Abstract: A tool to be used with a search engine for a information management system includes methods for refining, filtering, and organizing search queries and search results. A query tuner in the tool allows a user to automatically reformulate a query in order to find a reasonable number of matching documents from the search engine by selectively modifying individual search terms to be weaker or stronger and concurrently requesting a plurality of searches, each with a respectively different modified query. The tool also uses a dynamic filter which employs a dynamic set of record tokens to restrict the results of an arbitrary search query to selectively include or exclude records which correspond to the set of record tokens. The tool also includes a results organizer which aids the user in understanding and visualizing a large number of matching documents returned in response to a search query by clustering like items returned from the search.

Abstract: The present invention aims to effectively restrict access of a general user to an inappropriate information piece at the judgment of an information manager. In order to pick up a desired information from an information storage medium or an information communication network while excluding inappropriate information, an information manager inputs suitability of information (a teacher signal) to an information presented at a user terminal 21 to a group profile learning unit 16 and prepares a group profile reflecting suitability of the information as specified by the information manager using the teacher signal. At a score calculating unit 13, a score signal indicating suitability of information is calculated for each information using the group profile, and access of an information user in a group to inappropriate information is restricted.

Abstract: An operating system with a plurality of Native File System Drivers and related Device Drivers is provided with an installable Virtual File System Driver and a Virtual Device Driver for providing file access services to the Operating System through the Native File System Drivers by substituting a view application to provide a customized view of the defined part of the virtual file system.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein relates to cooperative computing environments and information retrieval and management methods and systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and systems for capturing and generating useful information about a user's access and use of data on a computer system, such as in the form of documents stored on remote servers, and making such useful information available to others. Documents on the computer system are accessible through a plurality of different methods, such as by specifying an identifier or locator for the document, activating a hyperlink in another document which points to the document, or navigating to the document through navigational commands in an application program such as a browser.

Abstract: A data processing method and system for providing an installable file system using a basic file system driver and for flexibility in the views of objects through an operating system. An embodiment of the present invention includes a virtual file system which includes virtual files and folders correlated to native folders. Requests to open specified virtual files invoke the native file system driver to open the native files referenced by the virtual file for the specified virtual files. In addition, a view application is provided for configurable views of the files in the file system wherein the custom views include custom attributes relating to the file.

Abstract: A method and system for allocating memory. The computer system on which the memory allocation system executes may support the simultaneous execution of multiple threads. Under control of a thread, the memory allocation system first identifies a bin associated with blocks (“lockers”) of memory large enough to satisfy a memory allocation request. When the identified bin has a free locker, the memory allocation system searches a circular list of headers associated with the identified bin for a collection of lockers (“warehouse”) that contains a locker that is available to be allocated. The memory allocation system allocates the found available locker to satisfy the request. If, however, the allocated bin has no free lockers, the memory allocation system allocates a warehouse with lockers large enough to satisfy the memory allocation request.

Abstract: A profile service, instance is linked to a plurality of external data stores. Each external data store is associated with a predefined data store connector class that describes a connector object that establishes a link and provides methods to query the associated data store. An external data store profile is created in the profile service that names the connector class. An external data store reference object is created in the profile service instance that identifies the external data store profile and a number of parameters that specify particular data desired from the external data store. A profile within the profile service instance includes an attribute that names the data store reference object. When the attribute is evaluated, the data store reference object is instantiated, optionally using parameters specified at runtime, and passed as a parameter to an instance of the data store connector class identified by the external data store profile.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating information exchange between individuals and entities interacting on a shared project are provided, and more particularly to a method and system for horizontal, i.e., non-hierarchical, participation in and/or contribution to a spreadsheet-based project. The method and system is Web-based and utilizes conventional browser and spreadsheet technology to achieve collaborative exchanges of information on an enterprise-wide basis. The method and system also facilitate efficacious remote information access and exchange, e.g., over a computer network such as the Internet and/or the World Wide Web, through a caching function that combines individual queries initiated by a spreadsheet program before transmitting across a network to a server for consideration.

Abstract: An ASIC design methodology in which portions of the ASIC are implemented in silicon or other suitable semiconductor technology at an early stage in the design flow through the use of a series of interim devices. The invention provides a method in which additional portions or subsystems of the integrated circuit are incorporated into successive versions of the interim device. In this manner, the invention provides for the gradual incorporation of a plurality of architectural subsystems into the integrated device such that the synthesis and verification of each iteration is broken into manageable pieces. In the preferred embodiment, this design method is facilitated by incorporating a programmable portion into the design flow of each interim device such that each interim device includes a custom portion into which the subsystems that have been implemented in silicon are fabricated and a programmable portion.

Abstract: An extension of the vector space model for computing chemical similarity using textual and chemical descriptors is described. The method uses a chemical and/or textual description of a molecule/chemical and a decomposes a molecule/chemical descriptor matrix by a suitable technique such as singular value decomposition to create a low dimensional representation of the original descriptor space. Similarities between a user probe and the textual and/or chemical descriptors are then computed and ranked.

Abstract: First and second computing devices each contain an object store which store objects indicative of file data. Synchronization components are provided to synchronize the objects while efficiently overcoming problems associated with synchronizing files.

Abstract: A device, a method and a system for providing control of access to data which is stored in an electronic data storage device. The device, method and system enable various types of permissions to be set for determining access to the stored data, such that if an attempt is made to access particular data which does not have a suitable permission type, access is denied. Preferably, the present invention is implemented as an access control device, such as a chip for example, which more preferably controls all access to the data storage device. This implementation is preferred, since such electronic devices are more difficult to “hack” for access by an unauthorized user.

Abstract: A reduced cell library includes substantially fewer cells than a complete cell library used to finalize the integrated circuit design. More particularly, each cell in the reduced cell library may be characterized by a first drive strength which is the same for each cell in the library. The reduced cell library can be used to evaluate the RTL description of an integrated circuit without incurring long synthesis delays. Large problems in the RTL description (with respect to one or more design goals) may be detected, and the RTL description may be modified to correct the problems.

Abstract: An electronic catalog requisition system includes software for efficiently selecting items from a database. The software accepts search terms from a user, and then executes a sequence of search strategies on the database which may include a proximity search, a word count search, and a fuzzy logic search. The sequence is terminated when a search algorithm has uncovered at least one match. Each database entry has a corresponding product category. A list of categories from each of the matching products is dynamically compiled and displayed to the user. The user can page through the list of displayed matches, or alternatively can create a subset of the list by selecting only the items within one of the categories. In addition, the user can further refine the list of items by selecting those items having a particular attribute. The software can also maintain a list of synonyms for attributes as an aid for finding appropriate matches within the database.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing topic drift in queries in hyperlinked environments uses equivalence components for ranking pages containing information that is relevant to the topic of a user query input to a search engine. The method includes the step of providing a query to a search engine, where the query represents a predetermined topic; retrieving at least one page associated with the query; constructing a graph representing the pages in memory; creating at least one equivalence component representing a subset of the graph; processing each equivalence component; eliminating the equivalence component in accordance with whether it matches the predetermined topic; and ranking the remaining pages.

Abstract: A method of automatically generating a custom device layout includes the step of specifying a device type and an associated set of device parameters. The device type is then matched to a selected cell in a cell library. Physical layout regions of the selected cell are then selectively modified in accordance with the device parameters. The physical layout regions may also be selectively modified in accordance with technology design rules in a design rule library. The physical layout regions of the selected cell are then drawn.

Abstract: A method of using a binary tree data structure to represent a time-varying variable, and to solve queries about the variable. The tree is especially useful for solving “find” type queries, such as “What is the earliest/latest time when a minimum of y units are on hand?” The binary tree is comprised of delta nodes that store delta values, that is, changes in the value of the variable. A delta value may be an “override” value, which represents a predetermined change in value of the function, such as a capacity value of a resource that is periodically replenished.

Abstract: A management information loader is used in connection with a management information server, the management information server using management information in connection with performing least one management operation in connection with a network comprising a plurality of interconnected devices. The management information loader comprises an operator interface module, a plurality of compilers and a control module. The operator interface module enables an operator to provide a management information file identification identifying at least one management information file containing management information to be used by the management information server. Each of the compilers facilitates conversion of files containing management information from a respective format to a common format.

Abstract: A funds transfer system for facilitating electronic funds transfer between a payor and a payee by means of an intermediate trusted third party comprises: a payor station including a device for electronic communication of a payment order, the payment order comprising the payee's name, address and an amount owed by the payor to the payee; a home banking system including a computer structured to communicate electronically at least with the payor station, to receive the payment order, and with the trusted third party; a trusted third party system associated with the trusted third party, the trusted third party system comprising a computer structured to communicate electronically with both the home banking system and a bank of the payee.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are defined for assigning keywords to media objects in files. The media objects include image, video and audio, for example. Various criteria are used for assigning the keywords, including measuring visual distance, measuring syntactical distance, detecting regular patterns in a table and detecting groups of images.