Abstract: A method of modeling a jurisdiction provides jurisdiction resilience information and jurisdiction impact information. The method models a jurisdiction system by determining the multiple different systems present in a particular jurisdiction. The method determines the assets of the multiple different systems and stores asset information describing the respective assets of the multiple different systems in a jurisdiction meta-model. The method may determine critical paths across the different systems of the jurisdiction and identify those critical paths across different systems in the jurisdiction meta-model. The method may also determine cascading effects of incidents to assets within each system and identify those cascading effects within each system in the jurisdiction meta-model. The method may also determine cross-cascading effects of incidents to assets across different systems of the jurisdiction and identifying those cross-cascading effects in the jurisdiction meta-model.

Abstract: A method of modeling a jurisdiction provides jurisdiction resilience information and jurisdiction impact information. The method models a jurisdiction system by determining the multiple different systems present in a particular jurisdiction. The method determines the assets of the multiple different systems and stores asset information describing the respective assets of the multiple different systems in a jurisdiction meta-model. The method may determine critical paths across the different systems of the jurisdiction and identify those critical paths across different systems in the jurisdiction meta-model. The method may also determine cascading effects of incidents to assets within each system and identify those cascading effects within each system in the jurisdiction meta-model. The method may also determine cross-cascading effects of incidents to assets across different systems of the jurisdiction and identifying those cross-cascading effects in the jurisdiction meta-model.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a computer manages an electric vehicle charging transaction. A set of principals is identified associated with the charging transaction for an electric vehicle. A principal is an entity having an interest in the charging transaction. Electric vehicle charging information is retrieved from a set of sources. An energy transaction plan is generated during a pre-charge phase using the electric vehicle charging information and based on preferences of one or more principals to govern the charging transaction. The computer initiates a charging phase of the electric vehicle charging transaction for an electric vehicle connected to a charging station according to the energy transaction plan. The charging phase comprises charging the electric vehicle with electricity, storing electricity in the electric vehicle, and removing electricity to de-charge the electric vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring utilization and waste of a natural resource, such as water. Data is received indicating natural resource consumption by a facility. An indication of at least one period of natural resource usage by the facility is received. Natural resource usage corresponding to utilization of the natural resource for a useful purpose. Quantities of the natural resource consumed by the facility during the at least one period of water usage is recorded as a utilized quantity.

Abstract: A system and method for responding to a query. An original query is received. A first semantic query and a second semantic query are extracted from the information of the original query. The first semantic query is transformed, based upon semantic analysis, into a numeric model query. The second semantic query is submitted to a semantic analyzer and the numeric model query is submitted to a numeric model analyzer. A response for the second semantic query and a response for the numeric model query are integrated into an answer for the original query.

Abstract: A method, information processing system, and computer readable storage medium manage public relations queries using semantic analysis. A public relations query expressed in natural language is received from a user. A set of relevant topics and subjects associated with the query are identified. A set of information sources are identified that comprise data associated with the set of topics and subjects based on the set of topics and subjects. A set of data from the set of information sources is identified that satisfies the query. A set of weights are assigned to the set of data that has been identified. A set of data elements within the set of data that comprises a set of weights above a given threshold are identified. A response to the query is generated using the set of data elements that has been identified.

Abstract: A method, information processing system, and computer readable storage medium manage public relations queries using semantic analysis. A public relations query expressed in natural language is received from a user. A set of relevant topics and subjects associated with the query are identified. A set of information sources are identified that comprise data associated with the set of topics and subjects based on the set of topics and subjects. A set of data from the set of information sources is identified that satisfies the query. A set of weights are assigned to the set of data that has been identified. A set of data elements within the set of data that comprises a set of weights above a given threshold are identified. A response to the query is generated using the set of data elements that has been identified.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring utilization and waste of a natural resource, such as water. Data is received indicating natural resource consumption by a facility. An indication of at least one period of natural resource usage by the facility is received. Natural resource usage corresponding to utilization of the natural resource for a useful purpose. Quantities of the natural resource consumed by the facility during the at least one period of water usage is recorded as a utilized quantity.

Abstract: A system and method for responding to a query. An original query is received. A first semantic query and a second semantic query are extracted from the information of the original query. The first semantic query is transformed, based upon semantic analysis, into a numeric model query. The second semantic query is submitted to a semantic analyzer and the numeric model query is submitted to a numeric model analyzer. A response for the second semantic query and a response for the numeric model query are integrated into an answer for the original query.

Abstract: An apparatus and means enabling a user to operate across multiple service domains using a single IDENTIFIER, ID. A Cross Service Association Domain mapping system is used to allow the desired IDENTIFIER and common user integration. A user is able to employ a single appropriate ID to access any of a plurality of services. The apparatus associates and relates all the IDENTIFIERs associated with each common user by maintaining an image of all the IDENTIFIERs for each user for all that user's applications which bridge the service and/or domain boundaries. Once a user is identified with any of the associated user IDENTIFIERs, the means allows the connection and/or routing to and from even otherwise disparate services. Included are a method, apparatus, and architecture which satisfies the above requirements while providing domain service interrelation and a common user image for the resulting interrelation. It provides for real time collaboration for cooperative, shared, and adaptive service network entities.

Abstract: Network which accepts connections from a subscriber unit for service by a service provider. A plurality of nodes on the network are connected to different servers which provide the identical service. A subscriber unit's request for service is handled by the nearest node. A translation table is accessed by the LSO of the node to obtain the address of the nearest server based on a fuzzy address received as part of the request for service. The LSO of the node returns complete address data to the requesting subscriber unit for the nearest server capable of serving the request. The subscriber unit then issues a request for connection to the server using the acquired address information. The LSO of the receiving node creates a connection between a requesting subscriber unit and the addressed server.

Abstract: A power conserving method and apparatus for managing a computer memory. A first memory bank comprises normal RAM. A second memory bank comprises low-power RAM. More frequently used virtual pages are mapped onto the first memory bank while less frequently used virtual pages are mapped onto the second memory bank. Further power savings are achieved by removing power from the driver circuits of the memory controller for the second memory bank when the second memory bank is not being referenced.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating an optical communications system having at least two communicating entities (10,12). In accordance with a method of the invention a first step transmits communication link control information from a first entity to a second entity over a first optical channel having a first data bit rate. Responsive to the transmitted communication link control information, a second step of the method transmits data information from the second entity to the first entity over a second optical channel having a second data bit rate that is greater than the first data bit rate. The first optical channel is preferably a relatively low-bandwidth diffuse transmission infrared radiation channel. The second optical channel is preferably a relatively high-bandwidth infrared channel. One of the entities is a network adapter coupled to a wired network. The network adapter is preferably ceiling mounted. The other entity may be a mobile data processor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating an optical communications system having at least two communicating entities (10,12). In accordance with a method of the invention a first step transmits communication link control information from a first entity to a second entity over a first optical channel having a first data bit rate. Responsive to the transmitted communication link control information, a second step of the method transmits data information from the second entity to the first entity over a second optical channel having a second data bit rate that is greater than the first data bit rate. The first optical channel is preferably a relatively low-bandwidth diffuse transmission infrared radiation channel. The second optical channel is preferably a relatively high-bandwidth infrared channel. One of the entities is a network adapter coupled to a wired network. The network adapter is preferably ceiling mounted. The other entity may be a mobile data processor.

Abstract: In response to a data processor (10) breaking a wireless link with a first, original, link adapter (12) a first step deletes the data processor from an active group of the first link adapter and re-directs network datagrams intended for the data processor to a spooler. In response to the data processor subsequently establishing a link with a second, new, link adapter a next step adds the data processor to the active group associated with the second link adapter and transmits stored datagrams in a First In/First Out order from the spooler to the second link adapter for transmission to the data processor. In response to the storage device transmitting all of the stored datagrams to the second link adapter the method includes the further steps of terminating the re-direction of datagrams from the first link adapter to the storage device and, receiving, from the network with the second link adapter, further datagrams addressed to the data processor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for coordinating a usage of a wireless transmission medium among a plurality of transmission units (12). The transmission medium is of a type that is utilized in accordance with a protocol having a transmission period that is comprised of a plurality of consecutively occurring transmission sub-periods. A method includes the following steps. A data structure (28a) is periodically circulated among the transmission units, the data structure being expressive of an identification of each of the transmission units and also expressive of an identification of an assigned transmission sub-period or sub-periods, if any, during which each of the transmission units is permitted to transmit on the wireless medium.

Abstract: The invention concerns the production of gradient fields for nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus particularly imaging apparatus. It has been earlier proposed that samples of the resonance signal be taken at intervals such that the field gradient integrals in each such interval are the same. This sampling is at unequal time intervals. It is now proposed to provide the gradient fields in discrete pulses with spaces in between at which samples can be taken. It is then straightforward to make the pulses of equal field integral or to provide an extra small pulse in one or both of the orthogonal gradients if the field integral should need adjusting before the next sample.

Abstract: In known NMR imaging apparatuses it has been the practice to arrange the G.sub.R field gradient, which rotates in the plane of the examined slice, with a zero crossing substantially in the center of the slice and to demodulate at the Larmor frequency at the zero crossing. It is now proposed to demodulate the detected resonance signals at a frequency which, in the presence of the field gradient, is for a part of the plane lying outside the body slice. This may be by arranging the zero-crossing to be outside the slice. In that case it is preferable that the zero-crossing of G.sub.R lies on a straight line (27) maintained tangential to a circle (28) lying outside the body (23) about an axis (24) through the slice. Control may then be by precalculated coil currents or by precalculating fields at probe positions and adjusting the coil currents to give the expected fields.Alternatively the zero-crossing may be maintained at the center and demodulation may be at a different frequency.

Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatuses have been proposed to examine slices or volumes of bodies, perhaps patients for medical purposes, by exciting resonance and detecting the resonance signals.In an NMR apparatus an G.sub.R field gradient, for selecting lines within a slice or volume, is formed of Gx and Gy components. These should match exactly in shape if not in magnitude. In practice this is difficult to achieve and it is proposed to monitor these fields and derive error signals for their deviation from each other or from a standard. The error signals are used to reduce the deviations so that continuous adjustment of the fields is provided.

Abstract: In a medical NMR apparatus it is desirable that the axial magnetic field, Ho, is uniform. The result can in theory be obtained by accuracy of construction but in practice this cannot readily be achieved. It is now proposed to use a field sensing probe system which indicates the value of that field at a plurality of positions in the examined region and provides error signals indicating deviations from uniformity. The field is automatically corrected in response to the error signals by applying currents to field correcting coils. The errors may be considered as distinct gradient and dishing errors which are corrected individually.