Abstract: A method and system generate sample data set for efficiently and accurately testing a new calculation for preparing a portion of an electronic document for users of an electronic document preparation system. The method and system receive the new calculation and gather historical use data related to previously prepared electronic documents for a large number of historical users. The method and system group the historical users into groups based on which sections of a previous version of electronic document preparation software were executed for each historical user in preparing electronic documents for the historical users. The groups are then sampled by selecting a small number of historical users from each group.

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for determining impact chains from a calculation graph for calculating taxes. The system includes a computing device, a data store in communication with the computing device and a tax preparation software application executable by the computing device. The tax preparation software application has a tax calculation engine, a tax calculation graph, and an impact chain engine. The tax calculation engine is configured to perform a plurality of tax calculation operations based on a tax calculation graph. The impact chain engine is configured to analyze the tax calculation graph and determine an impact chain for each of a plurality of nodes in the graph, wherein an impact chain for a respective node consists of one of (a) each of the other nodes which are affected by the respective node, or (b) each of the other nodes which affect the respective node.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems, methods and articles for identifying errors in the computerized preparation of a payroll tax form to be submitted to a tax agency. The system includes a computing device, a data store, and a payroll tax form preparation software application executable by the computing device. The payroll tax form preparation software includes a payroll calculation engine, an error check engine, and a schema error module having a plurality of error rules in the form of meta data generated from tax agency schema requirements. The calculation engine is configured to read tax data from the shared data store, perform payroll calculation operations, and write calculated payroll data to the shared data store. The error check engine is configured to read the tax data and payroll data and check the data against the error rules to identify errors. An explanation engine may generate narrative explanations of the errors.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems, methods and articles for identifying errors in the computerized preparation of a payroll tax form to be submitted to a tax agency. The system includes a computing device, a data store, and a payroll tax form preparation software application executable by the computing device. The payroll tax form preparation software includes a payroll calculation engine, an error check engine, and one or more error graph(s). Each error graph includes a plurality of interconnected nodes configured to utilize tax data and calculated payroll data to identify errors. The calculation engine is configured to read tax data from the shared data store, perform payroll calculation operations, and write calculated payroll data to the shared data store. The error check engine is configured to read the tax data and payroll data and process the error graph(s) to identify errors. An explanation engine may generate narrative explanations of the errors.

Abstract: A float glass system (10) includes a float bath (14) having a pool of molten metal (16). A chemical vapor deposition coater (32) is located in the float bath (14) above the pool of molten metal (16). The coater (32) includes at least one low-coherence interferometry probe (38) located in or on the coater (32) and connected to a low-coherence interferometry system (36). Another low-coherence interferometry probe 138 can be located outside an exit end of the float bath (14) and connected to the same or another low-coherence interferometry system (36).

Abstract: Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for determining tax recommendations for a taxpayer by using a tax calculation graph to identify tax variables that a taxpayer can control and modify. The tax preparation system of comprises a recommendation engine configured to analyze a tax calculation graph which is calculated using tax data of the taxpayer. The recommendation engine determines tax variables from the tax calculation graph which can affect the tax result. The recommendation engine analyzes these tax variables to determine which of them can be reasonably controlled by the taxpayer using a controllability model. The recommendation engine then executes a tax calculation engine to calculate the tax calculation graph by varying the taxpayer controllable variables to determine how varying the user controllable variables affects the tax result. The recommendation engine then analyzes the affect on the tax result and determines one or more tax recommendation for the taxpayer.

Abstract: A float glass system (10) includes a float bath (14) having a pool of molten metal (16). A chemical vapor deposition coater (32) is located in the float bath (14) above the pool of molten metal (16). The coater (32) includes at least one low-coherence interferometry probe (38) located in or on the coater (32) and connected to a low-coherence interferometry system (36). Another low-coherence interferometry probe 138 can be located outside an exit end of the float bath (14) and connected to the same or another low-coherence interferometry system (36).

Abstract: A float glass system (10) includes a float bath (14) having a pool of molten metal (16). A chemical vapor deposition coater (32) is located in the float bath (14) above the pool of molten metal (16). The coater (32) includes at least one low-coherence interferometry probe (38) located in or on the coater (32) and connected to a low-coherence interferometry system (36). Another low-coherence interferometry probe 138 can be located outside an exit end of the float bath (14) and connected to the same or another low-coherence interferometry system (36).

Abstract: In a process for refining molten glass or the like by vacuum, the collapse of foam is accelerated by periodically applying a surge of pressure that disrupts foam stability. Preferably, the surge is a short pulse of lower pressure.