Abstract: A geographic-specific information search system and method comprising a World Wide Web home page and associated script files for searching for housing information in a desired geographic region. The system is configured to display a graphical map and to allow the user to narrow the geographic search area to the desired region. The system is also configured to accept a query criteria and search a database containing property listings for properties listed in the desired region meeting the entered search criteria. A geographic map of the desired region including properties found during the search is displayed and the user is allowed to select properties from the map with a pointing device and subsequently view information describing the selected properties.

Abstract: A method of conducting an on-line auction that permits individual bidders to pool bids during a bidding session. The auction is conducted over a computer network that includes a central computer, a number of remote computers, and communication lines connecting the remote computers to the central computer. A number of bidding groups are registered in the central computer, each bidding group having a total bid for the item being auctioned. Bids entered from the remote computers are received in the central computer, each bid including a bid amount and a bid designation. Each bid amount is contributed to the total bid of the bidding group indicated by the bid designation. The bidding group having the largest total bid at the end of the bidding session wins the item being auctioned.

Abstract: A dictionary unit stores therein a first group of words and a second group of words, both the first and second groups of words having been predetermined, each word of the first group of words being accompanied by a word (a translation word) obtained as a result of translation of the word of the first group of words. An extracting unit extracts a word from a given image. A translating unit obtains the translation word accompanying the word in the first group of words, which word corresponds to the word extracted by the extracting unit of the dictionary unit in a case where the word extracted by the extracting unit corresponds to a word in the first group of words stored in the dictionary unit, and the translating unit determining not to translate the word extracted by the extracting unit in a case where the word extracted by the extracting unit corresponds to a word corresponding to the second group of words stored in the dictionary unit.

Abstract: An optoelectronic tomographic reconstruction system utilizes spacial light modulators in charge couple devices to perform projection iterative reconstruction techniques and simultaneous iterative reconstruction techniques. A back projection processor uses a linear array of analog spacial light modulators in a cylindrical lens, an image detection array, and an image rotator. The image rotator smears a projected image at the same angle as the projection was taken. The back projection processor thus smears the projection back to the image space. An optoelectronic forward projection processor uses an spacial light modulator array, an image rotator, and an image detecting array. A reconstructed image displayed by the spacial light modulator is smeared by the rotator to forward project the reconstructed image on the image detecting array at the same angle as when the measured projection was taken. The forward projection processor thus smears the reconstructed image back into the projection space.

Abstract: A novel method comprising of a combination of steps by which: information from any computer database can be retrieved and placed at precise positions on a pre-printed form; information from a pre-filled form can be extracted and displayed or stored in a database.

Abstract: A system for printing consumer selected items includes a central computer, a display of various types of consumer items, a keyboard interfaced with the central computer to allow a consumer to select one of the displayed items, a printer enabling an item to be printed in response to the consumer selection, and a sensor interfaced with the central computer to sense the presence of a consumer in the vicinity of the system. The system further includes a memory which stores the types and amounts of consumer items ordered and further records the operation of the sensor to determine how often the consumer is in the vicinity of the system.

Abstract: A data acquisition system employs data conversion circuitry well suited to large multisensor systems such as computerized tomography systems utilizing X-ray detectors. The data conversion system consists of a number of detectors or similar signal sources and a corresponding number of data registers and accumulation registers. Each data register contains a previous sample output of a signal source. Differential data conversion is employed such that the difference between the previous output and the current signal source output is added to the data register in order to update it to the current signal source output. Each signal source is repeatedly sampled and the samples accumulated in an accumulation register. The data conversion system thus provides increased system linearity, accuracy, and dynamic range, and yields improved measurement simultaneity of a large number of signal sources. These factors combine to result in substantial improvement in image resolution after suitable processing by a computer.

Abstract: An x-ray CT system has a detector which revolves about the object being imaged to acquire attenuation data from many different angles through a range of at least 180.degree.. The response of the detector has a time lag which as the detector revolves tends to blur the attenuation data. The acquired data is compensated for the resolution degradation by convolving the data with a function that is the inverse of a response function of the detector. An image can be reconstructed from this compensated data. However, this compensation process tends to reintroduce noise that was reduced by the blurring. As a result, a modified version of the detector response function is applied to the compensated data to reduce the noise without degrading the image resolution to an unacceptable level.