Abstract: The invention discloses an assembly capable of writing/erasing high-density data, preferably on a phase-change recording media. A preferred embodiment of the invention features a novel thermal near-field heater that may be employed in the assembly, preferably for writing in a substantially thermal near-field mode. The invention provides advantages of writing densities greater than that of diffraction limited systems, for example, writing densities of approximately greater than 100 Gbit/inch2, and writing speeds approximately greater than 100 MHz.

Abstract: A method for validating a specific device configuration when the set of all valid configurations is too large to practically enumerate. The method comprises the steps of selecting a set of components to be included in the device configuration, wherein the set has a single sink component in the set with only sink interfaces; defining an interface for each component, wherein each component is characterized as having a source or a sink property; and establishing connections between components based on the interface of each component. Connections are validated by ensuring that source and sink components have the same property values. Connections are established by verifying that the capacity of the sink is greater than or equal to the capacity of the source, and determining that for each source property there is one sink property with the same value and for each source property that there is one sink property with the same value.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting parallel marketing of an item, include forming at least one of a coating and a code on the item, interrogating the at least one of the coating and said code, and determining from the interrogating whether the item has been transferred from an authorized merchant to an unauthorized merchant.

Abstract: A method for demand planning of products. The method comprises the steps of constructing a configure-to-order operation/multiple building block environment; and, forecasting the demand of the building blocks within this environment for establishing an efficient supply chain management.

Abstract: A method for constructing predictive models that can be used to make predictions in situations where the inputs to those models can have values that are missing or are otherwise unknown. The method can realize significant advantages because it can be readily applied in conjunction with any method for constructing models, including ones that require all input values to be known, thereby yielding combined methods for constructing models that tolerate missing values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which enables customers to remotely order goods from a merchant and receive the goods without revealing customer identity or address to the merchant, nor revealing what is bought to the bank or payment agency, and more generally to preserve as much anonymity as required such that no party except the customer has complete information about a transaction. The method uses clearing houses or encryption to break links between customer information and the merchant.

Abstract: A digital watermarking method encodes different pairs of watermarks into each of a plurality of images offered for use by a vendor. The watermarks in each pair are derived from two separate collections of watermarks and sufficiently different so as to prevent false positives. Because each pair of watermarks is assigned to a different customer relative to a particular image, unauthorized use of a digital image sold to a customer may be determined by locating the associated pair of watermarks assigned to the customer in the image. Collusion detection is also realized by forming each pair of masks from sub-collections of masks which are detectable in an image formed by combining the same images sold to one or more customers.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate a distribution of information. According to one embodiment, vehicle control information is determined, the vehicle control information being dependent on time in formation, operator information, and/or vehicle information. For example, an intersection control signal may be determined. The vehicle control information is then transmitted to an automobile device, which in turn arranges for the vehicle control information to be provided to an operator. For example, a graphical representation of an intersection control signal may be displayed on an automobile's windshield.

Abstract: A parametric family of multivariate density functions formed by mixture models from univariate functions of the type exp(−|x|&bgr;) for modeling acoustic feature vectores are used in automatic recognition of speech. The parameter &bgr; is used to measure the non-Gaussian nature of the data. &bgr; is estimated from the input data using a maximum likelihood criterion. There is a balance between &bgr; and the number of data points that must be satisfied for efficient estimation.

Abstract: A method (and system) of watermarking a half-toned image, includes grouping pixels of an image into blocks each containing a plurality of pixels, using as many gray levels as there are pixels in a block to halftone the image formed in the same blocks of pixels, based on a data set formed by the gray levels of the blocks of the halftoned image, generating at least one of a digital signature and a compressed version of the image, to form a generated unit, and inserting the generated unit in the halftoned image to form the watermark, by selecting how a predetermined number of pixels in a block are placed in the block.

Abstract: A data processing system, method, and product are disclosed for self-directed distance learning. The data processing system includes a client computer system coupled to a server computer system utilizing a network. An Internet-based distance learning environment is first accessed from which a first one of multiple, separate information streams is selected. The selected information stream is associated with an educational presentation. The selected information stream is then used to select a second information stream. Both information streams are then presented.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a change in delay induced by a switching history of a circuit includes the steps of generating a first signal having a pulse width that is selectively adjustable, the first signal having a first edge and a second edge associated therewith, the first and second edges being opposite in polarity with respect to one another; generating a second signal having a first switch delay characteristic of the first edge of the first signal and a second switch delay characteristic of the second edge of the first signal, wherein the pulse width of the first signal is less than the first switch delay associated with the second signal; varying the pulse width of the first signal; monitoring the second signal; determining a value of the pulse width that defines a boundary of when the second signal is present and when the second signal is not present; and determining a ratio of the value of the pulse width that defines the boundary to the first switch delay and/or the second switch delay, whereby the

Abstract: A computer method suitable for reconciling disparate data archival mediums. The method obviates the need for writing programs that are specific or uniquely tailored to each data archival medium, wherein it is desired to extract specific fields from a variety of spreadsheet or database output files.

Abstract: A method, program and system aligns students and teachers according to dominant learning and teaching styles. The invention creates a menu of learning styles, and a second menu of teaching styles. Students are then tested using each learning style contained in the first menu, and the test scores are entered into a student database. Teachers are also tested using each teaching style contained in the second menu, and a database is then created for the teacher test scores. Using the student and teacher test scores, the system calculates a best-fit match between students and teachers according to corresponding learning and teaching styles.

Abstract: A method for the complete segmentation of an image into regions of near-uniform color first segments the image into blocks of size N×M and applies color clustering within these blocks. This is done with a sequential color clustering algorithm. Subsequent to this, the color clusters that are spatially adjacent and also have similar color characteristics are merged. This is done through a novel method which combines distance in the feature space with distance in the spatial domain. This results in spatially compact color regions which have similar color information. The result of applying this technique is a complete segmentation of the image according to regions of near-uniform color.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method that allows object oriented (OOP) applications to incorporate scripting easily and in a uniform manner. The Bean Scripting Framework (BSF) supports scripting on the OOP programming language-side, where the programming language runs and evaluates scripts, and also in cases where scripts run and control objects. The BSFManager provides scripting services for the application program as well as support services for scripting engines to interact with the OOP programming language runtime environment. The BSF also has a registry of known scripting languages which the application program can interact with. The scripting architecture allows OOP programming language applications to be customized and managed further downstream than previously possible.

Abstract: A system and method to facilitate communications among team members or subscribers using a virtual assistant and a derived points of contact (POC) list to initiate contacts. The virtual assistant automates the task of reaching a party to be contacted through trying a variety of POC options until a connection is established or the options are exhausted. The system takes advantage of the POC provided by a person to be contacted, reducing the burden of maintaining a complete personal contact list by each team member or subscriber. The virtual assistant uses the derived POC list to establish a preferred method for contacting a team member or subscriber.

Abstract: A computer method for providing optimization for business processes for situations wherein there is defined a functional form y=f(x,b), where x comprises a set of independent controllable variables x={x1, . . . xn}, b comprises a set of functional parameters b={b1, . . . bm}, and y comprises a dependent uncontrollable business variable, f(x,b) subject to constraints on the dependent uncontrollable business variable y. The method comprises the steps of converting the constraints on y to constraints on b by using a functional estimate of y and its business variables (parameters) b; optimizing the function f(x,b) subject to the converted constraints on its business variables (parameters) b; and generating from step (ii) a set of optimized values of b which can optimize the dependent business variable y.

Abstract: An assembly suitable for reading data based on thermal coupling. The assembly can realize resolution/density specifications that can transcend diffraction limited focused laser beam techniques. The assembly includes a temperature sensor supported by a head-like structure, the temperature sensor capable of monitoring thermal coupling between the sensor and a media, and a heater element for heating the temperature sensor. A controller is used for coordinating a mutual positioning of the head-like structure and the media so that changes of thermal coupling between the assembly and a media provide indicia of a media bit pattern.

Abstract: A computer method for enhancing product manufacturing management. The method includes the steps of providing a demand database comprising a compendium of individual demand history; providing a manufacturing database comprising a compendium of at least one of product manufacturing management solutions, product manufacturing information, and product manufacturing diagnostics; and, employing a data mining technique for interrogating the demand and manufacturing databases for generating an output data stream, the output data stream correlating a demand problem with a manufacturing solution.