Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that enable text in various sections of data records to be separately catalogued, indexed, or vectorized for analysis in a text visualization and mining system. A text processing system receives a plurality of data records, where each data record has one or a plurality of attribute fields associated with the records. The attributes fields containing textual information are identified. The specific textual content of each attribute field is identified. An index is generated that associates the textual content contained in each attribute field with the attribute field containing the textual content. The index is operable for use in text processing. The plurality of data records may be located in a data table and the textual information may be contained within cells of the data table. In another aspect, a plurality of data records is received, where at least some of the data records contain text terms.

Abstract: An optimization technique that reorders outerjoins and antijoins with inner joins in a bottom-up optimizer of a relational database management system (RDBMS). Each join predicate is associated with a normal eligibility list (NEL) that includes tables that are referenced in the join predicate and an extended eligibility list (EEL) that includes additional tables that are referenced in conflicting join predicates. An EEL includes all the tables needed by a predicate to preserve the semantics of the original query. During join enumeration, the optimizer determines whether a join predicate's EEL is a subset of all the tables in two subplans to be merged, i.e., whose EEL is covered. If so, the two subplans are combined using the join predicate. Otherwise, the two subplans cannot be joined. Two approaches are used to reordering: without compensation and with compensation. The “without compensation” approach only allows join reorderings that are valid under associative rules.

Abstract: A search method that uses an index file consisting of a key file that includes key character strings, and a position data file that includes position data corresponding to the key character strings, a position data delete flag is correlated with a specific key character string, and position data that correspond to the specific key character string are deleted from the position data file. Where A denotes the size of an index at which the contents of the position data file are to be deleted, B denotes the amount of position data for each keyword that is to be deleted at that time, and C denotes the amount of position data for a keyword that is to be deleted because the data can not be employed for the search.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively viewing temporal row data in a consistent read-implemented database are described. Committed transactions effecting row data changes to a database are tracked and a stored system change number is assigned upon each committed transaction. Rollback segments for uncommitted transactions are stored. Each rollback segment stores a transaction identifier and transaction table entries containing ordered row data values reflecting the database changes. The database is transitioned into successive consistent versions responsive to each committed transaction at a journaled commit time. The transaction table entries are maintained for a user-definable retention period following the commit time of each committed transaction. A queried selection of row data values from the database is performed as of a query time occurring prior to the commit time of at least one committed transaction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and mechanism to selectively evaluate data items and search queries for privacy violations. According to an embodiment of the invention, attributes of a data item are identified and quantified to evaluate its potential to violate privacy interests. Search queries can be evaluated before accessing the records according to an embodiment, which improves operating efficiency and provides additional privacy protections. The query evaluation determines whether to disallow a query or withhold a query result if an individual or a small group of individuals can be identified by the results or if variables revealed will violate privacy policies. Also, the invention enables a provider of information to systematically evaluated the selectivity and visibility of attributes that are analyzed to allow or disallow queries and to set thresholds for different combinations of attributes.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for acquiring and presenting data for business analysis, and a computer readable media having program instructions for enabling the same are provided. One exemplary method identifies a set of data sources to be accessed for a user, acquires raw data from the data sources, stores the raw data from the data sources to raw data type specific locations and the verifies the integrity of the stored raw data. Next the acquired raw data is transferred to processed data type specific compartments. The transferring process further includes detecting the data type of each of the raw data type specific compartments and converting the raw data to a uniform data type. The processed data is then transferred to a temporary database where display rules are applied. A requested report is then presented to the customer.

Abstract: A system (10) includes a client (14, 21) which can communicate through a network (12) and a database layer (29) with any of several databases (31-33). The client communicates with the database layer using a public network communication protocol, in a manner independent of respective protocols specific to each of the databases. The database layer handles communication with each database according to the respective protocol of that database.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically generating an SQL query without requiring a user to know SQL. A category hierarchy representing a relational database system is presented to the user, and the user can navigate through the hierarchy, combine categories, and restructure the hierarchy to identify a category of interest to the user. The user then selects the category and indicates that a query should be generated based thereon. Query predicates are first generated, based on the type of category selected, and then a “from” query clause and “select” query clause are generated.

Abstract: Growth of databases in read-repeatable environments is controlled by an erase list maintained for each generation of the database. The erase list identifies pages which are retained in the database to facilitate read repeatability. The system uses the erase list to identify obsolete pages which can be removed from the database. The removed pages can then be reclaimed for re-use by a subsequent generation.

Abstract: In a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), a method for application of operator preferences to partially preprocessed image data is presented. The method includes the steps of determining an operator identification of an operator at a display workstation, searching, based on the operator identification, for operator preferences including at least one partially preprocessed raw image data preprocessing function preference, and, retrieving the operator preferences. Once the operator preferences are retrieved, the method applies the operator preferences including the preprocessing function preference to partially preprocessed raw image data. An image display workstation for a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and for application of operator preferences to partially preprocessed image data is also presented. The image display workstation includes a processing circuit, a PACS network interface coupled to the processing circuit, and a software memory coupled to the processing circuit.

Abstract: An improved method for consistent updates of redundant data in a database is achieved advantageously by providing a dependency model identifying source fields and respective derived fields. The model having the necessary information for dependent data to be identified and calculated on a change of respective source data according to some predetermined rules. Further, by recording changes, i.e., modifications to data involved in a redundancy, and propagating changes including cascaded changes directed to the derived fields using the rules defied in said dependency model. Advantageously, the dependency model is stored as a database table (2) and the changes are recorded in a change table in the database. The step of recording changes is separated from the step of propagating changes to derived fields in order to improve performance.

Abstract: In a system according to an embodiment of the invention, a data requester submits a query having a query characteristic to a data resolver. Based at least in part on the query characteristic, the data resolver obtains data responsive to the query from one among a plurality of data providers. Data normalization may also be performed.

Abstract: A method and device for easily defining new information services for delivery to customers. The information to be delivered is extracted from information sources such as standard Internet web pages, databases, text files or proprietary data sources. The customer is provided with a list of accessible services, and may choose from among the services and may also specify delivery schedules of the information service. Information may be delivered to a cellular telephone display, or sent to a fax machine, beeper or to an e-mail server. The user may create a rule, composed of condition on the data in the page which has to met—for example a known text that has to be located in a known table cell and an action—for example to search for the next table in the page that meets the specified condition. This rule is maintained as part of the extraction template.

Abstract: A portable locator system for tracking movement of persons or objects within a facility and listing information relating to visits by persons or objects at different locations. The locator system includes portable wireless transmitters for transmitting identification codes and portable wireless transceivers for collecting the identification codes. The identification codes are forwarded to a central processor to determine and list the places visited and times of the visits.

Abstract: A customer feedback acquisition and processing system is disclosed. Customer feedback, which may optionally include voice signals, is captured and stored in a database. The database can be searched to develop a subset of records pertaining to an area of interest. A data mining tool can then be used on the subset to identify trend(s) in the customer feedback records. The database tool assigns relevance scores to each word (“concept”) in one or more fields of the records in the subset. It then combines the concepts and develops new relevance scores for the combined concepts to identify trend(s) in the customer feedback records.

Abstract: System and methods are described for improved indexing and processing (e.g., query processing) of date-based information. A date value may be viewed as comprising year (y), month (m), and day (d) components. A DateIndex index data structure is defined to comprise three distinct groups of bitmaps: one for years, another for months, and another for days, respectively. This index can be created on a column having a datatype of “date” (e.g., standard SQL datatype which stores date literals). A month group is defined to contain exactly 12 bitmaps (call them M[1], M[2], . . . , M[12]) to track rows meeting at a specified month range for a particular column. Each successive bitmap within the group stores a successively smaller subrange of possible month values (e.g., month 1-12, month 2-12, month 3-12, and so forth and so on). In a similar manner, bitmaps may be created for tracking day and year ranges.

Abstract: A system and process for providing remote interactive access to a real estate information database using a portable computing device are described. A portable computing device maintains both program code and data exclusively in a general purpose random access memory configured for both transient and persistent storage of program code and data. A database server includes a search engine configured to retrieve listing records from a real estate information database. Each listing record includes a set of characteristics describing an individual real estate property listing. A remote client defines methods in the general purpose random access memory for accessing the real estate information database through the search engine. The methods include a session manager, a search specification method, and a search results display method. The session manager facilitates a dynamic session between the portable computing device and the database server over a communications link.

Abstract: A concurrency control method for a high dimensional index structure that provides efficient concurrency control method for a high dimensional index structure, which performs reinsertion of certain objects to cope with node overflow. The concurrency controlled searching method includes the following steps. First, an entry is obtained from a queue storing the root node and an object relating to the entry is selected. Second, whether a logic sequence number (LSN) of a lower level node is larger than an expected LSN stored in the upper node is determined. Third, the process moves to a neighbor node of the lower level node if the LSN is bigger than an expected LSN stored in the upper node in the second step, selects a relating object, and performs from the second step repeatedly.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for generating statistics for use by a relational database management system. A global aggregate spool is generated for each of a plurality of partitions of a subject table that are spread across a plurality of processing units of a computer system. Each of the global aggregate spools is scanned to generate summary records. The summary records are then merged to generate interval records for a compressed histogram of the subject table, wherein the compressed histogram includes both equal-height intervals and high-biased intervals. The compressed histogram can then be analyzed to estimate the cardinality associated with one or more search conditions of a user query or other SQL statement. Compared to a strictly equal-height histogram, the compressed histogram allows the relational database management system to more accurately estimate the cardinality associated with various search conditions.

Abstract: A system for organizing and accessing information includes the provision of an information gateway wherein information is stored independently of structure, and in a fashion such that it is easily accessible from remote locations. In the system, an information atom is received from a plurality of information gateways. The atom includes data representative of one or more data elements, as well as relationship associated with received atoms according to pre-selected definitions. The definitions set include allowable data values and allowable inferences. The atom is adapted for being stored in an information gateway so as to maintain relationship data between an atom and an associated gateway. The system selectively allocates data storage for a pointer and a data element. Viewpoint data is retrievable from a query of an atom.