Abstract: A meta data management system for use with a surveillance system includes a user interface that allows users to define rules to manage meta data from distributed devices. An application programming interface provides an application access to system data and control information. A mechanism allows the application to transparently and seamlessly integrate with different types of databases by transparently allocating and searching the data that are physically distributed at different devices.

Abstract: An associative vector storage system has an encoding engine that takes input vectors, and generates transformed coefficients for a tunable number of iterations. Each iteration performs a complete transformation to obtain coefficients, thus performing a process of iterative transformations. The encoding engine selects a subset of coefficients from the coefficients generated by the process of iterative transformations to form an approximation vector with reduced dimension. A data store stores the approximation vectors with a corresponding set of meta data containing information about how the approximation vectors are generated. The meta data includes one or more of the number of iterations, a projection map, quantization, and statistical information associated with each approximation vector. A search engine uses a comparator module to perform similarity search between the approximation vectors and a query vector in a transformed domain.

Abstract: A metadata database adaptor for use with a surveillance and/or sensor system is capable of adapting metadata messages of varying formats according to needs of metadata databases. In other aspects, a metadata data model template can allow a user to define a data definition that is used to map user defined data with the metadata data model template to form XML data schema. Template mapping knowledge can then be applied for fast XML data schema to non-XML database schema generation without translation processing. In yet other aspects, an application domain template can allow a user to define a query definition that can then be processed with a mapping of the application domain template to translate Xpath, Xquery, or others to a database query.

Abstract: A similarity search engine includes a transformation module performing multiple iterations of transformation on a high dimensional vector data set. A scanning module supports dynamic selection of coefficients generated by the multiple iterations, and store and utilize search results in subsequent search operations. A dynamic query vector tree constructed from one or more input queries enhances search performance using multiple scans. Subsequent scans have a reduced candidate vector set and increased nearest neighbor vectors in a query vector set compared to previous scans.

Abstract: A method for constructing an upper concrete building unit on top of a pre-formed lower concrete building unit includes: (a) mounting vertical positioning pegs on the lower building unit; (b) disposing a horizontal floor form panel on top of the lower building unit, and providing holes in the floor form panel for passage of the positioning pegs to project upward through the floor form panel; (c) pouring concrete onto the floor form panel to form a concrete floor structure of the upper building unit with the positioning pegs projecting outwardly and upwardly therefrom; (d) mounting an upright wall form assembly on portions of the positioning pegs which project from the concrete floor structure of the upper building unit; and (e) pouring concrete into the wall form assembly to form a concrete wall structure of the upper building unit.

Abstract: In a method for locating a wall form assembly at an intended position on a floor of a concrete structure, a number of retaining grooves are initially formed in the floor at a boundary of the intended position of the wall form assembly. Thereafter, a number of upright positioning implements are mounted on the floor in the retaining grooves, respectively, before the wall form assembly is hoisted onto the floor such that an outer side of the wall form assembly abuts against the positioning implements to limit deviation of the wall form assembly from the intended position. A positioning implement and a guiding implement for use in the aforesaid locating method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A rotatable hoisting device includes a hanging unit with a hook, and a rotary shaft which is connected to the hanging unit. The rotary shaft is driven by a power drive unit for rotating and adjusting the hanging unit, thereby rotating a form hung on the hook to a desired angular position before it is positioned.

Abstract: An anchoring device includes a hollow cylinder, a biasing unit, a shaft, a cam mechanism and a driven drum. The hollow cylinder has top and bottom ends, a cylindrical wall interconnecting the top and bottom ends, and a plurality of hook arms pivoted to the cylindrical wall. Each of the hook arms has a lower hook end which is extendible outward at the bottom end of the hollow cylinder to an operative position. The biasing unit retracts inward the lower hook ends. The shaft extends coaxially through the top end of the hollow cylinder and is movable axially relative to the hollow cylinder between a topmost position and a bottommost position. The cam mechanism is connected to the shaft. The driven drum is journalled on the shaft and has a lower end adjacent to the hook arms, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced and radially projecting push members formed on the lower end of the driven drum to push the hook arms outward against the biasing unit.

Abstract: A pushing apparatus for pushing a wall form assembly that is provided with roller assemblies includes an upright tubular seat that confines an axial hole therethrough. A rotary shaft is disposed rotatably in the axial hole and has a lower end that extends out of the tubular seat and that has a base plate mounted securely thereon. A foot unit includes a pivot plate disposed below and mounted pivotally to the base plate, and an inclined support which inclines downwardly from the pivot plate and which has a lower end portion that contacts the floor. The foot unit further includes a spring member interposed between the base plate and the inclined support. The operating member includes a threaded shank which extends threadedly into the axial hole via the internally threaded top section and which is coupled rotatably to an upper end of the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving a wall form assembly on a floor includes an upright tubular seat which has upper and lower portions and which confines an axial hole through the upper and lower portions. The upper portion has an internally threaded top section. The lower portion is provided with a radial support projection. A horizontal beam has a front end and a rear end mounted on the upper portion of the tubular seat. A hook member is mounted on the front end of the horizontal beam. A rotary shaft is disposed rotatably in the axial hole and has an upper end and a lower end that extends out of the tubular seat and that has a roller mounted thereon. An operating member includes a threaded shank which has a lower section that extends threadedly into the axial hole via the internally threaded top section of the tubular seat and that is coupled to the upper end of the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus is used for adjusting the distance between two opposed form panels and includes a tie rod, first and second nut members, a seat member, a C-shaped clamp member and a bolt member. The tie rod passes through the first and second form panels, and has first and second threaded end portions which engage respectively the first and second nut members. The seat member has opposed first and second sides, and a through hole extending from the first side to the second side. The second nut member has opposite first and second ends. The second threaded end portion of the tie rod is positioned relative to the seat member when the second end of the second nut member abuts against the second side of the seat member. The C-shaped clamp member has two arm portions which engage the retaining cavities of the seat member.

Abstract: A modular wall form assembly includes two upright wall form panels, a bridging plate interposed removably between the wall form panels, and a plurality of coupling devices for connecting securely the wall form panels and the bridging plate. Each of the coupling devices includes at least three horizontally aligned coupling seats mounted respectively on the rear sides of the wall form panels and the bridging plate, and a T-shaped coupling lever. Each of the coupling seats is formed with a rectangular hole and a notch that is located on a longer side of the rectangular hole and that extends to the rectangular hole. The notch has a width shorter than the length of the longer side of the rectangular hole. The coupling lever has a handle that is transversely aligned with respect to a coupling portion. The coupling portion has a cross section that corresponds in size with the rectangular holes of the coupling seats.