Abstract: An implementation for estimating the costs attributable to software failures brought on by defects, i.e. estimating that portion of the cost of owning software products that is attributable to potential damage to the software owner resulting from potential defects in the software provided by particular software suppliers. Calculating the cost of ownership of a software product obtained from a proposed supplier, including a cost of software failure factor that is estimated as follows: predetermining the quality level of an ideal supplier of the software product and then determining the deviation in quality level of the proposed software supplier from the ideal supplier level. Then, estimating the difference in product defect rate at the quality level of the proposed supplier from the defect rate of the ideal supplier, after which the cost to compensate for the damage resulting from each defect based upon the intended use of the software product is estimated.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for comparing suppliers includes sending survey questions for receipt by supplier computer systems. Programming instructions are also sent for receipt and execution by the supplier computer systems. The programming instructions are for causing the supplier computer systems to return supplier survey answers to a server. The answers are included in responding documents and are defined in a certain format as data elements included in the responding documents. The data elements are then parsed from the responding documents responsive to predetermined programming instructions and evaluated the data elements responsive to a predetermined set of rules.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for comparing suppliers includes sending survey questions for receipt by supplier computer systems. Programming instructions are also sent for receipt and execution by the supplier computer systems, The programming instructions are for causing the supplier computer systems to return supplier survey answers to a server. The answers are included in responding documents and are defined in a certain format as data elements included in the responding documents. The data elements are then parsed from the responding documents responsive to predetermined programming instructions and evaluated the data elements responsive to a predetermined set of rules.

Abstract: A display screen interface implementation in a computer controlled user interactive display system, for enabling an interactive user to select specific items on a large presentation display screen, comprising laser apparatus for projecting a laser beam pointer image onto the display screen, apparatus for interactively moving the projected laser pointer orthogonally with respect to the display screen, apparatus for tracking the orthogonal movement and position of the projected laser bean pointer and apparatus enabling the user to make interactive selections on the display screen based upon the orthogonal position of the projected laser bean pointer. For best results in preferred embodiments, the laser beam pointer is handheld.

Abstract: Continuously monitoring automobile operations, performance and operating conditions from the remote diagnostic centers through Continuous wireless transmissions so that faults may be immediately recognized and corrected or the operator warned or actions remotely initiated to limit or prevent damage or safety hazards. A plurality of sensing devices in said automobile; each device for respectively continuously sensing an operational parameter of the automobile; a wireless transmitter in the automobile for transmitting the continuously sensed parameters to a diagnostic station remote from automobile; apparatus in the diagnostic station for analyzing said parameters in order to determine defective operational conditions in the automobile; and apparatus associated eith said diagnostic station for wieless transmission of data relative to the determined defective operating conditions back to said automobile.

Abstract: A computer controlled display system for generating quality assurance surveys to be interactively taken by suppliers on computer display systems that will aid those making purchasing decisions to select suppliers that are most likely to provide products having the quality assurance required by the purchasers. The quality level of each of a set of quality attributes of a component supplier are assessed and there is generated for each of the quality attributes a template for delimiting subsets of the plurality of questions in the survey database being presented to said supplier based upon the quality level of the attribute. In operation of the system, the assessing of the quality level includes determining one of a plurality of quality levels for each of the set of quality attributes and the template for delimiting subsets of questions includes generating a different subset of questions for each of the quality levels for each attribute.

Abstract: An advance over the above-discussed prior art that involves continuously monitoring automobile operations, performance and operating conditions from the remote diagnostic centers through continuous wireless transmissions so that faults may be immediately recognized and corrected or the operator warned or actions remotely initiated to limit or prevent damage or safety hazards.

Abstract: A computer controlled display system for automatically generating quality assurance contract requirements. The quality level of each of a set of quality attributes of a software supplier is assessed, and at least one contract requirement for each of said quality attributes for said supplier is generated based upon the quality level of said attribute. The assessment of the quality level preferably involves determining one of a plurality of quality levels for each of said set of quality attributes, and generating a different contract requirement for each of said quality levels for each attribute. The set of quality attributes may consist of a single overall quality characteristic having several predetermined quality levels. In such a case, there is generated a plurality of contract requirements for each of said predetermined quality levels.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for comparing suppliers includes sending survey questions for receipt by supplier computer systems. Programming instructions are also sent for receipt and execution by the supplier computer systems, The programming instructions are for causing the supplier computer systems to return supplier survey answers to a server. The answers are included in responding documents and are defined in a certain format as data elements included in the responding documents. The data elements are then parsed from the responding documents responsive to predetermined programming instructions and evaluated the data elements responsive to a predetermined set of rules.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the number of cycles required to implement load instructions in a data processing system having a Central Processing Unit (CPU). The CPU includes a rename register file that can be used in whole or in part for retaining cache lines from previously executed load instructions. The rename register file is then used by subsequent instructions (e.g. load instructions) requiring the data previously loaded therein. Thus, reducing the cycles normally associated with retrieving the data from the cache for the subsequent instructions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the number of cycles required to implement load instructions in a data processing system having a Central Processing Unit (CPU). The CPU includes a cache register file, indexed via the offset field of the load instruction, for retaining cache lines from previously executed load instructions. The cache register file is then used by subsequent instructions (e.g. load instructions) requiring the data previously loaded therein. Thus, reducing the cycles normally associated with retrieving the data from the cache for the subsequent instructions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the number of cycles required to implement load instructions in a data processing system having a Central Processing Unit (CPU). The CPU includes a rename register file that can be used in whole or in part for retaining cache lines from previously executed load instructions. The rename register file is then used by subsequent instructions (e.g. load instructions) requiring the data previously loaded therein. Thus, reducing the cycles normally associated with retrieving the data from the cache for the subsequent instructions.