Abstract: The present invention is a method for operating a computer system to minimize the number of disk storage access operations used in creating an inverted database. This method divides a database into several smaller subdatabases. The documents of the subdatabases are decomposed into subdocuments. A postings list for each subdatabase is then created in which all the terms for the subdatabase are associated with the identity of each subdocument of the subdatabase in which the terms occur. The resulting postings lists for the subdatabases are then merged. The merge process sorts the postings of the subdatabases and merges common terms. The non-common terms are merged after the common terms. The process of sorting the postings list and then merging the common terms followed by the non-common terms minimizes the number of disk storage access operations required for creating the inverted database from a series of inverted subdatabases.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for operating a computer system to retrieve information from a computer database. This method decomposes documents from the database into subdocuments and then inverts the database. Also, a query for retrieving documents from a database is decomposed into terms. The subdocuments from the inverted database and the terms from the query are then used to compute a score that indicates a quantitative relation between terms in the query and the subdocuments. The resulting list of the subdocuments and their scores is then reorganized into a heap form. The highest ranking subdocument is then selected by the computer and the text associated with this subdocument is displayed. The remainder of the subdocument score list is concurrently reheapified.

Abstract: The present invention is a panel seaming device that can seam both curved and straight panels. The panel seaming device accomplishes this task by incorporating a unique mechanical drive configuration that includes two gear box driven by a single motor and connected by a universal joint. This mechanical drive configuration and particularly, the universal joint allows the gear boxes to pivot amongst one another, thereby accommodating for the panel's profile change. In other words, as the panel passes through the seaming device and its profile changes, especially from a straight portion to a curved portion and vice versa, the gear boxes pivot amongst each other and accommodate for such change. Additionally, each gear box includes two portions, which also pivot amongst each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction that each of the first and second gear boxes is pivot. In other words, the portions of the gear boxes pivot in a direction perpendicular to the seam.

Abstract: The present invention is a more efficient compressor control system and a more efficient method of operating a multiple compressor system because the method and control system are a function of both the system pressure and the volumetric flow rate capacity of the system. Specifically, a compressor is loaded or unloaded from the compressor system after sensing the actual system pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity. The inventor(s) of the present invention have discovered that it is more efficient to control the compressors upon sensing both the pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid. Moreover, controlling the compressor system in response to sensing both the pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid insures that the appropriate blend of compressors is loaded to the system in order to produce the most suitable pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity.

Abstract: A novel approach for filtering documents involves the use of delivery ratio threshold setting technique to set an initial profile score threshold and the use of beta-gamma regulation for dynamic threshold updating. A group of documents is scored pursuant to a user profile. The score for each document is indicative of the relevance of the corresponding document to the user profile. The score can be compared with a profile score threshold to decide if the document should be accepted or rejected. According to one aspect of the invention, the initial threshold is set to a score threshold that approximates an expected ratio of acceptable documents calibrated with respect to a set of reference documents. According to another aspect of the invention, the score threshold can be updated based on the accumulated example documents, user's relevance judgment, and the user's utility function. The accumulated example documents are first scored against a profile and a ranked list of scored documents is obtained.

Abstract: A document image that is the source of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) output is displayed. Recognition confidence parameters are determined for regions of the document image corresponding to words in the OCR output. The regions are displayed in a manner (e.g., highlighted in various colors) that is indicative of the respective recognition confidence parameter. Preferably, a user can select a region of the displayed document image. When the region is selected, text of the OCR output corresponding to the selected region is displayed in a pop-up menu.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for generating a database search result. The creation of the search result is achieved by representing the subdocument lists of an inverted database with encoded bit strings. The encoded bit strings are space efficient methods of storing the correspondence between terms in the database and their occurrence in subdocuments. Logical combinations of these bit strings are then obtained by identifying the intersection, union, and/or inversion of a plurality of the bit strings. Since keywords for a database search can be identified by selecting the terms of the inverted database, the logical combinations of bit strings represent search results over the database. This technique for method for generating a search result is computationally efficient because computers combine bit strings very efficiently. Also, the search elements of the present invention are not just limited to keywords. The search elements also include types of fields (e.g.

Abstract: A novel approach for filtering documents involves the use of delivery ratio threshold setting technique to set an initial profile score threshold and the use of beta-gamma regulation for dynamic threshold updating. A group of documents is scored pursuant to a user profile. The score for each document is indicative of the relevance of the corresponding document to the user profile. The score can be compared with a profile score threshold to decide if the document should be accepted or rejected. According to one aspect of the invention, the initial threshold is set to a score threshold that approximates an expected ratio of acceptable documents calibrated with respect to a set of reference documents. According to another aspect of the invention, the score threshold can be updated based on the accumulated example documents, user's relevance judgment, and the user's utility function. The accumulated example documents are first scored against a profile and a ranked list of scored documents is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer system for modifying a database which comprises a computer that modifies records stored in a database. In the process for modifying records in the database, addresses to memory locations in a disk storage unit are accessed during the commit phase by first checking the address space in a transaction log. The computer system of the present invention operates by committing transactions without locking out readers. This is possible because any changed data in the database is reflected in the transaction log and the log must be accessed prior to reading from the disk storage unit. As a result, the user sees changed data when the log is accessed, or if data has not been changed, the log merely directs the computer to the address in the original database storage where unchanged data is stored.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for improving the connection between a building panel and a foundation. The improved connection is made possible by a unique form assembly that includes a trough assembly and a novel means for adequately supporting the trough assembly while the concrete is poured. The trough assembly creates a trough, which is an elongated hollow notch at the top of the foundation that resembles the shape of the trough assembly. Thus, the trough assembly is designed such that its width is approximately equal to the width of the building panel. The trough assembly also includes an angle iron affixed to the top of its sides. The trough assembly provides the building panel an elongated hollow groove having angle irons on each side. The prefabricated panel is therefor affixed to the angle irons. Placing the prefabricated panel in the foundation in such a manner and affixing it to the angle irons provides the panel with improved lateral and horizontal support.

Abstract: The present invention is a more efficient compressor control system and a more efficient method of operating a multiple compressor system because the method and control system are a function of both the system pressure and the volumetric flow rate capacity of the system. Specifically, a compressor is loaded or unloaded from the compressor system after sensing the actual system pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity. The inventor(s) of the present invention have discovered that it is more efficient to control the compressors upon sensing both the pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid. Moreover, controlling the compressor system in response to sensing both the pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid insures that the appropriate blend of compressors is loaded to the system in order to produce the most suitable pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity.

Abstract: In a novel approach for retrieving information a set of sub-documents first is established based upon a set of documents. A query is processed which operates on the set of sub-documents, causing a score to be generated for each sub-document. The score for each sub-document is indicative of the relevance of the corresponding sub-document to the query. The scores are reviewed and the best sub-document is retrieved. According to one aspect of the invention, the best sub-document has a score that indicates the highest relevance between the sub-document and the query. According to another aspect of the invention, in response to a user selection, the next best sub-document is identified and retrieved. The sub-documents are also presented to the user in an order based upon the scores. According to another aspect of the invention, the document containing the sub-document having the best score is displayed and automatically scrolled to the location of the sub-document having the best score.

Abstract: Document texts are produced by recognizing characters in document images by an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) process. When such a document text matches one or more search terms of a query, the corresponding document image is displayed. Regions of the document image, corresponding to words of the document text that match the search terms, are displayed in a visually distinctive manner. The display of the document image may be augmented by displaying a region corresponding to a reference text within the document text in another visually distinctive manner.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for operating a computer system to retrieve information from a computer database. This method decomposes documents from the database into subdocuments and then inverts the database. Also, a query for retrieving documents from a database is decomposed into terms. The subdocuments from the inverted database and the terms from the query are then used to compute a score that indicates a quantitative relation between terms in the query and the subdocuments. The resulting list of the subdocuments and their scores is then reorganized into a heap form. The highest ranking subdocument is then selected by the computer and the text associated with this subdocument is displayed. The remainder of the subdocument score list is concurrently reheapified.

Abstract: An improved Hall effect sensor includes a four-terminal Hall plate with orthogonally paired terminals that produce voltage signals in response to changes in an ambient magnetic field created by the proximity of a ferrous gear tooth to the sensor. Voltage signals from orthogonally paired terminals of the Hall plate are controlled by switches that are coupled to a clock signal generator. In response to the clock signal, the switches allow current to flow in a first direction corresponding to a first phase of the clock and to flow in a second direction corresponding to a second phase of the clock. A plurality of pass gate transistors in the sensor circuitry are connected to a timing generator synchronized with the clock signal generator. The timing generator outputs are received by the gate transistors and the gate transistors control the sequence in which a plurality of capacitors are charged. This plurality of capacitors store the voltage output from the Hall plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for retrieving documents that are stored in a language other than the language that is used to formulate a search query. This invention decomposes the query into terms and then translates each of the terms into terms of the language of the database. Once the database language terms have been listed, a series of subqueries is formed by creating all the possible combinations of the listed terms. Each subquery is then scored on each of the documents in the target language database. Only those subqueries that return meaningful scores are relevant to the query. Thus, the semantic meaning of the query is determined against the database itself and those documents in the database language that are most relevant to that semantic meaning are returned.

Abstract: An document image that is the source of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) output is displayed so that a user can select a region of the displayed document image. When the region is selected, text of the OCR output corresponding to the selected region is submitted as an input to a search engine.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for retrieving information from a database. Initially, the documents within the database are divided into mutually exclusive subdocuments that generally correspond to paragraphs of text. The present invention further creates a second set of subdocuments that overlap adjacent paragraphs of text. In particular, the location of the overlapping subdocuments depends on the size of the initial paragraphs. This second set of overlapping subdocuments are scored just as the mutually exclusive subdocuments are scored. The scores from both the mutually exclusive and overlapping subdocuments are used in ranking the relevance of documents to a query. The use of both sets of subdocument scores improves the effectiveness of the scoring algorithm.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) mask that incorporates a series of physiologic sensors. These physiologic sensors are mounted on the interior of the SCBA mask in such a way as to contact the facial skin of an individual wearing the mask. The physiologic sensors monitor, among other things, heart rate and carbon monoxide and oxygen saturation levels. The physiologic sensors are connected to a transmitting apparatus attached to the SCBA. The SCBA transmitter sends output data from the physiologic sensors to a remote processor. The SCBA transmitter also sends location information of the individual wearing the SCBA mask to the remote processor. The remote processor compiles the physiologic and location data for the wearer of the SCBA and transmits a signal back to the SCBA receiver which, in turn, sends a signal to a display integrated into a SCBA mask. The display indicates to the individual his physiologic status.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for crimping the side walls of a sheet metal building panel independently of a main crimper which crimps the belly of the panel. The depth and the position along the panel of the side crimp is adjusted independently of the main crimpers in relation to the radius the panel is being curved and the length of panel that has passed through the apparatus. The adjustment is controlled by a microprocessor. The microprocessor controls a hydraulic motor which drives a machine screw which activates a scissors-jack type linkage. Blocks holding the rotatably mounted crimping rollers are mounted on slides and attached to the linkage. As the linkage moves, the depth of the crimping rollers is adjusted. The rotation of the crimping rollers is hydraulically driven through a gear-sprocket rotary motion drive train.