Abstract: A system that allows users to create, edit, manage, collaborate and communicate on documents such as word processor documents, spreadsheets, databases, slides, and diagram editors is disclosed. Each document type is broken down into basic workable elements. Each change to a document is tracked in a centralized database under control of a database management system, and users use a web browser and/or desktop as the client front end. Changes to the document are communicated back and forth to the database via a rich asynchronous javascript and XML web page. Changes from multiple sources or sessions can be compared with each other in a side-by-side display environment.

Abstract: Under one aspect, an interface program stored on a computer-readable medium causes a computer system with a display device to perform the functions of: obtaining a text string apparently corresponding to a name of a location; obtaining coordinates for the location; displaying a plurality of text phrases that contain the text string in a plurality of contexts; and accepting user input indicating which text phrases refer to the location. In some embodiments, the program further causes the computer system to perform the functions of assigning a confidence score to the text string and accepting user input that changes the confidence score. The assigned confidence score can be, e.g., 0 or 1. In some embodiments, the program further causes the computer system to perform the functions of displaying an image of the location identified by the coordinates while displaying the plurality of text phrases.

Abstract: Expert domains for a query category represent domains from which a high percentage of search results for queries associated with the query category are retrieved. The expert domains are identified by establishing a base statistical model that indicates frequencies of appearance for domains in search results retrieved for queries corresponding to multiple categories. In addition, frequencies of domain appearance are determined for search results retrieved for queries associated with a category. Domains that appear more frequently in the search results corresponding to the category are identified as expert domains for the category. A user may be allowed to customize expert domains related to one or more categories by adding or removing expert domains for the category.

Abstract: Data that is in a tagged format, such as XML, is dynamically accessed on demand, without the requirement for pre-parsing documents containing the data and storing it in a database. A dynamic processor discovers and processes taxonomy documents pertinent to a data request by traversing linked relationships between documents. Pre-stored algorithms in the dynamic processor are used to retrieve the relevant data items from the documents.

Abstract: Abbreviated index of parameter patterns. An abbreviated index includes indicators that a parameter pattern may be in a set of parameter patterns. To create the abbreviated index, indicators for overlapping parameter patterns of a given parameter pattern are placed in the index. Different patterns may have the same indicator, so the abbreviated index does not necessarily give an absolute indication of the presence of a parameter pattern in the set of parameter patterns, but rather may give an indication of the possible inclusion of a parameter pattern. The use of indicators for overlapping patterns can be used to increase confidence as to the existence of a given parameter pattern in the set of parameter patterns. The absence of an indicator for a parameter pattern or an overlapping parameter pattern will indicate with certainty that the parameter pattern is not present in the set of parameter patterns.

Abstract: A method for managing buildings comprises providing a computer database 10 operative to store information relating to at least one building 30, said information comprising building characteristics; Each said building having associated therewith a facility; Each said facility having associated therewith an account; Providing an operational link between a user and said computer database 20, receiving a user request to interact with said computer database 100, providing means for a user to establish a selected account 101, 102, providing means for a user to establish a selected facility 103, providing means for a user to establish a selected building 104, and presenting a user with information relating to said selected building 105.

Abstract: The present inventor devised, among other things, a citation formatting system, method, and software. The exemplary system provides the citation formatting function in a client-server architecture, receiving citations from a user's client access device over a computer network and communicating citation format suggestions back to the client access device for possible insertion into a document on the access device.

Abstract: A method is provided for the extraction of a data table from a database. The data table includes instances in rows and columns, respectively, and includes indicators characterizing the instances in columns and rows, respectively. The method includes the following steps: a) obtaining an initial specification of the study; b) from the initial specification, building a data table extraction dictionary, which enables specifying instants concerned by the study in the database and enables specifying an extraction formula, a recoding and a role for each of the indicators concerned by the study; and c) carrying out an initial extraction of a data table, in applying the extraction dictionary to the database.

Abstract: Techniques for grouping related objects such as documents and files using quantum clustering are disclosed. A method may include constructing a feature-object database of multiple objects. The feature-object database may have quantized selected features as keys. A connected objects database maybe built. Clusters of connected objects may be identified in the connected objects database. The clusters of identified objects may be evaluated to determine groups of related objects. The method may be implemented on a computing device.

Abstract: A method and system for an automatic people matching with a mutual commit process is disclosed. The process includes a recommender system that generates people recommendations based, at least in part, on inferences of preferences derived from system usage behaviors. The process also includes variations of a mutual commitment process that may only reveal a first party's interest in making their expression of interest with a second party if a reciprocal interest in revealing expression of interest is indicated. The process enhances social networking by reducing potential embarrassment and fear of rejection.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method that employ a dynamic use of Look Ahead Predicate Generation that will enable the database, database engine, and/or query optimizer to alter the processing of a query, and react to sub-optimal access plan selection and additional factors arising after processing has begun, to heal many poor performing queries. Conventional use of LPG requires the query optimizer to decide whether or not to use LPG before the processing of a query begins. As a result, the query optimizer may not only make sub-optimal decisions, but the query optimizer may not consider additional factors that may arise as the query is processing. However, the dynamic use of LPG allows predicates to be built after processing of the query has started and the ability to alter the query's processing to improve query performance.

Abstract: A technique is provided for the classification of a document based on a lexicon structured into categories. Terms in the document may be matched with terms in the lexicon along with the relative position of the term in the document. A weight function may be used to compute a score for each category. The normalized category scores may be used to classify the content of the document.

Abstract: A method to control a computer is provided. The computer executes steps of designating the image data file to be replaced with a previously designated image data file, generating a locator information to indicate a location of a storage folder based on a unique identification of the image data file, creating the storage folder having the locator information, which indicates a location of the storage folder, as a folder name, making a copy of the designated image data file having the unique identification and the file name identical to the identification and the file name of the designated image data file, storing the copied image data file on one-to-one basis in the storage folder created in the creating step, and deleting the copied image data file and the storage folder created in the creating step when the designation of the image data file is invalidated.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of optimizing a design of a product in a mass manufacturing process includes steps of: collecting error data relating to a product; classifying the error data into categories of errors to provide classifier error data; analyzing relationships among the classified error data; producing an analysis report; and recommending modifications to an end user for the design of the product.

Abstract: A calendar synchronization system uses syndicated data to transfer calendar items among calendars in disparate calendaring systems.

Abstract: A content framework system and method. The content framework system comprises a content infrastructure, a content flow management system, and a content association system. The content infrastructure comprises content management systems. Each of the content management systems comprises content. The content flow management system comprises an acquisition tool comprising an agent tool. The content flow management system controls a flow of each of the content within and between each of the content management systems. The acquisition tool provides an interface between the content flow management system and the content infrastructure. The content association system generates a first set of associations metadata comprising a first set of links for linking the content management systems together. The agent tool monitors the content from each of the content management systems and adding to a registry, a description of the content from each of the content management systems based on the monitoring.

Abstract: The concept of portioning is expanded with a variety of techniques. In particular, one technique involves partitioning an object at multiple levels, where at least one of the levels uses list-based partitioning. Further, a partitioning technique is provided which involves storing a data item in a default partition when the item does not map to any one of the list-based partitions for which a key value group has been defined. Techniques are also provided for efficiently splitting a partition.

Abstract: A plurality of artifacts, in a plurality of repositories, are maintained under revision control. A plurality of artifact tuples, in another repository, are maintained under revision control. At least one first artifact tuple comprise first information providing access to at least one of the artifacts. At least one second artifact tuple comprises second information providing access to at least one other artifact tuple. Each of the artifact tuples are associated with at least one of a plurality of product development processes. An apparatus comprises a plurality of repositories, each maintaining under revision control a plurality of artifacts and another repository that maintains under revision control a plurality of artifact tuples. A workflow process is adapted to allow users to associate each of the artifact tuples with at least one of a plurality of product development processes.

Abstract: In enterprises, presentations are designed and made to visiting clients on a routine basis and it is expected that such presentations be effective as much of business depends on right kind of information in right depth and volume made to right audience. The typically followed manual process depends on the capabilities of a person to create such presentations. It is required to obtain as little information as possible to generate presentations as much automatically as possible. The automatic generation of presentations is based on (a) agenda; (b) audience profile; and (c) templates. The system analyzes an agenda and audience profile to obtain adequate information to identify the most appropriate templates and uses the same to generate one or more draft presentation versions that best match the requirements of the agenda. Further, the invention also provides for an automatic generation of (a) slide annotations; (b) presentation theme; and (c) templates.

Abstract: Validating data of and/or indicating errors of a structured data file using eXtensible Markup Language (XML) elements and/or XML Path (XPATH) expression are described.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method are disclosed that are capable of refining the order and/or content of a list of items. In one embodiment, user activity associated with each item displayed to users in a given context is monitored, and is used together with item exposure data to generate context-specific item weights. The weights for the same item in different contexts may be different. The selection of items included in a list presented to users, and/or the order in which the items in the list are displayed, may be adjusted over time based upon the relative weights associated with the items.

Abstract: A mechanism for routing content, e.g., an electronic document, an invention disclosure, etc., to a person or group of persons, e.g., a reviewer/review team, for review and evaluation of the electronic document. This mechanism involves receiving the content and analyzing the content to generate identifiers of subject matter of the content. Subject matter categories are then determined to be associated with the content based on the analysis. The mechanism then retrieves profiles for people that are authorized to review and evaluate content. These profiles include identifiers of categories of knowledge that indicate areas of knowledge held by an associated person. A person is then selected based on the subject matter categories and categories of knowledge. The content may then be routed to a client computing device associated with the selected person or group or persons.

Abstract: Among other things, configuring an information collection/retrieval system includes receiving a data file structured to describe biological data, generating a first metadata representation of a first part of the data file, generating a first configuration file based on the first metadata representation; and configuring the information collection/retrieval system using the first configuration file.

Abstract: A web site system provides functionality for searching a repository of information, such as the World Wide Web, by including a search string at the end of a URL without any special formatting. In one embodiment, when the system receives a request for a URL of the form www.domain_name/char_string, where char_string is a character string that may include spaces and non-alphabetic characters, the system initially determines whether the character string includes a prefix that identifies the URL as a non-search-request URL. If no such prefix is present, the character string is used in its entirely as a search string to execute a search, and the results of the search are returned to the user.

Abstract: A method of consolidating genealogy records includes partitioning the records using at least one index file to form one or more partitions, sorting the records in a partition based on a data element in the records, comparing records within a sort range, based on the comparison, identifying same person records, consolidating information in the same person records, receiving a request from a user to view at least a portion of the consolidated information for a particular group of same person records, and sending a file that includes the portion to the user.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a browser, the browser operable for accessing electronic documents accessible via a document server, at least some of the electronic documents having associated therewith a data package intended for storage by the browser, comprising: receiving from the document server an electronic document and a data package; obtaining the identity of a data store; and sending the data package to the identified data store for storage therein.

Abstract: A distributed search system can comprise a group of nodes assigned to different partitions. Each partition can store indexes for a group of documents. Nodes in the same partition can independently process document-based records to construct the indexes. A set of nodes can be used to create a checkpoint for the indexes. The set of nodes can include a node in each partition.

Abstract: Under one aspect, an interface program stored on a computer-readable medium causes a computer system to perform the functions of: accepting search criteria from a user, the search criteria including a free-text query and a domain identifier, the domain identifier identifying a domain in a metric vector space; in response to accepting the search criteria from the user, obtaining a set of document-location tuples from a corpus of documents, each document-location tuple satisfying the search criteria from the user, each location having associated cartographic display attributes; displaying a visual representation of the domain having an average spatial scale; selecting a subset of the set of document-location tuples based on the cartographic display attributes and on the average spatial scale of the visual representation of the domain; and displaying a plurality of visual indicators representing the selected subset of document-location tuples.

Abstract: To facilitate legal research, companies, such as Thomson West provide subscription-based online information-retrieval systems. Seeking to improve these and/or related systems, the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary legal research system that performs a conventional search to identify a set of starter documents and then leverages the metadata associated with these starter documents to identify another larger set of relevant documents. Documents in this alternate set are then scored using, for example, a learning machine and feature vectors that account for metadata relationships between the starter documents and alternate documents.

Abstract: Audio streams are captured and simultaneously indexed in real time from a plurality of audio sources. The captured audio streams and index data of the captured audio streams from the plurality of audio sources are then stored. The storing process operates by temporarily storing the most recently captured audio streams, temporarily storing index data of the most recently captured audio streams, and then periodically loading the temporarily stored audio streams into permanently stored audio streams and periodically loading the temporarily stored index data into the permanently stored index data. A search and media distribution system is connected to the temporarily stored audio streams and the temporarily stored index data for allowing real time search and retrieval access to the captured audio streams.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to utilizing a spreadsheet by defining a parameter external to the spreadsheet and associating the parameter with the spreadsheet to define a parameterized workbook. In one embodiment, this utilization further comprises storing a location of the spreadsheet and storing the name of the parameter in the same storage module as the location. In another embodiment, it includes defining a result external to the spreadsheet, the result referencing one or more cells within the spreadsheet. In another embodiment, this utilization further comprises receiving a value for the parameter and generating the result based at least in part on the value and the spreadsheet. In another embodiment, it further comprises associating a type with the parameter. The type can define a range of values or attributes associated with the parameter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating a distributed text index for parallel query processing by a number of nodes. A set of node indices is generated for text indexing a set of documents, each node text index covering a subset of the documents. For each node text index, a local frequency measure for each term of the node text index is calculated on the basis of a frequency of documents containing the term in the subset of the documents of the node. A global frequency measure for each term is calculated on the basis of a frequency of documents containing the term in the set of documents. A quality measure for each node text index is calculated on the basis of the local frequency measures of the terms of the node and the global frequency measure of the terms of the node.

Abstract: A system and method dynamically present a portion of web content including a set of searched for keywords to a user. The system displays a set of search results to a user, wherein the set of search results are associated with at least one search keyword provided by the user, and wherein each search result in the set of search results is associated with a search target. The system then receives, from the user, a selection of one of the search results. The system then presents, in response to receiving the selection, the search target associated with the selected search result at a portion of the search target including the at least one search keyword.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to optimize a query access plan in a computer database system. In preferred embodiments, the query optimizer determines the query can be optimized and generates for the query an optimized access plan that eliminates records defined by a Where clause and one or more ordering criteria prior to ordering the records (sorting or grouping) and then returning a first n rows.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to optimize a query access plan in a computer database system. In preferred embodiments, the query optimizer determines the query can be optimized and generates for the query an optimized access plan that eliminates records defined by a Where clause and one or more ordering criteria prior to ordering the records (sorting or grouping) and then returning a first n rows.

Abstract: The invention is a database adapter providing improved methods for storing and retrieving relational data. Suitable source data is structured as a table with a fixed number of columns of predetermined types and a variable number of rows. The invention reduces the space and time used to store data and the time taken to retrieve stored data. The invention is best implemented inside Object Relational Database Systems, but can also be implemented in any database that can execute routines written in programming languages such as C#, C or Java. Functionally, the invention combines the concept of nested tables with fast compression techniques so that nested tables are practical for solving a wide class of problems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a search method and system for matching a commodity to one or more applications for using the commodity. A plurality of properties associated with the commodity are identified. A collection of documents for searching for a plurality of combinations of said properties is then defined, wherein the combination includes a single property or multiple properties. The defined collection of documents is searched for all occurrences of the combination of properties, and the hits retrieved for those documents that include the properties. The hits are then associated with one or more subclasses of a classification scheme, and reviewed for those hits that include the properties of the commodity but not the commodity, wherein subclasses not including hits that include the commodity are matched as applications for the commodity.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling a user to selectively make one or more highlights on one or more objects in a currently displayed internet document in a web browser are disclosed. The highlighting functionality is enabled for the user without requiring the user to download and/or install custom software. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the user to register with the highlighting service providing the functionality. The user-generated highlights are persistent in the sense that they remain associated with, and are displayed on, the internet document during subsequent browsing sessions by the user or other users.

Abstract: File and folder names are converted between their native format and a shared resource locator format. To send information on a file or folder, the file or folder name is parsed into various components and those components are converted to components in the shared resource locator. Sufficient information is provided in the shared resource locator to allow receiving software to develop the proper full native file or folder name, irrelevant of the receiving system, be it having different native formats, different drive letters and the like. A user need only click on a file or folder and a shared resource locator string is provided for pasting into emails or documents. Clicking on a shared resource locator results in the operating system automatically opening the file or folder from its shared location without manual conversions and the like.

Abstract: A document search and retrieval system and program product therefor. Search requests are provided to the system through a user interface. A document decomposer decomposes documents into individual document components. Document components and corresponding searchable indices for each are stored in a Component Library. A search unit searches stored document components responsive to search queries. A results validator compares document hitlists with a document type identified in a search query to select valid hitlists entries for a final hitlist. A document view assembly module collects identified document components and assembles them into a document for view at the user interface.

Abstract: Multiple databases are accessed simultaneously by forwarding scripts in a parallel or “multi-threaded” manner. Results returned in response to the execution of multiple databases are then aggregated for display or storage purposes. These novel features allow for quicker and more efficient management, code deployment, monitoring, and maintenance of databases in computer networks, and permit the retrieval and aggregation of data from multiple databases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for enabling the dynamic generation of user interface components. The dynamically-generated user interface components are based on templates and mappings that can be predefined through interaction with a user interface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for establishing documents relationship based on user's operation upon search result. When a user uses search engine to search for documents with a query in repository, the search result may be a list of ranked documents, and these documents may contain a lot of relationship in term of the specific query. If the user clicks some search result further, and if the click and open operation meet certain conditions, for example exceed a period of time, the clicked document could be deemed as related to the search query. Furthermore it could be inferred that there is a strong relationship between different documents clicked by the user. The present invention records the relationship between documents and presents it to the user when necessary.

Abstract: In a document retrieval system for retrieving a document from documents stored in storage devices according to a retrieval condition input by a user, the storage device where a retrieval is carried out is selected from the storage devices, and the retrieval condition is input. In the selected storage device, when the retrieval according to the input retrieval condition is carried out, based on a retrieval result, information indicating the number of documents satisfying the retrieval condition is managed for each storage device where the retrieval is carried out. When the retrieval condition is input, based on the managed information, whether the number of documents stored in any selected storage device and satisfying the input retrieval condition is larger than a predetermined number is determined before carrying out the retrieval. As a result of this determination, control of whether to conduct the retrieval is achieved.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are platform- and device-independent systems and methods for serializing and deserializing data. A method of serializing data stored in a data structure comprises generating a data structure descriptor representing information about a memory layout of the data structure and serializing the stored data based upon the data structure descriptor. The data structure descriptor may include a layout array, including a memory offset and a size corresponding to each member of the data structure. A method of processing serially received data for storage in a data structure comprises receiving a serial data stream, allocating memory for storing the data based upon a data structure descriptor, and deserializing the data stream based upon the data structure descriptor. The data structure descriptor may include a layout array, including a memory offset and a size corresponding to each member of the data structure.

Abstract: A method and arrangement is provided for creating a tutorial for troubleshooting a software application. The method begins by saving captured display screens of a software application operating on the respective versions of the hardware device in one or more files. This step is repeated for each of a plurality of different versions of a hardware device. Next, each of the files for the plurality of different versions of the hardware device is distributed so that they are accessible to a plurality of help centers. In this way customer support can be provided to users of any of the plurality of different versions of the hardware device.

Abstract: A system and methods for locating, categorizing, storing, and retrieving information. The system comprises a computer having a display; a keeper data structure; and software executable within the computer adapted to allow a user to associate a predetermined computer data file with a keeper selectively visible on the display. Keepers are created in response to data in a related keeper data structure and further comprise a tab section. A user retrieves a file associated with a selected visual image in the keeper.

Abstract: According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus and method for distributed storing and retrieving of paper documents and their electronic means is disclosed. In this context, storing of documents refers to the efficient management of storage and document retrieval based not only on image but also on document contents means such as words, concepts, numbers etc. The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide for easy and effective indexing, storing, retrieving, searching and managing of paper-based documents and their contents. The proposed apparatus and method implement a desktop solution for filing which can be made available to each worker. Uniquely, the digital means filing system of the present invention allows user to index and label documents whenever desired prior of storing original in a file box which includes a memory device able to contain documents means such as image and contents in electronic format.