Abstract: The present-invention relates to a method for the band expansion of speech for telephones, in particular for mobile telephones, by increasing the effective sampling rate of the speech signal by the insertion of additional samples and subsequent filtering of the expanded bandwidth speech signal.

Abstract: A system and method for assigning an IT expert to a request for assistance. The invention allows users to request assistance over the Internet to an IT expert server having a file of qualified IT experts. The trouble “ticket” is assigned and alias and is sent out to a number of IT experts having the correct qualifications who then have an opportunity to respond. The first to respond is assigned an alias and communicates with the requester via the IT expert server. Upon completion of the ticket, the IT expert so designates and the requester is asked to fill out a survey noting the satisfaction with the service provided. IT experts are assigned rankings and are paid and solicited for further work based upon the ranking.

Abstract: A store controller stores a series of prices for a product and respective effective periods during which the prices are effective. A customer submits an offer to buy the product at an “offer price” that is one of the series of prices. The offer also has an offer period that elapses when the respective effective period of the product price elapses. The offer period thereby defines a period during which the offer is effective and after which the offer cannot be accepted. Each offer further specifies (i) a customer identifier for identifying the customer, and (ii) funds or a payment identifier for specifying an account from which funds (typically the offer price) may be collected if the offer is accepted. The store controller then determines whether to accept the offer. If the offer is accepted, the store controller (i) initiates use of the payment identifier, if any, to collect the funds, and (ii) uses the customer identifier to identify the customer as having paid for the product.

Abstract: A method of conducting a financial transaction between a purchaser and a vendor of a product, the purchaser and the vendor each having an account held at respective first (A) and second (B) financial institutions. The method requires the provision of at least one vendor database 24 including product-related information, for example regarding the availability and price of a product. A publicly accessible data exchange terminal, typically an automatic teller machine (ATM) 112, is linked to the vendor database. The system then interrogates the purchaser to obtain transaction-related information via the terminal by requiring the purchaser to indicate a number of transaction options. The terminal is linked to the first financial and second financial institutions to provide access to the purchaser's and vendor's accounts. The system then transfers funds electronically between accounts for the value of the transaction.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method for allowing a potential purchaser to specify a custom color to a vendor. The method is implemented through a potential purchaser computer coupled to a vendor host computer system by a network. The method includes receiving at the vendor host computer system a request to specify a custom color from the potential purchaser computer. The potential purchaser computer is provided with a custom color request form. The vendor host computer system receives a custom color specification from the potential purchaser computer which is based on entries in the custom color request form. An alternate embodiment of the invention is a method for selecting a color from a vendor color database in response to a standard color. The method is implemented through a potential purchaser computer coupled to a vendor host computer system by a network. The method includes receiving at the vendor host computer system a standard color from the potential purchaser computer.

Abstract: The activity information accounting system stores an account title table corresponding to activity information, and performs accounting procedures on the basis of an input activity information and an account title corresponding to the input activity information. The accounting system displays activity types including purchase and acquisition activity, sales and revenue activity, expenditure activity, investment and finance activity, and production activity. If user selects one of the displayed activity types, the accounting system displays a screen for the user to input activity information for the selected activity type. The accounting system determines if the input activity information is internal activity or external activity, performs accounting procedures on the basis of determined result and the account title table.

Abstract: An invoice processing system (200) includes a web browser equipped computer system (210) operated by a vendor that is Internet networkly coupled to an invoice processing server (202) providing a web page server. The vendor can enter invoice information (216) at the invoice processing server (202) to create an invoice at the invoice processing server. The invoice processing server (202) validates the invoice information (216) and determines the invoice is authorized for processing payment. The invoice processing server (202) provides a payment authorization signal to an accounting computer system (206) to initiate processing payment of the invoice in response to determining the invoice is authorized for payment.

Abstract: A modem to improve communication system performance that uses multiple modulation schemes comprising modulation technique and encoder combinations. As communication system performance and objectives change, different modulation schemes may be selected. Modulation schemes may also be selected upon the communication channel scattering function estimate, and the modem estimates the channel scattering function from measurements of the channel's frequency (doppler) and time (multipath) spreading characteristics.

Abstract: A neuron circuit including means for synaptic modification is described. The circuit emulates the electrical behaviors of the neuron membrane, dendrite, and synapse, using principles based on the actual biology. In one embodiment, the circuit is implemented as an analog very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuit which utilizes CMOS integrated circuit technology. The analog VLSI circuit includes a synapse circuit having a circuit portion which models a mechanism for the modification of the synaptic conductance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for classifying textual data is provided. The invention is adapted to automatically classify text. In particular, the invention utilizes a sparse vector framework to evaluate natural language text and to accurately and automatically assign that text to a predetermined classification. This can be done even where the disclosed system has not seen an example of the exact text before. The disclosed method and apparatus are particularly well-suited for coding adverse event reports, commonly referred to as “verbatims,” generated during clinical trials of pharmaceuticals, The invention also provides a method and apparatus that can be used to translate verbatims that have already been classified according to one coding scheme to be translated to another coding scheme in a highly automated process.

Abstract: A retrieval system enables high-speed and high-precision pattern retrieval. A retrieval dictionary generation unit classifies learned patterns into plural clusters, and generates a retrieval dictionary using the clusters. A nearest cluster detector detects, a cluster nearest to an input retrieval patter from among clusters in a multidimensional space. The specific space is generated between a couple of spheres having radiuses smaller and larger, respectively, than a distance from a central cluster that locates near the center of the multidimensional space to the retrieval pattern. A learned pattern detector compares all learned patterns that belong to the nearest cluster with the retrieval pattern and detects a learned pattern at predetermined distance from the retrieval pattern. A retrieval range decision unit decides a retrieval range using the learned pattern detected by the learned pattern detector and retrieval pattern.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for processing records to extract relevant, reusable diagnostic information and make the information available in a form capable of being used by field engineers to speed the diagnosis and repair or adjustment of equipment.

Abstract: A device that determines conditions under which a web break is more likely to occur in a printing system stores data pertaining to ink temperature or ink temperature gain. The device then implements a correlation analysis, such as a decision-tree induction analysis, using the stored data to determine if there is a correlation between the one or more attributes and the occurrence of a web break. The device has a multiplicity of ink fountains and includes a first temperature sensor that measures a first ink temperature and a second temperature that measures a second ink temperature. A controller compares the first ink temperature to the second ink temperature to determine an ink temperature gain, compares the ink temperature gain to a desired ink temperature gain range and generates an output signal based on the comparison.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for dynamically rendering a component instance at run time. According to the invention, a rendering engine is provided for each type of component that can be rendered, and each engine is responsible for rendering all instances of that component type. When it comes time to render a component instance, the rendering engine associated with that instance is invoked. When invoked, the rendering engine receives a set of metadata associated with the component instance, which specifies the attribute values for that instance. Based upon the metadata, the rendering engine determines, at run time, a format for the instance, and renders the instance in accordance with the determined format. By rendering the instance at run time based purely upon metadata, the present invention makes it possible to store only the metadata associated with the instance. Unlike the prior art, it is not necessary to store a component as a large static entity. As a result, the present invention requires less storage.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and an article of manufacture for parallel execution of SQL operations from stored procedures. One or more embodiments of the invention provide the stored procedure (stored procedure) with a C++ class (hereinafter referred to as “dispatcher”) that can take an SQL query and start parallel execution of the query. The query is optimized and parallelized. The dispatcher executes the query, sets up the communication links between the various operators in the query, and ensures that all the results are sent back to the data-server that originated the query request. Further, the dispatcher merges the results of the parallel execution and produces a single stream of tuples that is fed to the calling stored procedure. To provide the single stream to the calling stored procedure, one or more embodiments of the invention utilize a class that provides the stored procedure with a simple and easy-to-use interface to access the results of the nested SQL execution.

Abstract: Query results and statistics regarding them are generated using a novel representation of an n-attribute relation as an order n relational tensor. Orders of the relational tensor respectively correspond to each of the attributes, and each coordinate along an order relates to a key value of the corresponding attribute. Numeric values are stored in the relational tensor, each numeric value representing a count of tuples having the attribute key values that correspond to the coordinate of the numeric value along the orders of the relational tensor. This storage representation is useful in a variety of contexts for enhancing the performance of a RDBMS system. Specifically, a data-representing relational tensor can be used to produce results for tuple grouping operations such as the SQL operations COUNT . . . GROUP BY, SUM . . . GROUP BY, AVG . . . GROUP BY, MIN . . . GROUP BY and MAX . . . GROUP BY.

Abstract: A data search method capable of representing a complex search condition with a reduced number of filters and allowing high data visibility is used in a data search system including a storage disposed to store a plurality of data to be administered and attribute values associated with a desired number of attributes and respectively assigned to the plurality of data, a display, an input unit receiving an instruction from a user to perform an operation through a user operation to be performed on an object displayed on the display, and a data operation unit performing an operation on the plurality of data in response to the instruction received by the input unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating efficient database searching for records referenced by a data reference, the method including examining a data reference and related information to identify content characteristics and non-content characteristics of the data reference and, based the content and non-content characteristic combinations, selecting a sub-set of databases to be searched for data referenced records, ordering the sub-set as a function of likelihood of including relevant records and then searching the ordered sub-set of databases for relevant records.

Abstract: A method and structure for searching multi-media data having different modes using a query, includes processing the multi-media data to extract text and time reference points, identifying overlapping time periods when text in two or more of the modes corresponds to the query, and ranking a relevance of the overlapping time periods.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for selecting electronic documents, such as Web pages or sites, from among documents in a collection, based upon the occurrence of selected terms in segments of the documents. The method may be applied where index terms have previously been assigned to the documents. The method may be used to select supercategories of banner advertisements from which to choose an advertisement to display for a user.

Abstract: A method for generating an approximate answer in response to a query to a database in which an SQL query Q for operating on a relation R in a database is received. Relation R has an associated histogram H. The SQL query Q is translated to be a query Q′ for operating on histogram H. Translated query Q′ is executed on histogram H for obtaining a result histogram. The result histogram is expanded into a relation having tuples containing approximate attribute values.

Abstract: A database containing data items, such as images, text, audio records or video records, in both summary and complete forms, is searched by reference to descriptors associated with the data items, in response to user requests. The search result contains the summary form of the selected items. Responses from users indicative of the utility of the search results (implicit in the users' subsequent actions in requesting the complete forms of specific selected items) are used to refine the descriptors to alter subsequent search results.

Abstract: A system and method for importing and exporting test executive values from or to a database. A test executive may provide the user various places, referred to as variables and properties, in which data values can be stored. These data values may affect execution of a test executive sequence. Variables may be global to a sequence file or local to a particular sequence. Each step in a sequence can have properties. The user may include a Property Loader step in a sequence, which is operable to dynamically, i.e., at run time, load property and/or variable values from a database. The Property Loader step may be placed in a setup group of the sequence, and the step(s) whose properties are configured may be placed in a main group of the sequence, so that when the sequence is executed the steps in the main group are configured with appropriate property values before running. The test executive may also enable a user to interactively, e.g.

Abstract: Emerging patterns (EPs) are itemsets having supports that change significantly from one dataset to another. A classifier, CAEP, is disclosed using the following main ideas based on EPs: (i) Each EP can sharply differentiate the class membership of a (possibly small) fraction of instances containing the EP, due to the big difference between the EP's supports in the opposing classes; the differentiating power of the EP is defined in terms of the EP's supports and ratio, on instances containing the EP. (ii) For each instance t, by aggregating (124) the differentiating power of a fixed, automatically selected set of EPs, a score is obtained for each class (126). The scores for all classes are normalized (144) and the largest score determines t's class (146). CAEP is suitable for many applications, even those with large volumes of high dimensional data. CAEP does not depend on dimension reduction on data and is usually equally accurate on all classes even if their populations are unbalanced.

Abstract: A method for minimizing network traffic of distributed applications operating in a distributed environment in a networked computer system, comprising a plurality of workstations and a plurality of database management systems (DBMS) managing data in a set of distributed tables for use by the workstation. The method derives from process models a placement of tables resulting in minimal network traffic when the process model is executed and thereby lowering costs and average response times. The invention can be advantageously applied to workflow management systems.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods for improving awareness of the status of a task, and for improving collaboration among users involved in a task. Methods are provided in which activity data is displayed simultaneously in two separate regions of a screen display. A first region can contain a list of users in association with an activity most recently performed by each user. A second region can contain a list of data objects in association with an activity most recently performed on each of the data objects. Collaboration tools can be accessible through the list of users or the list of data objects.

Abstract: Provided is an indexing system for structured or semi-structured source data comprising a tokenizer for accepting source data and generating tokens representing the source data, the tokens from the tokenization representing the source data in a relational view, where for tokens representing a subset of the source data, the system generates tokens identifying the table and column of the subset of the data in the relational view of the source data, and an index builder for building index structures based on the tokens generated by the tokenizer, the index builder creating indexes which comprise a set of positional indexes for indicating the position of token data in the source data, a set of lexicographical indexes comprising a sort vector index and a join bit index, associated with the sort vector index, a set of data structures mapping between the lexicographical indexes and the positional indexes.

Abstract: A database structure is disclosed that is particularly suited to Usenet servers. The database is thread-hot, synchronized, and highly parallel. In addition, the database structure enables high speed read/write activity with low latency search processes. The database is statically sized, self-expiring, and self-reparing. No throttling or down-time is required in the normal course of operations. The database is accompanied by several caches to provide a system capable of high perfomance Usenet operations. The invention comprises a “key-value” database, several pointers, linked lists, locks, and queues. All of these elements are arranged to operate in a synergistic manner to achieve a highly efficient history database. Under normal conditions, most of the queries from newsfeeds can be satisfied from a cache of the latest history database entries because many of the newsfeeds will offer the same articles as the other newsfeeds.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing a document with dynamic content for display in either a static or dynamic environment. A method includes generating an object including defining a dynamic characteristic for the object, storing the object in a embeddable file format and authoring a document using an authoring application including embedding the object into the document and preparing the document as part of the print process for display such that when the document is displayed in a dynamic environment the dynamic appearance of the object is displayed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to techniques for accessing a data storage system having both a filesystem and directory system. In one arrangement, an apparatus has memory that stores an application, and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller operates in accordance with the application stored in the memory to access a data storage system. In particular, the application configures the controller to obtain an access instruction which identifies a portion of the data storage system, and determine, in response to the obtained access instruction, whether the identified portion of the data storage system is a file of the filesystem or a directory entry of the directory system.

Abstract: A geographic database for use with a navigation application program that provides navigation features to an end-user. The geographic database includes a plurality of data records of a first type and a plurality of data records of a second type. The plurality of records of the first type are organized into a plurality of parcels, each of which includes a plurality of data records of the first type and the plurality of records of the second type are organized into a plurality of parcels, each of which includes a plurality of data records of the second type. The parcels of data records of the first type are interleaved with the parcels of data records of the second type. This interleaving enables navigation functions that use these different types to access these different types more quickly and efficiently, thereby enhancing navigation system performance.

Abstract: The improvement of accuracy is provided in extracting a rule in customers. A customer database DB1 is constructed by storing customer inner information concerning the mental side, which includes a value sense of each customer, and customer outer information which includes basic attributes consisting of at least sexuality and age of each customer.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for monitoring and alerting on an event log. One or more alert policies is accessed, wherein each of the alert policies is comprised of one or more rules stored on a computer. An event log stored on a computer is accessed in a location-independent manner to gather one or more event messages stored therein. The event messages are filtered by comparing them to the rules of the alert policies to raise an alert and determine whether an alert action should be invoked.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for transferring a resource from the cache of one database server to the cache of another database server without first writing the resource to disk. When a database server (Requestor) desires to modify a resource, the Requestor asks for the current version of the resource. The database server that has the current version (Holder) directly ships the current version to the Requestor. Upon shipping the version, the Holder loses permission to modify the resource, but continues to retain the resource in memory. When the retained version of the resource, or a later version thereof, is written to disk, the Holder can discard the retained version of the resource. Otherwise, the Holder does not discard the retained version. Using this technique, single-server failures are recovered without having to merge the recovery logs of the various database servers that had access to the resource.

Abstract: A Program product code, a method, and a deviceare disclosed for an enhanced caching and mirroring router which modifies stored web pages in order to indicate the age, time of capture, and which allows requests for a new copy of the page. By incorporating an HTML modification Java servlet into the caching router, the caching router can efficiently merge the cached web pages with local data objects, such time stamps and age counters, in a real-time manner, thereby providing the receiving user with an indication of the time and/or age of the cached page, where there would otherwise be no indication to the user of the age of the web page. In an enhancement of the invention, a method is provided to detect a refresh request from the user in order to fetch a new, current copy of the cached page.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for creating or modifying a documentation output object that describes a portion of computer code. A documentation input object within a code file that is associated with a first documentation information object is provided. The first documentation information object is extracted based on the documentation input object. The first documentation information object is output to the documentation output object. A method is also disclosed for creating a data structure. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for creating or modifying a documentation output object that describes a portion of computer code is also disclosed.

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: Systems and methods consistent with the present invention use a Namespace paradigm to define an external component reference to a style sheet. When the style sheet processor processes the tags in the style sheet, it recognizes the external component declaration. The style sheet will contain a name of the external component instance and a definition of the method to execute associated with the external component instance, and may contain arguments for the method associated with the external component instance which is executing. The XSLT processor then relinquishes control to the external component to execute the method defined in the style sheet. The results of the method's execution may be placed in the transform document generated by processing the style sheet. However, this is not required and other results may be generated, including those not related to the transform document.

Abstract: Ordered binder document sections having different file formats stored within a binder file. The binder file maintains the order of binder document sections in an index structure. The binder document sections can be removed from the binder file and stored as external files, while their order in the binder document is retained. The index structure is updated when additional binder document sections are added to the binder file. Also, the index structure may be altered so as to change the order of binder document sections in the binder document, without altering the memory locations in which the binder document sections are stored.

Abstract: A signal processing method enabling reproduction of a broadband signal free of aliasing which transforms a plurality of discrete signals obtained by sampling an identical continuous signal using sampling phases different in a one-dimensional direction and containing a basic spectral component contained in the continuous signal and imaging components other than the basic spectral component to the frequency domain in a Fourier transforming circuit and shifts the phase in a spatial shift circuit, then solves predetermined simultaneous equations in a basic spectrum calculation circuit, finds complex numbers to be multiplied with the phase shifted plurality of signals, multiplying the calculated corresponding complex numbers with the plurality of signals, and adding the results of the multiplication to generate a signal free of the aliasing.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing highly parallel, FFT calculations in a circuit including a plurality of RADIX-2 elements. Partitioned RAM resources allow RADIXes at all stages to have optimal bandwidth memory access. Preferably more memory is made available for early RADIX stages and a “critical” stage. RADIXes within stages beyond the critical stage preferably each need only a single RAM partition, and can therefore simultaneously operate without fighting for memory resources. In a preferred configuration having P RAM partitions and P RADIX stages, the critical stage is stage number log2P, and until the critical stage, only P/2 RADIX elements can simultaneously operate within each stage. After the critical stage, all RADIXes within each stage can simultaneously operate.

Abstract: A system and method for avoiding deadlock in a non-preemptive multi-tasking application program, wherein the application program operates in an operating system that provides a non-preemptive multi-tasking environment. All components of the application program that require resources from other components within the application program, and that will not yield to internal timeslicing within the application program, are placed in separate executables (i.e., application programs). Thus allowing maximum background processing and the avoidance of deadlock.

Abstract: A processor includes logic for attaining a very fast exception handling functionality while executing non-threaded programs by invoking a multithreaded-type functionality in response to an exception condition. The processor, while operating in multithreaded conditions or while executing non-threaded programs, progresses through multiple machine states during execution. The very fast exception handling logic includes connection of an exception signal line to thread select logic, causing an exception signal to evoke a switch in thread and machine state. The switch in thread and machine state causes the processor to enter and to exit the exception handler immediately, without waiting to drain the pipeline or queues and without the inherent timing penalty of the operating system's software saving and restoring of registers.

Abstract: A Dynamic Multicast Routing (DMR) facility is provided for a distributed computing environment having a plurality of networks of computing nodes. The DMR facility automatically creates virtual interfaces between selected computing nodes of the networks to ensure multicast message reachability to all functional computing nodes within the distributed computing environment. The DMR facility employs a group of group leader nodes (GL_group) among which virtual interfaces for multicast messaging are established. Upon failure of one of the group leader nodes, another computing node of the respective network having the failing group leader node is assigned group leader status for re-establishing virtual interfaces. Virtual interfaces are established between the group leader nodes such that redundancy in message routing is avoided.

Abstract: A method of integrating host application software with data collection devices (e.g., bar code scanners) located on remote, wireless terminals. A data collection object executes on the host computer, using a predetermined interface between the host application software and the data collection object. That interface, and the communications between the host application software and the data collection object, are configured so that to the host application software the data collection device appears to be local hardware on the host computer. The data collection object creates and executes threads of execution for controlling operation of the data collection device, with the threads communicating with the remote terminals via a host computer transport layer, the wireless link, and a remote computer transport layer at the remote terminals.

Abstract: A method and system are described that can be used to support content collaboration among a group of participants connected to a network. A participant creates an electronic form specifying the content and a list of network addresses corresponding to other participants in the content collaboration. A server receives the form and includes resources for delivering an electronic mail message associated with an electronic medium associated with the content collaboration. When the participant opens the message, the electronic medium is produced by the server that includes static and dynamic regions. The participant can modify or change the content. The dynamic regions are asynchronously updated in the server and indicate the current content of the electronic medium that can be accessed by other participants. The content may be binary or textual.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying undesired e-mail messages by receiving e-mail messages, storing fields from the headers of the received e-mail messages and analyzing the stored fields for patterns indicative of undesired e-mail messages. The pattern recognition performed includes counting the number of e-mails received which have the same or similar field content within the headers. This number can be compared to an absolute threshold number, or to the total number of messages in a sample of e-mail messages. The sample may be composed of a predetermined number of received e-mail messages, or may include e-mail messages received during a predetermined time interval. Exceeding thresholds or certain ratios will trigger alarms to alert monitoring functions and update lists of known sources and types of undesired e-mail messages for filtering.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable code for a technique by which multiple Web pages can be dynamically bundled (i.e. packaged) and downloaded for accessing on a user's workstation, enabling the user to perform a meaningful interaction even in the absence of an ongoing network connection. The proposed technique uses an on-demand bundling approach, ensuring that a requesting user will receive the most recent versions of any bundled files. The proposed technique often serves to reduce the number and duration of network connections required, enabling a user to work productively while offline. Further, the bundle may optionally contain executable code such as one or more servlets, which will execute on the user's workstation to enable dynamic content generation. Messages may be created and queued during processing of the downloaded bundle, for sending to a server when the user subsequently establishes a network connection.

Abstract: Ac wireless packet data communication network that enables wireless communication among a plurality of users within a work environment having one or more regions. The network includes a plurality of database command servers each controlling access to one of a plurality of databases. A plurality of communication servers (each being located in a different region of the work environment) are interfaced by way of a communication bus. A plurality of wireless handheld bar code driven data terminals are interfaced with the communication servers by way of a plurality of wireless communication channels. Each wireless handheld bar code driven data terminal has a graphical user interface including a touch-sensitive display device, an integral bar code symbol reader, and a wireless communication interface device for enabling wireless data packet communication between the wireless handheld bar code driven data terminal and one communication server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking assets in a computer network. More specifically, a host identification device monitors address identification packets transmitted from host devices connected to the host identification device in a network. The host identification device then stores the physical and protocol addresses of the host devices as indicated in these packets. When receiving a request packet from another device, the host identification device transmits the stored physical and protocol addresses to the requesting device.