Abstract: An inference apparatus predicts the class of a new instance whose class is unknown or generates a rule which is common to an instance set. In the inference apparatus, an instance memory section stores the instance set which each include attribute--value and class. The data type of the attribute--value is discrete type or continuous type. An instance expression section converts the attribute--value of discrete type to a first data expression and the attribute--value of continuous type to a second data expression. A parameter calculation section generates a linear function of each class in which the attribute--value is a variable and calculates a coefficient of each variable in the linear function by assigning one of the first data expression and the second data expression to the variables.

Abstract: A visual development system is described which allows a user to derive forms from other "ancestor" forms, inheriting their components, properties, and code as a starting point for one's own forms. During system operation, the user selects an "Inherit" menu choice for indicating to the system that the form to be created inherits from an existing ancestor form. Ancestor forms can be any forms already contained in an existing project or in an "object repository" provided by the system. Form inheritance allows the user to create a library of standard form templates, either within a single application or across an entire suite of applications. Any changes made to the ancestor form immediately appear in the descendant forms. Further, the use can customize each form type so derived while still retaining the ability to modify the standard form and have those changes reflected in the derived forms.

Abstract: An Intelligent Profiling Engine system contains a knowledge base and form base in which domain knowledge, forms, filters, rules, and clocks are represented. The system profiles users by presenting forms containing questions to users via multiple communication channels. Forms are selected based upon the results of utilizing filters, rules, and clocks to identify target populations of users. Filters, rules, and clocks also specify what information is important with respect to each user and how frequently information about each user must be refreshed. Liaisons present forms to users, store answers in a user data tank, and deliver benefits to users as a reward for answering questions. The system maximizes the utility of information gathered from users over time according to form weights. Thus, the invention is an automated profiling scheme.

Abstract: Remote installation of an update of software is forwarded by a management information system into a remote computer. When a primary communication path between the management information system and the remote computer is unavailable and an alternate communication path is available, a connection is established between the management information system and the remote computer using the alternate communication path. The management information system requests from the remote computer the current version information about the software within the remote computer. When the management information system determines the current version of the software within the remote computer needs to be updated, the management information system determines whether the alternate communication path is adequate for downloading the update of the software.

Abstract: A neuroprocessing center executes a neuroprocessing using a neurocomputer. The neuroprocessing center is a public facility available for a user having a user terminal and executes the neuroprocessing as requested by the user. The user is given a result of the neuroprocessing. It is unnecessary for a user to have a computer implementing the neural network and anyone can participate in the profits of the neuroprocessing service. Examples of neuroprocessing service achieved by the neural network are graphic pattern generating services, character recognition services, sound synthesizing services, etc. A result of the neuroprocessing is effectively used by the user.

Abstract: An integrated system and method for providing a flexible expert system development and runtime environment with an integrated natural language processor and set-oriented knowledge base. The system and process include an input device, a spreading activation module, a reasoning module, a decision module, and a knowledge base. The system and method may also include a natural language processing module. The spreading activation module utilizes the knowledge base, which is set-oriented with named relationships between concepts to traverse the knowledge base efficiently. The reasoning module executes related, nested logic statements which manipulate the complex facts in the knowledge base. The decision module selects the value or values from a list which are most relevant at the moment the module is called. The knowledge base represents all data in a nested, set-oriented manner. The system and method, in turn, produce an output in response to the input or command into the system.

Abstract: This invention describes a technology to improve the feature based comparison of images. The images are captured and their significant features are extracted. For a comparison only the feature values have to be compared instead of the images themselves. This leads to a significant reduction of storage space and calculation time needed. The reliability of the comparison is improved greatly by including also the individual variation ranges of the feature values and using a specialized neural net for classification.

Abstract: A questionless case-based knowledge base suitable for access by an intelligent search engine and an associated method for constructing the same from pre-existing on-line documentation. A case structure for questionless cases is determined. The determined case structure includes a first field for containing a title for a case, a second field for containing a description of the case and a third field for containing a solution for the case. On-line documentation having information directed to a plurality of topics, each of which includes a title portion and a contents portion, is then provided. The information directed to each of the plurality of topics is then reconfigured into the determined case structure such that the title portion of each topic is configured as a first field of a corresponding case and the contents portion of each topic is configured as a second field of the corresponding case.

Abstract: A remote controller for setting timer programming items wherein a display section is constructed in such manner that display items are provided in parallel with mechanical rotary switches, the distance between the rotary switches and their displays is adjacent and the relation between them becomes one to one correspondence, whereby an operator manipulates operational switches without making mistakes while looking at display items corresponding to the operational switches.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides a goal based learning system utilizing a rule based expert training system to provide a cognitive educational experience. The system provides the user with a simulated environment that presents a business opportunity to understand and solve optimally. Mistakes are noted and remedial educational material presented dynamically to build the necessary skills that a user requires for success in the business endeavor. The system utilizes an artificial intelligence engine driving individualized and dynamic feedback with synchronized video and graphics used to simulate real-world environment and interactions. Multiple "correct" answers are integrated into the learning system to allow individualized learning experiences in which navigation through the system is at a pace controlled by the learner.

Abstract: A system for processing an object specified by an object specifying language such as HTML, JAVA or other languages relying on relative positioning, that require a rendering program utilizing a minimum set of resources, translates the code for use in a target device that has limited processing resources unsuited for storage and execution of the HTML rendering program, JAVA virtual machine, or other rendering engine for the standard. Data concerning such an object is generated by a process that includes first receiving a data set specifying the object according to the object specifying language, translating the first data set into a second data set in an intermediate object language adapted for a second rendering program suitable for rendering by the target device that utilizes actual target display coordinates. The second data set is stored in a machine readable storage device, for later retrieval and execution by the thin client platform.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for modeling object-oriented systems includes an object modeling tool that defines methods and event transitions in an object-oriented system and generates an executable program that exhibits the behavior of the object-oriented system and interfaces with the object-oriented system. The object modeling tool further translates the event transitions to an execution language, wraps methods written in the target language, wraps event transitions corresponding to an event, and gathers one or more wrapped events and methods into an executable program.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of units 2 has the learning section 9 which updates the parameters PRM and performs learning. The learning means 9 modifies the parameters PRM based on the error signal OS' propagated from one unit to another. To build a system consisting of such units 2, the user uses the GUI or some other method to select the units 2 as well as the signal paths for connecting the units via the user interface, displays the system configuration status, and adjusts the functions of units 2. Therefore, an easy-to-build data processing system and a system-build system and method used to build such a system can be provided.

Abstract: A digital control system with a predetermined configuration automatically senses the connection to a network of a digital device that is not included in the predetermined configuration. The digital device is assigned temporary address information and placed in a temporary state, called a standby state, in which the digital device supplies information to the digital control system allowing a user to access the digital device including access of device information and configuration parameters. Using the device information and configuration parameters, a user selectively commissions the digital device by assigning a physical device tag, a device address, and a device identification, and installing a control strategy to the digital device, thereby placing the digital device in an operational state in communication with the digital control system.

Abstract: A development system providing methodology for improving system performance by decreasing recompilation of dependent source modules is described. During operation, the system keeps track of several pieces of information. From the outset, the system has kept track of the timestamps of sources (e.g., A.java file in a Java system) and compiled files thereof (e.g., A.class class file in a Java system). Examination of the timestamps leads to detection of those files which have been modified. The system will recompile A.java in the following circumstances: (1) A.class is not found, (2) A.java has a different timestamp, or (3) A.class has a different timestamp. Otherwise, the system does not invoke a recompile. If a recompilation in not required, the system then looks to the imports for determining whether the imports are consistent. Here, the system checks the timestamps of imports, possibly recompiling one or more of the modules providing the imports.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically evaluating a decisional rule containing a task and a condition which must be fulfilled before the task can be performed and for automatically performing the task when or whenever the condition is fulfilled in which a decisional rule is entered into computing means, parsed, and then processed such that automatic and continuing iterative evaluations of whether the condition is fulfilled are provided until the condition is fulfilled and then the task associated with the decisional rule is automatically performed and whereby further processing is resumed only after the condition is fulfilled.

Abstract: A framework for use with object-oriented programming systems provides a case-based reasoning (CBR) system shell that permits a framework user to develop a case base having case histories and generates a case-based reasoning system that receives user requests for query solutions and produces a query solution that can be incorporated into the case base. The framework includes a Session component that controls processing of the CBR system, a Control Flow component that manages the extension of the categories and classes of the OO framework, a Data Store component that stores persistent case structure definitions, case instances, and a change log, a Presentation component that manages the user interface to the CBR system user, and a Query Engine that evaluates a received query against the case base. The case definitions and case base descriptions comprise a set of object oriented classes that are organized into an inheritance hierarchy.

Abstract: A knowledge representation system which allows a user to utilize a description language to generate, maintain and access information in a knowledge base is disclosed. The knowledge representation system includes an explanation subsystem which explains where the derived information that is stored for a particular object was obtained from. A first level explanation function will provide a user with an explanation of the immediate source of the pieces of derived information that are stored for an object in the knowledge base. A complete explanation function provides a complete explanation by continuing to explain how the immediate source for each piece of the information itself received the information, until the source of the information is told information or the result of a rule firing. The explanation subsystem also explains subsumption inferences, which explain why a particular concept or rule antecedent is satisfied by a particular object.

Abstract: The present invention is a classification method and apparatus for classifying an input into one of a plurality of possible outputs. The invention is also a method and apparatus for adjusting a neuron encompassing a plurality of feature vectors. The invention characterizes the spatial distribution of the feature vectors. The invention then spatially adjusts the neuron in accordance with that characterization.

Abstract: In a fuzzy controller comprising a fuzzy inference device for subjecting one or a plurality of input signals to fuzzy inference operations using membership functions in accordance with a predetermined rule and outputting a non-fuzzy value determined on the basis of the results of the inferences, there are provided an input signal level converter for converting signal levels of the input signals on the input side of the fuzzy inference device and an output signal level converter for converting a signal level of the output signal on the output side of the fuzzy inference device.