manager creates the template for generating the instances based on design information, stores the template in a template manager database, generates N instances (N&#x2267;2) based on the template and on control information for the N instances, stores the N instances in the template manager database, and transmits the N instances to corresponding N locations. The control information includes access control information and configuration control information that includes identification of N locations corresponding to the N instances. The template manager refreshes the template based on update design information, refreshes the N instances based on the refreshed template, and transmits the N refreshed instances to the corresponding N locations. The template manager may refresh M of the N instances (M&#x2266;N), based on update control information, and transmit the M refreshed instances to the corresponding M locations.

Template management of database instances

The present invention provides a method and system for transferring data between server systems. Specifically, the present invention provides a method and system for locating and importing data stored on a source server system in a first file format to a staging server system. Once imported to the staging server system, the data is processed (e.g., parsed, edited, and translated). After processing, the data is formatted into a second file format and then exported to a destination server system. Thus, the present invention allows data stored on a source server system in a first file format to be transferred to a destination server system in a second file format.

Growing community of inventors

Colchester, VT, United States of America

William M Houston