Abstract: In one aspect, a method for comparing suppliers includes sending survey questions for receipt by supplier computer systems. Programming instructions are also sent for receipt and execution by the supplier computer systems, The programming instructions are for causing the supplier computer systems to return supplier survey answers to a server. The answers are included in responding documents and are defined in a certain format as data elements included in the responding documents. The data elements are then parsed from the responding documents responsive to predetermined programming instructions and evaluated the data elements responsive to a predetermined set of rules.

Abstract: A system controlled by a data processor for controlling vehicle operational functions enabled for each of a plurality of vehicle drivers comprising a combination of means for assigning to each of a group of drivers a vehicle operation key with a unique identifier, means for storing these identifiers, means for assigning to each of the group of drivers a set of operational functions that each driver is enabled to perform, means for designating a vehicle operation manager and means enabling this operation manager to modify each of the set of operational functions assigned to each of the group of drivers. The vehicle has means for directly receiving one of said vehicle operation keys together with means responsive to the receiving of the key for enabling all of the operational functions assigned to the driver who is identified by the key identifier.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for controlling presentation of an audio broadcast. Presentation of the audio broadcast is ceased in response to detecting a mobile phone call. The audio broadcast is recorded to form recorded audio presentation data in response to detecting the mobile phone call. The recorded audio presentation data is presented when the mobile phone call ends.

Abstract: Extending the function of a conventional VCR to both do digital recording and to convert analog tape VCR cassette recordings to a digital format without any apparatus modification of the conventional VCR. A portable video recording device comprises a video cassette housing adapted to operatively engage a video cassette recorder, i.e. the VCR requires no modification; the VCR in effect thinks that it is receiving a conventional VCR cassette. The inserted cassette housing comprises a set of read-write heads for operatively engaging an opposing set of read-write heads in the video cassette recorder; disk-drive storage apparatus operatively connected to said cassette read-write heads; and apparatus for converting analog input from the VCR to digital data and storing the data in the disk-drive storage.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for managing software defects by aggregating potential software defect information from a plurality of user computer systems are disclosed. Embodiments may include receiving a plurality of software state logs each from an originating user computer system, where each software state log is associated with a potential software defect of an application executing on its originating user computer system and each software state log includes software state information associated with its originating user computer system. Embodiments may also include storing the received software state logs in a defect repository and analyzing the software state information of the stored software state logs to detect patterns in the software state information. Further embodiments may include verifying that a potential software defect associated with a software state log is a defect and transmitting a verification of the software defect to the particular user computer system.

Abstract: A searching method in the Internet that correlates publicly available product reviews for products by initially predetermining a set of review terms indicative of a favorable review and also predetermining a set of review terms indicative of an unfavorable review. From a requesting station, databases in the Internet are searched for the product reviews as follows. Product reviews are distinguished from other documents mentioning the product that may also be in the searched databases. Each distinguished product review is then analyzed using the predetermined review terms indicative of favorable reviews and predetermined review terms indicative of unfavorable reviews. An overall determination is made as to whether each individual product review was favorable, unfavorable or balanced.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for searching documents based on text characteristics are disclosed. Embodiments may include receiving by a document searching system a request to search a document for a keyword and to limit the search based on one or more text characteristics associated with the keyword. Embodiments may also include performing by the document searching system a search of the document based on the keyword and the one or more associated text characteristics to find an instance of the keyword and generating by the document searching system a search result based on the performed document search. The text characteristics in some embodiments may include one or more of font style information, font emphasis information, highlighting information, or color information. In some embodiments, performing the search of the document includes finding an instance of the keyword where the keyword has characteristics that match at least one associated text characteristic.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for content-based search processing are disclosed. In one embodiment, a database is organized according to keywords. Data corresponding to keywords is searched to produce search results within the context of the keywords input by a user. The search results are analyzed to determine features of the data. A feature may be determined by identifying data with common traits. Data is then organized into categories according to the traits. The search results produce information and features of the data that a user may not have thought of but would find useful.

Abstract: Systems, methods and media for monitoring user specific information on websites by searching websites and displaying the results based at least partially on geographical region are disclosed. Embodiments may include receiving a search request including one or more keywords and searching a database based on the received search request to generate search results, where the search results include an indication of one or more websites each with an associated geographical region. Embodiments may also include generating a geographical user interface page based on the search results, where the page includes an indication of the one or more opinion websites superimposed on a map based on their associated geographical region. Embodiments may further include transmitting the generated geographical user interface page. Further embodiments may include generating geography-based directed advertising based on the search results or receiving and storing a rating for a website from a user.

Abstract: A receiving computer controlled display terminal that has accessed and displayed a network, e.g. Web document, is enabled to select a section of the displayed Web document to designate, e.g. block off a section in the document, and to transform the designated section into an E-mail message. This E-mail message may then be sent to selected terminals on the Web.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for converting an instruction and data trace to an executable program are provided. The apparatus and method are used to convert an instruction and data trace to an executable binary program that may then be used on a new computer system such that the simulations and the final computer both have similar run characteristics for a true comparison. The apparatus and method traverse a linear sequence of trace instructions to replace register names with unique labels and propagate these unique labels through the trace instructions. Thereafter, the trace instructions are traversed in a reverse direction to calculate register values based on the value of conditional branch registers. The resulting register values and corresponding memory addresses are then assembled into an executable program.

Abstract: Selecting the optimum service provider for each telephone call made so as to minimize the cost of each call. Each of the service providers is likely to be charging fees for calls at different rates determined by the measures of different sets of predetermined calling conditions that the provider sets up. An implementation for initiating a telephone call from the calling station to a selected receiving station, determining the measures of the predetermined calling conditions, determining the optimum service provider charging the minimum fee for the telephone call based on the determined measures of said service provider's set of predetermined calling conditions and routing the initiated telephone call to said receiving station through said optimum service provider.

Abstract: Monitoring of any conventional telephone conference in which a requisite set of conference attendees respectively at a corresponding set of telephone stations are connected into a telephone conference. In association with the telephone conference, a communication network with user access via a plurality of data processor controlled interactive display stations for displaying received network documents available from sources on the network in which there is an interactive display station associated with each of said set of telephone stations with a displayed document including an indicator representing each attendee having means for indicating whether the attendee's telephone station is connected into the conference, and means for indicating whether the attendee is speaking.

Abstract: A computer controlled interactive display RFID (radio frequency identification) household system enabling a householder to track and manage a set of RFID tags containing household possessions located within short range RF limited boundaries of a household facility. The implementation includes the combination of a short range RF transceiver for identifying and communicating with all RFID tags within the household boundaries and apparatus for inputting data indicating whether a RFID tag within said household boundaries is in one of the set of household possessions. In such an environment, there also is an implement for inputting this tracking and management data, as well as for storing this input data. There is also provided a function for prompting said householder in response to the entry within said household boundaries of a RFID tag not in one of the set of household possessions.

Abstract: A system, method, and related computer program for asynchronous transactions action buttons over communication mediums. The present invention allows users to maintain control over an instant message after it is sent. More specifically, a sender of an instant message can revoke a sent instant message, or amend a sent instant message. Further, a receiver of an instant message can respond directly to the instant message and also enjoys the continued control over the sent response instant message. In the present invention, display devices used for sending and receiving said instant messages include cellular telephones, PDAs, and laptop computers.

Abstract: A network distribution network for instant messaging including a plurality of display stations operated by a group of users enabled to send and receive displayable messages to other group members comprising storage for each individual station in the plurality of display stations for storing a list of identified other display stations authorized for instant message exchange with users at these display stations in combination with standard means at each individual station in the group of display stations enabling a user at the individual display station to activate such individual station for instant message exchange. There is a conventional implementation at each individual station of the plurality of display stations for querying as to whether a selected other display station operated by a user in the group is activated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for checking for viruses by adding a virus scanning capability to a data transfer device. In a method of the present invention a real-time virus checker is stored on a controller. The virus checker scans data as it is being written to a file. If a virus is detected, the suspected file is flagged. Anti-virus software is then invoked to perform a scan of the entire suspected file. In this manner, demands on CPU resources to perform scans will be greatly reduced as only those files marked as possibly containing a viruse need to be scanned, rather than scanning all the files on the entire data transfer device.

Abstract: A system controlled by a data processor for controlling vehicle operational functions enabled for each of a plurality of vehicle drivers comprising a combination of means for assigning to each of a group of drivers a vehicle operation key with a unique identifier, means for storing these identifiers, means for assigning to each of the group of drivers a set of operational functions that each driver is enabled to perform, means for designating a vehicle operation manager and means enabling this operation manager to modify each of the set of operational functions assigned to each of the group of drivers. The vehicle has means for directly receiving one of said vehicle operation keys together with means responsive to the receiving of the key for enabling all of the operational functions assigned to the driver who is identified by the key identifier.

Abstract: A computer controlled interactive display RFID (radio frequency identification) household system enabling a householder to track and manage a set of RFID tags containing household possessions located within short range RF limited boundaries of a household facility. The implementation includes the combination of a short range RF transceiver for identifying and communicating with all RFID tags within the household boundaries and apparatus for inputting data indicating whether a RFID tag within said household boundaries is in one of the set of household possessions. In such an environment, there also is an implement for inputting this tracking and management data, as well as for storing this input data. There is also provided a function for prompting said householder in response to the entry within said household boundaries of a RFID tag not in one of the set of household possessions.

Abstract: Cellular telephones embodying 3G system protocols with a storage drive that can add upwards of two to four gigabytes of data storage to the mobile wireless cellular telephone member in a portable attachment that is readily integratable with any standard cellular 3G telephone housing. A high function Third Generation (3G) cellular telephone with high functions, such as teleconferencing and multimedia, is enhanced with a high capacity ancillary storage unit removably attached to the telephone that includes a housing having means for receiving the ancillary storage unit. The ancillary storage unit preferably has a USB I/O slot for removably receiving a USB key drive.