Abstract: A virtual reality generator having an input module that receives as input financial information is disclosed. The virtual reality generator outputs to a display device a virtual reality world generated from the financial information. The financial information can be pre-processed by a financial analytic system prior to input to the virtual reality generator. The financial information can be received from a data file. The virtual reality generator can dynamically display and continuously update the virtual reality world. Further, movement through the virtual reality world can be simulated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for exact three dimensional reconstruction of the image of a portion of interest of an object in the field of view of a cone beam source is disclosed, whereby unwanted Radon data are selectively disgarded avoiding undue corruption of the imaging process and missing Radon data that would otherwise be lost are selectively recovered. This is accomplished by ensuring the acquisition of a complete set of Radon data through proper choice of scanning configuration, then selectively partitioning and manipulating the acquired data to image only the select portion of interest of the object.

Abstract: An anonymous trading system identifies the best bids and offers from those counterparties with which each party is currently eligible to deal, while maintaining the anonymity of the potential counterparty and the confidentiality of any specific credit limitations imposed by the anonymous potential counterparty. To that end, each bid or offer for a particular type of financial instrument is prescreened by the system for compatibility with limited credit information (for example, a one bit flag indicating whether a predetermined limit has already been exceeded) and an anonymous "Dealable" price is calculated for each of the traders dealing with that particular financial instrument.

Abstract: To determine lexical data relating to a compound target word by reference to a vocabulary containing words with their lexical data, the vocabulary is searched for a word having a longest final part in common with the target word, the vocabulary being arranged in retrograde order for the purpose of this search process.

Abstract: To enable inflected word forms to be derived, a method and a data processing unit are provided for inflecting a given word and for adapting the lexical data of the word correspondingly by reference to a classification scheme containing inflection rules for a given natural language. The effect achieved is that inflected word forms do not have to be contained in an electronic word register, and this results in a considerable reduction in memory space occupied by the word register.

Abstract: A structured document system for generating, from a single set of parts of speech entered into a computer, alternative forms of documents with different formats and syntaxes using the same set of parts of speech. For each set of parts of speech, a record is created which includes alternative forms of the verb, alternative forms of any product contained in the sentence, and a statement of the requirement level as mandatory, recommended, or optional. A document is defined by specifying step levels and, for each step level, a set of parts of speech. For each alternative document to be produced, a complete syntax is specified which includes a concatenation rule for each step level. When the document is generated according to the specified syntax, concatenation rules determine the format and structure of each heading or action step.

Abstract: A system for automatically programming a functional database from a string of natural language words which form a substantially grammatically complete sentence is provided. The system includes a terminal and a processing unit. The processing unit includes an editor, a parser, and a database generator. Initially, a user inputs a string of words at the terminal. Next, the parser determines if the string of words includes a subject noun, a verb, and at least one descriptive noun following the verb. The parser then analyzes the string of words to determine the relationship among the words and generates a logical schema. Finally, the database generator programs a database containing a file and at least one field in the file in accordance with the logical schema.

Abstract: A data processing system and method obtains a three dimensional representation of an object with complex and unique geometry, using a sampling probe having a tip for tracing the surface of the object. Electrical signals are received which are indicative of the position of the tip of the probe. An origin is determined with reference to the object. A plurality of distances, each distance corresponding to a given direction from the origin, is stored in a device addressable by the given direction to store and to retrieve a corresponding distance. The direction and distance of the probe tip with reference to the origin in response to a received signal. The determined distance is compared to any stored distance corresponding to the determined direction. The determined distance is stored when it is less than any stored distance. The probe tip position may be displayed as a projection on a reference surface which surrounds the origin.

Abstract: A multi-tasking clinical laboratory work-flow system for test sample and reagent transfer to semi-automate various laboratory assays. The system includes a controller having a menu of protocols which provide format instructions to a robotic sample transfer device. The sample transfer device includes a work-flow surface (deck) having defined coordinates for mounting one or more test racks and one or more reaction mediums, and means for interacting a test sample with one or more reagent(s) or gel in a reaction medium.

Abstract: A method for automatically placing objects on a surface in proximity to corresponding predetermined locations without collision with such locations or other objects by defining a distance dependent attractive force between each object and the corresponding location which increases with increasing distance between the object and the location, and defining distance dependent repulsive force between each object and its neighboring objects and locations, such repulsive force decreasing with increasing distance. The initial position for each object is established in proximity with the corresponding location in accordance with predetermined criteria. Thereafter the motion of the objects under the influence of such forces and of a frictional retarding force are determined by marginally stable incremental integration of such motion.

Abstract: A plurality of Doppler image data corresponding to a plurality of sliced planes of an object which are different from one another, respectively, are received. The plurality of Doppler image data shows distributions of first and second moving directions and moving velocities of a moving substance in the object on the plurality of sliced planes, respectively. First and second data showing distribution corresponding to each of a plurality of velocity ranges of the moving velocities among the distribution of the first and second moving direction, respectively, of the moving substance on each of the sliced planes is obtained based on the Doppler image data. Each of first and second three-dimensional image data is obtained based on the data corresponding to each of the plurality of velocity ranges and also corresponding to all of the plurality of sliced planes among all of the first and second data, respectively.

Abstract: A system and method for obtaining information concerning a product or service to a user which includes a remotely located source of computer-based information for generating and transmitting encoded data, including encoded audio data, pertaining to a plurality of products or services. An on-site computer in communication with the remote information source is employed for receiving and storing the data from the remote information source. The on-site computer source is in communication with the plurality of user units located within the facility, each unit being associated with a particular product or service. Each unit receives and stores product or service data from the on-site computer, recalls the data and provides the data in an audible form to the user upon activation of the unit by the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing resource allocation is disclosed which uses a probabilistic relaxation network technique for obtaining an optimal or near optimal assignment solution. A network of nodes and arcs is created. Inputs to the arcs are calculated disregarding the old outputs from the arcs, the influences on the nodes are calculated based on the inputs to the arcs and the new values for the nodes are calculated based on the influences on the node.

Abstract: A planning support system and process in a workstation having an operator interface, planning process feature, a data file server, and memory feature therein, characterized in storing a planner model having data indicating a plurality of planning actions in the data file server and indicating flow among the planning actions and having process times of the planning actions, and in processes executed by the planning process feature including setting an operator model on the basis of a planning request input through the operator interface, and including determining action of a first planning action to be executed according to the planner model on the basis of the operator model and for determining a second planning action to be executed following the first planning action, and including storing data needed for process of the second planning action into the memory feature until the process of the second planning action is started after process of the first planning action ends on the basis of the planner model.

Abstract: A medical monitoring system in which a plurality of vital signs monitors for a plurality of patients provide data on a continuing basis to a central server which in turn provides supervisory screen display that indicates the normal status or varying levels of alarm status of individual patients. The system permits an overview display of a floor and also provides a zoom-in display of an individual site patient together with an indication of a limited number of vital signs and a warning alarm signal when any one or more vital signs is outside of a first warning set of predetermined limits or a more critical alarm set of predetermined limits.

Abstract: A market research system and method are provided. A plurality of cooperating establishments are included in a market research test area. Each cooperating establishment is adapted for collecting and storing market research data. A computer system remotely located from the plurality of cooperating establishments stores market research data collected from the cooperating establishments. The collected market research data includes monitored retail sales transactions and captured video images of retail customers.

Abstract: A file maintenance system for computer processing of multiple files of a client/patient type, the files having record sets in an organizational structure combining a plurality of standard, categorical, field-defined records with identified text fields of fixed character length with a plurality of hybrid categorical, extended-field records of virtually unlimited character length with means for editing entered text without reentry of previously entered data in the extended field.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing text to produce simulated handwriting and more particularly, an apparatus and method for producing handwriting that simulates the user's own handwriting.

Abstract: A morphological analyzer for analyzing the morphology of an input word, the analyzer including a recognition engine which includes means for finding a stem within the input word; and means for identifying suffixes attached to the stem, wherein the finding means and suffix identifying means cooperate to conduct morphological analysis of the input word from the root to the affix and wherein the recognition engine performs inflectional and derivational analysis, the derivational analysis using more than two derivational suffixes.

Abstract: A location technique in an electronic encyclopedia for presenting relevant articles in response to a user input of a query term. The technique employs a user controlled hierarchy of filter parameters. The user selects a subset of the identifying parameters into which all articles are classified; each article being classified into at least one identifying parameter. There are 107 parameters disclosed. The encyclopedia automatically locates each article that employs the input or query term in each of the parameters selected by the user.The 107 identifying parameters are divided into four Groups. The articles presented to the user are only those articles which are common to each of tex up to four Groups into which the user selected parameters are divided.An optimally useful set of articles is provided to the user. By a combination of the union of the articles within the user selected parameters within each of the Groups together with the intersection of the articles between Groups.