Abstract: A method for verifying the identity of a new-user of a computer system, comprising the steps of receiving at least one identity attribute from the new-user; similarity searching the at least one new-user identity attribute against at least one database of denied-user identity attributes; receiving a similarity search result; determining a positive or negative match between the at least one new-user identity attribute and the denied-user identity attributes; allowing the new-user to access the computer system, where a negative match has been determined; and denying the new-user access to the computer system, where a positive match has been determined.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a computer-implemented visualization model of similarity relationships between documents. It comprises performing a similarity search based on at least one attribute of a reference document to find at least one target document with similar attributes; creating a visual representation of the reference database document and the at least one target document; creating a visual representation of the similarities between the reference document and the at least one target document; and displaying the visual representations of the database documents and their similarities on a graphical user interface. The target documents that are similarity searched may reside in a plurality of databases. The similarity search returns a result set of target documents that are used by the visualization model to create the visual representation of the documents and the similarities between the documents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer-implemented system and method for transforming relational database information into a hierarchical data representation. It provides for data sharing between a relational and hierarchical data structures without requiring the data to be remodeled to fit a common format or convention. While maintaining the relational data in its original format, user may transform and associate the data with a structure compatible with another format definition. The present invention may use XML, HTML and SGML to structure a hierarchical data representation. Object-oriented formats may also be used to structure the data in an intermediary format for transformation into a hierarchical data structure.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer-implemented system and method that allows data in different databases to be shared without requiring the data to be remodeled to fit an existing data convention. The invention allows the comparison of two database structures, and facilitates the searching of information from one database to other databases, or from an external set of search criterion against a plurality of databases. The invention allows information to be exchanged from heterogeneous data sources, or database query sources without having to alter the structure of the data sources that are being searched. A number of techniques may be used to do this comparison and facilitate the cross database searching. Tree comparison methods, user defined mapping methods, the use of similarity comparisons to determine similar database structures and data are used to facilitate the cross database searching.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to similarity scoring engines. More particularly, the invention is a computer-implemented similarity scoring system and method that allows for using similarity scoring to store and maintain a unique product and retailer inventory database in a database. It enables users of a database management system to be presented with data that maintains a high level of accuracy and reliability and minimizes the occurrences of redundant data. Users of the databases may then be presented with unique instances of data rather than product and inventory data that appears to be different but are actually duplicates of data already entered into the database.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes a system and method for monitoring and control of processes and machines.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer-implemented system and method that allow data from a first hierarchical data structure to be applied to a second hierarchical data structure. The method comprises recursively comparing the source elements of the first hierarchical structure to the target elements of the second hierarchical structure, and applying the data from a source element or source child element to a matching target element or target child element. The method is iterated, until all elements of the second hierarchical data structure have been traversed.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer-implemented method for optimizing the detecting and scoring of similarities between documents in a source database and search criteria. It uses a set of hierarchical documents having root, interior and leaf nodes where the leaf nodes contain data items. Unique identifiers are assigned to each unique data item contained within each leaf node within the set of documents. Unique identifiers may be assigned to the data items depending upon a selected context in the hierarchy of nodes within the documents. For each data item in each leaf node, a data item score is computed that represents a similarity between the data item in the leaf node and the search criteria. A parent nodes score is then computed by combining the data item scores for all its child nodes. A data and indexing structures provides for efficient similarity searching and the quick reporting of results because the data is organized by the categories a user wants to search.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a computer-implemented method for transforming data in a relational database to a hierarchical database. It comprises creating an import map that maps each relational database field to a hierarchical field in the hierarchical database using a relational database schema and a hierarchical database schema, using the import map to import data from the relational database; and transforming the relational data into hierarchical documents. The method further comprises creating a hierarchical database schema that corresponds to the relational database schema. The hierarchical documents may be stored in computer memory or on disk.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer-implemented method for detecting and scoring similarities between documents in a source database and a search criteria. It uses a hierarchy of parent and child categories to be searched, linking each child category with its parent category. Source database documents are converted into hierarchical database documents having parent and child objects with data values organized using the hierarchy of parent and child categories to be searched. For each child object, a child object score is calculated that is a quantitative measurement of the similarity between the hierarchical database documents and the search criteria. A parent object score is computed from its child object scores using an algorithm.

Abstract: A data comparison system includes a database containing target object information which is compared with an individual source object, defined by the user. Computer systems known in the art are utilized to hold the assembled target object database including all information that is available, complete with errors, inaccuracies, and so forth. This database is searched and the computer sorts the information after comparison so that target objects are sorted based on the degree of similarity with the source object.Both target and source objects are defined by object types, components of each object type, subjects of each component, and at least one answer, that is language independent, for each subject. That is, statements may be received and entered in any language and the data derived therefrom, however, is language independent so that the results can be universally applied.