Abstract: Process for calculating decreasing doses of a drug a patient needs to take to be able to finally stop taking the drug algorithm. The process is based on an exponential drug taper. This is particularly useful for a drug which a patient is either physically or psychologically dependent, and for a drug where there are potentially serious side effects (for example, seizures) if the drug is rapidly discontinued. The program calculates the amount of drug and provides the clinician the opportunity to look at several different possible drug taper schedules, both numerically and graphically, and to aid the clinician in choosing the appropriate drug taper. The process can calculate a drug taper based upon actual clinical response of a patient. The process corrects for actual dosage sizes available, and calculates administration schedules for the patient and nurse.

Abstract: System for the input and output of data on a two wire system with a downhole well tool which has a system with sensor devices, a processor, a clock, a memory and a voltage/current communications device which are all powered by a d.c. battery. A phone jack and phone plug connection at the earth's surface enables an operator with a controller to input and output data to the well tool without disassembly and enables setting the clock in the well tool to a selected real time value. This enables synchronization of real time values of data recordings for different tools.

Abstract: A system that determines the total demand for a product for each day over four time periods specified by the user of the system. Within the first time period, from the current date up to a demand fence, the total demand cannot be altered. For the next three periods, called the flex fence periods, the total demand for each day can vary by a percentage amount set by the user. If an order exceeding capacity is received for a date beyond the demand fence, the system will recalculate total demand for all days beyond the demand fence and prior to the order date to attempt to produce the total demand quantity necessary to fulfill the order. In calculating the increased quantities, the system uses a formula that prevents the total demand quantity for any day from exceeding the amount of material that was ordered for that day.

Abstract: A disk recording and reproducing device records and reproduces information on and from a magneto-optical disk having 3 3 and there is TOC (Table of Contents) area. Additional information with respect to each piece of the information recorded in the information recording area is recorded in the TOC. The device includes operation keys, a TOC memory for storing read/write control information for desired pieces of information entered through the operation keys. There is an optical head and a magnetic coil for recording, in the TOC area, the contents stored in the TOC memory as additional information. A controller controls the read/write operation to the disk according to the read/write control information. With the arrangement, a user can recognize necessary/unnecessary information and defective parts in the disk, and therefore make effective use thereof as well as maintaining secrecy of the information.

Abstract: A concept dictionary management device includes a fundamental concept dictionary data holding portion for holding fundamental concept network connection information which represents fundamental concept network connections among words stored in a concept dictionary, a first supplemental concept dictionary data holding portion for holding first supplemental concept network connection information to be used for adding words to and deleting words from the concept network connections represented by the fundamental concept network connection information, a second supplemental concept dictionary data holding portion for holding second supplemental concept network connection information to be used only for personal use, to add one or more words to and deleting one or more words from the concept network connections obtained as a result of an addition of a deletion of the words connection by using the first supplemental concept network connection information, a concept dictionary retrieval portion for retrieving a conc

Abstract: A gamma-gamma sonde for use in determining the bulk density of an earth formation adjacent a borehole comprises a source of gamma radiation and three attenuation-type gamma ray detectors DN, DI and DF spaced apart from the source, respectively, at successively greater distances. The count rate of each detector is converted into an apparent formation density .rho. based on data derived from calibration of the sonde in calibration media having known uniform density, thereby to obtain apparent formation densities .rho..sub.F, .rho..sub.I and .rho..sub.N. The ratio(.rho..sub.F -.rho..sub.I) to (.rho..sub.F -.rho..sub.N)is substantially independent of mudcake density and provides an estimate of the mudcake thickness. The calibration data involving mudcakes of known density and thickness enable the use of the mudcake thickness estimate to determine the value of k in the algorithm.rho..sub.apparent =.rho..sub.F +k(.rho..sub.F -.rho..sub.N),from which formation density is determined.

Abstract: A management system for coin operated laundry machines at individual locations, the system including data transfer means at each machine, a hand held terminal for receiving and transmitting data, in which each machine includes a circuit board interconnecting coin collecting means and operational circuits, the circuit board having storage facilities for both operational parameters and coin auditing data, the hand held terminal having means for transmitting information serving to vary any of the operational parameters and for receiving data associated with coin collection.

Abstract: A computerized expert system reviews and adjudicates medical health care payment requests made by physicians to payers, such as insurers, for procedures performed and services and materials rendered to patients in the course of treatment. The system adjudicates a payment request to minimize fraud and mistakes and to determine whether to honor the request and if the request is honored, the dollar amount of the payment. The expert system reviews the payment request based on user-specified review criteria. Such criteria reflects contractual arrangements between payers, providers and patients, current, locally acceptable medical practices and patient and provider payment request patterns.

Abstract: A method and a system for performing the inventive method are provided to correlate billing codes with planned or performed medical procedures. The method comprises the steps of determining raw codes directly associated with all of the medical procedures performed or planned to be performed with a particular patient examination, and manipulating the raw codes by the steps of a final common pathway to generate intermediate codes without altering the raw codes. The method also comprises the step of determining the billing codes from the intermediate codes.

Abstract: A method of controlling a group of elevators allocates target calls definitively and immediately to the individual elevators for serving the call according to higher rank and lower rank function requirements and these allocations are indicated immediately at the call input floors. A weighted sum corresponding to higher rank function requirements is formed from partial operating costs, this sum is modified into operating costs in the sense of lower rank function requirements by means of variable bonus and penalty point factors and a target call is allocated to the elevator with the lowest operating costs. A target call allocation algorithm with subordinate algorithms for the bonus and penalty point tracking and the costs computation implements this method in a computer. The bonus and penalty point factors are continuously made to follow the traffic volume or the car load group by group or elevator by elevator with the tracking algorithm.

Abstract: An apparatus of the present invention includes a viewer response system comprising a host site and at least one remote site interconnected by a satellite channel for host-to-remote video, an X.25 communications channel for message exchanges establishing a virtual circuit between each remote and the host site, and a dial-up public phone network channel that allows the host site to dial a remote site in response to a person at the remote site wanting to speak on the system to another person at the host site. A touch screen monitor at the host site allows the other person to sequence through electronic notecards that function as presentation cue cards. Questions can be formatted on remote site monitors and keypad terminals for each person at each remote site to allow real-time responses to be entered. A computer supporting the host site computes and displays remote site status and person's responses.

Abstract: A predictive scanning input system provides predictive selection of individual indicators corresponding to keys on the keyboard to input a previously stored plural word message to a processor and subsequently to an output device. The predictive scanning input system of the present invention allows the user to select only a limited number of keys which can produce a previously stored message involving an initially detected symbol corresponding to a first key which has been operated. The system operates in conjunction with a keyboard containing a plurality of icons or polysemic (many-meaning) symbols to allow a user to access plural word messages or sentences previously stored in the memory thereof, for selective retrieval by the keyboard.

Abstract: A work station for use by a trader of securities on an established market. The work station is integrated into a network of competing market makers for a plurality of securities for trading. A centralized database provides a feed of data on current market events for the securities, including price and transaction data. The work station is specifically programmed to receive the feed of data from the database and convert this datastream into a form conducive to enhanced trading. Seven separate applications permit the trader to track the market, select securities, bid and ask pricing, market direction and market depth. Traders equipped with the workstation are capable of entering transactions with more complete and copious knowledge about the extant market.

Abstract: A highly automated car-rental system based on a specially equipped fleet of cars for hire and one or more control stations. An authorized subscriber can enter any car of the fleet which is free for hire at any location, and use it for a desired period of time, parking it at the end of the hire period at any authorized parking place. Cars are equipped with customer, identification means, means enabling use of tile car or refusing such use, monitoring means for the main subsystems and other parameters of the car and means for conveying such information to central control. There is also provided a system for monitoring in real time car position, and if desired, for displaying such information also on a monitor in the car, thus informing control on tile position of the car at any instant of time.

Abstract: A system and method for processing credit card transactions includes a data processor with memory storage capable of accessing an electronic clearing facility through a time rated (e.g., long distance) communication link. The system generates a real-time communication with the clearing facility to determine card validity and to initiate funds collection for transactions above a predetermined amount, and generates an off-line batch communication to the clearing facility at a time when communication rates are reduced to initiate funds collection for transactions in the system below the predetermined amount. The system relies upon local card validation, including memory storage of a previously validated card during a predetermined time period, as well as rejection of previously invalidated cards during another predetermined time period.

Abstract: A motion detector is incorporated on a drilling rig for detection of drill string motion. An output of the motion detector provides an enabling signal for conversion of block height data to bit depth drill string velocity or penetration rate without errors associated with block motion during static drill string conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating credit reports. The system includes a central data processing facility (also referred to as a data processor or host computer) which is connectable to the three national credit repositories dedicated data links. The central data processor requests credit information on an applicant from one or more of the repositories, generates a credit report, and transmits the report to the requesting user (i.e., customer). Requests and reports are transmitted via a communications system or network which includes: local telephone lines; Redi-Access; Accunet; and a dedicated, high speed, data transmission channel. If data is inputted from more than one repository, the central data processing facility eliminates duplicated data, selects the best data if there are conflicts, and merges the remaining data into a single report.

Abstract: A high resolution lidar is used to backscatter light from atmospheric aerosols. The actual relative humidity is measured at altitudes corresponding to those from which the backscattered light occurs. A mathematical relationship between the two is then derived and this is used to predict atmospheric relative humidity from subsequent lidar backscatter s measurements. The predicted relative humidity is used with temperature and pressures derived from standard lapse rates to calculate the radio refractivity of the atmosphere. Radio ray coverage is then determined based upon the calculated radio refractivity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring blood glucose concentration by irradiating blood vessels with electromagnetic radiation, where the method and apparatus uses near-infrared radiation diffuse-reflection laser spectroscopy. This invention uses electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength that is transmitted through the skin to the measurement region, for example, a blood vessel. Since skin is mostly composed of water (H.sub.2 O), which absorbs infrared radiation in nearly the entire infrared spectral range, only radiation from a certain, narrow portion of the infrared spectral range called the "water transmission window" is transmitted through the skin. The present invention uses electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 1.3 .mu.m- 1.8 .mu.m radiation from a semiconductor diode laser. When electromagnetic radiation of these wavelengths irradiates the skin, light is transmitted through the skin to the blood vessel where the light interacts with the heterogeneous components of the blood.

Abstract: A document generation system for enhancing or replacing the dictation and transcription process. More particularly, a computer-based documentation system is provided which processes document templates in conjunction with pre-defined character strings to generate user-defined reports or documents. Each document template is composed of "boiler plate" text and "holes". A system and method are described for controlling, via a relational database, the selection of pre-defined character strings to be inserted into document template "holes". A second method is described for inserting user-defined or concatenated character strings into selected document template "holes".