Abstract: System and method for filing electronic data as a file with accompanying full-text searching data which is extracted from the text data of the file. A filing process section controls a registering/searching function of the system and extracts full-text searching data from the text data of the file. A searching process section executes registering/searching the extracted full-text searching data for improving system efficiency.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of on-line diagnosis of insulation degradation in a portion of underground cable including measuring the current flow at first and second locations of the cable utilizing an optical current sensor at one of a number of current frequencies, determining the current flow differential at that frequency, and analyzing the results of the current flow differential determination according to a corrosion test, a partial discharge analysis, a harmonic current analysis or a tangent delta diagnostic.

Abstract: This disclosure presents a technique of field-level caching in distributed object-oriented systems, in which a speculative approach is taken to identify opportunities for caching. The speculative approach is particularly suitable for exploitation of opportunities for caching. Invalidation protocols, which are fully compliant with the Java memory model, are provided to recover from incorrect speculation, while incurring only a low overhead. The technique has been implemented on a cluster of machines, and has been found to be readily scalable with multi-threaded applications. Field caching, optionally combined with other optimizations, produces a practically important performance step up in distributed environments, such as the cluster virtual machine for Java, which transparently distributes an application's threads and objects among the nodes of a cluster.

Abstract: A method and apparatus make keyword selection and/or weighting as a function of a session history of user input in order to answer queries submitted by the user to a computer system by providing answers based on stored documents. The aim is to find the best answers by matching stored natural language documents both to the most recent query and to the most latest query in a context that captures the recent history interaction. To do this, answers are matched against a set of keywords extracted from the most recent query as well as a set of keywords extracted from those queries received since the last topic switch was detected. A central feature of the method is for the computer system implementing this method to maintain a session history for each user session history. Keywords are extracted from each query by a system implementing this method. A graded keyword list is a list of keywords paired with ages, which are indicators of how long ago in the session the user employed this keyword in a query.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and mechanism to selectively evaluate data items and search queries for privacy violations. According to an embodiment of the invention, attributes of a data item are identified and quantified to evaluate its potential to violate privacy interests. Search queries can be evaluated before accessing the records according to an embodiment, which improves operating efficiency and provides additional privacy protections. The query evaluation determines whether to disallow a query or withhold a query result if an individual or a small group of individuals can be identified by the results or if variables revealed will violate privacy policies. Also, the invention enables a provider of information to systematically evaluated the selectivity and visibility of attributes that are analyzed to allow or disallow queries and to set thresholds for different combinations of attributes.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting shared system files enhances system stability by preventing system files shared by applications, such as DLL files, from being overwritten with invalid files during installation or update of applications or by user actions. A monitoring component monitors changes to the system files. When the monitoring component detects that a protected system file is being changed, it saves a copy of the original file and informs a file protection service of the change. The file protection service checks the modified file to determine whether it is valid. If the modified file is invalid, the system file is restored to its original contents using the copy saved by the monitoring component. Unauthorized importation of system files by application installers or update packages is prevented by requiring the use of a certificate issued by a party with proper authority.

Abstract: A highly accurate instantaneous numerical analysis software assists on on-line and nondestructive in situ measurement method and instrument for the measurement of complex permittivity of materials in solid, semisolid, granular, sheet, thin and thick films, as well as materials in the liquid state. Such materials may include ceramics, polymer, semiconductor, or dielectric materials used in a circuit board and integrated Circuit manufacturing materials. The measuring instrument is a near field, non-contract apparatus in the form of one from the group of microstrip, coplanar waveguide and asymmetric inhomogeneous stripline. The frequency range may be 50 MHz onwards. The instrument includes a sweep oscillator, a resonator, a detector, a power meter to measure transmitted power with respect to the input signal frequency, a computer and an interface device.

Abstract: A workflow management system provides an integrated approach to exchanging information real-time and notifying responsible persons of pending deadlines concerning a particular deal. The web-based system includes a server having a centralized database of deal data and at least one client system facilitates a method of uploading initial proposed deal data, notifying an underwriter of the uploaded proposal, uploading a workflow timeline for the proposed deal and notifying responsible persons that actions for tasks are due according to the timeline. The workflow management system is further configured to restrict database access to authorized users for viewing of and providing updates to the deal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the length of a cable link in a computer network sends a test signal through the cable and examines how the signal is received. Measurements of the signal transit time, decrease in signal amplitude, and decrease in signal power are three techniques that may be used to measure cable lengths, individually or in combination. One or more transceivers are connected to the cable to send and receive the test signals, so that there is no need for access to the cable, except at the ends. Cable lengths may be calculated for both electrically conductive and fiber optic type cables. The length of an existing cable may be compared with a maximum length allowed by a particular data transfer protocol to verify compliance, or it may be compared against a previously stored value for purposes such as security checks to verify that the cable properties have not been altered as they might be if the cable were tapped, rerouted or extended.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for facilitating the providing of client data to remote data processing systems. A user of a client data processing system can automatically communicate arbitrary amounts, and types, of application independent data to a remote data processing system through a minimal user action such as a single mouse selection, or a single keypad invocation. The application independent data comprises a set of data instances, each data instance including a data item, data type, and a user assigned label. A remote application is interfaced to through a minimal action solicitation prompt having associated application data rules. Application data rules comprise a set of sought data instances, each sought data instance including a label, acceptable data type(s), seek requirements, and validity criteria.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and mechanism for consolidating data. According to an embodiment of the invention, consolidation is performed based upon transformation rules established for data to be consolidated. An aspect of an embodiment of the invention relates to performing data transformations to resolve potential consolidation conflict issues. Another aspect of an embodiment of the invention relates to validation procedures performed after transformation.

Abstract: A novel microwave sensor (10, 60, 70, 90, 200, 250, 280) provides low-cost, robust measurement of the electrical properties of fluid substances. The sensor is suitable for use in an industrial vessel or pipe and employs parallel electrical transmission paths (12,14) that differ in electrical or physical length. The electrical length of each transmission path, which may be a two-way path caused by placing a reflective element in each path, is further determined by the electrical properties of the material under test. The frequency (f) of the signal being applied to the sensor is varied in a known manner such that the difference in the electrical lengths (&Dgr;L) of the transmission paths (12, 14) is caused to correspond to an odd integral multiple of a half wavelength. When the frequency is so adjusted and the signals that have traversed the transmission paths are allowed to coherently interfere with one another, then a minimum resultant signal or null is obtained.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for maintaining a queue structure having data nodes within a computer memory. The queue is maintained by the steps of maintaining a pool of available data nodes for use in maintaining the queue structure. Data is added to the queue structure by adding a nodes to the queue structure. Each data node includes a data portion, a link for addressing other data nodes in the queue structure, and an identifier. Data within the queue is accessed and then removed from the queue but the data nodes are preserved in memory by adding them to the pool of available data nodes. New data nodes are added to the queue by first checking the data pool, which in an exemplary embodiment is in the form of a stack, to determine if there are any nodes available in the pool before creating a new data node.

Abstract: A method, computer product, and system for pushdown analysis during query plan generation is provided. Rather than do pushdown analysis for portions of a query that are query execution plan independent, the present invention provides pushdown analysis for features of a query that are plan dependent. This is done by evaluating a portion of the query plan for pushdownability to a remote database system; and if pushdownable to the remote database system, generating cost parameters for the portion of the plan if executed at a local database system and if executed at the remote database system. With both sets of cost parameters, the query optimizer has added information on which to select an optimal query plan.

Abstract: A method and a device are described for evaluating a signal from an ionic current sensor of an internal combustion engine. Based on a signal from the ion current sensor, at least one quantity characterizing the combustion in the internal combustion engine is determined. At least one quantity characterizing a combustion start and/or a combustion quality is determined by conditioning the signal.

Abstract: A high efficiency electronic load has a switch mode power factor corrected (PFC) input rectifier circuit that provides a high voltage positive and negative direct current (DC) voltage to drive a switching inverter that in turn delivers an output alternating current (AC) back into an AC power line. The input PFC circuit is phase and frequency controlled by the input AC power line which allows the input and output to be operating at completely different frequencies.

Abstract: A system of synchronizing multiple devices utilizing a host system. In one embodiment, the present invention first synchronizes a first device with the host system. Next, the present invention synchronizes a second device with the host system. In so doing, the second device receives all changes which were entered directly into the host system, along with changes from the first device as of the last synchronization between the first device and the host system. If desired, the user may then synchronize the first device with the host system to get the changes from the second device. One embodiment of the present invention allows for any number of devices to be synchronized in this fashion, without having to connect the devices together for a single synchronization. Another embodiment of the present invention allows two devices to perform a pseudo-synchronization process.

Abstract: Apparatus for using electrochemical noise analysis to assess the coating upon a conductive substrate comprises an electrolyte-containing cell, a witness electrode, a reference electrode and a working conductor. The electrolyte-containing cell is securely coupled with the coated conductive substrate so that the electrolyte is contiguous with a coated area of the metal substrate, which is demarcated by an electrolytic contact-permitting aperture in the electrolyte-containing cell. The witness electrode contacts the electrolyte and connects to an ammeter. The reference electrode contacts the electrolyte and connects to a voltmeter. Via the working conductor, the ammeter and the voltmeter each connect to a noncoated region of the metal substrate. The conductive substrate's coated area which contacts the electrolyte effectively represents a working electrode. Practice “in the field” is possible relative to coated conductive substrates associated with diverse entities.

Abstract: Methods for sharing a file while maintaining consistency among instances of the file managed by a file system are disclosed. One exemplary method includes associating a file consistency protocol with an operating system (O/S). The file consistency protocol maintains file consistency between instances of the file associated with the file system using a set of file consistency protocol bits. The method then includes opening an instance of the file in a shared mode by setting a shared bit in the set of file consistency protocol bits associated with the file. A determination is then made as to the existence of another instance of the file. A shared bit the set of file consistency protocol bits associated with the another file is then set. In accordance with the method, a modification is made to the contents (e.g., data or attributes) of the instance of the file. A modified bit is then set in the set of file consistency protocol bits of the instance of the file.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for acquiring and presenting data for business analysis, and a computer readable media having program instructions for enabling the same are provided. One exemplary method identifies a set of data sources to be accessed for a user, acquires raw data from the data sources, stores the raw data from the data sources to raw data type specific locations and the verifies the integrity of the stored raw data. Next the acquired raw data is transferred to processed data type specific compartments. The transferring process further includes detecting the data type of each of the raw data type specific compartments and converting the raw data to a uniform data type. The processed data is then transferred to a temporary database where display rules are applied. A requested report is then presented to the customer.