Abstract: A method and apparatus for using prior results when processing successive database requests. This is accomplished by storing selected results during the processing of selected user requests. When a subsequent user request is processed, the system determines if appropriate prior results have already been generated and stored by a previous user request. If so, the prior results are used in the processing of the subsequent user request. Because the prior results are not regenerated, the processing time for the subsequent user request may be reduced accordingly.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for warning the user of potential limitations of a database request or the results provided thereby and for warning the user of potential limitations of a database request and the results provided thereby. Preferably, the identified limitations are provided in a number of caveats. The caveats may warn the user that a survey request and/or survey result may be improper, invalid or otherwise deficient in some way. This may prevent the user from basing important business decisions on misrepresentative database results.

Abstract: A diagnostic urethral assembly includes an elongate body having a fluid passageway and an elongate support member selectively positionable within the fluid passageway of the elongate body. The elongate body has a radially responsive wall segment that is being positionable within a lower urinary tract such that the radially responsive wall segment is adjacent a prostatic urethra. The elongate body is adapted to be in fluid communication with a bladder. The assembly has a first condition wherein the elongate support member is translatable relative to the elongate body so as to permit sequential and incremental radial compression of the radially responsive wall segment by the prostatic urethra in furtherance of defining architecture associated with the prostatic urethra and a second condition wherein fluid distally introduced into the elongate body radially expands the radially responsive wall segment into conforming engagement with the prostatic urethra in furtherance of obtaining a mold of same.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of utilizing an internet terminal coupled to the world wide web to request calculations on an existing proprietary data base management system having a dialog-based request format. The user fills in and transmits an HTML form defining the requested calculation. A data wizard converts the requested calculation definition to a script which is executable by the data base management system. The desired calculations are made and the results are returned to the user as one or more HTML pages.

Abstract: An apparatus for the collection of contaminants from the exit vent of an air ventilation vent. The apparatus includes a trough adjacent the duct forming the exit vent. The apparatus is constructed and arranged such that no contaminants exiting the vent can pass between the apparatus and the duct. The apparatus may also include a cover placed over the trough. The cover is constructed and arranged to allow contaminants to pass between the duct forming the exit vent and the cover and into the trough.

Abstract: A system and method which allows the interchange of Cookie information and standard Common Gateway Interface (CGI) variables between a user system and an On-Line Transaction Processing (OLTP) enterprise server. The present invention also discloses a specialized form of a transaction gateway, known as a security gateway, which runs on a Windows NT or UnixWare Web Server machine, and is built as a client application to interoperate with an enterprise-based OLTP security service. Finally, the present invention discloses an enterprise-based OLTP security service, which is used in conjunction with the security gateway described above, which processes user generated authentication requests, and if successful, calls an end service requested by a user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for efficiently managing the I/O design of an integrated circuit. The present invention automatically selects and interconnects a number of I/O cells selected from a design library to form an I/O interface. A user interface is provided for receiving a number of parameters provided by the circuit designer. The parameters preferably provide specific information about a circuit design. A set of circuit design assembly rules are also provided, which define the available I/O cells and the appropriate interconnections of the available I/O cells. A computer program then selects and assembles the I/O cells in accordance with the user provided parameters and the set of circuit design assembly rules.

Abstract: A placement tool that may import and export cell substitution and/or cell selection lists. The cell substitution and/or cell selection lists may be used by the placement tool to substitute and/or modify the placement design database, rather than the original schematic or behavioral database. This may eliminate the need to re-synthesize the circuit design during each design iteration. The present invention further contemplates providing a reset feature which may reset the circuit design database to a previous state, if desired.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus for unobtrusively disposing a replacement clip for an automatic weapon having a magazine well into which a clip is received. The apparatus is constructed and arranged to provide facile and expeditious insertion of a clip into the magazine well. The apparatus includes a sheath and mechanism for mounting the sheath to an automatic weapon. The sheath includes a structure for carrying the replacement clip including a dispensing port through which the replacement clip is withdrawn. The mechanism for mounting is positioned wherein a replacement clip carried within the sheath is fully withdrawn along an axis of the sheath, the clip is oriented and located relative to an entry to the magazine well to enable prompt insertion therein.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for tracking messages and transactions communicated between a number of users and a number of hosts, where the hosts are executing concurrent applications. During a first user session, a first user communicates with a first host. A counter associated with the first user session is incremented when the application creates an output message. The counter is decremented when the output message is released to the first user. A flag associated with the first user session is set and the counter is incremented once the flag is set, if an input message or committing transaction is received from the first user. The flag is cleared and the counter is decremented when the input message or committing transaction is processed by the concurrent application. The counter being decremented indicates there are no dependencies during the first user session with regard to the output message, input message, or committing transaction.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for improving the efficiency of a data processing system employing multiple dayclocks using the facilities which maintain coherency of the system's level cache memories. These efficiencies result from dedicating a separate individual dayclock to each of the multiple instruction processors within the data processing system thereby decreasing access time and user queuing. These individual dayclocks are each incremented at one microsecond intervals. However, these individual dayclocks require periodic synchronization to avoid system level time-tagging problems. This synchronization occurs at 20 microsecond intervals using the cache coherency maintenance hardware of the system.

Abstract: The retractable roof comprises a front element connected in an articulated fashion to a rear element, these two elements being able to move between a position in which they cover the passenger compartment of the vehicle and a position in which they are folded in the trunk. Beyond each lateral edge (8a) of the rear surface (8) there is provided an obturator (9) able to pivot on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle between a position in which each obturator (9) is situated in line with the rear surface (8) and a position in which each obturator (9) frees a passage to the trunk.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently selecting cells within a circuit design database. The invention includes four primary features for selecting cells including (1) selecting only those cells that are in a pre-identified region and within a pre-identified selection area; (2) maneuvering through the circuit design hierarchy and selecting cells or regions at selected levels of hierarchy by using predetermined up and down hot-keys; (3) sorting selected cells by instance name, and manually selecting a desired cell or region from the resulting sorted list; and (4) sorting selected cells by a corresponding net name, and manually selecting a desired cell or region from the resulting sorted list.

Abstract: A ground surface treatment apparatus including a frame adapted to be operatively received by a ground ripping attachment of a self propelled vehicle, and a ground engaging implement carried by the frame for treating the ground surface is provided. The apparatus further includes a resiliently responsive linkage interposed between a portion of the frame and a portion of the ground ripping attachment such that the frame is resiliently responsive to ground ripping tool manipulations and ground surface contours.

Abstract: A method of producing a projected useful form from an existing body delimited by a three-dimensional envelope using a tool mounted on a machine cooperating with a global satellite positioning system of the bifrequency, differential, kinematic and real time type such as GPS, the machine having at least one global positioning receiver in order to be moved according to a theoretical model of the form, is provided.

Abstract: The sunroof system (1) for a vehicle (2) comprises, for guiding the movement of the panels (3, 4), two parallel curved runners (5) fixed to the bodywork of the vehicle and each extending between a point (A) close to the front of the central panel (4) and a point (B) close to the bottom of the rear boot (7) of the vehicle and the rear part (9) of the cabin (6).

Abstract: A system for conveying objects (1), which comprises at least one endless transporter (2) able to route the objects (3) along a so-called transportation surface (S), the transporter (2) comprising a plurality of pushers (6) regularly spaced apart, fixed to a movable support (7) for the pushers (6), continuously travelling, in a single direction and periodically along a closed-loop path which extends substantially in a so-called conveying plane (P), perpendicular to the said transportation surface (S) the path being locally contiguous with the transportation surface (S), characterized in that each pusher (6) is mounted so as to be able to move between a so-called inactive position in which the pusher (6) is located at a distance from the transportation surface (S) and does not project therefrom, and a so-called active position in which it projects at least partially from the transportation surface (S) in order to come into engagement with an object (3) and push it along the said surface (S), so that it is possi

Abstract: A self-bearing curtain wall system is provided, the system including a matrix of unitized kinematically integrated cladding panels flexibly joined to a structural member so as to thereby responsively anchor said matrix of unitized cladding panels. Adjacent cladding panels of the matrix of unitized cladding panels are responsively linked horizontally and vertically for horizontal and vertical rotation. Horizontally adjacent cladding panels of the matrix of unitized cladding panels are responsively joined to a cable type structural member via an anchor fixture, which allows the structural member to move freely along the wall.

Abstract: A tube remover for extracting a tube from an opening in which the tube is mounted in a wall. The remover includes a nipper roll and an anvil roll, each of which is provided with a plurality of teeth formed in a radially outward facing surface of each respective roll. The teeth, which can be oriented helically in the respective surfaces, mesh and draw the tube into a nip between the two rolls. At least one of the rolls is provided with an anvil block formed in its radially outwardly facing surface. Such an anvil block cooperates with the teeth of the opposite roll to effect distressing of the tube and severing of a segment of the tube from the rest of the tube.

Abstract: The head gate element comprises a frame (1), a control bar (13), a movable bar (10) able to take three positions and receiving a locking fork joint (11) carrying a slide (15) guided in translation by means situated on the internal face of each of the plates (11a, 11b) of the fork joint (11).