Abstract: A method comprising, defining a supplier scoring tree by, receiving a function of a supplier performance, defining a first node to include the function of the supplier performance, receiving a first value associated with a metric of the supplier performance, defining a second node to receive the first value associated with a metric of the supplier performance, and connecting the first node to the second node with a link, outputting the defined supplier scoring tree to a display, and displaying the defined supplier scoring tree to a user for analysis of supplier performance by the user.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for ranking-based information processing. Method steps can include integrating information from at least one source (a plurality of heterogeneous sources can also be handled), to obtain integrated information; mapping the integrated information to at least one application; ranking the integrated information based on the mapping and on ranking criteria from a knowledge base; and processing the integrated information, based on the ranking, to obtain processed integrated information. Optionally, the processing step includes formatting the processed integrated information for a plurality of applications.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for ranking-based information processing. Method steps can include integrating information from at least one source (a plurality of heterogeneous sources can also be handled), to obtain integrated information; mapping the integrated information to at least one application; ranking the integrated information based on the mapping and on ranking criteria from a knowledge base; and processing the integrated information, based on the ranking, to obtain processed integrated information. Optionally, the processing step includes formatting the processed integrated information for a plurality of applications.

Abstract: A method and device for creating a glossary includes a processor operable for executing computer instructions for identifying, in at least one information source, at least one glossary item identifying a part or a component, determining at least one glossary item form as a canonical form, defining, by using the canonical form, at least one syntactic structure, that includes one of the at least one identified glossary items, for each of at least one semantic classes, and searching a second information source for the at least one syntactic structure of the semantic class.

Abstract: A services computing system may include a server and a plurality of clients in communication with the server. The system may further include a plurality of service exchange units in communication with the server with each of the plurality of service exchange units providing a service to a portion of the plurality of clients based upon permissions and data received from the portion of the plurality of clients. A system contemplated herein helps to better manage complex business ecosystems with heterogeneous and/or homogenous groups of clients.

Abstract: The invention provides a system adapted to enable contextual collaboration within a computer network. The invention provides a collaboration manager that supports manipulation of collaboration spaces. The collaboration spaces contain one or more collaboration elements that have potentially different collaboration modalities. The context manager maintains resources and resource interrelationships within contexts. The resources can include collaboration elements, processes, tasks, business objects, users, and/or roles. A view generator selects a set of the resources to be displayed to a user of the computer network. The invention also includes an interface adapted to allow applications to specify commands to manipulate collaboration spaces, commands to maintain resources and resource interrelationships within contexts, and queries for context-sensitive views.

Abstract: The invention provides a system adapted to enable contextual collaboration within a computer network. The invention provides a collaboration manager that supports manipulation of collaboration spaces. The collaboration spaces contain one or more collaboration elements that have potentially different collaboration modalities. The context manager maintains resources and resource interrelationships within contexts. The resources can include collaboration elements, processes, tasks, business objects, users, and/or roles. A view generator selects a set of the resources to be displayed to a user of the computer network. The invention also includes an interface adapted to allow applications to specify commands to manipulate collaboration spaces, commands to maintain resources and resource interrelationships within contexts, and queries for context-sensitive views.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for ranking-based information processing. Method steps can include integrating information from at least one source (a plurality of heterogeneous sources can also be handled), to obtain integrated information; mapping the integrated information to at least one application; ranking the integrated information based on the mapping and on ranking criteria from a knowledge base; and processing the integrated information, based on the ranking, to obtain processed integrated information. Optionally, the processing step includes formatting the processed integrated information for a plurality of applications.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for improved information integration in accordance with information sources such as web services in a distributed information system. For example, a technique for processing a query obtained from a user in an information integration system, wherein the information integration system is associated with a database and one or more information sources, comprises the following steps/operations. The user query is transformed to one or more queries valid with respect to one or more of the information sources associated with the database. Based on the one or more transformed queries, a query plan executable on the database is generated, wherein at least a portion of results returned to the user in response to the query are based on at least a portion of results returned from execution of the query plan. In one embodiment, the information sources may be web services. Further, a number, a nature and/or an identity of the one or more information sources may be dynamic or change over time.

Abstract: An optical device including: a glass substrate; a crystalline silicon layer bonded to the glass substrate; and a thermally tunable thin-film optical filter fabricated on top of the crystalline silicon layer.

Abstract: An optical device including: a substrate with a top surface and a bottom surface and a hole extending through the substrate from the top surface to the bottom surface; and a multilayered thin film structure fabricated on the substrate and forming a membrane over the hole, the multilayered thin film structure including a thermally tunable thin film optical filter structure at least a portion of which is positioned over the hole.

Abstract: The invention provides a system adapted to enable contextual collaboration within a computer network. In invention, a collaboration manager supports manipulation of collaboration spaces. The collaboration spaces contain one or more collaboration elements that have potentially different collaboration modalities. The context manager maintains resources and resource interrelationships within contexts. The resources can include collaboration elements, processes, tasks, business objects, users, and/or roles. A view generator selects a set of the resources to be displayed to a user of the computer network. The invention also includes an interface adapted to allow applications to specify commands to manipulate collaboration spaces, commands to maintain resources and resource interrelationships within contexts, and queries for context-sensitive views.

Abstract: An optical sensor for detecting a chemical in a sample region includes an emitter for producing light, and for directing the light through the sample region. The sensor also includes a detector for receiving the light after the light passes through the sample region, and for producing a signal corresponding to the light the detector receives. The sensor further includes a thermo-optic filter disposed between the emitter and the detector. The optical filter has a tunable passband for selectively filtering the light from the emitter. The passband of the optical filter is tunable by varying a temperature of the optical filter. The sensor also includes a controller for controlling the passband of the optical filter and for receiving the detection signal from the detector. The controller modulates the passband of the optical filter and analyzes the detection signal to determine whether an absorption peak of the chemical is present.

Abstract: A method for transferring a structured document between a server and a software package, in accordance with the present invention, includes providing a structured document including entered information from a server and translating the structured document into a format understandable to a software package resident on a personal computer. The software package supports entering and extracting required information using only a user interface in the software package. The translated structured document is integrated into the software package by employing a program or applet for directly entering and extracting information to and from the software package without human intervention. The program includes operating system commands for mimicking input device actions for automatically interacting with the user interface.

Abstract: A system for automatically generating a style sheet includes a parser for generating a document type graph in accordance with an input structure, a graphical user interface tool for interactively mapping the document type graph to form a display template in accordance with user requirements and a script generator for generating and storing the style sheet in accordance with the graphical user interface and the design template.

Abstract: A system for exchanging and merging messages over a network includes a server accessible by a plurality of remote browsers for transmitting a template including fields for information entry and a business system accessible by the server for generating a return document pursuant to information entered in the template on the browsers. The business system includes a first parser for receiving a document from a browser, the document including information about data characteristics of information entered into the template, and a second parser for receiving information about data characteristics to provide a return template. A merging algorithm is implemented to merge the document with the return template for providing a return document to the browser having portions of the return template with data entered therein.

Abstract: A method for allowing flexible creation and alteration of business processes within a commerce system includes using state machines to describe the actions that can be taken by particular roles at particular points in a process. The state machines are used by a commerce system to enforce validity of user actions, to track the execution of actions within an instance of the business process, to provide the user interface with a list of actions available to a user working on an instance of the business process, to provide coordination between state machines, and to allow different organizations to have varied business processes.

Abstract: In a gas turbine having a plurality of combustors, each having an annular array of outer fuel nozzles arranged about a center axis, an improved construction is provided wherein each combustor has a center nozzle located on the center axis. Various methods of operating the improved combustor are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a gas turbine having a plurality of combustors, each having an annular array of outer fuel nozzles arranged about a center fuel nozzle. A method for operating the combustors wherein the annular array is supplied with fuel from a diffusion manifold and at least one pre-mix manifold, and further wherein the center nozzle is supplied with fuel from a center premix manifold includes the steps of:a) at start-up, supplying some of the annular array nozzles with diffusion fuel;b) at part speed supplying pre-mix fuel to one of the nozzles in the annular array;c) at full speed, part load, transferring the annular array nozzles receiving diffusion fuel to pre-mix fuel;d) as load is increased supplying pre-mix fuel to the center nozzle; and thene) supplying additional pre-mix to all nozzles as load increases.

Abstract: In a gas turbine having a plurality of combustors, each having an annular array of outer fuel nozzles arranged about a center axis, an improved construction is provided wherein each combustor has a center nozzle located on the center axis. Various methods of operating the improved combustor are also disclosed.