Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided in which items are offered for auction sale at a network site to bidders who access the auction site. A seller is enabled to designate a reserve price as well as a number of automatic auction extensions to an initial auction period. If the designated reserve price for an item is not met during the initial auction period, and the seller has authorized a designated number of auction extensions, the auction is continued beyond the initial auction period and is automatically extended for the designated number of extensions until either a bid for the reserve price is received or the number of authorized extensions has transpired.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monitoring subsystem that would capture all incoming MDN messages (return receipts), and rather than posting individual MDN notes in the user's in-box, a tracking and update subsystem would correlate the incoming responses by reading the appropriate fields in the captured MDN message, and would then use this data to update/create the new functionality.

Abstract: A method and system creates a graphical display repository at a computer network location. The method also provides for the conversion and transfer of displays stored in a local database to the network repository. The storage method will enable graphical displays to be stored in the repository such that a user can easily navigate through the repository and maintain a knowledge of their location within the repository at all times. This method and system will also produce navigation tools, in the form of buttons that will be included on each graphical display that is shown to the user. The user will be able to select displays from a particular presentation set by selecting one of the buttons that will correspond to a set and/or a particular display.

Abstract: To ensure the polling of a server 11 will reach clients 12 from which an ACK/NACK has not been received despite the change of IP addresses of clients 12 in a network system where an ACK/NACK is to be sent back from each client 12 to the server 11 after file data is transmitted from the server 11 to multiple clients 12 by means of broadcast. Clients 12 in a group are granted identification IDs that are mutually identifiable and permanent. Server 11 send the polling by means of multicast that contains information about permanent IDs of the clients 12 from which it has not received an ACK/NACK. Each of the clients 12 replies with an ACK/NACK if its own permanent ID is contained in the polling, otherwise makes no reply.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system that enables reference processes that have access to a long running object to maintain the current access to this object while this object performs a re-initialization operation in order to refresh data contained in the object. The system of the invention comprises a long running object manager that controls the re-initialization process of an object registered with the object manager. In operation, a reference program establishes a connection to the long running for purposes of accessing information in the object. This connection to the object is noted in the object manager. At this point, during the connection of the reference to the long running object, there is an event to trigger a re-initialization of the long running object. The object manager notifies the object of the trigger and holds the references that are connected to this object. The object receives the re-initialization signal, performs the re-initialization and sends a reply to the object manager.

Abstract: A method and implementing system are provided in which merchants are enabled to designate re-seller return locations to customers for returned items. In an exemplary embodiment, a merchant is notified that a customer wishes to return an item purchased. The merchant then sends the customer a return label for the returned item containing the address of the re-seller for the merchant. The re-seller then notifies the merchant when the item has been received and the merchant then credits the account of the customer for the returned item. In a second exemplary embodiment, upon receipt of notice from the customer of the return, the merchant then makes the item available for an auction purchase to a number of bidders. When a winning bid is known to the merchant, the return address of the winning bidder is then sent to the customer for use in returning the purchased item.

Abstract: The present invention is a data processing apparatus and method for encrypting, sending, receiving, and decrypting secure transmissions using a cellular telephone. The user may either purchase a cellular telephone which contains the encryption and decryption software, download the encryption and decryption software to an existing cellular telephone, or may purchase an encryption component which is adaptable to a conventional cellular telephone. Additionally, the described system of encryption and decryption can be used for secure communications in PDA/cellular telephones combinations and any other type of portable communications device. The encryption process is a Java application which converts the user's audio signal into a wav file. The encryption program then creates a second wav file using the first wav file header. The encryption program then converts the data in the first wav file into encrypted data in the second wav file using public key encryption and a series of data manipulations.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided in which an interface device is designed to provide an interface between a remote controller (RC) device for controlling the operation of a vehicle, and a computer system such as a personal computer. The interface device is enabled to receive RC signals from the RC device and convert those RC signals to input signals which are input to a computer system. The interface device builds a translation table for converting the RC or joystick signals to appropriate input signals for the type of vehicle in a particular application. A user is thereby enabled to manipulate an RC device such as a joystick and observe how the user's input joystick movement affects the movement of a simulated controlled vehicle which is displayed on a display screen of the computer system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system to monitor the statuses of devices that can operate and transmit current device status information to a storage location. In this system, there is a can be a central storage location of the status of all designated device attributes of a device including the past state history of the device. The storage location can also be distributed and in one or more remote locations. Each device on the system will transmit a state change notification to the central location each time the status of the device changes. This status change will be recorded in the location storage. The present invention provides for the creation of sets of instructions to enable the initiation of operations by devices in response to a set of current statuses of one or more devices. Each workflow routine will be based on a set device statuses. This set of device statuses can be referred as a device scenario.

Abstract: A Waypoint Services Navigational System (WSNS) is disclosed comprising a mobile unit connected to a server and to a database by the Internet. The WSNS uses omnipresent digital cellular links or any other form of radio frequency communications for transmission of information by a registered services provider to a traveler with a WSNS mobile unit. Using WSNS, the registered service provider announces its presence along with specific services/products to a traveler with a WSNS mobile unit within a predefined geographic radius. This information may be viewed via a conventional mobile computer, a personal digital assistant screen, or through a Global Positioning System (GPS) mapping longitude/latitude device. The WSNS mobile unit may be portable or mounted in a vehicle in a convenient location. Specific directions to a selected services provider are provided based upon the proximity positioning information at that moment in-time when the information is requested.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of using a scalable, configurable “propulsor” system to move and navigate a submersible device through a fluid medium. A propulsor system is an assembly of individual propulsors that act in concert to form a substantially continuous control surface that undulates in a working fluid. Each propulsor is driven and configured by computer-controlled actuators so that the control surface undulates in various wave forms. Optional actuators that may refine the surface shape include an “orientation” actuator that drives rotation about the propulsor's longitudinal axis, and a “geometry” actuator that controls each propulsor's geometric configuration.

Abstract: In the method of the present invention, a customer of a service provider would be placed in hold while waiting to speak to a customer service representative. The method and system of the invention would recognize the telephone number of the caller using a “caller ID” system. If this call is the first time the caller has ever called, the caller would be presented with an audible listing of listening choices that would include but not be limited to the latest news, the weather (of the caller's location), financial headlines, or a selection of music stations (via cable radio, for example). The caller would then speak or type his/her preference into the keypad and the selection would be played. If the caller does not like the selection, the caller can then speak another selection or type the new selection as many times as the caller prefers. The caller selection is recorded in a caller preference database.

Abstract: A computer program for determining whether a plurality of objects will collide is disclosed. The program divides each object into surfaces, subsurfaces, and elements and computes normals for the elements and normals for each subsurface. The program calculates the dot products between the subsurface normals. If the dot product is negative, the program computes the relative subsurface vector between the two subsurfaces and calculates the dot product between the first subsurface normal and the relative subsurface vector to determine if there is a possible collision of elements. If that dot product is negative, then the program calculates the dot product for the elemental normals. If that dot product is negative, then the program calculates the relative elemental vector and calculates the dot product between the first elemental normal and the relative elemental vector. If that dot product is negative, then the two objects have collided.

Abstract: Provided are methods and computer programs for managing installation of a set of data processing components. An installation manager program allows users to specify which of a set of predefined functional roles are to be implemented on which of their data processing systems and then the installation program automates installation of the set of data processing components which correspond to the specified roles.

Abstract: An improved methodology and implementing system are provided in which a docking station is arranged to receive and dock a number of individual wireless personal information management (IM) units. In an exemplary embodiment, the personal IM units include touch-sensitive flat display screens. One or more of the personal wireless IM units may be individually removed from the docking station and operated to selectively and individually communicate with the docking station to access and retrieve more detailed information related to a presentation being made in another medium such as a TV or even an associated live presentation. In one example, the docking station is arranged to receive input from a TV system relative to which channel is being presented on the TV and is enabled to access and retrieve detailed information from a server which is related to the content of the current TV presentation.

Abstract: A method and implementing teleconferencing system for use within voice and/or video teleconferencing arrangements, includes means by which conference content is recorded and subsequently made available to participants who may become disconnected from the teleconference while it is still in session. Upon reconnection to the teleconference, a participant has an option to play back the missed portion of the teleconference at various speeds until the recording has become synchronized with the real time teleconference. The participant may also choose to rejoin the real time teleconference immediately upon reconnection and access the missed but recorded portion of the teleconference at a later time. In different embodiments, the call-back to a disconnected participant and the recording of missed teleconference content are accomplished either at the telephone company or at a teleconference center.

Abstract: A user compiling graphic slides for a presentation has the ability search or navigate through a presentation slide repository, select slides that the user desires, download the selected slides to a file at the location of the user and convert these slides into a slide presentation format using a slide program such as PowerPoint.RTM. In this method, the navigation and download slide steps can be performed in a browser on a computer network environment. The conversion and display function can be performed with software located in the user machine optionally in combination with server side software.

Abstract: An improved methodology and implementing system are provided in which a docking station is arranged to receive and dock a number of individual wireless personal information management (IM) units. In an exemplary embodiment, the personal IM units include touch-sensitive flat display screens. One or more of the personal wireless IM units may be individually removed from the docking station and operated to selectively and individually communicate with the docking station to access and retrieve more detailed information related to a presentation being made in another medium such as a TV or even an associated live presentation. In one example, the docking station is arranged to receive input from a TV system relative to which channel is being presented on the TV and is enabled to access and retrieve detailed information from a server which is related to the content of the current TV presentation.

Abstract: The present invention, foreign language teaching tool (FLTT), is a language translation tool that slowly introduces the student to different words in the foreign language while the student is reading a familiar text. The preferred embodiment of FLTT is on an e-book, but FLTT can be adapted to printed hard-copy texts. FLTT starts with an original text in the student's native language and analyzes and translates the original text using a primary translation process. In the primary translation process, the original text is broken down into different grammatical units and then translated using a commercial computer translation package. A bilingual literature specialist then reviews the translated text and makes any necessary corrections in order to preserve the literary quality of the original text.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed that configures two files for more rapid comparison by removing blank spaces from the code of all of the lines in each of the files to be compared and also by attaching a control to the beginning of each line of code in each of the two sources prior to be compared. After blank spaces are removed and the controls attached, the two files are compared to determine additions, deletions and changes. The program continues to compare the strings of identical length until all of the strings have been compared. By comparing only strings of identical length, the program is able to compare two sources in substantially less time than by using conventional means of comparison.