Sap Ag

Azi, Inc.

A21, Inc.

A2i, Inc.

David E Brookler

Paul N Weinberg

Dave L Sullivan

Philip A Tinari

Ariel Hazi

Richard T Endo

Nathan F Yospe

Eugene Cherny

Dominic Tham

Mark Hanson

Andrea Langlotz

Karl Fürst

Matan Arazi

Alexander K Alexandrov

Phil Tinari

Rich Endo

Simon D Shpilfoygel

Xidong Zheng

David Sullivan

Eugene Chemy

Alex Emelianov

Emil Antonov

Hayim Hendeles

An object matching system comprises a plurality of disparate databases comprising data objects and a master data server. The master data server comprises a computer programmed to provide a plurality of adapters configured to connect to said plurality of disparate databases, a matching module configured to compare data objects provided by said plurality of adapters through use of an object matching rule to determine at least two matching data objects, and a data integrator configured to merge said at least two matching data objects to produce a master data object.

System and method for rule-based data object matching

When a set of screen elements are identified as a family a bounded extent is placed around the identified elements. Items can be automatically grouped based on their association with a set of data defined in a DBMS as a family, for example. When one of the elements within the group is moved, the extent automatically resizes to a new geometry that fits around each of the elements within the group. If an element within the group is moved against the extent and then extended beyond the boundaries of the extent, the extent automatically resizes to cover a bigger area; if an element within the group that is against the extent is moved inside the boundary of the extent, the extent automatically resizes to cover a smaller area. It is possible to nest a set of these extensible groups within a single extensible group thereby providing maximum flexibility while still maintaining optimal flexibility. In addition, it is possible to 'unlink' an item so that it maintains its association with the group but does not effect the extent.

Interface and method for extensible grouping of screen elements in real time

A multi-user document editing system and method. Embodiments of the invention utilize a model-view-controller design pattern to successfully control changes in parallel to underlying backend database information presentation related information. Granularity of protection and check in/check out on family, spread, presentation layer and presentation object. In addition, enables automatic update of changes to all users editing or viewing the information. Changes to the backend database may also include changes to the family hierarchy with real-time update of publication WYSIWYG pages for example. Enables rollback of changes. Instead of waiting constantly for other users to finish editing information before other edits can be made, the typical serial editing methodology is transformed by embodiments of the invention into a parallel methodology that greatly increases throughput and lowers the costs associated with large publications.

Multi-user document editing system and method

A system and method for on-demand indexing in a data management system is described. An index is generated when it is requested, such as when a database operation requires access to the index. If the index is loaded in memory, the index is retrieved from memory. Otherwise, the index is generated on-demand. A priority configuration identifies at least one priority index which is generated and loaded in memory. The priority configuration can identify priority indexes either directly or indirectly, such as by a threshold parameter.

System and method for on-demand indexing

Embodiments of the invention improve upon existing auto formatting functions for tables presented in a graphical user interface by providing an improved mechanism for changing table columns in real-time. One embodiment of the invention incorporates a callback or module in a program implementing the mechanism for changing table columns in real-time that intercepts a table column resize event and automatically resizes the other columns in the table. In resizing the table columns the module can employ various approaches. The system may utilize the various resizing approaches to arrive at a desired result.

Method for reallocating table formats in real-time

One or more embodiments of the invention enable a user to search for at least one value in layers of audience specific data comprising language, regional, regulatory and/or cultural specific values per layer. The word 'audience' for the purposes of this specification means a group of document consumers such as people or computers that are associated with a language, country, region, regulation or culture. A search utilizing at least one embodiment of the invention occurs with respect to data that makes use of rule-based inheritance. For a three level inheritance embodiment, there are 8 permutations involving a NULL value in at least one of the layers, instead of making the user calculate the proper mask, the Current Audience Layer mask can be logical ORed with the Primary Audience Layer Mask or the Secondary Audience Layer Mask in order to create the desired search combination. In addition, predefined audience layer operators may also be used comprising 'has value', &#x201c;is missing value&#x201d;, &#x201c;inherits primary&#x201d;, &#x201c;inherits secondary&#x201d;, &#x201c;inherits any&#x201d; and &#x201c;does not inherit&#x201d;. These predefined masks save the user from generating a bit mask for searching by hand.

Method for testing layered data for the existence of at least one value

A multi-layered data model for determining image choice across a set of audience-specific documents comprising language, regional, regulatory and/or cultural differences. Enables generation of audience-specific documents with audience specific images and audience-specific image placement based on inheritance of images and image metadata associated with hierarchical audiences. For data entry, enables a user to rapidly determine if images in an audience specific document conform to the expectations or requirements of an intended audience. The data entry and edit interface distinguishes between current and inherited audience levels through the use of color or any other mechanism that allows a user to quickly identify data that is missing and needs to be populated, changed or remain unchanged if the inherited image or image title or placement is suitable for the given audience. Documents are generated to any number of media types such as HTML, XML and paper.

Multi-layered data model for determining image choice across a set of audience-specific documents

An embodiment of the invention comprises a method and apparatus for structuring, storing and retrieving data in database systems utilizing relational objects referred to as qualifiers. Catalog data are segregated into one or more primary tables (e.g., main tables), one or more lookup tables, and one or more qualified lookup tables following a predefined set of categories and a taxonomy. Qualified lookup tables comprise a special type of fields referred to as qualifiers. Searches are conducted in embodiments of the invention by determining a set of lookup fields, performing a lookup in one or more lookup tables, and retrieving data values which include association values with records that belong to one or more primary tables. The qualifiers are then used to narrow the search space by selecting only those values that satisfy the selection criteria with regard to the qualifiers. In embodiments of the invention, only a small set in the primary table are traversed to retrieve eligible records.

Method and apparatus for generating and utilizing qualifiers and qualified taxonomy tables

One or more embodiments of the invention enable a user to create multiple non-redundant views using metadata targeted at a specific audience that comprises language, regional, regulatory and/or cultural specific values. The word 'audience' for the purposes of this specification means a group of document consumers such as people or computers that are associated with a language, country, region, regulation or culture. Audience specific data therefore is data targeted at a specific audience and audience specific metadata is related to the descriptive information related to the data, such as a table name or a field name for example. At least one embodiment of the invention makes use of rule-based inheritance in providing metadata values via layers that comprise audience specific data.

Method for utilizing audience-specific metadata

A conditional text publication system and method. Conditional text publication allows for the publication of text that varies based on data values associated with the text. More specifically, allows for the inclusion and exclusion of text to or from a publication based on clauses such as conditional clause, functions such as database functions, and operators such as mathematical, logical and set operators that utilize selectors such as fields, attributes, validations, families and other entities associated with data in a database.

Conditional text publication system and method

Audience specific document targeted at a particular media type are generated by accessing data from an audience hierarchy. When obtaining a data value for a particular audience, if that value does not exist for that audience then the audience hierarchy may be utilized to find the data value for an inherited audience. By adding regional, cultural or regulatory subdivisions within the audience hierarchy and inheriting large portions of existing audience specific data entries, a large number of audience specific documents may be generated with a minimal amount of data entry required. Audiences may be specified in a given order for traversal within the hierarchy and displayed in a data entry and editing application utilizing visual characteristics to inform a user if the value for a particular piece of data is inherited from another layer or utilized from the particular layer in use. Audience specific documents may be masked and accessed by payment.

Method for generating documents using layer-specific inheritance rules

One or more embodiments of invention are directed to a multi-layered data model for generating audience-specific documents will now be described. The invention is used in the context of generating a document such as a catalog or web page for publication across regions and cultures comprising multiple languages. It allows users to rapidly generate multi-language, multi-culture and multi-region documents since fields flagged as multi-lingual may utilize existing buckets that comprise pre-filled multi-language, multi-culture and multi-region values without requiring the user to specify every multi-value when creating a record.

Multi-layered data model for generating audience-specific documents

Enables search and test for at least one value in layers of audience specific data comprising language, regional, regulatory and/or cultural specific values per layer. The word 'audience' for the purposes of this specification means a group of document consumers such as people or computers that are associated with a language, country, region, regulation, culture or any other user defined division. A search utilizing at least one embodiment of the invention occurs with respect to data that makes use of rule-based inheritance. Testing multiple audience layers for all values that meet a specific fine or coarse grained search criteria allows quality assurance testing across all target audiences for a document before publication.

Method for searching layered data

Rule based data object matching to determine if two or more objects are similar to allow the objects to be merged into one master data object. The rules explicitly state what conditions are required to consider two or more objects equal. The certainty of the rule may be specified. Examples for the certainty are automatic, manual high, medium and low probability. For example, the certainty 'automatic' specifies that the objects can be considered matches and no additional manual verification is needed. The certainty 'manual low probability' specifies that there is a low probability that the objects are matches and that a manual verification is needed. Matching rules may be grouped by priority. If matches are not found, the next highest priority group of rules is processed. Hierarchical matching rules may be specified that are able to express similarity of objects considering structured objects containing sub-objects in a hierarchical manner.

Rule-based database object matching with comparison certainty

Audience specific documents targeted at a plurality of media types are generated by accessing data from a multi-layered data model comprising an audience hierarchy. When obtaining a data value for a particular audience, if that value does not exist for that audience then the audience hierarchy may be utilized to find the data value for an inherited audience. By adding regional, cultural or regulatory subdivisions within the audience hierarchy and inheriting large portions of existing audience specific data entries, a large number of audience specific documents may be generated with a minimal amount of data entry required. Audiences may be specified in a given order for traversal within the hierarchy and displayed in a data entry and editing application utilizing visual characteristics to inform a user if the value for a particular piece of data is inherited from another layer or utilized from the particular layer in use.

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Century City, CA, United States of America

David E Brookler