Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of cross-domain access control in which a client node (250) sends a request (250) for a resource to a resource server (260). In response, a local proxy server (270) automatically obtains a ticket having a revocation status (275) and forwards the ticket (275) to an authorization server (280) that communicates with the resource server (260) regarding access.

Abstract: An electrically adjustable phase-shifting device is arranged on a substrate comprising at least a first waveguide designed for guiding optical signals and a thermoelectric element arranged adjacent to the first waveguide in order to shift the phase of an optical signal in the first waveguide by means of a thermo-optic effect according to a control voltage applied to the thermoelectric element. In one embodiment, the thermoelectric element is a Peitier element which comprises at least first and second electrically conducting segments which are serially connected, the first and second elements alternating consecutively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting analytically the probability of closing a sale. The apparatus comprises a general purpose computer having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory for generating sales probabilities. An operating system and sales probability engine are loaded from a storage medium and executed in the memory. The sales probability engine utilizes various sales information to determine the account control level corresponding to a particular stage of the sales cycle. A sales probability is then derived by applying the account control level and the current stage of the sales cycle as indices to a sales probability look-up table.

Abstract: A colorimeter for measuring a color of light includes a color sensing device, a hanging means, and a means for reducing color distortion. The hanging means hangs the color sensing device in an operative relationship relative to a color producing device. The means for reducing color distortion reduces color distortion on the color producing device while the color sensing device is in the operative relationship relative to the color producing device.

Abstract: An electrically tunable coupler device is disposed on a substrate comprising a first and a second waveguide, for guiding optical signals. The coupler device comprises a heater element disposed adjacent the first waveguide for thermo-optically shifting the phase of the optical signal in the first waveguide in response to a control voltage applied to the heater element. The heater element is disposed in an interaction region of the optical signals, such that, within the interaction region, a temperature gradient across the first and the second waveguide is generated in dependence on the applied control voltage. A heat sink element can be disposed adjacent the second waveguide to absorb thermal energy from the heater element. This device can be fabricated at reduced cost and in increased packing density and is usable e.g. in directional couplers, Mach-Zehnder interferometers, optical ring resonators, IIR filters, or optical modulators.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for linguistic pattern recognition of information. Initially, textual information is retrieved from a data source utilizing a network. The textual information is then segmented into a plurality of phrases, which are then scanned for patterns of interest. For each pattern of interest found a corresponding event structure is built. Event structures that provide information about essentially the same incident are then merged.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for navigating an electronic data source by means of spoken language. When a spoken input request is received from a user, it is interpreted. Additional input is solicited from the user in a modality different than the original request and used to refine the navigation query. The resulting interpretation of the request is thereupon used to automatically construct an operational navigation query to retrieve the desired information from one or more electronic network data sources.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for providing a content exchange system. A request is received from a user utilizing a local system. A determination is made as to whether the user request can be fulfilled from information stored by the local system. The request is fulfilled from a local data source if the request can be fulfilled locally. If the request cannot be fulfilled locally, the request is fulfilled at a network site. A content directory connected to the network site is examined for selecting one or more network data sites having content potentially satisfying the request. The request is sent to the data site(s). Content pertaining to the request is received from the data site(s) and sent to the user.

Abstract: Probabilistic recognition using clusters and simple probability functions provides improved performance by employing a limited number of clusters each using a relatively large number of simple probability functions. The simple probability functions for each of the limited number of state clusters are greater in number than the limited number of state clusters.

Abstract: A method of network surveillance includes receiving network packets handled by a network entity and building at least one long-term and a least one short-term statistical profile from a measure of the network packets that monitors data transfers, errors, or network connections. A comparison of the statistical profiles is used to determine whether the difference between the statistical profiles indicates suspicious network activity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for converting and improving an existing analog audio recording as it is converted into a digital format with reliable tone detection and interpretation. Specifically, the digitized audio undergoes three tone detection processing steps: silence detection and removal, anomaly detection and removal and page/chapter identification.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for giving feedback in an educational environment using networked devices. Initially, an image stimulus is displayed to a plurality of individual group members regarding material being presented by a group leader utilizing a plurality of networked devices operated by the group members. Thereafter, feedback is received from the individual group members in response to the image stimulus utilizing the networked devices. The feedback is then aggregated after which the aggregated feedback is transmitted to the networked device operated by the group leader. Such aggregated feedback reflects the feedback received from each of the individual group members for allowing the group leader to view the aggregated feedback.

Abstract: A natural language information querying system includes an indexing facility configured to automatically generate indices of updated textual sources based on one or more predefined grammars and a database coupled to the indexing facility to store the indices for subsequent searching.

Abstract: An apparatus and concomitant method of reducing the number of synchronization pulses transmitted to the alarm units for increasing the reliability of the overall alarm system is disclosed. The synchronization signal is implemented as a reference or reset signal from which the alarm units derive a reference time to begin activation of the alarm units. Thus, when an alarm unit receives a reference synchronization pulse, the alarm unit applies the reference synchronization pulse as a reference point in time to trigger a series of flashes or audio tones.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing and displaying “alarm” information. Specifically, four separate windows are simultaneously presented to an operator during an alarm condition, where the four windows present an alarm event, alarm instructions, a map of the location of the alarm event and alarm responses, respectively.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for navigating an electronic data source by means of spoken language where a portion of the data link between a mobile information appliance of the user and the data source utilizes wireless communication. When a spoken input request is received from a user, it is interpreted. The resulting interpretation of the request is thereupon used to automatically construct an operational navigation query. The navigation query is routed to one or more agents, which use the navigation query to retrieve the desired information from one or more electronic network data sources.

Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture are provided for navigating an electronic data source that has a scripted online interface by means of spoken input. When a spoken request is received from a user, it is interpreted. A navigation query is constructed based on the interpretation of the speech input and a template extracted by scraping an online scripted interface to the data source. The resulting interpretation of the request is thereupon used to automatically construct an operational navigation query to retrieve the desired information from one or more electronic network data sources, which is then transmitted to a client device of the user.

Abstract: A detection apparatus and method for detecting the direction to a light source. The detection apparatus comprises a strobe lamp for emitting a high intensity beam of light and a region-based detector, e.g., a quadrant light detector, for receiving a portion of the high intensity beam of light. In employing a strobe lamp, the overall accuracy and range of the detection apparatus are improved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting for detecting an object within a radiating beam of a radiating source. The method receives reflected and radiated radiation directly from the object to provide a radiation signal. The method then processes the radiation signal to provide a control to the radiating source. A concomitant apparatus comprising a detector and a control circuit is provided. The detector receives reflected and radiated radiation directly from the object and provides a radiation signal indicative of the reflected and radiated radiation received from the object. The control circuit, coupled to the detector, processes the provided radiation signal to provide a control signal to the radiating source.