Abstract: A virtual database system including multiple independent database servers is disclosed. The virtual database system uses a unified interface to query multiple independent databases, and the multiple independent database servers include appliances, general servers, etc. The system preferably includes a packet-based network, and a number of physically separated, independent database servers coupled to the network, where each of the database servers has a unique address and an independent database interface. Preferably, each database server includes an database created at least in part by the passive capture of data on the network, and each of which supports database queries including at least one of metadata and text via its respective interface. Queries are distributed concurrently to a number of appliances as virtual user queries.

Abstract: A content server system includes a remote content server including content license information and a local content player coupled to the remote content server by a network, the local content player requiring verification of a license by a user of the local content player as administered by the remote content server. In an alternate embodiment the network includes a local area network. In another alternate embodiment, the network includes the Internet.

Abstract: A method, article of manufacture and system for electronic mail notification including determining that it is a time for at least one of a reminder notification action and a report notification action. For a reminder notification action, all action items within a given range are obtained and the action items are processed into at least one action item report which is e-mailed to at least one designated recipient. For a report notification action, the a list of completed action items in a given range are obtained and the list of completed action items is processed into at least one completed action report that is e-mailed to at least one designated recipient.

Abstract: An automated electronic filing system including a web server coupled to a wide area network, a receiving agency server coupled to the wide area network, and a client machine coupled to the wide area network for communication with the web server. The web server serves as an interface to the receiving agency server, the client machine providing information to the web server forming at least a part of an electronic document to be filed with the receiving agency server by the web server. The web server and the receiving agency server can communicate directly with each other without going through the wide area network, such as via a local area network (not shown) or by a direct connection between the servers (also not shown). Preferably, the web server and the receiving agency server communicate with each other over the wide area network, which is preferably a TCP/IP protocol network such as the Internet.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a processor module, a pipe analyzer and a central processing unit. The processor module extracts a plurality of components from an input bit stream by extracting predetermined n-bits at a time from the input bit stream and analyzing the n-bits for components. The central processing unit has at least two pipelines for receiving the components derived from the input bit stream. The pipe analyzer is coupled between the processor module and the central processing unit for analyzing the components of the input bit stream and directing each of the components into a suitable pipeline of the central processing unit based on the analysis the pipe analyzer.

Abstract: A free space laser beam communication system, set forth by way of example and not limitation, advantageously includes a laser beam generator configured to develop a laser beam, a laser beam detector which is not in a line-of-sight of the laser beam generator, and a laser beam redirector within a line-of-sight of the laser beam generator and configured to redirect the laser beam to the laser beam detector. A path of the laser beam can be varied by adjusting a relative position between the laser beam generator and the laser beam detector.

Abstract: A method, article of manufacture and system for electronic mail notification including determining that it is a time for at least one of a reminder notification action and a report notification action. For a reminder notification action, all action items within a given range are obtained and the action items are processed into at least one action item report which is e-mailed to at least one designated recipient. For a report notification action, the a list of completed action items in a given range are obtained and the list of completed action items is processed into at least one completed action report that is e-mailed to at least one designated recipient.

Abstract: A method for diagonal processing of video data includes separating diagonally arranged data from rectilinearly arranged data in a video stream, rotating the diagonally arranged data to a rectilinear position; and compressing the rotated diagonally arranged data by a rectilinear compression algorithm. Alternatively stated, the method includes recognizing diagonally arranged data in a video stream, processing the diagonally arranged data into rectilinear data, and compressing the rectilinear data by a rectilinear compression algorithm.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for accelerating data transfer between networked databases. First provided are a plurality of databases coupled by a network. At least one laser unit is coupled to each database. In operation, such laser units are capable of communicating data between the databases via free space by way of a laser beam. This allows data communication at a rate faster than that which the network is capable.

Abstract: A voice web browser system includes a telephone, an access system coupled to a TCP/IP network, a telephone system coupling the telephone to the access system, and a speech-to-text system for “reading” text that had been sent over the TCP/IP network to the telephone user. Preferably, the access system receives TCP/IP packets from web pages accessible over the TCP/IP network and parses the HTML code of the web pages into text and non-text portions, such that the text portion can be read to the telephone user.

Abstract: A method for traversing a multiplexed data packet stream including choosing a starting location in a multiplexed data packet stream, making a bi-directional search from the starting location to locate a nearest system stream object; and traversing the system stream as a doubly-linked list of objects. Traversing the system stream preferably includes traversing object links of the doubly-linked list of objects. The objects are further preferably cached with an LRU process. Multiple disjoint locations in the system stream can be accessed with a virtual linked list. The virtual linked list can be used to search forwardly, backwardly, or both forwardly and backwardly.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and article of manufacture for communicating via an application program included as a payload of an electronic message received over a network. First, the application program is initialized after a first electronic message is selected by a first user on an electronic mail browser. After initialization, the application program of the first electronic message is executed. Such execution includes displaying text included with the first electronic message, changing a non-textual aspect of the first electronic message based on the input from the first user, allowing entry of text, and sending the entered text and the application program over the network in a second electronic message to a second user.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for accelerating data transfer between networked databases. First provided are a plurality of databases coupled by a network. At least one laser unit is coupled to each database. In operation, such laser units are capable of communicating data between the databases via free space by way of a laser beam. This allows data communication at a rate faster than that which the network is capable.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for decompressing a bit stream of compressed data representing a plurality of image blocks. This includes multi-step processing of data codes, e.g. DC and AC codes. For example, with respect to the processing of AC codes, a plurality of bits of compressed input data relating to the AC codes are first retrieved from the bit stream. A first decoding operation is then executed based on the obtained compressed input data in order to generate first output data. It is then determined the first coding operation was sufficiently correct. If it is determined that the first coding operation was sufficiently correct, the first output data is outputted. On the other hand, if it is determined that the first coding operation was not sufficiently correct, an alternate second decoding operation in executed in order to generate second output data.

Abstract: A method for detecting intensity saturation of a light sensor includes monitoring an electrical signal from a light sensor for detecting an intensity saturation condition of at least one pixel of the light sensor, converting the electrical signal to a digital signal, imposing a reserved bit combination on the digital signal indicating the intensity saturation condition of the pixel, and transmitting a control signal in response to the digital signal to compensate for the intensity saturation condition of the pixel.

Abstract: The present invention includes a system, method, and article of manufacture for decompressing a bit stream of compressed data representing a plurality of image blocks. This includes a two-step method of processing both a DC code and a plurality of AC codes. With respect to the processing of the AC codes, a plurality of bits of compressed input data relating to the AC codes are first retrieved from the bit stream. A first decoding operation is then executed based on the obtained compressed input data in order to generate first output data. It is then determined whether sufficient space is available for the first output data. If it is determined that there is sufficient space for the first output data, the first output data is outputted. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is insufficient space for the first output data, an alternate second decoding operation is executed in order to generate second output data.

Abstract: A voice web browser system includes a telephone, an access system coupled to a TCP/IP network, a telephone system coupling the telephone to the access system, and a speech-to-text system for “reading” text that had been sent over the TCP/IP network to the telephone user. Preferably, the access system receives TCP/IP packets from web pages accessible over the TCP/IP network and parses the HTML code of the web pages into text and non-text portions, such that the text portion can be read to the telephone user.

Abstract: A voice web browser system includes a telephone, an access system coupled to a TCP/IP network, a telephone system coupling the telephone to the access system, and a speech-to-text system for “reading” text that had been sent over the TCP/IP network to the telephone user. Preferably, the access system receives TCP/IP packets from web pages accessible over the TCP/IP network and parses the HTML code of the web pages into text and non-text portions, such that the text portion can be read to the telephone user.

Abstract: The present invention permits virtually the entire functionality of a computer system to be made accessible over a network such as the Internet or an Intranet. More particularly, the present invention permits a computer system to be run as a “virtual machine” through a web page provided at a web site on the World Wide Web (WWW). The apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of computers arranged in a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet or an Intranet. At least one of the computers has at least one unique address designating a web site. A host computer system (which may or may not be one of the computers on the Internet) can be “posted” onto an “advertising” web page at the web site to permit other computers coupled to the Internet to interact directly with the host computer system. The computer “posted” on the web page is referred to as the “host” or “advertiser” computer, and computers accessing the host computer are referred to as “client” or “user” computers.

Abstract: The present invention permits virtually the entire functionality of a computer system to be made accessible over a network such as the Internet or an Intranet. More particularly, the present invention permits a computer system to be run as a “virtual machine” through a web page provided at a web site on the World Wide Web (WWW). The apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of computers arranged in a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet or an Intranet. At least one of the computers has at least one unique address designating a web site. A host computer system (which may or may not be one of the computers on the Internet) can be “posted” onto an “advertising” web page at the web site to permit other computers coupled to the Internet to interact directly with the host computer system. The computer “posted” on the web page is referred to as the “host” or “advertiser” computer, and computers accessing the host computer are referred to as “client” or “user” computers.