Abstract: A method for distributing and utilizing software is provided. In the method of distribution, a software application is provided on a hardware device by a manufacturer of the software application, wherein the software application is executable on the hardware device. The hardware device is enclosed within a box and distributed. The manufacturer provides continued services for the software application, wherein the hardware device is connectable between at least one end user's computer and the manufacturer. The hardware device is adapted to provide the continued services via a communication link between the hardware device and the manufacturer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and a method for evaluating a plurality of moving queries over moving objects. The method, which can be embodied in a computer readable medium containing computer readable code, constructs motion-adaptive bounding boxes around the objects and queries and indexes the objects and queries based upon the bounding boxes. Predictive query results are used to optimize the evaluation of the moving queries. The bounding boxes vary in size and shape depending on the speed and motion direction of the objects and queries. The system of the present invention includes the moving objects and queries, each having an associated motion-adaptive bounding box. The system also provides for a monitoring system capable of monitoring the location and motion of the moving objects and moving queries and of evaluating the moving queries. The monitoring system includes a motion-adaptive query index and a motion-adaptive object index.

Abstract: Various embodiments for maintaining security and confidentiality of data and operations within a fraud detection system. Each of these embodiments utilizes a secure architecture in which: (1) access to data is limited to only approved or authorized entities; (2) confidential details in received data can be readily identified and concealed; and (3) confidential details that have become non-confidential can be identified and exposed.

Abstract: A method and structure for monitoring continual queries over moving objects, including identifying a query region in a digital format. Each query region is strictly covered by at least one shingle such that each query region is completely covered by the at least one shingle and no section of any of the at least one shingle falls outside the query region.

Abstract: This invention introduces a new concept called virtual construct intervals (VCI), where each predicate interval is decomposed into one or more of these construct intervals. These VCIs strictly cover the predicate interval. Namely, every attribute value covered by the predicate interval is also covered by at least one of the decomposed VCIs, and vice versa. Each construct interval has a unique ID or interval coordinate and a set of endpoints. A construct interval is considered activated when a predicate interval using it in its decomposition is added to the system. The predicate ID is then inserted into the ID lists associated with the decomposed VCIs. To facilitate fast search, a bitmap vector is used to indicate the activation of VCIs that cover an event value. The challenge is to find an appropriate set of construct intervals to make predicate decomposition simple and, more importantly, to build efficient bitmap indexes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the problem of scheduling work for employees and/or other resources in a help desk or similar environment. The employees have different levels of training and availabilities. The jobs, which occur as a result of dynamically occurring events, consist of multiple tasks ordered by chain precedence. Each job and/or task carries with it a penalty which is a step function of the time taken to complete it, the deadlines and penalties having been negotiated as part of one or more service level agreement contracts. The goal is to minimize the total amount of penalties paid. The invention consists of a pair of heuristic schemes for this difficult scheduling problem, one greedy and one randomized. The greedy scheme is used to provide a quick initial solution, while the greedy and randomized schemes are combined in order to think more deeply about particular problem instances.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating at least one output data set from at least one input data set for use in association with a data mining process are provided. First, data statistics are constructed from the at least one input data set. Then, an output data set is generated from the data statistics. The output data set differs from the input data set but maintains one or more correlations from within the input data set. The correlations may be the inherent correlations between different dimensions of a multidimensional input data set. A significant amount of information from the input data set may be hidden so that the privacy level of the data mining process may be increased.

Abstract: A technique of clustering data of a data stream is provided. Online statistics are first created from the data stream. Offline processing of the online statistics is then performed when offline processing either required or desired. Online statistics may be created through the reception of data points from the data stream and the formation and updating of data groups. Offline processing may be performed by reclustering groups of data points around sampled data points and reporting the newly formed clusters.

Abstract: Attribute association discovery techniques that support relational-based data mining are disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for mining attribute associations in a relational data set comprises the following steps/operations. Multiple items are obtained from the relational data set. Then, attribute associations are discovered using: (i) multi-attribute mining templates formed from at least a portion of the multiple items; and (ii) one or more mining preferences specified by a user. The invention provides a novel architecture for the mining search space so as to exploit the inter-relationships among patterns of different templates. The framework is relational-sensitive and supports interactive and online mining.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for removing biofilms from surfaces submerged in a fouled water system by adding to the water system an alkyl polyglycoside having the chemical formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a C.sub.8 -C.sub.16 alkyl chain and DP is from 0 to 3 carbohydrate units.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for dispersing biofilms caused by the growth of slime-forming bacteria and other microorganisms in industrial process water. The method comprises adding an effective biofilm dispersing amount of a linear alkylbenzene sulfonate to the industrial process water which contains slime-forming bacteria and other microorganisms. In addition, an alternative embodiment of the invention comprises adding a compound selected from the group consisting of peracetic acid, glutaraldehyde, isothiazolone, methylene bisthiocyanate, thiocyanomethylthio benzothiazole, 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propane diol, dibromonitrilopropane diol, tetralcishydroxy methyl phosphonium sulfate, decylthioethane amine, alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride and combinations thereof.