Abstract: A dictionary system has a vendor computer and a plurality of client computers that communicate through the Internet. Each client computer has a word processor program with a spelling checker that utilizes a local main dictionary provided by the vendor and a local customized dictionary containing words added by the user. The vendor computer contains a dictionary of approved words, a database of misspelled words, and a database of requested words. When a user adds a new word to the local customized dictionary, an Internet request is sent to the vendor computer to add the new word to the dictionary of approved words. The user is notified by an Internet message from the vendor computer if the requested word is misspelled. The database of requested words from all users is reviewed periodically and utilized to update the approved dictionary. The updated dictionary is periodically released to the users as an upgrade to the local main dictionary.

Abstract: The method of the invention enables an application program to recover feature information regarding a managed entity without having any predefined knowledge regarding the managed entity. The method employs a database that is operated by a database management program which includes data structures that define each of plural managed entities and each management interface associated therewith. A "managed entity" is a data structure that lists all "management interfaces" present in a device that is to be utilized by a processor. A "management interface" is a data structure that includes one or more procedures for accessing a device and obtaining information regarding the device and a "proxy management interface" is a data structure that is established to store previously retrieved feature data. All devices with a same feature can be accessed by an identical management interface procedure.

Abstract: A processor for constructing a single processor system or multiprocessor system comprises, within a base processor element constituting the processor, two CPU with associated local memories, a dual-port RAM accessible from said CPUs, and a common bus switch circuit for connecting any one of said CPUs to a common bus shared by said CPUs.

Abstract: An item locating and path generating computer system creates personalized paths through structures by converting each of a set of items, objects, or locations of particular interest to a user to a corresponding set of destinations within the structure, and creating a path which includes each element in the set of destinations. The generated path may start at a structure entrance and end at a structure exit. The generated path may also reflect user desired characteristics such as least distance, least time, being at a specific point at a specific time, etc. In structures with multiple entrances or exits, multiple paths can be created and evaluated by above user criteria to find the best fit. The personalized paths can be stored, and automatically searched and queried in a variety of ways, such as aggregation. The invention includes a number of methods for creating a set of desired items, objects or locations of particular interest to a user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for an intelligent compiler. A query is executed in a computer to retrieve data from a relational database stored on a data storage device. One or more scripting language statements are compiled to generate an internal representation. Then, the execution of the scripting language statements is optimized using the generated internal representation.

Abstract: Files are stored along with embedded codes containing information useful in reconstructing a failed database that normally contains information about the files. Multiple user files are stored in the form of a managed file, identified by a managed filename. Storage of the managed file includes a number of sub-steps, among them the generation and storage of a first frame marker including a recognition pattern, the managed filename, a next-frame locator, and a sequence number distinguishing the first frame marker from other frame markers. Next, a self-describing header is generated and stored adjacent to the first frame marker. A first one of the user files is stored adjacent to the self-describing header. The self-describing header and following user file are exclusively associated with each other, and the header contains certain information about the adjacent user file.

Abstract: In a database system that stores database objects in partitioned mode using bins to represent storage locations at which individual records of an object are stored, after they have been partitioned into logical buckets, a cascaded round-robin mapping method assigns buckets to bins evenly, while minimizing the movement of buckets when new bins are added and while minimizing memory overhead requirements. The method includes entering a do loop for an index counter variable j=m to 0 by -1, wherein "m" is the number of times new bins have been added since the last database reorganization. A variable y is set equal to x modulo n.sub.j, wherein n.sub.j is the number of bins after the j.sup.th database expansion. If y.gtoreq.n.sub.j-1, y is established to be the bin identification. Buckets are moved to populate new bins based on modulo n+k, wherein k is the number of bins added in the current expansion.

Abstract: A system and method for augmenting a printed text with electronically stored data in the form of images, sounds and/or supplemental text. A printed book contains a plurality of pages of text. An electronic virtual book emulates the appearance of the printed book. The virtual book may only be accessed with a password that is contained in the printed book. The text of the book is augmented with information linked to the virtual book, including, for example, vocalization of the text of the book.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for query simplification by applying generalized inference propagation and generalized transitive closure in SQL queries having selection, projection, join, outer join, and intersection operations. The disclosed transformations and enumeration method unify and solve the problems of 1) unnesting join aggregate queries, and 2) complete enumeration of queries containing outer joins, when the outer join predicate references an aggregated value, or the predicate references more than two base relations in a query subtree. The system first eliminates redundant sub-expressions and modifies expensive binary operations to inexpensive binary operations, then converts complex predicates to simple predicates by application of a generalized selection (GS) operator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for parallelizing operations that change a database is provided. A coordinator process receives a statement that requires data to be written into the database. In response to the statement, the coordinator process assigns granules of work to multiple processes. Each of the multiple processes executes the granule of work by writing to the database a distinct portion of the set of data that is to be added to the database. The various portions of data are then merged to update the set of data to be added to the database.

Abstract: A system for obtaining target data from a conventional computer database in response to an input query which has at least one attribute includes a Type Abstraction Hierarchy (TAH) manager for providing a TAH structure including relaxation conditions for said at least one attribute. A control unit successively applies a database query which corresponds to the input query to and receives data from the database, with progressively relaxed conditions of the attribute(s) being provided by the TAH manager, until the target data in the form of a specified number of ranked answers which satisfy the attribute conditions is obtained. The attribute relaxation process can be controlled such as relaxation order, preference list, reject, etc. to obtain user and context specific answers. The system can produce approximate answers or answers to query with conceptual terms. The input query can including cooperative operators such as "APPROXIMATELY", "NEAR TO" or "SIMILAR TO" or conceptual terms (e.g.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying data from a database to a group of transactions is provided. A value is maintained for the group of transactions. The value indicates a target snapshot of the database. When a transaction within the group of transactions accesses a data item, it is determined whether the transaction can use the target snapshot. If the transaction can use the target snapshot, then the transaction is supplied a version of the data item that belongs to the target snapshot. If the transaction cannot use the target snapshot, then the transaction is supplied a version of the data item other than the version of the data item that belongs to the target snapshot. Trying to supply data from the same snapshot to all of the transactions in the group increases the likelihood that the transactions will be able to use the same version of any given data item.

Abstract: A printed book has associated therewith certain electronically stored data in the form of images, sounds and/or supplemental text. Visual cues are provided to the reader of the book in the vicinity of text having associated electronically stored data. The electronic data is preferably stored in a remotely accessible server. A graphical user interface is provided for controlling access to the data stored in the server. When the reader of the book wishes to access data associated with a portion of the text, the reader uses a computer pointing device to select or manipulate indicia on the graphical user interface corresponding to the visual cue in the book. The server retrieves the appropriate data which is then presented to the reader as images, sounds and/or supplemental text on the reader's computer, thereby providing a multimedia enhanced reading experience.

Abstract: A method and system for mapping between relational schema and object schema, wherein the relational schema includes a table having a tiebreaker column. In accordance with the present invention, an object-oriented application program may instantiate a persistent dependent object with one of two or more specific instances that is selected in response to the value of a data element in a tiebreaker column. Alternatively, an object-oriented application program may instantiate a persistent entity object in accordance with one of two or more entity classes that is selected in response to the value of a data element in a tiebreaker column.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for classifying network communication packets being processed in a network stack. The computer program product is a centralized packet classifier that receives classification requests from drivers or other clients according to a defined interface. This reduces the cost for producing a driver since less code is required initially at development time as well as a corresponding reduction in maintenance costs. The present invention groups drivers or other clients that utilize a certain body of classification information into classification families. Further, reference patterns used to make classifications are stored in separate databases depending on whether they are specific or general.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for of retrieving information. A first file of information is received which includes a first markup language to identify contents of the information. Responsive to the receiving the first file of information, the first file of information is parsed to generate a list of profiles, and at least one corresponding topic for each of the list of profiles. A second file in a second markup language is created containing the list of the profiles and at least one corresponding third file is created in a third markup language for the at least one corresponding topic for each of the list of profiles. The second file contains anchors referencing each at least one corresponding third file, and first markup instances in the first file of information are converted to second markup instances in either the second file or the third fie.

Abstract: A computer database for medical imaging stores and manipulates multimedia data from various sources and reduces misidentification of data. A unique identifier is generated and linked to each data object, preferably at the time the image is generated. A graphical representation of the identifier is incorporated into the image or text when displayed or printed. A detector may be used to read the representation, allowing the identifier to be read and identify the data.

Abstract: A design control system suitable for use in connection with the design of integrated circuits and other elements of manufacture having many parts which need to be developed in a concurrent engineering environment with inputs provided by users and or systems which may be located anywhere in the world providing a set of control information for coordinating movement of the design information through development and to release while providing dynamic tracking of the status of elements of the bills of materials in an integrated and coordinated activity control system utilizing a repository which can be implemented in the form of a database (relational, object oriented, etc.) or using a flat file system. Once a model is created and/or identified by control information design libraries hold the actual pieces of the design under control of the system without limit to the number of libraries, and providing for tracking and hierarchical designs which are allowed to traverse through multiple libraries.

Abstract: A Client/Server Database system is described which includes a Database Server providing methods for executing system-created internal command statements (e.g., SQL statements), such as those which ordinarily are submitted to the server by various Clients. The Database Server is modified so that it can be its own "user," thus removing the fundamental schism which had existed in prior systems. The system is allowed to issue SQL commands to itself and, thus, can do anything that either the system or the user can do. The methodology is particularly useful for carrying out upgrades. The system can now set flags that are not accessible to users. Unlike a standalone "utility" approach, however, authentication is assured. Here, the system is assured that a known user--itself--has issued the command. As a result, it is no longer necessary to expose "dangerous" system functions to users.

Abstract: A device for providing a low-cost mounting arrangement for a hall effect device to sense the speed of an electric motor. The device uses a plastic base fixed to or integrated into the motor bearing support and designed to hold a standard mass termination connector, hall effect device and leadwire harness which passes digital information to a circuit board for motor speed control.