Abstract: A multimedia file has a format in which actual data is embedded in a file structure. The multimedia information is assembled in blocks, each composed of a header area and a data area, and has a hierarchical structure in which a block is embedded in another block. Header area information may include a file name identification information (block name), a number of child blocks information and data length identification information. This arrangement facilitates the creation and editing of a multimedia file, permitting high-speed data searching.

Abstract: The patent describes a single location and application on a network where a user can organize public, group, and private/personal information and have this single, location accessible to the public. A new, ontology-driven portal that organizes all three categories of data according to various “facets” using underlying ontologies to define each “facet” and wherein any type of information can be classified and linked to other types of information is disclosed. An application that enables a user to effectively utilize and manage knowledge and data the user posses and allows other users to effectively and seamlessly benefit from the user's knowledge and data over a computer network is also disclosed. A method of processing content created by a user utilizing a semantic, ontology-driven portal on a computer network is described. The semantic portal application provides the user with a content base, such as a semantic form or meta-form, for creating a semantic posting.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to performing a query for a search term of a database containing a plurality of structured documents. Those structured documents that do not include the search term are ferreted or filtered out during an initial search. Matched structured documents which are those structured documents that do contain the search term are evaluated by ranking the individual elements based on how well each individual element matches the search term, and indicating to the user the ranking of the individual elements wherein the individual elements can be accessed by the user.

Abstract: A method and system for combining nodes in a file used for loading a node graph. The method includes defining a first node in the file as a mega-node of the file. The XML file includes a plurality of nodes arranged in parent/child relationships. The method proceeds by identifying a base node type for basing the mega-node upon.

Abstract: A bulletin board system (BBS) is implemented on a server computer without employing database management software (DBMS). A hierarchical directory structure is defined in which there are directories and sub-directories into which BBS items are individually storable as files in accordance with the native file system of the server computer. In response to receiving a request from a client computer to post a BBS item, the BBS item is received as an individually storable file, and the file is stored within one of the directories and sub-directories. In response to receiving a request from a client computer to view the BBS, the client computer is sent a representation of the hierarchical directory structure, including filenames of the files for the BBS items stored within the directories and sub-directories. When a request is received for a particular BBS item, the client computer is sent the file for that particular BBS item.

Abstract: A transactional file system wherein multiple file system operations may be performed as a transaction. An application specifies that file system-related operations are to be handled as a transaction, and the application is given a file handle associated with a transaction context. For file system requests associated with a transaction context, a file system component manages the operations consistent with transactional behavior. The component provides data isolation by providing multiple versions of a file by tracking copies of changed pages, such that transactional readers do not receive changes to a file made by transactional writers, until the transactional writer commits the transaction and the reader reopens the file. The component handles namespace logging operations in a multiple-level log that facilitates logging and recovery. Page data is logged separate from the main log, with a unique signature that enables the log to determine whether a page was fully flushed to disk.

Abstract: Systems and methods allowing publishers to define relationships between their own content items (e.g., World Wide Web pages) and content items created or maintained by other publishers. Publishers insert referral labels into their content items to indicate a referral relationship between or among publishers. In one embodiment, advertisements to be displayed while the user is viewing a content item are selected based at least in part on matching a referral label included in the target content item to a referral label in the advertisement. The referral label can also be used to manage referral-based revenue sharing among publishers.

Abstract: A method including enumerating plausible queries of a target database using query generation rules, and generating associated teasers for each of the enumerated queries using query matching rules.

Abstract: A method, process and system for performing content augmentation of personal profiles includes (a) building a user history of a plurality of augmented content information of relevant TV programs; (b) analyzing user queries and determining a degree to which the user queried for additional content information; (c) inferring values about the user from user queries for additional content information so as to augment the additional content information; (d) updating the augmented content information to at least one of the user history, Internet and specialized databases; (e) linking individual ones of the plurality of augmented content information to each other; and (f) determining inferences about the user's interests and preferences based on the linkage of the plurality of augmented content information. The updating of the augmented content information includes segmenting and indexing of multimedia content.

Abstract: There is disclosed a technique for organizing a plurality of content items. In an embodiment, the technique comprises assigning to each content item a content item array or bit string, wherein each unique ordinal or bit position indicates a characteristic of the content item. The content items may be filtered by applying a content filter including at least one filter rule concerning at least one characteristic of each content item. In an embodiment, a user preference bit string is used to indicate a user preference for one or more characteristics of the content items. The user preference bit string may be compared to each content item bit string to determine relevance a content item, and to order the content items according to the user's preferences. In an embodiment, the content items may be cached using a cache key generated from the user preference bit string.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention utilize context subsystems to logically group resources according to context. Such context subsystems can be nested (i.e. hierarchical), and thus further simplify the complex configuration relationships encountered with complex systems. Higher level (i.e. parent) context subsystems contain at least one resource that is utilized by a lower level (i.e. child) component, subsystem, or context subsystem. Context subsystems can be hierarchically arranged in single- and multi-parent arrangements and single- and multi-child arrangements. The number of context subsystem hierarchical levels is virtually unlimited and is generally dictated by the complexity of the system and the corresponding simplification needs of the configuration technology being utilized to configure the system. Context subsystems are applicable and useful in a configuration environment for virtually any configurable system amenable to contextual groupings of resources.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a computerized method of providing information to a customer in the power industry includes automatically receiving data representing a plurality of characteristics of a power plant device associated with a power plant of the customer based on monitoring of the power plant device, in which the data is received at a location remote from the power plant, processing the data, generating one or more outputs representative of the processed data, displaying, by a web page of a website, at least one of the outputs in response to a request by the customer, and displaying, by the web page, diagnostic information related to the displayed output.

Abstract: An informational system for disseminating technology information between requestors and purveyors as well as a method for using the system for this purpose. The informational system generally includes requestor and purveyor servers as well as a host system having a data structure, a search engine communicating with the data structure, and an application server communicating with the data structure and search engine. The data structure includes a plurality of data arrays for storing, among other information, a plurality of data entries each with technology and purveyor data as well as requestor data including requestor registered external informational sources. The application server is configured to receive a search request having a technology parametric from a requestor, to cause the search engine to conduct a search in one of the data arrays, and communicate a search report to the requestor.

Abstract: A text mining system for collecting business intelligence about a client, as well as for identifying prospective customers of the client, for use in a lead generation system accessible by the client via the Internet. The text mining system has various components, including a data acquisition process that extracts textual data from Internet web sites, including their logs, content, processes, and transactions. The system compares log data to content and process data, and relates the results of the comparison to transaction data. This permits the system to provide aggregate cluster data representing statistics useful for customer lead generation.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies are provided as part of a computing environment that implements an enhanced tabular data stream (TDS) protocol. Such enhanced TDS protocol can mitigate synchronization inconsistencies between client and servers, improve robustness of the data transfer, facilitate password specification as part of login procedures, and reduce administration overhead. Various headers are provided as part of the data stream protocol, and a versioning scheme is established that facilitates proper communication between servers and clients having different release dates and versions of the TDS protocol.

Abstract: The text format of input data is checked, and is converted into a system-manipulated format. It is further determined if the input data is in an HTML or e-mail format using tags, heading information, and the like. The converted data is divided into blocks in a simple manner such that elements in the blocks can be checked based on repetition of predetermined character patterns. Each block section is tagged with a tag indicating a block. The data divided into blocks is parsed based on tags, character patterns, etc., and is structured. A table in text is also parsed, and is segmented into cells. Finally, tree-structured data having a hierarchical structure is generated based on the sentence-structured data. A sentence-extraction template paired with the tree-structured data is used to extract sentences.

Abstract: Elements of one or more database manipulation language (DML) commands strings are stored in tables, read from those tables and DML commands are generated. Storing these command elements in tables facilitates access to and modification of database commands used in data processing applications. Temporary storage control elements are also stored in and read from those tables. The DML query command string is executed, the retrieved data is stored in temporary storage as specified by the temporary storage control elements and is bound to the parameters to the DML storage command strings which are executed to modify target database tables.

Abstract: An XML payload is generated from an XML list irrespective of a schema associated with the XML list. The parent/child relationship pats are collected from the field entries in the XML list. An XML payload node tree is created reflective of the parent/child relationship of data in the paths of the XML list. The XML payload can then be generated from the XML payload node tree and exported as needed to target software applications or web pages.

Abstract: A database system and method allows a user to write program code in a high-level programming language that implements a class that defines the structure of a user-defined type and methods that can be invoked on instances of the type. The class is then registered with the database system, which enforces a specific contract for user-defined types against the class. The contract comprises the following requirements. First, the class must specify one of a plurality of different formats for persisting instances of the user-defined type in a database store. Second, the class must be capable of returning a null value for the user-defined type. Third, the class must provide a method for converting the user-defined type to another type. Once these requirements are satisfied, the database system enables instances of the user-defined type to be created. A user-defined type can be used in all contexts where any other built-in type can be used.

Abstract: A directory structure corresponding to a plurality of applications is formed. Items of identification information are given to predetermined directories of the directory structure, respectively, the items of identification information being used for identifying the plurality of applications, respectively, the plurality of applications corresponding to the predetermined directories, respectively. Management is performed so that an application of the plurality of applications corresponding to a directory of the predetermined directories is selected in accordance with an item of the items of identification information given to the directory of the predetermined directories, when the directory of the predetermined directories is selected.