Abstract: A mandarin speech input method for directly translating arbitrary sentences of mandarin speech into corresponding Chinese Characters. The present invention is capable of processing a sequence of "mono-syllables," "(but each of the characters in the poly-character word is continuous)," "prosodic segments," or even a "whole sentence of continuous mandarin speech." A prosodic segment comprising one or more words is a segment that is automatically isolated by a speaker by pausing where characters in the prosodic segment are continuous.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic advertising system. More specifically, the present invention creates a means to select ads for publication in the newspaper based on past performance of individual personal ads, thus attempting to optimize the number of responses to the printed personal ad column as a whole. At the same time, all personal ads are published on the Internet so as to accommodate all advertisers regardless of the past performance of their ad. Finally, by fully integrating the Internet personal ads service with the audiotext personal ad service, advertisers whose ad only is published on the Internet are in no way disadvantaged by fewer features or options.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for highlighting holidays in a calendar software application of a portable intelligent communications device or in a separate computer, including the steps of specifying a geographical location, determining holidays for the geographical location, depicting a calendar on a display screen of such portable intelligent communications device or computer, and depicting holidays in a fashion different from other days on the calendar. The geographical location information is specified by the current location of the portable intelligent communications device or via a graphical user interface. The holiday information is obtained from a database housed in the portable intelligent communications device or via an Internet address connected through communications circuitry of the portable intelligent communications device.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises: a first module including a universal key; a second module including a unique identifier and a unique key wherein the unique key is derived from the unique identifier and the universal key and incorporated into the second module during manufacture of the second module. The second module is in communication with the first module. The apparatus further comprises a controller for performing the following subsequent to manufacture of the first module and the second module: initiating a communication session between the first module and the second module; transmitting the unique identifier from the second module to the first module; and deriving the unique key in the first module using the unique identifier and the universal key. A method for synchronization of cryptographic keys between modules of a distributed system and a method of manufacturing a postage evidencing system are also provided.

Abstract: A pattern recognition scheme using probabilistic models that are capable of reducing a calculation cost for the output probability while improving a recognition performance even when a number of mixture component distributions of respective states is small, by arranging distributions with low calculation cost and high expressive power as the mixture component distribution. In this pattern recognition scheme, a probability of each probabilistic model expressing features of each recognition category with respect to each input feature vector derived from each input signal is calculated, where the probabilistic model represents a feature parameter subspace in which feature vectors of each recognition category exist and the feature parameter subspace is expressed by using mixture distributions of one-dimensional discrete distributions with arbitrary distribution shapes which are arranged in respective dimensions.

Abstract: In an arrangement and method for data processing in a mail shipping system, a document is supplied to the mail shipping system having information printed thereon identifying a recipient of the document. The printed information is scanned at a postage meter machine to identify the recipient. The postage meter machine is in communication with at least one personal computer. In the personal computer, the contents of various documents to be mailed using the mail shipping system are stored in respective data files, and can be searched according to the respective recipient and the current date. The mail contents are stored in the personal computer allocated to instructional data; such as shipping information identifying a carrier and/or cost center information for use in accounting purposes for charging the fee for shipping the document.

Abstract: The risk of fraud associated with access by a subscriber to a network (42) is managed by a system that includes a data base (46) that stores a record for each subscriber indicative of that subscriber's usage history and payment ability for each service to which that subscriber has access. Additionally, the subscriber's record also stores an individual service risk characteristic indicative of the risk of providing access by the subscriber to a particular service, as well as a composite risk characteristic indicative of an overall risk of access. In response to a request for access to a particular service by a subscriber, the data base (46) responds in accordance with the subscriber's individual service risk characteristic for the service sought as well as the composite risk characteristic. In this way, account is taken of the subscriber's usage and payment ability with respect to all services available to the subscriber, rather than the single service sought by the subscriber.

Abstract: A computer implemented application architecture and software component for providing tax computations for the administration of insurance and annuity products in a reusable software component. A Tax Server is implemented using object-oriented programming techniques and is controlled by a computer processor. The Tax Server has tax regulation classes and product classes that are inter-coupled according to design models so as to model the tax interpretation for various insurance and annuity products.

Abstract: A recommendation service is disclosed which uses collaborative filtering techniques to recommend books to users of a Web site. The Web site includes a catalog of the various titles that can be purchased via the site. The recommendation service includes a database of titles that have previously been rated and that can therefore be recommended by the service using collaborative filtering methods. At least initially, the titles and title categories (genres) that are included within this database (and thus included within the service) are respective subsets of the titles and categories included within the catalog. As users browse the site to read about the various titles contained within the catalog, the users are presented with the option of rating specific titles, including titles that are not currently included within the service. The ratings information obtained from this process is used to automatically add new titles and categories to the service.

Abstract: A scheduling system includes a detection circuitry and a scheduling processor. The detection circuitry is coupled to a peripheral input device and receives data from the peripheral input device. The received data is analyzed to detect an individual's presence and to generate information indicating whether an individual was detected. The scheduling processor includes a user input interface receiving schedule criteria and a data interface to receive information from the detection circuitry. The scheduling processor can analyze received schedule criteria and data from the detection circuitry to determine whether the schedule criteria are satisfied. Furthermore, the system includes an interface coupling the detection circuitry to the scheduling processor data interface.

Abstract: A method and system to have network web servers that provide services to pass on the unit costs for each of the services and to have the web client computer track the usage of each service, maintain an up to date summary of each service from each provider and to periodically summarize all of the charges. The computed charge are reconciled with the bills from the providers of service, then the payments are sent after reconciliation. Any discrepancy between computed charges and billed charges may be paid at the computed totals with an explanation attached.

Abstract: The present invention responds to these administrative problems associated with an increasing income financial product and addresses deficiencies in the prior art. The data processing system and method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention implements an investment account structure establishing and providing an increasing income financial product.According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each subscriber invests in a financial contractual product or program. Each subscriber designates primary and secondary beneficiaries. The primary beneficiary is assigned, along with a number of demographically similar beneficiaries, to a certain contract group. The financial product contract is funded with principal payments or premiums paid by subscribers.

Abstract: The invention comprises a rating engine, system, and method for processing rating requests in a computerized rating system. One aspect of the invention is an object-oriented rating engine operable to receive a rating request associated with a carrier contract. The rating engine comprises a base rating engine object operable for use on a computer and further operable to calculate a linehaul rate in response to the rating request. The base rating engine object further comprises a rating method operable to calculate a linehaul rate and a rate data structure comprising at least one rate value. The rate data structure is accessible by the rating method for use in calculating a linehaul rate.

Abstract: A computer system including a processor and a storage device storing a computer program product for rebalancing a capitalization weighted stock index are described. The computer program includes instructions for causing a computer to classify stocks in the index as a Large Individual Stock if a stock has a capitalization weight above or equal to a first threshold or as a Small Individual Stock if the stock has a capitalization weight below the first threshold. The computer program causes the computer to scale down the Large Individual Stocks by an excess capitalization weight of the large stocks and distribute an aggregated excess capitalization weight of the Large Individual Stocks over the capitalization weights of the Small Individual Stocks. An iterative redistribution of excess capitalization over all Small Individual Stocks can be used to provided for less than proportional distribution of excess capitalization to very small capitalized stocks.

Abstract: A method for accounting for individual ones of a plurality of items based upon random times that occur as a function of a first specified time interval, and a random interval inventory system that operates in accordance with the method. The method includes a first step of transmitting information signals based upon random times from individual ones of a plurality of tags (5a1-5xx) to at least one of at least one master transceiver and at least one transceiver (4a-4n). The individual tags (5a1-5xx) are affixed to respective individual ones of a plurality of items. The information signals transmitted from each tag (5a1-5xx) correspond at least to the respective item to which the tag (5a1-5xx) is affixed. The random times occur as a function of a first specified time interval.

Abstract: A method for removing postal funds from a postage meter provides an accounting unit of a postage meter with indicium-related information which is invalid for mailing such as invalid origin zip or date. The accounting unit generates a digital signature, which is an encrypted value of the postal funds removed from the postage meter and other postal data including the indicium-related information. The accounting unit through a Host PC sends to a data center the amount of the postal funds removed from the postage meter and the digital signature. The data center verifies that the digital signature has been generated using the indicium-related information. The meter is disabled when the digital signature cannot be verified. When the digital signature is verified a request for a refund is sent by the data center to a postal authority. An example of the indicium-related information is an invalid destination postal code or an invalid origination postal code.

Abstract: A stand-alone, interactive, self-service kiosk for initializing and copying computer hard drives and methods for the operation of the kiosk are disclosed. The kiosk, which includes a microprocessor, data storage and printer, is programmed to conduct a dialogue with a customer instructing them to connect their original and replacement hard drives to the kiosk. Once the hard drives are connected, the microprocessor automatically identifies the original and replacement hard drives, configures the replacement hard drive and copies all programs and data from the original hard drive to the replacement hard drive. When the copying process is complete, a printed report is generated with further instructions on installation of the hard drive and detailed information about any errors that may have occurred during the process. In a second embodiment, the kiosk includes a device to accept a payment card from the customer, and a telephone modem to connect to a central office for verification of funds.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for effecting remote commerce, such as in telemarketing (either inbound or outbound) and in electronic commerce, which are particularly adapted for the intelligent selection and proffer of products, services or information to a user or customer.

Abstract: A system for auditing coupon distribution in a retail store. The system includes a plurality of retail stores, each having a coupon-dispensing unit for writing electronic coupons onto portable IC cards carried by each customer. To audit the system, store personnel insert an auditing card into the coupon-dispensing units, to collect the dates and recipients of coupon-dispensing transactions.

Abstract: An outpatient care data system dedicated to the transmission, storage and retrieval of outpatient data relating to care of outpatients is provided with a regional data system located at a regional location, a plurality of metropolitan area data systems operatively connected to the regional data system, each of the metropolitan area data systems being located at a different metropolitan location. Each metropolitan area data system may be provided with an electronic nursing station located within a hospital and first and second types of outpatient systems operatively coupled to the electronic nursing station on a real-time basis.