Abstract: Through comparison of electronic shape data for parts, the invention automatically detects a difference in shapes of products due to the design change, and/or searches for a product that is similar in shape. A shape analysis system comprises: an analysis tree node generator; a neighbor graph generator, for creating an edge between the nodes that are generated by the analysis tree node generator and that are geometrically adjacent, so as to produce a neighbor graph; and an analysis tree generator, for merging nodes in the neighbor graph that are generated by the neighbor graph generator and that are connected by the edge, for generating a new node in correlation with a 3d-shape that encloses patches included in the merged nodes and a shape analysis tree wherein the node acquired by merging is defined as a parent node and the other nodes, before being merged, are defined as child nodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data hiding method of hiding media data in message data and a data extraction method of extracting the hidden data wherein message data is dispersively hidden in media data such as an image or sound to prevent a third person from modifying the message data easily.

Abstract: An online coupon issuing and redemption system and method receives requests for coupons from consumers, presents advertisements and issues coupons to consumers electronically. The system presents advertisements before issuing the coupons, such that an issuer may be assured its targeted consumer are receiving its advertisements. The coupons are issued on a smart card, thereby eliminating a need for paper coupons. The coupons are digitally signed in order to prevent fraud. In order to prevent further fraudulent tampering of coupons, the redemption station includes a tamper-protected coprocessor for performing operations on the coupons. The system further includes capability for the redemption station to link to an issuing station for electronic reimbursements.

Abstract: A method for loading instruction codes to a first memory and linking said instruction codes is proposed, whereby at least one instruction code has as parameter an address which during a loading step is not determined. This address-parametered instruction code has assigned thereto an address place. A relocation information is loaded which during a linking step effects that the address becomes determined using a starting address and a relative address offset. The then determined address is put at the address place. During the loading step, directly after loading each address-parametered instruction code with its address place, the relocation information is loaded and the address is determined in the linking step.

Abstract: A computer system and method including commands to permit interaction between a client and a component in a backend system. The command has an input object, for transformation by the backend system, and defines one or more output objects, representing the input object after transformation by the backend system. The command includes a connection specification, for identification of the backend system with which the client is to interact, and an interaction specification, for identification of the component in the backend system with which the client is to interact. The command also includes a communication object, for carrying out a connection between the client and the component of the backend system. The input object is supplied to the component of the backend system in accordance with the interaction specification and the connection specification.

Abstract: A system and method for dramatically reducing the number of vertices defining a polygon on a grid, without significantly changing its effective enclosed area is disclosed. A smoothing process is executed on any general purpose computer system to operate on one or more representations of one or more curves. Each of the curves has a set of a plurality of vertices. The smoothing process first selects a first vertex, a third vertex, and a second middle vertex, the first, second, and third vertices being sequential but not necessarily consecutive on the curve. Then the smoothing process determines the area of a triangle formed by the first, second, and third vertices. This triangular area is compared to a threshold area. If the area is less than the threshold, new vertices are selected along the curve and the process is repeated. However if the area of the triangle is greater than or equal to the threshold, the second (middle) vertex is marked as an important vertex before a new set of vertices is selected.

Abstract: A system and method for processing information contained in a smart card (130) uses a local computer (100) on which a proxy server (120) is installed. The local computer is connected to a data communication network (110), such as the Internet, and comprises a network browser which is used to generate access requests to data stored on a smart card and in a local storage (122). The requests are received by an HTTP server (210) and passed to request brokers (214, 215, 216). In response to a request parsing operation access functions (226, 228, 340, 440, 350, 460) are activated for accessing the local storage and a smart card (130). Data read from a smart card may be inserted into a HTML document accessed in the local storage, and data from the local storage or from remote sources may be uploaded to a smart card.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an information processing system that enables a user to always use a business object in the assurance of its credibility. It provides a business object (software component) for use in highly secured information processing, such as an accounting calculation or an electronic commerce, is rendered to contain therein electronic certificate and signature of its provider, in addition to object management information such as term's validity information. In so doing, it becomes possible to check credibility of the object. Also, if a given object is found to have a problem about its credibility, another provider of another object with the same name that exists on a predetermined object retrieval path, as well as its term's validity information will be checked to automatically locate such an object on a network that passes the test of credibility, thereby to automatically correct the security problem.

Abstract: In a distributed data processing system each component is provided with an object orientated platform together with instantiations of a generic network object for each application involving data transmission, enabling it to run a multiplexing/demultiplexing object appropriate to each application being processed. This effectively provides multiple concurrent data “pipes” over a single physical/logical connection.

Abstract: A device and method for identifying critical card commands and their execution on the chip card. Each card command to be executed is supplied prior to its execution to a comparison device, which can either be a component of the chip card reader or a component independent of this. The comparison device checks with reference to filed comparison samples whether a critical card command is involved. A special comparison process is used for this. If the card command to be executed is a critical card command, it must be additionally confirmed by the user for it to be executed. A particular form of execution consists in comparison samples for identifying critical card commands being deposited during manufacture of the chip card and these being loaded into the working memory of the chip card reader or the comparison device on initialisation of the chip card in the chip card reader.

Abstract: A method, article of manufacture and computer product is presented for a vehicle customization, restriction, and data logging capability. The invention leverages the increasing electronic content in vehicles by interconnecting these electronic devices with a controller. It further uses a storage device in the vehicle, to store vehicle customizations and/or restrictions, and to provide capability for defining and logging significant vehicle events. Combining the electronic vehicle components with a storage device (sometimes in the form of a smart card or floppy disk, etc.) and a controller in a vehicle network enables providing operator specific settings for each of a set of vehicle operators. These customizations add to operator and passenger comfort and safety. It also enables application of setting restrictions to and logging the vehicles use parameters.

Abstract: A security module (95) for a transaction processing system is disclosed. The transaction processing system includes a transaction manager (20) which runs in a first process and is responsive to transaction requests from one or more applications (10, Page_1.htm) and a service provider layer (30, 36, 37) adapted to relay transaction requests passed from said transaction manager to associated hardware (14) for execution. The security module is adapted to communicate with a supervisor application to receive and store application rights to execute transaction requests and is responsive to requests from the service provider layer to determine an application's right to execute a transaction request.

Abstract: A method, system and computer article are presented for smoothing an image calibration signal in order to smooth a reproduced signal, and to identify the presence of any remaining spikes or other significant deviations. The invention recognizes the problems with raw calibration signals, and posits that the calibration signals be filtered by methods and systems described. For example, calibration data may be smoothed by fitting the calibration data to a parametric model employing either linear or non-linear least squares. Alternate techniques implement smoothing using optimal filtering. An aspect of the invention is a method, computer product or article of manufacture for improving an initial calibration profile having an initial profile extent to form an improved calibration profile. The initial profile may be formed for a scanner employing a linear array CCD and having a particular direction of motion.

Abstract: This invention solves problems due to employing error degraded data in digital processing. It particularly solves multi-generation problems wherein transform data degrade during each inverse transform and forward transform cycle even without any processing due to the rounding and clipping errors. It provides methods, systems and devices for reduced-error processing of transform-coded data. After inverse transformation of transform data, high-precision numbers are converted to integers and clipped to an allowed range forming converted data. High-precision differences are obtained by subtracting the high-precision output of the inverse transform from the converted data. The converted data can be manipulated and sent to output devices which expect integer data. Processed high-precision numbers are formed by adding the high-precision differences to the processed converted data. Thus, the rounding and clipping errors are greatly reduced in the processed high-precision numbers.

Abstract: Provided are a system and a method for data retrieval which identify from requested data retrieval operations those operations which require a particular processing task to be performed, and then separate those operations from operations not requiring the processing task. The separated sets of tasks are queued separately for independent processing. This enables resource scheduling to be performed which avoids the operations which do not require performance of the task from having to wait for the operations which do require the task. This is an advantage where the task is a processor-intensive task such as digital watermarking of images. A particular resource allocation method includes enqueuing the set of operations requiring the processing task in a circularly linked list and then employing a scheduler to implement a round-robin allocation of resources for each of the system users in turn.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for generating a regression tree with oblique hyperplanes from a training set of records. The method is performed iteratively, stopping when a criterion has been reached. A new set of vectors is computed as the iteration proceeds. The vectors used are not restricted to the attribute axes and hence oblique hyperplanes are allowed to split nodes in the generated regression tree. Generally, the computation of the new vector set uses the regression tree produced in the latest iteration. The leaf nodes of this tree are considered pair-wise to compute the new vector set for use in the next iteration. The iterative process produces a set of regression trees from which a best tree is chosen as the final result of the method.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an encryption system and method for inhibiting the decryption of encrypted data unless a decryption condition is satisfied. Thus, according to the present invention, in order to provide the encryption system for inhibiting the decryption of encrypted data unless a decryption condition is satisfied, decryption enabled time is designated as a decryption condition, and an encryption system incorporating time-dependent decryption is constituted by a time-key certificate and a time-key certificate manager. A time-key certificate is employed when a third party proves that a public encryption key added to the certificate satisfies the decryption condition. The time-key certificate manager issues a time-key certificate and then manages a decryption key.

Abstract: The memory space (often in the form of cache) in a system (e.g., an Internet proxy or web browser) is conserved by saving low resolution versions of data objects when the full resolution version is removed (e.g., due to age, using a least recently used (LRU) replacement policy) in order to create space for new objects. This provides for efficient use of the memory space. In many situations, the low resolution version of the data object is of adequate quality for usage. Further, even when this is not the case, it can be useful to quickly obtain a low resolution version and then with some delay, obtain the full resolution version at the user or application's request. Particular advantageous embodiments of methods, apparatus and article of manufacture implementing the invention are presented.

Abstract: The security and integrity of card initiated transactions are improved by encrypting processes involved in such transactions and controlling access to the processes by developing decryption keys partially from data derived from a card presented by an intending user and partially from personal data supplied by the user. In an embodiment a hierarchy of security levels provides for users of different authority to access selected processes.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture and computer product for low-overhead continuous monitoring of network performance in an intranet or Internet topology. Probe packets are sent from ingress access routers where they are received and processed by egress access routers. Probe packets are generated by copying every Nth packet being sent by an ingress access router. In the event an access router does not receive the probe packet, the probe packet is discarded through normal network delivery mechanisms. Network delay is determined by subtracting the time that a probe packet was received with the time stamp enclosed in the probe packet. Round trip time is established by reflecting the probe packet back to the originating access router and computing the round trip time. Bandwidth monitoring is achieved by using the number of probe packets received to estimate the expected amount of network traffic to be received.