Abstract: A method includes receiving a dedication from a first user via a network and applying the dedication to a play list of a second user.

Abstract: Multiple words in a text are transformed to unique numerical representations for text mining applications. A web server receives the text, including multiple words in a natural language. A key-word extractor extracts one or more key-words from the received words. A morphologizer morphologizes the extracted key-words based on similarities of fundamental characteristics in the extracted key-words. An analyzer transforms each of the morphologized words to a unique numerical representation such that the transformed unique numerical representation does not result in multiple similar numerical representations.

Abstract: A set of keyword candidates having orientation, with keywords input by a user as an origin, is appropriately presented.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide methods for rewriting and computing database queries that include outer join conditions, and for determining columns that satisfy a criteria. According to one aspect, a component relation key is assigned to each unique column in a first table and an aggregate relation key is generated for each record in a second table, wherein the aggregate relation key is based on one or more of the component relation keys corresponding to columns with non-null values from the second table. Distinct aggregate relation keys are determined, and an original query with an outer join is rewritten into at least a number of sub-queries equal to the number of distinct aggregate keys, wherein each sub-query includes a join condition based on each column represented by the respective distinct aggregate keys. Significantly, the combination of sub-queries is logically equivalent to the original query, but does not include outer join conditions. Therefore, a more efficient query is provided.

Abstract: A method of searching a search space comprising a plurality of pages in response to a query comprising a plurality of keywords includes identifying at least one information unit. Where a query includes exactly two keywords, an information unit comprises one page which contains both keywords in the query or two pages selected from the search space such that the first page in the information unit contains the first keyword in the query and the second page in the information unit contains the second keyword in the query; where an information unit contains two pages, one page is linked, directly or indirectly, to the other page. Relaxed query processing techniques enable the method to identify information units which do not contain every keyword in the query, which have only semantically similar words or synonyms, and which have keywords of differing relative importance. The method is adapted to report the identified information units and to accommodate altered queries provided as a result of a report.

Abstract: An invention for generating standard description records from multimedia information. The invention utilizes fundamental entity-relation models for the Generic AV DS that classify the entities, the entity attributes, and the relationships in relevant types to describe visual data. It also involves classification of entity attributes into syntactic and semantic attributes. Syntactic attributes can be categorized into different levels: type/technique, global distribution, local structure, and global composition. Semantic attributes can be likewise discretely categorized: generic object, generic scene, specific object, specific scene, abstract object, and abstract scene. The invention further classifies entity relationships into syntactic/semantic categories. Syntactic relationship categories include spatial, temporal, and visual categories. Semantic relationship categories include lexical and predicative categories.

Abstract: This is a method of using a computer to facilitate decision making where a database can be searched with feed forward information provided to the user. A number of criteria are provided to a user of the system. Each time the user makes a particular selection from a choice of options in a given criteria, the system shows the user how many hits remain for each choice of options in each remaining criteria, based on the particular selection. Each time a particular selection is made within a criteria, the remaining choices are narrowed throughout all remaining criteria. Preferably, the criteria can be selected and/or prioritized by the user.

Abstract: The user receiving a World Wide Web (Web) page is provided with an implementation for predetermining subject matter, terms and words for which the user desires to have hyperlinks in a received web document. It further provides for displaying in the received web document multiple hyperlinks for each predetermined term of interest to thereby substantially reduce the user browsing through several levels of web documents in pursuit of topics of interest. Search engines for locating web documents related to the defined words are provided together with implementations for creating hyperlinks from the received web document to at least some of the located web documents. The system may be implemented by highlighting the defined words in the received web document, and responsive to a user interactive selection of a highlighted defined word in the received document, displaying a menu of a plurality of hyperlinks to the located web documents related to the selected highlighted defined word.

Abstract: A method and computer program product are provided for implementing search engine operational modes. A search request is received from a user. Responsive to the search request, an impatient score for the user is determined. Responsive to the impatient score, a search engine operational mode is adjusted for implementing the search request. Multiple factors are evaluated to determine the impatient score for the user. These factors include selected ones of the following: the search words in the search request; presence of predefined control words in the search request; presence of predefined impatient words in the search request; a number of searches by the user during a search session; a time between searches; user connection speed; and user entry selections.

Abstract: A system and method for identification and retrieval of lost pets such as dogs. The system includes methods to obtain accurate noseprints either by chemical transfer system or with closeup photography for entry into a database. The system assigns locations where noseprints are acquired with an account number which in turn automatically assign an identification number to a dog when registered. Data relating to and including the noseprint, a photograph, description, and information regarding the owner are transferred to a central database optionally from pet shops by E-Mail or by giving all photos and registration forms to a dog owner who then fills out forms and sends all materials to central office via mail. The system includes a program to automatically assign an account number to a pet shop or store and an identification number for the dog. The program includes photograph enhancing software as well as pattern recognition software to identify a lost dog via the noseprint.

Abstract: A computer system and computer-implemented process for determining availability of rental property is disclosed. The computer implemented process includes inputting and storing data representing multiple sets of attributes for each of a plurality of rental property addresses and creating a plurality of records, one for each set of attributes for each of the plurality of rental property addresses. The process further comprises combining the plurality of records into one searchable master table, and periodically updating the plurality of records by inputting updated data for one or more of the multiple sets of attributes for the plurality of rental property addresses. To search for property availability, the user inputs one or more search parameters based on one or more desired attribute sets from the multiple sets of attributes to build a search query to search the master table for records of available rental property addresses. Matching rental properties are displayed.

Abstract: We disclose a transformation-based method for indexing high-dimensional data to support similarity search. The method, iDistance, partitions the data into clusters either based on some clustering strategies or simple data space partitioning strategies. The data in each cluster can be described based on their similarity with respect to a reference point, and hence they can be transformed into a single dimensional space based on such relative similarity. This allows us to index the data points using a B+-tree structure and perform similarity search using range search strategy. As such, the method is well suited for integration into existing DBMSs. We also study two data partitioning strategies, and several methods on selection of reference points. We conducted extensive experiments to evaluate iDistance, and our results demonstrate its effectiveness.

Abstract: An improved spatial light modulator package comprising a spatial light modulator 1006 attached to a central region of a substrate 1004, a sealing ring 1002 on said substrate 1004 around the central region thereof, a window frame 402 attached to the sealing ring 1002, and a window 404 glued to the window frame 402. Gluing the window 404 to the window frame 402 avoids distortion of the glass that occurs when the window is heat bonded to the window frame, and avoids having to grind and polish the glass window after it is bonded to the window frame.

Abstract: A system, a program storage device and a software method for efficient handling of multiple Unicode formats in the same database on a table level is provided. The routines of the method are used to create a plurality of database tables and specify each table data storage format, including a first table for storing data in a first Unicode format and a second table for storing data in a second Unicode format. The method inputs characters which are encoded in the first Unicode format. When the data should be stored in the second Unicode format, the method uses a conversion routine for transforming some inputted characters into the second Unicode format and stores them in the second table, and then stores unconverted inputted characters in the first table. The first Unicode format is preferably the UCS-2 format and the second Unicode format is the UTF-8 format.

Abstract: A telephone caller account management system is disclosed. The system includes a server computer having a customer account database created therein and a workstation in communication with the server computer. The workstation includes a monitor screen, a data entry device and a memory. The memory stores a first program and a second program. The first program, upon execution by the workstation, causes the workstation to display a first interactive form on the monitor screen, receive a first input from a user of the workstation, receive a second input from the user through the data entry device, and access a configuration file for the second program in response to the second input from the user. The first interactive form lists one or more configuration parameters for the second program along with corresponding current values for the one or more configuration parameters. The user sends the first input to the workstation through the data entry device.

Abstract: A method of providing directed search for a web site address identified via a media channel and a method for creating a directed search database of web sites identified via a media channel. A preferred method of providing directed search for a web site address identified via a media channel comprises creating a database containing one or more web site identifiers associated with the identification of the web site address; permitting a user to search the database by inputting at least one of the web site identifiers; and providing to the user a search response including one or more web site addresses identified via the media channel.

Abstract: A one writer, multiple readers, shared data table concurrent access process includes providing a plurality of data elements. The data elements include a serialization mechanism. A second data element is a table/array of elements. A third data element is an atomic, integer counter. Inserting a new element into the shared unsorted data table by a writer includes locking the table. Removing an element at a position in the shared unsorted data table by a writer includes locking the table, copying the table so that the element to be removed is at the end of the table, deleting the element at the end of the table, and unlocking the table. From the shared data table by a reader includes looping through all elements of the table, loading and caching each element of the table, and read-only processing each element of the table.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for on-line detection of partial discharge events in an a.c. power system, in which high frequency electromagnetic pulses generated by partial discharge events are detected and analyzed in the frequency domain and the time domain to determine the type and location of the partial discharge event. The phase relationship between the partial discharge events and the on-line power signal is also examined to help indicate severity of the insulation anomaly giving rise to the partial discharge events.

Abstract: A method of and a system for collecting, data about an event and describing the event, which for example, might be an entertainment event, a sports event, or a political event. Identifying characteristics of the event, characteristics of types of data about the event, and a record of the event are acquired by a description generator. A person wishing to view a particular type of data utilizes an interactive receiver to select the type of data, and characteristics of the selected type of data within the record of the event are located so as to locate data of the selected type. The located data are then collected and displayed. By storing characteristics of different types of segments that occur in the event, a viewer can select segments of a particular type for viewing. Characteristics of the selected type of segments are then located within the record of the event so as to locate segments of the selected type, and the located segments are then displayed.

Abstract: A system and method automatically identify candidate helpdesk problem categories that are most amenable to automated solutions. The system generates a dictionary wherein each word in the text data set is identified, and the number of documents containing these words is counted, and a corresponding count is generated. The documents are partitioned into clusters. For each generated cluster, the system sorts the dictionary terms in order of decreasing occurrence frequency. It then determines a search space by selecting the top dictionary terms as specified by a user defined depth of search. Next, the system chooses a set of terms from the search space as specified by a user-defined value indicating the desired level of detail.