Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for illuminating a keyboard or other portion of a PC main body unit of a portable computer (e.g., a convertible PC that can be used as a notebook PC or a tablet PC) by utilizing a center latch mechanism. An embodiment of the invention includes a latch provided in the vicinity of an upper edge of the cover unit, and a latch receiving portion provided in the main-body unit. When the cover unit is closed, the latch receiving portion is engaged with the latch to secure the main-body unit and the cover unit in a position where the cover unit is closed. A light source is embedded in the cover unit in the vicinity of the latch, and a light-reflecting surface provided on a surface of the latch so that, when the cover unit is open, light from the light source can be reflected to the keyboard to illuminate the keyboard.

Abstract: A computer program product and programmed method for performing cashless payments between a customer and a dealer via a bank. The invention is embodied in an on-line computerized process between customer and dealer to define the payment method, check the availability frame, issue a voucher to describe the transaction, issue a payment instruction, signature of the issued voucher by the dealer and signature of the payment instruction by the dealer and the customer. In another embodiment, the information is gathered and the voucher and payment instructions are generated off-line. A subsequent on-line process between the dealer and bank transfer the signed payment instruction and signed voucher to the bank where computer coded checks the dealer and customer signature, checks the allocation between payment instruction and voucher, replaces the dealer and customer identity data with information for performance of the payment instruction, and performs the payment instruction and stores the voucher.

Abstract: A system and method for managing voice messages by (1) combining prerecorded phrases with message templates to generate messages, and (2) providing a scheduling interface for scheduling generated messages. The invention comprises: a phrase management module for managing recorded phrases; a template management module for managing message templates; a message generation module for creating a message by inserting at least one recorded phrase into a selected message template; and a scheduling system for scheduling the message.

Abstract: A system for controlling access to records stored in a database queries the database to obtain an initial result set of records. The method then applies access rules to the records of the initial result set to obtain a final result set of records. Then, the method provides access to records of the final result set according to an access profile for the user requesting the records.

Abstract: A method of and system for assigning documents to users in a workflow system initially assigns a document to a specified role, rather than to a specified individual for review, further processing, and/or approval. The system determines the users signed on to the system in the specified role, and assigns the unassigned document to one of the signed on users. The system determines the users signed on to the system in the specified role by maintaining a role document for the specified role. The role document includes a list of the users assigned to the specified role and the signon/signoff status of each assigned user. The system assigns the document to a user on the role document whose signon/signoff status is signed on according to an assignment algorithm. The system updates the signon/signoff status of the role document whenever a user signs on to or off of the system.

Abstract: A workstation having low resolution and high resolution image capture apparatus such as is useful for tele-conferencing. Optical wedge apparatus is placed between an object and a focusing lens according to the invention to create multiple overlapping low resolution images of a whole object. Programmed or hardwired logic is then used to construction a high resolution image of the object by interleaving the picture elements of the low resolution images.

Abstract: A system for detecting a digital camera failure captures an image with the digital camera. The system compresses the image into a compressed image file and compares the size of the compressed image file with a predetermined file size. A digital camera failure is indicated if the size of the compressed image file is greater than a predetermined upper limit file size or less than a predetermined lower file size limit. The system may also compare the number of pixels of a predetermined color with the total number of pixels of the captured image. A digital camera failure is indicated if the number of pixels of the predetermined color is greater than a predetermined percentage of the total number of pixels of the captured image.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for dynamic construction of integration menus. In one embodiment, the invention stores, in a key programs list, both an executable filename and an associated menuitem for each of a plurality of first application programs; installs a menuitem for each of a plurality of such first application programs of the key programs list into a menu of a second application program; and executes one of the first application programs in response to the selection within the second application program of the menuitem associated with that first application program.

Abstract: A method and data processing system are disclosed for translating an ad-hoc user input string into Structured Query Language. A user input string is parsed placing joiner objects and left parentheses into a temporary pushdown stack and placing query clause objects into a postfix queue. After encountering a query clause object or a right parenthesis, the next item in the pushdown stack is placed in the postfix queue if it is a joiner object. Once the input string is parsed, objects in the postfix queue are placed into a second temporary pushdown stack and also used to form common table expressions using adjacent items in the second pushdown stack. Finally, an SQL SELECT statement is formed using a JOIN on the ids returned by the common table expressions.

Abstract: A method and system which permits a user to selectively capture video and audio information from a multimedia presentation within a data processing system and associate the audio and video information to specified calendar events. Thereafter, the video and audio information is played back within the context of electronic calendar events. In addition, associated textual references may be made with the video and audio information to elaborate on the audio and video information associated to the calendar events.

Abstract: Foreground information is separated from background information on a document where the foreground information is superimposed in an additive or subtractive manner on the background information. The document is divided into a plurality of segments and a frequency distribution of extreme values of the signal intensity in each of the segments is determined. The frequency distribution so determined exhibits one main mode (background mode) which essentially contains the background information. If an adequate foreground/background separation cannot be achieved with the first two steps, the determination of a frequency distribution of signal intensities of the whole document is effected in a third step and a sharper separation effected by a fourth step in which a joint evaluation of the two frequency distributions is determined.

Abstract: The invention locates address indicia on digitized images of mail pieces by dividing the mail piece images into blocks; identifying rows of blocks that are adjacent along a first direction and that have similar defined image features by comparing such image features within adjacent blocks; assembling at least some of the identified rows of blocks that are adjacent along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction into address block candidate regions; and selecting the address block by scoring the various address block candidate regions on the basis of defined criteria. The criteria initially score the candidate regions based on closeness to the center of the rectangle and then reduce this initial score if an edge of the region is close to an edge of the image, the region contains a small or very high number of text rows, or the aspect ratio between the width and height of the region is high.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for feedback of object size during direct manipulation. In one embodiment, the invention determines whether the file size of an object being directly manipulated exceeds a threshold and, if the file size exceeds the threshold, varies the mouse tracking speed. The mouse tracking speed is preferably reduced if the file size exceeds an upper threshold and increased if the file size exceeds (falls below) a lower threshold. The mouse tracking speed is preferably restored to its unvaried value upon the conclusion of the direct manipulation.

Abstract: A method of generating a low-discrepancy sequence at high speed including the steps of: (a) expanding an i-th coordinate value u.sup.(1) (1.ltoreq.i.ltoreq.k) of an n-th element (U.sub.n (1), . . . , U.sub.n (k)) of the low-discrepancy sequence in radix b, and storing m components generated by the expansion of each said coordinate value in sequence into a first storage, wherein the n is an integer equal to or more than 1 and the b is a prime number equal to or more than k; (b) expanding the number n in radix b, and storing the generated expansion (n.sub.m,.sup.(1), n.sub.m-1, . . . , n.sub.1) in sequence into a second storage; (c) scanning the second storage in sequence, and detecting a minimum order j, wherein n is not equal to b-1; (d) in response to the step (c), reading out j-th row components of a generator matrix T.sup.(1) for the i-th coordinate (1.ltoreq.i.ltoreq.

Abstract: A security keyboard is disclosed with a contacting circuit board, a plurality of keys and a switching foil, where the contacting circuit board comprises contact elements necessary for the security keyboard and which is substantially completely enveloped in a security film and in operating the plurality of keys the keyboard pressure is transmitted through the security film to the contacts of the contacting circuit board. In accordance with the invention, the plurality of keys are held in the switching foil in such a way that on operating the plurality of keys a tactile feedback is produced. This permits a positive switching of the security keyboard since, because of the tactile feedback, an `automatic` backpressure of the keys results through a force inflection point, after which an operating force necessary for the operation of the keys, increases again as a consequence, in part, of the security film lying between the key and the contacting means of the security keyboard.

Abstract: A method and system for permitting the specification of transmission media to be utilized for automatic transmission of acknowledgements of message receipt. A message is transmitted via a first transmission media. The message includes a specification of a second transmission media to be utilized to transmit an acknowledgement of receipt of the message. The time of message receipt is used to distinguish which second transmission media is to be utilized. An acknowledgement of receipt is then automatically transmitted via the second diverse transmission media in response to receipt of the message.

Abstract: A data processing system is provided for emulating keyboard input. In one embodiment, the invention provides a contact sensitive graphical data input-output field for receiving graphical user input and for displaying graphical output. The graphical data input-output field includes multiple contact sensitive data input fields. The embodiment also provides a keyboard overlying the graphical data input-output field. The keyboard includes multiple keys, each of which corresponds to a data input field of the graphical data input-output field. Each key, when pressed by a user, contacts the data input field that corresponds to that key, thereby causing the data processing system to provide an electrical signal of a predetermined value that corresponds to the key pressed by the user.

Abstract: A method and data processing system are disclosed for media boundary traversal. In one embodiment, the invention transforms an electronic data processing file to a printed output that is understandable to humans and then transforms the printed output back to an electronic data processing file without loss of nonprintable characters. The embodiment gets an input file including both printable characters and nonprintable characters; writes the printable characters to an output file; determines locations among the printable characters of the nonprintable characters; transforms the nonprintable characters to printable character sequences; writes the printable character sequences and the locations of the nonprintable characters to an output file separately from the printable characters; and prints the output file. The printable characters of the input file remain understandable by humans in the printed output.