Abstract: An improved procurement system and method are provided.

Abstract: A web-based service capable of generating a portable contract document is described. The web-based service generates a user interface comprising an interactive electronic document. The interactive electronic document displays, on at least one screen, a first visual control for collecting sale item information, a second visual control for collecting seller information, a third visual control for collecting buyer information, and a fourth visual control for collecting sale price information. The information obtained via the interactive electronic document is used by the web-based service for generating a contract document for a sale of the sale item. The generated contract document is communicated to a client device via a network communication.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for customization and insertion of a clause into an electronic document under analysis (DUA). The method includes the steps of receiving and electronic DUA, automatically detecting a slot type in the received DUA, assigning a DUA slot value to the detected slot type, and automatically updating one or more clauses in a clause library using the DUA slot value, wherein the updating includes inserting the DUA slot value into each slot in the one or more clauses having a slot type matching the detected slot type.

Abstract: A system facilitates the efficient and consistent preparation of comments to documents prepared by others by comparing each such document against phrases and their associated comments stored in one or more local, remote, or removable databases. The system can also facilitate the efficient communication of comments to a given document by organizing such comments in a format suitable for transmission to the intended recipients.

Abstract: A method and system to generate a portable contract document are provided. The system may include a description module, a price module and a contract document generator. The description module may be configured to receive, from a potential buyer, identification information associated with a sale item. The price module may be configured to receive, from the potential buyer, a price information associated with the sale item. The contract document generator may be configured to respond to a request by the potential buyer by automatically generating a contract document for a sale of the sale item, utilizing the identification information and the price information.

Abstract: A chord judging method performed by a processor to judge chords of a musical piece, in which the processor estimates plural chord candidates of each of plural parts specified in the musical piece; calculates connection costs, each of which is defined between the chord candidates of adjacent parts of the musical piece; obtains total sums of the connection costs between the chord candidates along plural routes through the musical piece; and selects a route from among the plural routes, which route shows a less total sum of the connection costs of the chord candidates, thereby outputting an appropriate chord candidate of each of the parts along the found route of the musical piece.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for analyzing melodies is disclosed that may receive data for a musical composition, the data including a sequence of notes that make up a melody contained in the musical composition, and store, in a database, a pitch and a duration for at least one note in the sequence of notes in association with the melody. In addition, the system may determine at least one pitch differential and at least one duration ratio for at least two consecutive notes in the sequence of notes, and store, in the database, the at least one pitch differential and the at least one duration ratio in association with the melody. The system may also generate at least one metric associated with the melody based on the at least one pitch differential and/or the at least one duration ratio.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for analyzing melodies is disclosed that may receive data for a musical composition, the data including a sequence of notes that make up a melody contained in the musical composition, and store, in a database, a pitch and a duration for at least one note in the sequence of notes in association with the melody. In addition, the system may determine at least one pitch differential and at least one duration ratio for at least two consecutive notes in the sequence of notes, and store, in the database, the at least one pitch differential and the at least one duration ratio in association with the melody. The system may also generate at least one metric associated with the melody based on the at least one pitch differential and/or the at least one duration ratio.

Abstract: An automatic updating apparatus includes a traffic receiver that receives numbers per unit time of the access of more than one menu displayed in a screen and calculates rates of variability with respect to the numbers of the access to each menu, and a menu updating unit that updates a menu display in the screen based on the rates of variability.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method of remote patient monitoring to allow a patient to initiate and activate sensing systems. In the system and method, standard parameters can be sensed, and the information can then be processed and sent to the physician or clinician. The clinician then has the ability to remotely configure or reconfigure the parameters of the sensing system so as to probe for more targeted information based on the initial sensed data.

Abstract: A process of using finite element analysis for determining the behavior of a system, submitted to predetermined load and displacement boundary conditions with a degree of freedom relative to a local coordinate system released at one system node. For a geometrically non-linear solution scheme, a plurality of incremental steps are carried, for which computing for a finite element of the system a displacement vector at the nodes of the finite element is performed by minimizing the energy of the system. For a geometrically linear solution scheme, a single solving step is carried. The step of minimizing is carried out, for a node having a released degree of freedom, in a local frame of reference, and the released degree of freedom at the node is expressed along one axis of such frame. Hybrid reference frames allow expressing and considering in the formulation the constraints of the non-released degrees of freedom simply.

Abstract: A system for obfuscating data across an enterprise, comprising a rule evaluator; an active rule editor; and an active rule editor repository; wherein the rule evaluator evaluates active rules and optimizes its behavior based on both user-specified guidance and properties learned during system execution; wherein the active rule editor provides functionality for specifying, examining, maintaining, simulating and testing active rule behavior and for documenting rules that are bound to any named and typed data spaces of the enterprise that are accessible through connectors to the data systems of the enterprise; and wherein the active rule editor and repository provide functionality for promoting a candidate rule to an active rule and managing the rule in its active state. A method for obfuscating data across an enterprise using the system described above.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to find out parts to be a highly possible cause of failure without searching all of part data of all of products. Dispersed parts data on a parts tree are sequentially accessed from a set of known failed products, and part attribute values each having a higher support in the faulty product are extracted. In this process, a subset of parts used in the faulty product is also obtained simultaneously. The part attribute values having higher supports and the subset of parts used in the faulty product are represented as a tree in which a parts type serves as a node. Next, an information gain of a rule that having the two part attribute values is a cause of failure is calculated on two part attribute values having higher supports on the tree of the parts type. This calculation is locally performed on a common parent part of two parts and parts having a certain information gain is outputted as a cause of failure.

Abstract: A method and a system for modeling file system operation streams of a computing environment. File system operations of the file system operation streams are workloads produced by the devices of the computing environment. For example, a device of the computing environment produces the workloads, which are requests for information from a storage system of the computing environment. The requests are captured and form traces. The traces are then used as input to a model of the computing environment. The model is iteratively trained by using the traces to learn the dynamic behavior of the computing environment. Specifically, the model is trained to identify sequences of file system operations that are legal. Legal sequences can then be generated in realistic workloads that simulate the workloads produced by the devices of the computing environment to a high degree of probability.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to find out parts to be a highly possible cause of failure without searching all of part data of all of products. Dispersed parts data on a parts tree are sequentially accessed from a set of known failed products, and part attribute values each having a higher support in the faulty product are extracted. In this process, a subset of parts used in the faulty product is also obtained simultaneously. The part attribute values having higher supports and the subset of parts used in the faulty product are represented as a tree in which a parts type serves as a node. Next, an information gain of a rule that having the two part attribute values is a cause of failure is calculated on two part attribute values having higher supports on the tree of the parts type. This calculation is locally performed on a common parent part of two parts and parts having a certain information gain is outputted as a cause of failure.

Abstract: An architecture for managing alerts, notifications, and peripheral information is disclosed. In one embodiment, a computerized system includes three modules, an attentional status module, a peripheral information notification and alerts module, and an notifications decision-making module. The attentional-status module generates a probability distribution over the user's focus of attention. In one embodiment the module also provides a probability distribution over the period of time until the user will become available to review alerts zero or minimal cost, or will review them without prompting. In one embodiment, this module utilizes a decision-theoretic analysis to identify ideal actions about the timing and rendering of notifications or alerts.

Abstract: Systems and methods for customizing business logic rules within a business process automation system and for processing business logic rules in a business process automation system are disclosed. The method for customizing business rules of a business logic application generally comprises serving a content page to a client browser of a client by a server that allows entering and modifying of data relating to a business logic rule, generating data by the server according to a predefined format such as a predefined XML format from information received via the content page, and automatically committing the generated data in the predefined format into a database. Preferably, a verification process such as by using DTDs (Document Type Definitions) is performed by the server prior to committing the data. The database stores data including data relating to business logic rules for implementing business logic as entries in the database and the generated data is committed into a corresponding entry in the database.

Abstract: A method for problem solving in a computer system includes an applications module for sending a problem statement to a complexity module. The complexity module configures a solving module with configuration parameters and also determines expected solver behavior. A solving module determines actual solver behavior, determines whether a problem solution has been found, and determines whether to perform a solver iteration step or to request a complexity module to perform an adaptation step.

Abstract: In order to provide an operation and maintenance planning aiding system for a power generation installation which prepares an operation plan for a plurality of power generation units by making use of actual plant data and based on a total judgement including a variety of circumstances of the machine and apparatus or the parts thereof in the power generation units, in the system the plurality of power generation units 41, 42, 51 and 52, a power supply command center 3 and a service center 1 are arranged and connected via a communication network 6, the service center 1 obtains the plant data via the communication network 6 from the plurality of power generation units 41, 42, 51 and 52, calculates in real time a power generation efficiency of a concerned power generation unit for every plurality of power generation units 41, 42 51 and 52 by making use of the obtained plant data and design data of the concerned power generation unit and prepares an operation and maintenance plan for each of the power generation u

Abstract: A system and method for automatic categorization of items into categories. Machine learning establishes or updates a data structure including term weights for text fields and distributions for numeric fields, based on a sample of pre-categorized items. An automatic categorization engine processes items by referencing the data structure on a field-by-field basis, determining a ranking score for each alternative category to which an item may be assigned. A category assignment may be based on ranking scores and may be flagged for a user to review. A user interface facilitates review and confirmation of automatic category assignments, either comprehensively, as flagged by the automatic categorization engine, or according to user determined criteria.

Abstract: A method of and system for determining the state-of-health of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack connected to a load comprises detecting the real part of the impedance Z1 of the fuel cell stack at a selected frequency; detecting the voltage V1 of the fuel cell stack at open circuit; detecting the voltage V2 of the fuel cell stack when the maximum load current is being drawn from said fuel cell stack; and determining the state of health of said fuel cell stack from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between said real part of the impedance of the fuel cell stack at the selected frequency, the voltage of the fuel cell stack at open circuit, and the voltage of the fuel cell stack when the maximum load current is being drawn from said fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A method of and system for determining the state-of-health of a lead acid battery of the type commonly used in portable external defibrillators comprises detecting an impedance characteristic of the battery at at least one selected frequency, counting the number of complete charge/discharge cycles that the battery undergoes, and determining the state of health of the battery from a fuzzy system trained in a relationship between the impedance characteristic and the cycle number of the lead acid battery and the state-of-health, wherein the state-of-health is a function of and varies with the battery's ability to deliver power required by the load and the battery's capacity to meet load requirements.

Abstract: An architecture of multiple agents is provided, based on a negotiating agents' approach to resolving feature interactions. An event-based model is used to detect feature interaction, and fuzzy constraints are applied to the policies that describe the system. A mechanism is established by which the user may add rules or provide the system with parameters that affect the outcome of any conflict that may occur, thereby giving real control over the conflict to the end user.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for generating individualized medical profiles based on information provided by a patient, and on data extracted from medical literature. In a first stage, medical literature is selected for inclusion in a database by using specified inclusion criteria. Information on input parameters to studies contained in the literature, output parameters of the studies, and algorithms contained in the studies is extracted from the literature, and stored in a database. In a second stage, patients provide information, which is matched against the input parameters of the studies in the database, and algorithms from the matched studies are applied to the information provided by the patient to produce values for the output parameters. Combination analysis is used to combine the values of output parameters into “super-category” values, that are used to generate an individualized medical profile.

Abstract: Power industry boiler tube failures are a major cause of utility forced outages in the United States, with approximately 41,000 tube failures occurring every year at a cost of $5 billion a year. Accordingly, early tube leak detection and isolation is highly desirable. Early detection allows scheduling of a repair rather than suffering a forced outage, and significantly increases the chance of preventing damage to adjacent tubes. The instant detection scheme starts with identification of boiler tube leak process variables which are divided into universal sensitive variables, local leak sensitive variables, group leak sensitive variables, and subgroup leak sensitive variables, and which may be automatically be obtained using a data driven approach and a leak sensitivity function. One embodiment uses artificial neural networks (ANN) to learn the map between appropriate leak sensitive variables and the leak behavior.

Abstract: The present invention describes the use of autonomous devices, which can be arranged in networks, such as neural networks, to better identify, track, and acquire sources of signals present in an environment. The environment may be a physical environment, such as a battlefield, or a more abstract environment, such as a communication network. The devices may be mobile, in the form of vehicles with sensors, or may be information agents, and may also interact with one another, thus allowing for a great deal of flexibility in carrying out a task. In some cases, the devices may be in the form of autonomous vehicles which can collaboratively sense, identify, or classify a number of sources or targets concurrently. The autonomous devices may function as mobile agents or attractors in a network, such as a neural network. The devices may also be aggregated to form a network of networks and provide scalability to a system in which the autonomous devices are operating.

Abstract: A method for determining state of health (SOH) of an electrochemical device using fuzzy logic (i.e., an intelligent system) is presented. State of health of an electrochemical device is determined by an internal characteristic parameter (or external operating and environmental conditions) of the electrochemical device and a characteristic parameter of a load with an intelligent system. The electrochemical device comprises such devices as primary (“throwaway”) batteries, rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, hybrid batteries containing a fuel cell electrode or electrochemical supercapacitors. The intelligent system is trained in the relationship between the characteristic parameters of the electrochemical device, the characteristic parameters of the load and the SOH of the electrochemical device.

Abstract: Method and agent network architecture for processing a subject message, where each agent has a view of its own domain of responsibility. An initiator agent which receives a user-input request and does not itself have a relevant interpretation policy, queries its downchain agents whether the queried agent considers such message to be in its domain of responsibility. Each queried agent recursively determines whether it has an interpretation policy of its own that applies to the request, and if not, further queries its own further downchain neighboring agents. The further agents eventually respond to such further queries, thereby allowing the first-queried agents to respond to the initiator agent. The recursive invocation of this procedure ultimately determines one or more paths through the network from the initiator agent to one more more leaf agents.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the state of a dynamic system is disclosed. The apparatus comprises one or more sensors operable to sample physical parameters of a system, and a mode interpreter. The mode interpreter is operable to receive data from the sensor and determine the state of the dynamic system using hypertrapezoidal membership functions.

Abstract: Power industry boiler tube failures are a major cause of utility forced outages in the United States, with approximately 41,000 tube failures occurring every year at a cost of $5 billion a year. Accordingly, early tube leak detection and isolation is highly desirable. Early detection allows scheduling of a repair rather than suffering a forced outage, and significantly increases the chance of preventing damage to adjacent tubes. The instant detection scheme starts with identification of boiler tube leak process variables which are divided into universal sensitive variables, local leak sensitive variables, group leak sensitive variables, and subgroup leak sensitive variables, and which may be automatically be obtained using a data driven approach and a leak sensitivity function. One embodiment uses artificial neural networks (ANN) to learn the map between appropriate leak sensitive variables and the leak behavior.

Abstract: A directed heuristic search (DHS) has been developed for an optimization design system. The DHS an optimization simulation system has been developed. The DHS directs a design optimization process that implements a user's selections and directions, the order and directions in which the search for an optimal design is to be conducted, and how the search is to sequence through potential design solutions. In addition, DHS is tractable, in that it records a log of the sequence of design solutions that were evaluated during a particular design optimization search. The user may review this search log, to understand how and why the DHS made design optimization decisions. The user may change search parameter settings in a user defined dependency to change future search patterns for optimal designs.

Abstract: A dynamical system analyser (10) incorporates a computer (22) to perform a singular value decomposition of a time series of signals from a nonlinear (possibly chaotic) dynamical system (14). Relatively low-noise singular vectors from the decomposition are loaded into a finite impulse response filter (34). The time series is formed into Takens' vectors each of which is projected onto each of the singular vectors by the filter (34). Each Takens' vector thereby provides the co-ordinates of a respective point on a trajectory of the system (14) in a phase space. A heuristic processor (44) is used to transform delayed co-ordinates by QR decomposition and least squares fitting so that they are fitted to non-delayed co-ordinates. The heuristic processor (44) generates a mathematical model to implement this transformation, which predicts future system states on the basis of respective current states. A trial system is employed to generate like co-ordinates for transformation in the heuristic processor (44).

Abstract: A process is set forth in which cancer of the colon is assessed in a patient. The probabilities of developing cancer involves the initial step of extracting a set of sample body fluids from the patient. Fluids can be evaluated to determine certain marker constituents in the body fluids. Fluids which are extracted have some relationship to me development of cancer, precancer or tendency toward cancerous conditions. The body fluid markers are measured and other quantified. The marker data then is evaluated using a nonlinear technique exemplified through the use of a multiple input and multiple output neural network having a variable learning rate and training rate. The neural network is provided with data from other patients for the same or similar markers. Data from other patients who did and did not have cancer is used in the leaning of the neural network which thereby processes the data and provides a determination that the patient has a cancerous condition, precancer cells or a tendency towards cancer.