Abstract: A software system automatically and dynamically generates a fully functional user interface (UI) based upon, and connected directly to, an underlying data model (as instantiated within a relational database management system (RDBMS)). The UI derives from an automated interrogation of the RDBMS, and comprises all mode displays (e.g., browse, search, edit, add) for all tables, and a full complement of mechanisms—integrated directly into the mode displays—for representing, navigating, and managing relationships across tables, regardless of the complexity of the underlying RDBMS schema. It utilizes a hierarchical “context stack” for suspending the working state of a particular table while “drilling down” to work with related-table information and return relevant changes to the base table.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying an application of a data service, such as X.500 and LDAP, to a relational database, a database design and use of the database to perform such directory services. Specifically addressed is the problem of achieving efficient searching of a directory service database coupled with effective input or output of data from the database. The disclosed method and apparatus, which provide end efficiency and data tolerance in the provision of a variety of database services, is based upon the concurrent storage in a database of both a normalised (syntax normalised) form and a raw (protocol encoded) form of the data. The raw form of data may be in ASN.1. A further feature of the disclosed method and apparatus concerns the transfer of data in and out of a database, where, in finding data in the database, a normalised form is used, and, in transferring data out of the database, a raw form is used.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a list is provided. The system includes a seed item input subsystem, an item identifying subsystem, a descriptive metadata similarity determining subsystem and a list generating subsystem that builds a list based, at least in part, on similarity processing performed on seed item descriptive metadata and user item descriptive metadata and user selected thresholds applied to such similarity processing. The method includes inexact matching between identifying metadata associated with new user items and identifying metadata stored in a reference metadata database. The method further includes subjecting candidate user items to similarity processing, where the degree to which the candidate user items are similar to the seed item is determined, and placing user items in a list of items based on user selected preferences for (dis)similarity between items in the list and the seed item.

Abstract: A system, and a corresponding method, allow for dynamic sequencing of a requirements-based workflow. The system includes a registry that stores information related to services available to complete a received job request. The system also includes a workflow controller capable of dynamically generating a workflow based on the received job request. The workflow controller includes a rules database containing rules that specify requirements for constructing the workflow based on a nature of the job request. The workflow includes one or more nodes, and the workflow controller dynamically generates the workflow by comparing the requirements of the rules to outputs of prior nodes to generate subsequent nodes. Finally, selected services execute the nodes.

Abstract: A method for providing cascaded trie-based network packet search engines is provided. A search command is received at one of the network packet search engines. The search command comprises a specific search key. A determination of a longest prefix match based on the specific search key is made at the network packet search engine. A determination is made at the network packet search engine regarding whether the longest prefix match comprises an overall longest prefix match among the cascaded network packet search engines such that any of the cascaded network packet search engines may comprise the overall longest matching prefix independently of position relative to the other cascaded network packet search engines.

Abstract: Traditionally, it has been difficult to share data among diverse computer applications and platforms because of underlying differences in data formats. Although the meaning or purpose of the data may be similar or identical (for example, two appointments entered using separate computer applications), the differences in data formats required by the various computer applications and platforms renders such sharing difficult. A method is disclosed for the translation of dissimilarly-formatted data between disparate computer applications and platforms.

Abstract: An efficient information search mechanism provides control over the relaxation of a search query to users that are requesting searches. Through such a mechanism, a user can specify a sequence of sub-queries that is associated with variations of the main search criteria, and specify a progression in which to execute the sub-queries. Hence, users can impart their priorities with respect to search term variations used in relaxing the main search criteria, which further allows the users to impart their notion of the relevance of results that may be returned by particular sub-queries. A query that includes a sequence of sub-queries is received and the sub-queries are executed, if at all, by a database server in an order based on the progression specified by the user. Response time and network loading are improved through reduction of unnecessary work by the database server and through reduction of computationally costly communications between client and server and associated processing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is a method of sending change information from a first database to a second database. The method includes managing a set of transactions to produce a first message. The method also includes transforming the first message into a second message. The method further includes converting the second message into a transmittable message.

Abstract: In general, the invention features methods by which more than one client program connected to a network stores the same data item on a storage device of a data repository connected to the network. In one aspect, the method comprises encrypting the data item using a key derived from the content of the data item, determining a digital fingerprint of the data item, and storing the data item on the storage device at a location or locations associated with the digital fingerprint. In a second aspect, the method comprises determining a digital fingerprint of the data item, testing for whether the data item is already stored in the repository by comparing the digital fingerprint of the data item to the digital fingerprints of data items already in storage in the repository, and challenging a client that is attempting to deposit a data item already stored in the repository, to ascertain that the client has the full data item.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing descriptions of audiovisual content are described. According to one embodiment, a description of audiovisual content is evaluated and a determination is made as to whether the description is an abstraction. If it is determined that the description is an abstraction, then a level of abstraction is calculated and an indicator of the level of abstraction is stored with the description of audiovisual content.

Abstract: The method and system of the present invention provides for a knowledge management and archival system on a network. A document to be archived is prepared as a machine readable and loaded to a database. The document can be text, image, video or audio, all of which are indexed during and/or after uploading, and stored to the database. This knowledge management system for comprises a server for uploading a record, a user terminal for creating a plurality of indices for each uploaded record; and, a search engine for locating records in response to an index sensitive inquiry. The knowledge management system can also include indexes, such as a field index, a native index and a content index. The knowledge management system also comprises an application program comprising a system administration utility, a data loading component and database management utilities.

Abstract: A system of and method for maintaining data objects in containers across a network of distributed heterogeneous resources in a manner which is transparent to a client. A client request pertaining to containers is resolved by querying meta data for the container, processing the request through one or more copies of the container maintained on the system, updating the meta data for the container to reflect any changes made to the container as a result processing the re quest, and, if a copy of the container has changed, changing the status of the copy to indicate dirty status or synchronizing the copy to one or more other copies that may be present on the system.

Abstract: Techniques are described for organizing data in a fast query system. Data structures are provided, where each of the data structures forms part of at least one traversable structure and represents at least a first value of a first attribute of a data record forming a body of data records. Each of at least some of the data structures are associated with at least one other data structure forming part of another traversable structure, where the other data structure represents at least a second value of a second attribute of the data record.

Abstract: Various exemplary metadirectories, systems and/or methods include or allow for executing a software module on an execution engine, emitting semantic information based on the executing, and analyzing the executing using the semantic information. An exemplary execution engine includes an input for receiving software modules, an output for emitting semantic information, and an output for outputting generated output information. Upon execution, an exemplary software module may cause processing of information in a metadirectory and emitting of semantic information pertaining to the processing. Various exemplary metadirectories, systems and/or methods emit and/or store semantic information in a self-defining language, an extensible language, and/or a markup language. Other exemplary metadirectories, systems, and/or methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for creating a new annotation for a data source, and for carrying forward annotations to a data source when the data source is modified. According to the method for creating a new annotation, a data source version identifier is generated based on a current version of the data source, and text of the annotation is received. A new annotation record is added to an annotation data store, with the new annotation record including the data source version identifier that was generated and the text of the annotation. In one embodiment, the new annotation record further includes point information indicating coordinates of at least one part of the current version of the data source that the annotation is meant to annotate.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are describe for determining dynamically generated content to be invalidated as a result of changes to underlying data. In one method, invalidation processing is performed using a delayed version of the database that reflects the state of the database at the beginning of a preceding processing cycle, and an update log that reflects all updates since the beginning of the preceding processing cycle. In another method, invalidation processing is performed by locking a database which is locked during processing so as to reflect the state of the database at the beginning of processing, and an update log that reflects all updates to the database since the beginning of the preceding processing cycle. In another method, invalidation processing uses the database while it is freely updated during said processing, and the update log of the database.

Abstract: A method and system for exchanging online data information messages between at least two computer terminal nodes through data communication networks. Each data information message includes a definition of an online information data structure, a query syntax, a data query, a definition of data information navigation techniques such as sorting, filtering, On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) operations and data-mining or data-warehousing techniques, and a definition of information representation methods such as graph, a map, a summary table or a data records table. The information messages can be browsed and navigated through online data results and their graphical representation based on said information message definition, wherein the data is retrieved from at least one common database.

Abstract: A server on a network controls a database which functions as an “asset manager” for a large population of items or assets. For “network” assets which are capable of electronically communicating data about themselves, such as computers and digital printers, relevant data is gathered over the network and entered into the database. For “non-network” assets which are not capable of electronic communication, such as typewriters and furniture, information is gathered into the database by other means. Within the database, the distinction between network and non-network assets is largely hidden.

Abstract: Methods and systems for conceptually organizing and presenting information. A correlation of multiple users' responses to the organization and presentation of information is used to determine an optimal organization and presentation of the information. For one embodiment of the invention, in the context of search engine result optimization, the user activity and/or user information of multiple users, during a search session, is correlated with queries to effect an evolving association between queries and the organization and presentation of documents. Systems in accordance with such embodiments employ the ability to store users' activity over the entire search session, thus making possible the correlation of a number of different types of user activity and user information. The use of correlated user input allows such systems to provide relevant search results without the limitations imposed by the key-word-based systems of the prior art.

Abstract: A system and associated method for tuning a data clustering program to a clustering task, determine at least one internal parameter of a data clustering program. The determination of one or more of the internal parameters of the data clustering program occurs before the clustering begins. Consequently, clustering does not need to be performed iteratively, thus improving clustering program performance in terms of the required processing time and processing resources. The system provides pairs of data records; the user indicates whether or not these data records should belong to the same cluster. The similarity values of the records of the selected pairs are calculated based on the default parameters of the clustering program. From the resulting similarity values, an optimal similarity threshold is determined. When the optimization criterion does not yield a single optimal similarity threshold range, equivalent candidate ranges are selected.