Abstract: A digital design system 10 is described which includes a user interface 12 that is used to interact with a digital data set 14. The digital model data set 14 is augmented by smart model attributes and business process attributes stored in data sets 16 and 18, respectively. Business process attributes data set 18 may include information associated with quality information, safety information, revision information, and information links to other data sets. A knowledge base data set engine 20 inferentially applies attributes to various features, components, and processes defined in the digital model data set 14.

Abstract: A request is processed using one or more database units by receiving a request for a record and communicating the request to one or more nodes. One or more of the nodes is operable to provide an interface between one or more associated database units and a network. Additionally, one or more of the nodes is operable to communicate with each other. The request is further processed by identifying one or more target database units that store the record and accessing the record that is stored in one or more of the target database units. The request is then processed based on the record that is stored in one or more of the target database units such that a response to the request is generated. The response is then returned to the request that is based on the record.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a network user authentication method includes receiving a network identification and a password associated with a user, validating the network identification and the password, generating a passkey for the user, and sending the passkey to the user for temporary storage in a computer of the user.

Abstract: A method and system are described for defining a user's access to one or more features of an application. One or more “attributes” are assigned to users of a computer system and stored in a data table. Each attribute has a name which designates the feature to which access is being defined, (e.g., the ability to access data within the database), and a value defining the limits of access. Attributes may be assigned in groups to eliminate the burden of preparing attribute assignments one by one for each user. When an application is run, the attributes are retrieved and enforced such that the user's access to the features of the application is defined in accordance with the retrieved attributes.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a computerized method for managing a plurality of data protection rules includes receiving and storing the data protection rules in a database, receiving and storing a plurality of permissions generated by a data owner in the database, accepting a query from a data requester with respect to a particular set of data, accessing the database to validate that a permission exists for the data requester, accessing the database to validate that the particular set of data may be accessed by the data requester, and generating a response to the query.

Abstract: Message files preferably comprising MPEG video messages are provided to transaction terminals for display of non-transaction messages to users during a terminal transaction. The messages are selected and displayed upon transaction approval. Operation of the terminal in accordance with transaction approval, i.e., to dispense cash or print a record, is initiated during the interval when the selected message is displayed.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes: receiving, by a framework, a request communicated by a source, the request including an associated functionality. The method also includes integrating, by an abstraction layer, a java object into the request such that a generic term associated with the request is generated. The generic term is insulated from the functionality of the request. The generic term is processed within the framework and a response associated with the request is returned to the source.

Abstract: Monitoring performance data includes establishing a reporting period during which a performance update is scheduled to be received at a database. The performance update includes provider data gathered from a provider, and describes a service provided to a client by the provider. The database is accessed to determine whether the database has received the performance update during the reporting period. A provider data rating is generated from the performance update. Performance data including client data gathered from the client is received, where the performance data describes the service, and a client data rating is generated from the performance data. The client data rating and the provider data rating are reported.

Abstract: Reporting performance data includes receiving at least one client data rating generated from performance data comprising client data gathered from a client. At least one provider data rating generated from performance data comprising provider data gathered from a provider is received. The at least one client data rating and the at least one provider data rating to the client are reported.

Abstract: A method and system are described for defining a user's access to one or more features of an application. One or more “attributes” are assigned to users of a computer system and stored in a data table. Each attribute has a name which designates the feature to which access is being defined, (e.g, the ability to access data within the database), and a value defining the limits of access. Attributes may be assigned in groups to eliminate the burden of preparing attribute assignments one by one for each user. When an application is run, the attributes are retrieved and enforced such that the user's access to the features of the application is defined in accordance with the retrieved attributes.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for determining service resources allocation includes associating a generic value stream having a plurality of generic value stream components with a plurality of industry segments, allocating, for at least one of the industry segments, expenditures for a time period to at least one of the plurality of generic value stream components for the industry segment, and determining, for at least one of the industry segments, the amount of expenditures associated with the at least one of the plurality of generic value stream components relative to the total amount of expenditures for the at least one industry segment. The determination is for use in determining the resource allocation.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for activation and deactivation of distributed objects. A first number of a plurality of distributed objects are stored in the memory of a first computer. A request is received to execute a method on a first one of the plurality of distributed objects wherein the first distributed object is to be stored in the memory of the first computer but is not currently stored in the memory of the first computer and wherein the request comprises the object identity of the first distributed object. One of the first number of distributed objects resident in the memory of the first computer is deactivated in response to the request if a resource limit has been reached. A first distributed object is activated wherein the object identity of the first distributed object is used to determine the object class and location of the first distributed object. The method is executed in response to the request.

Abstract: A system for communicating information between a central site and a remote site includes a central network access device operable to receive a broadcast signal from the central site and to condition the broadcast signal to facilitate its transmission to the remote site using a satellite system. The central network access device further operable to receive from a wide area network an incoming signal originating from the remote site, and to condition the incoming signal for receipt by the central site.

Abstract: A system for h household grocery management is provided. The system includes a bar code scanner (22) operable to scan a bar code on a grocery item and to provide bar code data obtained thereby. The system also includes a computer system (20) coupled to receive the bar code data provided by the bar code scanner (22). The computer system (20) has a fixed data storage storing a grocery inventory (26) and a processor executing a grocery management application (24). The grocery management application (24) operates to process the bar code data to identify a scanned grocery item, to maintain the grocery inventory (26), and to generate a replenishment list (32) of grocery items based upon differences between current grocery inventory (26) and defined full levels for the household (10).

Abstract: A weld tip testing head is presented. An alignment member has an aperture disposed therein and is coupled to a spring element. The spring element is further coupled to a mounting. The aperture is operable to removably receive a weld tip and the alignment member is operable to determine an alignment associated with the weld tip. Computer software is encoded on storage. The computer software is operable to receive the alignment from the alignment member and analyze the alignment with respect to at least one expected alignment value. The computer software is further operable to generate an alarm based on the analysis and generate a fault based on the analysis.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method of counting lines of source code. One of a plurality of sets of configuration data is selected wherein each set of the plurality of sets of configuration data is associated with at least one computer language. Collectively the plurality of sets of configuration data are associated with a plurality of computer languages and the selected set of configuration data comprises the keywords for a first computer language. A first file is parsed wherein the first file contains computer source code written in the first computer language to create a first token stream in response to the selected set of configuration data. A first list of statements is created in response to the first token stream and a count value is generated in response to the first list of statements.

Abstract: A system for communicating information between a central site and a remote site includes a central network access device operable to receive a broadcast signal from the central site and to condition the broadcast signal to facilitate its transmission to the remote site using a satellite system. The central network access device further operable to receive from a wide area network an incoming signal originating from the remote site, and to condition the incoming signal for receipt by the central site.

Abstract: An integrated electronic commerce system (10) may include a server system (12) comprising a plurality of electronic commerce applications (44) and a server security system (46). The electronic commerce applications (44) may comprise an electronic mail application (52), a web server application (54), and a file transfer application (56). The server security system (46) may validate a client system (14) and download information operable to enable a service manager (90) of the client system (14) to invoke the electronic mail application (52), the web server application (54), and the file transfer application (56) to send and receive data over a network (18).

Abstract: A method for processing electronic data is provided. The method includes creating a visual analog (20) of a data format for the electronic data and converting the visual analog (20) into data processing commands (24). Electronic data may then be processed with the data processing commands (24).

Abstract: A system for emulating a distributed network includes a localized network operable to emulate a distributed network. A network device is coupled to the localized network and operable to be accessed over the localized network. A test site is operable to couple a test device to the localized network and to test the ability of the test device to access the network device over the localized network.