Abstract: In a system for conducting medical studies a number of medical locations, such as clinics or medical practices, are connected to a central server via a computer network. The system is constructed in modular fashion, and it is automatically determined, with computer support within the system, whether a specific patient is eligible to participate in a medical study of the system, and if so, the sequence of the corresponding medical study is controlled centrally by corresponding modules, automatically and in a study-specific and patient-specific fashion.

Abstract: An incentive-based grocery cart washing and disinfecting system including a consumer special-offer coupon applying apparatus, for use in a batch or continuous process comprising a housing having at least one pipe manifold with nozzles positioned therein to provide at least one treatment zone selected from pre-wash, wash, disinfecting, and rinse zones. In addition, blown air water-stripping/drying zones may be provided, with a heating source to assist drying. Following drying, a strip of specially adapted grocery coupons is optionally applied to the grocery cart handle, so that the coupons can be redeemed by customers during their subsequent shopping. The coupon strip comprises a leader portion and a coupon portion, and the leader can be wrapped and fixed around the grocery cart handle manually or by means of the automated machinery described. The system of the invention may be a fixed or mobile system, with the use preferably being on site at stores.

Abstract: An authorized node has a normal data input/output mode for directly inputting and outputting digital data without performing thereon specific data processing such as an encrypting process, and a protected data input/output mode forpreventing digital data from being received by an unauthorized node. The protected data input/output mode is executed in one of two different forms: one form which causes the digital data, having undergone an encrypting process, to be input and output to and from a communication network; and the other form which does not involve input/output of the digital data via the communication network. A plurality of such authorized nodes are inter-connected to build a communication network which permits free data communication only between the authorized nodes. Upon detecting that any unauthorized node is newly connected to the communication network, a monitor node instructs the authorized nodes to conduct a data input/output operation in the protected data input/output mode.

Abstract: A system is provided for processing data including patient identity information and pharmaceutical information. The system permits analysis of the pharmaceutical information to occur while maintaining the confidentiality of the patient identity information. The system includes a server and a data processor. The server stores the data and transmits the data to a data processor. Before transmitting the data, the server replaces the patient identity information with unique generic identification information. The data processor imports the data, including the substituted generic identification information, and analyzes the pharmaceutical information to obtain results. The data processor then exports the results along with the associated generic identification information back to the server.

Abstract: A credit card system is provided which has the added feature of providing additional limited-use credit card numbers and/or cards. These numbers and/or cards can be used for a single transaction, thereby reducing the potential for fraudulent reuse of these numbers and/or cards. The credit card system finds application to “card remote” transactions such as by phone or Internet. Additionally, when a single use credit card is used for “card present” transactions, so called “skimming” fraud is eliminated. Various other features enhance the credit card system which will allow secure trade without the use of elaborate encryption techniques.

Abstract: An electronic shopping aid is provided that assists a user in selecting a product from an electronic catalog of products based on their preferences for various features of the products. Since the electronic shopping aid helps a user select a product based on the user's preferences, it is referred to as a preference-based product browser. In using the browser, the user initially inputs an indication of their like or dislike for various features of the products as well as an indication of how strongly they feel about the like or dislike. The browser then utilizes this information to determine a list of products in which the user is most likely interested. As part of this determination, the browser performs collaborative filtering and bases the determination on what other users with similar characteristics (e.g., age and income) have liked.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for selecting a molecule for a population which comprises: a) selecting a first molecule with a conformation characterized by a particular set of coordinates that define the position of each atom in the first molecule; b) determining the energy of the first molecule; c) transforming the coordinates of the first molecule to the coordinates of a second structurally distinct molecule to produce a particular conformation of the second molecule characterized by a particular set of coordinates that define the position of each atom in the second molecule; d) determining the energy of the second molecule; thus, selecting either the first molecule or the second molecule for the population based on their relative energies. The selected molecule may be redefined as the first molecule and the procedure repeated iteratively so as to obtain a population of first molecules and a population of second molecules.

Abstract: The invention provides a tool kit for a small business owner to manage a plurality of different financial accounts and services and to perform a number of different financial transactions, wherein each of the transactions may involve multiple sub-transactions which occur among different financial service providers. For example, the system provides an integrated package that integrates financial service providers, such as a payroll service provider, a retirement plan service provider, a healthcare service provider or another type of service provider. The system provides one interface to a subscriber and the subscriber can select from the interface a financial transaction to perform, wherein the selected transaction involves a plurality of subtransactions, occurring between the system, and the involved financial service providers.

Abstract: A work flow management system (WFMS) can execute one or more instances of a workflow process. The execution of each workflow process is comprised of the execution of component activities. More particularly, dynamically predicting deadlines of a workflow process, whether a workflow process will escalate and whether it is beneficial to preemptively escalate a workflow process.

Abstract: A buyer-seller matching system that uses incentives to verify commissions from matching the buyer with a seller. An item locator system that comprises a repository of information about items for purchase may be provided over a network for users to access information about items for purchase. Along with each item, the system presents an incentive that may be realized if that item is purchased from a designated third party seller. The user then executes the purchase with the seller, who pays the system the agreed upon fee and also issues a certification of purchase to the buyer. The user may then take the certification of purchase back to the central repository to redeem the incentive. The item locator system then checks to verify that it has received a fee or commission from the seller for bringing the seller a buyer of the item. The fee or commission may be based on the price of the item, such as if the item is a new house for sale and the seller is a new house builder.

Abstract: A system and method for extracting and forecasting computing resource data such as workload consumption of mainframe computing resources using an autoregressive model. The system and method forecast mainframe central processing unit (CPU) consumption with ninety-five percent accuracy using historical performance data. The system and method also provide an upper ninety-five percent confidence level and a lower ninety-five percent confidence level. The system and method retrieve performance records from a computer platform in one second intervals, statistically collapses the one second performance data into fifteen minute performance data, statistically collapses the fifteen minute performance data into one week performance data, and generates a time series equivalent to collecting performance data at one week intervals.

Abstract: A system and method of trading commodities includes an open commodities exchange server which can be accessed by registered customers. Registration of the customers with the system includes providing information to the system which identifies the customers and the deposition by customers of commodities with one or more custodians. Orders associated with commodities are posted by the server as offers on a data base after they have been securitized. Registered customers can then review the offers and generate responses thereto. These responses are also securitized to insure that the proper securities or assets are on deposit with the custodian. The custodians having their own servers.

Abstract: A subscriber unit in a television system including an integrated receiver and decoder (IRD) including a first smart card reader which is operative to accept a first smart card, and a remote control including a second smart card reader which is operative to accept a second smart card. The first smart card and the second smart card, when inserted in the corresponding first and second smart card readers respectively, are operative to communicate with each other in wireless communication over a wireless communication link to control access to services.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a multichannel chromatogram is realized for accurately resolving overlapping peaks on a multichannel chromatogram to permit analysis of the composition of a sample. First, components of overlapping peaks are specified. A data matrix Dij is determined, and compressed in the wavelength direction to obtain a data matrix vector Di. By compressing three-dimensional data in the wavelength direction, noise components cancel with each other to obtain noise free two-dimensional data Di&bgr;. Next, the two-dimensional data is deconvoluted, final standard deviation s0 is registered, and the deconvoluted two-dimensional data is reconvoluted to a retention intensity matrix. A quantitative spectral intensity matrix is computed, components are identified, and the identified components are quantified. The quantified data is displayed on a screen.

Abstract: A signal pattern representing a signal formed by quanta discretely distributed on a time base is generated. One of a plurality of destination circuits for branching is allocated to each of quanta within the generated signal pattern so that the ratio of the numbers of quanta in the plurality of destination circuits equals a predetermined branching ratio. A signal pattern representing a signal to be input to each of the destination circuits is generated assuming that each quantum enters only an allocated destination circuit. Thus, a result of processing of a signal processing apparatus for processing a signal formed by a very small number of quanta is predicted.

Abstract: Methods for searching stable docking models of biopolymer-ligand molecule complex, which comprise the steps of: (1) searching possible hydrogen-bond schemes between a biopolymer and a ligand molecule by preparing possible combination sets of hydrogen-bonding heteroatoms in the ligand molecule with dummy atoms located at the positions of heteroatoms that can be hydrogen-bond partners to hydrogen-bonding functional groups in the biopolymer; (2) estimating the possible the hydrogen-bond schemes between the biopolymer and ligand molecule and the possible conformations of a hydrogen-bonding part of the ligand molecule at the same time by comparing the distances between the dummy atoms with the distances between the hydrogen-bonding heteroatoms; and (3) obtaining the possible docking models of the biopolymer-ligand molecule complex by changing the coordinates of all atoms of the ligand molecule into the coordinate system of the biopolymer, according to the correspondences between the hydrogen-bonding heteroatoms in

Abstract: A progress note in a patient's medical record can be created in a database format which is unalterable. New versions of the notes which reflect revised viewpoints of the user may be created without deleting original notes. The database which stores these progress notes can check accuracy in diagnosis and orders by the user.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling remotely controlling power status of a remote device. The apparatus monitors information signals being transmitted to the remote device and from such information, determines whether to alter the power status of the remote device. The apparatus may include an uninterruptable power source to enable such remote control during an interrupt of main power to the apparatus.

Abstract: In a system having a plurality of apparatuses connected via a communication line, one apparatus serving as a master unit performs processing on data stored in the other apparatus or apparatuses. The apparatus serving as a master unit generates a work designation message containing a program statement and transmits it to the other apparatuses. The apparatus, receiving the message, performs data processing based on the message and transfers the message to another apparatus in a predetermined order. All the apparatuses connected to the communication line perform processing based on a received message and the processing is completed when the message is returned back to the master unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the automatic receipt and distribution of products, such as parenteral products from a hospital pharmacy or specimen from a laboratory, through a pneumatic tube transport system. The system of the present invention includes a method and apparatus for the automatic receipt of a pneumatic tube carrier, the automatic opening of the carrier, the loading of a product into the carrier, the automatic closing of the carrier, and the automatic distribution of the carrier into a pneumatic tube transport system.