Abstract: Computer program product for supporting a user in designing a sealing system of a hydraulic cylinder by indicating at least one sealing system component related to one of: seals, guide rings and rod end bearings for application in the hydraulic cylinder based on the working conditions of the hydraulic cylinder. The computer program product is arranged to obtain sealing system component information items from a database, including: a sealing system component text information item; a duty level information item; a sealing system component graphic information item; and a rod end information item. The rod end information item includes sealing intensity as a function of environment temperature.

Abstract: A simulation system attaches to a configuration database for one or more fully configured nodes of a process control system and copies the modules within those nodes into one or more simulation computers as simulation modules. The simulation system includes an algorithm that automatically creates a reference parameter module for each of the copied nodes that stores a reference parameter for each of the inputs, outputs or other references to signals external to the nodes. In the case of the Fieldbus function blocks, the simulation system automatically creates a function block within the simulation workstation in the protocol of the controller node which mimics the operation of the Fieldbus function block, and then creates the simulation system having those mimicked Fieldbus function blocks operating as if they had originally been configured to be in the controller being simulated, instead of within a field device external to the controller.

Abstract: A method for more rapidly forming a stochastic model of Gaussian or Gaussian-related type, representative of a porous heterogeneous medium such as an underground reservoir, constrained by data characteristic of the displacement of fluids and punctual observations, these observations being uncertain and characterized by a probability law. The method transforms static information, given in form of probability laws, into Gaussian punctual pseudo-data which has the advantage of being compatible with a gradual deformation method. An objective function J measuring the difference between the dynamic data (production data for example) and the corresponding responses simulated for the reservoir model considered may be minimized.

Abstract: A system and method for predicting the effect of patient self-care actions on a disease control parameter. A future disease control parameter value X(tj) at time tj is determined from a prior disease control parameter value X(ti) at time ti based on an optimal control parameter value R(tj) at time tj, the difference between the prior disease control parameter value X(ti) and an optimal control parameter value R(ti) at time ti, and a set of differentials between patient self-care parameters having patient self-care values SM(ti) at time ti and optimal self-care parameters having optimal self-care values OM(ti) at time ti. The differentials are multiplied by corresponding scaling factors KM. The system includes an input device for entering the patient self-care values SM(ti). A memory stores the optimal control parameter values R(ti) and R(tj), the prior disease control parameter value X(ti), the optimal self-care values OM(ti), and the scaling factors KM.

Abstract: A computer system reads data corresponding to an IC layout target layer and performs an etch simulation on the target layer. Etch biases are calculated and the inverse of the etch biases are used to produce a new target layer. The new target layer is provided as an input to an optical process correction (OPC) loop that corrects the data for image/resist distortions until a simulation indicates that a pattern of objects created on a wafer matches the new target layer. In another embodiment of the invention, original IC layout data is provided to both the OPC loop and an etch simulation. Etch biases calculated by the etch simulation are used in the OPC loop in order to produce mask/reticle data that will be compensated for both optical and resist distortions as well as for etch distortions.

Abstract: According to one method of simulation processing, instrumentation code, such as an runtime executive (rtx), receives one or more statements describing an count event and identifying the count event as an outlying count event. While simulating a design utilizing the HDL simulation model, occurrences of the outlying count event are counted to obtain a count event value. Simulation result data obtained from simulating the design is then received and processed. In the processing, the count event value is recorded within a data storage subsystem responsive to a determination of whether or not the count event value of the outlying count event exceeds a previously recorded count event value.

Abstract: A system for dynamically compressing circuit components during simulating of a circuit having a hierarchical data structure includes a simulator module having one or more computer programs for 1) selecting a group of leaf circuits from the first and second branches for simulation, 2) if two or more leaf circuits of the circuit having a substantially same isomorphic behavior, representing the two or more leaf circuits as a merged leaf circuit, 3) creating a first port connectivity interface dynamically for the group of leaf circuits in response to the merged leaf circuit, where the first port connectivity interface communicates changes in signal conditions among the group of leaf circuits, and 4) simulating the group of leaf circuits in accordance with the first port connectivity interface.

Abstract: A computer based test bench generator (1) for verifying integrated circuits specified by models in a Hardware Description Language includes a repository (10) storing a general set of self-checking tests applicable to the integrated circuits. A capability is provided for entering behavior data (21) of an integrated circuit model (20), and for entering configuration data (22) of the integrated circuit model. The generator automatically generates test benches (30) in the Hardware Description Language by making a selection and setup of suitable tests from the repository according to the specified integrated circuit model, configuration and behavior data.

Abstract: Hardware access is provided for an operating system by allocating a portion of firmware address space of a data processing arrangement for use as a virtualized data interface that emulates a first hardware device. The virtualized data interface is presented to the operating system. The operating system accesses the virtualized data interface using a standardized kernel component of the operating system adapted to interface with the first hardware device. Data is exchanged between the virtualized interface and a second hardware device based on accesses of the virtualized data interface by the operating system via the standardized kernel component.

Abstract: A method and system for presenting a document to a user. The method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of documents having one or more language translations; specifying a preferred order of languages for the user; and when the user requests a search term, searching the plurality of documents for those that contain the search term. The method comprises the further steps of matching the language translations of the documents containing the search term with the preferred order of languages for the user; and delivering, for each of the documents containing the search term, a best match language translation to the user.

Abstract: A computer-parsing system using vectors (lists) to represent natural-language elements, providing a robust, distributed way to score grammaticality of an input string by using as a source material a large corpus of natural-language text. The system uses recombining of asymmetric associations of syntactically similar strings to form the vectors. The system uses equivalence lists for subparts of the string to build equivalence lists for longer strings in an order controlled by the potential parse to be scored. The power of recombination of vector elements in building longer strings provides a means of representing collocational complexity. Grammaticality scoring is based upon the number and similarity of the vector elements.

Abstract: In evaluating commonality of documents, each sentence is represented by a binary vector whose components indicate the presence or absence of corresponding terms, whereupon the concept of a common vector among documents is introduced. One sentence vector is derived from each of the documents to form a group of sentence groups, and only components which assume “1” (one) in all the vectors are “1”, the other components being “0” (zero). The commonality of a document set is evaluated by employing the sum or squared sum of the numbers of components whose values are not zero in the individual common vectors, for all the common vectors.

Abstract: An audio data input unit of an encoding device splits an audio data string into contiguous samples of audio data, and a transforming unit transforms the split audio data into spectral data in a frequency domain. A data dividing unit divides the spectral data into a lower frequency band and a higher frequency band at 11.025 kHz (f1) as a boundary. The spectral data in the lower frequency band is quantized and encoded by a first quantizing unit and an encoding unit. A second quantizing unit generates sub information indicating a characteristic of the spectral data in the higher frequency band, and a second encoding unit encodes the sub information. A stream output unit integrates the codes obtained by the first and second encoding units and outputs the integrated one. Here, f1 is a half or less of a sampling frequency f2 at which the audio data string is created.

Abstract: A method is provided whereby, before being subjected to a low rate voice coding, an incoming digital voice signal is chronologically segmented into blocks, the blocks are broken down respectively, in chronological order, into frequency components by a transformation in the frequency range and the frequency components are multiplied by weight factors depending on the frequency and modifiable in time, a frequency component being multiplied by the last weight factor calculated for the frequency component if the factor is less than the current weight factor.

Abstract: The present invention is a preprocessing apparatus including a voice input apparatus for acquiring an uttered voice, an analog-digital conversion apparatus for converting the acquired uttered voice to digital voice data, and a comparator for selecting voice data, having a level which is equal to or higher than a certain level, from the digital voice data and for outputting the selected voice data. The preprocessing apparatus also includes a voice data cutout apparatus capable of cutting out voice data having a level which is equal to or higher than a certain level output from the comparator, while taking a phoneme as a unit, and a voice data output apparatus for outputting voice data of the phoneme unit output from the voice data cutout apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention carries out pre-selection on many LPC codevectors stored in an LSF codebook 101 using a weighted Euclidean distortion as a measure and carries out a full-code selection on the LPC codevectors left after the pre-selection using an amount of distortion in a spectral space as a measure. This makes it possible to improve the quantization performance of the LPC parameter vector quantizer and improve the quality of synthesized speech of the speech coder/decoder.

Abstract: A system and method of processing sound signals are disclosed. In one embodiment, a speech coder applies a first sound signal enhancement process to a first part of a sound signal and applies a second sound signal enhancement process to a second part of the sound signal. The sound signal is then coded using the enhanced first part of the sound signal and the enhanced first part of the sound signal and the enhanced sound part of the sound signal. Examples of the portions of the sound signal that are separately processed include an excitation signal component and a spectral component of the sound signal.

Abstract: A system and method for nonlinear signal enhancement is provided. The method comprises: performing a linear transformation on a measured signal comprising a source component and a noise component; determining a modulus of the linear transformed signal; estimating a noise-free part of the linear transformed signal; and reconstructing the source component of the measured signal using the noise-free part of the linear transformed signal.

Abstract: A speech recognition system processes speech outputs from a user to select a list element from a list of list elements. The user speaks the speech output as a whole word and an initial character sequence of the desired list element. The whole word and individual character sequence components are processed separately. A sublist is generated in response to the individual character sequence. A list element is selected in response to the whole word and sublist.

Abstract: A processor-based system obtaining information about an event from schedule data, and using the information to assist speech recognition of speech occurring during at least a portion of the event.

Abstract: A method needed in speech recognition for forming a pronunciation model in a telecommunications system comprising at least one portable electronic device and server. The electronic device is arranged to compare the user's speech information with pronunciation models comprising acoustic units and stored in the electronic device. A character sequence is transferred from the electronic device to the server. In the server, the character device is converted into a sequence of acoustic units. A sequence of acoustic units is sent from the server to the electronic device.

Abstract: An intelligent query system for processing voiced-based queries is disclosed, which uses a combination of both statistical and semantic based processing to identify the question posed by the user by understanding the meaning of the user's utterance. Based on identifying the meaning of the utterance, the system selects a single answer that best matches the user's query. The answer that is paired to this single question is then retrieved and presented to the user. The system, as implemented, accepts environmental variables selected by the user and is scalable to provide answers to a variety and quantity of user-initiated queries.

Abstract: A system and method for effectively implementing an optimized language model for speech recognition includes initial language models each created by combining source models according to selectable interpolation coefficients that define proportional relationships for combining the source models. A rescoring module iteratively utilizes the initial language models to process input development data for calculating word-error rates that each correspond to a different one of the initial language models. An optimized language model is then selected from the initial language models by identifying an optimal word-error rate from among the foregoing word-error rates. The speech recognizer may then utilize the optimized language model for effectively performing various speech recognition procedures.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating a scoring model for scoring a speech sample are disclosed. One or more training speech samples are received in response to a prompt. One or more speech features are determined for each of the training speech samples. A scoring model is then generated based on the speech features. At least one of the training speech samples may be a high entropy speech sample. An evaluation speech sample is received and a score is assigned to the evaluation speech sample using the scoring model. The evaluation speech sample may be a high entropy speech sample.

Abstract: A system and method enabling acoustic barge-in during a voice prompt in a communication system. An acoustic prompt model is trained to represent the system prompt using the specific speech signal of the prompt. The acoustic prompt model is utilized in a speech recognizer in parallel with the recognizer's active vocabulary words to suppress the echo of the prompt within the recognizer. The speech recognizer may also use a silence model and traditional garbage models such as noise models and out-of-vocabulary word models to reduce the likelihood that noises and out-of-vocabulary words in the user utterance will be mapped erroneously onto active vocabulary words.

Abstract: A speech recognition system for processing voice inputs from a user to select a list element from a list or group of list elements. Recognition procedures are carried out on the voice input of the user. One recognition procedure separates the voice input of a whole word into at least one sequence of speech subunits to produce a vocabulary of list elements. Another recognition procedure compares the voice input of the whole word with the vocabulary of list elements.

Abstract: A method for generating animated sequences of talking heads in text-to-speech applications wherein a processor samples a plurality of frames comprising image samples. The processor reads first data comprising one or more parameters associated with noise-producing orifice images of sequences of at least three concatenated phonemes which correspond to an input stimulus. The processor reads, based on the first data, second data comprising images of a noise-producing entity. The processor generates an animated sequence of the noise-producing entity.

Abstract: A method and device for performing some preprocessing on voice transmissions depending upon the intended destination of the transmission. The device includes a receiving component configured to receive a voice signal from a source over a network. The device also includes a processing component configured to determine a destination address associated with the received signal, determine a signal processing algorithm from a plurality of signal processing algorithms based on the determined address, and process the voice signal according to the specified algorithm. The device further includes a delivery component configured to send the processed signal to the associated address.

Abstract: A novel method and microprocessor-controlled apparatus are provided for improving research and/or communication interaction between human and animals, such as dolphins and the like, or between normal humans and speech-impaired humans, by playing back audible pre-recorded human-language phrases corresponding to and descriptive of the meaning of sounds and/or gestures or responses produced by the animal or the speech-impaired human and in response to stimuli, conditions or environmental events to which the animal (or impaired human) is subjected, wherein the pre-recorded phrases represent what the human would say or describe if subjected to such stimuli, conditions or environmental events; such that during actual real-time interacting with the animals (or such impaired humans) one actually hears “from” the animal or speech-impaired human, spoken language phrases descriptive of their condition.

Abstract: A speech recognition module for a personal digital assistant comprises: a module housing designed to engage with an accessory feature of the PDA, such as an accessory slot; a microphone for receiving speech commands from the person; and a speech recognition system. A corresponding electrical speech command signal is communicated to the portable computing device, allowing control of the operation of a software application program running on the portable computing device. In particular, menu items can be selected for generation of a diet log for the person, for example during a weight control program.

Abstract: A voice control system is directed to a car navigation device that includes: a display unit; a microphone; a speech recognition unit for recognizing, as a command, a speech uttered by a user; and a navigation ECU to which the voice recognition unit outputs the command. When the user inputs the speech, auxiliary switches are shown on the display unit. When the user selects one of the auxiliary switches, respective functions that correspond to the auxiliary switches are executed. The functions include displaying a voice command list or guidance for voice input on the displaying unit or outputting, to the navigation ECU, a result of determination whether a certain function, such as setting of a destination, should be allowed to be executed, the user first being required to affirm or negate the recognized destination setting by voice or auxiliary switch.

Abstract: A lossless audio codec segments audio data within each frame to improve compression performance subject to a constraint that each segment must be fully decodable and less than a maximum size. For each frame, the codec selects the segment duration and coding parameters, e.g., a particular entropy coder and its parameters for each segment, that minimizes the encoded payload for the entire frame subject to the constraints. Distinct sets of coding parameters may be selected for each channel or a global set of coding parameters may be selected for all channels. Compression performance may be further enhanced by forming M/2 decorrelation channels for M-channel audio. The triplet of channels (basis, correlated, decorrelated) provides two possible pair combinations (basis, correlated) and (basis, decorrelated) that can be considered during the segmentation and entropy coding optimization to further improve compression performance.

Abstract: A service system stores membership qualification conditions of a plurality of services. The service system selects a service that a user can use from those and displays the selected service. The service system references information of another service of which a user has already become a member and performs a membership qualification of the user on behalf of a server of each service.

Abstract: Systems and methods consistent with the instant invention may allow organizations to instantiate and participate in a collaborative network (i.e., a consortium) through which they can exchange intellectual capital. A governance may be established for regulating the collaborative network. In addition, a communications portal may be provided through which the organizations can exchange skills, competencies, and resources. Organizations may be able to publish, via the portal, their respective supply of and demand for intellectual capital. Organizations may be able search for and utilize employees of other organizations, collaboratively hire new employees, and collaboratively hire former employees.

Abstract: In a method for tracking postal items, the shipping details of each postal item are stored in a data base that can be interrogated and is updated during shipping. A data record which can be changed and completed is created in each original distribution center and for each postal item that is posted in the center. The data record contains a reference number and data that characterize the postal item and the shipping details. Each posted postal item is provided with an identification key in the original distribution center. The key uniquely characterizes the postal item. The postal items are transported to the destination distribution center, optionally via additional distribution centers. The reference numbers and the original distribution centers are subsequently detected in said succeeding distribution centers and the relevant shipping data including the reference numbers is electronically transmitted to the original distribution centers for completing the data records.

Abstract: A system and method of diagnosing diseases from biological data is disclosed. A system for automated disease diagnostics prediction can be generated using a database of clinical test data. The diagnostics prediction can also be used to develop screening tests to screen for one or more inapparent diseases. The prediction method can be implemented with Bayesian probability estimation techniques. The system and method permit clinical test data to be analyzed and mined for improved disease diagnosis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for recommending a disposable absorbent incontinence article to be used by an incontinent person. The method includes the steps of: (a) receiving information, from a user, about incontinence devices which are currently used by the incontinent person; (b) receiving information about the situation which is experienced by the user; and (c) selecting at least one article, based on the information received, among predetermined disposable absorbent incontinence articles. By this method, an appropriate disposable absorbent incontinence article(s) to be used are recommended depending on the user's situation. The present invention is also directed a method for evaluating the quality of life of a caregiver who takes care of an incontinent person.

Abstract: A computer-implemented process of developing a person-level cost model for forecasting future costs attributable to claims from members of a book of business, where person-level data are available for a substantial portion of the members of the book of business for an actual underwriting period, and the forecast of interest is for a policy period is disclosed. The process uses development universe data comprising person-level enrollment data, historical base period health care claims data and historical next period claim amount data for a statistically meaningful number of individuals. The process also provides at least one claim-based risk factor for each historical base period claim based on the claim code associated with the health care claim and provides at least one enrollment-based risk factor based on the enrollment data.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and systems for providing an insurance policy having an inflation protection option that is computed at least partially based on information useful in offering a long term care insurance policy to an individual and at least partially based on the option for the individual to purchase additional coverage at a subsequent premium that is computed based at least partially on the individual's age at a date, which date is other than the date the option to purchase the additional coverage is offered, such as the date the policy issued.

Abstract: A management system for determining the security measures of a plurality of vendors. An assessment is performed on a plurality of vendors at a discount. The assessment is placed into a database and is reviewable and accessible by clients who subscribe to the management system. The management system allows clients to review and assess the security information regarding a plurality of vendors without the cost of performing an assessment of each vendor.

Abstract: An average face composition is produced by computer graphic methods surveying average facial features, skin color, lip color and eye color among plural faces representing different human races. Enquiries are performed among a plurality of different people to receive their replies to questions on the obtained faces on which various cosmetics were furnished. The collected comments were analyzed to prepare color maps, whereby necessary information and images were established to enable selection of suitable cosmetics.

Abstract: A buyer-seller matching system that uses incentives to verify commissions from matching the buyer with a seller. An item locator system that comprises a repository of information about items for purchase may be provided over a network for users to access information about items for purchase. Along with each item, the system presents an incentive that may be realized if that item is purchased from a designated third party seller. The user then executes the purchase with the seller, who pays the system the agreed upon fee and also issues a certification of purchase to the buyer. The user may then take the certification of purchase back to the central repository to redeem the incentive. The item locator system then checks to verify that it has received a fee or commission from the seller for bringing the seller a buyer of the item. The fee or commission may be based on the price of the item, such as if the item is a new house for sale and the seller is a new house builder.

Abstract: A service establishment, such as a fast-food restaurant or a bank, improves customer satisfaction by monitoring the quality of service received by the customer and compensating the customer with a personalized offer of compensation when service is inadequate. When the customer visits the service establishment, the service establishment detects the customer's presence by acquiring a signal from a device, such as an RF transponder, carried by the customer. The establishment uses information contained in this signal to identify the customer and to retrieve archived information about previous interactions with the customer. The establishment then analyzes the archived information to identify a product or service of interest to the customer and, before the customer leaves the service establishment, to offer the product or service to the customer.

Abstract: A real time, customer specific Web Order Management (WOM) system is disclosed in which a trade customer (buyer) can order products from a large manufacturer or distributor via a computer network such as the public internet. A “firewall” may be provided to keep the system secure. The WOM provides validation to the buyer that the order received from the buyer is a “quality order,” which as an example may mean that an entire truckload (in most countries) is being ordered from a single location, such as a distributor or a warehouse. The WOM system may have a global reach and the access for the trade customer is fairly simple, by means of a standard web browser and an Internet Service Provider.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic real property viewing system for providing virtual tours of real property units via a public communications network such as the internet. The electronic property viewing system includes a system for affiliates to create their own virtual tours in real time by uploading photographs into a template, resulting in both movable and still photographs with accompanying data sets. Another embodiment of this invention involves the exchange of the creation and/or maintenance of such virtual tour available on a public communications network for occupation time units in the real property units.

Abstract: A rental company system 100 comprises a branch master table 124 for unitarily registering and managing the content of inquiries made at each branch office. In response to an operation performed by a branch operator, a branch terminal 112 in each branch office displays a “reception registration and modification” screen 907 and receives input of a plurality of types of inquiry content information. The branch terminal 112 registers the inputted inquiry content information in the branch master table 124 via an internal network 110. In response to an operation performed by a branch operator, the branch terminal 112 displays an “inquiry content information transfer” screen 980 and transfers the inquiry content information inputted into the “reception registration and modification” screen 907 to a portable telephone 801 of a transmission receiving party inputted into the aforementioned screen 980.

Abstract: A computerized workflow management method and system to provide operational support for complex multi-step processes is disclosed. The method of workflow management involves creating an underlying database structure for recording the processing steps and other information required for each transaction, entering the necessary setup information by selection from lists of pre-stored information about processing functions, associated workflow events and milestones for the queues, mapping the data structures of the subsystem databases and the workflow management database to provide transparent interfacing and convenient manual entry of data were necessary, displaying for the user the workflow status of all transactions for which he or she is responsible, permitting menu driven initiation of required actions and automatically updating the database records for the universe of deals being managed by the system.

Abstract: A method for trading in a financial derivative of an underlying asset includes determining a trend predictive of a future value of the asset and a predicted variance of the future value. Responsive to the trend and the variance, a density function is calculated, which is indicative of a probability distribution of the value at a first time in the future. Based on the density function at the first time, the density function is recalculated to find the probability distribution of the value at a second time, subsequent to the first time, and a trading decision is made with regard to the derivative of the asset based on the density function.

Abstract: Methods and system for allowing a user, through a computer in telecommunication link with a system having access to financial and market data, to predict the performance of a financial vehicle and thereby provide training for trading options or evaluating predictions are provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a generic, object-oriented library of generators and operations on generators. The library of generators and other objects provides a set of reusable components that can be used in the development of other components required for new risk management generation models. Using basic simple objects predefined in the library and the operations on these objects, complicated objects required for a new risk management generation models may be built more efficiently and easily.