Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are disclosed for certifying the authenticity of an application program and for securely associating certified application programs whose certification has been verified, with persistent application data that they own. The invention prevents other application programs, including certified application programs whose certifications have been verified, from accessing data not of their own.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of importing information, in particular application information, onto a chip card which has a memory with a directory. The information being transferred onto the chip card comprises data and code, and it is often necessary to distribute these data and the code to different files in the directory. The method of the invention establishes whether the data and the code have been placed properly in the various files. The invention makes it possible to verify whether the information has been placed in the proper location allocated to it in the memory of the chip card. When an application is to be placed onto a chip card, the information is loaded into the chip card memory but is no allowed to be used until its location on the card is verified. Verification is accomplished by calculating an electronic fingerprint of the information and it's location.

Abstract: In a graphical user interface, a method for automatically subdividing the objects and for grouping the objects into folders or container objects and for representing these folders instead of the associated objects. The grouping is based on one or more of the attributes of the objects, e.g. the object name, the size, the last update. The grouping is particularly useful when many objects are to be represented and it would be difficult to handle all the objects and to display them on the desktop. Nested groups can be created inside other groups when needed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in a number of embodiments, which use an identifier to control and limit the operation of a command and/or security code to one or more subdomains, such as directories, of a file structure. In one embodiment, the identifier is allocated to the command or to the security code. In another embodiment, the identifier is allocated to the subdomain. The security code includes a cryptographic key or a password.

Abstract: A process and system for separation of foreground information from background information in a document is described. In an initial stage, at least two images of a document are created, each with different filtering. One of the images is filtered so that only foreground information, or fragments thereof, remain. This image serves as the initial image for subsequent image restoration, while the remaining images represent reference images for the image restoration. In a second stage, the image restoration is carried out so that as much as possible of the foreground information which was lost by filtering from the initial image is restored again. By comparing information from the initial image with information from at least one reference image, the information remaining in the initial image is supplemented by foreground information from at least one reference image.

Abstract: System and method for managing user logins to a restricted computer service over a stateless network. Single user and multiple, or concurrent, user accounts can be maintained with this logging system. Users are assigned a data mask and an internal user ID (IUID). During a login attempt, the mask is used to scan a user login map to determine if the login will be permitted. For single users, the login is allowed if a current session is not already in progress, as indicated by the login map. For concurrent users, the login is allowed if the maximum number of concurrent users for the account does not already exist, as indicated by the login map. When a login is not allowed, a current session may be terminated or set to be terminated after a fixed interval of time, thereby allowing the requested login. A state lookup table (SLT) is maintained to temporarily keep track of each session in progress and includes a session identifier, the IUID, the starting time, and any termination time established for the session.

Abstract: Character normalization is accomplished using a scaling program. Data input to a scaling program are character images and character parameters (height of result buffer frame, character height, character width and character location), and parameters calculated for scaling (the size of a normalized portion to be output; and the top and bottom and the left and right hand spaces of a normalization pattern to be output). In the present invention, normalization is performed by adjusting the parameters, without especially changing the processing flow. A threshold value is provided in accordance with the size and the location of an input character in order to change a calculation method for parameters that are to be transmitted to the scaling program. Since the values at the boundary of the threshold value are continuous, no discontinuity appears in a resultant normalized image that covers the range from small characters to large characters, and seamless normalization is therefore accomplished.

Abstract: An improved system is disclosed drying interior layers of sheathing by reducing moisture in narrow wall spaces, particularly between layers of sheathing and/or insulation board. The method involves inserting a special nozzle into a hole drilled into the wall. The nozzle has a depth gauge in the form of a shoulder, calibrated screw threads or other equivalent means to control the placement of a drying substance into the space without damaging the insulation board or blocking the outlet for the drying substance which may be warm, low humidity air.

Abstract: A method and a system are proposed for increasing the data integrity on smartcards. In accordance with the invention a sequence of write processes on a smartcard is defined as a unit for which the integrity of the data to be written is ensured. The write process may involve the writing of data to one or more files. The data of an integrity unit i.e. a unit of data for which the integrity is to be ensured is preferably written to shadow memory. The method in accordance with the invention decreases considerably the likelihood that data will be corrupted through an error in writing the data on the smartcard. Data can be restored or completed through the interface of read-write units. The method in accordance with the invention can serve as a basis for maintaining data files external to the smartcard consistent with data on the smartcard.

Abstract: An improved optical system is disclosed for projecting light in the form of an image to a remote target. The laser light source and a holographic optical element are mounted together in optical alignment. The optical element is created using iterative discrete computer encoding for optimum efficiency. In alternate embodiments, the diffractive optical element has a collimating lens encoded into the grating levels and it also performs soft aperture circularizing using either amplitude or phase control over the coherent light. An embossed diffractive optical element laminated to an injection-molded refractive element is also disclosed.

Abstract: Invented method, apparatus, and computer program product for determining image quality can be employed either during diagnostic mode or at run time of an imaging system. One component performs numerical analysis on a digital image. Another component accepts or rejects the quality of the digital image based on the results of the numerical analysis. In one embodiment, if the cumulative harmonic content of Fourier component amplitudes of a synthesized scan line exceeds a threshold value, the digital image is rejected as being of inadequate quality; otherwise the digital image is accepted. In another embodiment, a maximum gradient of a scan line of the digital image is computed. If, for some specified number of occurrences during a scan of a target, the maximum gradient exceeds a ceiling value or falls below a floor value, then the image is rejected.

Abstract: A floating point processing system and method of operation are disclosed. Single word precision denormalized operands and also misaligned operands are detected while such operands are being loaded into the first stage of a pipelined floating point unit. Such operands are aligned to a double word boundary and/or single word operands are normalized by a processing stages inserted into the pipe ahead of the first stage of the pipelined floating point unit thereby entering a one stage delay. In this way, misaligned operands and single word denormalized operands can be processed without the need for example to cancel the instruction, execute a normalize or alignment instruction and then re-launch the original instruction.

Abstract: A system and method for denormalizing a floating point result is disclosed. Denormalized operands are capable of representing much smaller values than can be represented by a number normalized under the ANSI/IEEE standard 754-1985 that governs the representation of numbers in floating point notation to ensure uniformity among floating point notation users. The majority of results will be normalized operands and therefore the floating point unit pipeline is optimized to produce normalized results but contains wider exponent fields in order to represent values received as denormalized numbers. In order to return the result as a denormalized number with the smaller ANSI/IEEE exponent field, denormalization is accomplished by using the same pipeline resources by means of the floating point unit feedback path and uses one of the exponent equalizing alignment shifters and an incrementor in order to round the denormalized result.

Abstract: A network protection method and apparatus are disclosed for alerting an operator when a terminal device is disconnected from the network. A network controller adapter is connected to a network control computer. The network controller periodically stops normal data communication and scans some or all of the network ports to ascertain the present and absent status of a terminal device at each port. Status is detected by passing a current through a port and measuring the feedback voltage. If the status changes between scans, an operator is alerted by sounding an alarm at the network control computer or by other steps such as dialing a telephone number and transmitting a stored message or by transmitting an alarm message over the network to one of the terminal devices such as a personal computer.

Abstract: An automatic palletizer system loads a random set of different size and weight boxes onto a pallet without a prior knowledge of the boxes to be loaded. As the boxes pass along a conveyor belt on the way to the pallet, a weighing, dimensioning, and scanning station determines the weight, dimensions and contents of each box. A processor uses this information to continuously remap the optimal pallet configuration for the loading of the remaining boxes as the pallet is loaded. A queuing station, under direction of the processor, reshuffles the sequence of a limited number of boxes to improve the final pallet configuration. The pallet is loaded by a robot arm under direction of the processor.

Abstract: The microprocessor resides along with its protected real address space in a secure module surrounded by tamper resistant circuitry pad. Encryption programs and encryption keys are stored in the protected memory. A second real address space is also connected to the address and data bus of the microprocessor in order to provide program and data space for a user. Gating circuitry prevent the exposure of instructions and data form the privileged memory from appearing outside of the secure module. The gating circuits switch address spaces by recognizing a sequence of predetermined addresses.

Abstract: A secure housing in an automatic teller machine for accommodating cassettes attached to a carrier frame which by means of slide rail assemblies is fixed to the upper portion or wall of the housing is disclosed. This wall is provided with an output opening out of which bank notes or other documents may be issued reliably to a transport mechanism.

Abstract: The specification teaches a structured text processing system for use by such people as bank tellers and insurance agents who work at computer controlled work stations connected together in a network of computers. A draft document in the form of a work in progress (WIP) document is disclosed. The WIP document allows the system to efficiently transmit drafts of highly controlled documents such as loan applications and customer letters from one computer to another in the network for approval or additional information without losing control of the standard form text. The standard form text originates as a shell document having defined variables, the text values of which are entered by tellers at work station screens having prompt messages defined by a related shell detail data set. The variable text is stored into a variable response data set. The shell text and the data sets are made part of the WIP document and therefore are available at other computers in the network for use in revising the WIP document.

Abstract: The disclosure teaches a computer mouse having tactile feedback to be used with audio computer output to provide a virtual graphic display to blind computer users. The mouse and audio feedback allow blind computer users to visualize computer graphic images and multiple screen windows in much the same way as these forms of computer output are visualized by persons with sight.

Abstract: Transfer of articles of different types between article handling devices within the apparatus and the user outside of it is effected through a limited number of access ports by an article gripping and transporting robot that undergoes multi-directional translational movement and that is capable of gripping articles of different kinds, sizes and shapes. The robot may be and preferably is also used to perform maintenance services upon article handling devices of the apparatus.