Abstract: A context manager for providing a framework for enabling continuous customer access resource innovation by maximizing open business processes. The context manager allows multiple combinations of users to access various business processes through multiple types of customer access resources. The context manager includes a context manager management interface for creating a context manager object for a session, the context manager object providing a bridge from customer access resources to business processes and maintaining a context of the session across customer access resources.

Abstract: A curved surface generation method well-suited for application to the preparation of a numerical control tape used in the numerically controlled machining of a three-dimensional body such as a three-dimensional mold. The surface creation method includes steps of defining, on a first section curve or reference curve of a three-dimensional curved body, a point Pi (i=1,2 . . . ) which corresponds to a point Qi (i=1,2 . . . ) on a second section curve or reference curve, and generating an intermediate section curve in accordance with the established correspondence. A curved surface is created by collecting a plurality of the intermediate section curves together. Accordingly, the invention raises the degree of freedom with which a curved surface is created, and enables the accurate creation of a curved surface featuring subtle changes, allowing the precise machining of a three-dimensional body.

Abstract: A highly distributed direct digital process control system for use in controlling a fully distributed process includes at least one device controller independently monitoring and controlling a plurality of external devices for performing a complete process. One or more data concentrator units are connected to the controllers for collecting information from each controller as well as directing updated control information to specific controllers. A central information processing means is connected to the data concentrator for displaying information received from the data concentrator. The central information processing means is capable of updating control information used by specific controllers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing tele-operations with the active assistance and supervision of a cognitive agent, such as a human being, who generates a future path plan in real time for immediate use by an automated on-line controlled agent, such as a work robot or other manipulator, are disclosed. The systems and methods may employ a visual display to present images of the controlled agent, of a foward simulation of the controlled agent, and of the future path plan being generated to enable a human operator to assess and control the on-going activity. The system simultaneously operates the controlled agent and produces the forward simulation and path plan, all under real time conditions. The cognitive agent, display and forward simulation equipment may be at one location and the controlled agent and its controller at another remote location.

Abstract: A system for controlling an electromechanical system comprised of a number of electromechanical devices such as solenoid operated valves, motor, relays and other devices. The control system is comprised of a central processing unit and control software plus suitable interface circuitry to convert the digital data from the central processing unit into suitable control signals to operate the electromechanical devices. The control software is characterized by the ability to allow users to either select preprogrammed sequences of commands to be executed by the computer or to program unique sequence at either of two levels of complexity.

Abstract: A system is provided to enable communication between a plurality of terminal devices and a central device connected thereto. The central device includes a communicating element which takes initiative and performs communication with a plurality of terminal devices in a predetermined order by scanning the same and also detects any abnormality of a terminal device in communication therewith. An abnormal terminal table is provided in the system for registering any abnormality of any of the terminal devices. The system contains an element for checking whether an abnormality is registered for a particular one of the terminal devices by reference to the abnormal terminal table. Communication is established with that particular terminal device, the checking element then generating a corresponding output. A control element is provided responsive to the output of the checking element to cause communication processing with that particular terminal device when no abnormality is registered.

Abstract: An irrigation controller (1) which includes a removable module (8) which is adapted to interface a computer (10) under specific control of a ROM cartridge (11) through a joystick port. The module (8) includes a central processing unit (13), memory (14,15) and a controlling programme together with battery back-up (18) for maintenance and control for a pattern of irrigation control varying dependent on the month of the year.

Abstract: A mask neutral network for processing that allows an external source of control to continuously direct state transition of the neural network toward selected states and away from other states. The network, through externally controlled masking, can focus attention on selected attributes of observed data, solutions or results. The masking is appliciable across three major categories of networks in that it facilitates augmented recall, directed learning and constrained optimization.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a consultation system which stores the intention of a client, processing know-how of consultation and progress status of consultation in addition to an expertise of the field of consultation, the status of client and reply, and accomplishes the flow of consultation in accordance with the intention and reaction of the client. Thus, the client can ask advices or expert's opinion in accordance with his desire.

Abstract: An integrated system for process control in which a process supervisor procedure (which is preferably the top-level procedure) is configured as a modular software structure, with modules which can be revised by a user at any time, without significantly interrupting the operation of the process supervisor. The modular software structure can define control parameters for many process control procedures, and can retrieve data from many sources (preferably including a historical database of process data, which can provide time-stamped data). The supervisor can also call on various expert subprocedures. Preferably the expert subprocedures can also be modified by an authorized user at any time, by calling up and editing a set of natural-language rule templates which correspond to the rules being executed by the expert subprocedure.

Abstract: In the present invention a method for generating tests for a combinational logic circuit of the PLA type is disclosed. The method is suited to generate tests to determine the input signals, the mid-term output signals of the AND gates, and the output signals, for stuck-at-0 and stuck-at-1 conditions.

Abstract: An advanced financial reporting and analysis software package is described. The package collects, organizes, manages and consolidates financial data and provides user defined capabilities for creating financial and corporate reports. Financial data is organized into four business classifications or dimensions: Schedule, Entity, Period and Type. Data is stored in the system in such a way that all data associated with a particular Schedule, Entity, Period and Type is identified by that particular SEPT value. To accommodate automatic data entry, a mapping means or template is provided that specifies for each different input spreadsheet the location of the first data cell in the spreadsheet and the size of the spreadsheet. Data is read from the data store by various report and spreadsheet generating functions which convert data associated with particular SEPT values to desired output formats.

Abstract: A bin picking system for a robot manipulator arm using a combination of a video camera and an acoustical transducer array to locate and drive the manipulator arm to grasp randomly oriented, overlapping parts. The system comprises memory for storing an image of the part showing a predetermined feature in a predetermined orientation; acoustic transducer mounted on the manipulator arm for emitting and receiving acoustic signals and converting the acoustic signals to electrical signals; and first control for sluing the manipulator arm over a predetermined area of the bin to locate the closest part and generate a bearing signal representative of the bearing and distance to the part.

Abstract: A computer architecture and compansion software are described which are intended to serve the needs of intelligence, simplicity and low cost. A major objective is to reduce the need for large memory capacity and computational "power."The computational hardware includes a standard central processing unit (or microprocessor) augmented by analog/digital computational hardware and data acquisition circuits that allow random access to and real time processing of data derived from environmental sensors.The multiprocessing hardware consists of portions of "cache" memory that are "dual-ported."The representational hardware consists of a vector generator.The software consists of a new "language" with minimal syntax requirements and representational features that are independent of scale. It shares features with LISP, FORTH and (Hewlett-Packard) RPL but uses a parsing "dispatcher" rather than an "evaluator.

Abstract: A system for processing an MST function command in a numerical control system including a computerized numerical control apparatus (CNC, 10) and a PMC (programmable machine controller). A strobe signal MF, SF, TF is issued from the computerized numerical control apparatus (10) in an opposite logic state to that of a finish signal MFIN, SFIN, TFIN. The PMC (20) determines that there is a command when the strobe signal is of the opposite logic state to that of the finish signal being issued. When the execution of an MST function is finished, the finish signal is converted to a logic state opposite to that of the strobe signal MF, SF, TF. The computerized numerical control apparatus (10) determines that the processing of the MST function is finished when the logic state of the finish signal becomes identical to that of the strobe signal. When the finish signal and the strobe signal become different from each other as to their logic states, therefore, it can be determined that there is a command.

Abstract: An inference processing system comprises a plurality of processors assigned for nodes of a semantic network respectively to carry out parallel processing. Each of the processors stores tables and linking information. The tables are made by arranging rules and prepared for goals respectively. Each table contains the names of links to follow when a certain goal is given and markers for specifying the kinds of the links. In the table, the link names and markers are set as outputs with respect to the given goal as an input. The linking information contains information of links connected to a node for which a corresponding one of the processors is assigned. When the goal and a marker are inputted to any one of the processors, the processor finds an output marker and output links in the tables and linking information and outputs the output marker to the output links, thus achieving an inference process.

Abstract: A system for controlling an electromechanical system comprised of a number of electromechanical devices such as solenoid operated valves, motor, relay and other devices. The control systems is comprised of a central processing unit and control software plus suitable interface circuitry to convert the digital data from the central processing unit into suitable control signal to operate the elecromechanical devices. The control software is characterized by the ability to allow users to either select preprogrammed sequences of commands to be executed by the computer or to program unique sequence at either of two levels of complexity.

Abstract: In a robot arm having a rotary encoder of incremental value type outputting signals including a signal (Z-signal) which is generated every one revolution of the rotary encoder and a rotary encoder of absolute value type, angles (.DELTA.Z, .DELTA.D) of the original positions of the respective rotary encoders with respect to an original position (E) of the robot arm are previously measured, then the arm is moved and is stopped at a position in which the Z-signal is generated, subsequently, an absolute position of the arm is detected on the basis of the angles (.DELTA.Z, .DELTA.D), and the angle between the arm and the original position (E) is calculated. The absolute position is detectable within one revolution of the rotary encoder of incremental type, and thereby an effective "return-to-origin operation" of the arm is accomplished.

Abstract: A neural network system includes means for accomplishing artificial intelligence functions in three formerly divergent implementations. These functions include: supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and associative memory storage and retrieval. The subject neural network is created by addition of a non-linear layer to a more standard neural network architecture. The non-linear layer functions to expand a functional input space to a signal set including orthonormal elements, when the input signal is visualized as a vector representation. An input signal is selectively passed to a non-linear transform circuit, which outputs a transform signal therefrom. Both the input signal and the transform signal are placed in communication with a first layer of a plurality of processing nodes. An improved hardware implementation of the subject system includes a highly parallel, hybrid analog/digital circuitry.

Abstract: A process for making three dimensional models is disclosed which is characterized in that a photohardenable composition is used which comprises a free radical addition polymerizable or crosslinkable compound and an ionic dye-counter ion compound, said compound being capable of absorbing actinic radiation and producing free radicals which initiate free radical polymerization or crosslinking of said compound.