Abstract: A system calculates the mutual satisfaction between negotiating parties and maximizes their mutual satisfaction over a range of decision variables and does so without requiring the parties to identify themselves and their positions to each other. For automatically negotiating agreements between multiple parties, a computer accepts a satisfaction function from an offering party who defines his degree of satisfaction to agree to a range of terms upon which the party is desirous of negotiating as a function of the relevant decision variables. The computer then accepts input from all other parties regarding their degree of satisfaction to agree to each of the terms as a function of a particular relevant decision variable. The computer then calculates a satisfaction function for each of these terms based on all of the individual inputs.

Abstract: A permit mail metering system that preprints the non-variable portion of an indicia. The pre-printed portions may be printed with a fluorescent and phosphorescent ink, while other pre-printed portions may be printed using standard colored or black inks. The postal indicia also includes an encrypted code for added security. Some variable printed portions may be printed with a fluorescent and phosphorescent ink, while other variable portions may be printed using standard colored or black non-luminescent inks.

Abstract: A scalable audio coding/decoding method and apparatus are provided.

Abstract: A postage meter includes a printing device including a removable ink supply carried by the printing device. The printing device is movable on a carriage over an area in which printing of a postage indicia is to be effected and is movable to a location beyond that area for the purpose of replacement of the ink supply. Access to the printing device to replace the ink supply is by means of a hatch in a housing of the postage meter. The printing device can be moved and from the location only when the hatch is locked closed and the construction of the carriage and the mounting thereon of the printing device is such as to inhibit access to electrical connections between the printing device and the postage meter.

Abstract: A method for engaging in electronic commerce over the Internet, comprising the steps of: programming a first electronic mail (e-mail) message to include: a description of at least one product available for sale by an electronic commerce (e-commerce) site; a shopper selectable indicia for indicating that the shopper has chosen to purchase the at least one product; and, a shopper activatable link back to the e-commerce site for transmitting a second e-mail message including the shopper's choice to purchase the at least one product; transmitting the e-mail message over the Internet to at least one potential shopper; and, in response to receiving the second e-mail message transmitted back to the e-commerce site by activation of the link by the at least one potential shopper, consummating the purchase of the at least one product by the at least one potential shopper.

Abstract: A method including the steps of receiving a location area change notification from a mobile, customizing a custom location area index table based on the location area change notification, and transferring the custom location area index table to the mobile if the mobile supports the custom location area index table.

Abstract: The invention presents a networked system for identifying an individual, communicating information to the individual, and remotely monitoring the individual. The system includes a server and a workstation for entering in the server queries to be answered by the individual. The server is preferably a web server and the workstation is preferably a personal computer or remote terminal connected to the server via the Internet. The system also includes a remotely programmable apparatus connected to the server via a communication network, preferably the Internet. The remotely programmable apparatus interacts with the individual in accordance with a script program received from the server. The server includes a script generator for generating the script program from the queries entered through the workstation.

Abstract: A system for scheduling time intervals for a plurality of users on a network comprises a database system that stores a profile for each potential invitee of the system at one or more servers. The invitee profiles comprises user profiles wherein each user profile has information regarding available and unavailable times for that user. The system further comprises request generators located remotely from the servers and connected over a network that generate a request for allocation of a time interval for one or more of the plurality of invitees. A busy time determination device gathers the profiles for the one or more requested invitees that are available in the databases and determining whether those invitees are available during the time interval requested by the request generating means. If not all invitees are available, a best fit determining system determines a next best time interval.

Abstract: A postage metering system includes a plurality of printer modules connected as part of a network and operating as clients on the network. Postal security devices (PSDs) are coupled the clients. Each PSD is local to the coupled client functioning as a host to the PSD and remote to the other of the plurality of clients. The PSD includes unique identification, postal value storage and a digital signature generator. The clients function as a postage metering network wherein a client requests evidence of postage payment from a remote PSD for concluding postage metering transactions. Each of the clients determines which of the remote PSDs are available for metering transactions on the network by broadcast messages and requests. In one embodiment, a broadcast request for the identity of remote PSDs whose host is logged onto the network is sent over the network by a client when the client logs onto the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail pieces by a mailer for mailing by a postal facility utilizes a manifesting system to evidence payment by the mailer to the postal facility for the cost of the mailing. A discrete batch of mail is identified, and each piece in the batch is weighed in succession by a scale which includes a first data processing means and a first data base, and the weight is entered in the first data base, optionally together with other information that is pertinent to the cost of mailing. A first printer collocated with the scale prints a unique number for each mail piece.

Abstract: A crossing network that matches buy and sell orders based upon a satisfaction and quantity profile is disclosed. The crossing network includes a number of trader terminals that can be used for entering order. The orders are entered in the form of a satisfaction density profile that represents a degree of satisfaction to trade a particular instrument at various (price, quantity) combinations. Typically, each order is either a buy order or a sell order. The trader terminals are coupled to a matching controller computer. The matching controller computer can receive as input the satisfaction density profiles entered at each one of the trading terminals. The matching controller computer matches orders (as represented by each trader's satisfaction density profile) so that each trader is assured that the overall outcome of the process (in terms of average price and size of fill) has maximized the mutual satisfaction of all traders. Typically, the matching process is anonymous.

Abstract: A system and method for recording, maintaining and viewing placement and configuration of equipment within remote field sites. Specifically, a means is provided for defining equipment, in terms of components, such as modules shelves and racks. Once components are defined, they are configured by specifying interrelationships between components. Once racks are configured, they are placed within a particular location in a particular remote site. A site hierarchy is created prior to creating placing racks in remote sites. An example of a site hierarchy is a site, structure, floor, zone, planning unit and row. Graphical tools are used to assist the user in configuring components, defining hierarchy levels and placing racks. Data related to components, configured equipment, site hierarchies and placement of equipment are stored in a central database. In addition, architectural floor-plan drawings can be used as an underlay for composite graphical representations of floors in sites.

Abstract: A history information recording apparatus for recording history information about product equipment integrally therewith and the product equipment having this history information recording apparatus are provided. The history information recording apparatus comprises a first storage means for storing primary history information, a second storage means for storing secondary history information, an input module in which the primary history information and/or the second history information is inputted to be stored in the first storage means and/or the second storage means respectively, and a read module for reading the primary history information from the first storage means and the secondary history information from the second storage means. The first and second storage means, the input module, and the read module are arranged in the product information.

Abstract: A method and system of issuing an electronic authorization and validation for pre-scheduled activities such as airline reservations to eliminate paper tickets. The passenger makes the reservation and allows a reservation operation center to charge the passengers credit card company. A reservation number is issued in the computer. The passenger utilizes a plastic I.D. card that accesses computer for validation purposes. An automatic teller machine, at the airport, allows the passenger to receive specific flight information, departure gate information and the like by the insertion of the I.D. card. A mobile airline communications system at the departure gate includes a cellular telephone network connected to a lap top computer and a magnetic card reader that provides validation of the reservation and payment to an airline employee at the departure which allows the passenger to board the aircraft.

Abstract: A speech coding device in which an excitation signal of speech signals is expressed as a sum of a plurality of pulse strings, and positions of the pulse strings are selected from predetermined pulse position candidates to determine the excitation signal so that distortion between an input speech signal and a reproduced speech signal obtained by exciting a synthetic filter using the excitation signal may be minimized, resulting in obtaining reproduced speech signals with high quality in a small operational amount. In a pulse searcher, a pulse generating section outputs a plurality of pulse strings, and a pulse searching section sequentially searches the pulse strings to determine the positions of the plurality of pulse strings constituting the excitation signal. One pulse searching section searches using a Viterbi algorithm. Another pulse searching section preliminarily searches in a tree shape of pulse position candidates. Another pulse searching section searches every pulse position candidate group.

Abstract: A computer system and method for preparing financial estimates and for analyzing and using data in the management of projects, includes a graphical user interface (8) with two optional, graphical modes of operation. In one graphical mode of operation, the user directs the computer (10) to display a data map (31) in the form of a segmented pyramid. The segments (34, 35 et seq.) of the pyramid provide active areas or buttons, which when selected with the mouse input device (15), display an appropriate screen with the text or financial details for that segment of the estimating or management process. In an alternative graphical mode of operation, a series of objects in the form of process blocks (75, 78) are connected in a flow chart which proceeds from left to right along a path (73) that is displayed on the screen of the computer. The process blocks (75, 78) each have their own title bar (76) and sequence number (71) to assist the user in following a predetermined sequence in preparing a financial estimate.

Abstract: A method and system for shape processing within an integrated circuit layout for parasitic capacitance estimation is disclosed. In accordance with the method and system of the present invention, a set of coordinates of an overlapping region formed by at least one interconnect is first identified. Subsequently, each metal layer present within the overlapping region is classified. Each interconnect edge present on each side of the overlapping region is then determined. Finally, a neighbor in a direction perpendicular to each side of the overlapping region is determined. By so doing, the parasitic capacitance between the overlapping region and its determined neighbors can be evaluated.

Abstract: A postage metering system includes a plurality of printer modules operatively connected as part of a network and operating as client printer modules on the network. A postal security device (PSD) is coupled directly to a local one of the client printer modules. The PSD includes unique identification, postal value storage and a digital signature generator. The client printer modules function as a postage metering network wherein a one of the client printer modules remote to the PSD requests evidence of postage payment from the PSD through the local client printer module for concluding postage metering transactions. The local client printer module function as a stand-alone meter when requests for evidence of postage payment from the PSD are initiated at the local client printer module.

Abstract: A method of determining fees for chargeable telecommunications (TK) services, whereby a counting device is used to calculate the amount of charges accumulated by an individual customer during a predetermined billing period, is characterized in that after exceeding a threshold value of the accumulated amount of charges, which can be individually established for the customer by the provider of the TK services, a limited low-fee, preferably a no-fee usage of the TK services is made available to the customer. To announce the start of the low-fee usage, a signal is preferably transmitted to the customer. This contributes to a further increase in the incentive of using the TK service, and causes an increased utilization of the respective TK service system as well as an increase in the service provider's sales.

Abstract: A system for scheduling time intervals for a plurality of users comprises a database, associated with one or more server means, for storing a profile for potential invitees of the system, the invitee profiles comprising user profiles wherein each user profile comprises information regarding available and unavailable times for that user. A remote workstation comprises a request generating system that is connected over a network to the server means and that generates a request for allocation of a time interval for one or more of the plurality of invitees. At the server, a busy time determination system gathers the profiles for the one or more requested invitees using asynchronous fan out requests to the one or more databases storing the profiles and determines whether those invitees are available during the requested time interval.