Abstract: A marketing tool having portable lap computer for recording a sales call made by a salesman of an employer on a customer. The information of the call is transmitted from the lap computer to a master computer and at the end of the day, the master computer prepared a letter to the customer acknowledging the sales call. The acknowledgement letter is sent on the letterhead of the employer and in the color of the letterhead logo. The master computer automatically prepares a daily planner or planning aid chart as well as a customer call activity chart and a territory penetration chart which include maps of the territories involved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing data from a seismic survey.In accordance with the invention, the data is regrouped to form a plurality of seismic images (A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3). These images being defined by image elements defined in spatial position with respect to an operation direction (D) and having a grey level of predetermined amplitude, the method consisting for each pair of images (Ai,Bj) of carrying out processing by correlation of the amplitude of the grey levels, in order to establish an intercorrelation coefficient and to compensate the localization errors in the position of the images.Application to mono-, bi- or tri-dimensional marine geophysical prospecting.

Abstract: A system for mailing bulk mail pieces in which credit rating is relied upon instead of security to assure payment of the mail. A mailer user sends a batch of mail to the post office which is accompanied by a statement sheet indicating the number of mail pieces and amount of postage due. Accompanying this statement is a check in the amount of the postage required for the batch of mail.

Abstract: A system for dispensing medications in a health care institution includes a computer system connected to control a plurality of remote medication dispensers. Pharmacy terminals are provided for entering medication orders and software in the computer system controls the dispensers to dispense medications according to the orders specified. The system includes support for dispensing medications from floor stocks. In either case, medications are administered in accordance with instructions from the computer system generated in accordance with said orders. The system further includes software for identifying medication duplications and potentially dangerous drug interactions based on orders entered into the system at the pharmacy. Inventory control and restocking features are also provided.

Abstract: A first cash register operating in a registration mode is connected by a communication line to a second cash register operating in a calculation mode to serve customers forming a waiting line extending from the first cash register to the second. Sales data are registered by the first cash register, with the data of an earliest one of the customers being displayed on a first display unit and the sales data of all the customers being stored sequentially into respective second storage areas when a communication line is busy. When the line becomes available, the sales data are transmitted to the second cash register from the second storage areas sequentially. The second cash register stores the transmitted sales data into third and fourth storage areas in succession and provides a simultaneous display of the sales data stored in the fourth storage areas on respective window areas of a second display unit.

Abstract: A methodology for retrieving textual data objects is disclosed. The information is treated in the statistical domain by presuming that there is an underlying, latent semantic structure in the usage of words in the data objects. Estimates to this latent structure are utilized to represent and retrieve objects. A user query is recouched in the new statistical domain and then processed in the computer system to extract the underlying meaning to respond to the query.

Abstract: In order to achieve optimized management of a pipeline system for transporting gas, oil or other products, the flow rates and pressures at various system locations are determined and regulated in real time. The configurations of compressors and valves which make it possible to minimize operating costs are determined in real time by computers.

Abstract: A machine translation system for translating inputted sentences using a translation dictionary, defined grammatical rules and tree conversion rules. The translation system is capable of producing partial translation when the entire sentence cannot be translated as a whole. Each translated portion is representative of an analyzed partial tree of the complete inputted sentence.

Abstract: Data in tomographic images is convolved with a low-pass filter to reduce the maximum spatial frequency permitting unique mapping of surface images to a rasterized display. The filter may use linear or other weighting. Re-sampling after the filter is optional. The filtered tomographic data is employed to determine the locations and normal vectors of the surface. The locations and normal vectors employed by a computer graphics processor for applying shading in relation to the angle between the normal vector to a surface element and an operator- defined line of sight to the surface.

Abstract: A method for displaying three dimensional imaging system data uses a modified Back To Front algorithm. With that algorithm, imaging system data are interpolated and converted into a series of vectors defined by a starting point in space and a length corresponding to consecutive non-zero imaging system data points. The vectors are transformed to an observer's viewpoint coordinate system and plotted on a CRT display.

Abstract: An electronic cash register stores data on discounts concerning commodities to which an in-store marking bar code is attached. When this bar code is read, data on a discount corresponding to the department code contained in the bar code is read, a discount is made on the unit price data contained in the bar code on the basis of the discount data, and the discounted price data is registered.

Abstract: A conventional cash register unit is modified to include a cashier input unit having a switch and/or keys or the like for entering a limit value equal to the maximum total bill authorized for a given transaction by an individual customer. A limit indicator unit is coupled to the cashier unit for generating a signal to the clerk and the customer when the accumulated total, including tax, is within a predetermined margin of the limit value. Preferably, the limit indicating unit displays several kinds of information, including the authorized limit value, the running total of the accumulated bill, an alarm signal indicating that the accumulating amount is within a predetermined margin of the authorized limit, as well as a limit signal indicating when the authorized limit has been reached. Also, the price of each item may be displayed.

Abstract: A machine implemented process for advising on several alternatives for recovering from single or multiple component failures in a distributed process well-site instrumentation logging system which uses the rules, assumptions and constraints governing the hardware configurability of the well-site instrumentation system. The process locates and tests one or more reconfigurations for a failure scenario, and presents the possible reconfiguration scenarios in order of preference.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the relative point of impact of an object in flight proximal a reference line on a surface. The reference line may be imaginary or it may be visually perceptible. In a preferred application, the reference line is the outer edge of a game court boundary stripe such as the service box stripe or the base line stripe on a tennis court. At least one plane of radiated energy, preferably light beams, is pre-positioned with respect to the reference line. Detectors, preferably photodetectors, provide data signals indicative of the relative elevation of the object at two successive points in time based on intersection of at least one plane of radiated energy by the object. A programmed microcomputer determines whether the point of surface impact is to one side or another of the reference line, or coincident with the reference line, based on the data signals. The microcomputer commands an annunciator to provide an audible or visual indication of the determination.

Abstract: An employee clock system is disclosed which has a central data collector device connected to a plurality of remote satellite time clock stations. The timekeeping function is performed at the central data collector, and communication between the data collector and the time clocks takes place over communication channels wired in a spoke, rather than in a loop, configuration. The system permits use of a supervisor's card to clock in for another employee, while preventing non-supervisory employees from doing so. The central data collector collects employee attendance data from all the remote time clock stations, puts it in a form usable by a general purpose programmable computer, and sends it to the computer for use in preparing a payroll, Battery back-up is provided to permit employees to clock out in the event that the plant is closed because of a power failure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a borehole survey system that utilizes strapdown intertial navigation techniques for mapping a borehole while the system probe (10) is continuously moved along a borehole (12) by means of a cable (14) that is wound on a cable reel (16). Signals representative of the acceleration of the probe (10) relative to the three axes of a probe body coordinate system (34)) and signals representative of angular rotation of the probe (10) about the three axes of the probe body coordinate system are processed within a signal processor (24) to obtain signals that represent probe velocity and probe position in a level coordinate system (36) that is fixed in orientation relative to the geographic location of the borehole (12).

Abstract: A controller for deciding the safety of continued elevator operation during and following an earthquake based on a comparison of currently detected seismic intensity data with stored historic intensity data. In the event the current intensities are greater than all stored data or equal to an occurrence in which faults were detected, operation is suspended at the nearest floor until a fault detection is completed. New seismic data is automatically stored along with the presence or absence of fault conditions.

Abstract: An MR scanner performs a prescan before each MR scan sequence in which the optimal RF excitation frequency is automatically determined and applied to the scanner's transceiver. The prescan sequence includes a pair of MR measurements which provide data that allows the precise RF excitation frequency to be determined.

Abstract: A personal health monitor includes sensors for measuring patient weight, temperature, blood pressure, and ECG waveform. The monitor is coupled to a central unit via modems and includes a computer which is programmed to prompt a patient to take prescribed medication at prescribed times, to use the sensors to measure prescribed health parameters, and to supply answers to selected questions. Medication compliance information, test results, and patient answers are compiled in a composite log which is automatically transmitted to the central unit. The computer is also programmed automatically to disconnect the monitor from an alternating current power source and to rely on internal battery power during certain periods of patient-monitor interaction, such as during use of the ECG module. In this way, danger to the patient and complexity of the ECG module are minimized.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the processing of signals containing information about the pulse rate and oxygen saturation of arterial blood flowing in tissue. These signals have a relatively periodic pulsatile component superimposed upon a varying baseline component. To determine the pulse rate and oxygen saturation from the signals, the positive peaks, negative peaks, and period of the signal must be determined. The present invention accomplishes this by first searching for a sustained positive sloping region of the signal. Then the first derivative of the signal with respect to time is analyzed and points on the signal before and after the occurrence of a slope reversal marked. If the slope at the first point is positive, the interval between the two points is searched for a maximum amplitude that is identified as a positive peak. After the occurrence of a negative sloping region of the signal, another pair of points are marked occurring before and after a subsequent slope reversal.