Abstract: Interface object classes providing a template class (402) for list boxes (500) and a template class (410) for combo boxes (506) which encapsulates a linkage mechanism to associate the items listed in the list box and combo box to objects (614) in a business object (612). When an item is selected in a list box or combo box, the object associated with the selected item is referenced automatically without explicit coding.

Abstract: A method for graphically displaying a UNIX directory includes the steps of identifying a base UNIX directory (44), and obtaining a listing of entries in the base UNIX directory, including all files, all subdirectories, and all files and subdirectories in the subdirectories (46, 64). For each entry, determining parameters including whether the entry is a file or a subdirectory, a level of indentation, and a uniform resource locator to the file (72, 74). An entry name and its associated parameters are then stored in a data structure (78, 82). An HTML document is then built for displaying all the entries in the data structure in a hierarchical graphical directory structure pane in a web page (48).

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provide distributed on-line communications for electronic commerce applications. The system includes at least one system node having multiple processes for communicating with outside devices, such as ATMs and financial institutions. A configuration database accessible by the processes stores the logical name of each process and outside device, and the corresponding physical address. A system library is coupled to the processes for supplying a plurality of routines for transmitting and receiving messages to and from one another process and to and from another node in the system.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system and method for maintaining the integrity of a plurality of objects each comprising methods and instance variables. The method is used to maintain the integrity of a plurality of objects wherein each of the plurality of objects will experience a change in at least one of its instance variables in response to a transaction if the transaction is allowed to commit. The method comprises sending a validate message to ones of the plurality of objects using a transaction service running on a computer. A prepare message is sent to each of the plurality of objects if a valid indicator was received in response to each validate message. A commit message is sent to each of the plurality of objects if a valid indicator was received in response to each of the validate messages and a prepared indicator was received in response to each of the prepare messages.

Abstract: A system for Internet gateway performance charting includes an internal network (10) having one or more servers interconnecting a plurality of computing devices (12). The system also includes an Internet gateway (16) coupled to the internal network (10) and to the public Internet (14). The Internet gateway (16) provides connectivity between the internal network (10) and the public Internet (14). The Internet gateway (16) also executes an application that gathers statistics on the performance of the Internet gateway (16) and prepares a file (19) storing statistics information. The system includes a designated server (18) of the internal network (10) that executes an application that periodically receives the file (19) from the Internet gateway (16), processes the file (19), recovers the statistics information, and populates a database (21) with statistics data.

Abstract: A computer network (10) is provided that includes a server (14) with a database (28) and an object definition generator (33). The database (28) stores a plurality of objects. The object definition generator (33) receives user input identifying a selected one of the objects and generates output code (37) including an object definition for the selected object. A client (12) includes a first application (26) operable to utilize the database (28). A second application (32) utilizes the output code (37) to access the database (28). The object definition generator (33) provides an automated method for enabling the second application (32) to utilize objects stored in the database (28).

Abstract: A method and system for detecting dissolve transitions in a digital video signal made up of a series of video images is disclosed. In accordance with the method of the invention, a plurality of the video images are segmented into a number of cells wherein each cell comprises a number of pixels each having a pixel intensity value representing the intensity of the pixel. A plurality of cell contrast vectors each associated with one of the segmented video images is generated. Each element of the cell contrast vector is associated with one of the cells and comprises the standard deviation of the pixel intensity values for the pixels in that cell. A dissolve is detected for a video image in response to the cell contrast vector for that image.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and system for managing computer database connections. In accordance with the method of the invention, a database operation request is received for a first database. The first database comprises a first database type and the first database operation request comprises at least a portion of a first transaction A pool of interface objects is maintained, each interface object comprising an interface to a database of the first database type. Interface object status information is maintained, either by the interface object itself or externally, indicating whether or not the interface object is connected to the first database and whether or not the interface object is currently being used for a transaction. If a first interface object is connected to the first database and is assigned to the first transaction, then the first database operation request is processed using that first interface object.

Abstract: A system (10) for registering a knowledge object (22) includes a server (12) and a client (14). The server (12) receives a request (38) from the client (14) to register the knowledge object (22). In response, the server (12) stores a trust stamp (46) and an envelope (50), and delivers a pointer (56) to the client (14).

Abstract: A system and a method for locating and deleting computer files stored in a directory structure in a mass storage device. The method includes the steps of receiving an input and establishing a starting directory and a file search specification. The method further includes storing directory names corresponding to all directories of the directory structure in a directory array and storing file names corresponding to all files of the directory structure that meet the file search specification in a file delete array. Finally, the method includes deleting the files associated with the file names stored in the file delete array. The system may be configured by a computer readable memory to perform the method.

Abstract: A knowlege discovery system (10) is provided for autonomously discovering knowlege from a database. The system includes a data reduction module (50) which reduces data into one or more clusters. This is accomplished by the use of one or more functions including a genetic clustering function, a hierarchical valley formation function, a symbolic exspansion reduction function, a fuzzy case clustering function, a relational clustering function, a K-means clustering function, a Kohonen neural network clustering function, and a minimum distance classifier clustering function. A data analysis modual (60) autonomously determines one or more correlations among the clusters. The corrolations represent knowlege.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for error proofing shipments where users are presented with the options of parts marking, parts verification or pack verification using an output device. A user option choice is received using an input device. If the user chooses the parts making option, then a first part number is received from the user and causes the printing of a first quantity of labels in response to the first part number. If the user chooses the parts verification option, then a second part number is received from the user, an identification symbol is scanned using a scanner to identify an identification number associated with the identification symbol, and the identification number is then compared to the second part number. An indication is provided to the user if the identification number and second part number do not match. If the user chooses the pack verification option, then a third part number and quantity is received from the user.

Abstract: An object-oriented memory management framework (10) and method therefor provide for a foreign pointer class (14, 400) and a foreign object class (12) each having a plurality of encapsulated methods and variables for memory management. The foreign pointer class (14) provides one or more instances of active, passive, and restrictive foreign pointers (274, 284, 292). The framework (10) further includes a foreign object class (12) for providing one or more instances of foreign objects (16), where each foreign object (16) encapsulated an active list variable (32), a passive list variable (36), and a restrictive list variable (34) for recording therein any foreign pointer pointing thereto.

Abstract: A computer-based knowledge management system (10) includes a database (4, 30) that contains a knowledge item (8) and an activity record (32, 34, 36) that is associated with the knowledge item (8). An accessor (14) accesses the knowledge item (8) and, in response, communicates feedback information (2) concerning the knowledge item (8). A knowledge office (18) receives the feedback information (2), generates an incentive (72) in response to the feedback information (2), and stores the incentive (72) in the activity record (32, 34, 36).

Abstract: A method and system for detecting fade transitions in a digital video signal made up of a series of video images is disclosed. In accordance with the method of the invention, a plurality of the video images are segmented into a number of cells wherein each cell comprises a number of pixels having a pixel intensity value representing the intensity of that pixel. A plurality of cell intensity vectors each associated with one of the video images is generated wherein each element of the cell intensity vector is associated with one of the cells and comprises a value proportional to the average of the pixel intensity values for that cell. A fade detect is generated for a particular video image in response to the cell intensity vector for that image.

Abstract: A process and system for predictive resource planning to allow a service provider to meet a customer's predicted technical resource requirements. The process involves determining (11) a service provider's technology baseline, determining (12) a customer's technology direction, and storing the data representing the technology baseline and the technology direction in a data base repository. Based on the technology direction of the customer, the customer's technical resource requirements are predicted (13) and stored in the data base repository. The service provider then documents (14) the skill levels of its candidate employees and selects (15) candidates to meet the predicted technical resource requirements.

Abstract: A method of modeling an enterprise so that its policy changes as well as its current components and operations are represented in a database (11), and a method of using a computer to query the database. The enterprise is modeled using classes of objects and associated methods. During operation, a query about data in the database (11) is received from a user, with the query calling for the use of at least one method to answer the query. The database (11) is accessed to determine whether the method is affected by a policy change, where different policies are represented by policy objects. If so, the user is provided with policy choices. A policy selection is received, and the query is answered, using an implementation of the method based on the policy selection (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A knowledge worker productivity assessment system (10) includes a database (12, 14, 16) containing survey data (15) generated using a knowledge worker productivity assessment framework (2). A benchmark database (18) contains benchmark values. A retriever (20) is coupled to the databases (12, 14, 16, 18) to retrieve selected survey data (15) and benchmark values. A calculator (38) is coupled to the retriever (20) and generates a comparison value (39) using the selected survey data (15). A relator (40) compares the comparison value (39) to a selected benchmark value to generate a knowledge worker productivity assessment.

Abstract: A system (100) for monitoring and assessing the performance of a project includes a computer (120) and a software program associated with the computer (120), with the software program and computer (120) operable in combination to receive project task data from a project management software file, determine current earned value (EV) information from the project task data, and graphically displaying the earned value information. A method for monitoring and assessing the performance of a project may be accomplished by entering task data for each task of the project in a project management software file; obtaining (158) the task data from the project management software file; calculating (160) a current earned value position; obtaining (182) historical earned value positions if any exists; and displaying (162, 184) the current earned value position and any historical earned value positions.

Abstract: An object oriented system for accessing an external relational database from within the object oriented system. The system creates an object and fills it with data values retrieved from the database. References from the object to other objects include pointers to preexisting objects or pointers to placeholder objects. Later retrieves fill in the placeholder objects, eliminating the need to reset the pointers. Caching, utilizing static data and static functions, is performed by each class of objects. Sub-objects are used to create different logical views of data from the database, and query access to the database is provided by a query engine which builds query language statements on demand.