Abstract: The invention concerns a system for managing resources, which can take the form of (a) computer-compatible information, such as data files and programs, and (b) non-computer-compatible information, such as data contained on microfiche, and (c) physical objects. The resources are located at geographically diverse sites. The invention contains a descriptive profile for each resource, and allows any user to search all profiles, and to search the profiles according to “fields” (a database term), such as by location of the resources, or by category of the resources. The user can order delivery of a selected resource, and the system causes delivery of the resource to be executed, irrespective of the form (eg, physical object) of the resource. The invention allows a provider of a new resource to limit access to the resource, by identifying users who are authorized to obtain access to the resource. Non-authorized users cannot obtain access to the profiles of these resources.

Abstract: A method and system for leasing storage locations in a distributed processing system is provided. Consistent with this method and system, a client requests access to storage locations for a period of time (lease period) from a server, such as the file system manager. Responsive to this request, the server invokes a lease period algorithm, which considers various factors to determine a lease period during which time the client may access the storage locations. After a lease is granted, the server sends an object to the client that advises the client of the lease period and that provides the client with behavior to modify the lease, like canceling the lease or renewing the lease. The server supports concurrent leases, exact leases, and leases for various types of access. After all leases to a storage location expire, the server reclaims the storage location.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, media and systems for graphically displaying computer-based biomolecular sequence information. Generally, biomolecular sequence information may be graphically depicted in a variety of different forms in accordance with the present invention. The sequence information may be composed of nucleotide or amino acid sequence information or both. The graphical depictions may be in several different formats providing different information relating to the sequences, and may be displayed in one or more screens of a computer user interface.

Abstract: A data base query submitted in natural speech normally requires a dialog with the data base system, which repeatedly prompts the user to submit further statements. From each speech utterance submitted by the user a plurality of sets of statements are derived. The statements in these sets are tested for consistency with stored statements determined previously and consistent new statements are stored and stored statements are corrected or verified. Moreover, the stored statements are basically used in each dialogue step in order to derive from these statements an optimum request for the user by the system. Preferably, the statements are also stored with probability values or reliability values, the corresponding values of new statements to be stored being derived from the reliabilities of the statements of the respective speech utterance and the corresponding consistent statements stored.

Abstract: A document production system is provided for preparing documents and managing a database of information pertaining to investigational studies of medical products. The document production system includes a data management user interface for providing user access to the database and for retrieving information from the database as specified by selected document templates for placement into word processor-compatible documents. Additionally, the data management user interface is capable of updating information stored within the database in accordance with information specified within a previously-prepared document.

Abstract: The invention is an improved system and method for browsing and editing data residing in database tables. The method of the present invention includes the steps of providing a graphical user interface in communication with a database, receiving user input to the graphical user interface, retrieving data from the database, displaying the retrieved data in the graphical user interface, and navigating to one or more referenced database tables or views by user request entered on the graphical user interface. The purpose of referential integrity is to prevent database users or applications from entering inconsistent data into a database. The goal of referential integrity navigation is to allow the user, having retrieved one or more rows of data, to navigate easily to the data in other tables that either refers to or is referred to by that data.

Abstract: A system and method for the optimized storage and retrieval of video data at distributed sites calls for the deployment of “Smart Mirror” sites throughout a network, each of which maintains a copy of certain data managed by the system. Every user is assigned to a specific delivery site based on an analysis of network performance with respect to each of the available delivery sites. Generalized network performance data is collected and stored to facilitate the selection of additional delivery sites and to ensure the preservation of improved performance in comparison to traditional networks.

Abstract: The centralized collection of geographically distributed data is accomplished using a system which takes advantage of an interactive programming language, such as Java® and existing wide area networks, such as the Internet including the world wide web (4), to collect high quality data in an information center (10). The information center being connected to remote sites (1) through the wide area network. One or more levels of validation of the data prior to storage in a database is provided for.

Abstract: A video clip storage and retrieval system whereby video clips, stored locally and/or at a more remote location, can be requested and retrieved by a user at the user's multimedia terminal. When the user requests a desired video clip, the request is processed by a primary index manager (“PIM”) via a Local Search and Retrieval Unit (“SRU”). Before the message is communicated to the PIM, the local SRU checks its own storage to see whether the requested video clips are available locally. If some of the video clips are local, the local SRU still forwards the request to the PIM so that the PIM may determine specific video clip usage. The PIM determines the extended SRU where the audio-visual data is stored and passes this information to a Data Sequencing Interface (“DSI”). The DSI collects the video clips and downloads the clips to the user's terminal. The user may then view, copy, or print the video clip as desired.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of utilizing an internet terminal coupled to the world wide web to access an existing proprietary data base management system having a dialog-based request format. The user request is received by a web server from the world wide web and converted into one or more sequenced data base management commands stored as corresponding to the service request. A security profile, if necessary, is also stored with the one or more sequenced data base management commands based upon the specific data columns within the specific data tables within the data base which must be accessed to honor the service request. The security profile is compared to the user-id of the requester. If a match is found, the data base management commands are sequentially presented to the data base management system and the intermediate products stored.

Abstract: A method provides for an easily understood representation of the elements and relationships captured in a relational database. In accordance with the method an object model specification file and a database schema file are parsed to create a user-friendly graphical representation of object models and their relationship. The user is able perform a query by selecting one or more objects and setting constraints using the graphical representation of object models.

Abstract: A method of searching one or more ligand-candidate compounds to a target biopolymer from a three-dimensional structure database, which comprises the steps of: (i) the first step of assigning hydrogen-bonding category numbers, information for calculating force-field energy, and information for generating conformations to two or more trial compounds in addition to atomic three-dimensional coordinates thereof; (ii) the second step of preparing physicochemical information about a ligand-binding region and one or more dummy atoms based on the three-dimensional atomic coordinates of the target biopolymer; (iii) the third step of estimating the most stable docking structure, wherein said step further comprises the steps of examining possible docking structures by docking a trial compound to the biopolymer while varying conformations of the trial compound, evaluating interaction energies between the target biopolymer and the trial compound, and repeating structure optimization; (iv) the fourth step of deciding whethe

Abstract: An information management, retrieval and display system searches through an informational resource, such as a document (e.g., a treaty), a number of individual documents (e.g., Web pages resident on the Internet), or a stream of information (e.g., DNA code, source code, satellite data transmissions, etc.) and displays the results of the search in an collapsible/expandable format based upon a user-selected display criteria or hierarchy. Such a display hierarchy will allow the end-user to effectively and quickly obtain items of interest from the search results.

Abstract: The invention concerns a system for managing resources, which can take the form of (a) computer-compatible information, such as data files and programs, and (b) non-computer-compatible information, such as data contained on microfiche, and (c) physical objects. The resources are located at geographically diverse sites. The invention contains a descriptive profile for each resource, and allows any user to search all profiles, and to search the profiles according to “fields” (a database term), such as by location of the resources, or by category of the resources. The user can order delivery of a selected resource, and the system causes delivery of the resource to be executed, irrespective of the form (e.g., physical object) of the resource. The invention allows a provider of a new resource to limit access to the resource, by identifying users who are authorized to obtain access to the resource. Non-authorized users cannot obtain access to the profiles of these resources.

Abstract: A system for managing file content, such as Microsoft Powerpoint for Windows™ presentation slides, is provided. The system includes an upload interface that can receive files, such as a file containing slides, from an upload client. The upload interface can extract data structures, such as slides or images, from each file, and index data from each data structure. The system also includes an index system that is connected to the upload interface. The index system can receive the index data from the upload interface and store the index data. A content storage system connected to the upload interface and the index system can receive data structures for storage from the upload interface system, and can provide a storage address for locating each data structure to the index system. A download interface is connected to the content storage system, and can be used to identify data structures matching a query and to download the data structures to a download client.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is directed to a system and method for video cataloging. The video is cataloged according to predefined or user definable metadata. The metadata is used to index and then retrieve encoded video. Video feature extractors produce metadata tracks from the video information, and each metadata track indexes the stored video information. A feature extractor registration interface registers the video feature extractors, providing for registration with the video engine of new video feature extractors with new metadata tracks.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and data structure for efficiently identifying parent-child relationships of a plurality of members. The parent-child relationships are encoded into a matrix, wherein a particular member is represented by a particular row and a particular column of the matrix. A value at an intersection of a specific one of the rows and a specific one of the columns indicates whether a parent-child relationship exists between the member represented by the row and the member represented by the column. Thereafter, matrix operations may be applied to the matrix.

Abstract: This invention provides methods by which biologically derived DNA sequences in a mixed sample or in an arrayed single sequence clone can be determined and classified without sequencing. The methods make use of information on the presence of carefully chosen target subsequences, typically of length from 4 to 8 base pairs, and preferably the length between target subsequences in a sample DNA sequence together with DNA sequence databases containing lists of sequences likely to be present in the sample to determine a sample sequence. The preferred method uses restriction endonucleases to recognize target subsequences and cut the sample sequence. Then carefully chosen recognition moieties are ligated to the cut fragments, the fragments amplified, and the experimental observation made. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the preferred method of amplification.

Abstract: A video searching method, and apparatus, having a function of representing a video file are provided such that the contents of video files stored in a storage device may be recognized definitely and rapidly. The video searching apparatus includes a computer, a storage device, a device for controlling them, and a display device. The apparatus includes a software resource for producing a group image formed of at least two still images of scenes representing the contents of each of video files stored in the storage device. In the apparatus, the size of the group image is changed at any time. In response to manipulation of the group image, file operation such as deletion, movement or name change of a corresponding video file is performed.

Abstract: A workflow system for distributing work items to actors so that the actors may perform an activity within a defined workflow process. A server interprets the workflow process and facilitates the scheduling and routing of work items in the system to an actor. Each work item has a set of work item contents data. Morphing logic determines which data is needed by an actor to which a work item has been scheduled and morphs a work item so that the actor receives only the data from the work item contents that the actor needs. Particular implementations are described for client actors and agent actors. A particular embodiment uses Java and distributed object along with application specific and system default HTML pages to display work item contents data to a participant.