Abstract: A telecommunications system and operations technique associated with unintentionally disconnected wireless communications. When a call is severed other than intentionally by the parties, value-added options are provided automatically. Recorded messages, call-backs, and similar options are appropriately distributed among the parties to the severed call. A method of doing business and appropriate system equipment and programming is described.

Abstract: Consumable components associated with computerized apparatus are provided with memory. The memory is used to store, and provide downloading capability therefrom, upgrade versions of computer code. The upgrade versions of computer code are programs or subroutines of programs associated with a device selected from a group including, the consumable, the associated computerized apparatus, and interactional program code associated with both the consumable device and the associated computing apparatus.

Abstract: Consumable components associated with computerized apparatus are provided with memory. The memory is used to store, and provide downloading capability therefrom, upgrade versions of computer code. The upgrade versions of computer code are programs or subroutines of programs associated with a device selected from a group including, the consumable, the associated computerized apparatus, and interactional program code associated with both the consumable device and the associated computing apparatus.

Abstract: A real time, computerized, method, system, and method of doing business with respect to troubleshooting and resolving installed base product failures. A client establishes a link with the business server, filing a report describing the product and failure mode in plain text. The server compares the failure mode plain text to a historical data base, associating maintained keywords likely to appear in the report to product subunits associated with failure modes. Based on the comparison, the server calculates and transmits to the client predictions of resolving the failure. The client is provided with on-line capability for selecting and ordering replacements. The process is continuous, iterative, and interactive.

Abstract: An apparatus for a multi-modal reasoning ontology engine comprising a data structure on computer readable media, where the data structures has a knowledge representation fact base of knowledge objects called tasks and results, where each result corresponds to one task to form a unique task-result pair, and a premise maintenance system of truth objects that can be reused called premises and conclusions.

Abstract: A method of inducing a top-down hierarchical categorizer includes providing a set of labeled training items. Each labeled training item includes an associated label representing a single category assignment for the training item. A set of unlabeled training items is provided. A prior is associated with the set of unlabeled training items that is independent of any particular feature contained in the unlabeled training items. The prior represents a plurality of possible category assignments for the set of unlabeled training items. A top-down hierarchical categorizer is induced with a machine learning algorithm based on the set of labeled training items, the set of unlabeled training items, and the prior.

Abstract: The present invention provides a program code implemented computer screen security system. A virtual, real-time generated, screen mask leaves only a localized cursor area visible while hiding the remainder of the screen from public view. The cursor area automatically tracks cursor movement. In the preferred embodiment, the security program is user selectable and adjustable.

Abstract: Method and system for measuring the degree of coherence of nodes in a hierarchy. A hierarchy that includes a plurality of nodes is received. A plurality of training cases are also received. Based on these inputs, a measure of coherence is determined for at least one node D in the hierarchy. The determination of the measure of coherence includes evaluation of the training cases with at least one feature under a local environment of node D and evaluation of the training cases with at least one feature under a subtree of the node D.

Abstract: A reverse caller identification system. Telecommunications devices are registered with respect to specific locations and are monitored with respect to users proximity to said devices. Prior to putting an incoming call through to one of said devices, the caller is provided with information as to activities currently in proximity to that device. A plurality of options for real-time information data and caller feedback are described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a solution to a problem where paths in at least one pursuit associated with the problem are traversed to generate one or more decision paths by processing one or more nodes in a given one of the paths, including: evaluating a premise if the node is a premise node, and passing the premise node if the premise passes, and noting a conclusion if the node is a conclusion node, withdrawing any previous conclusions that are not associated with a parent node of the conclusion, and passing the conclusion node; processing a child node if the current node is not a leaf node and is a node that passes; terminating a decision path if the child node cannot be processed, including asserting all noted, but non-withdrawn conclusions as a solution to the problem; and generating another decision path.

Abstract: An email system includes a server and client applications operatively coupled to the server. Each application operates on behalf of a given email address and the server forwards messages among the applications based on email addresses specified for the messages. When a recipient application that assumes a recipient email address has a status change in its message receiving and handling mode, that change is communicated from the recipient application to the server and is recorded in a status table indexed under email addresses. When the user of another application (i.e., sender application) wants to send a message to the recipient email address and has specified the recipient email address, the sender application queries the table in the server for the current status of the recipient email address by sending an inquiry to the table with the recipient email address so that the status of the recipient email address is determined before a message is sent to the recipient email address.

Abstract: A real time, computerized, method, system, and method of doing business with respect to troubleshooting and resolving installed base product failures. A client establishes a link with the business server, filing a report describing the product and failure mode in plain text. The server compares the failure mode plain text to a historical data base, associating maintained keywords likely to appear in the report to product subunits associated with failure modes. Based on the comparison, the server calculates and transmits to the client predictions of resolving the failure. The client is provided with on-line capability for selecting and ordering replacements. The process is continuous, iterative, and interactive.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for classifying an instance (i.e., a data item or a record) automatically into one or more classes selected from a set of potential classes are described. This multi-class classification approach enables instances to be classified with high accuracy, even when the number of classes is very large. In accordance with one classification scheme, a subset of two or more classes to which the instance is determined to most likely belong is selected from the set of potential classes. A classifier that is generated from a set of training records corresponding to a class set inclusive of the selected subset of classes is applied to the instance a to identify at least one class to which the instance most likely belongs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a program code implemented computer screen security system. A virtual, real-time generated, screen mask leaves only a localized cursor area visible while hiding the remainder of the screen from public view. The cursor area automatically tracks cursor movement. In the preferred embodiment, the security program is user selectable and adjustable.

Abstract: Consumable components associated with computerized apparatus are provided with memory. The memory is used to store, and provide downloading capability therefrom, upgrade versions of computer code. The upgrade versions of computer code are programs or subroutines of programs associated with a device selected from a group including, the consumable, the associated computerized apparatus, and interactional program code associated with both the consumable device and the associated computing apparatus.