Abstract: A method autonomically refreshes a materialized query table (MQT) in a computer database to improve database performance and utility. In preferred embodiments, the query optimizer autonomically initiates a refresh of MQT depending on an estimated time for the query to access the base tables. In other preferred embodiments, the query optimizer estimates the time for the query to access the base tables and compares it to the estimated time to refresh the MQT to determine whether to refresh the MQT and run the query over the MQT rather than the base tables.

Abstract: A database engine and a system running a database engine utilize a dynamic join reordering feature to change the order of two or more join operations while a query is executing. The database engine starts execution of the query with an initial join order setting but monitors the execution of the query to determine whether the initial join order or some other join order would provide better runtime performance. If another join order would provide better performance, then the database engine can change the join order during query execution and complete the query using the new join order.

Abstract: A received report query specifies a dimension coordinate constraint and an associated grain for the dimension coordinate constraint. At least one query is generated to the dimensionally-modeled fact collection. A result of providing the at least one query to the dimensionally-modeled fact collection is processed. The processed result includes an indication of every dimension coordinate satisfying the dimension coordinate constraint and having a particular value at the associated grain, and the processed result further includes facts of the dimensionally-modeled fact collection that are specified by at least one other dimension coordinate indicated by the processed result having the particular value at the associated grain and not satisfying the dimension coordinate constraint.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for executing an executable clinical practice guideline for providing guidance in treating a patient. The system includes a guideline repository providing for storing a plurality of executable clinical practice guidelines, at least one interface providing for entry of clinical context data associated with at least one of the patient and the patient's treatment and a display. A system server, which upon receipt of said clinical context data, automatically chooses an appropriate clinical practice guideline and displays the guideline with a visual navigator on the display. The server automatically provides the guideline at its present level of abstraction, and also provides the user with a visual navigator which defines the current level of abstraction; Alternatively, upon receipt of a signal generated by a user to manually choose, via the UI, the guideline and the level of abstraction of the guideline, which are then displayed.

Abstract: A method and system for providing regional information based on location is disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, a user inputs a keyword, from which a target location and a search category are extracted. A location range for search is determined by setting a center of the location range to the target location. Search result data are retrieved from a search information database based on the search category and the location range. The location range may be increased or decreased in response to a user's request, based on which the search result data are updated. The apparatus and method of the present invention provides search results ranked within a certain geographical range from a target location, which makes it possible for a specific location-based business to advertise through an Internet search service in a cost-effective way.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving and selectively storing digital content broadcasted through a communication channel via any transmission means, while interacting with said digital content in a content receiver unit. Digital content and associated metadata are received, associated metadata is analyzed, and then both are selectively stored based on such analysis. In one embodiment, current digital content is received and stored by the content receiver unit, while the oldest digital content is discarded, in a first in-first out (FIFO) fashion. In another embodiment, current digital content is received by a content receiver unit, metadata is analyzed in regards to content selection criteria in addition to available memory, and digital content and associated metadata is selectively stored based on such analysis. In still another embodiment of the present invention, metadata associated with selectively stored digital content is analyzed further for selective playback of said digital content.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with extracting knowledge from application data and maintaining an ontology based on the extracted knowledge are described. One example system includes a mapping logic to store mappings between application objects and ontology classes and an information extraction (IE) logic that accesses the mapping logic to identify application data to process based on the mappings. The application data may be stored in application data repositories belonging to an enterprise and may be characterized by the application object. Having identified application data to process, the IE logic may locate data in the application data repositories and selectively manipulate an ontology based on selected application data elements.

Abstract: The search service providing method according to the presents invention, includes maintaining a search result database including a keyword, a search listing associated with the keyword, a bid amount associated with the search listing, a total exposure number associated with the search listing, an exposure index associated with the search listing, and/or an advertiser identifier associated with the search listing; in the case a search request including a predetermined keyword is inputted from a user, selecting a predetermined number of search listings whose exposure index ranks high from search listings associated with the keyword; and generating and providing a search result list including the selected predetermined number of the search listings, wherein the exposure index is computed based on an average click rate that is an average of unit period click rates for a specified period.

Abstract: In a method for displaying video data within result presentations in information access or search systems, compressed thumbnails are computed for videos in a result page and applied to the result page. An end user is enabled to select a video in the result page and activate streaming of a video summary within the context of the associated result page.

Abstract: A peer-to-peer based secondary key search method and system for cluster databases is disclosed. A cluster database has a plurality of storage nodes and each storage node is assigned with a node number and stores a plurality of records. A search term input means couples to the plurality of storage nodes for retrieving a record at a storage node. The search term input means calculates a first node number based on a hash function of a secondary key, queries the first storage node with the secondary key for retrieving a corresponding primary key, calculates a second node number based on a hash function of the primary key, and then queries the second storage node with the primary key for retrieving a corresponding record.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for tracking the origins and dates of a document or piece of content by finding similar or exact matching documents or pieces of content stored in an index. The index may include current and non-current documents along with associated information for each document. By parsing each document using various schemes, it is possible to correlate similar or matching documents. Using such document correlations, it is possible to determine the origins and earlier dates of a particular document.

Abstract: A method for providing data collection from a client at a data collection mechanism, the method includes collecting from a first client a first portion of data using a first data collection mechanism using at least a portion of a first script comprising one or more queries for information to the first client. The method also includes associating with a second client the first portion of data that was collected from the first client. The method further includes collecting from the second client a second portion of data using at least some of the first portion of data and a second script comprising one or more queries for information to the second client.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for automatically generating a query. Data and occurrence is described using a sequence type. The data and occurrence from the sequence type are matched to a sequence type pattern. Sentences in a query language are generated automatically using the sequence type pattern for testing an ability of a query processing engine to interpret queries.

Abstract: A visually-oriented search system guides a search with non-verbal inputs. Instead of specifying discrete attributes (words) as input to a search engine, a user may create a visual model of a desired end result and apply the model as a generalized input from which discrete attributes are extracted for submission to conventional search engines. The search may be enhanced with a simulation of the visually-created query, and the simulation may be transformed into a query suitable for distribution to one or more search engines. The query may be refined using domain-specific rules, vocabulary, expert systems, and the like. Search results may be browsed by a user, or employed to further refine subsequent searches.

Abstract: A category recommendation method includes maintaining a category database including an internal identifier and an internal category to which the internal identifier belongs; externally receiving a foreign identifier and a foreign category where the foreign identifier belongs to from an outside; extracting a query associated with the foreign identifier; and recommending at least one of the internal categories stored in the category database by using the query as a category corresponding to the foreign identifier.

Abstract: Systems and methods are herein disclosed for assessing the staleness of a web page. In particular, in one method of the present invention, the staleness of a web page is assessed by examining internal date references within the web page. In another method of the present invention, the staleness of a web page is assessed by examining the meta-data associated with the web page. In a further method of the present invention, the staleness of a hyperlinked web page is determined by examining the link status of the hyperlinks. If the web page has a relatively large number of dead links, it is assessed as being a stale web page. In a still further method of the present invention, the link status of web pages in the neighborhood of the web page being assessed is likewise examined.

Abstract: Systems and methods are herein disclosed for assessing the staleness of a web page. In particular, in one method of the present invention, the staleness of a web page is assessed by examining internal date references within the web page. In another method of the present invention, the staleness of a web page is assessed by examining the meta-data associated with the web page. In a further method of the present invention, the staleness of a hyperlinked web page is determined by examining the link status of the hyperlinks. If the web page has a relatively large number of dead links, it is assessed as being a stale web page. In a still further method of the present invention, the link status of web pages in the neighborhood of the web page being assessed is likewise examined.

Abstract: A system and method of finding related documents based on activity specific meta data and users' interest profiles is described. The method includes searching an information source based upon a user's interest profile; a search query; and a contextual setting. Additionally, the method includes calculating a priority value for each item of the search result, sorting the items of the search result according to the priority value, and displaying the sorted search result to the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ranking pages and/or hosts in a faster and more relevant manner are provided. Systems and methods for ranking pages and/or hosts based on session data and/or traffic data are also provided. According to the invention, session maps can be created using DNS and/or ISP data. Systems and methods for ranking pages and/or hosts for the purpose of doing business are also provided.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable media are disclosed for providing images in a ranked order. The system can include an aggregation component for aggregating a plurality of images with corresponding text. Additionally, the system can include a name detector a name detector for detecting names within a search query. Moreover, the system can include a ranking component for ranking the aggregated images based on whether the name detector detects a name.

Abstract: A system and method for categorizing search queries is disclosed. Generally, a search query is received. A categorizer determines whether a probability of the search query being in a taxonomy category is greater than a probability of the search query not being in the taxonomy category. If the probability that the search query being in the taxonomy category is greater than the probability of the search query not being in the taxonomy category, the categorizer determines a confidence score based on the two probabilities. The categorizer then compares the confidence score to the confidence score threshold of the taxonomy category to determine whether the search query should be categorized in the taxonomy category.

Abstract: A method of improving the speed with which a sample such as a biometric sample can be fuzzily matched against records in a database, comprises extracting characteristics from the sample, and using those extracted characteristics as indexes (70) to address a lookup table (25). Each row within the lookup table points to an individual record occurrence list (28, 30, 32) which contain details of not only the stored records from which the given characteristic can be extracted, but also those records having an extracted characteristic which are within a defined proximity to the said characteristic. Characteristics are extracted from the sample record, and a given stored record is identified as being a possible match with the sample if it appears in a required number of record occurrence lists.

Abstract: A method of carrying out a search using a search engine consistent with certain embodiments involves extracting selected text from a video frame containing text by optical character recognition (OCR) processing of the selected text from the video frame; loading the text extracted from the OCR processing as a search string into a search engine; executing the search using the search engine operating on the search string; receiving search results from the search engine; and displaying the search results for viewing on a display. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: In a method for displaying and capturing metadata of documents within result presentations in information access or search systems, a metadata server is used for storing a metadata associated with any searchable document and the end users are given the opportunity to view and edit metadata associated with documents returned from the metadata server which is capable of automatically creating metadata objects associated with any combination of document query and document position in a result set for a given query A search engine capable of implementing the method comprises a metadata server as part of or connected with its core search engine.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing ranking services. In one aspect, first signals are received from a first subscriber, and second signals are received from a second subscriber. The signals include information characterizing individual user actions relating to individual ones of first or second resources, respectively, values for one or more predefined parameters, and values for one or more first subscriber-specific parameters that are specific to the first or second subscriber, respectively. First ranking data is generated from the first signals, but not from values for any subscriber-specific parameter that is not a subscriber-specific parameter for the first subscriber. Second ranking data is generated from the second signals, but not from values for any subscriber-specific parameter that is not a subscriber-specific parameter for the second subscriber.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for ranking resources. One or more signals reporting one or more actions by the plurality of users related to a respective resource are received, where a reported action is a presentation of the respective resource, an addition of the respective resource, or a deletion of the respective resource. The reported actions include one or more short deletions of the respective resource. A respective long-addition click-through rate (LACTR) is determined for the respective resource based on a number of reported presentations of the respective resource and a difference between a number of reported additions of the respective resource and a number of short deletions of the respective resource. The plurality of resources are ranked based on the respective LACTRs for the plurality of resources. The ranking of the plurality of resources are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods are herein disclosed for assessing the staleness of a web page. In particular, in one method of the present invention, the staleness of a web page is assessed by examining internal date references within the web page. In another method of the present invention, the staleness of a web page is assessed by examining the meta-data associated with the web page. In a further method of the present invention, the staleness of a hyperlinked web page is determined by examining the link status of the hyperlinks. If the web page has a relatively large number of dead links, it is assessed as being a stale web page. In a still further method of the present invention, the link status of web pages in the neighborhood of the web page being assessed is likewise examined.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer systems and program products, for executing a query on a subset of data, for example, to facilitate a fast search with a very large result set. In one general aspect, a method of executing a query includes receiving a query for execution on data in the data repository; generating an estimate of a number of results of the query; defining a subset of data in the data repository; determining whether to execute the query on the subset of the data; executing the query on the subset of the data to generate a partial set of results if the query is to be executed on the subset of the data, otherwise executing the query on the data repository to generate a complete set of results; and providing query results.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a high-accuracy document information element-vector (IE-vector) encoding server have been presented. In one embodiment, the high-accuracy document IE-vector encoding server applies finite state automaton (FSA) to parse a document to identify one or more information elements (IEs) in the document. Then a DNA sequence of the document is derived based on the one or more IEs. The concept of DNA sequence of a document is powerful and can be used in building automated tools such as computer based processes to automatically reason and search for similarity, dissimilarity, equivalence and other relationships between structured, semi-structured and unstructured data and information. The DNA sequence of a document provides powerful paradigm to build sophisticated information and data search and retrieval techniques and tools.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for pattern analysis by arranging given data so that highdimensional data can be more effectively analyzed. The method allows arrangements of given data so that patterns can be discovered within the data. By utilizing maps that characterizes the data and the type or the set it belongs to, the method produces many data items from relatively few input data items, thereby making it possible to apply statistical and other conventional data analysis methods. In the method, a set of maps from the data or part of the data is determined. Then, new maps are generated by combining existing maps or applying certain transformations on the maps. Next, the results of applying the maps to the data are examined for patterns. Optionally, certain strong patterns are chosen, idealized, and propagated backwards to find a data reflecting that pattern.

Abstract: A method of improving the speed with which a sample can be matched against records in a database comprises defining a list (24) of possible characteristics (26), extracting characteristics from the sample and, for each record in the database, counting the number of characteristics that match both the record and the sample. A list of candidate matches is then selected on the basis of that count, for more detailed matching or analysis. Such a method provides very fast matching at the expense of some additional effort when registering a new record within the database.

Abstract: A technique to maintain the fast search capability for the large-scale documents without causing the update delay is provided. This search processing method includes: causing an index search unit for carrying out an index search using a search index before document update to carry out the index search relating to a search request, and obtaining a first list of document IDs of pertinent documents; causing a string pattern matching unit having document contents after the document update to carry out a string pattern matching relating to the search request for the document contents after the document update, and obtaining a second list of document IDs of pertinent documents; and generating a search result for the search request by using the first and second lists and a third list of document IDs of documents relating to the document update.

Abstract: A community is extracted by executing steps of: clustering relationship data; extracting a communication core of a relationship network; mapping the communication core to a dendrogram of relationship data; forming a community by using the dendrogram in accordance with a similarity degree of relationship data while the cluster is expanded; and aggregating communities. A community of a set of persons having high density relationships based on common topics and interests can be extracted from a set of human relationships and relationship data representative of the human relationships.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing database system workload and replaying that workload in a database system is provided. According to one aspect, in order to subject a test database system to the same workload to which the production database system actually would be subjected, a database server in the production system captures and records workload that the database server receives from external entities. This captured workload is processed. Processes external to a database server in the test database system send the processed workload to that database server. As a result, the test database system is subjected to the same workload to which the production database system originally was subjected. The foregoing technique permits a database administrator to determine how the production database system will fare if the difference that is present in the test database system is introduced into the production database system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing database system workload and replaying that workload in a database system is provided. According to one aspect, in order to subject a test database system to the same workload to which the production database system actually would be subjected, a database server in the production system captures and records workload that the database server receives from external entities. This captured workload is processed. Processes external to a database server in the test database system send the processed workload to that database server. As a result, the test database system is subjected to the same workload to which the production database system originally was subjected. The foregoing technique permits a database administrator to determine how the production database system will fare if the difference that is present in the test database system is introduced into the production database system.

Abstract: Transactions are granted concurrent access to a data item through the use of an optimistic concurrency algorithm. Each transaction gets its own instance of the data item, such as in a cache or in an entity bean, such that it is not necessary to lock the data. The instances can come from the data or from other instances. When a transaction updates the data item, the optimistic concurrency algorithm ensures that the other instances are notified that the data item has been changed and that it is necessary to read a new instance, from the database or from an updated instance.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a data file and policy are generated. The policy is then associated with the data file, wherein the policy includes one or more unassigned accounts and an access control definition that defines an access permission associated with each of the one or more unassigned accounts.

Abstract: A system and method for creating and using a searchable and browsable directory of verified, network connected and geo-coded users, listing members according to their proximity to each other and according to the longitude and latitude coordinates of each user. By making the member directory accessible to users dynamically the system eases the connection and interaction of neighbors and members of the same physical community.

Abstract: A method and system for storing user-specific information in a centralized database and reducing data entry by intelligently determining what data is already stored in the centralized database and what data needs to be collected from the user. The method includes receiving a request from a user of a user computing system to initiate a transaction, wherein the transaction requires user-specific information in at least one associated field to complete the transaction, and receiving a request from a service provider system for the user-specific information.

Abstract: Various techniques are described hereafter for improving the efficiency of binary XML encoding and loading operations. In particular, techniques are described for incrementally encoding XML in response to amount-based requests. After encoding enough binary XML to satisfy an amount-based request, the encoder stops encoding the XML until a subsequent request is received. The incremental encoding may take place on the client-side or the server-side. Techniques are also described for reducing the character set conversion operations by having a parser convert tokens in text XML into one character set while converting non-token text in the text XML into another character set. Techniques are also described for generating self-contained binary XML documents, and for improving remap operations by providing a binary XML document on a chunk-by-chunk basis.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing a schema-aware mid-tier binary XML are provided. Token vocabularies are stored in a repository that is accessible to mid-tier applications from separate database systems. The token vocabularies are thus shared among the mid-tier applications of each database system. The repository may be part of a file system or database that is separate from any of the database systems, or the repository may be part of one of the database systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing database system workload and replaying that workload in a database system is provided. According to one aspect, in order to subject a test database system to the same workload to which the production database system actually would be subjected, a database server in the production system captures and records workload that the database server receives from external entities. This captured workload is processed. Processes external to a database server in the test database system send the processed workload to that database server. As a result, the test database system is subjected to the same workload to which the production database system originally was subjected. The foregoing technique permits a database administrator to determine how the production database system will fare if the difference that is present in the test database system is introduced into the production database system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a client server system including at least one server and a client terminal connected to the server, wherein the server includes: a first storage section to store meta-information of the contents; and a transmission section to transmit the meta-information, and the client terminal includes: a second storage section to store the meta-information transmitted from the server; a judgment information storing section to store CDS identifying information and update-related information related to updates of the meta-information; an obtainment section to obtain CDS identifying information and update-related information of the meta-information stored in the server; an update judging section to judge whether the meta-information has been updated or not by comparing the CDS identifying information and the update-related information whom the server and the client terminal have respectively; and an update section to obtain updated meta-information from a server which stores the updated meta-information to up

Abstract: An interactive community portal comprising of one or more communities, which, inter alia allows members to create, modify, organize, share, receive, well-classified content of a diverse nature such as questions and answers, resources for language learning (using vocabulary as a basis), documents, presentations, spreadsheets, or any other file types, URLs (Uniform Resource Locators), literary works, proverbs, sayings, facts and feats, jokes and/or other forms of humor, songs and their lyrics, pictures (such as photographs, drawings, art, sketch, iconography, Illustrations, portraits, paintings, Images and such others), and videos, in a format including but not limited to database files, and further allows such members to network amongst themselves, and offers such utilities that would help the members to learn/teach and/or enjoy from the said content shared by the members.

Abstract: A system for accessing, by a resource, a setting in a virtualized user profile includes an isolation environment, a resource, and a filter driver. The resource executes outside an isolation environment on a local machine and requests access to a setting in a user profile. The filter driver intercepts the request for access and identifies one of the isolation environment and a remote machine, responsive to an application of a rule to the request. The filter driver redirects the request to the one of the isolation environment and the remote machine. A method includes intercepting an instruction from a resource to modify a setting on a local machine, the resource provided by a local machine and executing outside of an isolation environment. The method includes identifying the isolation environment, responsive to an application of a rule to the instruction. The method includes redirecting the instruction to the isolation environment.

Abstract: The distributed traceability management system includes a management data creation unit and a data storage unit. When the final products are produced, final management data is transmitted to the downstream side vendor. When the final management data is received from an upstream side vendor, the final management data is stored in the data storage unit. When it is judged that the same final management data as that stored in a system's data storage unit is stored in the data storage unit of a communication party vendor through communication with the communication party vendor, it is confirmed that the communication party vendor is an upstream side vendor or a downstream side vendor to which the final products are to be distributed. Tracing of products in a sequence of processes is executed based on each f pieces of management data created by the management data creation unit.

Abstract: The system and method for teaching entity-relationship modeling employ graphical organizer templates to systematically analyze the data storage requirements of an organization. The student is taught to apply the templates in logical order, from recognizing the organization's business rules and constraints on those rules, through classification of entities, the relationships between entities, distributive aspects of the relationships, attributes of the entities, identifying required and optional entities, and the cardinality of the relationships. The templates place the information in a graphical or chart form, which may then be easily translated into the formal symbolism of an entity-relationship diagram.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing groups in a directory server is described. In one embodiment, an addition of an identifier of a group to an entry in the directory server is received. A value of an attribute in the entry is updated with the identifier of the group. A content of the group is dynamically changed based on the addition of the identifier of the group to the entry in the directory server.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic documents management system and method for classifying, publishing, searching and locating electronic documents. Electronic documents are classified and published via an ontological description consisting of at least one vector, each vector comprising at least one feature-value pair. Each vector's slot corresponds to a feature and the vector's range of each slot corresponds to the set of all possible values of each feature. In order to classify an electronic document, two hashing functions are applied. A first hashing function maps each feature to a slot number, corresponding to a coordinate in the appropriate vector. A second hashing function maps the value of each pair to a numeric value of a slot, corresponding to the range of each coordinate. The result of the two hashing functions is an ordered vector that can be mapped to a node in hypercube.

Abstract: An illumination system has a plurality of light-emitting diodes (R, G, B), at least one light-collimating section (12, 12?) arranged along a longitudinal axis (25) of the illumination system. The light-collimating sections merges into a light-mixing section (3) having a plurality of side-faces along the longitudinal axis (25). Light propagation in the light-mixing section is based on total internal reflection. The light-mixing section is provided with a light-exit window (13) emitting light towards an imaginary projection surface normal to the longitudinal axis.