Abstract: A method for context-based query formulation and information retrieval and aggregation is described. The method includes modeling one or more workflow activities utilized to perform work tasks, preparing at least one meta-querying template, to generate queries that utilize the modeled workflow activities, retrieving information relevant to the work task as determined utilizing the at least one meta-querying template, and aggregating the retrieved information for presentation to the user.

Abstract: A server system receives an annotation of a respective entity by an author. The respective entity has an entity identifier, and the annotation has a scope that identifies a range of access to the annotation. The system identifies one or more database entries in a database. A respective database entry includes a first value and a second value. Each database entry corresponds to a respective index key comprising an entity-scope combination. The entity-scope combination corresponds to a respective entity and a respective scope. The system updates the first value in each of the one or more identified entries, without updating the second value in each of the one or more identified entries. The system receives a request for one or more annotations, and sends information corresponding to an annotation value in response to the request.

Abstract: A system and method for updating and correcting facts that receives proposed values for facts from users and determines a correctness score which is used to automatically accept or reject the proposed values.

Abstract: A method for collaborative management of a process is disclosed herein. The method includes electronically creating a declaration document containing information relating to one or more characteristics of an equipment unit involved in effecting the process. The method further includes electronically creating, at least partially based upon the information contained within the declaration document, an instruction document prescribing changes in one or more operational parameters of the equipment unit. The declaration document may be created by an operator of the equipment unit and the instruction document may be created by a user entity having electronic access to the declaration document.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and article of manufacture provide the ability to track image processing data in a collaborative environment in a database. Non-creative information is received that relates to image processing. The non-creative information is generated by a computer pursuant to a rendering operation performed by the computer. The non-creative information is stored in a database that is accessible across a network to multiple users. Once stored, the non-creative information may be evaluated (e.g., to provide a profitability or cost/benefit analysis).

Abstract: A computer implemented asset management system is disclosed. The computer implemented asset management system comprises an asset data store containing information about assets that is updated at intervals. The computer implemented asset management system also comprises a personnel data store containing information about individuals and an analysis component operable to identify an association of individuals with each of the assets.

Abstract: A database system automatically detects a cyclic construct in a XML schema, determines a database representation for the cyclic construct, and maps the XML schema and elements involved in the cyclic construct to the database representation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for ranking documents according to relevancy scoring. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided for receiving search results identifying a plurality of documents resulting from a search, the plurality of documents containing one or more words. The method generates a first matrix containing a term column and a document column, wherein at least one row of the first matrix correlates one of the plurality of documents with one of the terms. The method selects a sort preference, and sorts the two-column matrix according to the sort preference. The method further generates a second matrix containing values representing a measure of overlap between the plurality of documents and the terms. The method further calculates cumulative confidence scores according to the values of the second matrix and ranks the search results according to the cumulative confidence scores.

Abstract: A cached version of a file system directory is synchronized with a server version of the directory in a distributed file system. Both a server and a client specify version numbers for their directory versions. On receiving a request from the client specifying a directory update, the server updates its version, increments its version number, and transmits a reply to the client containing a change log with the incremented version number. Upon receiving the reply, the client compares the received version number with that of its cached version. If the version number matches that of the next expected update, the client applies the updates to its cached version and increments its version number. Otherwise, it adds the received change log to a change log queue for the directory without incrementing the last applied version. Mechanisms are provided for handling parallel read and update requests without awaiting replies from the server.

Abstract: An autocomplete method and system provides suggested completions for partial data entries based upon predefined coordinates, operands and/or commands. In one embodiment, the partial data entry may be in an active cell of a spreadsheet and the predefined coordinates may be queried from a separate, preconfigured, multi-dimensional database linked to the active cell or the spreadsheet.

Abstract: In a networked computer system that includes multiple nodes and multiple networks interconnecting the nodes, a database query optimizer takes network choice into consideration when optimizing a query. The query optimizer logs historical information for queries that includes network information. A network monitor determines network characteristics of the multiple networks. The query optimizer then selects a network for a query based on the network characteristics, and optionally based on the historical information as well. The result is a query optimizer that takes network choice into consideration, thereby providing a query that is optimized according to the characteristics of the networks.

Abstract: A background process retrieves enterprise data and syndicates podcasts created from the enterprise data to subscribed devices such as portable media player, mobile devices, and personal computers. A data to text converter converts the retrieved enterprise data to text and a text to audio converter converts the text from the data to text converter to an audio file. A multimedia file store is used to store the audio file.

Abstract: A search option input by a user is obtained through a user interface and a search term is determined based on the search option. A document database is searched to obtain a document that matches the search term and a search result is generated, including document information identifying the document that matches the search term and relevancy information indicating a degree of relevancy between the search term and the document. A display device displays the search result in a format indicating the correspondence relationship of the document information, the search term, and the relevancy information.

Abstract: Methods of generating a transactions prediction model using a computer for optimizing a number of transactions associated with a database system include capturing a database workload, where the database workload includes a number of statements corresponding with the transactions over a specified period of time, where each of the statements includes a variable parameter; then generating a generalized statements from the statements by replacing the variable parameter with a constant value; then generating other generalized statements, where if two or more of the number of the generalized statements are the same grouping the generalized statements to correspond with the other generalized statements; and then creating transaction classes, where each of the transaction classes includes at least one generalized statements.

Abstract: In-band commands may be associated with a particular consistency interval and may indicate requested actions to be performed for that consistency interval. An application may desire to perform actions, such as additional backup, snapshots, etc. on stored data, when that data is in a consistent state from the application's point of view. In order to ensure that the data is in a consistent state, a consistency interval may be created on demand. A node may request a consistency interval by sending a consistency request message to a consistency interval coordinator, which in turn, establishes the consistency interval with all nodes in the distributed environment. After sending all write requests for the consistency interval, the node may then send the command message. Command messages may be stored in consistency logs along with write requests and a replication target, or other device, may read both the write requests and the command message.

Abstract: The present invention provides tools and techniques for distinguishing a file from any or all copies of the file that may exist. One method ascertains (204) the actual physical location of the file (512) and associates (214) that physical location with the file as the claimed physical location (516) of the file. The file's originality status may then be determined (104) by finding (304) the location claim, reading (306) from it the claimed physical location associated with the file, ascertaining (308) the actual physical location of the file, and comparing (310) the locations. If the claimed and actual locations are identical, then the file is the original file it claims to be. If there is disparity between the claimed physical location recited for or by the file and the actual physical location of the file, then it is not the original file it claims to be.

Abstract: A content management system (CMS) autonomically updates one or more templates based on characteristics of documents in the repository, and based on specified criteria in an autonomic template update policy. At an appointed time, the CMS finds a template in the repository, retrieves an autonomic template update policy corresponding to the template, and determines from characteristics of documents in the repository whether the criteria in the autonomic template update policy allows autonomically updating the template. If the criteria are met, the template is autonomically updated without intervention by a CMS administrator. The result is a CMS where templates autonomically change as the content in the repository changes.

Abstract: An absolute path name and a command line of a process associated with a process operating on a business server are found from process information acquired from the business server. A standard process decision unit judges an OS standard process. An interpreter decision unit judges an interpreter name from the command line. A shared directory decision unit judges an executive file name located directly under a shared directory. A subdirectory decision unit judges a parent-child relation of an executive file directory from the absolute path name of the executable file. As a result, an application name recognition unit recognizes a name of an application.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a multi-partition query governor in a partitioned computer database system. In preferred embodiments a query governor uses data of a query governor file that is associated with multiple partitions to determine how the query governor manages access to the database across multiple partitions. Also, in preferred embodiments, the query governor in a local partition that receives a query request communicates with a query governor in a target partition to accumulate the total resource demands of the query on the local and target partitions. In preferred embodiments, a query governor estimates whether resources to execute a query will exceed a threshold over all or a combination of database partitions.

Abstract: A system and method of transferring information comprising an input module configured to receive an access parameter from an entity authorized to provide the access parameter, an access module configured to access a first database or a second database and communicate information from the first database to the second database wherein the information is configured to perform an authorized function. The function can be authorized bill payment. The information to be transferred can include financial information, and can include account information.