Showing papers on "Object (computer science) published in 1997"

Simple object access protocol

Abstract: An application layer protocol is provided on top of HTTP 1.0/1.1 to allow for COM Automation objects to be invoked over the Internet through IIS/ISAPI servers. The format essentially encodes the automation object's name, method to invoke, and any [in], [out], [in, out] parameters that the method signature requires, packages them up into a custom MIME type and marshals it to the ISAPI dynamic link library (DLL) on the IIS/HTTP server. There, the ISAPI DLL contains the logic to unpack the SOAP request, parses it, creates the Automation object, invokes the method with the marshaled parameters, and then returns any [out] parameters to the caller/client using the SOAP protocol. It is a stateless protocol, meaning that object lifetimes only extend to one method, and are recreated between multiple calls to the object.

The object database standard: ODMG 2.0

Abstract: This book is the first of its kind and is produced as a result of the efforts by a consortium of database companies called the Object Database Management Group (ODMG). With this book, standards are defined for object management systems and this will be the foundational book for object-oriented database product.

CORBA: integrating diverse applications within distributed heterogeneous environments

Abstract: Large computer networks such as corporate intranets and the Internet are inherently heterogeneous due to such factors as increasingly rapid technological change, engineering trade-offs, accumulation of legacy systems over time, and varying system costs. Unfortunately, such heterogeneity makes the development and maintenance of applications that make the best use of such networks difficult. The Common Object Request Broker Architecture specification created by the Object Management Group provides a stable model for distributed object-oriented systems that helps developers cope with heterogeneity and inevitable change. Applications written to the CORBA standard are abstracted away from underlying networking protocols and transports, instead relying on object request brokers to provide a fast and flexible communication and object activation substrated. The abstractions provided by CORBA ORBs are currently serving as the basis for applications in a wide variety of problem domains, including telecommunications, finance, medicine, and manufacturing, running on platforms ranging from mainframes down to test and measurement equipment. This article first provides an overview of the Object Management Architecture, then describes in detail the CORBA component of that architecture, and concludes with a description of the OMG organization along with some of its current and future work.

Accessing nearby copies of replicated objects in a distributed environment

Abstract: Consider a set of shared objects in a distributed network, where several copies of each object may exist at any given time. To ensure both fast access to the objects as well as efficient utilization of network resources, it is desirable that each access request be satisfied by a copy "close" to the requesting node. Unfortunately, it is not clear how to efficiently achieve this goal in a dynamic, distributed environment in which large numbers of objects are continuously being created, replicated, and destroyed. In this paper, we design a simple randomized algorithm for accessing shared objects that tends to satisfy each access request with a nearby copy. The algorithm is based on a novel mechanism to maintain and distribute information about object locations, and requires only a small amount of additional memory at each node. We analyze our access scheme for a class of cost functions that captures the hierarchical nature of wide-area networks. We show that under the particular cost model considered: (i) the expected cost of an individual access is asymptotically optimal, and (ii) if objects are sufficiently large, the memory used for objects dominates the additional memory used by our algorithm with high probability. We also address dynamic changes in both the network as well as the set of object copies.

Lore: a database management system for semistructured data

Abstract: Lore (for Lightweight Object Repository) is a DBMS designed specifically for managing semistructured information. Implementing Lore has required rethinking all aspects of a DBMS, including storage management, indexing, query processing and optimization, and user interfaces. This paper provides an overview of these aspects of the Lore system, as well as other novel features such as dynamic structural summaries and seamless access to data from external sources.

A mechanism for retrieving information using data encoded on an object

Abstract: A client computer (102) with a scanner (118) capable of scanning objects (115) for a code (117). The client computer (102) scans the object (115) of interest and translates the code (117) into a URL (Uniform Ressource Locator) that specifies both a server computer (122, 160) and the location within the server of information that is relevant to the object (115). The client computer (102) transmits the URL to the server computer (122, 160), receives the information related to the object (115) from the server computer (122, 160), and communicates the information to the customer.

Managing assets with active electronic tags

Abstract: An object (121) in a storage area or moving vehicle (126) is monitored by attaching an electronic tag (16) on the object (12). An electronic device (15) detects the presence of the object (12) by communicating with the tag (16) while the object (12) is in storage or is being moved by the vehicle (126). The tags (16) may also determine the location of an attached object (12) and may reroute the object (12) if it deviates from a given shipping schedule. A group of objects (12) is monitored by two electronic tags (16), each attached to an object (12) in the group. Each tag (16) has circuitry (102) for communicating information related to an object (12) in the group to a second tag (16). Each tag (16) also includes a memory (104) connected to the circuitry that is capable of storing the information, and a controller (100) connected to the memory (104) and the circuitry (102).

A robust visual method for assessing the relative performance of edge-detection algorithms

Abstract: A new method for evaluating edge detection algorithms is presented and applied to measure the relative performance of algorithms by Canny, Nalwa-Binford, Iverson-Zucker, Bergholm, and Rothwell. The basic measure of performance is a visual rating score which indicates the perceived quality of the edges for identifying an object. The process of evaluating edge detection algorithms with this performance measure requires the collection of a set of gray-scale images, optimizing the input parameters for each algorithm, conducting visual evaluation experiments and applying statistical analysis methods. The novel aspect of this work is the use of a visual task and real images of complex scenes in evaluating edge detectors. The method is appealing because, by definition, the results agree with visual evaluations of the edge images.

Age of Acquisition Norms for a Large Set of Object Names and Their Relation to Adult Estimates and Other Variables

Abstract: Studies of lexical processing have relied heavily on adult ratings of word learning age or age of acquisition, which have been shown to be strongly predictive of processing speed. This study reports a set of objective norms derived in a large-scale study of British children's naming of 297 pictured objects (including 232 from the Snodgrass & Vanderwart, 1980, set). In addition, data were obtained on measures of rated age of acquisition, rated frequency, imageability, object familiarity, picture-name agreement, and name agreement. We discuss the relationship between the objective measure and adult ratings of word learning age. Objective measures should be used when available, but where not, our data suggest that adult ratings provide a reliable and valid measure of real word learning age.

COSMOS-A representation scheme for 3D free-form objects

Abstract: We address the problem of representing and recognizing 3D free-form objects when (1) the object viewpoint is arbitrary, (2) the objects may vary in shape and complexity, and (3) no restrictive assumptions are made about the types of surfaces on the object. We assume that a range image of a scene is available, containing a view of a rigid 3D object without occlusion. We propose a new and general surface representation scheme for recognizing objects with free-form (sculpted) surfaces. In this scheme, an object is described concisely in terms of maximal surface patches of constant shape index. The maximal patches that represent the object are mapped onto the unit sphere via their orientations, and aggregated via shape spectral functions. Properties such as surface area, curvedness, and connectivity, which are required to capture local and global information, are also built into the representation. The scheme yields a meaningful and rich description useful for object recognition. A novel concept, the shape spectrum of an object is also introduced within the framework of COSMOS for object view grouping and matching. We demonstrate the generality and the effectiveness of our scheme using real range images of complex objects.

Network session management

Abstract: A communication system providing telephony communication across combined circuit switched and packet switched networks, such as a telephone network and the Internet, which are connectable to terminals, such as telephones and computers, for selective communication therebetween. The communication system includes an authorization and account control object in the packet switched network, multiple gateways between the circuit switched and packet switched networks providing controlled connectivity between those networks, and an information retrieval object in the packet switched network, wherein the authorization and account control object maintains a substantially real time record of user accounts and usage, and the information and retrieval object provides substantially real time retrieval of selected information from the authorization and account control object. The retrieval object provides on demand to terminals which provide authentication for access to an identified account information regarding that account. The information regarding the account is substantially real time information including information with respect to communications in progress, which are chargeable to the account which has been authenticated. The authorization and account control object is preferably a unitary logical object having distributed instances thereof handling multitudinous accounts of widely separated terminals. The retrieval object provides isolation of the authorization and account control object permitting simultaneous multitasking by the authorization and account control object and the retrieval object respectively.

Networked computer game system with persistent playing objects

Abstract: The mapping of playing objects (806) from one game to another. In one embodiment, generic attributes (804) of an object may be mapped to game-specific attributes (812). The mapping may either change or maintain the look and feel to an object. For example, a fast but lightly-armed starship in one game may be mapped to a quick but weak warrior for in another game.

Linear object classes and image synthesis from a single example image

Abstract: The need to generate new views of a 3D object from a single real image arises in several fields, including graphics and object recognition. While the traditional approach relies on the use of 3D models, simpler techniques are applicable under restricted conditions. The approach exploits image transformations that are specific to the relevant object class, and learnable from example views of other "prototypical" objects of the same class. In this paper, we introduce such a technique by extending the notion of linear class proposed by the authors (1992). For linear object classes, it is shown that linear transformations can be learned exactly from a basis set of 2D prototypical views. We demonstrate the approach on artificial objects and then show preliminary evidence that the technique can effectively "rotate" high-resolution face images from a single 2D view.

Object shape and reflectance modeling from observation

Abstract: An object model for computer graphics applications should contain two aspects of information: shape and reflectance properties of the object. A number of techniques have been developed for modeling object shapes by observing real objects. In contrast, attempts to model reflectance properties of real objects have been rather limited. In most cases, modeled reflectance properties are too simple or too complicated to be used for synthesizing realistic images of the object.

An adaptive data replication algorithm

Abstract: This article addresses the performance of distributed database systems. Specifically, we present an algorithm for dynamic replication of an object in distributed systems. The algorithm is adaptive in the sence that it changes the replication scheme of the object i.e., the set of processors at which the object inreplicated) as changes occur in the read-write patern of the object (i.e., the number of reads and writes issued by each processor). The algorithm continuously moves the replication scheme towards an optimal one. We show that the algorithm can be combined with the concurrency control and recovery mechanisms of ta distributed database management system. The performance of the algorithm is analyzed theoretically and experimentally. On the way we provide a lower bound on the performance of any dynamic replication algorith.

Computer-implemented collaborative filtering based method for recommending an item to a user

Abstract: An object for providing isolated, hierarchical data storage can be used in a method for recommending an item to one of a plurality of users. The data object abstracts an associated physical memory element and provides an interface for storing data and retrieving data from the physical memory element. In some embodiments the data object is provided with an indicator for identifying another data object that is used if a memory request is unable to be serviced by the associated physical memory element. In other embodiments this data object can be used to efficiently and transparently store profile data associated with a system for recommending items to users.

Sensing with active electronic tags

Abstract: An object in a storage area or moving vehicle is monitored by attaching an electronic tag to the object. An electronic device detects the presence of the object by communicating with the tag while the object is in storage or is being moved by the vehicle. The tags may also determine the location of an attached object and may reroute the object if it deviates from a given shipping schedule. A group of objects is monitored by two electronic tags, each attached to an object in the group. Each tag has circuitry for communicating information relating to an object in the group to a second tag. Each tag also includes a memory connected to the circuitry that is capable of storing the information, and a controller connected to the memory and the circuitry. A sensor is used to detect the condition of an object and communicate the condition to a tag.

HoloWall: designing a finger, hand, body, and object sensitive wall

Abstract: This TechNote reports on our initial results of realizing a computer augmented wall called the HoloWall. Using an infrared camera located behind the wall, this system allows a user to interact with this computerized wall using ngers, hands, their body, or even a physical object such as a document folder.

Object Substitution: A New Form of Masking in Unattended Visual Locations

Abstract: Can four dots that surround, but do not touch, a target shape act as a mask to reduce target discriminability? Although existing theories of metacontrast and pattern masking say “no,” we report this occurs when targets appear in unpredictable locations. In three experiments, a four-dot mask was compared with a standard metacontrast mask that surrounded the target. Although accuracy was predictably different for the two masks at a central display location in Experiment I, both masks had similar strong effects on accuracy in parafoveal locations. Experiment 2 revealed that both four-dot and metacontrast masking were insensitive to contour proximity in parafoveal display locations, and Experiment 3 showed that four-dot masking could occur even at a central location if attention was distributed among several targets. We propose that targets in unattended locations are coded with low spotiotemporal resolution, leaving them vulnerable to substitution by the four dots when attention is directed to them.

System and method for categorizing objects in combined categories

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for determining whether the best category for an object under investigation is a mixture of preexisting categories, and how the mixture is constituted. This invention is useful both for suggesting the need for new categories, and for a fixed set of categories, determining whether a document should be assigned to multiple categories. The objects of the categorization system are typically, but need not be, documents. Categorization may be by subject-matter, language or other criteria. The invention causes extra information to be stored in a category index, so that the determination of mixed categories using the methods presented here is performed extremely efficiently.

Pose determination and tracking by matching 3D objects to a 2D sensor

Abstract: An improved method of pose determination and tracking does away with conventional segmentation while taking advantage of multi-degree-of-freedom numerical fitting or match filtering as opposed to a syntactic segment or feature oriented combinatorial match. The technique may be used to improve image database query based on object shape descriptors by allowing the user to request images from a database or video sequence which contain a key object described by a geometric description that the user designates or supplies. The approach is also applicable to target or object acquisition and tracking based on the matching of one or a set of object shape data structures.

Computer aided inspection machine

Abstract: An automatic inspection method and apparatus using structured light (3) and machine vision cameras (2) to inspect an object (4) in conjunction with the geometric model of the object (4) is disclosed. Camera images of the object (4) are analyzed by computer to produce the location of points on the object's surface in three dimensions. During a setup phase before object inspection, the points are analyzed with respect to the geometric model computer file of the object (4). Many points are eliminated to reduce data-taking and analysis time to a minimum and to prevent extraneous reflections from producing errors. When similar objects are subsequently inspected, points from each surface of interest are spatially averaged to give high accuracy measurements of object (4) dimensions. The inspection device uses several multiplexed sensors, each composed of a camera (2) and a structured light source (3), to measure all sides of the object (4) on a single pass. Calibration and compensation methods are also disclosed.

System for searching a corpus of document images by user specified document layout components

Abstract: A document search system provides a user with a programming interface for dynamically specifying features of documents recorded in a corpus of documents. The programming interface operates at a high-level that is suitable for interactive user specification of layout components and structures of documents. In operation, a bitmap image of a document is analyzed by the document search system to identify layout objects such as text blocks or graphics. Subsequently, the document search system computes a set of attributes for each of the identified layout objects. The set of attributes which are identified are used to describe the layout structure of a page image of a document in terms of the spatial relations that layout objects have to frames of reference that are defined by other layout objects. After computing attributes for each layout object, a user can operate the programming interface to define unique document features. Each document feature is a routine defined by a sequence of selections operations which consume a first set of layout objects and produce a second set of layout objects. The second set of layout objects constitutes the feature in a page image of a document. Using the programming interface, a user flexibly defines a genre of document using the user-specified document features.

Method for providing a substitute for a requested inaccessible object by identifying substantially similar objects using weights corresponding to object features

Abstract: Weights are assigned to features of data objects and the weights are utilized to determine whether data objects are substantially identical or not. One application of such weights is to assign weights to terms in web page documents. The weights assigned to the terms may then be utilized to determine whether web page documents are substantially identical. A set of identicals may be generated for each web page that is indexed by the system and utilized to repair broken hyperlinks. Specifically, when a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the hyperlink cannot be resolved or cannot be resolved in a timely fashion, one of the identicals of the desired web page documents may be returned to provide a requesting party with the desired content.

System and method for hierarchically grouping and ranking a set of objects in a query context based on one or more relationships

Abstract: Topically relevant objects in an object database are first identified using any generally known methods to obtain a set of topically relevant objects (topically relevant set). Parents, and in alternative embodiments other ancestors, of one or more of the topically relevant objects are identified according to directional structural relationships that the parents have with respect to the topically relevant objects. These objects form a set of structurally relevant objects (structurally relevant set). In some embodiments, the user query identifies one or more of these structural relationships. The topically relevant objects are then organized under one or more of their respective parents to form a hierarchy level of both (topically relevant and structurally relevant) sets of objects. In some preferred embodiments, the process can iterate to create more than one hierarchy level.

Method and apparatus for providing simulated physical interactions within computer generated environments

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing force feedback to a user operating a human/computer interface device (14) and interacting with a computer-generated simulation (20). In one aspect, a computer implemented method simulates the interaction of simulated objects displayed to a user who controls one of the simulated objects by manipulating a physical object (34) of an interface device (14). The physical object provides force feedback to the user which imparts a physical sensation corresponding to the interaction of the computer simulated objects.

Method and apparatus for unencumbered capture of an object

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for providing an unencumbered capture by a computer system of an object in real-time. An object is placed in a displayer having an appropriate blue-screen surface which is positioned in the view of a camera connected to a computer. The camera captures a frame of an input image which included the object within the displayer being held by a user and possibly other background items. The system identifies a reduced-noise image of the input image and begins isolating the object. Any background items are filled out thereby recognizing the existence of the displayer. The displayer is then filled out leaving the object to be captured and entered into the computer for further manipulation and augmentation. The process is done with minimal human intervention and relies entirely on real-time visual input.

Querying Documents in Object Databases

Abstract: that consist in grammars annotated with database programs. To query documents, we introduce an extension of OQL, the ODMG standard query language for object databases. Our extension (named OQL-doc) allows us to query documents without a precise knowledge of their structure using in particular generalized path expressions and pattern matching. This allows us to introduce in a declarative language (in the style of SQL or OQL), navigational and information retrieval styles of accessing data. Query processing in the context of documents and path expressions leads to challenging implementation issues. We extend an object algebra with new operators to deal with generalized path expressions. We then consider two essential complementary optimization techniques. We show that almost standard database optimization techniques can be used to answer queries without having to load the entire document into the database. We also consider the interaction of full-text indexes (e.g., inverted files) with standard database collection indexes (e.g., B-trees) that provide important speed-up.

Integrated multi-meter and wireless communication link

Abstract: An apparatus for object identification including a multi-meter terminal (100) having a plurality of data modules (104-106). A triggering device (232) for initiating one of the plurality of data modules to retrieve object identification data from an object (30). A radio module for downloading the retrieved object identification data to a host (18) and a housing containing the data modules, triggering devices and the radio module.