Abstract: A computer based package delivery and control system for tracking receipt and internal delivery of items such as packages. The system maintains a database of records of information relating to packages which have been received by an organization at a facility such as a mail room. The records include the names of employees who are the ultimate recipients of the packages as well as the internal delivery status of the packages. The system is also provided with a programmable, portable data terminal which has a capability for the input of graphical data and includes an integral bar code scanner. The portable data terminal may be used to input package information to the data processing system when packages are received. From time to time, the data processing system downloads internal delivery manifests to the portable data terminal, which may then be used to deliver packages to the employees who are the intended recipients.

Abstract: Mechanisms for network device information collection and change detection are disclosed. A data Collection Engine is coupled to a database and a network having comprising devices such as switches and routers. The Collection Engine receives a network device name and queries the network to locate the named device. Based upon a device type identifier, the Collection Engine identifies the class of the device and a group of information sets that describe information needed from the device. The Collection Engine requests information described by the information sets and stores it in the database. A change detection mechanism compares the received information to a prior version in the database, and develops metadata describing changes in the versions. Accordingly, only a subset of all the information that a device can deliver is received and stored, based on the needs of an application using the mechanisms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a visual index of scenes in a video image which has been or is being recorded in a computer readable memory. A selected number of keyframes are derived from the recorded image, each being representative of a respective scene therein. The keyframes are then ordered into a selected number of levels of detail of the scenes represented thereby, each level including a predetermined number of keyframes, each subsequent level including keyframes of greater detail than those in a preceding level. A header file is then formed which is descriptive of the ordered set of keyframes, and the header file is stored together with the ordered set of keyframes in the computer readable memory. A user can thereby identify and obtain optimized retrieval in accordance with his preferences of particular segments of the video image from a relatively slow memory device.

Abstract: Managing a log stream of a computer system. An entry of a log stream, desired to be removed from the log stream, but not eligible for removal, is logically deleted. Logical deletion keeps the entry on the log stream and indicates that the entry can be removed from the log stream when it is eligible. When the entry is eligible, it is removed. If a desired entry remains at the tail of the log stream for a given period of time, thus not allowing the removal of one or more undesired entries, the desired entry is rewritten to the head of the log stream and deleted from the tail. Thereafter, other logically deleted entries eligible for deletion are removed from the log stream.

Abstract: A Signaling Transfer Point (STP) has a Host complex with non-volatile storage and a processor coupled to a plurality of Network payload processors, each of which has a volatile memory. The STP restores a database of the non-volatile Host to the volatile memory of the plurality of processors after a power interruption or any event requiring reloading or refreshing of the database. Host and Payload processor databases each have a data structure, which is a balanced binary red-black tree, and a cell manager, which provides allocation and direct access to the cells of the binary tree. In an event requiring a reload or refresh of the database, the memory manager of the Host process and the memory manager of the requesting payload processor transmit the Host database to the payload processor in the form as stored on the volatile memory.

Abstract: A technique for retrieving data residing on a data server platform using object-oriented programming techniques in a Desktop Management Interface ("DMI") environment is disclosed. In one embodiment, a data inquiry Router object brings together the many functions and data sources required to service client requests into a cohesive structure. Based on the concept that all data requests can be visualized as the instantiation of a class derived from a hyper-generic base class, a symbiotic structure is be generated that encapsulates the basic client-server interface functionality along with the otherwise unrelated information gathering techniques required to satisfy the request. The base class and all classes derived from it are accessed through an open-addressed hash table based request Router object that bores down to the appropriate piece of data acquisition code and performs query validation and return the requested data structure in the form desired.

Abstract: Formatting information in a program module, particularly useful for word processing and similar text processing programs. A property information array stored in association with an executable program module contains formatting for applying to information in a document comprising a data structure and a property modifier structure. The data structure stores data elements corresponding to the information in the document to be formatted, e.g., a text file. The property modifier structure stores groups of data formatting property modifiers and their arguments that represent the appearance of the data elements, e.g., a character property, a paragraph property, a section property, etc. Each property modifier contains encoded format-related information and comprises an argument size field having information indicating the size of the property modifier argument and a unique identification field, i.e., an index into the property information array. A selected data element may be displayed, printed, etc.

Abstract: A computer system and method for storing and managing a database that has lambda-definable functions as its foundation. The database is a collection of nodes that are connected by a set of links, and further it is a directed acyclic graph constructed from the nodes and the links. There are two types of links. By ignoring one type of the links, the database can be viewed as a set of trees; and by ignoring another type of the links, the database can be viewed as another set of trees. The directed acyclic graph and the two sets of trees illustrate the dependent relationships among the data and provide means in manipulating the database. A node has a name for the purpose of identification; and a value that carries an unit of meanings of the database application. The value of a node is selected from a regular data type, user-defined data type, and lambda-definable functions. Managing lambda-definable functions allows a database to support infinite data with finite storage.

Abstract: A method for creating a table object made up of one or more columns, where the table object can be used as a programming interface or wrapper for an underlying table component is described. The table is made up of one or more column objects that can be used in other tables with minor alterations. The column objects are created to hold data of one type. This type can be a basic data type or a specialized graphical user interface type, allowing for great flexibility in creating table data structures for holding data of a wide variety. The table object is used to facilitate the use of an underlying table component, which may contain its own search engine. The table object acts as a wrapper for the table component allowing the application developer to use columns from other tables for use with a particular underlying table component without having to recreate or rewrite computer code for that particular underlying table component.

Abstract: A computer network (10) is provided that includes a server (14) with a database (28) and an object definition generator (33). The database (28) stores a plurality of objects. The object definition generator (33) receives user input identifying a selected one of the objects and generates output code (37) including an object definition for the selected object. A client (12) includes a first application (26) operable to utilize the database (28). A second application (32) utilizes the output code (37) to access the database (28). The object definition generator (33) provides an automated method for enabling the second application (32) to utilize objects stored in the database (28).

Abstract: In a distributed database system, at least one of the databases operates as a transaction manager and provides transparent commit coordination between an application program and other connected databases. The transaction manager incorporates a commit alteration procedure which enables selection of either a single phase commit protocol or a two phase commit protocol with respect to each database, during operation of the distributed system. The transaction manager establishes a commit protocol for each connected database; responds to a command from an application program by overriding a commit protocol previously established for a selected database and establishes another commit protocol for the selected database; performs a transaction and utilizes the another commit protocol in connection with the transaction; and upon completion of the transaction as evidenced by a successful commit action, enables establishment of another commit protocol.

Abstract: A method of packaging service logic programs for dissemination in a telecommunications network includes receiving a request to package a service logic program having a plurality of service independent blocks associated with a plurality of parameters. The service logic program is copied and parsed to automatically identify the parameters associated with the service logic program. The service independent blocks of the service logic program are stored in a packaging file in a specified sequence. The associated parameters are copied and then stored in the packaging file.

Abstract: A Web-based authentication system and method, the system comprising at least one Web client station, at least one Web server station and an authentication center. The Web client station is linked to a Web cloud, and provides selected biometric data of an individual who is using the Web client station. The Web server station is also linked to the Web cloud. The authentication center is linked to at least one of the Web client and Web server stations so as to receive the biometric data. The authentication center, having records of one or more enrolled individuals, provides for comparison of the provided data with selected records.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient document categorization are disclosed. In one embodiment, word length distribution information is used as a basis for categorization. Greater than 90% accuracy in classification may be achieved in, e.g., distinguishing newspaper articles from scientific journal articles. Word length distribution information may be developed without optical character recognition (OCR), permitting use of degraded document images.

Abstract: A device and method for accumulating, storing, and accessing information collectively held by a corporation of people is disclosed. The information is categorized into core subjects having many linked secondary topics having many linked tertiary details. The information also includes pointers and links to information stored elsewhere, for example the Internet. The information is stored as objects containing an answer to an inquiry, the associated links, and actions to be taken. The objects acts as navigational aids to the user without dictating the user's navigation through the information. The invention includes a feedback system that encourages users to provide their reactions to information on the system. Thus, over time, the system will accumulate the best information available to a corporation in the collective knowledge of its employees.

Abstract: In an object oriented computer system, a root set of object references includes object references stored in the computer system's registers, as well as object references stored in activation records in the program stack. Whenever a method is invoked, a corresponding activation record is stored on the program stack. The activation record includes the invocation address for the method called as well as parameters passed to the called method. A class loader, which loads object classes into memory, determines the locations of the object references in the activation records associated with each method in a loaded object class. A list of offset values for each method activation record is stored by the class loader in a hash table data structure at a location in the hash table data structure determined by hashing the unique invocation address assigned to the method.

Abstract: A system for interfacing a Processor to a Coprocessor using standard bus cycles. The Processor, upon encountering in its instruction stream an instruction having a particular Operation word format, will transfer a Command word following the Operation word to a particular Coprocessor designated by a Coprocessor Identity field in the Operation word. Upon decoding the Command word, the Coprocessor will respond with any of a set of response primitives which define functions which the Coprocessor requires to Processor to perform in support of the Command by the Coprocessor. The interface provides for all functions which the Coprocessor may require, including selective vectoring to appropriate exception handlers.

Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus in which at least two processing units each having a buffer memory are mutually connected to each other and to a main storage unit through a bus. All of the processing units having the buffer memories continuously monitor the state of the bus. When one of the processing units generates an information updating request in order to update the storage content of the main storage unit, the other processing units read a memory address from the bus. The memory address corresponds to the information to be updated, and is sent to the main storage unit through the bus together with the information updating request. The memory address is compared with memory addresses contained in the buffer memory of the other processing units. If there is a coincidence, information in the relevant memory address exists in its own buffer memory. Thereafter this information is invalidated.

Abstract: .[.A circuit for rotating a multibit binary word in either the right or the left direction includes a scale factor decoder receiving a scale factor word which specifies the magnitude of the rotation and a direction control signal which specifies the direction of rotation and providing a shift control word which is the same as the scale factor word when a right rotation is specified but providing a shift control word which is the complement of the scale factor word when a left rotation is specified. The circuit also includes a plurality of input buffers receiving an input word and providing corresponding input data, and a one-bit rotator receiving the input data and the direction control signal and rotating the input data in the right direction by one position when a left rotation is specified or providing the input data without rotation when a right rotation is specified.

Abstract: A table driven translator is provided which is capable of translating an input language into a machine-oriented language and handing changes in the syntax of the language inputted to a computer by rewriting a translation rule table.