Abstract: An inventory management system includes a database for storing object oriented network inventory data. Data on network components is input into the database as different selected classes of objects. An object identifier is selectively added dependent on the class of object. At least one class of objects can accommodate other objects such that is stored as a modified object tree without all objects contributing to the object identifier.

Abstract: Conventional electronic information retrieval systems using specialist databases assume that the database being searched is appropriate to the search being conducted. The invention solves the problem that the above assumption may be incorrect. It does this by providing mechanisms (4, 4A and 4B) for identifying concepts respectively in: the search input question, a specialist database and a non-specialist database. A comparator 8 and associated mechanisms are able to analyze how the specialist database differs from the non-specialist database and to use this information to derive an indication of the ability of the specialist database to answer the input question. This indication can be fed to the user via interface 1 or in an alternative arrangement could be used to block inappropriate information.

Abstract: To provide a data protection method which allows data to be protected even when there is any access beyond administrator's intention. The data protection method for accepting an access request for a file stored in a file system of a storage device and referring or updating to the file based on the access request, includes the steps of: determining whether a current time is within a preset monitoring period; obtaining a snapshot of the file system when the time reaches the monitoring period (S101); and updating the file system with the snapshot when the time reaches end of the monitoring period (S106).

Abstract: Provides methods, apparatus, and systems for computer aided authoring. Included are: a method for browsing an electronic document, an apparatus for aided authoring, an electronic document browser, a method for retrieving an electronic document, a system for retrieving electronic documents, a method for subscribing and publishing an electronic document as well as a system for subscribing and publishing electronic documents. An example method for computer aided authoring includes: generating one or more topic summaries based on an electronic document while a writer is writing said electronic document, wherein the reliability of the topic summary is ensured by the writer; and saving said topic summary information in correspondence with said electronic document.

Abstract: A system limits search results based on context information. The system obtains the context information and a search query, and obtains a set of references to documents in response to the search query. The system then filters the set of references based on the context information and presents the filtered set of references to a user.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a plurality of content items employs a plurality of storage volumes that may be checked out, with or without previously archived content items stored on them, and that may be checked in, with or without new or changed content items stored on them. The content items may be audio content, video content, audio/video content, or the like. The plurality of storage volumes may be removable hard disk drives, virtual storage, storage locations on a storage device or devices, or the like. When a storage volume is checked in, embodiments of the system and method may detect whether new or changed content items are stored on the storage volume and any new or changed content items may be archived. When a content item is archived, the content may be stored along with related metadata and with an association between the content item and the related metadata.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of time-wise data reduction that include the steps of inputting data from a source; summarizing that data according to one or more selected epochs in which it belongs; and generating for each such selected epoch one or more RDF triples characterizing the summarized data. The data source may be, for example, a database, a data stream or otherwise. The selected epoch may be a second, minute, hour, week, month, year, or so forth. The triples may be output in the form of RDF document objects. These can be stored, for example, in a hierarchical data store such as, for example, a WebDAV server. Triples parsed from the document objects may be maintained in a relational store that is organized, for example, according to a hashed with origin approach.

Abstract: The invention relates to backup processing for performing backup of data used in an information processing device having a storage unit. When data has been updated, updated bit information indicating that the data has been updated is stored in an update bitmap management table stored in the storage unit. When the number of updated bit information in the update bitmap management table has reached a differential backup reference value for estimating differential backup time, the backup of data corresponding to the updated information is commanded. When the command for the backup is received, the updated bit information stored in the update bitmap management table in the storage unit is read out. Then, the backup of the data corresponding to the updated bit information is obtained.

Abstract: Determining similarity among recipes is disclosed. A computer-implemented method of one embodiment of the invention receives a first recipe. The method determines one or more second recipes that are similar to the first recipe, and then outputs the one or more second recipes. The second recipes may be determined as being similar to the first recipe based on one or more different factors in one embodiment. Such factors may include: a weighted ingredient coefficient; a weighted same-type coefficient taking into account whether recipes are of the same type; a weighted same-title words coefficient taking into account the extent to which non-common title words of one recipe are also within the titles of other recipes; a weighted shared-keywords coefficient taking into account shared keywords among recipes; and, a weighted shared-ingredients coefficient taking into account the extent to which ingredients are shared among recipes.

Abstract: There is provided a copying apparatus and a method of controlling the same which are capable of performing a proper search for an original file even when the image quality of the original is heavily degraded such that the additional information cannot be read or is not correctly recognized, to thereby obtain a copy without degradation in image quality regardless of the condition of the original. Additional information is read from an image signal from an original inputted by a scanner unit. A search is carried out for an original file corresponding to the original based on the read additional information. A printer outputs a copy of the original using the original file found as a result of the search. The additional information is displayed and edited. The search is controlled using the edited additional information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for accessing and organizing data items, including items of digital media, such as digital images, video stream, audio stream, text documents and the like. An object model defines a plurality of data object classes, including a media object class for representing items of digital media and a tag object class for representing categories of digital media. A request for one or more data items specifies a search condition. A collection of one or more data objects instantiated from the data object classes is generated, whereby the data objects in the collection represent data items satisfying the search condition. An iterator configured to sequentially access the data items represented by the data objects in the collection of data objects is generated and used to sequentially access the data items.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing a first data repository with a second data repository is disclosed. The method includes: a) detecting a change to data in the first data repository; b) communicating the change from the first data repository to the second data repository via the Internet using SOAP over HTTP; and c) updating data in the second data repository with the change. The system includes a first computing device which communicates with the first data repository and a second computing device which communicates with the second data repository. The first computing device detects a change to data in the first data repository and communicates the change to the second computing device via the Internet using SOAP over HTTP. The second computing device updates data in the second data repository with the change.

Abstract: A computerized method and system of document analysis. The method and system categorise documents according to a taxonomy. This is accomplished by rating training documents on a lower level by associating either of the following predicates to a training document: either correct, inbound, outbound, or unassigned, Rating categories are established on a lower level by determining precision/recall values for each category, and generating higher level category rating attributes from the lower-level rating steps. This is done by associating one or more of: aa) weak category, bb) existing source/sink relationship between categories, cc) close categories to the categories, and deriving an overall quality measure for the training base from the lower-level and higher-level rating step. The lower-level and higher-level evaluation results are stored.

Abstract: An optimistic, latch-free index traversal (“OLFIT”) concurrency control scheme is disclosed for an index structure for managing a database system. In each node of an index tree, the OLFIT scheme maintains a latch, a version number, and a link to the next node at the same level of the index tree. Index traversal involves consistent node read operations starting from the root. To ensure the consistency of node read operations without latching, every node update operation first obtains a latch and increments the version number after update of the node contents. Every node read operation begins with reading the version number into a register and ends with verifying if the current version number is consistent with the register-stored version number. If they are the same, the read operation is consistent. Otherwise, the node read is retried until the verification succeeds. The concurrency control scheme of the present invention is applicable to many index structures such as the B+-tree and the CSB+-tree.

Abstract: A network computer server system for controlling a plurality of network access lines to provide subscriber access to a computer network comprising an access line interface for partitioning the plurality of network access lines as first and second stage lines, including a processor encoded with instructions. The instructions include determining an available number of second stage lines; queuing arriving subscribers bidding for network access in the first stage lines; determining a spot price of the resource based on at least one arrival subscriber not admitted to the second stage lines; determining a reservation fee for secured access to the network; determining whether a subscriber has accepted or rejected the reservation fee; controlling the access line interface to disconnect from the network non-reserved subscribers whose bid prices are below the spot price; and activating a reservation of reserved subscribers whose bid price is below the spot price.

Abstract: A process control system includes multiple zones containing process control network communicatively interconnected to exchange information necessary to monitor the system and to perform process control. Each zone may include an inter-zone server that controls the exchange of information between the zones via communication links. In addition to controlling the routing of information between the zones, the inter-zone servers may perform additional processing on the information being exchanged, such as security monitoring, language translation and version control.

Abstract: An electronic board system includes an electronic board having a screen for displaying information of interest to a work group or community, an input device for receiving information from users in a group or community to be displayed on the electronic board, a memory for storing information received from the input device and a processor for selecting which information stored in the memory to display on the screen, where and how to display the selected information on the screen and displaying the selected information on the screen. The processor selects which information to display in accordance with a predetermined relationship based on a group-based recommendation criteria and user interest. A plurality of sensors disposed behind the screen detect user interest in information displayed on the screen near the sensor. User interest may also be determined by monitoring user requests for copies of information displayed on the screen.

Abstract: The Electronic Compliance Promoter is a computer system for increasing a patient's compliance with medical post-care treatment instructions. The system permits the patient to review the treatment instructions that have been entered into a treatment instructions database by medical personnel at the time of the examination. The system includes a patient-client computer interface, a medical person-client interface, a treatment instructions database, and a compliance-server program. The database contains the post-visit care instructions and other types of information that the patient should have to understand and follow those instructions. The database also has treatment guideline information to assist the doctor in formulating the post-care treatment instructions.

Abstract: A tool is provided for testing integration logic in a hub-and-spoke integration scheme. The testing tool exercises all spokes of the integration project for all objects in the model. A test document is sent to each adapter, which converts the generic objects to application specific objects and then converts the application specific objects back to generic objects. The testing tool then documents the return document of each spoke. The result is a catalog of total mappings, partial mappings, and empty mappings. These results may be analyzed to identify disagreements, lost data, and unused fields. The model may then be corrected by updating the mappings.

Abstract: In an illustrative method for populating a database for use in automated administration of network elements, data that describes network elements in a telecommunication system is aggregated from existing systems. The aggregated data is formatted for loading into the telecommunication system. The formatting may include, for example, creating circuit data that identifies circuits, or groupings, that exist in the telecommunication system. The formatting may also comprise formatting network element data to conform to a new database format. Thereafter, the network element data is loaded into the new database. This step may comprise loading the circuit data and the network element data. Finally, the results of the load operation, including any error messages, are retrieved.