Abstract: A method and implementing computerized system are provided for enabling point-specific temperature control for a given airspace. In an exemplary embodiment, infrared sensing devices are positioned in a vehicle to sense and record temperatures at various points within the vehicle airspace. This temperature profile is mapped relative to points within the vehicle and compared to a preferred temperature database to provide temperature control signals. The temperature control signals are, in turn, applied to temperature control air vent devices which are effective to direct appropriate air flows to specific areas such that actual measured temperatures at control points in the vehicle airspace approach the preferred temperatures for the respective control points. In another example, when sensed temperatures are above or below predetermined emergency condition limits for a predetermined period of time, various alarm systems are activated until the sensed emergency condition is corrected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating and automatically refreshing a composite web page. The present invention is a method, implementable in computer software, for selecting areas of interest from a plurality of web pages. The user creates a boundary around the areas of interest on each web page. The area inside the boundary, referred to as an information unit, remains visible while the area outside of the boundary becomes transparent. The user may then combine the plurality of information units together on a canvas web page. The user may then rearrange the information units on the canvas web page by dragging the information units to their intended destination. When the user has satisfactorily arranged the information units, the user may finalize the canvas web page into a composite web page. The invention may then refresh the composite web page automatically or upon user request.

Abstract: A system is provided which comprises multiple Java virtual machines (VMs). Each VM is capable of running a plurality of threads. The system includes at least one object which is shared between the VMs so that it is accessible from two or more VMs, and at least one non-shared object which is accessible only from a single VM. In order to perform a lock operation on a shared object, it is first detecting that an object is a shared object. In a preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by locating a predefined value in a particular lock data word in the object. In response to the detection, a monitor is used to control local access to the shared object for the thread that is requesting the object. The monitor is on the same VM as the requesting thread. In addition, a data structure, which may be a proxy object, is updated in order to associate the monitor with the shared object.

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 system are provided in which broadcast signals are received and converted into data streams for processing. A user is enabled to select preferred broadcast stations for monitoring and signals from the selected stations are converted into digital data streams which are input to first-in first-out (FIFO) memory units to enable a local storage of a segment of predetermined duration of broadcast signals on different FIFO tracks in a user receiving device. The FIFO is dynamically allocated for the selected stations and as each FIFO memory for each selected station becomes full, old information or content is moved out of memory as new information or content is applied to the FIFO. The receiving device includes means for enabling a user to move forward or backward within the stored segment. Partitions or markers are provided to separate broadcast content items, such as sequentially played songs within the stored segment, to enable incremental movement to selected positions within the stored segment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for blocking specific television commercials from the viewer's television based upon the characteristics of the television commercial and replacing the commercial with television content located by a content interrogation program. The content interrogation program seeks out television content based upon a user search term specifically for use as contingent programming to replace the blocked commercial. The content interrogation program can have multiple search terms and provide prioritized multiple searches to identify multiple segments to play in spaces created by blocked commercials.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided in which route mapping for vehicles is determined between starting and destination points designated by an operator. Selected mapping is determined in accordance with operator selected travel-related criteria and augmented with traffic-related information. In one embodiment, after an initial route is set, the route is automatically updated whenever the vehicle strays from the set course, or whenever there is a change detected in related traffic conditions, or whenever subsequent changed travel points are input by the operator. The travel route and other related messaging may be conveyed to the operator by audio and/or visual devices onboard the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, apparatus and computer program for reducing the number of data elements checkpointed in a system having at least one data store where operations on said at least one data store are recorded in a log. A point in the log is recorded. The oldest data element in each of the least one data store is determined and it is then determined for each of the at least one data store whether a logged representation of the data store's oldest data element is more recent than the point recorded. Responsive to determining that a data store's logged representation is more recent than the point recorded, it is realised that it is not necessary to force data elements from that data store to disk if the point recorded is made the point of restart for that data store.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for aggregating API calls within a higher level Batch Submission API (BSA) having a sender BSA (SBSA) and a receiver BSA (RBSA). Specifically, one or more directory limit records needed for the restoration process on a particular server are grouped by the SBSA into one large buffer. The SBSA validates batch records prior to transmitting them to a receiver. The SBSA does not transmit the records if either (1) all of the records fail pre-submission validation or (2) a certain percentage of the records fail pre-submission validation. Once the SBSA has performed the pre-submission validation of the records, a buffer and count (BC) is transmitted to a receiver BSA (RBSA) at a second computer. The BC contains records passing pre-submission validation checks and a count of the records contained within the buffer. The RBSA would then process each of the directory limits records contained in the buffer at the second computer.

Abstract: The invention which meets the needs of an object-oriented structured query language (OOSQL) support for enterprise Java beans is an apparatus and method for automatic generation of a portable, OOSQL query in terms of a bean's attributes and methods at the time of development. The method accomplishes its purpose by bridging between CORBA EJB, by executing an object-oriented query on an application server that returns data objects responsive to the query; adding each object returned by the server to a Java Vector object, converting the Java Vector object to a Java Enumeration; and narrowing the Java Enumeration to the EJB objects having attributes that that meet the conditions of the query.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system for performing regression tests in a state-dependent data processing environment where data are processed by means of at least one function having a signature of defined parameters and corresponding values. A regression test is performed using at least one pre-determined set of test data and one pre-recorded function test case corresponding to said signatures and being used to execute said at least one pre-recorded function test case. The proposed mechanism particularly comprises the step of adapting said at least one function test case or said at least one set of test data to any changed signatures caused by a state transition of said data processing system. The mechanism thus provides automated regression tests in such a data processing environment and enables re-execution of a regression test in a changed context of the underlying data processing environment.

Abstract: A method and implementing computer system are provided in which a user is enabled to create a virtual history file by selecting a favorites routing sequence (FRS) or preferred sequence of favorite web sites to be visited during a browser session. During a browser session, the user is enabled to change from one site to the next sequential site on the list using only a single point-and-click operation or keystroke combination within the user's browser program. The user is further enabled to selectively modify the FRS to include new individual or groups of sites and/or delete existing individual or groups of sites from the listing, and also to change the particular order of sites to be visited on the FRS. Further, existing individual or groups of virtual history files may also be embedded into other virtual history files.

Abstract: A fast provisioning unit is disclosed that contains a basic unit, a duplicating unit and a control unit. The basic unit has a production computer and two or more hard drives each connected to the production computer by a first switch. The duplicating unit has a duplicator that is connected to an image disk and to a second switch. The second switch is connected to the hard drives of the basic unit. The control unit has a computer connected to the first switch, the second switch and the duplicator. The first switch permits the hard drives to be connected or disconnected from the production computer by the control computer pursuant to instructions from control software.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed that allows a participant in a conference call to receive conference call roster information at a telephone display unit, at a computer display or at both types of display. The conference call information is updated during the call and includes identification of the speaker during a conference call. The conference callers are connected together and identified either by standard caller identification or by other identification provided by the operator. The conference callers' identifications are then transmitted in two ways. First, a coded signal is sent over the telephone connection to a telephone display unit. Second, an information packet is transmitted over the Internet to a conference call participant's computer. A server computer monitors the conference call and the identification of parties involved is updated and parties are added or disconnected. The speaking party is identified in one of two ways.

Abstract: Transitions between current and succeeding World Wide Web (Web) pages are provided which are aesthetically desirable, make the user comfortable and may be easily variable by both designers and users of Web pages in computer managed communication networks such as the Web. There are provided control tags, in a transmitted page selected to succeed a currently displayed page, for controlling display functions in said currently displayed page in combination with means responsive to these control tags for implementing said display functions. In the implementation, control tags in the current page are selectively activatable in response to control tags in the succeeding page. In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the current page further includes data for selectively determining whether the current page is controllable by said succeeding page. This data my be a list of URLs (Uniform Resource Linkages) of succeeding pages only by which the current page may be controlled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system to append information to an image file containing a stored graphical image. The appended information relates to the contents of the graphical image. In the process of the present invention, there is an initial graphical file containing a stored image. During the creation of the graphical file (such as a PowerPoint file or Freelance Graphics file), the user can insert images, other objects or text onto the file. Some of the objects can be hyperlinks (referred to as “Hotspots”) to other files or other system resources. The graphical software stores information related to every object on the graphical file. During the process of converting a graphical image to a graphical image file format such as a JPEG file, the present invention takes the information concerning ‘Hotspot’ or other objects on the file on the graphical file and generates an appendix to the created graphical image file containing this ‘Hotspots’ information.

Abstract: A handheld device cradle for holding a handheld device in a fixed position relative to the cradle includes a movable IR coupling transceiver selectively connected to a keyboard and selectively movable relative to the cradle to align with the IR port of a handheld device mounted on the cradle. A reflective element of the cradle apparatus is arranged to facilitate a satisfactory alignment of a handheld device with the cradle IR transceiver regardless of the location of the IR port on the handheld device. In an example, a full-sized keyboard is used to provide input to a handheld device which is mounted within the exemplary cradle apparatus to maintain IR port alignment between the cradle IR port and the handheld device IR port.

Abstract: In one form, a method, for creating multiple segments of source information for presentation on a device having a limited size display screen, includes generating a first derivative file describing first presentation material. The derivative file is derived from a first copy of a master style sheet file. The master style sheet specifies a style of displaying the source information. The source information includes a plurality of attributes, of which a first set of attributes are included in the first derivative style sheet file. A second derivative file describing second presentation material is derived from a second copy of the master style sheet file. A second set of attributes included in the source information are included in the second derivative file. The first presentation and second presentation materials are generated responsive to the source information and the respective first and second derivative files.

Abstract: A process flow development tool is given a capability of determining the properties corresponding to a particular type of object and allowing a user to decide how and where the properties will be shown in a Properties dialog for individual objects of the particular type. The capability allows the tool to present a dialog that allows the user to customize, for the particular type of object, the layout for the properties in the Properties dialog. This layout may then be stored in an organizer object associated with the particular type of object.

Abstract: A Configuration Application running on a server that responds to a web client is disclosed. The Configuration Application has a Bean Configuration Utility, a Program Bean and one or more SectionBeans within the Program Bean. The Configuration Application has a graphical user interface for the user to select tables, join tables, select columns, review a conditional SQL statement at the graphical user interface, and save the SQL statement. Using the graphical user interface, the user at the client computer can manipulate the Program Bean to return custom fields from the database without a change to the running application itself. The Program Bean is serializable and can be saved to a file, database, or it can be sent through a network socket (TCP/IP).