Abstract: A description of the hierarchically-structured document is accessed and converted into an early-bound object having at least some of the same properties as the hierarchically-structured document, and having at least some of the methods that may be performed on the hierarchically-structured document. When a function call is placed to the early-bound object, the early-bound object causes the appropriate corresponding changes to be affected on the hierarchically-structured document while maintaining change tracking information for the document. This reduces the difficulty when drafting source code for a program that interfaces with hierarchically-structured documents that can have varying structures and may be governed by complex change tracking rules.

Abstract: A uniform data structure contains a number of data fields. Some of the data fields are dedicated to contain information concerning the transfer of a data segment of a particular type (such as an XML segment) using one particular transfer mechanism (such as transferring as a string or DOM object, or transfer using an interface such as ISAXContentHandler, ITextSource, ITextSink, or IDOMSink interfaces). Other data fields are dedicated to contain information concerning the transfer of data segments of the same particular type using another transfer mechanism. When a module is to transfer a data segment, the module will cause the unified data structure to be altered as appropriate for the desired transfer mechanism.

Abstract: Caching mechanisms in which when a request to operate on particular identified network data is detected, the mechanism refers to a set of rules to determine whether to operate on a local copy of the identified network data, and whether to operate on the actual network data over the network. The set of rules are at least partially set by a human such as a user or network administrator, or perhaps by an application. The caching mechanism may optionally even block local read operations until the network data is synchronized with the remote copy of the network data. The mechanism may also block local write operations until synchronization is performed and/or the write operation is performed on the remote copy of the network data.

Abstract: A description of the hierarchically-structured document is accessed and converted into an early-bound object having at least some of the same properties as the hierarchically-structured document, and having at least some of the methods that may be performed on the hierarchically-structured document. When a function call is placed to the early-bound object, the early-bound object causes the appropriate corresponding changes to be affected on the hierarchically-structured document while maintaining change tracking information for the document. This reduces the difficulty when drafting source code for a program that interfaces with hierarchically-structured documents that can have varying structures and may be governed by complex change tracking rules.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein comprises a hand held optical probe axially insertable into the fastener holes of a multilayered panel for measuring the gap between the edges of the panels at the hole site. The hand held probe includes a light source, two bundles of optical fibers for directing light axially into a fastener hole, the tip end of the bundles being directed at a right angle to the axis of the fastener hole so that the panel edges are illuminated. When the probe is at gap depth the light energy reflected from the panel edges is directed by a right angle prism through a lens system in the probe to a video scanning camera which provides an electronic video image of the gap size. A spring biased conical guide mounted on the housing of the probe, and through which the tip end of the probe projects serves to center the tip end of the probe in the fasterner hole.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for optically measuring the width of a gap between abutting panel surfaces of a multilayered structure that is to be assembled by bolts or rivets inserted through fastener holes. A scanning video camera having an optical image input and a voltage wavetrain output through a coaxial cable is used. The camera mounts on a rigid side viewing borescope which via sleeve adapters is inserted down the fastener hole under test. A fiber optic bundle within the borescope provides illumination of the test surface containing the gap. The information gathered by the video camera is displayed on a TV monitor mounted in a test console. Superimposed on the camera-obtained image is a pair of vertical cursors generated by a video electronic micrometer.