Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically building a context sensitive composite icon are provided. A base icon is used to represent a particular object in a graphical user interface. This base icon has addition points where icon additions may be attached to the base icon, such as through an icon overlay process. By adding icon additions at the addition points of the base icon, a composite icon is generated and then registered with the graphical user interface. The icon additions that are used to generate the composite icon are selected based on a particular context in which the object associated with the base icon is being used. The use of icon additions with the base icon is determined dynamically as the context of the corresponding object changes. In this way, the same base icon may be used to represent a particular object with additions to the base icon being used to provide additional information that is important to the current context of the corresponding object.

Abstract: When a piece of network equipment is determined to be stolen or missing, a hardware tracing tool mounted within the network detects the distinctive hardware fingerprints of the missing hardware within Internet traffic and extracts the device's IP address to trace the location of the missing equipment. As Internet messages or data packets cross through servers containing the tracing tool, the data packets are decompiled to retrieve unique identifier indicia (hardware fingerprints), such as a computer's MAC address, for example. The extracted fingerprints are then compared with fingerprints stored in a database of missing hardware using a hashing or mapping function, and the server system is alerted to a match. The IP address of the device transmitting the matching indicia is then extracted to determine the location of the missing or stolen network hardware.

Abstract: A portal is comprised of a plurality of portlets. Each portlet accesses hardware and software to gather data. Each portlet offers information to the portal page. Each portlet's information has a specific content type and markup. A subset of portlets are determined stackable if the subset of portlets have in common one or more of the same hardware, software, content type or markup. Once a subset of portlets is determined stackable, the user's preference for stacking the portlets is obtained by loading a user profile or asking the user. If the subset of portlets are stackable and the user desires the subset of portlets stacked, then the subset of portlets are stacked such that the stack of portlets present a first portlet and a control for selecting a second portlet from within the subset of portlets that is not currently presented.

Abstract: A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer program product are presented for facilitating the customization, translation, or localization of messages, strings, or other program resources to be used by a locale-sensitive version of a Java™ program stored in a Java™ JAR file. After opening the JAR file, text strings within a resource bundle for a first locale can be determined through a particular process for inspecting the resource bundle. A resource bundle for a second locale containing translated versions of the text strings can be created through various means and then stored into the modified JAR file.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and data processing system for identifying non-externalized strings that are not hard-coded. In one embodiment, a method comprises the step of scanning a code, e.g., Java, line by line until a pair of string delimiters is identified. Once a pair of string delimiters is identified, the method further comprises the step of determining whether the string within the pair of string delimiters identified is a path name to a resource file, e.g., resource bundle. If the string is a path name to the resource file, then the string is a non-externalized string that is not hard-coded. If the string is not a path name to the resource file, then the string may be identified as a possible hard-coded string.

Abstract: An automated method, system and computer instructions for users to visually navigate telephone call trees are disclosed. A caller can connect to an automated telephone answering service, and download the service's call tree. The caller can view a display with the call tree, and modify or rearrange the order in which the menu options of the call tree are displayed. The user can then store the modified call tree for use in the future. Responsive to the selection of a specified node in the displayed call tree, an automated process can create a macro or similar set of software instructions, which can be invoked by the calling device during a subsequent connection to the automated telephone answering system associated with the subject call tree, in order to enter a queue associated with the selected node that enables the user to interact with the selected node.

Abstract: A multi-field text string data structure is employed to encapsulating identification, meaning, and pronunciation information for a text string. A first field contains the Unicode characters for the text string in a language in which the text string is entered, which may be latin characters, characters which sound-map to latin characters, or one or more ideographs. A second field contains either the same characters or an intermediate representation of the text string, such as syllabary characters for a phonetic spelling of the characters within the first field. A third field contains either the same characters as the first field or a latin character phonetic spelling of the characters in the first field. The first field thus contains the text string in the language in which the text string was entered, while the second and third field contains information about the meaning and pronunciation of the text string.

Abstract: A data processing system to automatically canvass for witnesses within an identified crime scene area. After an incident report is received, the locus and boundary of the crime scene is determined. Telephone calls are automatically initiated to a list of compiled telephone numbers within the boundary of the identified crime scene area. Responses to the automatically initiated telephone calls are then logged or transferred to a police operator.

Abstract: For added security against fraud, a financial services card such as a credit card is paired with a separate tag such as an RFID tag. A system for minimizing fraud includes a card reader for reading a card ID, a tag reader for reading a tag ID, and a controller for comparing the card ID with the tag ID, and approving or rejecting a card transaction based on the comparison. A method for minimizing fraud includes reading a card ID from the financial services card, reading a tag ID from the tag, comparing the tag ID with the card ID, and approving or rejecting a transaction based on the comparison. The card reader may send a security stamp to the tag, which may combine and encrypt a partial tag ID and the security stamp to provide the tag ID.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and data processing system for detecting resource exception errors. Resource exception errors may be detected by scanning code for a method invocation used to open a resource file. Upon identifying a method invocation, the code may be scanned for a method signature, i.e., pointer, associated with the identified method invocation. The method signature points to the resource file to be opened by the method invocation. The code may be further scanned for a pair of string delimiters adjacent to the method signature. The string within the pair of string delimiters is a key to the resource file. The resource file may then be opened using the method invocation previously identified. A resource exception error is detected if the key or its associated value are not defined in the resource file.

Abstract: A method, program and apparatus for criminal suspect identification are provided. Monitoring and video recording are used to collect information at a given location. In response to specific events, such as a criminal act, the system uses real time analysis of the video to identify physical characteristics of any persons shown. The system compiles an identification profile for each person, including distinguishing physical characteristics extracted from the video information, and then transmits the profiles to law enforcement authorities. The suspect-identification system also scans previously stored video information of the location, comparing profiles from the crime scene with images in the stored video. If any matches are found, the system updates the identification profiles with additional information from matched images and transmits the updated identification profile to the authorities.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for controlling information gathered by data collection agencies in an electronic transaction. A persona facet may be selected by a user of a client in a network system where the selected persona facet comprises user selectable information, e.g., name, e-mail address, unique key, public key, private key, payment method, consumer resource data, that may be exposed in the electronic transaction. The user may then connect to a web site via a web browser. Upon initiating an electronic transaction, the user may send the selected persona facet to the web site. If the web site recognizes the persona facet, then the user may request the web site to send the information about the user stored in a database, e.g., consumer resource management database. If the web site sends the information, then the user may compare the received information with the user selectable information in the selected persona facet.

Abstract: A system and method for advanced warning of severe weather for general aviation aircraft is presented. An aircraft includes an onboard weather tracker which monitors atmospheric condition changes. The weather tracker uses data from an onboard barometric altimeter and a GPS device to calculate air pressure changes in order to identify when the aircraft is flying into a low-pressure zone. The weather tracker uses the air pressure's rate of change and the aircraft's speed to determine the criticality of a situation and appropriately notifies a pilot. The weather tracker provides the pilot with local airport information and alternative flight pattern information per the pilot's request.

Abstract: Techniques for editing the text displayed by a computer program are disclosed. The present invention allows a translator to translate the text with minimal assistance from software developers or programmers. In one embodiment the text may be edited in its on-screen context without the editing user (or translator) having access to the actual program. In a second embodiment, an execution session of a software developer or programmer may be “recorded.” An editor or translator can then “play back” the execution session using a scripting shell and an executable of the program, “pause” the session at appropriate places, and make onscreen changes to the text.

Abstract: A hierarchical traffic control system is disclosed. The traffic control system comprises a primary controller. The primary controller receives information about traffic in an area. The system further includes a plurality of subsidiary controllers. The subsidiary controllers provide information to and receive information from the primary controller. Each of the plurality of subsidiary controllers is associated with a cell within the area. Each of the subsidiary controllers receives and provides information to at least one vehicle concerning traffic conditions within its associated cell. The primary controller and each of the subsidiary controllers are capable of negotiating a change in the flow of traffic based upon traffic conditions. In this system, at least one vehicle within the traffic includes a third-party permission for operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for filing and closing of flight plans. With the present invention, a computing device is provided that includes a flight plan filing device that is capable of electronically transmitting a flight plan to an airport server. The flight plan filing device provides an electronic form, such as an electronic version of FAA Form 7233-1, which may receive input from a user, such as a pilot of an aircraft. The completed electronic form is then transmitted to an airport server which forwards the form to a regulatory agency server which assigns a transponder code to the flight plan and stores the flight plan in association with the transponder code. The airport server further monitors for transponder signals of aircraft within a predetermined distance of the airport. When the airport server receives a transponder signal, the airport server determines whether the aircraft has landed based on the altitude indicated in the transponder signal.

Abstract: A method, computer program product and data processing system for identifying and modifying the format of keys in a resource file source code and in the associated a program code. In one embodiment of the present invention, a program reads a resource file source code for keys written in a non-standard format. Upon detecting one or more keys written in a non-standard format in the resource file source code, the program modifies the format of those one or more keys so that they are written in a standard format. The program may then read the associated program code for any text that matches the written format of the one or more keys written in the non-standard format. Upon detecting any text that matches the written format of the one or more keys written in the non-standard format, the program replaces any matched text with the updated written format, i.e. standard format, of the one or more keys whose format was modified.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for gathering flight plan data and passenger manifest data for analysis to determine whether to send a notification of a condition representing a possible business opportunity to one or more vendors providing goods and/or services to airline passengers are provided. In one embodiment, the raw data is used to compare against notification criteria established by vendors to determine if a notification is to be sent to the vendors. In another embodiment, data mining and knowledge paradigms are used to extract relationship information from the data to obtain a prediction as to the needs of the passengers on airline flights and to notify appropriate vendors prior to the passengers arriving at the airport. The apparatus and method generates an appropriate notification detailing the conditions giving rise to the notification. This notification is then transmitted to the registered vendors based on the vendors' established profiles, for embodiments in which raw data comparison is performed.

Abstract: A system and method for using semantic analysis to configure a voice reader is presented. A text file includes a plurality of text blocks, such as paragraphs. Processing performs semantic analysis on each text block in order to match the text block's semantic content with a semantic identifier. Once processing matches a semantic identifier with the text block, processing retrieves voice attributes that correspond to the semantic identifier (i.e. pitch value, loudness value, and pace value) and provides the voice attributes to a voice reader. The voice reader uses the text block to produce a synthesized voice signal with properties that correspond to the voice attributes. The text block may include semantic tags whereby processing performs latent semantic indexing on the semantic tags in order to match semantic identifiers to the semantic tags.

Abstract: A system and method for early detection of identity theft are provided. With the system and method an authorized user establishes an identity with an organization's computing system and registers both a mobile device and a notification device with the organization's computing system. When a use of the identity is attempted, a record associated with the identity is retrieved and a request is sent to the registered mobile device for location information. The current location of the mobile device is then compared to the location of the source of the request for authorization. If the current location of the mobile device is not within an area of the source of the authentication request, then information about the attempted use is compared with the registered notification criteria to determine if a notification should be sent to the notification device requesting authorization of the attempted use.