(19)

(11)

EP 0 932 873 A2

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 04.08.1999 Bulletin 1999/31 (21) Application number: 97913708.0 (22) Date of filing: 21.10.1997

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G06F 17/ 30( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1997/018935 (87) International publication number: WO 1998/018092 (30.04.1998 Gazette 1998/17)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH DE ES FR GB IE IT LI NL (30) Priority: 22.10.1996 US 19960029425P 22.10.1996 US 19960028985P (71) Applicant: Tempest Software Incorporated Houston, TX 77002 (US)	(72) Inventors: SALTSMAN, Michael, L. Houston, TX 77041 (US) SPENCE, Luke, A. Houston, TX 77002 (US) (74) Representative: Schwan, Gerhard, Dipl.-Ing.  Elfenstrasse 32 81739 München 81739 München (DE)