Abstract: A system of sensing elevator car position is presented that dynamically compensates for problems due to frictional slippage of its mechanical connection and/or building settlement. The system comprises an elevator car within an elevator hoistway. An encoder is mounted within the elevator hoistway and mechanically connected to the elevator car. The mechanical connection drives the encoder which generates data indicative of the position of the elevator car. Either one of a position sensor and a position sensor actuator is mounted to a landing of the hoistway. The other one of the position sensor and position sensor actuator is mounted to the elevator car. The position sensor generates data indicative of the elevator car floor reaching a predetermined distance from the elevator landing when actuated by the position sensor actuator. An elevator position controller receives the data generated by both the position sensor and the encoder.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for generating a set-point value for triggering at least one drive mechanism, in particular for a machine tool, are proposed, wherein, in a parts program (20) for describing a path of motion of a tool (12) movable by the at least one drive mechanism (18), at least two parts program positions (X1, Y1, Z1; X2, Y2, Z2; X3, Y3, Z3) are stored in memory. A controller (18) which from the parts program (20) ascertains at least one drive mechanism set-point value (VA(S)) for triggering the drive mechanism (18). Means (18) are provided for ascertaining a distance (S) that is located between the at least two parts program positions (X1, Y1, Z1; X3, Y3, Z3) and for generating a drive mechanism set-point value (VA(S)) as a function of the distance (S) and of at least one parts program parameter (V1, V2).

Abstract: Method of reducing waste in a process involving the cutting up of blocks of frozen foodstuff, especially blocks of plate frozen fish fillets are described in which at least the final cutting step is performed using a guillotine rather than a bandsaw. Additionally, methods and apparatus are described for adjusting the length of the frozen foodstuff which is advanced before the next cut is to be performed, so as to produce final cut pieces of substantially uniform weight. The methods allow for variations in density and variations in cross section to be accommodated.

Abstract: Improved input circuitry for use in conjunction with measurement devices is disclosed. The subject input circuitry enables a single measurement device to take measurements on both single-ended and differential signal inputs. Software-implemented control signals can be programmed by a user or set to default values to select which type of input signal is to be measured. The input circuitry minimizes the use of electromechanical relays and other components or phenomena that may degrade the quality of the input signals, and also includes resistor networks to additionally help maintain signal integrity. A plurality of common programmable voltage sources is provided for use in accordance with select embodiments of the disclosed technology to serve as either termination voltages, threshold voltages, or both.

Abstract: A building response function defining a response of a building to specific environmental change, e.g., occurrence of a fire, in terms of the building structure, is stored in a computer. Also stored is a refuge motion function defining the refuge motion of individuals in terms of attributes of the individuals and the building response. The building response is computed by substituting design values of the building structure into the response function. Attributes of persons are inputted to the computer, and individuals' refuge motion is computed by using both inputted attributes and the computed building response. With the inputted and computed values, three-dimensional (3D) simulation images of the building structure, of the building response, and of individuals' refuge motion are computed. Then, a superposed 3D simulation image of the three images is displayed to facilitate analysis of the building performance.

Abstract: A fault identification system for intake system sensors according to the invention includes a throttle position sensor (TPS), a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor, and a mass airflow (MAF) sensor. A diagnostic controller is coupled to the TPS, the MAP sensor and the MAF sensor. The diagnostic controller implements a throttle model, a first intake model and a second intake model and correctly identifies faults in the TPS, the MAP sensor and the MAF sensor. The throttle model generates a mass airflow estimate. The first intake model generates a first MAP estimate. The second intake model generates a second MAP estimate. The diagnostic controller applies residual calculations on outputs of the throttle model, the first intake model and the second intake model. The diagnostic controller applies a first order lag filter on the residual calculations. The diagnostic controller accesses a truth table to identify faults in the TPS, the MAP sensor and the MAF sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing items of electronic equipment, such as downloading software to and/or testing PC system units, includes a rack having a plurality of cells each for accommodating a respective unit to be processed. Each location has a visible indication, e.g. a colored light, of the instantaneous processing state of the location, such as: cell empty, processing in progress, processing successfully completed, processing failed and unable to commence processing. Each cell also includes a timer to measure the period of time for which the cell has been in the state indicated by the visible indication.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for maintaining a PLC revision history are described. In one embodiment, the PLC creates and maintains a revision history log that provides information related to changes made to the PLC user program and/or the PLC configuration. If a change is detected, information regarding the change is gathered and stored in the history log. The history log maintains a record of the revisions made to the PLC. If the history log becomes full, the oldest revision entry is deleted and the latest change is incorporated into the history log.

Abstract: The invention relates to method and equipment for monitoring the operation of an industrial process. The industrial process is used as a basis for compiling a document comprising a group of cause-effect relationships dependent on the industrial process. From the industrial process is collected status data of the process. A document server compares the process status data with the data provided by the group of cause-effect relationships and produces a plain-language account of the status of the industrial process.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the condition of apparatuses wherein the condition of the apparatus is measured from one or more rotating objects by means of a fixedly mounted condition monitoring system during the operation of the apparatus when it operates at its normal operating speed. In the method, at least one signal indicating the condition of the apparatus and the steadiness of the operation is measured during the change in the operating speed of the apparatus and desired characteristic values and/or functions are calculated from each signal measured in this manner as a function of measured time and/or rotational speed.

Abstract: A monitoring system with a power supply built therein, which is capable of setting installation expenses at low cost and obtaining a stable result of monitoring for a predetermined period. The monitoring system comprises a sensor unit having sensors and a power supply incorporated therein, and a portable data logger having a communication module and a power supply built therein. Physical quantities such as vibrations, temperatures, and pressure, of an object to be monitored are detected by the sensors, followed by transmission to the portable data logger, whereby the state of operation of the object is displayed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for designing and editing a distribution system for a building is disclosed. Elements of such distribution systems and requirements of relevant standard, are stored in a computer's memory. Building parameters are entered into a computer manually. The user identify the standard to be followed and the element to be optimized. The system divides the building into sections as appropriate to the user identified standard. The system then computes layout needed to comply with the selected standard. The layout is routed and sized to avoid building structural members, yet the elements of the layout are optimized for size and length. The apparatus prints out a hard copy of the design layout which can include an elements listing needed to complete the system. The design layout as well as the building parameters can be edited. The edited layout is checked for compliance with the identified standard as well as avoidance of building parameters.

Abstract: A placement tool that may import and export cell substitution and/or cell selection lists. The cell substitution and/or cell selection lists may be used by the placement tool to substitute and/or modify the placement design database, rather than the original schematic or behavioral database. This may eliminate the need to re-synthesize the circuit design during each design iteration. The present invention further contemplates providing a reset feature which may reset the circuit design database to a previous state, if desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluating an integrated circuit design to determine whether a pass FET is part of a RAM cell structure in the integrated circuit design. The apparatus comprises a computer capable of being configured to execute a rules checker program which analyzes information relating to the integrated circuit to determine whether a pass FET in the integrated circuit is part of a RAM cell structure of the integrated circuit. The rules checker program of the present invention evaluates each pass FET which is channel-connected at one of its terminals to a latch node and determines whether that pass FET is channel-connected at one of its other terminals to the drain or source terminal of at least one other pass FET. If so, the pass FET being evaluated is part of a RAM cell structure. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rules checker program evaluates nodes in an integrated circuit to detect latch nodes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting speech features from a speech signal in which the linear frequency spectrum data, as generated, for example, by a conventional frequency transform, is first converted to logarithmic frequency spectrum data having frequency data distributed on a substantially logarithmic (rather than linear) frequency scale. Then, a plurality of digital auditory filters is applied to the resultant logarithmic frequency spectrum data, each of these filters having a substantially similar shape, but centered at different points on the logarithmic frequency scale. Because each of the filters have a similar shape, the feature extraction approach of the present invention advantageously can be easily modified or tuned by adjusting each of the filters in a coordinated manner, with the adjustment of only a handful of filter parameters.

Abstract: A speech-recognizing apparatus for recognizing input speech comprises, an analysis unit for computing a characteristic vector for each of frames of the input speech, a correction-value storage unit for storing a correction distance in advance, a vector-to-vector-distance-computing unit for computing a vector-to-vector distance between the characteristic vector and the phoneme characteristic vector, an average-value-computing unit for computing an average value of vector-to-vector distances for one of the frames, a correction unit for computing a corrected vector-to-vector distance as a value of an expression of (the vector-to-vector distance-the average value+the correction distance), and a recognition unit for cumulating corrected vector-to-vector distances into a cumulative vector-to-vector distance and comparing the cumulative vector-to-vector distance with the word standard pattern in order to recognize the input speech.

Abstract: A method and system for utilizing multiple speech recognizers. The speech system includes a port through which an input audio stream may be received, at least two recognizers that may convert the input stream to text or commands, and a combiner able to combine lists of possible results from each recognizer into a combined list. The method includes receiving an input audio stream, routing the stream to one or more recognizers, receiving a list of possible results from each of the recognizers, combining the lists into a combined list and returning at least a subset of the list to the application.

Abstract: A natural language-based interface data presentation system interfaces, for example, information visualization system interfaces, is realized by employing so-called open-ended natural language inquiries to the interface that translates them into database queries and a set of information to be provided to a user. More specifically, a natural language inquiry is translated to database queries by determining if any complete database queries can be formulated based on the natural language inquiry and, if so, specifying which complete database queries are to be made. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, knowledge of the information visualization presentation is advantageously employed in the interface to guide a user in response to the user's natural language inquiries.

Abstract: A speech synthesis system can select recorded speech fragments, or acoustic units, from a very large database of acoustic units to produce artificial speech. The selected acoustic units are chosen to minimize a combination of target and concatenation costs for a given sentence. However, as concatenation costs, which are measures of the mismatch between sequential pairs of acoustic units, are expensive to compute, processing can be greatly reduced by pre-computing and caching the concatenation costs. Unfortunately, the number of possible sequential pairs of acoustic units makes such caching prohibitive. However, statistical experiments reveal that while about 85% of the acoustic units are typically used in common speech, less than 1% of the possible sequential pairs of acoustic units occur in practice.

Abstract: Goniometers are provided having internal compensation employing two opposing variable resistance strain sensing elements separated by a flexible film. The goniometers may be used in sets for detecting complex hinge or joint movements, where patterns of hinge or joint positions may be used to define symbols. Algorithms are provided for parsing values from a system of goniometers in motion having information content.

Abstract: A direct intermediate frequency sampling analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converter comprised of (1) a bank of precision analog wavelet generator circuits, (2) synchronization circuits and calibration circuits, and (3) digital measurement circuits. In combination these circuits provide high dynamic range and high sample rate direct intermediate frequency sampling conversion between the discrete-time and continuous-time domains.

Abstract: A system and method for energy management in which data relating to energy usage and energy-related policies and practices is collected in an automated data processing device. The data is analyzed to arrive at a diagnosis of energy management effectiveness from which recommendations for improving the energy management effectiveness are generated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling deliveries, in real time, to be made within one or more delivery time windows. For each requested delivery, the system dynamically determines whether to offer each time delivery window to the customer requesting the delivery based on whether: (1) it would be possible to complete, within the time window, both the requested delivery and all deliveries that were already scheduled to be made within the time window; and (2) it makes business sense to make the delivery within the particular time window. In determining whether it would make business sense to make the delivery within a particular time window, the system considers the cost of making the delivery, various attributes of the customer requesting the delivery, and the percentage of the delivery capacity associated with the delivery wave that has been reserved for previously scheduled deliveries.

Abstract: In relocating vehicles to a port running short of vehicles from another port, the seriousness of shortage is considered. A first computing section computes the number of expected demands. A second computing section computes the number of expected vehicles. An excess/shortage count computing section computes excess or shortage from the difference between the number of demands and the number of vehicles. An evaluation value computing section computes an evaluation value indicative of the degree of seriousness of vehicle shortage. A vehicle relocation setting section sets relocation by considering the evaluation value, namely the degree of seriousness of vehicle shortage.

Abstract: An electronic advertisement method and system for an Internet browser with a book-like page-based flipping interface. Full pages of electronic advertisements presented on the computer screen are possible without obstructing the viewing and reading of other contents. This benefits both the viewer as well as the advertiser. An advertisement matching/delivery system provides a novel method of inserting advertisements into content as well as a novel method for revenue sharing among the parties involved.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for managing a quick distribution of images. The method comprises the following steps: receiving, from a user, at least one image associated with a messaging system address; digitizing said at least one image when the image is not in digital form; storing said at least one image on a server; and sending a message to the messaging system address associated with said at least one image giving the information that said at least one image is available on the server.

Abstract: An E-commerce system enables a user to conduct transactions with a retailer via a network, typically the Internet without certification or trusted paths. The user is a customer of a financial institution coupled to the network. The institution serves as an intermediary in electronic transactions conducted between end user and retailer. End user and retailer initiate transactions in an Internet session. User selects as one payment option a “check” or data messages as an intent to pay for the purchases without authentication of one another. Retailer prepares and submits a request for payment directly to the financial institution. After the retailer and financial institution exchange digital certificates, the financial institution records the transactions in the user's account as authorized for payment. The user is provided a list of authorized transactions for approval or rejection. Upon approval by the user, payment is made to the retailer by the institution.

Abstract: A postage metering system that includes a secure metering device (SMD) coupled to a printer. The SMD generates an indicium and the printer receives and prints the indicium onto a label. The printed indicium label includes a human-readable portion, a machine-readable portion, and an identifier portion. The human-readable portion includes at least one data element, with each data element providing a particular postage information. The machine-readable portion includes a combination of one or more graphical representations and encoded texts. The identifier portion exhibits characteristics useful for authenticating the indicium label and can include a fluorescent strip, a micro printing portion, taggants, other identifiers, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for retrieving information from a text data collection and for classifying a document into none, one or more of a plurality of predefined classes. In each aspect, a representation of at least a portion of the original matrix is projected into a lower dimensional subspace and those portions of the subspace representation that relate to the term(s) of the query are weighted following the projection into the lower dimensional subspace. In order to retrieve the documents that are most relevant with respect to a query, the documents are then scored with documents having better scores being of generally greater relevance. Alternatively, in order to classify a document, the relationship of the document to the classes of documents is scored with the document then being classified in those classes, if any, that have the best scores.

Abstract: Geometric objects, such as polygons, are defined in a multi-dimensional data space. The geometric objects are represented by data segments for processing in a computer. “N” dimensional hierarchical trees, or “ng” trees, are generated to organize the data segments into “outside child nodes” and “inside child nodes” in accordance with a discriminator value. The discriminator value is selected for each layer or discriminator dimension in the ng tree. For the ng tree, one of “n” sides of a polygon is selected as the discriminator value. To create the ng tree, data segments are designated as “outside child nodes” if a data segment is outside the plane defined by the discriminator value, and data segments are selected as “inside child nodes” if the data segment is inside the plane defined by the discriminator value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving searching capability on a Web. At index time, a Web page is spidered and the text and metatags returned to a processor. The processor extracts spatial information from the text and metatags. A geocode is generated for the spatial information. The geocode is then indexed along with the remaining contents of the page. A subsequent query during query time can search for entries based on proximity to a known location using the indexed geocode.

Abstract: The concept of database management is employed in the field of word processing, thereby strengthening the format design characteristics so as to simplify word processing with repeating formats and repeating data and so as to aid in ensuring uniformity of documents of similar types.

Abstract: A method for collecting related queries, comprising the steps of obtaining a first query and a second query that have been submitted during a search for data, and determining whether the first query and the second query have a likelihood of being submitted by a class of searcher.

Abstract: An information search device capable of selecting topic search engines (i.e., search engines that focus on specific topics) that are appropriate to a user's search keywords when searching the Web on the Internet. Terms having relevance to each topic search engine are collected from, for example, the Web, and a DB selection index for selecting search engines is produced in advance by an index generator. When a search keyword is supplied from a user, terms having relevance to the search keyword are acquired from a general-purpose Web search engine by means of a query expansion unit. The thus-acquired terms are matched with terms stored in the DB selection index, and topic search engines having a high incidence of matching are presented to the user.

Abstract: A customer self service system and method for performing resource search and selection.

Abstract: The present mechanism relates to a method for searching a document database such as the Internet and ranking the results obtained from such a search. The mechanism also relates to ranking of a set of numerical data according to a set of user specified preferences, including target range, fuzziness and bias. A fuzzy score is calculated for each database record satisfying a query and the results ranked according to fuzzy score. The fuzzy score is calculated using a Lorentzian fuzzy score formula.

Abstract: A method of data object generation and matching and an apparatus to perform data object generation and matching uses a predetermined classification index relating to a specific subject to allow two or more users of different types to specify their requirements relating to the subject, and a data object containing the specified requirements in accordance with the classification index is created and stored. When it is desired to match two users of different types the stored data objects are compared, and matching can be undertaken on the basis of corresponding or matching requirements in the respective data objects. The method is particularly suitable for use over the Internet, allowing users to generate and store data objects remotely, for matching in a back-end web server system. Any matching data objects found to match to a particular user's generated data object can be communicated to the particular user over the Internet.

Abstract: The system and method for searching and retrieving information stored in heterogeneous information repositories. A portal server retrieves user requests through a computer network and looks up information stored in a metadata databases. For example, the metadata may be encoded in an XML/RDF format and stored in a directory server to facilitate effective searching and retrieval of information from an information repository. Metadata includes information including a classmark definition for each document. The classmark is determined through an automated cataloguing process.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for delivering information to a user in one or more preferred delivery media are provided. Preferred delivery media includes, but is not limited to, e-mail, HTML, fax, printed copy, and mail. A user profile, indicating a user's preferred delivery medium (or media), is retrievably stored. When a user requests information, the user's profile is searched to determine the preferred delivery medium (or media) within which to deliver the requested information to the user. The requested information is retrieved, formatted for the preferred delivery medium, and then delivered to the user in the preferred medium. If the information is delivered to a user in multiple media, a consistent format among the various delivery media is maintained. The integrity of information delivered to a user is also verifiable, regardless of the delivery medium.

Abstract: A content delivery services provider is disclosed for directing the at least one proxy server to pre-fetch content from the at least one content provider original site using an optimum pre-fetch bandwidth allocation value. The content delivery services provider is part of a system for storing and delivering content, which includes a plurality of end user browsers for requesting content, at least one content provider original site for delivering the content, and at least one proxy server for storing the content. These elements are coupled over a network for communicating with each other.

Abstract: A process for constructing a server for collecting, arranging and storing data that defines the connectivity of pages on the World Wide Web (Web). The process input is a set of compressed ASCII links files, wherein each links file is a series of source URLs and corresponding destination URLs. A temporary URLs_info Table is created and initialized. The links files and URLs metadata are read. Buffers of unique URLs are sorted and written from the links files into URL runs. An ID Index is created from the URL_info table. CS_ids are assigned to URLs and written to the ID Index. Both a compressed URL data structure and a URL Index are created. A Host Table is created. URL fingerprints are converted to CS_ids, and preliminary outstarts to CS_ids and preliminary outstarts and outlinks tables are created. Compressed outstarts and outlinks tables are created from the preliminary tables. Subsequently, compressed instarts and inlinks tables are created based on the outstarts and outlinks tables.

Abstract: An information retrieval and visualization system utilizes multiple search engines for retrieving documents from a document database based upon user input queries. Search engines include an n-gram search engine and a vector space model search engine using a neural network training algorithm. Each search engine produces a common mathematical representation of each retrieved document. The retrieved documents are then combined and ranked. Mathematical representations for each respective document is mapped onto a display. Information displayed includes a three-dimensional display of keywords from the user input query. The three-dimensional visualization capability based upon the mathematical representation of information within the information retrieval and visualization system provides users with an intuitive understanding, with relevance feedback/query refinement techniques that can be better utilized, resulting in higher retrieval accuracy (precision).

Abstract: A hypercube constructing unit realizes an offset space of a secondary storage as a data storing structure of a super cube, also referred to as a hypercube. An access processing unit accesses to a requested area in the offset space at a high speed by using the data storing structure of the hypercube. The hypercube constructing unit defines a hypercube by the dimension, nodes apexes), and sides, allocates each of the head (top) to last pages divisionally constructing the offset space to the nodes of the hypercube, and sets a side for linking the pages from the node of the top page to the nodes of the subsequent pages.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for determining an appropriate (e.g., best-fit) character encoding scheme including the steps of (i) generating a set of reference characters based on a reference character encoding scheme and a first set of bytes; (ii) generating a set of test characters based on a test character encoding scheme and said first set of bytes; (ii) generating a set of test bytes based on said test character encoding scheme and said set of test characters; (iv) generating a set of comparison characters based on said reference character encoding scheme and said set of test bytes; and (v) comparing said set of reference characters to said set of comparison characters. In one embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned steps are implemented as a JAVA based software program with Unicode (e.g., USC2) as the reference character encoding scheme.

Abstract: Relational databases are browsed in a manner that mirrors the interactive browsing of world wide web pages. A schema-based navigational layer is used on top of conventional physical, logical and conceptual database schema layers, to dynamically map data stored in a relational database onto web pages. The navigational schema or schema base is an independent abstraction from the underlying conceptual database schema. The schema base is constructed from relationships and information models. The schema base can be reused or derived from the database design process or produced specifically for navigation through the database. An object-role schema base is used to demonstrate the traversal of relational information in a regenerative, propagative manner. Navigating a database via the presented-schema extends the conventional database concept of the logical view to an interactive model of logical view-transitions.

Abstract: A process for generating a script for an agent system of a business to use in conducting an interactive interview with a customer. The agent system is linked to a database which includes a questions table, an answers table and a branching table. The agent system retrieves a question from the questions table and a list of alternative answer choices for the retrieved question from the answers table. The agent system communicates the first question and the list of alternative answer choices to the customer. The agent system inputs the customer's selected one of the alternative answers to the branching table of the database. The branching table includes rules for determining the next one of the a questions to communicate to the customer based on the customer's selected answer.

Abstract: A distributed object system having a load balancing feature that can be expanded by adding a new computer to the cluster of server computers. Objects can be activated and deactivated and system service alteration is performed by renewing objects. By request from a client, the object invocation unit obtains object code and object data from the object access unit in response to remote object invocation, executes the requested method, and requests the object access unit to overwrite the object data. The object manager unit activates or deactivates an object.

Abstract: A collector for distributed data collection includes input and output queues employed for priority based queuing and dispatch of data received from endpoints and downstream collector nodes. Collection Table of Contents (CTOC) data structures for collection data are received by the collector from the endpoints or downstream collectors and are placed in the input queue, then sorted by the priority within the CTOC. Within a given priority level, collection of the data is scheduled based on the activation time window within the CTOC, which specifies the period during which the endpoint or downstream collector node will be available to service data transfer requests. The collected data, in the form of data packs and constituent data segments, is stored in persistent storage (depot). A CTOC is then transmitted to the next upstream collector node. Network bandwidth utilization is managed by adjusting the activation time window specified within a CTOC and the route employed between source and recipient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automation system with at least one automation module (1), which has at least one automation object (A1-An), and with function modules (F1-F6), which contain means for central management and maintenance of the automation objects (A1-An). As a result, a manufacturer-independent definition of new automation objects, possibly using already existing automation objects, becomes possible, costly separate programming of new automation solutions is no longer necessary at all or is at least significantly simplified.

Abstract: Even if element data that is necessary for storage in a database has not all been entered within a record, registration of data in the database is allowed. To accomplish this, requisite input items, quasi-requisite input items and optional input items are defined in a database table. If, in regard to a requisite input item, the corresponding element data has not been entered, storage in the database is not allowed. With regard to a quasi-requisite input item, storage in the database is allowed even if the corresponding element data has not been entered. If element data is not entered for a requisite input item even upon passage of a certain period of time, access to the database is inhibited.