Abstract: A mechanism for generating customized graphical user interfaces for applications in an object-oriented environment is disclosed. Such applications may comprise Java beans, applets or components. The graphic user interface comprises a visual user interface, e.g. an action bar which contain a set of buttons and menus as well as a set of widget and property/command panels, as well as a communication interface through which configuration and user responses are exchanged with the applications. The relationship between the graphic user interface and an applet is based on the applet communicating selection and user interface information to the graphic user interface, and the graphic user interface handling the user gestures by calling methods on specific interfaces of the applet. Communications between the graphic user interface and applets occur over an information bus architecture referred to as the InfoBus.

Abstract: An information retrieval apparatus for processing a query for retrieval of information from a database has a mechanism for locating a number of features and feature fragments in an index database; an evaluating mechanism for identifying a number of sub-queries of a number of levels contained in the query and recursively evaluating the sub-queries using each of the located features and feature fragments; and a mechanism for collecting and storing a number of results of the recursive evaluation of the query and sub-queries pursuant to computing an overall result of the query. Such a system can eliminate the need of conventional retrieval systems for providing a new, separate, centralized replica within the data warehouse of the data stored in the diverse external databases. The invention can thus avoid the problems of replication of such data in conventional systems, in which the data may become stale or is subject to errors arising during replication for warehousing.

Abstract: A disk cage assembly into which multiple disk drives may be removably inserted is formed from two separate frames which are identical in shape and design and include complimentary mating features enabling the frames to be joined to form a symmetrical four-sided structure. The frames are symmetrical about a midpoint and are easily manufactured since all interior surfaces are accessible during the manufacturing process. A surface of the frames defines a plurality of channels into which modular disk drives may be inserted. In one embodiment, the frames are designed to accommodate a mid-panel which is securable within the structure and can be used to increase the number modular disk drives which can be disposed therein. The assembly may be formed from a number of different materials, including structural foam which can be used to help absorb vibrations among the disk drives within the assembly.

Abstract: A distributed computer database system including one or more front end computers and one or more computer nodes interconnected by a network into a search engine for retrieval of objects including images, sound and video streams, as well as plain and structured text. A query is an object in the same format as the objects to be retrieved. A query from a user is transmitted to one of the front end computers which forwards the query to one of the computer nodes, termed the home node, of the search engine. The home node extracts features from the query and hashes these features. Each hashed feature is transmitted to one node on the network. Each node on the network which receives a hashed feature uses the hashed feature of the query to perform a search on its respective partition of the database. The results of the searches of the local databases are gathered by the home node.

Abstract: An on-chip monitoring circuit is composed of a plurality of individually addressable nodes that are connected together in a circuit which extends from an external data port to each of the monitored circuit points. Address and enable information is passed from node to node. Each node contains address decoding circuitry and enable generation circuitry. As a node receives address information, it decodes part of the address information and enables some of the nodes connected to it, passing the remainder of the address information to the enabled nodes. This process continues until an end node is reached which is connected to the circuit point which is to be monitored. Data generated at the monitored point is passed back though the enabled nodes to the external data port.

Abstract: An electron multiplication apparatus uses a matrix of dielectric particles interspersed with conductive particles. Typically a porous layer of metal oxide and relatively inert metal, the material provides high electron count rates while maintaining good temperature stability. The layer is located between a cathode and an anode that together provide desired voltage differentials. A mesh is also used on a side of the matrix layer opposite the cathode to conduct surface charge away from the matrix, while providing an intermediate voltage potential between that of the anode and the cathode. A voltage source is used to generate the voltage potentials for each of the anode, cathode and mesh layer, and the resulting electric fields provide a device that may be used in the detection of high energy particles and photons, such as x-rays. A preferred method of fabricating the material involves the codeposition of a metal prone to oxidation and a relatively inert metal to form a porous layer.

Abstract: In order to coordinate an interactive computer game with a television broadcast, a central control establishes a large virtual environment in which viewers participate with characters either controlled or designed by them. Each user can directly control or influence characters within a “active region” which encompasses part of the virtual environment that is much less than the total environment. The broadcast portion of the system also has an active region, at least a portion of which is shown on a broadcast television show. The locations of the active regions are controlled by the central control. In accordance with one embodiment, the central control moves the active regions of selected users so that these active regions coincide or overlap the broadcast active region. The selected users are then allowed to control characters that appear on the broadcast television show.

Abstract: An optically-based overfill detection probe is provided that has a prism with a substantially quadrilateral cross-sectional shape, such that internal reflection angles are less than ninety degrees. The prism is made of a fluoropolymer, preferably TEFLON® PFA, and uses an infrared optical signal. The prism material has a high resistance to chemical solvents, has high signal transmission in the infrared (IR) wavelength range, is less prone to condensation and frost than plastic or glass, and enables the production of prisms at significantly less cost than glass. The substantially quadrilateral cross-sectional shape of the prism, in itself, has the advantage of allowing angles of incidence much less than ninety degrees on internal prism surfaces, thus reducing signal loss from surface irregularities.

Abstract: An apparatus for automating control of the water in a shower system includes at least one sensor disposable within a water flow path intermediate the valve and the showerhead. A processing unit operatively connectable to the sensor processes the sensor signal and generates control signals in response thereto. A valve control mechanism operatively connectable to the valve and the processing unit positions the valve in response to the control signals from the processing unit. A user interface operatively connectable to the processing unit receives user commands and displays values for the water temperature and flow rate. In the illustrative embodiment the processing unit is microprocessor based and enables previously defined vales for water temperature and flow rate to be stored and recalled in association with a particular user identifier.

Abstract: A health monitoring system that monitors the health of a patient includes an ingestible capsule containing a medication to be consumed by a subject. A signal generator located within the capsule outputs an electrical signal having a predetermined characteristic indicative of said medication, said capsule and said medication being liberated by dissolution of the capsule in the stomach acid of a subject. A signal detector, preferably having an input in electrical contact with a portion of the subject's skin, is used to detects the electrical signal. This allows the ingestion of the medication to be tracked.

Abstract: An insulating guard is mounted over a backplane or motherboard in an electronic system that accepts hot pluggable circuit cards. The insulating guard has openings that expose only the connectors and allow a hot pluggable circuit card to be inserted without the possibility of shorting the backplane. In order to prevent contact between a card being inserted and adjacent cards that have already been connected to the system, the invention provides for insulating card dividers which are connected to the insulating guard and fit between adjacent cards. The card dividers can be attached to the insulating guard by parts which snap together, fasteners or adhesives.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing compositions and decompositions of Unicode combined character sequences utilizes a preprocessor to generate compositions and decompositions of Unicode character sequences and a mapping table generates a plurality of tables use to access the tables. A decomposition mapping table, created from a Unicode database and rules, maps precomposed Unicode characters to their respective decompositions. A composition mapping table, derived from the decomposition mapping table, includes canonical equivalent combined character sequences of the mapped decompositions. Additionally, a normalized mapping table, created from the composition mapping table, maps valid combined character sequences consisting of the same characters, wherein one of the sequences is defined as a normalized form. The mapping tables are accessed by a runtime processor when a system entity requests a decomposition or composition of Unicode characters to provide the appropriate decomposition or composition.

Abstract: A high power laser optical amplifier system for material processing comprises multiple stage fiber amplifiers with rejection of propagating ASE buildup in and between the amplifier stages as well as elimination of SBS noise providing output powers in the range of about 10 &mgr;J to about 100 &mgr;J or more. The system is driven with a time varying drive signal from a modulated semiconductor laser signal source to produce an optical output allowing modification of the material while controlling its thermal sensitivity by varying pulse shapes or pulse widths supplied at a desire repetition rate via modulation of a semiconductor laser signal source to the system to precisely control the applied power application of the beam relative to the thermal sensitivity of the material to be processed. The high power fiber amplifier system has particular utility in high power applications requiring process treatment of surfaces, such as polymeric, organic, ceramic and metal surfaces, e.g.

Abstract: Connection information for open database connections is stored or “cached” in a connection manager at the database client. Therefore, even when a query is complete and the connection between the client and server is released, the manager maintains the database connection open. When a new query arrives at the client, the connection manager compares the connection information in the query to the corresponding information stored for each open connection. If there is a match and the connection is not in use, the already open connection is used for the new query. If there is no match, a new connection is opened until a predetermined limit of the number of connections is reached. When the limit is reached, an open connection which is not in use is closed and a new connection is established. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a “free” list of open connections which are not in use is maintained so that a quick comparison can be made with the incoming query information.

Abstract: A query object generator tool which generates interface definitions and code that implement a query object also generates a graphic user interface (GUI) for controlling the generator tool and plug-in objects, including a database schema access query object and test objects for allowing the GUI to operate with vendor-specific databases. The GUI is “customized” by the various plug-in objects. For example, the database schema access query object is designed specifically for a particular underlying database and retrieves “metadata” concerning the database schema. The retrieved metadata is then displayed as part of the graphic user interface to assist the user in constructing a query object. Test objects are also generated by the GUI in response to a user request. The test objects contain information that characterizes the query object for testing purposes. The information in the test objects is used with a test framework to install and initialize the query object.

Abstract: An optical fiber splice apparatus has a covering that surrounds the splice between two optical fibers, and conducts residual pump energy in the fiber claddings away from the splice. This prevents the residual light from reaching components, such as plastic buffers, that are susceptible to failure from excess light absorption. The apparatus may use an optical epoxy covering that surrounds adjoining portions of both fibers, and that has a refractive index higher than that of the outermost fiber claddings. The covering may be surrounded by a glass capillary that is transparent to the residual light, and that conducts light from the covering further away from the splice. The capillary may be mounted in a metal housing by an adhesive epoxy that is transparent to the residual pump light, and can conduct light to an inner surface of the housing, which may be light absorbent to the wavelength range of the residual pump light.

Abstract: A distributed computer database system includes one or more front end computers and one or more computer nodes interconnected by a network into a search engine for retrieval of objects processed by a variety of interrelated ontologies. Each object conforms to a specific ontology. A query is an object which conforms to a specific ontology, which is to be used for retrieval of objects conforming to one or more target ontologies. A query from a user is transmitted to one of the front end computers which forwards the query to one of the computer nodes, termed the home node, of the search engine. The home node extracts features from the query, according to its ontology. These features are then hashed. Each hashed feature and the list of target ontologies is transmitted to one node on the network. Each node on the network which receives a hashed feature uses the hashed feature of the query to perform a search on its respective partition of the database.

Abstract: A fiber optic gain system has output power monitoring and control using the detected level of side light emitted through the cladding of the gain fiber. The fiber is wound on a spool that is provided with an opening adjacent to the fiber cladding. A photodetector is mounted to the spool at an opposite side of the opening, and detects side light that is transmitted through the opening. An output signal from the photodetector is indicative of the output power or the gain of the system, and may be used for monitoring and/or to adjust the power generated by a pumping source for the system. This allows feedback control of the system that helps to stabilize the output power or gain. A filtering element may also be used to exclude certain undesired wavelengths from the side light being detected.

Abstract: A disk drive packaging apparatus has a chassis with open ends that encloses all of the disk drives. The open ends of the chassis are covered with conductive screens. A disk-drive carrier is provided for each drive that holds, but does not enclose, the disk drive. The screens provide both emission containment and guarantees adequate air distribution for cooling. Because the screens are able to contain the radiation emission, conductive enclosures are not needed for each separate drive, with the result that the drives can be packed more densely.

Abstract: A technique for providing routing of various multimedia events throughout the course of a multimedia presentation using a computer with a storage and a display. A variety of multimedia objects are defined in the storage and grouped in logical relationships to enable multimedia presentations. A display is used to create the presentations interactively by positioning objects representative of the multimedia events and joining them with geometric figures, such as line segments. Each object can then be directly manipulated via a mouse or other pointing device to position a multimedia object to a particular position, or adjust the playback rate of a multimedia object.