Abstract: A system for evaluating information. The system defines a set of properties and one or more values for each property and then assigns property-value combinations to items of information and to profiles. Information is then evaluated by determining how the property-value combinations assigned to the items of information match those assigned to a profile. Assignments of property-value combinations have ratings and validities associated with them. In assignments to information items, the rating represents the relevance of the information item to the property-value pair; in assignments to profiles, it represents the relevance of the property-value pair to the profile. The validity for an assignment indicates a judgment concerning the strength of the assignment. The system further defines relationships between property-value combinations. When a property-value combination in a relationship is assigned, so are the related property-value combinations.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer-implemented apportioning system. Work is distributed to processors in a multi-processor system. Initially, during bind-time, a scaling factor is determined for each processor. The scaling factor represents relative processing power in relation to each other processor. Then, portions of a total amount of work are distributed to each processor based on the determined scaling factor of that processor and a determined amount of work for an average processor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing precomputed views for answering user queries on a database are described. In accordance with one aspect, a user database query on precomputation strategy effectiveness is responded to by defining, based upon user database query history, an analysis space consisting of a subset of all possible views for the database, and by characterizing the views in the analysis space. In accordance with a second aspect, a structure is imposed on an analysis space consisting of a subset of all possible views for the database based upon the capabilities of a query rewriting facility, and the views in the analysis space are characterized. In accordance with a third aspect, an analysis space consisting of a subset of all possible views for the database is defined, and a cost formula is applied to the analysis space based upon a user-defined subset of the data contained in the database.

Abstract: A logical data model is generated based on business rule metadata, data source characteristics, and cleansing, transformation, and householding metadata. A physical data model and extraction and loading routines are generated from the logical data model. A physical database design (PDD) and data description language (DDL) are created for constructing a data warehouse. The data warehouse is constructed according to the PDD and DDL. Data is moved from the data source to the system database for cleansing, transforming, and householding. The data is then loaded into the data warehouse.

Abstract: A method executed by a computer under the control of a program includes the step of establishing a compound structure in the form of a virtual unit of multi-dimensional storage. The compound structure includes a rack with a horizontal arrangement of target structures linked by an alias backbone representing a dimension of information. The horizontal arrangement of target structures selectively includes further compound structures and base structures containing data, in any combination. The compound structure is referenced to obtain information. The method is particularly useful in On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP).

Abstract: Method and apparatus are utilized in a system for distributing digital contents from a central server to a plurality of endpoint servers for further distribution to end users for automatically managing the digital assets of the endpoint servers. Each endpoint server is connected to a plurality of users over a communications network and operable to deliver digital information content to users on demand. Using a master content stored at the central server, the digital content of each endpoint is periodically and automatically refreshed based on an aggregate profile that reflects the preferences of the end-user population served by the endpoint server. The aggregate profile is generated from information received from the end users, including information submitted by the users or automatically generated feedback information relating to the users'on-line activities.

Abstract: A system and method of providing incremental updates for a geographical data set for use in navigation systems. The system and method include organizing updates of geographical data set into a series of transactions. Each of the transactions includes a transaction identifier that uniquely identifies the transaction, and n steps to be applied to the geographical data set to complete the transaction. All the steps of the transaction are required to be successfully applied in order for the transaction to be completed, otherwise, the entire transaction is not applied.

Abstract: The invention features methods and apparatus for processing precomputed views for answering user queries on a database. In accordance with one aspect, a user query on the database is analyzed, and a candidate view based upon the user query is generated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient query expansion using reduced size indices and for progressive query processing. Queries are expanded conceptually, using semantically similar and syntactically related words to those specified by the user in the query to reduce the chances of missing relevant documents. The notion of a multi-granularity information and processing structure is used to support efficient query expansion, which involves an indexing phase, a query processing and a ranking phase. In the indexing phase, semantically similar words are grouped into a concept which results in a substantial index size reduction due to the coarser granularity of semantic concepts. During query processing, the words in a query are mapped into their corresponding semantic concepts and syntactic extensions, resulting in a logical expansion of the original query. Additionally, the processing overhead is avoided.

Abstract: Recording transactions using a chronological list superimposed on an indexed list. A transaction log of transaction entries is maintained as a chronological list superimposed on an indexed list. Preferably, each transaction entry includes a transaction descriptor field, a time stamp field, a chronological list pointer field and an indexed list pointer field. A first chronological list pointer points to the oldest transaction entry in the transaction log and a last chronological list pointer points to the latest transaction entry in the transaction log. The chronological list pointer field of a transaction entry points to the next oldest transaction entry. The indexed list includes a number of indexed list entry pointers. Each indexed list entry pointer corresponds to an index and points to a transaction entry with the same index. The indexed list pointer field of a transaction entry points to another transaction entry with the same index.

Abstract: A data display apparatus and method for displaying the result of a data mining process as multi-dimensional data. In one embodiment, the multi-dimensional data is displayed on a parallel coordinate axis. An engine unit executes the data mining process on displayed multi-dimensional data according to an instruction from a visual data mining tool and transfers the result to the visual data mining tool. The user interface unit of the visual data mining tool generates an axis corresponding to the result of the data mining process, adds the axis to the parallel coordinate axis and displays the result of the data mining process on the added axis.

Abstract: A method for generating an approximate answer to a query in a database environment in which the database has a plurality of base relations. A query relating to a database is received, and an approximate answer to the query is generated such that the approximate answer is based on at least one join synopsis formed from the database. The method further includes steps of forming a sample-tuple set for at least one selected base relation of a plurality of base relations of a database such that each sample-tuple set contains at least one sample tuple from a corresponding base relation, and forming a join synopsis set for each selected base relation such that each join synopsis set contains a join synopsis for each sample tuple in a sample-tuple set. A join synopsis of a sample tuple is based on a join of the sample tuple and at least one descendent relation of the sample tuple. All join synopsis sets form a statistical summary of the database and are stored.

Abstract: A data display apparatus and method for displaying the result of a data mining process as multi-dimensional data. In one embodiment, the multi-dimensional data is displayed on a parallel coordinate axis. An engine unit executes the data mining process on displayed multi-dimensional data according to an instruction from a visual data mining tool and transfers the result to the visual data mining tool. The user interface unit of the visual data mining tool generates an axis corresponding to the result of the data mining process, adds the axis to the parallel coordinate axis and displays the result of the data mining process on the added axis.

Abstract: In the data sharing system which maintains the identical data among the all terminals, the update log of the updated data is deleted as early as possible. This way, the amount of data of the update logs to be recorded in a terminal can be made small. Instead of transmitting the update logs (for example, total 100 bytes) which are extracted by the extracting unit to the other terminals, an amount of data involved in transmitting is less by transmitting the data copy of the inspection data and the log applied information (for example, total 90 bytes). Because of this, the comparing unit decides that the update logs are the update logs that need not be transmitted to the other terminals. The transmitting unit transmits the data copy of the inspection data and the log applied information to the other terminals. The deleting unit decides that the update logs need not be transmitted to all the terminals, therefore, the update logs are deleted from the terminal.

Abstract: In order to retrieve images similar to a key image out of objective images, feature values of the key image and feature values of each objective image are obtained. On the basis of the feature values of the key image, weighting factors corresponding to types of the feature values are obtained. From the feature values of the key image and the each objective image, similarity values corresponding to types of the feature values are obtained. Further, a total similarity value is obtained on the basis of the similarity values and the weighting factors. The images similar to the key image are retrieved in accordance with the total similarity values of the objective images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying related collections of linked documents. In the method the links from a set of related documents are analyzed to identify a plurality of document collections. By analyzing only the link structure, a process intensive content analysis of the documents is avoided. A citation analysis technique, such as co-citation analysis, is performed on the set of documents to extract link information indicating links and link frequency between document collections. For co-citation analysis that information would include the frequency that both are linked to by another document collection. By using the link information, related document collections may then be identified using a suitable analysis technique, such as clustering or spreading activation.

Abstract: The present invention relies on the idea of a meaning-based search, allowing users to locate information that is close in meaning to the concepts they are searching. A semantic space is created by a lexicon of concepts and relations between concepts. A query is mapped to a first meaning differentiator, representing the location of the query in the semantic space. Similarly, each data element in the target data set being searched is mapped to a second meaning differentiator, representing the location of the data element in the semantic space. Searching is accomplished by determining a semantic distance between the first and second meaning differentiator, wherein this distance represents their closeness in meaning. Search results on the input query are presented where the target data elements that are closest in meaning, based on their determined semantic distance, are ranked higher.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for storing and delivering customer information. The system and method include and involve a data storage system for storing customer information including contact information, network addressing information, and engineering and customer service information related to at least one network service customer to whom network services are provided by a network service provider. The system and method also include and involve a network access system that is coupled to the data storage system via at least one data communications link and which is configured to provide access to at least one user to permit such user(s) to retrieve the customer information from the data storage system.

Abstract: The privacy data escrow system (10) includes at least one data provider (12) having a plurality of privacy data records of a plurality of persons. Each privacy data record is associated with a unique person identifier of a person, and each of the at least one data provider (12) having a unique data provider identifier associated therewith. An escrow agent (16) is in communication with the at least one data provider (12) and is operable to receive and store, from the at least one data provider (12), the plurality of person identifiers, and a plurality of unique scrambled person identifiers and data provider identifiers associated with each person identifier (14). A database (20) is in communication with the at least one data provider (12) and is operable to receive and store, from the at least one data provider (12), the plurality of privacy data records, the plurality of scrambled person identifiers associated with the privacy data records, and the data provider identifiers (13).

Abstract: A custom playlist to be played by a digital audio/visual actuator device may be easily created and modified through use of an effective human interface on an external device, such as a personal computer. Tracks, easily identifiable by their track index identifier and the TOC of the digital storage device on which they are stored, are selected by the user or by an automated method and added to a playlist file. Once the playlist is created, the playlist file is stored to non-volatile memory of the digital audio/visual actuator device. The playlist may then be easily modified if so desired by performing such functions as adding tracks, deleting tracks, and rearranging tracks of the playlist through the interface of the external device. The playlist may be played by the digital audio/visual actuator device at any time after it has been created and the digital audio/visual actuator device may be controlled by a remote control unit to actuate the playlist if so desired.