Abstract: A relocation tracking system (10) and method are provided. The relocation tracking system (10) includes a mass storage device for storing a relocation database (22) and a processor (40). Relocation database (22) includes a transferee table (44) and a shipping table (48). Relocation database (22) may include any of a variety of other tables such as an expense table (46), a shipping table (48), a home selling table (50), a home buying table (52), a tracking table (54), a non-relocation table (56), and a comment table (58). The processor (40) processes a relocation request that indicates the authorized benefits for each relocation. The processor (40) accesses and updates the transferee table (44) and the shipping table (48) of relocation database (22) in response to processing the relocation request.

Abstract: A method and system for integrating disparate information technology applications and platforms across an enterprise provides a web client interface that associates with an enterprise network. Connecting with the web client through the network is the Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) server that includes a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) interface program for augmenting the integration of the disparate applications and platforms via remote and local applications execution. The HTTP server is specific to the particular enterprise for specifically dealing with application servers and information servers and further for collecting information and gathering it together into a form that is then displayed on the web client.

Abstract: A method for displaying a representation of a character on a computer display includes receiving a first primary character string comprising at least one character selected from a primary character set. The method also includes receiving a first desired location for displaying a representation of the first primary character. The method also includes generating a plurality of intermediate character strings corresponding to the first primary character string. The intermediate character strings include at least one intermediate character selected from a predefined intermediate character set. The predefined intermediate character set is defined before receiving the first primary character string and includes a plurality of intermediate characters each corresponding to a fractional portion of a primary character in the primary character set.

Abstract: An automated system and method are provided for accurately modeling spending. In the system and method, invoice information and payment information are received at an interface. A processor, coupled to the interface, automatically generates a distribution in response to the invoice information and the payment information. The generated distribution is automatically transformed by the processor. Spend information for a specified period of time is received at the interface; the spend information specifies a spending amount. The processor automatically spreads the spending amount over the transformed distribution.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for updating a database providing persistent storage for a plurality of objects each comprising methods and instance variables, wherein a persistent record of each of the plurality of objects will experience a change in the context of a transaction if the transaction is allowed to commit. The method comprises sending a first prepare message to each of the plurality of objects, the plurality of objects sending their state to the database in response to the first prepare messages. A second prepare message is sent to the database if a prepared indicator was received in response to each of the first prepare messages. A commit message is sent to each of the plurality of objects and to the database if a prepared indicator was received in response to each of the first prepare messages and if a prepared indicator was received in response to the second prepare message.

Abstract: A system (10) for analyzing a data file containing a plurality of data records with each data record containing a plurality of parameters is provided. The system (10) includes an input (40) for receiving the data file and a data processor (32) having at least one of several data processing functions. These data processing functions include, for example, a segmentation function (34) for segmenting the data records into a plurality of segments based on the parameters. The data processing functions also include a clustering function (36) for clustering the data records into a plurality of clusters containing data records having similar parameters. A prediction function (38) for predicting expected future results from the parameters in the data records may also be provided with the data processor (32).

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a method of managing a computer system includes receiving event information at a Tivoli Enterprise Console (130), the event information associated with the computer system. The method also includes receiving a command to provide a portion of the event information to a help desk application program and automatically providing the event information in a format readable by a ServiceCenter help desk application program (230) in response to receiving a command to provide a portion of the event information to a help desk application program.

Abstract: An automated travel planning system (10) is provided. The system (10) includes a database (12) which stores information relating to each individual traveler and business entity customer of a travel agency and also information relating to the travel agency itself. This information may include, for example, data concerning the frequent flyer/renter programs in which a traveler participates, smoking and seating preferences for a traveler, preferred travel vendors of a business entity, restrictions on fare classes (e.g., business or coach classes only) imposed by a business entity on its employees, and promotions available to a travel agency. When travel request information is received from a specific customer (individual and/or business entity) of the travel agency, the system automatically retrieves information relating to the customer from the database and also information relating to the travel agency.

Abstract: A system and method (10) of accounting and billing for data storage on a plurality of data storage devices (20) are provided. The data storage is mapped to a number of service levels, which specify varying data access and retrieval speeds. Therefore, instead of accounting and billing for data storage solely on the basis of quantity of data, it is done on the basis of data access and retrieval speeds required by each data storage application.

Abstract: Assessment tool (12) for gathering meaningful information concerning an object. The assessment tool (12) includes a plurality of statements (40) directed toward observable characteristics of the object. A frequency estimation scale (42) corresponds to each statement (40). At least one statement (40) is reverse keyed from the remaining statements (40).

Abstract: A system (10) for facilitating the processing of travel related expenses includes a database (40) which stores a traveler profile (50), a customer profile (52), and a traveler category rule set (56). A controller (36), connected to the database (40), receives travel itinerary information for a traveler associated with a customer (12). The controller (40) determines a specified amount of funds to be allocated to the traveler and transfers the specified amount of funds from an account of the customer (12). In addition, the controller (40) provides at least a portion of the transferred funds to the traveler, for example, through an automatic teller machine network (20). The controller (40) receives a record, for example, via an electronic data interchange interface (24), of any transactions in which the traveler spends the portion of transferred funds, thereby facilitating the processing of travel related expenses.

Abstract: A computer network (10) is provided that includes first and second computer systems (12 and 14). The first computer system (12) includes a software application (24) having a function call (26). The second computer system (14) communicates with the first computer system (12) and includes a function (34) corresponding to the function call (26). A function importation engine (28) identifies the function call (26) and copies the function (34) from the second computer system (14) to the first computer system (12). The function importation engine (28) enables the first computer system (12) to operate in a stand-alone configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus (120) for providing shared resources to a plurality of external devices (130) includes a portable network server motherboard (210) and a plurality of removable storage devices (220) for selectively configuring the apparatus (120), each storage device (220) storing a different category of resources. The apparatus further includes a plurality of portable removable storage device receivers (230) connecting the plurality of removable storage devices (220) to the portable network server motherboard (210) and a portable hub (216) operable to connect the portable network server motherboard (210) to the plurality of external devices (130).

Abstract: A number of systems and methods for analyzing electronic image signals are provided which include processing the image signal as one or more cells, each comprising a plurality of pixels. For consecutive frames of the monitored image, a set of pointers are generated, each containing a value related to the detail contents of the image. The pointers are used to address a memory array, each pointer corresponding to a row in the memory array and the content of each pointer pointing to a memory element in the corresponding row. For successive frames, the value of each memory element addressed by a pointer is updated.

Abstract: A method is provided for optimizing the operation of an equipment control system having an operating unit. In the method, an operating entity operable to perform a specific function is automatically added to the operating unit when such function is required of the operating unit. When the specific function of the operating entity is no longer required, the operating entity is automatically deleted from the operating unit.

Abstract: An automated system (10) is provided for resetting a computing system user's log-in password. The automated system (10) includes a database (16) which stores at least one question and corresponding answer received from the user. In response to a request for password reset received from the user, an interface (12) displays the stored question(s), thereby prompting the user to input an answer to each displayed question. A processor (14) is coupled to the database (16) and the interface (12). The processor (14) determines whether each input answer is the same as the stored corresponding answer. If the answers are the same, the processor (14) automatically resets the user's log-in password.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for managing redundant objects in a distributed object system. A transaction service runs on a computer. At least two copies of the instance variables of a distributed object are maintained in a separate database. The distributed object (46) has a polymorphism of an interface object instantiation method. At least two copies of an interface object (48) are instantiated wherein each interface object (48) is associated with one of the copies of the instance variables of the distributed object (46). The interface objects (48) are instantiated using the polymorphism. A list of interface objects (48) is maintained with the distributed object (46). Each copy of the instance variables of the distributed object (46) are modified by traversing the list of interface objects (48) and sending a message with modification parameters to each interface object (48) on the list.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and system for scheduling product orders for a manufacturing facility. One aspect of the invention is a method for scheduling product orders wherein a pool of product order records and a pool of physical attribute records are maintained. A list of partially completed physical products available at an evaluation point in a manufacturing facility is maintained wherein the list includes a first physical attribute record. A digital computer is then used to compute a grade value for each of a plurality of product order records having a list of order attributes comprising sets of which the list of physical attribute data items associated with the first physical attribute record is a subset. The grade value comprises a weighted sum of a plurality of objective factors where each objective factor comprises a numerical measure of how well a particular objective is being met.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method of generating object-oriented code. An object model is captured for at least one object using a computer. Code interpretable by a compiler is then generated based upon the object model. The code comprises a base object class (46) and a custom object class (50) where the base object class (46) comprises a base object header file and base object implementation file while the custom object class (50) comprises a custom object header file and custom object implementation file. The base object class (46) inherits from a framework object class (44) while the custom object class (50) inherits from the base object class (46). In response to a change in the object model, a new base object header file, base object implementation file, and custom object header file are generated while preserving at least some code in the base object implementation file.

Abstract: A system (100) for processing career development information is provided which comprises a plurality of career development files (112). Each career development file is associated with at least one other career development file. The system includes a user interface system (120) which receives a user selection of one of the career development files (112) and displays the selected career development file. The system also includes a career library production system (116) with which a curriculum designer can modify one or more of the career development files.