Abstract: A program product and method of compiling a computer program to optimize performance of a computer program. First, after initialization, a profiling run is done on computer code which may include program code blocks and program data. Execution of each computer program step is monitored and each occurrence of each individual code unit is logged, e.g. each instruction block or block of data. Frequently occurring code units are identified periodically as hot blocks. An initial snapshot of hot blocks is logged, e.g., when identified hot blocks exceed an initial block number. Profiling continues until the profiling run is complete, updating identified hot blocks and logging a new current snapshot whenever a current set of identified hot blocks contains a selected percentage of different hot blocks. Snapshots are selected as representative to different program modes. The program is optimized according to program modes.

Abstract: A computer system identifies a predicate in a computer language containing constant expressions as vacuous. The system identifies distinct variables contained in the predicate and represents the predicate by a set of bounding rectangles. The bounding rectangles are represented in a space having a number of dimensions equal to the number of variables. There are finite limits on dimensions of a bounding rectangle which represent the relationship between the variables in the predicate and the constant expressions in the predicate. The predicate is identified as vacuously FALSE where the set of bounding rectangles is empty.

Abstract: A system and method is provided that allows a single user to maintain on the user's personal machine multiple identities for browsing on the Internet and establish multiple reputations corresponding to the multiple identities. The system includes a multiple identity browser that allows a user to create and select from amongst a plurality of identities. The multiple identity browser includes a list of free e-mail web sites for establishing e-mail addresses corresponding to the plurality of identities. The user can also create and store user names and passwords that the user utilizes at various web sites. An automatic cookie management module is provided that manipulates and stores cookie data sets corresponding to each of a plurality of identities in a multiple identity database module. The cookie management module sets the current cookie data set corresponding to the current identity set by the user in the multiple identity browser.

Abstract: A computer-based method and system comprising three data structures: partially ordered data structure (or simply ordered data structure), contiguous list v, and vector p, is used for solving a large sparse triangular system of linear equations which utilizes only the non-zero components of a matrix to solve large sparse triangular linear equations and generates explicitly only the non-zero entries of the solution. A list of the row indices of the known non-zero values of x which require further processing is stored in the ordered data structure. Actual non-zero values of x are stored in the contiguous list v and the corresponding pointers to the location of these values are stored in the vector p. The computer-based method manipulates these three matrices to find a solution to an upper or lower sparse triangular system of linear equations.

Abstract: A method and structure of searching a database containing hypertext documents comprising searching the database using a query to produce a set of hypertext documents; and geometrically clustering the set of hypertext documents into various clusters using a toric k-means similarity measure such that documents within each cluster are similar to each other, wherein the clustering has a linear-time complexity in producing the set of hypertext documents, wherein the similarity measure comprises a weighted sum of maximized individual components of the set of hypertext documents, and wherein the clustering is based upon words contained in each hypertext document, out-links from each hypertext document, and in-links to each hypertext document.

Abstract: A method (and magnetic recording circuit structure) for write drivers to reduce the reversal time for the current through the inductive recording head, includes a write driver output stage providing a write signal output with a write signal source strength SO, a magnetic write head with a write signal input essentially equal to strength SO, and an interconnect circuit having a characteristic impedance ZO coupled to the write signal output of the write driver output stage and the magnetic write head. The write driver output stage preferably includes a source-side termination circuit having output impedance ZS, wherein the source-side termination circuit output impedance ZS is substantially equal to ZO and the source strength SO of the write driver at the input of the interconnect circuit is temporarily enlarged after every polarity reversal of the write signal for a predetermined time duration &Dgr;t.

Abstract: The present invention provides a smooth ending system for an auction on the Internet. The system randomly selects an end time for the auction by picking an auction duration from a probability distribution, so that bidders have no preferences over the time of bidding. At any given time, assuming that the auction is still in process, there is a fixed probability, independent of the time that has elapsed since the beginning of the auction, that the auction will end within the next time unit.

Abstract: A system and method for eye gaze tracking without calibrated cameras, direct measurements of specific users' eye geometries, or requiring the user to visually track a cursor traversing a known trajectory. The preferred embodiment includes two uncalibrated cameras imaging the user's eye and haying on-axis lighting. The cameras capture images of a test pattern in real space as reflected from the user's cornea, which is essentially a convex spherical mirror. The invention then extracts parameters required to define a mathematical mapping between real space and image space, including spherical and perspective transformations. The invention processes subsequent images of objects reflected from the user's eye through the inverse of the mathematical mapping to determine a gaze vector and a point of regard. Alternately, a single calibrated camera may be employed with means for estimating the eye-to-camera distance. A head-mounted embodiment that may include a laser pointer is also described.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for computer program development. A new computer program to be developed is outlined and the outline organized to identify required modules. Required modules are provided to the system, which categorizes them and posts a list of required modules with corresponding requirements on, for example, a dedicated web site. Module requirements may include module specifications, a corresponding price and a deadline. Software developers intending to participate may provide an intention to submit. If fewer than two developers intend to submit module candidates for one or more required modules, the computer program outline may be reorganized to encourage more participants. For each required module where at least two module candidates are received, the candidates are tested for compliance with corresponding module requirements.

Abstract: In a laptop computer having a display, a matrix of touch-sensitive keys, and a TrackPoint® device for generating cursor and function selection on display is embedded centrally among the keys. The TrackPoint® has a removable cap into which the joystick can be mechanically and electrically coupled. This permits stable platform joystick operation, especially where the computer executes programs involving a joystick as an element of a simulated control interface.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring information between spatially distinct points by modulating quantum states operatively coupling at least one transmitter and at least one receiver. In the preferred embodiment, fabrication of an elliptical quantum corral resonator on a length scale on the order of the electron wavelength enables the engineering of substantially confined quantum states as desired. A transmitter preferably located at a wavefunction antinode affects a modulation in the quantum states, and a receiver preferably located at a different wavefunction antinode detects the affected modulation in the spatially distributed quantum states. A second exemplary embodiment exploits the orthogonality of quantum wavefunctions to enable multiple channels of information to be transferred simultaneously through the same volume of space without crosstalk. Additional embodiments enable combinational processing of transferred information, which may be in any format, e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for searching data to locate a portion identified by a search query. The data may comprise text files in a database. The search query comprises a sequence of two or more data fragments expected to be contained in the portion of data being sought. The method comprises receiving the data fragments and searching the data to locate the first fragment, then searching to find the location of the last. The method may include locating the earliest match between the data and the last data fragment which is preceded by matches between the data and each other fragment, the object being to find the shortest section of data which contains all the fragments in the right sequence and without overlapping one with another. The identified portion of text can be highlighted in a display of the data.

Abstract: A system and method for updating search engine information that is more efficient, less time-consuming, and less costly than prior techniques. In order to carry out the method a uniform resource locator indicating a Web page for which the search engine information is to be updated is selected. The selected uniform resource locator is transmitted to a server on which the Web page is located. A response code indicating a status of the Web page is received and the search engine information is updated based on the response code.

Abstract: A system and method for calibration-free tracking of a user's eye gaze vector and point of regard even if substantial head movement or rotation occurs. The preferred embodiment includes two synchronized interlaced cameras, each viewing the user's eye and having on-axis lighting that is alternately modulated. An image difference between lighted and unlighted images of the eye is used to identify a user's pupil. A plane containing the gaze vector is defined by rotating a base plane through the angle in a camera image plane between a pupil center, a first glint, and a second glint. The intersection of two such planes (one from each camera), defines the gaze vector. The gaze position is the intersection of the gaze vector with the object being viewed by the user. Alternate embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and correcting errors and erasures in product-coded data arrays by iterative syndrome processing array data in row major order and column major order. A first dense map is formed for classifying each row containing location indicia of random errors, their correction patterns, and pointers to rows containing erasure errors. This map is used to effectuate row array random error corrections in place in memory. A second dense map is formed of location indicia and correction patterns for each pair adjacent position within a column containing erasure errors as indexed by a counterpart row pointer. The second map is used to effectuate column array erasure corrections and random error corrections in place in memory.

Abstract: A method for increasing the execution speed of a cost-minimizing routing algorithm, as employed in trucking or job shop scheduling. Penalty functions for succeeding transit points along a route are added and examined for validity during trial route evaluation. A soft time window is set for each transit point, and proposed routes are evaluated using a total cost including all soft time windows along the route and the length of the route. A static soft time window function and a dynamic soft time window function are correlated with each transit point. The dynamic soft time window function for each transit point is the sum of the static soft time window function for the Transit point and the dynamic soft time window function for a succeeding transit point in the direction of travel.

Abstract: A writing pad for use with a computer includes a number of sheets each having a flexure sensor affixed thereto. Circuitry connected to the sensors determines whether the sheets are lifted and removed from the pad, whereby the particular sheet currently in use may be identified. The flexure sensor system can be used in various configurations such as: a one or multiple-part checkbook systems with recognition of check writing environment, as a children's book to add sound to identified pages, as an answer sheet for testing or voting, in a clipboard configuration or to assist a speaker during a slide-show presentation. The flexure sensors include resistive structures such as carbon based goo, transducers, conductive inks, strain gauges, patterned dissolved graphite, embossed sensors or other pressure/flexure sensors or equivalents thereof.

Abstract: This mechanism relates to a method within the area of information mining within a multitude of documents stored on computer systems. More particularly, this mechanism relates to a computerized method of generating a content taxonomy of a multitude of electronic documents. The technique proposed by the current invention is able to improve at the same time the scalability and the coherence and selectivity of taxonomy generation. The fundamental approach of the current invention comprises a subset selection step, wherein a subset of a multitude of documents is being selected. In a taxonomy generation step a taxonomy is generated for that selected subset of documents, the taxonomy being a tree structured taxonomy hierarchy. Moreover this method comprises a routing selection step assigning each unprocessed document to the taxonomy hierarchy based on largest similarity.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring information between spatially distinct points by modulating quantum states operatively coupling at least one transmitter and at least one receiver. In the preferred embodiment, fabrication of an elliptical quantum corral resonator on a length scale on the order of the electron wavelength enables the engineering of substantially confined quantum states as desired. A transmitter preferably located at a wavefunction antinode affects a modulation in the quantum states, and a receiver preferably located at a different wavefunction antinode detects the affected modulation in the spatially distributed quantum states. A second exemplary embodiment exploits the orthogonality of quantum wavefunctions to enable multiple channels of information to be transferred simultaneously through the same volume of space without crosstalk. Additional embodiments enable combinational processing of transferred information, which may be in any format, e.g.

Abstract: A set of Java Beans for facilitating data extraction from a JDBC-ODBC database in an application is disclosed. The set of beans includes a database driver manager component, DbQuery, having a plurality of properties allowing an instance of said driver manager to identify a location of said database, to define a query on said database and to store a result of said database query, DbResultSet. The driver manager also exposes an execute method for connecting to the database, executing said query and setting said database query result property, DbResultSet. Also disclosed are 4 selector beans, DbCellSelector, DbRowSelector, DbColumnSelector and DbCellRangeSelector. Each selector has a plurality of properties allowing an instance of a selector component to store a result of a database query having a given data type and to identify a sub-set of said result.