text:
An agent based system assists in preparing an individual for an upcoming meeting by helping him/her retrieve relevant information about the meeting from various sources based on preexisting information in the system. The system obtains input text in character form indicative of the target meeting from a calendar program that includes the time of the meeting. As the time of the meeting approaches, the calendar program is queried to obtain the text of the target event and that information is utilized as input to the agent system. Then, the agent system parses the input meeting text to extract its various components such as title, body, participants, location, time etc. The system also performs pattern matching to identify particular meeting fields in a meeting text.
1. A method for sending information to a user, the method comprising:
retrieving a plurality of terms from a memory descriptive of an upcoming event for the user;
selecting at least one information source from a plurality of information sources depending on at least one of the plurality of terms retrieved, the at least one information source being less than all of the plurality of information sources;
selecting a query generation algorithm from among a plurality of query generation algorithms based on which of the at least one information source is selected from the plurality of information sources;
executing, using at least one processor, the selected query generation algorithm to generate a query based on the terms, a different query being generated based on which of the plurality of query generation algorithms is selected and executed;
querying, using the at least one processor, the at least one information source utilizing the query to generate information for the upcoming event; and
sending at least a portion of the information generated to the user,
wherein the information is generated at a predetermined time before the event.
2. The method of
3. The method of
4. The method of
5. The method of
6. The method of
7. The method of
8. The method of
identifying the user; and
identifying in a database at least one stored profile corresponding to the user.
9. The method of
10. The method of
11. The method of
12. The method of
obtaining information identifying a location of the user; and
selecting an information presentation format based on the identified location of the user,
wherein sending the at least a portion of the information generated to the user comprises sending the at least a portion of the information in the selected information presentation format.
13. An apparatus that sends information to a user, comprising:
at least one processor;
a memory that stores information under the control of the at least one processor;
the processor configured to:
retrieve a plurality of terms descriptive of an upcoming event for the user;
select at least one information source from a plurality of information sources depending on at least one of the plurality of terms retrieved, the at least one information source being less than all of the plurality of information sources;
select a query generation algorithm from among a plurality of query generation algorithms based on which of the at least one information source is selected from the plurality of information sources, wherein each of the plurality of query generation algorithms, when executed, cause the processor to generate a different query;
execute the selected query generation algorithm to generate a query based on the terms;
query the at least one information source utilizing the query to generate information for the upcoming event; and
send at least a portion of the information generated to the user,
wherein the information is generated at a predetermined time before the event.
14. The apparatus of
15. The apparatus of
16. The apparatus of
17. The apparatus of
18. The apparatus of
obtain information identifying a location of the user; and
select an information presentation format based on the identified location of the user;
wherein sending the at least a portion of the information generated to the user comprises sending the at least a portion of the information in the selected information presentation format.
19. A method for sending information to a user, the method comprising:
retrieving a plurality of terms from a memory descriptive of an upcoming event identified in an electronic calendar for the user, where retrieving the plurality of terms comprises:
extracting the plurality of terms descriptive of the upcoming event from the electronic calendar;
selecting a subset of information sources from a plurality of available information sources depending on at least one of the plurality of terms descriptive of the upcoming event, the subset of information sources being less than all of the plurality of available information sources;
selecting a query generation algorithm from among a plurality of query generation algorithms based on the selected subset of information sources;
transmitting the terms to a software agent that executes the selected query generation algorithm to associate one or more meeting fields with at least one of the terms and creates a query based on the terms and the associated one or more meeting fields, where at least one of the meeting fields comprises a topic associated with the upcoming event;
querying, using at least one processor, the subset of information sources utilizing the query to generate information for the upcoming event; and
sending at least a portion of the information generated to the user,
wherein the information is generated at a predetermined time before the event.
20. The method of
21. The method of
22. The method of
23. The method of
obtaining information identifying a location of the user; and
selecting an information presentation format based on the identified location of the user,
wherein sending the at least a portion of the information generated to the user comprises sending the at least a portion of the information in the selected information presentation format.
This is a continuation application of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 10/748,376, filed on Dec. 29, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,149,741, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/195,875, filed Nov 19, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,370), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/110,818, filed Nov. 12, 1998. U.S. application Ser. No. 10/748,376 and U.S. application Ser. No. 09/195,875 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,370) are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The present invention relates to agent based systems and more particularly to an agent based system which automatically creates background information for an upcoming event.
Agent based technology has become increasingly important for use with applications designed to interact with a user for performing various computer based tasks in foreground and background modes. Agent software comprises computer programs that are set on behalf of users to perform routine, tedious and time-consuming tasks. To be useful to an individual user, an agent must be personalized to the individual user's goals, habits and preferences. Thus, there exists a substantial requirement for the agent to efficiently and effectively acquire user-specific knowledge from the user and utilize it to perform tasks on behalf of the user.
The concept of agency, or the user of agents, is well established. An agent is a person authorized by another person, typically referred to as a principal, to act on behalf of the principal. In this manner the principal empowers the agent to perform any of the tasks that the principal is unwilling or unable to perform. For example, an insurance agent may handle all of the insurance requirements for a principal, or a talent agent may act on behalf of a performer to arrange concert dates.
With the advent of the computer, a new domain for employing agents has arrived. Significant advances in the realm of expert systems enable computer programs to act on behalf of computer users to perform routine, tedious and other time-consuming tasks. These computer programs are referred to as "software agents."
Moreover, there has been a recent proliferation of computer and communication networks. These networks permit a user to access vast amounts of information and services without, essentially, any geographical boundaries. Thus, a software agent has a rich environment to perform a large number of tasks on behalf of a user. For example, it is now possible for an agent to make an airline reservation, purchase the ticket, and have the ticket delivered directly to a user. Similarly, an agent could scan the Internet and obtain information ranging from the latest sports or news to a particular graduate thesis in applied physics. Current solutions fail to apply agent technology to existing calendar technology to provide targeted acquisition of background information for a user's upcoming events.
According to a broad aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention, an agent based system assists in preparing an individual for an upcoming meeting by helping him/her retrieve relevant information about the meeting from various sources. The system obtains input text in character form indicative of the target meeting from the a calendar program that includes the time of the meeting. As the time of the meeting approaches, the calendar program is queried to obtain the text of the target event and that information is utilized as input to the agent system. Then, the agent system parses the input meeting text to extract its various components such as title, body, participants, location, time etc. The system also performs pattern matching to identify particular meeting fields in a meeting text. This information is utilized to query various sources of information on the web and obtain relevant stories about the current meeting to send back to the calendaring system. For example, if an individual has a meeting with Netscape and Microsoft to talk about their disputes, the system obtains this initial information from the calendaring system. It will then parse out the text to realize that the companies in the meeting are "Netscape" and "Microsoft" and the topic is "disputes". It will then surf the web for relevant information concerning the topic. Thus, in accordance with an objective of the invention, the system updates the calendaring system and eventually the user with the best information it can gather to prepare for the target meeting. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the information is stored in a file that is obtained via selection from a link imbedded in the calendar system.
The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages are better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:
A preferred embodiment of a system in accordance with the present invention is preferably practiced in the context of a personal computer such as an IBM compatible personal computer, Apple Macintosh computer or UNIX based workstation. A representative hardware environment is depicted in
A preferred embodiment is written using JAVA, C, and the C++ language and utilizes object oriented programming methodology. Object oriented programming (OOP) has become increasingly used to develop complex applications. As OOP moves toward the mainstream of software design and development, various software solutions require adaptation to make use of the benefits of OOP. A need exists for these principles of OOP to be applied to a messaging interface of an electronic messaging system such that a set of OOP classes and objects for the messaging interface can be provided.
OOP is a process of developing computer software using objects, including the steps of analyzing the problem, designing the system, and constructing the program. An object is a software package that contains both data and a collection of related structures and procedures. Since it contains both data and a collection of structures and procedures, it can be visualized as a self-sufficient component that does not require other additional structures, procedures or data to perform its specific task. OOP, therefore, views a computer program as a collection of largely autonomous components, called objects, each of which is responsible for a specific task. This concept of packaging data, structures, and procedures together in one component or module is called encapsulation.
In general, OOP components are reusable software modules which present an interface that conforms to an object model and which are accessed at run-time through a component integration architecture. A component integration architecture is a set of architecture mechanisms which allow software modules in different process spaces to utilize each others capabilities or functions. This is generally done by assuming a common component object model on which to build the architecture.
It is worthwhile to differentiate between an object and a class of objects at this point. An object is a single instance of the class of objects, which is often just called a class. A class of objects can be viewed as a blueprint, from which many objects can be formed.
OOP allows the programmer to create an object that is a part of another object. For example, the object representing a piston engine is said to have a composition-relationship with the object representing a piston. In reality, a piston engine comprises a piston, valves and many other components; the fact that a piston is an element of a piston engine can be logically and semantically represented in OOP by two objects.
OOP also allows creation of an object that "depends from" another object. If there are two objects, one representing a piston engine and the other representing a piston engine wherein the piston is made of ceramic, then the relationship between the two objects is not that of composition. A ceramic piston engine does not make up a piston engine. Rather it is merely one kind of piston engine that has one more limitation than the piston engine; its piston is made of ceramic. In this case, the object representing the ceramic piston engine is called a derived object, and it inherits all of the aspects of the object representing the piston engine and adds further limitation or detail to it. The object representing the ceramic piston engine "depends from" the object representing the piston engine. The relationship between these objects is called inheritance.
When the object or class representing the ceramic piston engine inherits all of the aspects of the objects representing the piston engine, it inherits the thermal characteristics of a standard piston defined in the piston engine class. However, the ceramic piston engine object overrides these ceramic specific thermal characteristics, which are typically different from those associated with a metal piston. It skips over the original and uses new functions related to ceramic pistons. Different kinds of piston engines have different characteristics, but may have the same underlying functions associated with it (e.g., how many pistons in the engine, ignition sequences, lubrication, etc.). To access each of these functions in any piston engine object, a programmer would call the same functions with the same names, but each type of piston engine may have different/overriding implementations of functions behind the same name. This ability to hide different implementations of a function behind the same name is called polymorphism and it greatly simplifies communication among objects.
With the concepts of composition-relationship, encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism, an object can represent just about anything in the real world. In fact, our logical perception of the reality is the only limit on determining the kinds of things that can become objects in object-oriented software. Some typical categories are as follows:
With this enormous capability of an object to represent just about any logically separable matters, OOP allows the software developer to design and implement a computer program that is a model of some aspects of reality, whether that reality is a physical entity, a process, a system, or a composition of matter. Since the object can represent anything, the software developer can create an object which can be used as a component in a larger software project in the future.
If 90% of a new OOP software program consists of proven, existing components made from preexisting reusable objects, then only the remaining 10% of the new software project has to be written and tested from scratch. Since 90% already came from an inventory of extensively tested reusable objects, the potential domain from which an error could originate is 10% of the program. As a result, OOP enables software developers to build objects out of other, previously built, objects.
This process closely resembles complex machinery being built out of assemblies and sub-assemblies. OOP technology, therefore, makes software engineering more like hardware engineering in that software is built from existing components, which are available to the developer as objects. All this adds up to an improved quality of the software as well as an increased speed of its development.
Programming languages are beginning to fully support the OOP principles, such as encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and composition-relationship. With the advent of the C++ language, many commercial software developers have embraced OOP. C++ is an OOP language that offers a fast, machine-executable code. Furthermore, C++ is suitable for both commercial-application and systems-programming projects. For now, C++ appears to be the most popular choice among many OOP programmers, but there is a host of other OOP languages, such as Smalltalk, common lisp object system (CLOS), and Eiffel. Additionally, OOP capabilities are being added to more traditional popular computer programming languages such as Pascal.
The benefits of object classes can be summarized, as follows:
Class libraries are very flexible. As programs grow more complex, more programmers are forced to reinvent basic solutions to basic problems over and over again. A relatively new extension of the class library concept is to have a framework of class libraries. This framework is more complex and consists of significant collections of collaborating classes that capture both the small scale patterns and major mechanisms that implement the common requirements and design in a specific application domain. They were first developed to free application programmers from the chores involved in displaying menus, windows, dialog boxes, and other standard user interface elements for personal computers.
Frameworks also represent a change in the way programmers think about the interaction between the code they write and code written by others. In the early days of procedural programming, the programmer called libraries provided by the operating system to perform certain tasks, but basically the program executed down the page from start to finish, and the programmer was solely responsible for the flow of control. This was appropriate for printing out paychecks, calculating a mathematical table, or solving other problems with a program that executed in just one way.
The development of graphical user interfaces began to turn this procedural programming arrangement inside out. These interfaces allow the user, rather than program logic, to drive the program and decide when certain actions should be performed. Today, most personal computer software accomplishes this by means of an event loop which monitors the mouse, keyboard, and other sources of external events and calls the appropriate parts of the programmer's code according to actions that the user performs. The programmer no longer determines the order in which events occur. Instead, a program is divided into separate pieces that are called at unpredictable times and in an unpredictable order. By relinquishing control in this way to users, the developer creates a program that is much easier to use. Nevertheless, individual pieces of the program written by the developer still call libraries provided by the operating system to accomplish certain tasks, and the programmer must still determine the flow of control within each piece after being called by the event loop. Application code still "sits on top of" the system.
Even event loop programs require programmers to write a lot of code that should not need to be written separately for every application. The concept of an application framework carries the event loop concept further. Instead of dealing with all the nuts and bolts of constructing basic menus, windows, and dialog boxes and then making these things all work together, programmers using application frameworks start with working application code and basic user interface elements in place. Subsequently, they build from there by replacing some of the generic capabilities of the framework with the specific capabilities of the intended application.
Application frameworks reduce the total amount of code that a programmer has to write from scratch. However, because the framework is really a generic application that displays windows, supports copy and paste, and so on, the programmer can also relinquish control to a greater degree than event loop programs permit. The framework code takes care of almost all event handling and flow of control, and the programmer's code is called only when the framework needs it (e.g., to create or manipulate a proprietary data structure).
A programmer writing a framework program not only relinquishes control to the user (as is also true for event loop programs), but also relinquishes the detailed flow of control within the program to the framework. This approach allows the creation of more complex systems that work together in interesting ways, as opposed to isolated programs, having custom code, being created over and over again for similar problems.
Thus, as is explained above, a framework basically is a collection of cooperating classes that make up a reusable design solution for a given problem domain. It typically includes objects that provide default behavior (e.g., for menus and windows), and programmers use it by inheriting some of that default behavior and overriding other behavior so that the framework calls application code at the appropriate times.
There are three main differences between frameworks and class libraries:
Thus, through the development of frameworks for solutions to various problems and programming tasks, significant reductions in the design and development effort for software can be achieved. A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes HyperText Markup Language (HTML) to implement documents on the Internet together with a general-purpose secure communication protocol for a transport medium between the client and the Newco. HTTP or other protocols could be readily substituted for HTML without undue experimentation. Information on these products is available in T. Berners-Lee, D. Connoly, "RFC 1866: Hypertext Markup Language—2.0" (November 1995); and R. Fielding, H, Frystyk, T. Berners-Lee, J. Gettys and J. C. Mogul, "Hypertext Transfer Protocol—HTTP/1.1: HTTP Working Group Internet Draft" (May 2, 1996). HTML is a simple data format used to create hypertext documents that are portable from one platform to another. HTML documents are SGML documents with generic semantics that are appropriate for representing information from a wide range of domains. HTML has been in use by the World-Wide Web global information initiative since 1990. HTML is an application of ISO Standard 8879:1986 Information Processing Text and Office Systems; Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML).
To date, Web development tools have been limited in their ability to create dynamic Web applications which span from client to server and interoperate with existing computing resources. Until recently, HTML has been the dominant technology used in development of Web-based solutions. However, HTML has proven to be inadequate in the following areas:
Sun Microsystem's Java language solves many of the client-side problems by:
With Java, developers can create robust User Interface (UI) components. Custom "widgets" (e.g. real-time stock tickers, animated icons, etc.) can be created, and client-side performance is improved. Unlike HTML, Java supports the notion of client-side validation, offloading appropriate processing onto the client for improved performance. Dynamic, real-time Web pages can be created. Using the above-mentioned custom UI components, dynamic Web pages can also be created.
Sun's Java language has emerged as an industry-recognized language for "programming the Internet." Sun defines Java as: "a simple, object-oriented, distributed, interpreted, robust, secure, architecture-neutral, portable, high-performance, multithreaded, dynamic, buzzword-compliant, general-purpose programming language. Java supports programming for the Internet in the form of platform-independent Java applets." Java applets are small, specialized applications that comply with Sun's Java Application Programming Interface (API) allowing developers to add "interactive content" to Web documents (e.g. simple animations, page adornments, basic games, etc.). Applets execute within a Java-compatible browser (e.g. Netscape Navigator) by copying code from the server to client. From a language standpoint, Java's core feature set is based on C++. Sun's Java literature states that Java is basically "C++, with extensions from Objective C for more dynamic method resolution".
Another technology that provides similar function to JAVA is provided by Microsoft and ActiveX Technologies, to give developers and Web designers wherewithal to build dynamic content for the Internet and personal computers. ActiveX includes tools for developing animation, 3-D virtual reality, video and other multimedia content. The tools use Internet standards, work on multiple platforms, and are being supported by over 100 companies. The group's building blocks are called ActiveX Controls, small, fast components that enable developers to embed parts of software in hypertext markup language (HTML) pages. ActiveX Controls work with a variety of programming languages including Microsoft Visual C++, Borland Delphi, Microsoft Visual Basic programming system and, in the future, Microsoft's development tool for Java, code named "Jakarta." ActiveX Technologies also includes ActiveX Server Framework, allowing developers to create server applications. One of ordinary skill in the art readily recognizes that ActiveX could be substituted for JAVA without undue experimentation to practice the invention.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, BackgroundFinder (BF) is implemented as an agent responsible for preparing an individual for an upcoming meeting by helping him/her retrieve relevant information about the meeting from various sources. BF receives input text in character form indicative of the target meeting. The input text is generated in accordance with a preferred embodiment by a calendar program that includes the time of the meeting. As the time of the meeting approaches, the calendar program is queried to obtain the text of the target event and that information is utilized as input to the agent. Then, the agent parses the input meeting text to extract its various components such as title, body, participants, location, time etc. The system also performs pattern matching to identify particular meeting fields in a meeting text. This information is utilized to query various sources of information on the web and obtain relevant stories about the current meeting to send back to the calendaring system. For example, if an individual has a meeting with Netscape and Microsoft to talk about their disputes, and would obtain this initial information from the calendaring system. It will then parse out the text to realize that the companies in the meeting are "Netscape" and "Microsoft" and the topic is "disputes." Then, the system queries the web for relevant information concerning the topic. Thus, in accordance with an objective of the invention, the system updates the calendaring system and eventually the user with the best information it can gather to prepare the user for the target meeting. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the information is stored in a file that is obtained via selection from a link imbedded in the calendar system.
A computer program in accordance with a preferred embodiment is organized in five distinct modules: BF.Main, BF.Parse, Background Finder.Error, BF.PatternMatching and BF.Search. There is also a frmMain which provides a user interface used only for debugging purposes. The executable programs in accordance with a preferred embodiment never execute with the user interface and should only return to the calendaring system through Microsoft's Winsock control. A preferred embodiment of the system executes in two different modes which can be specified under the command line sent to it by the calendaring system. When the system runs in simple mode, it executes a keyword query to submit to external search engines. When executed in complex mode, the system performs pattern matching before it forms a query to be sent to a search engine.
The system in accordance with a preferred embodiment utilizes three user defined structures:
The user-defined structure, tMeetingRecord, is used to store all the pertinent information concerning a single meeting. This info includes userlD, an original description of the meeting, the extracted list of keywords from the title and body of meeting etc. It is important to note that only one meeting record is created per instance of the system in accordance with a preferred embodiment. This is because each time the system is spawned to service an upcoming meeting, it is assigned a task to retrieve information for only one meeting. Therefore, the meeting record created corresponds to the current meeting examined. ParseMeetingText populates this meeting record and it is then passed around to provide information about the meeting to other functions.
If GoPatternMatch can bind any values to a particular meeting field, the corresponding entries in the meeting record is also updated. The structure of tMeetingRecord with each field described in parentheses is provided below in accordance with a preferred embodiment.
There are two other structures which are created to hold each individual pattern utilized in pattern matching. The record tAPatternRecord is an array containing all the components/elements of a pattern. The type tAPatternElement is an array of strings which represent an element in a pattern. Because there may be many "substitutes" for each element, we need an array of strings to keep track of what all the substitutes are. The structures of tAPatternElement and tAPatternRecord are presented below in accordance with a preferred embodiment.
Many constants are defined in each declaration section of the program which may need to be updated periodically as part of the process of maintaining the system in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The constants are accessible to allow dynamic configuration of the system to occur as updates for maintaining the code.
Included in the following tables are lists of constants from each module which I thought are most likely to be modified from time to time. However, there are also other constants used in the code not included in the following list. It does not mean that these non-included constants will never be changed. It means that they will change much less frequently.
For the Main Module (BF.Main):
For the Search Module (BF.Search):
For the Parse Module (BF.Parse):
For Pattern Matching Module (BFPatternMatch): There are no constants in this module which require frequent updates.
The best way to depict the process flow and the coordination of functions between each other is with the five flowcharts illustrated in
One key thing to notice is that functions depicted at the same level of the chart are called by in sequential order from left to right (or top to bottom) by their common parent function. For example, Main 200 calls ProcessCommandLine 210, then CreateStopListist 220, then CreatePatterns 230, then GoBackgroundFinder 240.
The Alta Vista search engine utilizes the identifies and returns general information about topics related to the current meeting as shown in function block 270 of
The NewsPage search system is responsible for giving us the latest news topics related to a target meeting. The system takes all of the keywords from the title portion of the original meeting text and constructs a query to send to the NewsPage search engine. The keywords are logically combined together in the query. Only articles published recently are retrieved. The Newspage search system provides a date restriction criteria that is settable by a user according to the user's preference. The top ranking stories are returned to the calendaring system.
The limitations associated with a simple searching method include the following:
Here's how the pattern matching system can address each of the corresponding issues above in accordance with a preferred embodiment.
A pattern in the context of a preferred embodiment is a template specifying the structure of a phrase we are looking for in a meeting text. The patterns supported by a preferred embodiment are selected because they are templates of phrases which have a high probability of appearing in someone's meeting text. For example, when entering a meeting in a calendar, many would write something such as "Meet with Bob Dutton from Stanford University next Tuesday." A common pattern would then be something like the word "with" followed by a person's name (in this example it is Bob Dutton) followed by the word "from" and ending with an organization's name (in this case, it is Stanford University).
The common terminology associated with pattern matching is provided below.
There are five fields which are identified for each meeting:
In parentheses are the placeholders I used in my code as representation of the corresponding meeting fields.
Each placeholder has the following meaning:
Here is a table representing all the patterns supported by BF. Each pattern belongs to a pattern group. All patterns within a pattern group share a similar format and they only differ from each other in terms of what indicators are used as substitutes. Note that the patterns which are grayed out are also commented in the code. BF has the capability to support these patterns but we decided that matching these patterns is not essential at this point.
Now that we have identified fields within the meeting text which we consider important, there are quite a few things we can do with it. One of the most important applications of pattern matching is of course to improve the query we construct which eventually gets submitted to Alta Vista and News Page. There are also a lot of other options and enhancements which exploit the results of pattern matching that we can add to BF. These other options will be described in the next section. The goal of this section is to give the reader a good sense of how the results obtained from pattern matching can be used to help us obtain better search results.
The strength of the Alta Vista search engine is that it provides enhanced flexibility. Using its advance query method, one can construct all sorts of Boolean queries and rank the search however you want. However, one of the biggest drawbacks with Alta Vista is that it is not very good at handling a large query and is likely to give back irrelevant results. If we can identify the topic and the company within a meeting text, we can form a pretty short but comprehensive query which will hopefully yield better results. We also want to focus on the topics found. It may not be of much merit to the user to find out info about a company especially if the user already knows the company well and has had numerous meetings with them. It's the topics they want to research on.
The strength of the News Page search engine is that it does a great job searching for the most recent news if you are able to give it a valid company name. Therefore when we submit a query to the news page web site, we send whatever company name we can identify and only if we cannot find one do we use the topics found to form a query. If neither one is found, then no search is performed. The algorithmn utilized to form the query to submit to Alta Vista is illustrated in
The following table describes in detail each function in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The order in which functions appear mimics the process flow as closely as possible. When there are situations in which a function is called several times, this function will be listed after the first function which calls it and its description is not duplicated after every subsequent function which calls it.
Processing commences at function block 610 where a command line is utilized to update a calendar entry with specific calendar information. The message is next posted in accordance with function block 620 and a meeting record is created to store the current meeting information in accordance with function block 630. Then, in function block 640 the query is submitted to the Alta Vista search engine and in function block 650, the query is submitted to the Newspage search engine. When a message is returned from the search engine, it is stored in a results data structure as shown in function block 660 and the information is processed and stored in summary form in a file for use in preparation for the meeting as detailed in function block 670.
Alternative embodiments for adding various specific features for specific user requirements are discussed below.
To increase BF's performance, more patterns/pattern groups are added to the procedure "CreatePatterns." The existing code for declaring patterns can be used as a template for future patterns. Because everything is stored as dynamic arrays, it is convenient to reuse code by cutting and pasting. The functions BindName, BindTime, BindCompanyLocTopic which are responsible for associating a value with a placeholder can be enhanced. The enhancement is realized by increasing the set of criteria for binding a certain meeting field in order to increase the number of binding values. For example, BindTime currently accepts and binds all values in the form of ##:## or To increase the times we can bind, we may want BindTime to also accept the numbers 1 to 12 followed by the more aesthetic time terminology "o'clock." Vocabulary based recognition algorithms and assigning an accuracy rate to each guess BF makes allowing only guesses which meet a certain threshold to be valid.
Depending on what location the system identifies through pattern matching or alternatively depending on what location the user indicates as the meeting place, a system in accordance with a preferred embodiment suggests a plurality of fine restaurants whenever it detects the words lunch/dinner/breakfast. We can also use a site like company finder to confirm what we got is indeed a company name or if there is no company name that pattern matching can identify, we can use a company finder web site as a "dictionary" for us to determine whether certain capitalized words represent a company name. We can even display stock prices and breaking news for a company that we have identified.
The 8-ounce Ricochet SE Wireless Modem is about as large as a pack of cigarettes and setup is extremely simple, simply attach the modem to the back of your portable's screen with the included piece of Velcro, plug the cable into the serial port, flip up the stubby antenna, and transmit. Software setup is equally easy: a straightforward installer adds the Ricochet modem drivers and places the connection icon on your desktop. The functional aspects of the modem are identical to that of a traditional telephone modem.
Of course, wireless performance isn't nearly as reliable as a traditional dial-up phone connection. We were able to get strong connections in several San Francisco locations as long as we stayed near the windows. But inside CNET's all-brick headquarters, the Ricochet couldn't connect at all. When you do get online, performance of up to 28.8 kbps is available with graceful degradation to slower speeds. But even the slower speeds didn't disappoint. Compared to the alternative—connecting via a cellular modem—the Ricochet is much faster, more reliable, and less expensive to use. Naturally, the SE Wireless is battery powered. The modem has continuous battery life of up to 12 hours. And in accordance with a preferred embodiment, we ran down our portable computer's dual cells before the Ricochet started to fade.
Thus, utilizing the wireless modem, a user may utilize the web server software 940 to identify the right product 950 and then use an appropriate device's key(s) to select a supplier and place an order in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The BargainFinder Service Module then consummates the order with the appropriate third-party Web supplier 960.
my$ite! is a high-impact, Internet-based application in accordance with a preferred embodiment that is focused on the theme of delivering services and providing a personalized experience for each customer via a personal web site in a buyer-centric world. The services are intuitively organized around satisfying customer intentions—fundamental life needs or objectives that require extensive planning decisions, and coordination across several dimensions, such as financial planning, healthcare, personal and professional development, family life, and other concerns. Each member owns and maintains his own profile, enabling him to create and browse content in the system targeted specifically at him. From the time a demand for products or services is entered, to the completion of payment, intelligent agents are utilized to conduct research, execute transactions and provide advice. By using advanced profiling and filtering, the intelligent agents learn about the user, improving the services they deliver. Customer intentions include Managing Daily Logistics (e.g., email, calendar, contacts, to-do list, bill payment, shopping, and travel planning); and Moving to a New Community (e.g., finding a place to live, moving household possessions, getting travel and shipping insurance coverage, notifying business and personal contacts, learning about the new community). From a consumer standpoint, mySite! provides a central location where a user can access relevant products and services and accomplish daily tasks with ultimate ease and convenience.
From a business standpoint, mySite! represents a value-added and innovative way to effectively attract, service, and retain customers. Intention value networks allow a user to enter through a personalized site and, and with the assistance of a learning, intelligent agent, seamlessly interact with network participants. An intention value network in accordance with a preferred embodiment provides superior value. It provides twenty four hour a day, seven days a week access to customized information, advice and products. The information is personalized so that each member views content that is highly customized to assure relevance to the required target user.
An Egocentric Interface is a user interface crafted to satisfy a particular user's needs, preferences and current context. It utilizes the user's personal information that is stored in a central profile database to customize the interface. The user can set security permissions on and preferences for interface elements and content. The content integrated into the Egocentric Interface is customized with related information about the user. When displaying content, the Egocentric Interface will include the relationship between that content and the user in a way that demonstrates how the content relates to the user. For instance, when displaying information about an upcoming ski trip the user has signed up for, the interface will include information about events from the user's personal calendar and contact list, such as other people who will be in the area during the ski trip. This serves to put the new piece of information into a context familiar to the individual user.
The Intention Database 1030 stores all of the information about the structure of the intention and the types of products and services needed to fulfill the intention. Information in this database includes intention steps, areas of interest, layout templates and personalization templates. The Content Database 1040 stores all of the information related to the intention, such as advice, referral information, personalized content, satisfaction ratings, product ratings and progress reports.
The Supplier Profile Database 1050 contains information about the product and service providers integrated into the intention. The information contained in this database provides a link between the intention framework and the suppliers. It includes product lists, features and descriptions, and addresses of the suppliers' product web sites. The Customer Profile Database 1060 contains personal information about the customers, such as name, address, social security number and credit card information, personal preferences, behavioral information, history, and web site layout preferences. The Supplier's Web Server 1070 provides access to all of the supplier's databases necessary to provide information and transactional support to the customer.
The Product Information Database 1080 stores all product-related information, such as features, availability and pricing. The Product Order Database 1090 stores all customer orders. The interface to this database may be through an Enterprise Resource Planning application offered by SAP, Baan, Oracle or others, or it may be accessible directly through the Supplier's Web Server or application server. The Customer Information Database 1091 stores all of the customer information that the supplier needs to complete a transaction or maintain customer records.
The system allows the user to create a number of different personas that aggregate profile information into sets that are useful in different contexts. A user may create one persona when making purchases for his home. This persona may contain his home address and may indicate that this user is looking to find a good bargain when shopping. The same user may create a second persona that can be used when he is in a work context. This persona may store the user's work address and may indicate that the user prefers certain vendors or works for a certain company that has a discount program in place. When shopping for work-related items, the user may use this persona. A persona may also contain rules and restrictions. For instance, the work persona may restrict the user to making airline reservations with only one travel agent and utilizing booking rules set up by his employer.
Satisfying Customer Intentions, such as Planning for Retirement or Relocating requires a specialized interface. Customer Intentions require extensive planning and coordination across many areas, ranging from financial security, housing and transportation to healthcare, personal and professional development, and entertainment, among others. Satisfying Intentions requires a network of complementary businesses, working across industries, to help meet consumers' needs.
An Intention-Centric Interface is a user interface designed to help the user manage personal Intentions. At any given point, the interface content is customized to show only content that relates to that particular Intention. The Intention-Centric Interface allows the user to manage the process of satisfying that particular Intention. This involves a series of discrete steps and a set of content areas the user can access. At any point, the user can also switch the interface to manage a different Intention, and this act will change the content of the interface to include only that content which is relevant to the satisfaction of the newly selected Intention.
An agent keeps track of key statistics for each user. These statistics are used in a manner similar to the Tamagochi virtual reality pet toy to encourage certain behaviors from the user. The statistics that are recorded are frequency of login, frequency of rating of content such as news articles, and activity of agents, measured by the number of tasks which it performs in a certain period. This information is used by the system to emotionally appeal to the user to encourage certain behaviors.
The system provide Consumer Report-like service that is customized for each user based on a user profile. The system records and provides ratings from users about product quality and desirability on a number of dimensions. The difference between this system and traditional product quality measurement services is that the ratings that come back to the users are personalized. This service works by finding the people who have the closest match to the user's profile and have previously rated the product being asked for. Using this algorithm will help to ensure that the product reports sent back to the user only contain statistics from people who are similar to that user.
This system provides one central storage place for a person's profile. This storage place is a server available through the public Internet, accessible by any device that is connected to the Internet and has appropriate access. Because of the ubiquitous accessibility of the profile, numerous access devices can be used to customize services for the user based on his profile. For example, a merchant's web site can use this profile to provide personalized content to the user. A Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with Internet access can synchronize the person's calendar, email, contact list, task list and notes on the PDA with the version stored in the Internet site. This enables the person to only have to maintain one version of this data in order to have it available whenever it is needed and in whatever formats it is needed.
One possible use of the ubiquitous profile is for a hotel chain. A consumer can carry a Smart Card that holds a digital certificate uniquely identifying him. This Smart Card's digital certificate has been issued by the system and it recorded his profile information into the profile database. The consumer brings this card into a hotel chain and checks in. The hotel employee swipes the Smart Card and the consumer enters his Pin number, unlocking the digital certificate. The certificate is sent to the profile gateway server (using a secure transmission protocol) and is authenticated. The hotel is then given access to a certain part of the consumer's profile that he has previously specified. The hotel can then retrieve all of the consumer's billing information as well as preferences for hotel room, etc. The hotel can also access the consumer's movie and dining preferences and offer customized menus for both of them. The hotel can offer to send an email to the consumer's spouse letting him/her know the person checked into the hotel and is safe. All transaction information can be uploaded to the consumer's profile after the hotel checks him in. This will allow partners of the hotel to utilize the information about the consumer that the hotel has gathered (again, given the consumer's permission).
In an Intention Value Network, the overall integrator system coordinates the delivery of products and services for a user. The integrator manages a network of approved suppliers providing products and services, both physical and virtual, to a user based on the user's preferences as reflected in the user's profile. The integrator manages the relationship between suppliers and consumers and coordinates the suppliers' fulfillment of consumers' intentions. It does this by providing the consumer with information about products and suppliers and offering objective advice, among other things.
A suite of software agents running on the application and web servers are programmed to take care of repetitive or mundane tasks for the user. The agents work according to rules set up by the user and are only allowed to perform tasks explicitly defined by the user. The agents can take care of paying bills for the user, filtering content and emails, and providing a summary view of tasks and agent activity. The user interface for the agent can be modified to suit the particular user.
The above scenario requires the web site to maintain a guarantee of privacy of information according to a published policy. This system is the consumer's Trusted Third Party, acting on his behalf in every case, erring on the side of privacy of information, rather than on the side of stimulation of commerce opportunities. The Trusted Third Party has a set of processes in place that guarantee certain complicity with the stated policy.
This word extends the word "eCommerce" to mean "personalized electronic commerce."
An Event Backgrounder is a short description of an upcoming event that is sent to the user just before an event. The Event Backgrounder is constantly updated with the latest information related to this event. Pertinent information such as itinerary and logistics are included, and other useful information, such as people the user knows who might be in the same location, are also included. The purpose of the Event Backgrounder is to provide the most up-to-date information about an event, drawing from a number of resources, such as public web sites and the user's calendar and contact lists, to allow the user to react optimally in a given situation.
This software looks for opportunities to tell the user when a friend, family member or acquaintance is or is going to be in the same vicinity as the user. This software scans the user's calendar for upcoming events. It then uses a geographic map to compare those calendar events with the calendar events of people who are listed in his contact list. It then informs the user of any matches, thus telling the user that someone is scheduled to be near him at a particular time.
The term information overload is now relatively understood in both its definition as well as its implications and consequences. People have a finite amount of attention that is available at any one time, but there is more and more vying for that attention every day. In short, too much information and too little time are the primary factors complicating the lives of most knowledge workers today.
The first attempts to dynamically deal with information overload were primarily focused on the intelligent filtering of information such that the quantity of information would be lessened. Rather than simply removing random bits of information, however, most of these approaches tried to be intelligent about what information was ultimately presented to the user. This was accomplished by evaluating each document based on the user's interests and discarding the less relevant ones. It follows, therefore, that the quality was also increased.
Filtering the information is only a first step in dealing with information is this new age. Arguably, just as important as the quality of the document is having ready access to it. Once you have entered a meeting, a document containing critical information about the meeting subject delivered to your office is of little value. As the speed of business continues to increase fueled by the technologies of interconnectedness, the ability to receive quality information wherever and whenever you are becomes critical. This new approach is called intelligent information delivery and is heralding in a new information age.
A preferred embodiment demonstrates the intelligent information delivery theory described above in an attempt to not only reduce information overload, but to deliver high quality information where and when users' require it. In other words, the system delivers right information to the right person at the right time and the right place.
Active Knowledge Management System Description
Back-End Server (2400) Processes
The Awareness Machine (2446 & 2448 of
The Awareness Machine is a combination of hardware device and software application. The hardware consists of handheld personal computer and wireless communications device. The Awareness Machine reflects a constantly updated state-of-the-owner's-world by continually receiving a wireless trickle of information. This information, mined and processed by a suite of intelligent agents, consists of mail messages, news that meets each user's preferences, schedule updates, background information on upcoming meetings and events, as well as weather and traffic. The Awareness Machine is covered by another patent application.
The Magic Wall
The Magic Wall hardware includes:
The Magic Wall software supports:
The Magic Wall operates as follows:
The Web client is a standard browser navigating to a set of Web pages which allow user to see the same information that is available via the Magic Wall.
The e-mail client is any standard e-mail program.
Intelligent Agent Coordinator Description
This piece of code is the coordinating agent (or meta-agent) for the Active Knowledge Management system. This means that all communications between the system and each user, as well as communication between the different minion agents are handled (coordinated) by the Intelligent Agent Coordinator. Examples of these minion agents are:
The Intelligent Agent Coordinator 2580 of
Monitoring User Activities
Anytime a user triggers a sensor the Intelligent Agent Coordinator receives an "environmental cue." These cues not only enable the Intelligent Agent Coordinator to gain an understanding where users' are for information delivery purposes, but also to learn the standard patterns (arrival time, departure time, etc.) of each persons' life. These patterns are constantly being updated and refined in an attempt to increase the system's intelligence when delivering information. For instance, today it is not uncommon for a person to have several email accounts (work-based, home-based, mobile-based, etc.) as well as several different computers involved in the retrieval process for all of these accounts. Thus, for the Intelligent Agent Coordinator to be successful in delivering information to the correct location it must take into account all of these accounts and the times that the user is likely to be accessing them in order to maximize the probability that the user will see the information. This will be discussed further in another section.
Handling Information Requests
The Intelligent Agent Coordinator handles information requests from other agents in order to personalize information intended for each user and to more accurately reflect each user's interests in the information they are given. These requests will commonly be related to the user's profile. For instance, if an agent was preparing a traffic report for a user it may request the traffic region (search string) of that user from the Intelligent Agent Coordinator. All access to the user's profile data is accessed in this method.
Maintaining User Profiles
User profiles contain extensive information about the users. This information is a blend of user-specified data and information that the Intelligent Agent Coordinator has learned and extrapolated from each user's information and activities. In order to protect the data contained in the profiles, the Intelligent Agent Coordinator must handle all user information requests. The Intelligent Agent Coordinator is constantly modifying and updating these profiles by watching the user's activities and attempting to learn the patterns of their lives in order to assist in the more routine, mundane tasks. The Intelligent Agent Coordinator also employs other agents to glean meaning from each user's daily activities. These agents mine this data trying to discover indications of current interests, long-term interests, as well as time delivery preferences for each type of information. Another important aspect of the Intelligent Agent Coordinator's observations is that it also tries to determine where each user is physically located throughout the day for routing purposes.
Information Routing
Most people are mobile throughout their day. The Intelligent Agent Coordinator tries to be sensitive to this fact by attempting to determine, both by observation (unsupervised learning) and from cues from the environment, where users are or are likely to be located. This is certainly important for determining where to send the user's information, but also for determining in whichformat to send the information. For instance, if a user were at her desk and using the web client, the Intelligent Agent Coordinator would be receiving indications of activity from her PC and would know to send any necessary information there. In addition, because desktop PCs are generally quite powerful, a full-featured, graphically intense version could be sent. However, consider an alternative situation: the Intelligent Agent Coordinator has received an indication (via the keycard reader next to the exit) that you have just left the building. Minutes later the Intelligent Agent Coordinator also receives notification that you have received an urgent message. The Intelligent Agent Coordinator, knowing that you have left the building and having not received any other indications, assumes that you are reachable via your handheld device (for which it also knows the capabilities) and sends the text of the urgent message there, rather than a more graphically-oriented version.
Inherent Innovations
The Active Knowledge Management system represents some of the most advanced thinking in the world of knowledge management and human computer interaction. Some of the primary innovations include the following:
The following code is written and executed in the Microsoft Active Server Pages environment in accordance with a preferred embodiment. It consists primarily of Microsoft Jscript with some database calls embedded in the code to query and store information in the database.
Intention-Centric Interface
While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Patent Citations
Non-Patent Citations
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Our Last Night
Birth Place: Hollis, New Hampshire, US
Years Active: 2004-present
Genres: Metalcore, Post-hardcore, Emo, Screamo
Years Active: 2004-present
Genres: Metalcore, Post-hardcore, Emo, Screamo
Our Last Night is an American post-hardcore band that formed in 2004 in Hollis, New Hampshire. The group consists of Trevor Wentworth (vocals), Matthew Wentworth (guitar, vocals), Colin Perry (guitar), Alex "Woody" Woodrow (bass) and Tim Molloy (drums). In early 2007, the group signed with Epitaph Records, the day before they embarked on their first tour. At the time, Trevor Wentworth was only 13 years old. Out Last Night released their first album, entitled "The Ghosts Among Us," in March 2008. It peaked at #6 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers Albums chart. "We Will All Evolve," their sophomore album, was issued on Epitaph Records in May 2010. Produced by Andrew Wade, the record ... Continue Bio >>
Listen to Our Last Night
and similar artists - Play Now
and similar artists - Play Now
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subset: commoncrawl


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Tag Archives: Bee Gees
Retro Disco, a vintage club night for the slightly older and harder to please at The Jive Monkey on Friday 10th of August 2012
When did you last dance? Your nephew's wedding? And on Disco music? Wouldn't feel happy going to a club? This is a chance for you to hoof it around the floor again dancing to music you will love and remember, … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged August 2012, Bee Gees, Brighton, Diana Ross, Disco, Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Retro Disco, The Jive Monkey Leave a comment


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I am on a mission to get out, get moving and save kids' lives, and I need your help!
I have joined the Miracle Marathon journey, and throughout October I will not only be moving for 27.2 miles, but also raising funds for my Children's Miracle Network Hospital.
Since a traditional marathon is 26.2 miles, Miracle Marathon adds a special touch by adding one more mile "for the kids." Over the course of 27 days, we are going to complete one mile per day by walking, running, dancing, skipping or just moving to reach that goal. It's a marathon - plus an extra mile - for the kids!


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Kenny G started playing saxophone when he was 10 years old, and today he is one of the most widely recognized jazz musicians in the world. In addition to his arsenal of solo albums, the GRAMMY Award winner has collaborated with numerous music legends, including Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, and Andrea Bocelli. When this celebrated performer brings his talents to a venue near you, be sure to secure your Kenny G tickets through Vivid Seats. You can reach our talented customer service team seven days a week by calling 866.848.8499 or clicking on the Live Chat link.
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text: See the red; thats how every fighter should think, fuck the rankings BSBut I don't worry about rankings. I fight my fights, train and show my value in the Octagon. I was already a victim of ranking - I fought Cormier, who was not counted in the ranking at all at that time, lost and went to the back of the line! Thats how it goes


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Clearing Tonic
This exfoliant has a pH of 3.8, so it will function as an exfoliant?great news for those struggling with clogged pores!
Microderm Scrub
This fragrance-free scrub is less abrasive than most 'microdermabrasion-in-a-jar' scrubs.
Add to Faves?
Strengths: The company provides complete ingredient lists on its site; good cleanser; excellent benzoyl peroxide product; some fragrance-free options (and even the products with fragrant ingredients have minimal scent).
Weaknesses: The facial mask is likely to be very irritating and drying; the Clear Pore Serum cannot exfoliate skin due to its pH level; each kit the company sells contains at least one problematic product, so they're not as much of a value as they may seem; merely average moisturizer.
Exposed Skincare is a small collection of anti-acne products sold individually or in pre-selected kits that are priced between $50–$95. Based in Seattle and having been around since 2002, it's only recently that this line has come to our attention, perhaps due to their products being available on mega website Amazon.com. As a line dedicated to clear skin in a sea full of such options (almost all of which have their share of problems, which is hugely disappointing for anyone struggling with breakouts), it's not surprising Exposed Skincare mentions their mix of "advanced science" with natural ingredients, thus appeasing two popular demands: Consumers want products that work, but most would prefer natural over synthetic ingredients, thinking that natural means better. As we've shown time and time again, that's misguided thinking. There are good and bad natural ingredients as well as good and bad synthetic ingredients. We're glad that Exposed Skincare utilizes the best from both groups (well, most of the time they do…)
The company's products are said to be developed by a collaboration between dermatologists, cosmetologists, naturopaths, and chemists, further reinforcing the science + nature angle, which Exposed maintains is what makes their line different (and better) than the rest. Although this anti-acne line has a couple of standout products, just like most lines aimed at those with acne-prone skin, there are more disappointments than great products. This is not a "one and done" line, nor is it a line whose kits we'd encourage you to order.
The issue with the kits is twofold: They cost a lot less than ordering each product individually BUT you also have to take everything in the kit, which means you're paying for some products whose formulas won't help acne-prone skin and may, in fact, make it worse! If you're curious about this line, steer clear of the value-priced kits and instead select individual products we've rated well. Of course, you can also skip this line entirely, as despite some good products, it's not as revolutionary or different as the company would like you to believe.
For more information about Exposed Skincare, call (866) 404-7656 or visit www.exposedskincare.com
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Wind: 0 mph
This has to change if we are to reach our potential as a sustainable community. It is time to begin the healing and come together as we move forward. It has already begun with the recent election of two new select board members. Times are changing in Waitsfield and we must continue to believe that they will and can get better.
The new select board and the planning commission are asking us to support them. They have studied the water plan, held numerous hearings while clearly and openly addressing all the issues brought forward. There are so many good reasons we should vote yes for the water system, but I think the strongest is that we need to come together as a community in favor of a positive future. The water system will not raise our taxes; the costs will be paid by the users. As I try to understand why some of our citizens are against this project, I find a significant reason to vote no being the distrust of and anger towards the town government. But that's wrong! We selected our select board members and they volunteer their time and energy on our behalf. We should support them, and we should vote yes for a better future for Waitsfield.
Having recently owned a commercial property in Historic Waitsfield with 11 tenants, I know firsthand how much of a problem providing and maintaining a private water supply can be. By eliminating this problem for our downtown business, residents and the elementary school, we will demonstrate our support for a vibrant, healthy and conscientious community.
And it won't cost you anything unless you hook up to it, or we vote it down. If we vote it down, funds expended to study and plan for the system will have to be repaid. These funds will be wrapped up in the project cost and will be covered by grants and user fees if we vote yes.
As a businessman operating in Waitsfield I hear much disparagement about our town's reputation as anti-business and out of touch. It's time to change that perception! It is interesting to note that a large number of the businesses in Waitsfield are owned by people who live in Warren and Fayston. These people are interwoven into our community.
They are us; we are all the same -- residents of the Mad River Valley. These businesses have no say in the decision. As our neighbors and part of the larger valley community they deserve your support and consideration, especially if it does not cost you anything but a few minutes of your time to vote.
Some of us were born here and others moved here. Whether a new resident or one with deep roots, we are all in this together. Mother Theresa said, "Grow where you are planted." Growth is a natural phenomenon. We should welcome it and embrace it. This does not mean welcoming WalMart or McDonalds, but it does mean evolving. Adding a water system infrastructure to the business corridor in Waitsfield will not open up a cavalcade of development. There are many factors that face and constrain us which will all need to be addressed in time as we respond to the need for affordable housing, recreational facilities and smart civic planning.
Providing a water system is the first step in establishing a sensible, caring and sustainable downtown corridor. We need local jobs and we can only create them by attracting and retaining healthy and low-impact businesses.
Please put aside the mistreatments and misunderstandings of the past and vote yes on Tuesday, September 9, for our collective brighter future together. We can evolve and positively change by embracing the future and it all starts now with the Water vote. Thank you for your consideration
Nicholas Harmon lives in Waitsfield and is the president of Waitsfield-based Verilux.


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Joseph Alhadeff
VP, Global Public Policy and Chief Privacy Strategist at Oracle Corporation
Carman Baggaley
Former Senior Strategic International Policy Analyst at Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Robert Beggs
CEO at PwC
Chantal Bernier
Counsel at Dentons LLP
Vikas Bhatia, CIPP/US
CEO & Executive Cyber Risk Advisor at Deloitte & Touche LLP
Ray Boisvert
Former Assistant Director, CEO at Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Shaun Brown
Partner at nNovation LLP
Barbara Bucknell
Director, Policy and Research at Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Alex Cameron
Partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Blair Campbell, CIPP/C
Director, Privacy and Business Coduct at Scotiabank
Janice Campbell
Risk Manager and Privacy Officer at SickKids
Angela Carfrae, CIPT
Consultant at AJCarfrae Consulting Services
Ann Cavoukian
Executive Director at Ryerson University
Michael Chase
Chief Marketing Officer at St. Joseph Communications
Natalie Comeau, CIPP/C
Supervisor, Privacy Advisory Services at University Health Network
Emilia de Somma
Legal Counsel at Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications (CRTC)
Elizabeth Denham
Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia at Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of B.C.
Gary Dickson
Info. & Priv. Comm. of Saskatchewan
Khaled El Emam
CEO, Privacy Analytics, Associate Professor, at University of Ottawa
David Elder
Counsel at Stikeman Elliott LLP
Aron Feuer, CIPP/C
Grant Thornton LLP
Doug Forman
Certification Director at IAPP
David Fraser
Partner at McInnes Cooper (Halifax)
Colin Freeze
National Security Reporter at The Globe and Mail
Arlan Gates
Partner at Baker & McKenzie LLP
Robin Gould-Soil, CIPP/C
Chief Privacy Officer & Director, Information Access and Privacy at University Health Network
Eloïse Gratton
Partner at Borden Ladner Gervais
Preet Gujral
Business Development Director at Kalki Consulting
Anne-Marie Hayden
Director General, Communications at Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Wally Hill
Senior Vice President, Government & Consumer Affairs at Canadian Marketing Association
Brent Homan
Director General, PIPEDA Investigations at Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
John Jager, CIPP/C, CIPP/G, CIPP/US
VP Research Methodology at Nymity, Inc.
Sydney Jones, CIPP/C
Sr Manager Information & Privacy Security at BCLC
Constantine Karbaliotis, CIPM, CIPP/C, CIPP/E, CIPP/US, CIPT
VP of Privacy Office Solutions at Nymity
Adam Kardash
Partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Tracy Ann Kosa
Senior Strategist TWC Privacy at Microsoft Corporation
Peter Kosmala, CIPP/US
SVP, Government Relations at 4A's
Dan Kruger
Founder and Chief Architect at Absio Corporation
Andre LeDuc
Manager, National Anti-spam Coordinating Body at Industry Canada
Jason Lin, CIPP/IT
Corporate Security Officer at Ontario Telemedicine Network
Michael Maguire
Senior Advisor, PIPEDA at Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Maltie Maraj
Senior Counsel at ExactTarget Inc.
Diane McLeod McKay
Information and Privacy Commissioner for the Yukon
Peter Meyler
Access and Privacy Officer at City of Mississauga
Fazila Nurani, CIPP/C
President at PrivaTech Consulting
Anne Overton
Canadian Institute of Health Research
Sukanya Pillay
Executive Director, General Counsel at Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Marjorie Platero, CIPP/C
Office of the Privacy Commission of Canada
Claudiu Popa, CIPP/US
President at Informatica Corporation
Lauren Reid, CIPM, CIPP/US
Director, EU Privacy Solutions at Nymity
Deborah Reine
Royal Bank of Canada
Joan Roch
Chief Privacy Strategist at Canada Health Infoway
Noga Rosenthal, CIPP/US
General Counsel, VP of Compliance and Policy at Network Advertising Initiative
John Russo
Vice President, Legal Counsel at Equifax Canada Inc.
Della Shea, CIPP/C
Chief Privacy, Information Risk Officer at Symcor Inc.
Rick Shields
Partner at nNovation LLP
Pamela Snively
Managing Director at AccessPrivacy by Osler
Rikki Sorensen
Senior Consultant at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Consulting Inc.
Samara Starkman, CIPM, CIPP/C
Principal Consultant at Drawbridge Consulting Inc.
Trevor Stevado
Senior Technical Consultant & Ethical Hacker at Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Consulting Inc.
Angela Swan, CIPP/C, CIPT
Executive Director of Licensing, Registration and Certification at The Province of British Columbia
David Wainberg, CIPP/US
VP, Privacy and Policy Counsel at AppNexus
Harold Wax
Chief Security Officer at Symcor Inc.
Dana-Lynn Wood
Senior Enforcement Officer at Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission


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Alex Lear: Learics
Lost and found: A 'Lost' fanatic's view on where the show is heading
I'm not a huge fan of watching TV. In fact, I canceled my cable because I was spending nearly $40 a month to watch a show that would be released on DVD a few months later. DVD is how I pretty much watch TV these days, and when I first watched "Lost" on DVD, I was hooked.
For the uninitiated, Lost tells the story of a group of passengers on Oceanic flight 815 who crash - and, for the most part, miraculously survive - on a tropical island in the middle of nowhere. While to some people sick of Maine winters this might sound like a great vacation (the "crash" part aside), these unwitting characters have to contend with a mysterious cloud of black smoke that makes Cujo look sweet, as well as a tribe of islanders - known as "The Others" or "The Hostiles" - who have been there for a very long time and have kidnapped and killed the survivors at various times but have now, as the Lost story has unraveled, become more like allies than enemies.
Totally confused? You should be.
This isn't a show you tune into halfway through season three to "check out." If so, your sanity may check out of your mind. This is a show to be watched from the very beginning and paid close attention to. While this may sound daunting, it can actually be really rewarding and one of the best roller coaster rides of your TV-watching life.
It has been for me, anyway. And remember, I'm not a huge fan of TV.
The question we fans have been asking recently is whether "Lost" has "lost" its way (cute, huh?). Has its usually awesome convoluted nature finally caved in on itself, rendering this show too difficult to follow? While most of the first four seasons seemed relatively true to life - the black smoke monster and Hurley's inability to lose weight aside - the most recent fifth season tossed time travel into the mix and probably caused more head-scratching than ever.
Even Newsweek was starting to give up hope, as they noted in their Conventional Wisdom section. And when they do, you know it's time to bail out, even before the women and children.
Then came the season finale. While I've heard some say it was two hours of their life they can never get back, I thought it was great and answered a lot of questions. For one, who's this Jacob character that's been mentioned frequently in the show for the past couple of years? Finally seeing Jacob was about as enlightening for me as it is for those people who spot the shape of Jesus in a cookie - even if he does sort of look like the man on the street as opposed to the Boris Karloff I expected. I was finally getting more answers than questions, and that sent me and other fans - both in this office and the online community - scrambling to fit together the final pieces of the puzzle which will be revealed in the next and final season of the show.
If you're not into theories and spoilers, you may want to stop reading at this point. I'm going to share a theory about the framework of the whole show from compelling ideas that I read online, and a few of my own. Consider yourself warned.
In the complex tapestry that is Lost, Jacob is none other than God, or perhaps moreover a God-like being with incredible power. The guy dressed in black who was chatting with Jacob on the beach in the most recent season finale? The one who told Jacob he'd someday find a loophole through which to kill him? Yeah, that's Satan.
Keep in mind that I'm not saying God is just a character in a TV show. I'm just guessing about what the show's creators might be intending as an extended parable.
The island itself is the Garden of Eden. Beautiful but, as the story of Genesis tells us, not without its taint of evil. We've seen Mr. Black (as I'll call him) change shapes - after all, he's portraying John Locke at the end of the season finale, while Locke lies dead in a box. Remember the supposed "Locke" saying he'd finally found that loophole to kill Jacob?
As you may recall, Satan could change shapes. Some will debate whether Satan was the Serpent in Eden, but the Serpent was a means of judging Eve's purity through the apple. Smokey (as I'll call it), which we've seen change shapes, also acts as something of a judge, as it did with Ben Linus in a recent episode.
Since Smokey can take on the forms of other people, and Mr. Black took on the form of Locke, one might conclude that Smokey and Mr. Black are one and the same. And its mission is to take Jacob down.
Satan, as I recall from my Bible studies years ago, had once been close to God but ended up a fallen angel, cast from Heaven. All through the Bible Satan is rallying up allies against God.
While Ben tried to be a disciple of Jacob, he ultimately loses faith and turns against him, seeming to kill him. I'm certain, though, that Jacob will be back. If he isn't, my God theory is shot all to heck.
Maybe Ben is a Judas Iscariot figure. Satan used Judas to bring about Jesus' downfall, just as Mr. Black used Ben.
The characters of Oceanic 815 who make up the main characters of the show seem to be Jacob's "chosen people." He has met all of them at one time or another in their lives, touching them in some way, and it's likely that their crash on his island was completely orchestrated by him.
In the beginning of the finale we see a ship on the horizon which looks like the Black Rock, the vessel which somehow ended up well inland on the island as far back as the 1840s. Jacob and Mr. Black see the ship, and Black asks Jacob why he keeps drawing people in; they only lead to destruction and corruption. But before those maladies comes progress, Jacob says.
Maybe Richard Alpert was on board the Black Rock? If so, it could be a nice flashback with which to open season six.
Anyway, those are some of the more interesting theories I've come upon or tweaked together. I encourage you to offer your own thoughts, and let's get a discussion going!
Alex Lear can be reached at 373-9060 ext. 113 or email@example.com. He runs screaming from the room like a madman every time he sees his clock flash "8:15."


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Iridescent Funnel Jacket
Style # 235096
AVAILABILITY: Unavailable for immediate shipment.
A sexy sweat is in store when wearing our Iridescent Funnel Jacket featuring a zip neck closure and long sleeves. Work out complete.
- 80% Nylon, 20% spandex
- Machine wash according to care label
- Made in USA
- Center back to hem: 21" (53 cm)
- Model is 5'10" and wears a US size S
Rated 5 out of 5�by 1 reviewer.
Rated 5 out of 5�by HunnyBee7 So metallic! Love this item with the gold piping capris. I layer this item as a pre-workout gear. May 13, 2014
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Friends of the Jonesville Greenway are hosting Jonesville Greenway Music Festival Oct. 13 and 14 at Lila Swaim Park to benefit the greenway.
The event will be all day Saturday and half a day on Sunday, with admission being $2 and a canned food item to be donated to Tri-County Christian Crisis Ministry.
The Friends of the Greenway currently have approximately 15 groups signed up to perform, and are looking for more. "If your blue grass band, gospel group or church choir has an interest in performing at this event, we would very much like to have your participation. We are also looking for businesses, individuals and arts and crafts vendors that would want to have a booth at the festival," said Dale Swofford, a member of the Jonesville Tourism Development Authority.
Vendor space is $25 for two days. To receive an application to be a vendor or to sign up to perform at the Jonesville Greenway Music Festival, call the Jonesville Visitors Center at 835-2000.
Reach Darcie Dyer at 835-1513 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Find hotels & motels in The Villages using the list below. Search for cheap and discounted hotel and motel rates in or near The Villages, FL for your personal leisure or group travel. We show the best The Villages, Florida hotel and motel rooms. Browse the The Villages area hotels to find the perfect lodging! Please use the provided map of the The Villages hotels. Need 5+ Rooms? Secure The Villages Group Hotel RatesThe The Villages center is about 4 miles from Lake Sumter Landing Market Square and 7 miles from Wildwood Amtrak Station.
The Villages Hotels, Motels & Accommodations
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Below are reviews of the city of The Villages, FL from an actual visitor's perspective.
|Lisa C., from
|Date of Review:
|Score of City:
4.0 / 5
"Neat Place"
The city was a neat golf cart community with lots of shopping.


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Build a better brown-bag lunch
By Jessica, Pure Matters
When I was in high school a million years ago, I bought lunch every day, and every day I had the same lunch -- mozzarella sticks and French fries. The only time I opted for anything else was on pizza day, which wasn't much of an improvement. Knowing what I now know about nutrition, I'm horrified that the choice to eat a veggie-free, -- no, French fries are not vegetables despite what some school lunch guidelines say -- fruit-free, fiber-free lunch was even an option available to me. Schools have come a long way since then, but they still have a long way to go. As long as unhealthy, fat-laden options are available to kids, that's what they'll choose. And with childhood obesity affecting almost 20 percent of children aged 2-19, feeding kids healthier food is no longer an option but a necessity.
The solution? Brown bag it. Packing the right lunch for your kids will eliminate unhealthy choices, make them perform better in school, and stave off obesity. But think beyond the traditional sandwich, chips and milk -- there are several ways to build a better brown bag lunch that kids will happily gobble up. If you're lucky, they may even learn a little bit about healthy eating in the process.
Rethink the Sandwich
There are reasons sandwiches are so popular for lunch -- they're easy, portable, and let's face it, delicious. So keep the sandwich, but mix it up. Instead of white bread, choose whole grain, or to cut down on the refined carb load, opt for whole grain wraps. Choose lean protein for fillings, like turkey, grilled chicken, tuna, peanut butter or even tofu! When it comes to cheese, a little goes a long way, especially when it comes to strongly flavored varieties like parmesan, smoked Gouda and sharp cheddar. Swap out mayo for pesto or oil and vinegar, and most importantly, pile on the produce. Some of my favorite healthy sandwich combos are peanut butter, turkey bacon and banana on whole wheat (Don't knock it until you try it. Seriously.); turkey, avocado and sprouts in a spinach wrap; and grilled chicken, spinach and goat cheese on a whole-grain roll.
Soup It Up
Soup is a great way to sneak in veggies. Try minestrone with beans, pasta and vegetables for a filling main dish. Or whip up some ground turkey chili -- not Texas-style, get the beans in there for the fiber. If you have a picky eater, you'll never go wrong with good old fashioned chicken noodle soup.
Add Dip, Subtract the Bad Fats
Whether you're swapping out the deep-fried chips for a baked variety, or trying to get your kids to snack on celery and carrots instead, something to dip them in will go a long way. Baked tortilla chips are a lot more palatable with good-for-you salsa, and vegetables taste a lot better when they're dipped in hummus. Try this: mix Greek yogurt with crushed garlic, fresh lemon juice and a pinch of salt. It tastes great on everything from whole grain pita chips to broccoli.
Fresh and Fruity
With some kids, all you need is a piece of nature's candy and they'll dig right in. But others may need a little coaxing. Cut up an assortment of fruit and toss with some mint and fresh lemon or lime juice. Or layer with honey and yogurt for a parfait. Or try mixing sweet and savory in a pasta salad -- chicken and turkey are both great complements for sliced apple, dried cranberries, pineapple or melon.
Solid Snacks
When it comes to packing snacks for kids, think about bites that will keep them going all afternoon. Popcorn is a great option -- try popping it and then seasoning it with Old Bay, Italian seasoning or Creole seasoning to give it an extra kick. Trail mix will also keep them alert, but buy the ingredients to make your own so you can control the dark chocolate kisses to almonds ratio.
Copyright 2015 by KSAT - All rights reserved.


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Courses: Second-Year Japanese (JNSEH004B01)
Spring 2009
A continuation of first-year Japanese, with a focus on the further development of oral proficiency, along with reading and writing skills. Five days a week of lecture and oral practice. This is not a year-long course. Students must choose one Drill Session: TTh 10:00-11:30 or TTh 11:30-1:00.
Prerequisites: First-Year Japanese or equivalent.
Fulfills: HU
Taught By
Meeting Times


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The following information is specific to the Welsh context, legal powers, advice services and policy development.
The NHS in Wales provides primary and secondary healthcare services to thousands of people across Wales every day. Traditionally services have been provided in very standardised ways without reference to the sexuality of the patient or user. However more recently, this model of manufacturing healthcare has been challenged by gay men and lesbian women who feel their mistreatment is attributable to the failure of NHS services to acknowledge and meet their specific needs.
Acknowledging that NHS staff often communicate their values and beliefs through the way in which they provide services, steps have been taken by the NHS department within the Welsh Assembly Government, to introduce guidance on recognising the rights of same sex partners in relation to next of kin issues. This means that individuals when engaging with health services in relation to a sick partner will receive the same rights and acknowledgements as heterosexual people. The Welsh Assembly Government through the Health Division, have made it clear, that it is not acceptable that NHS staff for whatever reason, undermine or diminish same sex relationships during the course of providing health services.
Information on the health of the lesbian and gay population in Wales is hard to determine. Using research evidence gathered from health surveys conducted in England, we know that individuals who are lesbian or gay can:
In Wales, among the lesbian and gay population there is no reason to suspect these health factors are any different from across the rest of the UK. However the demographic nature of the lesbian and gay community can mean that such considerations are exacerbated by rural isolation, economic inactivity and peer group oppression. Stonewall Cymru have recently released a report exploring the health needs of LGB people in North & Mid Wales. For more information click here.
Although all of these factors would suggest that lesbian women and gay men need the provision of high quality health services to address some of the effects of being treated unequally the NHS has yet to respond effectively to this challenge. For these reasons, the importance of extending the rights of lesbian women and gay men to be protected from discrimination in relation to receiving goods, facilities and services is critical to meeting needs in an effective and appropriate way.
To build the capacity of health service organisations to be more responsive to the needs of lesbian women and gay men, a number of projects are currently in the process of being delivered. Over the course of the next twelve months, every member of staff will receive cultural competence training to improve their awareness of cultural and social diversity. Delivered through an programme of E-learning this will specifically address the importance of acknowledging the rights of individuals who are lesbian or gay. This work will be supplemented by an equality monitoring project currently being rolled our across every NHS organisation. The purpose of this will be to record the race, gender, sexuality, age, disability and language of every patient accessing hospital services. The intention behind this project is that service provision can be evaluated in terms of its impact upon different groups within the wider population. This means that the experience of lesbian women and gay men can be used to inform the way in which service are developed and improved.
To help improve understanding of the needs of gay men and women within the NHS workforce, a staff survey will be conducted across the whole of the NHS in the autumn of 2005. For the first time, this will include a question relating to the sexuality of all employees. As well as indicating the size of the lesbian and gay population inside the NHS, this information will also help to evaluate the work experiences of men and women in relation to their sexuality.
Stonewall Cymru's Inside-Out Project was a community led piece of research focussing on lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people's experiences of accessing health services in North and Mid Wales which recognised that LGB people themselves are the best people to understand the health issues relevant to other LGB people. A report was launched in March.
Click here for more information about the project.
Click here to download a copy of the Inside-Out report
NHS Centre for Equality and Human Rights at Block B, First Floor, Mamhilad House, Mamhilad Park Estate, Pontypool. Tel 01495 332227
Contact your Local Health Board and speak to the officer responsible for patient involvement.
Speak to your local Community Health Council
Contact the Equality Adviser of the relevant Hospital Trust or facility.
Further information relating to any of these avenues of inquiry can be obtained from the Centre for Equality and Human Rights.