Abstract: A user interface technique for applying attributes to screen objects. The user selects a screen object, and causes the display of a dialog box for changing an attribute of the screen object. The dialog box includes an attribute palette or other controls used for setting attributes, as known in the art, but also includes a sample box in which a replica of the selected screen object (or a portion thereof) is displayed. The user then takes the actions necessary to select the desired attribute, in response to which the replica in the sample box is updated with the desired attribute. Once the user is satisfied with this previewed result, the user can accept the changes by clicking in the "OK" button or reject the changes by clicking in the "Cancel" button.

Abstract: A data processing system analyzes a stock investment limited recourse borrowing contract. The system receives and processes as input data on the date of analysis (1) contract data including the identity and amount of the collateral stock, the amount of the initial loan and the minimum and maximum interest rate percentages payable by the investor under the contract; (2) actual data relating to the stock prior to the analysis date including its market prices per share at selected regular intervals and the dividends per share paid in a selected number of quarters; and (3) estimated data relating to the stock from the analysis date to the end of the contract term including its estimated market price per share at intervals and the estimated dividends per share to be paid.

Abstract: Upon the death of an insured, a system releases gift payments to designated beneficiaries on designated dates over a period of years (e.g. ten years.) As part of the policy, the insured may select a message to be sent to the beneficiaries with the gift payments. In a preferred embodiment, the user selects the amount of gift payments, which must be divisible by $25. In a preferred embodiment, 1 unit=$100 in gift payments for 10 years. The insurer develops a premium table or other mechanism to designate a premium for each unit based on the age and sex of the insured. The insured provides the insurer with name and address of the beneficiaries, the date on which payment is to be made, and the amount. This information is stored in a data base. Prior to the insured's death, the insured's account is in living status. While in living status, a computer determines that premiums are paid, if any are due. Once the insured dies, insured's account is updated to a deceased status.

Abstract: A method of substituting names in an electronic book (100) involves selecting an original name to be replaced. In one version the original name is selected by the user highlighting the original name. A substitute name is then determined and the electronic book (100) is updated with the substitute name. In one embodiment, the user types in the substitute name.

Abstract: A bill editor, generator, messaging and insert system and method comprises a portion of a bill production processor designed to create monthly billing statements which are sent to customers and which detail charges incurred over the course of a billing cycle. The bill editor and generator allows billing personnel to design a bill using static text, dynamic text and paragraph areas. Once the report/bill is defined, the report definition is stored in temporary memory for later use. The report definition file defines how the report is to appear and where the data used in the report is stored. The report generator, when subsequently run, uses the predefined report definition to retrieve data from the database and generates the report as defined by the report definition file. The bill messaging and insert system determines, based on assigned priority, criteria and weight and space limitations, the messages and notices to be included in a customer billing statement.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for storage and retrieval of resume images in a manner which preserves the appearance, organization, and information content of the original document. In addition, summaries or "outlines" of resume images, broken down into multiple fields, are stored, and can be searched field by field. A user interface is provided which is based on a familiar paper-based method already in common use, thus reducing the training required to effectively use the system.

Abstract: A computer-based system and method for generating a medication management display comprises entering a plurality of medication names prescribed for one or more patients, with corresponding strength attributes, and alpha-numeric medication symbol attributes, into an electronic data base. An electronically stored correlation list is then accessed to associate the alpha-numeric symbol attributes to graphic symbols. This information is arranged to generate a patient medication chart displaying one or more medication names associated with its corresponding strength, directions, and graphic symbol. Adhesive graphic symbols are applied to the original medication containers that hold the medications to cross reference the actual medications with the chart. The patient medication data may also include administration comments with at least one medication which is visually displayed.

Abstract: A data processing system for processing the voting of partial stock interests via equity components comprising computer means for calculating and storing component factors for equity component interests and vote component factors corresponding to each of said component factors, wherein each said vote component factor is indicative of the right to receive a partial vote attributed to each of said equity component factors, wherein said equity component factors are at least two of: (i) a component interest indicative of the right to receive a partial share of stock equal in value to a stipulated price or a fall share of stock of the company on a predetermined future date, whichever is the lesser value; (ii) a component interest indicative of the right to receive a partial share of stock equal in value to the appreciation, if any, of the share of stock above the stipulated price on the predetermined date; and (iii) a component interest indicative of the right to receive substitute payments equal in amount to divi

Abstract: A system and method for ordering and prescribing drugs for a patient. This system includes an improved process for facilitating and automating the process of drug order entry. The user may interact with the system in a variety of ways such as keyboard, mouse, pen-base entry or voice entry. The system includes a database containing medical prescribing and drug information which is both general and patient-specific. The system also permits the user to view current and previously prescribed medications for any patient. The system can alert the user to potentially adverse situations as a result of the prescribed medication based on information in the database. The system also can automatically determine product selection based on descriptions and can automatically communicate the order to a pharmacy. Further, the system includes a means for automatically displaying messages to the user relating to predetermined situations.

Abstract: An electronic cash register is provided with a registration section, a display section, a memory and a control section, thereby making it possible to easily and surely inform a register operator of a message set by a manager. In a registration wait condition, the judgement is made as to whether or not message data has been registered in the memory. In the case where the message data has been registered, the message data is displayed by the display section. By further providing a transmission/reception section for making transmission to or reception from a plurality of electronic cash registers or a host computer, it is possible to transfer message data.

Abstract: In a character recognizing system having a plurality of terminals interconnected by a network, a dictionary for recognizing a character pattern inputted in an image form is distributed to each terminal. When a dictionary necessary for recognizing a character pattern inputted from one terminal is not provided in that terminal, the character pattern is transferred through the network to another terminal in which the necessary dictionary is provided, and is recognized by the other terminal. Each terminal is provided with a function of specifying a terminal having a dictionary necessary for recognizing the inputted character pattern. For example, characters offering keys are defined beforehand and each terminal is provided with a dictionary capable of recognizing the key characters and a table indicative of a relationship between the key characters and terminals corresponding to the key characters, whereby one terminal is specified in accordance with a key character.

Abstract: A method of providing for a future stream of payments solely to a beneficiary who survives an insured utilizes data including the ages of both the insured and one specific beneficiary to define a premium for providing funding for the potential future liability to the specific beneficiary.

Abstract: A consumer-driven electronic information pricing mechanism including a pricing modulator and pricing interface is contained within a client system. The pricing modulator contains multiple pricing options for electronic content and multiple content to advertisement ratios associated with the pricing options. The pricing interface is coupled to the pricing modulator and provides an end user with the pricing options and associated content to advertisement ratios, and also accepts pricing option selections from the end user. In one embodiment, a metering server is coupled to the client system. The metering server contains the multiple pricing options which are to be made available to the end user and transfers these pricing options to the client system. In one embodiment, the pricing interface can be accessed by the end user at any time during the operation of the client system. The end user can change the pricing option during system operation.

Abstract: A system and method are provided that, in the case of professionals having large numbers of publicly traded corporate clients, are able to use the relative probabilities of different ones of those clients suffering a professional liability triggering event and the likely relative impact of such an event on different clients, to provide professional liability coverage at either lower cost to the professional or higher profits to the provider. The right to deliver securities in the publicly traded client companies at any time during the coverage period, at the price in effect at the starting date, is secured. The covered professional or its insurer is granted the qualified right to sell those securities at the starting price. If the value of a company falls because of a professional liability triggering event, the covered party is allowed to exercise that right to sell.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the automatic management of vehicle access to a restricted access area. The system includes at least one base transceiver positioned at least at one location providing an entrance to and an exit from said restricted access area. The system also includes a plurality of vehicle borne transponders, and an independent management computer. As vehicles attempt to access the restricted area, the base transceiver, the vehicle transponders, and the independent management computer communicate to monitor and regulate the vehicle access. According to one embodiment, the invention automatically manages access to a commercial parking facility. In another embodiment, the invention automatically dispatches taxicabs from a corral area. In a further embodiment, the invention controls vehicle access to facilities such as gated communities, and employee and student parking areas.

Abstract: Life insurance methods, systems and products which revolve around having an insurance plan with at least two separate but related insurance contracts on the same insured or insureds. The contracts are developed using life insurance product data to develop tables from which death benefits and premium obligations, and usually cash values, are determined based upon an insured's gender, age and other risk factors. The death benefits and premium obligations, and cash values, if any, are divided between the two or more contracts where more of the premium obligations are assigned to one or more of the contracts while more of the death benefits and cash values, if any, are assigned to one or more of the remaining contracts. Nonforfeiture and surrender provisions as well as typical riders can be added to one or all of the contracts. The death benefits and cash values of the contracts are a function of the premiums paid for all of the contracts.

Abstract: A budget compilation process for executing budget compilation for a plurality of bank branch offices is executed in parallel at the same time. Process conditions (participant clients in the budget compilation process, and etc.) are inputted to an input/output control unit, and in accordance with the process conditions, a data server starts up a client to execute the budget compilation process. By referring to a scheduling file formed by a budget compilation process start-up unit, the client determines a branch office for which the budget compilation process is executed. In this manner, clients execute the budget compilation process for the subject branch offices in parallel at the same time. The execution state of the budget compilation process can be monitored on a display screen, and an operator can instruct to stop the operation of the whole network at the intermediate of the operation.

Abstract: A self-service device in the form of a terminal (10) has a display screen (12) on which a sprite (70) such as a human character is caused to appear. In response to operation by a user of a joystick or joypad (30), the sprite moves in an animated manner, for example, appears to walk, across the display screen (12). The user can cause the sprite (70) to investigate a location. Also the sprite (70) can, in response to operation of a control key (40), effect a selected self-service operation, such as dispensing cash in an automated teller machine, for example. The use of an animated sprite (70), movable and operable under the control of a user, provides a more user-friendly interface than known arrangements such as key-controlled menu-driven displays. In another embodiment the self-service device includes a home entertainment console (402) provided with an application cartridge (432) containing software for a self-service transaction controllable by an animated sprite (70).

Abstract: A method and system for bootstrapping statistical processing into a rule-based natural language parser is provided. In a preferred embodiment, a statistical bootstrapping software facility optimizes the operation of a robust natural language parser that uses a set of lexicon entries to determine possible parts of speech of words from an input string and a set of rules to combine words from the input string into syntactic structures. The facility first operates the parser in a statistics compilation mode, in which, for each of many sample input strings, the parser attempts to apply all applicable rules and lexicon entries. While the parser is operating in the statistics compilation mode, the facility compiles statistics indicating the likelihood of success of each rule and lexicon entry, based on the success of each rule and lexicon entry when applied in the statistics compilation mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inputting financial data, modifying, formatting and adding to pre-existing data on the basis of such input and, if desired, engaging in further processing of the data and accessing the data through a computer interface which may be directly accessed by unskilled and semi-skilled personnel. Such personnel may introduce a wide range of parameters for purposes of selecting specific desired data. The system is particularly advantageous in respect of maintaining records of investment transactions and providing ready access to the same. In the preferred approach, for selected categories of information, the user may elect one of three options as to each screen field to obtain rapid, customized information delivery. Also, the system preferably employs parallel processing and database performing tuning techniques. Hierarchical processing is employed in certain embodiments of the invention.