Abstract: A computerized transcription system is based on a transcribe server that receives voice messages over long distance links, assigns jobs to technicians at remote locations, sends voice files to and receives transcribed work from the technicians, forwards transcribed copies to instructed and preprogrammed destinations, informs subscribers of completion, and calculates and forwards accounting to subscribers. In extended aspects the system comprises multiple such servers networked together. Technicians at remote locations are paged in a preferred embodiment, and have an option to accept or decline a job. Upon acceptance the work is transmitted. Upon completion technicians return transcribed versions of jobs to the transcribe server, where forwarding is accomplished based on preprogrammed and attached instructions.

Abstract: A multimedia server has: a server section having a transfer-request accepting section for accepting a transfer request for data, a processor connected to the transfer-request accepting section, for discriminating the kind of the data and for converting the transfer request to a transfer instruction, and a bus interface; a storage device for storing data; an accelerator section having a storage-device interface for interfacing to the storage device and for retrieving data therefrom, a data transfer section for transferring the data, a processor for processing the transfer instruction issued from the server section, and for issuing a transfer instruction to have the data transferred from the storage-device interface to the data transfer section and then issuing a transfer instruction to the data transfer section to transfer the data to a requesting destination, and a bus interface; and a bus for connecting the server section with the accelerator section.

Abstract: When moving image information is reproduced from a recording medium as a recording medium to record moving image information, the number of reading portions in the recording medium is set and the moving image information is read out from read addresses corresponding to the number of reading portions which was set, thereby enabling the retrieving operation of the image information to be efficiently executed.

Abstract: A video conference platform includes a graphical user interface for configuration and control of a video conference. In particular, the graphical user interface allows for "windows" type operations to control various aspects of the video conference, including initial configuration, camera control, and data transmission.

Abstract: A computer system and method of operating the same, to execute multiple analysis application programs upon multiple persistent databases, each arranged to a vendor-specific format for geological and geophysical data, is disclosed. According to the disclosed embodiments of the invention, an abstract object interface is provided, by way of which the analysis application program need not be aware of the vendor format of the persistent database upon which operations are being executed. The abstract object interface includes program code by way of which, upon execution, a hierarchy of objects are instantiated. Prior to instantiating objects according to the geologically-related information, the user selects a particular source of data, for example by selecting a catalog corresponding to one of the vendor formats.

Abstract: A computer system and method of operation has a retargeting program and apparatus which permits adding incorrectly targeted processors and a maintenance interface module (MIM) and automatically retargets them for the correct system. Each processor first determines its own system type, and the overall system type. Incorrectly targeted processors wait for retargeting, while correctly targeted processors select a master processor. The master processor retargets all incorrectly targeted processors by transferring an image of its correctly targeted firmware microcode into their RAM to be burned into their firmware. The MIM is retargeted using master processor code. Only accurately targeted or retargeted processors and MIM can be incorporated into the operating system.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an MPEG encoder, and compressed data from the MPEG encoder and data of an index (a transfer rate and a necessary memory capacity for the transfer rate, or a transfer rate and a rate difference characteristic) are multiplexed and recorded on an optical disc. In a reproducing apparatus, a bit stream read from the optical disc is converted into variable bit rate data by a CD decoder and a CD-ROM decoder. The variable bit rate data is once stored in a system buffer, and then, supplied to an MPEG decoder from the system buffer. The index is extracted by a microcomputer which determines whether or not it is possible to reproduce the optical disc through comparison of the necessary memory capacity and a capacity of the system buffer. If not reproduced, the optical disc is ejected. In a case of simple reproduction, data stored in an output buffer is repeatedly outputted during a time that an operation of the MPEG decoder is suspended.

Abstract: A Web server computer system provides for server based controlled management over a client reference to a resource locator independently selected by a client computer system and referencing a server external Web server. The Web server system provides a client system with a predetermined URL reference to the Web server system encoded with predetermined redirection and accounting data including a reference to a second server system. On receipt by the first Web server system of the predetermined URL reference from said client system, the predetermined redirection and accounting data is decoded from the predetermined URL and processed by the Web server system to provide the client system with a redirection message including the reference to said second server system. The accounting data is processed by the Web server system and resulting data is selectively stored by the Web server system.

Abstract: The effluent monitoring system generates an action perform signal for controlling a sampler device or an alarm in response to detecting a plurality of probe inputs receiving signals from a plurality of effluent property detecting probes. A variable and dynamic response to the probe inputs is provided. A plurality of monitoring parameter sets are stored in a memory along with a state number value, and the system may change state number in response to exceeding a threshold value which will result in the system being responsive to a new set of monitoring parameters in order to respond in a variable and dynamic manner. The sampling rate and the rate of recording values of the probe inputs can also be dynamically varied in response to the probe inputs themselves.

Abstract: A Message Storage and Deliver System (MSDS) is connected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and receives incoming calls with these calls being facsimile, voice, or data transmissions. The MSDS detects the type of call and stores the message signal in a database. The MSDS is also connected to the Internet and has a hyper-text transfer protocol deamon (HTTPD) for receiving requests from users. The HTTPD forwards requests for certain files or messages to a network server which transmits at least part of the message to the HTTPD and then to the user. In addition to requests for certain documents, the HTTPD may also receive a request in the form of a search query. The search query is forwarded from the HTTPD to an application program for conducting the search of the database. The results of the search are forwarded through the HTTPD to the user. The user may then select one or more files or messages from the search results and may save the search for later reference.

Abstract: An ordinary person in charge is enabled to easily construct or modify a business processing system only by making a business flow diagram indicating the flow of the business to be adaptable to the contents of the business of the department to which the person in charge belongs if the person in charge understands the business system and slips and vouchers which are daily used without a necessity of requesting a system engineer having exclusive knowledge about programming to design the business processing system. Thus, a required business process can be performed. When the business flow diagram indicating the flow of each business in the own department has been made, a business constructing system analyzes the business flow diagram to make a slip registration card, an original register registration card and a voucher registration card.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a field inspection system for compressing video signals received from a field inspection video camera into compressed video data and for burning the compressed video data on a compact disc along with an electronic logsheet. The electronic logsheet includes a listing of suspected defects or anomalies and associated pointers to reference frames in the compressed video data. The electronic logsheet may be displayed and an operator may access a portion of the field inspection video showing a listed defect by clicking a mouse button when a pointer icon is posited on the listed defect. To perform this task, the present invention utilizes a technique for randomly accessing the compressed video data in which reference frames included therein are used as access points to the video footage. The field inspection system of the present invention may also utilize a neural network and an artificial intelligence system to detect, identify, and log defects without human intervention.

Abstract: An enterprise electronic calendar uses new enterprise protocols and mechanisms to implement the new enterprise protocols in an enterprise setting. The enterprise electronic calendar may perform activities such as automatically performing simple tasks that can be programmed. The enterprise electronic calendar works closely with new enterprise electronic calendar protocols in order to best support an enterprise and supports databases for a large organization where individuals must work towards common tasks. In a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, a collection of four components closely interact with each other. The components are software based and reside in computers, workstations and palmtops linked through some type of network. The components include a timestamp controller (TSC), a graphical user interface (GUI), a protocol checking process (PCP) and a system administrator interface (SAI). Application as a manager of events in a distributed system is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric appliance and a remaining life estimation system wherein the electric appliance having a printed circuit board on which at least LSI components are mounted includes an IC with sensor. The IC includes a time monitor for calculating the operation status which is a use condition affecting the life of a reusable component of the appliance, a temperature and humidity sensor for detecting at least temperature and humidity environmental conditions affecting the life of the reusable component, and a memory for storing the history of temperature and humidity in correspondence with the history of operation status.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for encoding an image signal. The apparatus includes an acquisition module disposed to receive the image signal. A first processor is coupled to the acquisition module. At least one encoder processor is coupled to the first processor. The at least one encoder processor produces an encoded image signal under control of the first processor. The method includes the steps of converting an input image signal into a predetermined digital format and transferring the digital format image signal to at least one encoder processor. The method further includes the step of applying, at the at least one encoder processor, a hierarchical vector quantization compression algorithm to the digitized image signal. At the next step, a resultant encoded bit stream generated by the application of the algorithm is collected. The method and apparatus of the present invention may be used in conjunction with an ordinary modem to transmit and/or receive audio, video sequences or still images.

Abstract: In a device and method to provide a gateway for the transfer of information between financial markets and customers, a processor is coupled to a customer system and to a financial market system. The processor receives transaction information from the customer system in a first format, converts it to a second format and transmits the transaction information to the financial market system. The processor receives an acknowledgment and a transaction confirmation from the financial market system in the second format, converts these to the first format and transmits the acknowledgment and the transaction confirmation to the customer system. The processor may also be coupled to a memory, where it stores tracking information relating to the transaction information, the acknowledgment and/or the transaction confirmation.

Abstract: A moving object is detected from a movie. The actual movie has a complicated background. In order to detect the moving object, the invention is constructed to comprise, in addition to means 500 for inputting the movie, and display 300 for outputting the processed result: means 700 for judging the interval which is predicted to belong to the background as to a pixel region in the movie; means 800 for extracting the moving object; and means 900 for calculating the moving direction and velocity of the moving object.Thanks to the above-specified construction, even under the complicated background in which not only the change in the illumination condition but also the structure change will occur, the presence of the structure change of the background can be judged to detect/extract the moving object on real time. Moreover, the moving direction and velocity of the moving object can also be calculated.

Abstract: A visualization tool for creating graphic displays of trace data produced by a parallel computer program execution monitoring system. The visualization tool contains a display monitor, possible input devices, a mass storage device, and a computer system. Trace data is converted into data structures and later pixel maps to ultimately generate processing activity diagrams for each processor in the computer system. If more than one processor is present, more than one processing activity diagram can be generated and simultaneously displayed on the same screen in form of strip graphs and for certain indicated time intervals. An average processor utilization diagram is then calculated and plotted on every processor activity diagram for comparison purposes. Browsing through these strip graphs all at the same time while comparing them against the average utilization graph will allow a user to easily redistribute workload if necessary and/or locate problem situations.

Abstract: A video data storage apparatus includes a source of video data including a number of video cameras and digitizing circuitry. Two hard disk drives are provided in the apparatus for storing the video data. Also provided in the apparatus is an archive device such as a back-up tape unit. Video data is stored on one of the hard disks, while concurrently video data is copied from the other hard disk onto the tape backup.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for passing a VisualBasic array argument to an SQL stored procedure executed by a computer. The VisualBasic array is first created in the memory of the computer and comprises an object. The array is then passed to a C or C++ function in the memory of the computer. The function to which the array is passed is declared as an alias for another function within VisualBasic. Execution of the function by the computer returns a handle for the passed array. Finally, the handle is passed to the SQL stored procedure in the memory of the computer, and is accessed by the stored procedure during execution by the computer.