Abstract: The present invention uses an order processing server to transmit an electronic menu to a customer. When a vehicle comes within range of the server's transceiver, the menu is received by the particular customer device, and the order is formulated and transmitted back to the server.

Abstract: A system and method for processing an information unit/packet (IU) in a stream processing system includes decomposing an IU into sub-information units persisted other than in the IU. An index or reference is generated in the IU for retrieving the persisted sub-information units during processing.

Abstract: An automatic planning system is provided for stream processing workflow composition. End users provide requests to the automatic planning system. The requests are goal-based problems to be solved by the automatic planning system, which then generates plan graphs to form stream processing applications. A scheduler deploys and schedules the stream processing applications for execution within an operating environment. The operating environment then returns the results to the end users.

Abstract: An intelligent agent and method of negotiating therewith incorporate a number of features, used alone or in combination, to enhance the productivity, security, efficiency and responsiveness of the agent in negotiations with other parties. One feature incorporates randomization of one or more aspects of an agent's behavior to disguise its negotiation strategy from other negotiating parties and thereby prevent such parties from gaining a negotiating advantage at the expense of the agent. Another features incorporates limiting unproductive negotiations by constraining one or more aspects of an agent's behavior based upon the behavior of a negotiating party and/or the duration of the transaction, and thereby making it more likely that unproductive negotiations will be terminated. An additional feature incorporates dynamic value determination to determine the desired value of a desired transaction by weighting and normalizing estimated values retrieved from a plurality of information sources.

Abstract: Disclosed is a controller that includes a curve matching mechanism. The curve matching mechanism employs Fuzzy Logic to compare input curves to standard curves and to thereby characterize the input curves. Also disclosed in an automotive environment for the curve matching mechanism in which a Fuzzy Controller is used to receive time series data (i.e., input curves) and to present the input curves to the curve matching mechanism. The controller then uses the output of the curve matching mechanism to adjust engine function.

Abstract: A system and method for processing an information unit/packet (IU) in a stream processing system includes decomposing an IU into sub-information units persisted other than in the IU. An index or reference is generated in the IU for retrieving the persisted sub-information units during processing.

Abstract: An automatic planning system is provided for stream processing workflow composition. End users provide requests to the automatic planning system. The requests are goal-based problems to be solved by the automatic planning system, which then generates plan graphs to form stream processing applications. A scheduler deploys and schedules the stream processing applications for execution within an operating environment. The operating environment then returns the results to the end users.

Abstract: The performance of a given task is optimized by utilizing an intelligent agent having a plurality of program modules suited to perform the computer task but having varied degrees of domain knowledge. Based upon an objective criteria that may be determined for a given situation, one or more of the program modules in the intelligent agent may be selected to perform the task, thereby optimizing the performance of the computer task for a wide variety of situations.

Abstract: A computer program product for implementing a rule-based programming language, the computer program product comprising a computer usable media, having computer program code thereon, comprises a single rule language supporting a plurality of rulesets, an object-oriented framework that compiles the rulesets into a collection of framework objects, and a plurality of pluggable inference engines for processing the collection of framework objects.

Abstract: A system and method are described for constructing and implementing generic software agents for automated tuning of computer systems and applications. The framework defines the modules and interfaces to allow agents to be created in a modular fashion. The specifics of the target system are captured by adaptors that provide a uniform interface to the target system. Data in the agent is managed by a metric manager, and controller modules implement the desired control algorithms. The modular structure and common interfaces allow for the construction of generic agents that are applicable to a wide variety of target systems, and can use a wide variety of control algorithms.

Abstract: A computer program product for implementing a rule-based programming language, the computer program product comprising a computer usable media, having computer program code thereon, comprises a single rule language supporting a plurality of rulesets, an object-oriented framework that compiles the rulesets into a collection of framework objects, and a plurality of pluggable inference engines for processing the collection of framework objects.

Abstract: A system and method is described for generic automated tuning for performance management. The system comprises a target to be controlled and a generic automated tuning agent (GATA) that performs this control. The controlled target provides interfaces to metrics relating to workload, service levels, and configuration information, as well as a means to adjust tuning controls that determine resource allocations within the target. The GATA inputs the metrics, estimates new tuning control settings based on service objectives specified by administrators, and outputs the tuning control settings.

Abstract: According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method and an apparatus for a user-friendly expression builder GUI is disclosed. The preferred embodiment GUI design enables users to construct syntactically valid expressions, without any knowledge of expression syntax. The preferred embodiment provides generic expressions, which serve as starting points in expression building. Each generic expression is a syntactically correct expression containing generic parameters. The GUI user customizes the syntactically correct generic expression, by replacing the generic parameters with parameters specific to the database task at hand. The preferred embodiment provides lists of such specific parameters, including lists of field names and constants, which are selected to build the expression.

Abstract: A system and method are described for constructing and implementing generic software agents for automated tuning of computer systems and applications. The framework defines the modules and interfaces to allow agents to be created in a modular fashion. The specifics of the target system are captured by adaptors that provide a uniform interface to the target system. Data in the agent is managed by a metric manager, and controller modules implement the desired control algorithms. The modular structure and common interfaces allow for the construction of generic agents that are applicable to a wide variety of target systems, and can use a wide variety of control algorithms.

Abstract: An intelligent agent and method of negotiating herewith incorporate a number of features, used alone or in combination, to enhance the productivity, security, efficiency and responsiveness of the agent in negotiations with other parties. One feature incorporates randomization of one or more aspects of an agent's behavior to disguise its negotiation strategy from other negotiating parties and thereby prevent such parties from gaining a negotiating advantage at the expense of the agent. Another features incorporates limiting unproductive negotiations by constraining one or more aspects of an agent's behavior based upon the behavior of a negotiating party and/or the duration of the transaction, and thereby making it more likely that unproductive negotiations will be terminated. An additional feature incorporates dynamic value determination to determine the desired value of a desired transaction by weighting and normalizing estimated values retrieved from a plurality of information sources.

Abstract: The present invention uses an order processing server to transmit an electronic menu to a customer. When a vehicle comes within range of the server's transceiver, the menu is received by the particular customer device, and the order is formulated and transmitted back to the server.

Abstract: The performance of a given computer task is optimized by utilizing a plurality of intelligent agents suited to perform the computer task but having varied degrees of domain knowledge. Based upon an objective criteria that may be determined for a given situation, one of the plurality of intelligent agents may be selected and dispatched to perform the task, thereby optimizing the performance of the computer task for a wide variety of situations.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for data mining including a feedback mechanism for monitoring performance of mining tasks. A user selected mining technique type is received for the data mining operation. A quality measure type is identified for the user selected mining technique type. The user selected mining technique type for the data mining operation is processed and a quality indicator is measured using the quality measure type. The measured quality indicator is displayed while processing the user selected mining technique type for the data mining operation.

Abstract: An intelligent agent and its client communicate using a selector known by both parties to generate and interpret messages and thereby effectively disguise confidential information transmitted in the messages from third parties. Moreover, a neural network is used to implement the decision logic and/or the message disguising functions of an agent such that the logic employed in such functions is not readily reverse compiled or scanned by third parties.

Abstract: A GUI enabling instant access to a sequence of previously executed assistance programming GUIs. The assistance programming GUIs lead the user through a specific sequence of templates until an object is created. Within each template, various prompts will solicit information variables to complete the template. The assistance program will analyze the returned variables and determine a related next step template to complete the object according to a required finished product. As each step may diverge into branches based on user input, the final result becomes an interrelated sequence of steps specific to the session history of the object creation. The sequence of assistance templates are grouped into a tabular notebook. The notebook is arranged according to the original historical relationships created during the creation of the subject. Each tab is labeled to equate to the various title bars found within each individual template. To edit an information variable, the user would select a particular tab, i.e.