Abstract: A system and method for accessing local information in a database. The database is organized with merchandise information including identifier of information provider, identifier information, position information, and description information. The position information is position coordinates of a Global Position System that provides an accurate and fast location search capability of the database. The user of an end-user computer system is able to search the database by sending a query to a remote server computer system. The query includes searching geographic area and searching criteria. After receiving the query, the server computer system 10 then queries the database and receives information from the database query. The server computer 10 returns the search result to the user's computer system. The returned search result includes the identifier of the information provider, identifier of the information, description of information that matches the searching criteria, and position coordinates.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a sort in a computer system is disclosed. The sort is based on a plurality of values of a key. Each of the plurality of items has an associated value of the plurality of values. The method and system include providing a new item of the plurality of items to a plurality of sort cells. The new item includes a new value of the plurality of values. The plurality of sort cells is for sorting the plurality of items. Each sort cell is for sorting a corresponding item of the plurality of items. The corresponding item has a corresponding value of the plurality of values. The method and system further include comparing the new value to the corresponding value for each of the plurality of sort cells to determine whether to retain the corresponding item. Each of the plurality of sort cells retains the corresponding item if the corresponding item is to be retained.

Abstract: In a data recording and reproducing apparatus (10), according to a release instruction from a server controller (30) added to a PLAY_OPEN command for requesting preparation of reproduction of arbitrary data, management information is changed so that an area occupied by reproduced data of the data in the on-producing file becomes an area where new data can be recorded anytime while the file is reproduced. As a result, for example, in the case where plural data are recorded, before the reproduction of the on-reproducing file is completed, the data recording area occupied by the reproduced data is changed into an area where new data can be recorded by efficiently utilizing recording areas in a data accumulation section (13) if on-producing file exists.

Abstract: A system and a method maintain a precomputed view corresponding to detail data in a database server by: determining a maintenance plan to refresh the precomputed view when detail data is changed; integrating the maintenance plan with a query execution plan in the database server; and executing the query execution plan.

Abstract: An index is built upon on one more columns of a database table. In order to retrieve values from the database table, a block-order scan is performed on the index by sequentially reading one or more units of contiguous blocks of the index. For a B-tree index, branch nodes in the blocks are ignored, but column values from within leaf nodes are retrieved. The column whose values are read can be determined from processing a query that references the column. The index can be partitioned so that the block-order index can be performed on only some of the index. Moreover, the block-order index scan is suitable for a table organized as an index.

Abstract: An improved object-database mapping tool is provided that generates indexes in a database corresponding to classes in an object-oriented application. Initially, the mapping tool maps each class in an object-oriented application to a table in a database. A user, for example, selects one or more fields to be indexed from one or more classes. The tool determines if the selected fields correspond to the columns in more than one table in the database. If the selected fields correspond to a plurality of tables in the database then the mapping tool generates a plurality of indexes. Alternatively, if the fields correspond to one table in the database then the mapping tool generates a single index.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a desired listing by ranking coverage areas based on the intersection of a search region and one or more coverage areas. The desired listing is created by determining the location of a reference point and defining the search region in respect to the reference point. The search region is compared against the coverage areas of the listings. The coverage area of each listing may be defined by default based upon a categorization of the listing or upon selection criteria, such as payment of a fee. The coverage areas that intersect with the search region are typically ranked in descending order based upon the area of the intersection region, which is the area including both the coverage area and the search region. Alternatively, if no intersecting regions exist, the coverage areas may be ranked in descending order based on the proximity of the perimeter of the coverage areas to the reference point.

Abstract: A molecular document comprised of atomic documents located in a document management system is provided. The molecular document is generated within the environment of a document management system which separates the content of a document from the properties which are used to describe the document. The document management system further includes bit providers which retrieve the content portion of the document and deliver it to the document. The bit provider of the present invention is a specialized bit provider having the capability of retrieving full-fledged DMS-type documents. Particularly, the atomic documents of the present invention are stand-alone fully functional DMS-type documents which become the content of the molecular document. A user of the DMS is unaware of the fact that a document retrieved is, in fact, a molecular document.

Abstract: A system and method for compensating for functional differences between heterogeneous database management systems, wherein data associated with a client is distributed among the heterogeneous database management systems, is discussed. The system simulates support of multiple pending actions on a single connection in any of the heterogeneous database management systems which does not support multiple pending actions on a single connection.

Abstract: An information management apparatus and method are provided for managing a logical structure of information file wherein a plurality of pieces of paragraph information, to each of which header information is appended, are arranged. The information management apparatus comprises a file dividing means for making up a header management file including header information and a link. The header information is extracted from the logical structure of information file, and the link to the paragraph information to which the header information is appended is made up. The file dividing means makes up a plurality of paragraph files each including the paragraph information. A transmission control means is also included responsive to a transmission request for a logical structure of information file.

Abstract: An extensible framework provides a unified interface for data manipulation in a dynamic object-based format. A data access layer of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Graphical User Interface (GUI) component uses ODBC to read and write files. Four abstractions implement the framework. These are (1) a CDatabaseManager class that provides access to data stored in a database; (2) a CSpecializedFile class which composes a CDatabaseManager that abstracts the management of reading and writing to database files and provides a unified interface for use by accessors.

Abstract: A system for efficiently retrieving information from one of several databases. The system acts as an intermediary between users and databases, managing user access to the databases so that query specification, query execution, and query result retrieval can occur efficiently and securely. After verifying the identity of a user, the system determines the databases which the user is authorized to access and the database queries which the user is authorized to execute. The system then presents the user with available queries. If the user selects a predefined report form, the system presents the user with previously used options for that report form which the user can select. If the user selects a type of inquiry, the system presents the user with previously used inquiries of the selected type. After the user finishes specifying the query to be executed, the system then allows the user to schedule the query execution.

Abstract: An information processing system for creating a search data for an application-specific data is proposed. An application processing section inputs or edits data on the basis of an application program. An application-specific data storage section stores the application-specific data input or edited by the application processing section. A search data is created by a search data creating section for searching the application-specific data stored in the application-specific data storage section for a specific data. The search data creating section also creates a correspondence between the search data and the application-specific data. A search data storage section stores the search data created by the search data creating section. A correspondence storage section stores the correspondence between the search data and the application-specific data.

Abstract: A method for providing an e-mail system including providing a server connected to a network; inputting a message from a sender into the server to be sent as e-mail to at least one recipient mail box on the network; enhancing the e-mail message with a self-executing programmable enhancement; and delivering the e-mail over the network to the at least one recipient mail box. Optionally, the method may provide a number of e-mail boxes on the server assigned to a number of members for the receipt of e-mail addressed to the members at the server, and a menu listing a number of the self-executing programmable enhancements. An e-mail system including a server coupled to a wide area network, and a web site hosted by the server that is capable of at least temporarily storing a message to be sent as e-mail over the wide area network to at least one recipient mail box.

Abstract: A method of and system for organizing entries of an information directory based on relationships or “connections” between the users, and for adding new directory entries to the information directory without intervention by a system administrator. Each connection between entries is created with a “relationship type” describing the connection. According to one embodiment of the present invention, new entries are created by existing users who have existing entries in the information directory. Significantly, an existing user is allowed to access and modify contents of his own directory entry. The existing user may then submit a new user profile to the information directory system to create a new entry for the new user. Further, when an existing user submits the profile for a new user, the information is stored in a relationship list within the existing user's entry.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for providing a common interface to a plurality of heterogeneous database management systems, wherein data associated with a client is distributed among the plurality of heterogeneous database management systems. The system simulates support of host variables in any of the heterogeneous database management systems which does not support host variables.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for providing a common interface to a plurality of heterogeneous database management systems, wherein data associated with a client is distributed among the plurality of heterogeneous database management systems. The system simulates support of multiple pending database actions on a single connection in any of the heterogenous database management systems which does not support multiple pending database actions on a single connection. Also, the system simulates support of cursors declared “with hold” in any of the heterogenous database management systems which does not support cursors declared “with hold”.

Abstract: A message searching and system and a terminal, which display messages to terminal users based on their individual characteristics profile, even when a plurality of users use the same terminal and even when users copy and use the same program. The system includes a message user database for storing records defining user characteristics profiles of terminal users, and a transmittal condition database for storing searching conditions for each message which may be transmitted to the terminal. This system detects a necessity to revise the user characteristics when communicating with the terminal, and revises the user characteristics if necessary. This system reads user characteristics from the message user database, and searches for appropriate messages from the transmittal condition database based on the user characteristics and characteristics associated with each message identifier. The message user database stores each user's birth date and the last system communication date.

Abstract: A browser selectively disables the display of viewable objects in a document. The document contains control tags that describe how associated data is to be displayed. A browser interprets the control tags and formats the associated data to display viewable objects on a display-screen. The user selects a portion of the display screen, containing viewable objects, that the user desires to be blocked. In response to this selection, the browser saves a description of the user-selected area. When the browser subsequently retrieves the document, the browser compares the saved description to locations on the display screen associated with the control tags in the document. When the viewable object associated with a compared control tag is outside the saved description, the browser downloads and displays the viewable object.

Abstract: The set up information associated with at least some of a DVD disc's titles are stored in a DVD player's local memory. Items are chosen for storage based upon the likelihood that a title will be played. The likelihood that a title will be played is balanced against the availability of local memory for storing this information. Titles are ranked according to the likelihood they might be played and titles of lower rank may be purged from the local memory, or title cache, set aside for this task. Six basic criteria are used to rank a title as extremely likely, highly likely, likely, or not likely to be played. A title ranked extremely likely to be played has top caching priority, one that is highly likely to be played has the second highest caching priority, and so on. Each time a title's set up information is read, the title is ranked for caching. Additionally, the state of the title cache is stored every time a user plays a DVD.