Abstract: The present invention provides a directory service system for accessing a plurality of directory services in a uniform manner. Each directory service manages information relating to objects or that directory service. The type of information that a directory service manages for an object is defined by the object class of the object. An object class defines the properties (i.e., information) that a directory service manages for objects of that object class. Each property has a properly name and property type. A directory service has a property value for each property defined by the object class of each object. The directory service system comprises a schema browsing component, a name resolving component, a binding component, and an extending component. The schema browsing component controls the retrieving of the property name and property type of each property of each object class of each directory service.

Abstract: A combined file allocation table file system (CFAT file system) uses two or more FAT file systems with different cluster sizes to form a single user visible FAT file system to reduce disk fragmentation. The FAT file system having the largest cluster size is used to store all of the other small FAT file systems as files with holes. The clusters of the small FAT file systems thus do not occupy disk space until they are allocated. Files containing user data are stored in one or many of the large and small FAT file systems to achieve optimal storage. More clusters are available for storing files with sizes that are smaller than the size of one large cluster. A CFAT file system includes: a large file allocation table for large clusters, a file allocation table extension to provide holes within the CFAT file system, and any number of small file allocation tables providing a variety of small cluster sizes.

Abstract: A method of data management includes the steps of receiving a plurality of values, obtaining descriptions, each of the descriptions describing a corresponding one of the values, linking each of the values with a corresponding one of the descriptions, generating pointers, each of the pointers pointing to a corresponding one of the values, organizing the pointers in an arrangement representing a set having the values as elements, obtaining a description of the set, and linking the arrangement with the description of the set, wherein a data structure relating the values with each other is determined by the arrangement through accumulation of the values.

Abstract: An environmental load assessing device includes an object data storage section composed of an object-oriented database. The object data storage section stores data inputted from an input section. Specifically, parts of a product to be assessed and/or processes in a life cycle of the product are stored as objects, respectively. Attribute data of the parts and/or the processes are stored as attribute data of objects corresponding to those parts and/or processes. Coupling relationships between the parts and/or between the processes are defined by classes and attribute data of objects corresponding to those parts and/or processes and stored.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing access to object data stored in an object server in response to a database query. The method comprises the steps of receiving a database query comprising a relational operation with a data surrogate identifying object data stored in an object server, transforming the database query into relational database commands, transmitting the relational database commands to the relational database management system, receiving a response table from the relational database management system, compiling an answer set from the response table comprising an object locator responsive to the database query, and transmitting the answer set to the client.

Abstract: A system and method for processing telephone calls and providing enhanced services is presented. The call processing system includes a network control processor for controlling the processing and routing of the calls and for providing enhanced features, and a matrix switch for routing calls from an originating location to a terminating location. Operator consoles can be included to provide operator assistance to the caller. The network control processor comprises a central message processor that receives call data, determines the type of call, determines the processing required, and determines whether operator assistance is required. A call route distributor allocates an operator console to the call if required. A billing server is used to track billing information for the call while it is in progress. A database server is provided for database look-ups and storage.

Abstract: Generalized key indexes enable a first table of a relational database to be indexed using an index key and index conditions, wherein either or both of the index key and index conditions may reference multiple tables of the database or may be an expression using fields of one or more tables other than the first table. The generalized key indexes directly associate generalized index key values with record identifiers of records of the first table, thus enabling efficient storage and data retrieval.

Abstract: A system and method for compressing a data sequence having a plurality of records, where each record has a plurality of fields with each field being arranged to contain a data item. The system compares a data item in a current field of a current record with a data item of a corresponding field of a preceding record. If there is a match, the current data item is replaced by a token indicating the match.

Abstract: A computer system and method for controlling a media playing device. The system provides a user interface for allowing a user access to media pieces stored in a media database. The interface is also for controlling a media playing device, like a player piano or movie playing video device, that is coupled to the computer to play the accessed or selected piece of media. In one embodiment there is a computer interface that allows a user to display only music that relates to a selected category, like jazz or classical music. Another embodiment allows the user to direct the media playing device to automatically play selected music pieces that are related to a selected music category. Another embodiment allows a user to direct the media playing device to automatically play selected music pieces that are related to the selected music composer or artist.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting IDL-defined data structures to and from a format convenient for transport between two computers are disclosed. The data structures is originally described in a string. The string description is converted to a different format containing additional information about the alignment and size of the data structure. An application in the sending computer removes the alignment from the data structure and stores the data structure in a buffer. The data structure is stored in the output buffer in a predetermined format that is based upon the type of the data structure. The buffer is then transmitted to a data file or to the memory of the receiving computer. The receiving computer extracts the data structure from the buffer based upon the predetermined format. The data structure is realigned and stored in the memory of the second computer.

Abstract: A FormLogic (FL) client/server system and method to access existing enterprise data sources on an occasional basis. The system includes a FL builder program to generate a communications agent that encapsulates a communication session. The session includes one or more related tasks. The system also includes a FL server which is connected to one or more enterprise data sources. The FL server provides the ability to link hardware devices running a FL engine as a client to access existing enterprise data sources on an occasional basis. It is optimized to communicate by exchanging a minimum amount of data, since the wireless transports do not move large amounts of data quickly and data is expensive to move. Each session encompasses connecting the remote host, performing a specific task or set of tasks, then disconnecting from the host. Because the connection times must be short, the client and server need to be able to perform the required tasks without user intervention.

Abstract: An information management apparatus, for registering data of multimedia titles in a client/server system and supplying the data to users of client terminals, stores title management information for each registered title, including title identification and title storage location information, together with key word information which can be directly utilized to implement search techniques based on HTML files, relational database, etc. The apparatus enables client terminals having respectively different operating systems to specify storage location information for respective hypermedia titles created using the terminals, with problems of incompatibility of forms of storage location syntax between the various client terminals being overcome, enabling any client terminal to be used in accessing data of any registered title.

Abstract: A data network with a remote data facility for providing redundant data storage and for enabling concurrent point-in-time backup operations. A local data processing system with a data facility stores a data base and processes applications. A second system, physically separated from the first system, includes a data facility that normally mirrors the data in the first system. In a backup mode, the second system is enabled to transfer data from its data facility to a backup facility concurrently with, but independently of, the operation of the first system. On completion of the backup operation, the second system reconnects with and synchronizes with the first system thereby to reestablish the mirroring operation of the second system.

Abstract: A database and warehousing system including a media controller which provides instantaneous access of a snapshot of data for offline analysis by a data analysis host. A transaction host sends the data for storage to the media controller. The media controller stores the data in an original copy with a plurality of mirror images. Upon receiving a request for a snapshot of the data, the data analysis generates a snapshot copy by releasing a mirror image or the original copy. The snapshot copy is provided as a snapshot of data to the data analysis host. After completing processing of the snapshot of data, data analysis host sends a return ready signal to the media controller. In response, the media controller updates the mirror image in the snapshot of data and reconnects the updated mirror image to the transaction host.

Abstract: In a data communication system a first controller (102) selectively retrieves data from a database (316) in a second controller (106). Data corresponding to a plurality of entities is programmed (602) into the database. The data includes a plurality of parameters for each of the plurality of entities. Ones of the plurality of parameters are selectively defined (604) to belong to parameter groups in accordance with a predetermined grouping plan. The first controller generates (612) a request for the data corresponding to one of the plurality of entities from the database, the request further indicating a desired one of the parameter groups. The second controller returns (620) the desired one of the parameter groups corresponding to the one of the plurality of entities, in response to the request.

Abstract: A system for compressing a first file based on a second file used as a dictionary. The second file is sampled at predetermined locations within the second file, each sample having a fixed sample length. A dictionary database is created by storing each sample and a start position within the second file of the corresponding sample. The first file is compared to the dictionary database to locate any matches that exist between the first file and the stored samples of the dictionary database. In turn, the first file is encoded by outputting coded segments for each match located by this comparison of the source file and the dictionary database and uncoded segments for all remaining portions of the first file.

Abstract: A combined file allocation table file system (CFAT file system) uses two or more FAT file systems with different cluster sizes to form a single user visible FAT file system to reduce disk fragmentation. The FAT file system having the largest cluster size is used to store all of the other small FAT file systems as files with holes. The clusters of the small FAT file systems thus do not occupy disk space until they are allocated. Files containing user data are stored in one or many of the large and small FAT file systems to achieve optimal storage. More clusters are available for storing files with sizes that are smaller than the size of one large cluster. A CFAT file system includes: a large file allocation table for large clusters, a file allocation table extension to provide holes within the CFAT file system, and any number of small file allocation tables providing a variety of small cluster sizes.

Abstract: A computer system and method for programming it for storage of individual medical histories on a storage device, preferably about the size of a credit card, for adding new medical data about the individual to the device and for communicating with other computers to retrieve large data records about the individual; and for enabling a second computer to collate and sort data relating to selected medical fields from the data of such individual and from the data about other individuals transferred to the second computer.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for monitoring parameters that govern the operational characteristics of a network device, including the use of templates for generating configuration records of network devices of a selected model type. A database of models is provided, each model representing an associated network device and including attribute values for the parameters of the associated network device. Templates are used to screen a model in order to retrieve values for each of the attributes and create a configuration record. The configuration records may be stored in the configuration manager or other storage device, and/or transferred to the pre-existing model database for use by a network management system in reconfiguring the associated network devices. This system for configuration management is less time consuming, expensive, and error prone than prior systems.

Abstract: A recordable compact disc writing system in which a cause of system problems can be analyzed by referring to information with respect to a writing operation performed on the recordable compact disc. The recordable compact disc writing system writes data on the recordable compact disc. Management information with respect to a writing operation is recorded in a file created in a data storage device provided in the recordable compact disc writing system.