Abstract: Valid positions for hyphens in input strings are determined by reading in and processing the symbols of the input string through a finite state transducer which has a state-transition data structure determined by a compilation of a set of hyphenation rules. The output of the encoding system can include a hyphenated string, or can accept a hyphenated string and output an indication of whether the input hyphenation is proper according to the set of hyphenation rules.

Abstract: An election terminal apparatus includes an integral-type display/input unit constituted by a liquid crystal display unit and a tablet unit for input data. The display unit displays a first screen including icons corresponding to candidates. A voter operates the tablet unit to designate a candidate for whom he/she wants to vote. The election terminal apparatus discriminates the candidate designated by the voter, and causes the liquid crystal display unit to display an image for allowing the voter to input the candidate name or the like with handwriting. When the voter handwrites the candidate name or the like on the table unit, the election terminal apparatus performs character recognition with respect to the handwritten pattern. When a candidate specified by the recognized characters coincides with the candidate designated first, the election terminal apparatus increments the vote count of the candidate by one.

Abstract: In a self-service system of selling travel-related services or products by means of an interactive travel service system functioning like a travel agent, to simplify the search process by the system and the decision process by the user, the user is first queried as to travel knowledge, such as whether the user is a first-time visitor or is otherwise familiar with the travel destination, and as to personal attribute such as family orientation, age and preference for airlines, lodgings, car rental companies, price range and lifestyle. In accordance with the travel knowledge and attributes inputted electronically by the user, one or more recommendations or a whole listing will be presented for selection by the user. To simplify the process, the user is asked to input the relevant dates and the inventory database is searched so that only available choices will be presented.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing the availability of items using a computer system. The system permits various computers to access databases located at offsite computers to retrieve/transmit preselected information pertaining to the availability of items from/to each accessed database. Categories of items are selected by a user prior to communicating with offsite computers so that only the categories of interest are selected and only data pertaining to those categories is downloaded to the requesting computer or uploaded from a called computer. Once data has been retrieved by the requesting computer, the user can use various parameters to select and display the received information in the selected categories. In addition, the requesting computer can automatically retrieve information from offsite computers at a predetermined time each day of the week.

Abstract: Graphic analyses are displayed on a computer display screen showing graph lines of mathematical relationships between goals and factors in a spreadsheet plan and depicting continuums of what-ifs across ranges of variation from the spreadsheet plan, providing information for planning and management of the factors to improve results for the goals. Goals and factors reflect elements of the plan for which, in the spreadsheet, values are contained in output and input cells respectively. The goals and factors are selected by the user from lists that are created and displayed. After such selection, the designated graphic analysis is performed and the graph lines for the selected goal and factor(s) are displayed. The user is able to analyze and evaluate entire ranges of "what-if" possibilities using the graph lines. Desired graph points can be moved to interactively in order to arrive at desired what-if possibilities.

Abstract: Health care services are made more efficient by comparing health care services from different providers independently of the clinical complexity of treating the diseases of the patients involved. This is accomplished with a computer-aided system using outpatient and inpatient claims data bases containing indicators of clinical conditions, such as age, gender, diagnoses, and procedures used, and including comparison criteria such as utilizations and indicia of quality. The diseases of the patients of the population are grouped by clinical complexity, and the extent of the systematic relationships between the clinical complexity groups and the comparison criteria are analyzed, preferably by regression analysis. With the extent of the systematic relationships to clinical complexity being known, the health care services of different providers are compared for utilization of procedures and indicia of quality, independently of the differing clinical complexity of the patients receiving the services.

Abstract: A system for conversion of non-standard video signals to standard video signals for transmission and presentation picks off an internal analog video signals from imaging diagnostic equipment (such as a CAT scanner or MRI equipment), converts it to analog video signal of different, preferably standard format, prints it or stores it, and when desire transmits the reformatted image information to the physician's terminal. Preferably the storage and transmission is in binary digitized form. At a receiving station, the received signal is stored, decoded and applied in appropriate analog vide form to an associated CRT display for reproduction of the diagnostic images. The equipments at both the control site of the diagnostic station and at the remote terminals may constitute PC's (personal computers) plus an additional video monitor.

Abstract: Very costly professional-level judgments needed to comply with scientific and statutory restrictions on hazardous-waste segregation, shipment and disposal are collected cumulatively in a database for a very large number of hazardous waste materials. Many of these materials are statutorily designated or scientifically recognized, or both, as posing a significant physical danger to humans, other organisms, or the ecosphere generally. Later many consignments of particular materials are received (or identified before receipt, in a batch mode of operation) and classified very inexpensively--using nonprofessional-level personnel--by reference to the computerized database. Reversion to professional-level judgments occurs only if a material not previously encountered is received. Each consignment of each material is classified and handled consistently with all other consignments of like material, and in accordance with the professional-level judgments embodied in the database.

Abstract: Electronic equipment includes a memory containing first information such as KANA characters and second information such as KANJI characters corresponding to the first information, a key input device for inputting the first information, a display for displaying the second information corresponding to the input first information, and a control for reading out all of the second information corresponding to the input first information, from the memory, displaying it on the display and sequentially erasing the displayed second information which no longer correspond to the input first information subsequently inputted by the input device.

Abstract: A system for facilitating commercial transactions, between a plurality of customers and at least one supplier of items over a computer driven network capable of providing communications between the supplier and at least one customer site associated with each customer. Each site includes an associated display and an input device through which the customer can input information into the system. At least one supplier is presented on the display for selection by the customer using the input device. Similarly items from a supplier can be displayed for the customer to observe. Associated with a supplier of such items is an item database including information on presented items. Pricing subsystem receives information from the item database to determine the cost associated with a presented item. In addition a customer information database stores information relating to the customer. Associated with each customer is a customer monitoring object for each customer.

Abstract: The present invention resides in apparatus, and software, and a related method for selecting, printing, and dispensing a redeemable discount coupon and other offerings in response to the taking of or upon the return of a cart to a electronic coupon dispensing terminals. A computerized kiosk, updated by a remote command center, is located at the entrance of the corral. Customers receive a key at the check out counter to be used to access the dispenser for the selection of discount coupons. As the cart is replaced in the corral, the system is activated and the customer selects from a touch screen monitor and a dispenser prints and issues a manufacturer's coupon. Statistical information is gathered by the computer and relayed to the store CPU. Maintenance requirements are also relayed to the store CPU.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating an index for a collection of words, the apparatus including means for selecting an input word from the collection of words; means for generating words that are lexically related to the input word, wherein the input word and the lexically related words form a group of words; and an indexing engine for representing the occurrence in the collection of words of any of the members of the group by a single member of the group.

Abstract: The present invention is a computerized method and system for financing health care service providers, especially pharmacies, by evaluating and purchasing their accounts receivables, scoring the creditworthiness of payors and obligors such as insurance companies, self-insured employers, health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations, government agencies, and other entities sponsoring groups and individuals receiving health care benefits, collecting on receivables, securitizing receivables, managing funds, and processing and reconciling claims and payments.

Abstract: An agricultural communications network including a master system which polls lower level systems for digital maps, each map comprising field character information indicative of a feature at each location of a farmer's field. An agronomist can correlate the data of the digital maps to ascertain common conditions which realize maximum yields. Farmers and their regional dealers participate in the system through subscription. Anonymity is maintained through hierarchy such that the farmers will participate in the network, thus expanding the data base for use by the agronomist. Thus, the participating subscribers facilitate expansion of the field of agronomy for the benefit of all.

Abstract: An automated method and system for consolidating a plurality of individual company charges for a customer with different periodic company billing and payment due dates is provided. Under the system, companies and businesses such as utility companies report their periodic billing information to a central processing office or facility. The processing office holds the billing information data in time suspense until all of the billing information for the customer during a pre-selected time period is received. Then, the central processing facility generates a single customer statement which identifies all individual company charges as well as a statement due date. The statement is sent to the customer and payment for the identified charges is due by the statement due date. After receiving payment from the customer, the centralized billing center processes the payment and then remits payment to all of the companies.

Abstract: A communication apparatus for a handicapped person, includes a plurality of first key switches for inputting character input data in a general input mode, a single second key switch for inputting character input data in a second key input mode, a character input device for inputting the character input data in the general input mode inputted by operating the plurality of first key switches or in the single key input mode inputted by operating the single second key switch, a character output device for outputting at least character output data which corresponds to the character input data inputted by the character input device, a mode selector for selecting the character input data input in the general input mode by the character input device or the character input data input in the single key input mode by the character input device, and a controller for controlling the operation of the character input device, the character output device, and the input mode selector.

Abstract: A system for processing credit card transactions is disclosed. Transaction data to be processed is sent by point of sale terminal to a terminal node connected to a sophisticated communications network. The terminal node uses routing data contained in the transaction data to establish a connection to a verification service host. The connection is established while the terminal node concurrently continues to receive and then validate the transaction data. Overall transaction processing time is reduced because the network connection needed for verification of the transaction data is established while, rather than after, transaction data is received and validated.

Abstract: The present invention is a system of integrated, computer-based processes for monolingual information development and multilingual translation. An interactive text editor enforces lexical and grammatical constraints on a natural language subset used by the authors to create their text, which they help disambiguate to ensure translatability. The resulting translatable source language text undergoes machine translation into any one of a set of target languages, without the translated text requiring any postediting.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, a hand-held computer prepares and monitors a goal-oriented weight, nutrition and exercise control program. Visual and audio prompts tell users when to eat and exercise, and provide suggestions for what to eat. The computer assists the user in setting safe goals for desired weight loss and the time required to achieve the loss. The user follows menu and exercise programs suggested by the computer. The computer records and analyzes the user's food consumption, exercise and weight loss programs. Finally, the computer displays feedback information regarding the user's progress towards achieving the desired weight.

Abstract: A sign language interpretation apparatus for performing sign language recognition and sign language generation generates easily read sign language computer graphics (CG) animation by preparing sign language word CG patterns on the basis of actual motion of the hand through the use of a glove type sensor to generate natural sign language CG animation, and by applying correction to the sign language word CG patterns. Further, in the sign language interpretation apparatus, results of translation of inputted sign language or voice language are confirmed and modified easily by the individual input persons, whereby results of translation of the inputted sign language or voice language are displayed in a combined form desired by the user to realize smooth communication. Also, candidates obtained as a result of translation are all displayed and can be selected easily by the input person with a device such as a mouse.