Abstract: A content delivery system, a method thereof, and a content reproducing device are provided. The content reproducing device comprises a content separator, an insufficient content storing section, and a server. The content separator separates or divides content into an insufficient content and a complementary content. The insufficient content storing section stores the insufficient content sent (outputted) from the content separator. The server includes a storing means for storing the complementary content sent from the content separator, and sends the complementary content to the content reproducing device via a network. The content reproducing device acquires the complementary content from the server and the insufficient content from the insufficient content storing section. Thereafter, the content reproducing device reproduces the content using the insufficient content and the complementary content.

Abstract: A portable security system mounted in a portable data storage cartridge for managing access by users to the cartridge. A programmable computer processor mounted in the cartridge is powered by and transfers data to a data storage drive via a wireless RF interface, when mounted in the drive. A user table has a unique user identifier for each authorized user and lists permitted activities of the user for the cartridge. The user identifier comprises a user symbol and a user decrypting sender public key. An authentication message from the authorized user is encrypted by a sender private key and a receiver public key. The cartridge processor decrypts the message employing a receiver private key and the sender public key, whereby the user authentication message is known to have come from the user and grants access to the user for the listed activities for the cartridge.

Abstract: A database management system provides the capability to perform cluster analysis and provides improved performance in model building and data mining, good integration with the various databases throughout the enterprise, and flexible specification and adjustment of the models being built, but which provides data mining functionality that is accessible to users having limited data mining expertise and which provides reductions in development times and costs for data mining projects. The database management system for in-database clustering comprises a first data table and a second data table, each data table including a plurality of rows of data, means for building a clustering model using the first data table, means for building a rule-based model using the clustering model, and means for applying the rule-based model using the second data table to generate apply output data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of estimating cardinalities using statistical soft constraints in a relational database management system. The statistical soft constraints are generated from statistical information gathered with respect to virtual columns. The virtual columns are the result of operations involving one or more columns in the database. When a query is received, the database management system determines whether any of the virtual columns are of interest because they involve expressions or relations that are also reflected in the query. The database management system then develops statistical soft constraints from the statistical characteristics of the virtual column and uses those statistical soft constraints to assist in estimating the cardinality of a step in the query plan. The virtual columns may or may not be actually materialized into a column of values.

Abstract: A method of de-identifying data, wherein the data to be de-identified is stored in a transaction table containing transactions and a personal information table containing identifiable information. The method includes the steps of generating a de-identification pointer associated with an individual in the personal information table, wherein the individual is associated with at least one transaction in the transaction table; creating a non-protected transaction table, wherein the non-protected transaction table includes a non-protected transaction reference and non-protected information associated with a transaction from the transactional table; and creating an index table including the identification and the non protected transaction reference. According to a preferred embodiment, the identification is advantageously unique and may also lack context to the individual. According to a further feature, the identification may be random or pseudo-random.

Abstract: In a digital data processing system having an on-line file system component, a method and apparatus for archiving the contents of a selected client volume stored on the file system. The archiving is performed automatically, beginning with an initial duplication of the existing contents of the client volume into an archive volume, then continuing as changes, including additions, deletions and modifications, are made to the files comprising the client volume. Older, previously-archived versions of modified files are gracefully discarded so as to moderate the rate of growth of the archive volume. The archive volume may be used to restore the client volume, either selectively or in whole, in the event of inadvertent damage to, or loss of, files in the client volume.

Abstract: A computer implemented and interactive system for obtaining a patient's symptoms and other indications of disease, which are utilized to determine the probable existence of disease. The program generates a series of inquiries which are displayed to a patient who is asked to identify the body part which the patient believes is causing a physical or mental problem. The system's program uses a database of diseases and related symptoms to generate questions. Based upon the patient's answer to each question, the program determines the probability that the patient has one of the diseases contained in the database. When the patient has completed answering all of the questions, the system's program generates a report of the probable existence diseases, including the patient's most probable disease.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for recursively backing up modified data files where only modified data files are backed up and that provide a user with an efficient way to determine which original files have been modified to allow the user to readily locate original files if the user is not satisfied with any modifications to the original files. A mirror memory structure is created, but only modified files are saved to the mirror memory structure and modified files bear the same names as original files to assist in easily locating original files.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for archiving files. A hierarchical file system having directories is provided. An archival retention policy is associated with at least one of the directories in the hierarchical file system, wherein the retention policy applies to files included in the associated directory, and wherein the retention policy specifies a retention time indicating a time period during which a file is subject to the retention policy.

Abstract: A reporting engine for generating customized reports from relational data stored in a database. Metadata associated with the data in the database describes the data according to one or more characteristics of the data. One or more of tables organizing the metadata is exposed as a dimension having at least one column of attributes. The reporting enging compares search criteria, specified by a request from a user, to the metadata attributes, and executes a predefined procedure for retrieving selected data from the database. The procedure constructs a query as a function of the comparison between the search criteria and the metadata attributes for implementing the query to optimize retrieval of the selected data from the database. Other aspects of the invention are directed to computer-readable media for use in connection with the reporting engine.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise a method and apparatus for transforming data. Systems implementing the invention allow for loading the data from one or more source tables into one or more destination tables. The system allows for parsing source data fields, defining new source data fields, combining source fields to create source field combinations, and combining destination fields to create destination field combinations. The system allows for mapping source fields and values to destination fields and values, where either the source fields and values or destination fields and values may be field and value combinations, and allows for transforming field values based on destination field type. The tools provided in a system implementing the invention provide a user the ability to intervene at each step during the data transform task. A user may manually input a hierarchy definition, a specific mapping, define rules for combining data fields, or define rules for converting data values.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a system for real-time addition of statistics definitions and for achieving real-time reporting in a telephone switching system, comprising a database containing information of essential importance to the telephone switching system; a database manager whose function is to maintain the database; and one or more service providers. In the method, a registration of the service provider is received by the database manager; the service provider is asked by means of the database manager to supply information about the services.

Abstract: A method of updating a computer file from an old file into a new file comprises blocking the new file and the old file into fixed-size blocks, maintaining a window (collection of contiguous blocks) for each file on which lookup preprocessing has been performed, and performing match processing on each new file block in turn (comparing against both the old and new windows) using a key-sampling technique combined with approximate matching. For each new file block, the match information is then optimized for coding efficiency and encoded into a patch file that describes an algorithm for converting the old file into the new file. The patch file application method and apparatus then performs the algorithm described in the patch file. The method uses a fixed amount of random-access memory regardless of the sizes of the two files and uses no temporary mass storage.

Abstract: A system and a method are described for rapidly determining document similarity among a set of documents, such as a set of documents obtained from an information retrieval (IR) system. A ranked list of the most important terms in each document is obtained using a phrase recognizer system. The list is stored in a database and is used to compute document similarity with a simple database query. If the number of terms found to not be contained in both documents is less than some predetermined threshold compared to the total number of terms in the document, these documents are determined to be very similar. It is shown that these techniques may be employed to accurately recognize that documents, that have been revised to contain parts of other documents, are still closely related to the original document. These teachings further provide for the computation of a document signature that can then be used to make a rapid comparison between documents that are likely to be identical.

Abstract: Directly operating on data structures in a generic manner regardless of the type of data structure being operated upon and without requiring dedicated executable code for manipulating data structures of the particular data type. A common set of commands (e.g., insert, delete, replace, update, query) are recognized that may be used to operate on data structures of a number of different data types. A navigation module accesses a request to execute one of the common command methods on at least an identified portion of an identified data structure. Then, the navigation module accesses a navigation assistance module to access a set of rules associated with the particular data type, the set of rules allowing the navigation module to find the portion of the data structure that is to be operated on. If appropriate, the command operation is then executed on the identified portion of the data structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for indicating that a link on a web page is to an external link previously this was done by the webmaster. The current method carries this out by the client software comparing the domain name of the current document's URL with that of the link in question, and applying a visual indicator to the link if it is external.

Abstract: A plurality of NAS heads 1 to 4 can access a shared LU 18 which stores a shared resource 21 and a count value for the NAS head 1. The NAS head 1 comprises a use resource registration/delete section 35 which accesses the shared resource 21 if the shared resource is in unused status, and does not access the shared resource 21 if the shared resource 21 is used by another NAS head 2 to 4, and a reset section 39 for resetting the count value to zero. The NAS head 2 cancels the use status and release the shared resource 21 to the unused status if the count value exceeds a predetermined threshold and the shared resource 21 remains in use status being used by the NAS head 1. Exclusive control for using a shared resource is performed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for defining and distributing information alerts include presenting a user with a series of templates that allows the user to define security events, information alerts to be triggered by the events, and intended recipients for the alerts. Intended recipients for the alerts are presented with templates that allow the individuals to input contact and schedule information for receiving the information alerts. A knowledge switch uses the event definitions and the contact and schedule information to detect events and distribute the information alerts to the intended recipients when an event occurs. The information alerts include directives that instruct intended recipients regarding action to be taken in response to a security event.

Abstract: A taxonomy is disclosed for describing mobile electronic services (MES) comprising a tree structure for organizing descriptive characteristics of the MES, wherein the tree structure includes: a root level for identifying an environment to which the MES is directed; a service model level for identifying a plurality of service categories; an entity level for identifying a plurality of accessing entity categories; a platform level for identifying a plurality of available component platforms; a class level for identifying a plurality of application characteristics; and an application level for identifying a plurality of specific MES applications; and metadata for identifying additional information relevant to selection of the MES.

Abstract: A comprehensive set of risk groups explicitly identifies groups of individuals with multiple interacting co-morbid conditions, and which explicitly identifies the severity of illness level. This allows accurate prediction of future health care resource needs of an entire population, while simultaneously helping the health care provider isolate problems to identify changes in care to reduce costs and improve quality.