Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for quickly and accurately verifying the existence of vehicle insurance. According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a nationwide vehicle insurance database is created for storing a real-time record of all vehicle policyholders throughout the country. At the time when gasoline is purchased, the existence of a motorist's vehicle insurance is verified. When it is determined that the motorist lacks vehicle insurance, the purchase of gasoline is denied. As a result, the number of uninsured motorists can be reduced.

Abstract: A method and system for license authentication over a network. An on-line vendor receives a digital certificate that includes a public key associated with a consumer, and a digital signature of the consumer. A license packet is generated that includes a unique serial number. A record that includes the digital certificate is stored in a memory. The license packet is optionally encrypted with the public key associated with the consumer, and the license packet is forwarded to the consumer. When a post-sale service is required, the consumer generates a request that includes the digital signature of the consumer, and the request is forwarded to the vendor. The vendor accesses the memory to authenticate that the request was sent by the consumer, and if so, the service request is fulfilled.

Abstract: An event rating engine can be configured for a particular task and is logically decoupled from a rating database when a usage event is rated. The rating engine obtains rating rules from a rating database. The rating database includes rating rules that include rating business rules by usage type along with rate tables containing the current rate values. A rating domain server is coupled to the rating database interface to the rating rules. A rating editor coupled to the rating domain server and provides an interface to the rating domain server. At initialization, the rating engine downloads a set of rating rules from the rating database and interprets the rating rules to form an independent and autonomous rating process that can rate a usage event while being logically decoupled from the rating database during the rating process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus prints copies of internet pages from the worldwide web, in accordance with operator-selected formatting instructions. A plurality of internet page record locators are selected and recorded in memory of the data processing system, preferably grouped in a directory such as a Bookmark, Favorite, or Hotlist directory. Operator-specified formatting instructions are then obtained. The formatting instructions may relate to attributes such as page headers, page footers, page break location, pagination, cover sheets, table of contents, the content allocation and placement among the printed pages, as well as the presence or absence of internet identification titles, and the presence or absence of visually perceptible internet links or internet icons from the Internet pages.

Abstract: A method for providing fulfillment in a promotional contest includes providing a card in a product package marked with an internet address and a password. The purchaser of the product contacts the internet address and inputs personal information and the password to learn if the purchaser is a winner in the contest. If the purchaser is a winner, the card is sent to the company to verify the winning status before sending the prize to the purchaser.

Abstract: A computer implemented system and method and a computer readable medium for complying with the requirements of a quality standard known as ISO 9000. The areas covered include controlled documentation, training management, meetings and reports, process improvement requests, project management, and audit management. All controlled documents have a security and revision control portion that controls the access and approval capabilities of the documents. The system is form controlled. Certain individual fields of the forms require the entry of data, and field's control are controlled by certain fields of other forms, with the fields being updated by other fields in the system, operator entry of data, and a combination of control by both the system and operator entry. The system includes an ISO matrix relating each document to an ISO clause. The system has a controlling document for each delineated activity, and all other documents relating to such activity are linked as a child of the controlling document.

Abstract: Described herein is a user interface for reviewing time-correlated multimedia content. The user interface has three display regions, configured to display three different content sequences of different types, all relating to a specific event. The content sequences are time-correlated to each other. However, a user can independently scroll through individual content sequences. When the user selects a particular place in one content sequence, however, the other content sequences are updated to show corresponding places. The user can begin playback of the multimedia content, during which all of the content sequences are rendered in time with each other.

Abstract: A computer system for displaying an image of a hypertext document in an animated marquee. The computer system includes a hypertext document viewer that receives an identification of a hypertext document and generates an image of the hypertext document: The computer system also includes a marquee object that receives an identification of an hypertext document, that invokes the hypertext document viewer to generate an image of the hypertext document, and that displays the image of the generated hypertext document. The computer system also includes a browser that receives an identification of an hypertext document that contains an indication of the marquee object along with a reference to another hypertext document and that invokes the hypertext document viewer sending the identification of the hypertext document.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a computer program which displays a number of objects in some form of organized, often hierarchial, fashion commonly known as a categorization table. In summary, the ordering program displays a categorization table organizes data under successive and expandable levels of categorized headings, assigns the appropriate vendor specific names, SKU codes, part numbers, universal product code, and/or bar codes, and then transfers this specific information to a merchant or vendor for processing of the order. The programs allows the user to manipulate the data or to select objects for appropriate actions (starting a program, printing a construction material supply list, transferring a generated list(s) to the vendor/merchant, etc.). Once the categorization table is completed, a specific report can be generated from the program.

Abstract: A document delivery server dynamically customizes the format of a document to be delivered, based on the capabilities of the recipient and the type of document to be delivered. The server enables transparent delivery of formatted documents, regardless of the capabilities of the recipient. For example, the recipient platform could be a desktop computer, a network computer, a printer, a fax machine, or a personal digital assistant. The server attempts to maintain the information contained in the document in a high level representation and defers the decision of when to convert to a lower level representation, thereby maximizing the potential set of options and function at each step in the delivery process.

Abstract: A method for handling Z-values in accordance with the present invention. The Z-values correspond to vertices of a given primitive being processed within a graphics pipeline. The Z-values received by the pipeline are represented in a first floating point format (such as IEEE floating point format) which includes a mantissa portion and an exponent portion. The method comprises determining which of the Z-values for the given primitive has the largest value of the exponent portion. In one embodiment, this includes comparing current exponent values to a current greatest exponent value until all Z-values are tested. The method subsequently comprises generating a common Z exponent value in response to determining the largest exponent value for the given primitive. In one embodiment, the common Z exponent value is generated by subtracting a constant value from the largest exponent value.

Abstract: A system and method for performing an electronic transaction, including registration, audit and trusted recovery features. A transaction request message is received from a registered user that includes an unblinded validated certificate, and a blinded unvalidated certificate. If the unblinded validated certificate is determined to be legitimate, then a transaction can be performed, and the blinded unvalidated certificate is validated to obtain a blinded, validated certificate that is sent to the user. An audit protocol can be used to further verify the legitimacy of the transaction request message, and a user can recover from a broken connection by replaying a protocol run.

Abstract: A web browser control allows application program developers to incorporate web browser functionality into application programs. The web browser control exposes web browsing functionality to application programs through an application program interface. This interface comprises member functions, events and properties. The member functions provide high level services such as Navigate to a URL, go forward or backward in a navigation stack, or refresh the display of an HTML page. The events are notification messages that the control sends to a host application to notify the application about actions that have taken place or are about to take place. The properties provide status information about an instance of a control. A host application can create several instances of the web browser control and communicate with them through the interface on each instance.

Abstract: A system and method for limiting access to and preventing unauthorized use of an owner's digital content stored in an information network and available to clients under authorized conditions. The network includes at least one server coupled to a storage device for storing the limited access digital content encrypted using a random-generated key, known as a Document Encryption Key (DEK). The DEK is further encrypted with the server's public key, using a public/private key pair algorithm and placed in a digital container stored in a storage device and including as a part of the meta-information which is in the container. The client's workstation is coupled to the server for acquiring the limited access digital content under the authorized condition. A Trusted Information Handler (TIH) is validated by the server after the handler provides a data signature and type of signing algorithm to transaction data descriptive of the purchase agreement between the client and the owner.

Abstract: Consumer driving-activity market research information may be obtained by selecting panelists to form a consumer driving-activity panel. At least one trackable motor vehicle and at least one consumer driver who has use of the vehicle are associated with each panelist of the panel. The trackable motor vehicles associated with the panel provide representatives from a varied plurality of vehicle-classification categories and the consumer drivers associated with the panel provide representatives from a varied plurality of demographic categories. For each panelist, panelist attribute data including vehicle-classification data and driver demographic data are stored in a data processing system. During trip portions of a sample group of trip portions, time-annotated vehicle-location data approximately tracking the movement of each trackable motor vehicle are generated automatically by means of automatic vehicle-location tracking gear on the vehicle.

Abstract: A word-processing system selectably operable with a primary character set or at least one secondary character set. The system includes an input device for inputting a character, a selection device for selecting one of the primary character set and the secondary character set, a processor for generating secondary character graphics data corresponding to the character input by the input device in the case that the secondary character set is selected, a CGROM which stores character graphics data for the primary character set, and a CGRAM which stores the secondary character graphics data generated by the processor in the case where a secondary character set is selected, the CGRAM having a memory capacity which is less than that of the CGROM.

Abstract: A method and system for defining and applying a style of a paragraph based upon the formatting properties of the paragraph. The paragraph type of the paragraph is identified. A determination is made whether the paragraph type is one which is capable of having a style defined for it. If not, then a determination is made whether the major formatting properties of the paragraph match those of an existing style and, if so, then the matching existing style is applied to the paragraph. If the paragraph type is one which is capable of having a style defined for it, then a determination is made whether the major formatting properties of the paragraph match the those of an existing style with the same paragraph type as the paragraph type of the paragraph. If so, then the matching existing style is applied to the paragraph. If not, then a style is defined with the formatting properties of the paragraph. The defined style is then applied to the paragraph and all direct formatting is removed.

Abstract: An electronic calculating device for conveniently calculating a percentage of a value, as is often performed in a restaurant or bar when calculating a gratuity based on the amount of a bill is provided. The invention is a device having a first side and a second side, with a control mechanism on the first side which the server or diner can use to input a bill amount. A control mechanism is positioned on the second side for causing a processor to calculate a percentage value of the bill amount. Preferably, a display is provided for displaying the percentage value or tip amount, as well as the total of the tip and the amount of the bill.

Abstract: The data processor according to the present invention includes a memory for storing data including at least a first document and a second document having a link to the first document, a first display for displaying the data stored in the memory, a translator for translating the data displayed on the first display, a second display for displaying translation by the translator, an indicator for indicating a specific portion of the first document displayed on the first display or a specific portion of the translation thereof displayed on the second display and display controller for controlling so that the second document linked to the specific portion indicated by the indicator is displayed on the first display.

Abstract: An operating system shell provides a graphical user interface having a windowing environment with a desktop. The shell synthesizes a hypertext page for display as the desktop in the graphical user interface. The hypertext page has an embedded software object which provides graphical icon-oriented and menu-driven user interface elements for activating operating system services in the displayed hypertext page. The shell also provides windowed hypertext pages for managing file system folders. The shell synthesizes the hypertext pages from templates which can be edited to incorporate a variety of multi-media enhancements with the user interface elements in the graphical user interface. Templates can be associated with specific folders in the file system to provide folder specific hypertext pages integrated with user interface elements for managing the folder.